Japanton – Chronicles of Anton in Japan!

It has been a while since I have done a “Other Stuff” post. I thought I would share some Japanese cookbooks that I have used and that I recommend in no particular order of preference. I provide links, but they are not affiliate links (I do not make money off of them.)

1. Japanese Soul Cooking by Ono, and Salat – This is a great all round cookbook with many options you will find at Izakaiyas. Japanese Soul Cooking – Amazon Canada Link
2. Japanese Hot Pots by Ono and Salat – I enjoy this book as it makes for relatively quick meals that can be had individually or shared by 2-4 people. Japanese Hot Pots – Amazon Canada Link
3. The Just Bento Cookbook – Itoh and Doi – I got this book during the mysterious virus of unknown origin era. It explains how to put together Japanese style lunches. There are two volumes to this cookbook. Just Bento Cookbook (2 book series) – Amazon Canada Link
4. Washoku Recipes from the Japanese Home Kitchen by Andoh and Beisch – This book is a bit more involved. It does give great information on how to stock your kitchen for Japanese cuisine.
   Washoku – Amazon Canada Link

So if you are looking for something for yourself for Christmas, or for someone else here are some ideas.

Here is a NHK show on Ramen that I was sent. Keep your attention on the video at around 5:05 in…
In Deep with Ramen – Outside in Lost in Academia | NHK WORLD-JAPAN

— Anton

For those who live in Edmonton, remember it is election day and I will be asking if you have voted (though not who you voted for.) There is still time to research the candidates and make your choice, or refuse your ballot as is your privilege as a resident of Alberta.

Tonight in class we will continue our 3 choice techniques:

• Pick a Kamae
• Pick a Hikken Juroppo
• Pick a Koshi Sanpo

— Anton

It is another election day in Canada and as is my custom I encourage all members of the Dojo to have your voice heard, even if that means you will be late to or miss class. I will never tell you for whom to vote, but I encourage you to express your opinions even if that means a formal refusal of your ballot which is an option in the province of Alberta.

— Anton

I have been to 43 classes so far and have 8 to go.  It has been so long since I have been hear and a lot has changed.  I can only liken the atmosphere around here as a bit tired.  There have been several minor earthquakes and two typhoons since I have arrived 3 and a half weeks ago.  You can tell how much the big earthquake has weighed on this country and how much recovery remains to be done.

This is different from any other Japan trip I have been on as I am looking forward to getting back to Canada.  I will see if I have time to visit the Tokyo Sky Tree before I leave but I think that I may just forego any sight seeing and just stick to training and then Canada bound.

I hope I can work another shutdown and make it back here for Daikomyosai after the Lubos seminar.

Your life is on the line, practise well.

When I have felt in the past that I was stuck in my training, I often chose one thing to work on.  It could have been my trailing leg during my rolls, making sure that my knee followed the line of my tsuki, or keeping my shoulders rolled back.  Anything is OK, just making sure that you have something that you can improve and observe that improvement.

Make sure that as you train you keep something in mind.  It is easy to get discouraged in this art, if you have something to measure progress it will help you get through it.

Your life is on the line, practise well.

I am once again away for a few days for work.  There is much to learn from those who have recently returned from Japan.  Enjoy the chance to get this training.

Your life is on the line, practise well.

As those who train with me know, I have over the course of my short time in the martial arts tried many different styles.  Karate, Judo, Aikido, Jujitsu and Chen style tai chi to name a few.  There are even more that I have seen and not had a chance to try.  Unfortunately I have abandoned the other arts.

The Bujinkan consist of 9 schools and hundreds of of kata with ten’s of thousands of variations.  There is enough information to spend 9 lifetimes studying.  There is a depth of feeling and skill which I have yet to see reproduced in any other martial art, by any other martial artist besides Hatsumi Sensei.  There is a breadth of knowledge which has literally saved the life of students and myself.

When my life was on the line, it was saved by this Budo, as long as I have permission I will dedicate my martial arts training to the art of Hatsumi Sensei and his standard bearers.

Your life is on the line, practise well.

As Budo-ka we have a responsibility to those around us.  We hold ourselves (or should) and are held to a higher standard because of our training.  In our art this goes beyond punches and kicks.  In budo we study the relationship between ourselves and others.  At the start that is our opponent, and we move out from there.  I would like to take a bit of time to recognize Jon and the work he did in raising money for a Cancer walk/run that was held yesterday.  It is actions like these which make an impact on those around us.  Acts of selflessness benefit our global community and that is the kind of attitude that I feel Hatsumi Sensei is trying to generate between all of us who train in his art.

Your life is on the line, train well.

That’s what we are about in the Edmonton Bujinkan Crowd.  I will just make short mention of it because I am waiting for a first hand full detailed account.  That said one of the dojo’s members was nearly crushed by a falling pipe (industrial sized) but used ukemi (a dive roll specifically) to get to safety.

This is why ukemi is important, I am a firm beliver that if you learn it well it will help you more often than the combative techniques.  Don’t disregard ukemi.  Your life is on the line, train well.

I have often been told I am a difficult person to understand.  A friend of mine (Cliff) seems to have the best explanation.  I pack to many references in what I say.  If you don’t have a similar background in Education or interests you will not get a lot of what I say.  So I decided to make up a list of clips that will help you in class if you are having trouble understanding a few of my quotes.  You don’t have to like the same stuff, you don’t even have to watch it, (the required part was a joke) it will just help you understand a bit better.

1.  Venture Brothers – the guys in Calgary got me on this one.

2.  The Young Turks – when you hear me say “Weak Sauce” or “B-E-A-T, beat.” this is where it comes from.  (Warning some clips are left wing politics heavy for you conservatives reading.)

3.  Family guy – Self evident I think.

4.  Metalocalypse – because Budo is metal, and Toki is the man.

5.  Hamlet, Othello and Much Ado about Nothing – Cause I liked those ones.

6.  Bruce Lee Movies – Cause we are a martial arts class.

7.  Mas Oyama Trilogy – Cause Sonny Chiba is the man.

8.  The Strongest Karate – Cause I used to take Karate, and back in the day Karate was bad ass.  (Can you spot the Bill Atkins look alike?)

9.  Histories Strongest Disciple Kenichi – Some people who write about martial arts research concepts.  This is the best researched martial arts series I have ever seen.

10.  Japan Stories – This is from the shihan and other Japan residents.  I reference teachers movements and mannerisms as best I can.  You have to go to Japan to get who I am impersonating that day.

Oh I guess I better add some science fiction, Lenny Henry and other British Comedy (I think we should return to the gold standard).