As many of you know, Glenn-soke many years ago asked me to clean up the Hoshin system so that the principles were organized and easier to deliver to students. Even though Glenn-soke didn’t live to see the result of that work, I proudly continue my assignment to get our system organized. Those who have been training with me for many years have watched this process. Thank you for helping me “dissect” our techniques. Those who have been training with me since Glenn-soke passed are the forefront of my work, my expression of the art I promised Doc I would continue to improve. Glenn called Hoshin the “thinking persons martial art” and would say “When we find something that is smarter than what we are doing, we test it, and if it works we incorporate it into the system.” After studying Hoshinjutsu movements and dynamics so that I could improve the system for Doc, I believe I have harnessed the key principles that are shared by all the systems that influenced the eceletic martial art we call Hoshinjutsu. I continue to train hard and get better at the Hoshinjutsu principles. When class is just Shihan Katon and I, we study high level energy and anatomical precision to follow the directions I was given by Glenn. “At the highest level, all martial arts look subtle because the movements become ingrained, then integrated, then refined.” This is a concept Glenn-soke would talk about, but he would only give a taste of it to keep us training and mastering ourselves. The godai enables a person to understand the maximum use of intent, energy and motion based on our true emotions in any given situation. Hoshinjutsu techniques are awesome, nasty and highly effective. We should however refine these techniques so they work the best with the least excessive movement…this is what I am doing for the system, at the request of our late founder. It’s my duty, priviledge and promise to Glenn-soke. My giri to Doc Morris.

It amazes me how similar the dynamics of Hoshinjutsu are to Silat. At their highest level, if based on esoteric anatomy and physiology, all martial arts are similar. The human body isnt going to change in ourlifetime, so finding the spot where you are perfectly balanced andhavent moved too much but just enough…this is what i practice everytime i train. The “techniques” of Hoshinjutsu are just ways to apply principles. Glenn just showed the technique, then explained the particular area being affected. He didnt teach the dynamics of Hoshinjutsu. He just moved that way naturally, primarily due to the Kundalini which will teach your body the best way to do anything you practice. Glenn wanted us to explore and find the elemental dynamics for ourselves. The godai model of movement is sound, its what makes any given technique work its best. I would discuss the dynamics of Hoshin techniques with Soke Morris and he always agreed with my findings. Iwas asked by Doc to re shoot the ryu videos so I could explain the dynamics and leverage principles of Hoshin. Our ryu belt videos are just that.

At the dan ranks, a student begins to exhibit the integration of the Hoshin principles and understanding of how to control the dynamics in any given motion. As black belts advance they work on continually refining their movements so that wasted motion is minimized. This is the stream of thinking coming from the Hombu. I would like all of the Hoshin black belts to practice in this way. Anyone under black belt should be working on the information in their particular kyu grade.Our system is very straight forward. The whole point is to open each chakra. If that happens, once a student has competancy of the syllabus, they may request to test. Students are expected to be good little meditators at home to build energy and speed chakra awakening. Simple.

Rob-soke