For my 7th trip to Japan, it was the first time I had gone alone.
I’ve gained a lot from this from a personal point of view, because alone, the feelings and the impressions are intense, not filtered through a group.
It was also the first time I had gone in the middle of summer. And in August it is very, very hot, but most of all very humid. Even more so after it rains.
So, I arrived there on August 1, after travelling for 17 hours, very tired and with a jetlag of 11 hours. I almost fell asleep in the train before I got to Kashiwa, where Elisabeth Scally (a Canadian living in Japan for 10 years) was waiting patiently for me (my plane had been 45 minutes late). Once I got to Kashiwa, Elisabeth took me to a wonderful little restaurant specialized on the Gyoza, and then showed me her small apartment where she kindly put me up for the duration of my stay.
The next morning, I woke up very early to go to my first class, at Hombu, with Senou Sensei. Unbelievable class, as usual. After that came Sensei’s class, where I trained with our friend Darren Horvach (15th Dan from Australia); when Sensei came in, he crossed the Dojo and pointed a finger at me, saying with a smile “Canada” (I got noticed!); that began well. Training with Darren was hard, but very, very interesting. At the end of the class I was able to talk to Sensei with Doug’s help, to thank him for his letters; he told me that we didn’t have to worry and that we should keep doing what we’re doing for the Bujinkan. Sensei was very comforting and encouraging.
The days went by very quickly and I was extremely glad to see our friends from France again, Hugues, Philippe and Mustapha.
It is very difficult to describe the classes from a technical point of view. During my trip, I took about fifteen classes with Senou Sensei, Noguchi Sensei, Oguri Sensei and Nagato Sensei, as well as with Caesar Pelegrin and Darren Horvach; all those classes were great and I’ve learnt a lot from them. It only makes me realize even more the necessity of these trips to Japan, which are always a return to the source essential to our personal evolution.
During one of the Ayase classes, Sensei said something that marked me a lot: “I don’t teach anymore. There are enough Jugodan for that; I put you in difficult situations to let out the talent that is in you.”
He also said: “Don’t worry, you all have great knowledge and you will use it without thinking when the moment comes.”
What I realized mostly from this trip is that we have to have more confidence in ourselves and not get discouraged, persevere (NIN) while respecting who we are and following the principles of Tamashi, Seinou and Utsuwa.
I’m back after 10 days in Japan and the only thing I want is to go back there as soon as possible.
Estelle Padeloup
Bujinkan Shihan
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