Matsufubu
03-01-2005, 06:43 AM
Right, I've finally done it and quit the Bujinkan. I'm doing judo now, hurrah.
I started Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu (BBT from now on, thanks) last January. The town I live in has almost no MA, so my only choices at the time were BBT or TKD (which really didn't appeal since I'm more of a grappler), so don't say "Oh, you should have done BJJ/MT", 'cos there isn't any.
I went along to talk to the instructor one day and observed the class. Not bad I suppose: some throws and locks, a bit of striking and weapons. Not knowing any better (due to inexperience), I joined up the following week and have been there since.
Initially it was not bad: we had decent throws, locks, and I got pretty good at rolling. We also had a bit of a spar with each other at the end of lessons, which has since been eliminated.
Now I'm generally quite a skeptical person, so I was on the lookout for claims of 't3h d34dly'. I did ask about whether there was any sparring or competition, but was told no, because it was too dangerous. Hmm, I thought, but that wasn't enough to put me off.
I also asked about groundwork, and was told that it's the same as stand-up, but on the ground. Hmm again. Even *I* know from judo many years ago that that ain't so. But again, I had no options, so stuck with it. I had graded to 8th kyu by April, so was making progress. However, I've learnt very little since then and haven't graded.
So, to sum up, here are some of the problems I have with the BBT dojo where I trained:
- For the first few months it was good training: throws, locks, rolling. Now it's ludicrous ninja walking, endless sanchin (for months and months) and nothing beyond that.
- Instructor goes off and talks to his mate for ages, forgetting about the students.
- Half of every class is him just talking on and on about his training with so-and-so, none of which is any good to us.
- Claims of 'teh deadly' and guarantees of moves destroying your opponent.
- No resistance, no variety, and certainly no sparring.
- No mats to train on. Not great for an art where there's a lot of throwing, falling and rolling involved.
- Allocating me to teach the recent influx of kids how to do things. I'm an 8th kyu, know little, and need to learn. The last time I learned anything was last May.
-The past payments for nothing. Insurance, membership, grading. Nothing back, just excuses.
The quality has basically gone through the floor.
The straw that broke the camel's back was one class where the instructor had us striking each other WITH OUR LITTLE FINGERS. Now this may be a valid BBT thing to do, but WTF? Just...WTF?
Later the instructor says he's going to bring in this ritual at the start of the class, where we all bow to a shrine, and bang our hands on the floor to wake up the gods. Okay, I don't mind bowing to the instructor and each other, but this is getting bloody ridiculous.
So that's it. I'm not writing off BBT as an MA, but when I could be spending my time learning practical self-defense, why would I want to spend it fannying about with pinkie-strikes and Shintoism?
Oh yes, and know this is hardly surprising to the people in the know about MA, but there are probably other people reading Bullshido who are having a similar experience but don't know any better, hence this post.
Phew, rant over. Just glad I'm out.
I started Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu (BBT from now on, thanks) last January. The town I live in has almost no MA, so my only choices at the time were BBT or TKD (which really didn't appeal since I'm more of a grappler), so don't say "Oh, you should have done BJJ/MT", 'cos there isn't any.
I went along to talk to the instructor one day and observed the class. Not bad I suppose: some throws and locks, a bit of striking and weapons. Not knowing any better (due to inexperience), I joined up the following week and have been there since.
Initially it was not bad: we had decent throws, locks, and I got pretty good at rolling. We also had a bit of a spar with each other at the end of lessons, which has since been eliminated.
Now I'm generally quite a skeptical person, so I was on the lookout for claims of 't3h d34dly'. I did ask about whether there was any sparring or competition, but was told no, because it was too dangerous. Hmm, I thought, but that wasn't enough to put me off.
I also asked about groundwork, and was told that it's the same as stand-up, but on the ground. Hmm again. Even *I* know from judo many years ago that that ain't so. But again, I had no options, so stuck with it. I had graded to 8th kyu by April, so was making progress. However, I've learnt very little since then and haven't graded.
So, to sum up, here are some of the problems I have with the BBT dojo where I trained:
- For the first few months it was good training: throws, locks, rolling. Now it's ludicrous ninja walking, endless sanchin (for months and months) and nothing beyond that.
- Instructor goes off and talks to his mate for ages, forgetting about the students.
- Half of every class is him just talking on and on about his training with so-and-so, none of which is any good to us.
- Claims of 'teh deadly' and guarantees of moves destroying your opponent.
- No resistance, no variety, and certainly no sparring.
- No mats to train on. Not great for an art where there's a lot of throwing, falling and rolling involved.
- Allocating me to teach the recent influx of kids how to do things. I'm an 8th kyu, know little, and need to learn. The last time I learned anything was last May.
-The past payments for nothing. Insurance, membership, grading. Nothing back, just excuses.
The quality has basically gone through the floor.
The straw that broke the camel's back was one class where the instructor had us striking each other WITH OUR LITTLE FINGERS. Now this may be a valid BBT thing to do, but WTF? Just...WTF?
Later the instructor says he's going to bring in this ritual at the start of the class, where we all bow to a shrine, and bang our hands on the floor to wake up the gods. Okay, I don't mind bowing to the instructor and each other, but this is getting bloody ridiculous.
So that's it. I'm not writing off BBT as an MA, but when I could be spending my time learning practical self-defense, why would I want to spend it fannying about with pinkie-strikes and Shintoism?
Oh yes, and know this is hardly surprising to the people in the know about MA, but there are probably other people reading Bullshido who are having a similar experience but don't know any better, hence this post.
Phew, rant over. Just glad I'm out.
