If you think there is some trick or timing to it, you first need to watch all videos, what is available on youtube is a very small amount of footage over an atleast 30 year span.
The sword used is a bamboo training sword wrapped w/ leather.
it is the not strike, it is his intention which is felt.
I have taken this test. I was able to reach a state of not thinking, and i felt almost like a wind in my mind, not concious of my act, i was rolling before i knew what was going on, then i knew i had passed. - I am very skeptical of things, but after this expieriance, I am swayed it is real.
the explaination for this is that it was an ability gained thru real life expieriance on a battle field by ninja and samurai. for us it is expieriance gained thru the way we learn and practice.
as i said before, (some asked me to elaborate on this) you cannot 'hear' the sword swing, or feel him lean in or a vibration before he cuts down, and if you did and tried to "react" to it you would be hit...any body know anything about reaction times of the human body (educated in the subject) will tell you it's just not possible (I feel there may AT SOME TIMES be cases where a person can get lucky) but this is pretty much impossible.
You really must "feel somthing" and that is what alows you to move out of the way.
- again, i think i need to repeat this, this test (even though may look similar on 1 video) is never the same every time, he can cut at anytime, sometimes he yells, sometimes he strikes as he give a yell (KIAI), some times he does not, sometimes he sits there for about a whole minute, other times he strikes immediately. It has been performed outside, indoors in several locations.
I know he Masaaki Hatsumi would never feel the need to have this ability tested or challenged, however i would like someone like James Randi to give his insight on this matter. Anyone who took the time to go visit him, or request to do an interview or newscast or whatever about the bujinkan is welcome, all they need to do is contact him and set it up. (I do think if James Randi contacted him and traveled to japan Masaaki Hatsumi would be more than welcome to give him a demo of it.
I also feel regardless of any means i use to figure out what this is, other than what is taught, that this is the real deal, and Masaaki Hatsumi would pass the $1mil challenge.
In the old days, Hatsumi would strike very hard. (it all depends on how he feels like doing it that day at that moment in time. when the bujinkan became popular around the world (people travel all around the world to Japan to practice) he seemed to get softer or 'nicer' with the hits. but it really is different everytime.
In order to get a good observation you must go and see it in person. - or purchase every single video we have and watch everytime it is demonstrated on video to make an accurate assesment.
- About the "noise" or seemingly fake noise on the video- Keep in mind it is a video comcorder, you are watching it online (timing delay or computer error/ graphics).
it is not fake there are over 2,000 people around this world who can verify it. (as well as news documentaries from BBC, History channel etc...)
O yes, the bokken or Shinai, is made of bamboo, just like a shinai. it is pieces or strands of bamboo wrapped together, so it has give, it makes that kind of sound, but it is safe for training to prevent injury. go buy one at try it out!
In ancient times- this was done with a real sword. Hatsumi had a real sword used against him. in fact, he had 2 cuts. his teacher cut down at his head and then laterally across the body. AND Hatsumi was not told he was taking the test. his teacher just told him to sit down and relax.
But, in the times of war, this test was given with a real sword, (at the highest level of mastery) when the grandmaster felt the student was ready.
For those who call it "hightend reflexes" or whatever, couldn't you consider that to be an extra sense (as in our 5 senses of the body?)
About the Bujinkan:
First off, we do not teach mystic supernatural things, it has to do with body mechanics, and phsycology, cultural aspects, how people react and respond etc... any teacher that says something otherwise does not follow hatsumi's teachings or they are making it up.
Our body movement is different than other arts, becasue it was used in real battlefield combat for survival. the way we learn is first thru the basics, from beginner to 4th Degree black belt the focus IS on basics and being able to do techniques. after you take this test and get 5th Degree you enter the world of HENKA - which means variation in Japanese, we do not do technique, we try to be relaxed enought to respond and do anything to survive, not relying on technique, or getting stuck in form. but changing and adapting to what hapens naturally.
We train slowly so as to not kill or injure eachother, and this creates 'feeling' for example-
when you try to punch the grandmaster, You feel as if you hit him, or "he disapeared" but he moved out of the way and then you are getting hit. it is because of the body mechanics and angles in which we move offline.
Hatsumi is lnot strict with the organization, he doesn't really mandate things. If you don't believe what he does then he says, that's OK, you dont have to train here, go do what you want. to sum it up, there are always good and evil, 2 sides to a story, everybody has there own opinion, and it will always be like that, there will always be someone who disagrees so he says this is nature, and he lets it be.
He looks at martial arts in an "Artistic" way, so he is not limited to drawing in the lines.... he paints on a blank canvas. - Genius is limited to the mind.
this is getting long... so i'll stop, I'll make another post after everyone has a chance to make a few more comments on this ability.
