waterfall training

Japan Taki-gyo

The martial arts requires much self-sacrificing effort and disciplining. For instance, Master Yamaguchi would go out into the mountains once a month to toughen himself up spiritually and physically. He engaged in sanchin (breathing) exercises for several hours under an icy waterfall to try to make his mind and spirit impenetrable to adverse physical conditions.

Kaiso Gogen Yamaguchi During his Taki Renshi	Shihan Masatoshi Yamaguchi Taki Renshi instructor to Sensei Frank & Sensei Craig

Training of meditation under falls in mid-winter

Frank Brandon and Craig Kansley have been honoured to participate in this rare form of training. Masatoshi Yamaguchi Shihan invited them to participate in this training for the first time in 1999. Masatoshi Yamaguchi Shihan was entrusted with this knowledge by our Grand Master and founder, Gogen Yamaguchi Hanshi.

Because they travel from South Africa, the training takes place at Setagaya Temple for 21 days in January. Training begins each morning at 04h00 under the waterfall in temperatures as low as -5 degrees C. The focus of the training is the breathing done through sanchin and tensho katas and meditation - as the basis of Goju is breathing and sanchin - where your true power lies.

Sensei Frank Brandon click image to see enlarged view	Sensei Craig Kansley click image to see enlarged view