Our theme for this month is Timing.

In self-defence, it is important to wait for the movement of one’s opponent and not to attempt to ‘produce’ something.  The feeling is more of disengaging or preservation rather than engaging in a battle ‘to the death’ with your opponent.  In training, many people after receiving a punch move on to perform an elaborate technique with complicated footwork and hand changes.  Why?  One of our Japan teachers, Nagato sensei, has stated that “after your uke [partner receiving the technique] has punched and stopped, you can just move and stop too.  There is no need for you to do anything more if he doesn’t do anything more!”

– Courtesy Shihan Duncan Stewart, Bujinkan Tasmania Dojo