By: Guy Renan

In Japan, Kami is regarded as a type of force that exists in nature. Sometimes it can take form, and be conceived as a real entity. But in essence Kami is not really defined and is without form.

The word god is not a suitable translation of Kami, but in Hebrew, as well as in English, there is no exact word for Kami, therefore, in many places Kami is translated as a god. It is said that Japan has eight million Kami; this is to say that Kami can be found in many places and phenomena. Certain places, objects or natural occurrences that have a certain presence or relay a certain feeling, can be Kami.

By Yossi Sheriff

After a long wait, probably over one thousand five hundred years, a translated English version of the important and cool book by Issai Chozanshi (or as we in AKBAN call him – I.) has been published.

In the book you can read lectures by a Tengu (or as we call him – T.), the mythological demon who began teaching of Ninjutsu, and to whom we owe our kata.

Not many martial arts pride themselves with the fact that their prime teacher is a crow-like demon – we do – what other choice do we have.

By Yossi Sheriff

Five hundred years ago Lizasa Chōisai Ienao founded the Katori discipline (Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu). It is considered in Japan as one of the classic and most renowned martial arts although it does not have a large number of students.

For hundreds of years this martial art was the starting point of many new martial arts (Ryu), and bred renowned fighters and martial artists. Today, the head of the discipline (the title Soke) is held by one of Lizasa’s descendants called Yasusada, while the curriculum is taught and guarded by Risuke Otake (this is quite common in Japan, the Kukinshin discipline is not held solely by Hatsumi, but he holds a degree to teach it, Menkyo Kaiden).