This interview is conducted by Shidoshi Stuart Campbell with Simon J Gaunt, now a resident of New Zealand and one of the few students of Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu to be graded to Judan (10th Dan) in this country.
Stuart – Firstly congratulations on being graded to Judan. What does this grading mean to you personally?
Simon – Well it came as a bit of a surprise really, when I go to Japan I go to train to get as much training as possible, new ideas, new principles and to train with as many different people as I can. I don’t really place a lot of emphasis on rank because if that’s all that’s important to you, and if you give if power, it’s sure to destroy you as a Martial Artist. For me it’s just another milestone in this journey to be a better person. This particular rank is quite different to some of the other grades as it places the responsibility into the hands of the receiver. For example Hatsumi Sensei will award you this grade and then he asks for 3 letters of support from senior Bujinkan Teachers (as a sort of character reference). At this stage I was quite happy to forget about it for a few years "haha", but it came up in a conversation whilst training with Nagato Shihan. He said he would write me a letter and give it to Hatsumi Sensei. That was that, it was up to me to find the other two.
Stuart – You have just returned from your 8th trip to Japan and training with Soke Masaaki Hatsumi. What was the difference from other trips and how has the training changed?
Simon – Training in Japan has always fascinated me and is a special place where you feel you can train as often as you like and apply yourself to the culture and your personal training. It is important for that period of time when you are there that you immerse yourself at every level into the training.
When I travel to Japan I am going for the purpose of Budou and try and train at least twice a day with the different Shihan available. There is no time for sight seeing, in fact Japan is somewhere I would like to see more of but never have. All my time is taken with studying. I guess every trip is different, and every experience is different for different people.
Stuart – Hatsumi Sensei is respected as being the last of the true Ninja Masters in Japan. What is the most amazing thing you have seen him do, that cannot be explained?
Simon – Parts of your training has to be discovered by the individual. There are lots of things he does that truly amaze everyone not just me. He is quite a remarkable man.
Stuart – From what you have seen over the past 2 years in NZ, how do you think we are going in regard to the training and to what the rest of the Bujinkan world is doing?
Simon – Training is for the individual, it’s like anything the more you put in the more you get out. It’s important to get out there and train with lots of different people who have different experiences. I know there are students here who go to Japan on a regular basis to bring back what they have learnt for other students. This is good as they are only going to get better and it shows. The point is you have to keep going, going back for more to keep your skills and knowledge up-to-date. Going to Japan once is not enough for me just for the sake of saying I’ve been. The Bujinkan now is truly International and we are lucky to have good Teachers worldwide. For me training in Europe for the past 15 years I have been lucky to be around some outstanding Teachers and to thank for my own progression. These people have helped bring the Bujinkan alive within our countries.
Peter King (UK) Arnaud Coursergue (France) Pedro Fleitas (Spain) Sven-Eric Bogsater (Sweden)(Hatsumi Sensei named them` Shi Tenno`- `The Four Kings of Europe`) to name a few. They have all trained for many years and do regular seminars throughout the world. There is always a seminar to attend and training is readily available. I find New Zealand a little far away and sometimes disconnected but the more students that travel the Bujinkan will grow in this country.
Stuart – So what can we as individuals do to improve this?
Simon – Keep Training with licensed Bujinkan Shidoshi!!
Stuart – What is your goal for the Bujinkan in New Zealand?
Simon – I don’t have a goal for the Bujinkan in New Zealand, all I am interested is in training. We are hosting `Shihan Ed Lomax` in May 2004 for the first of a string of seminars, which are to be held in Hamilton.
Stuart – For those interested in attending this seminar, how should they go about getting the details?
Simon – They can contact me at the details listed at the bottom of this interview.
Stuart – You still see a lot of reference to Ninjutsu in the Bujinkan and to people who no longer train with Soke or are members of the Bujinkan. Set us straight on why this is and what Hatsumi has said about people who claim to be doing ninjutsu?
Simon – Well, I guess there is still confusion with the name `Ninjutsu` which seems to be connected with the past. When I first started training it was called Bujinkan Ninjutsu. A few years ago Hatsumi Sensei changed the name to Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu as it represented the 9 schools more collectively as there are only three schools out of the nine, which are Ninjutsu schools.
Stuart – So what first attracted you to these arts?
Simon- I have always been interested in Martial Arts and started training when I was 7 years old in Shotokan Karate, I later moved onto studying Yawara Ryu Jiujutsu under PJL Davies for some time, until I was introduced to the Bujinkan. I was first exposed to the Bujinkan in 1982 but I didn’t know enough about it for me to want to change. A few years later I read some of Hatsumi Sensei`s articles and books and eventually met my first Teacher `Jerry Homes` who was teaching Bujinkan Ninjutsu in the town I lived in. (At that stage there were very few dojos in the UK) I went along training and at that point I realised that this what I had been looking for, a more complete, non sporting environment which placed a lot of emphasis on survival tactics rather than training for competitions. I started training once, twice a week and stopped my Jiujutsu. I haven’t looked back since.
Stuart – What do you see as the ultimate goal in your training?
Simon– To understand the teaching of Hatsumi Sensei. To be honest I don’t think I will ever get to the true extent and depth to these studies.
Stuart – Hatsumi Sensei has said that this is his last year of travelling and doing Tai Kais (International Seminars) overseas. Do you think this will change the structure of the Bujinkan and if so, in what way?
Simon – I don’t think it will change the structure, it just means you have to go to Japan to train with Soke. For me I try and get there once or twice a year. As from next year I am going to be travelling more often Japan, UK, Europe, Australia . I have decided to get around a bit more and try and train with as many people as possible. Its good to get back to the UK where I can catch up with friends , family and other students.
Stuart – When is your next planned trip to Japan and what do you hope to bring back?
Simon – We have a trip planned for July 2004, where a group of us from our dojo will go and train for two weeks. I am also planning to go back, maybe April for the Daikomyosai (which is held on an Anniversary of Takamatsu Sensei) With Hatsumi Sensei not travelling any more there will be two Daikomyosai each year, One April and the other December.
Stuart – Good luck with your training and all the best in life.
Simon- Thank you.
Simon J Gaunt
Bujinkan Hiryu Dojo
New Zealand
[email protected]
www.bujinkannewzealand.net
