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Like Clouds and Water: The Natural Way of Manaka Unsui (Continued)
by Eric Baluja (2001)
Previous Page
Teaching and Learning
Mr. Havens is one of a large number of non-Japanese that have gone to Manaka
Sensei seeking his instruction. Manaka Sensei sees no problem with this at all,
despite the language barrier (which he is working at surmounting anyway). “Words
are used to explain, but learning [martial arts] is done with the body,” he maintains,
“so I believe that this is something that non-Japanese can most certainly master.
Even for the Japanese, nobody can ever master it without enough training. And
humans have not changed for thousands of years. I think that teacher-student
relationships can be made regardless of race.”
In an effort to share his experience Manaka Sensei has spent almost all his
vacations since 1986 giving seminars, mostly in the United States. These are
characteristically fast-paced, with a vast amount of material being covered in only a
few days. “My intention when I teach a seminar is that everyone should remember
and learn everything,” he jokes. He readily admits that he can only provide a
minimal introduction in such a setting, and that this is not his ordinary style of
teaching. Manaka Sensei is in fact well known as a strict technician, demanding
that his students respect what they are learning by doing their utmost to do the
things he teaches correctly. “I would rather go much slower and correct more
carefully as I do when I teach regular classes.”
Within the next year Manaka Sensei’s regular classes will move to Maryland, on the
east coast of the United States, which is where he intends to settle once he has
retired from the Japanese military and where he will establish his first formal
training hall. Although when he gets here he’ll find that the tendency has been to
alter classical martial arts to ensure customer satisfaction (a trend cheekily
referred to as the “McDojo phenomenon”), Manaka Sensei asserts, “Having people
understand my martial art comes first. I will never think about ways to teach budo
for the sake of getting money.”
His diverse interests factored into his decision regarding where in the U.S. to settle.
Manaka Sensei’s interest in nature has led him to undertake a rather interesting
array of outdoor activities including golf, fishing, ice skating, skin diving, sky diving,
skiing, scuba diving and para-planing (you sit in what looks like a go-cart attached
to a giant fan, while an open parachute attached to the vehicle keeps it aloft and
steers it!). In order to be able to pursue these activities, he made sure to select a
safe location close to both the mountains and the ocean.
Manaka Sensei also has an avid interest in his country’s cultural arts, and has
practiced calligraphy and traditional dance... although he admits, “I studied
Japanese dance only because I was forced to.”
“I recommend studying lots of different things,” he says. “Humans are creatures
who learn by experiencing.” Regarding his own interests, Manaka Sensei says, “I
am interested in ‘movement in the midst of stillness’ and ‘stillness in the midst of
movement.’ It is interesting because it is difficult.” This philosophy inspires his study
of Zen Buddhism, the tenets of which imbue his approach to martial arts and life.
When Manaka Sensei established the Jinenkan he also decided to further
systematize the lessons he had learned and the sum of his experiences in a new
format, which he has called the Jinen-Ryu. He describes the Jinen-Ryu as, “...the
use of weapons as an extension of taijutsu; using the weapon rather than letting it
use you.” The Jinen-Ryu incorporates techniques and strategies for using two
swords (nito), the tanto (knife), the jutte (a short metal truncheon with a small
hook), the kusari fundo (a short weighted chain), and other sets of skills. Manaka
Sensei says that he created the Jinen-Ryu, “...to let people know clearly my way of
thinking and the standards I have in mind regarding budo.”
Another of his actions upon establishing the Jinenkan was the creation of the
official Jinenkan website. http://www.jinenkan.org The site provides the general
public with an overview of the organization, its rank structure, articles by Manaka
Sensei, training tips, photos, links to related sites and direct e-mail communication
with the man himself. He also takes the time to write and issue a monthly letter to all
Jinenkan members. These usually provide guidance on fundamental techniques, or
relate some aspect of the traditions he teaches. He has also released videotapes
of his seminars and private training sessions, most of which are only available to
his direct students, in order to facilitate their training until he moves to the U.S.
When he does get here, Manaka Sensei says he is interested in instituting a
shosei, or live-in student, program. In this system certain students will be chosen to
live with and learn from him, in exchange for which they agree to throw themselves
not only into their studies but also into all aspects of maintaining the household
and making sure that Sensei has time to teach by taking care of even the most
minute chores. As one author puts it, “It is by no means an easy lifestyle; it is a
twenty-four hour-a-day responsibility.” 9
“My purpose is to give what I have to everyone as soon as possible.” Manaka
Unsui Sensei’s goal is clear, but he insists that those who come to learn from him
understand that it is not merely a matter of showing up to receive a free gift. He
asks his students to work hard to understand his way of thinking and, “...put the
things they have been taught into practice with a heart that is open and accepting.”
When asked how large he hopes his organization will get he says, almost
predictably, “I will leave that to nature.” He states that it is his fervent hope, “...to
have more people, even just one more, who will understand.”
For the inspiration to continue on the arduous and relatively thankless path of
budo, Manaka Sensei’s students need only consider the man himself, who has
spent over forty years and has sworn to spend the rest of his days walking along
with them while showing them the way. He is living proof of the value of
perseverance, consistent, focused training, and their natural results.
Acknowledgements
This article is the result of extensive interviews with Manaka Unsui Sensei and
could not have come into being without his extreme patience, generous spirit and
general good humor. I am also deeply grateful to Mr. Hiroaki Kato, Mrs. Kikue Kato
and Mr. David Hewitt whose time, effort and expert assistance were invaluable and
made this undertaking possible. I also thank my teacher, Mr. Shawn Havens, for
letting me practice my interviewing skills on him and then opening the door to the
interview with Manaka Unsui Sensei.
The images included in this article are courtesy and property of Fumio Manaka,
John Orth, Scott Mueller, and Sukh Sandhu and may not be reproduced without
their express written permission.
Footnotes
NOTE: All quotes not referenced in these footnotes came from personal
communication with Fumio Manaka.
About the author
Eric Baluja is a student of Budo living in New York City, N.Y.
Back to Articles Page
by Eric Baluja (2001)
Previous Page
Teaching and Learning
Mr. Havens is one of a large number of non-Japanese that have gone to Manaka
Sensei seeking his instruction. Manaka Sensei sees no problem with this at all,
despite the language barrier (which he is working at surmounting anyway). “Words
are used to explain, but learning [martial arts] is done with the body,” he maintains,
“so I believe that this is something that non-Japanese can most certainly master.
Even for the Japanese, nobody can ever master it without enough training. And
humans have not changed for thousands of years. I think that teacher-student
relationships can be made regardless of race.”
In an effort to share his experience Manaka Sensei has spent almost all his
vacations since 1986 giving seminars, mostly in the United States. These are
characteristically fast-paced, with a vast amount of material being covered in only a
few days. “My intention when I teach a seminar is that everyone should remember
and learn everything,” he jokes. He readily admits that he can only provide a
minimal introduction in such a setting, and that this is not his ordinary style of
teaching. Manaka Sensei is in fact well known as a strict technician, demanding
that his students respect what they are learning by doing their utmost to do the
things he teaches correctly. “I would rather go much slower and correct more
carefully as I do when I teach regular classes.”
Within the next year Manaka Sensei’s regular classes will move to Maryland, on the
east coast of the United States, which is where he intends to settle once he has
retired from the Japanese military and where he will establish his first formal
training hall. Although when he gets here he’ll find that the tendency has been to
alter classical martial arts to ensure customer satisfaction (a trend cheekily
referred to as the “McDojo phenomenon”), Manaka Sensei asserts, “Having people
understand my martial art comes first. I will never think about ways to teach budo
for the sake of getting money.”
His diverse interests factored into his decision regarding where in the U.S. to settle.
Manaka Sensei’s interest in nature has led him to undertake a rather interesting
array of outdoor activities including golf, fishing, ice skating, skin diving, sky diving,
skiing, scuba diving and para-planing (you sit in what looks like a go-cart attached
to a giant fan, while an open parachute attached to the vehicle keeps it aloft and
steers it!). In order to be able to pursue these activities, he made sure to select a
safe location close to both the mountains and the ocean.
Manaka Sensei also has an avid interest in his country’s cultural arts, and has
practiced calligraphy and traditional dance... although he admits, “I studied
Japanese dance only because I was forced to.”
“I recommend studying lots of different things,” he says. “Humans are creatures
who learn by experiencing.” Regarding his own interests, Manaka Sensei says, “I
am interested in ‘movement in the midst of stillness’ and ‘stillness in the midst of
movement.’ It is interesting because it is difficult.” This philosophy inspires his study
of Zen Buddhism, the tenets of which imbue his approach to martial arts and life.
When Manaka Sensei established the Jinenkan he also decided to further
systematize the lessons he had learned and the sum of his experiences in a new
format, which he has called the Jinen-Ryu. He describes the Jinen-Ryu as, “...the
use of weapons as an extension of taijutsu; using the weapon rather than letting it
use you.” The Jinen-Ryu incorporates techniques and strategies for using two
swords (nito), the tanto (knife), the jutte (a short metal truncheon with a small
hook), the kusari fundo (a short weighted chain), and other sets of skills. Manaka
Sensei says that he created the Jinen-Ryu, “...to let people know clearly my way of
thinking and the standards I have in mind regarding budo.”
Another of his actions upon establishing the Jinenkan was the creation of the
official Jinenkan website. http://www.jinenkan.org The site provides the general
public with an overview of the organization, its rank structure, articles by Manaka
Sensei, training tips, photos, links to related sites and direct e-mail communication
with the man himself. He also takes the time to write and issue a monthly letter to all
Jinenkan members. These usually provide guidance on fundamental techniques, or
relate some aspect of the traditions he teaches. He has also released videotapes
of his seminars and private training sessions, most of which are only available to
his direct students, in order to facilitate their training until he moves to the U.S.
When he does get here, Manaka Sensei says he is interested in instituting a
shosei, or live-in student, program. In this system certain students will be chosen to
live with and learn from him, in exchange for which they agree to throw themselves
not only into their studies but also into all aspects of maintaining the household
and making sure that Sensei has time to teach by taking care of even the most
minute chores. As one author puts it, “It is by no means an easy lifestyle; it is a
twenty-four hour-a-day responsibility.” 9
“My purpose is to give what I have to everyone as soon as possible.” Manaka
Unsui Sensei’s goal is clear, but he insists that those who come to learn from him
understand that it is not merely a matter of showing up to receive a free gift. He
asks his students to work hard to understand his way of thinking and, “...put the
things they have been taught into practice with a heart that is open and accepting.”
When asked how large he hopes his organization will get he says, almost
predictably, “I will leave that to nature.” He states that it is his fervent hope, “...to
have more people, even just one more, who will understand.”
For the inspiration to continue on the arduous and relatively thankless path of
budo, Manaka Sensei’s students need only consider the man himself, who has
spent over forty years and has sworn to spend the rest of his days walking along
with them while showing them the way. He is living proof of the value of
perseverance, consistent, focused training, and their natural results.
Acknowledgements
This article is the result of extensive interviews with Manaka Unsui Sensei and
could not have come into being without his extreme patience, generous spirit and
general good humor. I am also deeply grateful to Mr. Hiroaki Kato, Mrs. Kikue Kato
and Mr. David Hewitt whose time, effort and expert assistance were invaluable and
made this undertaking possible. I also thank my teacher, Mr. Shawn Havens, for
letting me practice my interviewing skills on him and then opening the door to the
interview with Manaka Unsui Sensei.
The images included in this article are courtesy and property of Fumio Manaka,
John Orth, Scott Mueller, and Sukh Sandhu and may not be reproduced without
their express written permission.
Footnotes
- Philip Kapleau, Three Pillars of Zen, Anchor Books, 1965, p. 361.
- Stephen K. Hayes, “Major Manaka’s Warning,” Musubi, November-
December, 1988, p. 1. - Hayes, p. 2.
- Fumio Manaka, “Recollections,” Sanmyaku, 1994, Vol. 1, No. 3, p. 14.
- Manaka, same.
- Eric Baluja, “The Jinenkan in America: An Interview with Shawn Havens,” Ura
& Omote (internet newsletter), September, 1998. - Baluja, same.
- Baluja, same.
- Gaku Homma, Aikido Sketch Diary, Frog, Ltd., 1994, p. xxiv.
NOTE: All quotes not referenced in these footnotes came from personal
communication with Fumio Manaka.
About the author
Eric Baluja is a student of Budo living in New York City, N.Y.
Back to Articles Page
| The Jinenkan Dojo-cho at a seminar in Maryland, September, 2000 (from l. to r.): Sukh Sandhu; Dr. Joseph Bobovsky; Scott Mueller; David Hewitt; Manaka Unsui Sensei; Shawn Havens; John Orth; and Scott Teague. |
Jinen-Ryu tantojutsu. Uke:
John Orth.
John Orth.
