Bonenkai 2009

Okay, this will be my last post of 2009. It's just we had such a great time the other night at our Bonenkai, I wanted to share. We had several groups coming together, which only happens once or twice a year, due to distance. We trained and talked about what we learned over the last year, saw old friends (Shawn!), ate some of the best sushi in Chicago, drank Asahi (Super Dry!), opened presents, and all with our Buyu, some of the best folks I know.

I want to thank Shidoshi Jeff Patchin and his boys for coming in once again from Rockford (almost a two-hour commute). When I got Jeff's yearly nobody-knows-how-to-drive-in-Chicago call, I knew everything was coming together. And it did.

Thanks to everyone who came, hope you went home with a smile, a full belly, and a nice little gift. I got a copy of one of Soke's Kuden series from the gang, and 'stole' a copy during White Elephant of "Nine Deaths of the Ninja,"
which, looking back, might not have been the smartest of tactical decisions, after viewing the credit sequence where Sho Kosugi swings a Ninjato in the middle of three dancing babes to the vocal stylings of a woman who probably (and thankfully) sang herself into obscurity. Check it out here, but be warned: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDREMG8alS4

For my gift, I brought a ham.

Let's do it all again next year!

James

Check out the pics here:
http://s742.photobucket.com/albums/xx70/sgtidojo/09%20Bonenkai/





UPDATE 12/21/09 - "Nine Deaths of the Ninja" - Best bad Ninja movie ever ... ever. Do yourself a favor, watch this movie. Watch it with Buyu. And alcohol. Why?

1. Ninja vs Filipino midgets.
2. Screechy gay wheelchair Nazi guy doing his best Dr. Strangelove.
3. Hot "Foxy Brown" type doing her best Pam Grier.
4. You will learn more about attaching shurikens to a camouflaged jumpsuit than any other movie.

Complete your training - don't miss this!

BUYU-tiful!

We're back (again) from another 'Buyu-tiful' (I know, I'm a little tired) New Jersey weekend with Jack Hoban. This time, Tomo led a morning session of Makko Ho before Jack's end-of-the-year seminar. The response was overwhelmingly positive. Jack and his wife Yumiko's adverstising and local stomping paid off with plenty of folks, both those who train and those who don't. Check out our slick camera phone shot:


Huge thanks for their hard work and trust in allowing Tomo to teach. By the sound of it, we may be back sometime next year for another round. We'll look forward to it.

We also joined in the fun at the annual Buyu Christmas party, which had great food, an open bar, and plenty of laughs. Our thanks to Judd for setting it all up - great toast as well, sir! It always feels good to talk shop with Buyu over cocktails.

Our own SGTI dojo will be having its Bonenkai/Christmas party this week, a tradition we've enjoyed for many years now. Don't forget a wrapped gift for 'White Elephant!'

This will be my last post of 2009. But on New Year's Day, look for my annual "Under the Blade" that will outline our Bujinkan and SGTI dojo themes for 2010.

Have a very safe and wonderful Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!