Warrior Zone intro video in the works...

...the video should be available in a week or two. Here are some still shots of video production. More to come...

Using Strength in ninjutsu

Jon Hass over at Warrior Fitness posted this excellent explanation of where strength fits into ninjutsu:

A common misconception that you’ll hear bandied about from dojo to dojo all across the world is that strength, and by association overall, general fitness, is not required. I think this has to do with a fundamental misunderstanding of how we train. In class, when practicing techniques, it is imperative to be as efficient in one’s movement as possible, and thus avoid using excess, unnecessary power (read – strength). In order to accentuate the study of distance, timing, angling, and space management, one must put strength on the back burner in the dojo to avoid powering through the movements and missing all the wonderful subtleties that taijutsu has to offer. However, in an actual conflict, you can and in fact, you must, use all your power, including strength, to survive. As Jack Hoban said in his interview here, “real fights are very physical – tiring and punishing”. Anyone who thinks physical fitness isn’t required in the traditional martial arts is really just kidding themselves.

Full article: http://warriorfitness.org/fitness-requirements-for-bujinkan-martial-arts-training/

Train as you fight, fight as you train

Because we know how to fight and defend ourselves we are more aware. We can see it coming..at least you should. Always be aware of your surroundings so as never to be surprised. Taijutsu is a combat martial art so treat it as such while you train. 

To many practitioners these days are to hung up on mastering the intricacies of Kihon Happo and quite frankly wouldn't last in a true conflict. Just because you are training in a combat martial art and think of yourself as a ninja doesn't mean you are truly prepared.  Get out of the dojo and train in the parking lot, park, rocky terrain, etc. Have you ever thrown someone in the rain or snow? How about while you are wearing your everyday clothing instead of dojo gear.  Practice techniques and henka in scenarios. Climbing out of your car, sitting at a picnic table, walking down the street or lying in the grass at a park reading a book. 

Get creative with your training. If you have an instructor who won't step outside of his/her precious dojo then get some fellow mind trainees together and do some extra-curricular training.

  All my classes are conducted outside in the elements. Most of my early training took place in the mountains in rain, snow and everything in between. Luckily for me I was trained by someone who had been in real combat and had real world experience. Learning combat attitude is essential to self-defense and it is my goal to teach you to survive and win to see another day.

Live, love and play!

Ninjutsu / Taijutsu versus other martial arts

There was a post today on the Facebook group Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu. The poster was asking how Ninjutsu held up against certain other martial arts. I quote the question here:

Boxing, kickboxing, karate, MMA, Brazilian jujitsu etc. are real brutal, strong and effective fighting styles. How would you use Ninjutsu to defeat such strong opponents? posted by Andrew Wong

I replied with:

Realize that those arts you listed are 'Sports' martial arts. In other words they train and fight by certain rules. In ninjutsu we train to end a confrontation within seconds...not to fight for 3 rounds. So we would do the unexpected and if need be fight dirty to survive and live another day.

Now more in depth:

   I agree that these guys train hard and can kick some serious ass. They are tough and very strong, particularly the MMA guys. I would not want to go into the ring with any of them. How they take the pounding they receive in the ring is amazing. Luckily for us from a self-defense stand point we probably won't ever have to worry about going up against these guys. We have to watch out for the drunk or drugged out idiots or desperate thieves, etc.

  But....lets say you have to go toe to toe with one of these guys, professional fighters. They are strong, well trained and can take a pounding. So what do we do in this situation?

Some guidelines:

• First, don't go toe to toe!! Evade, angle, get behind them. Never stand there face to face exchanging blows.
• Second, you won't be able to out muscle these guys. Remember natural body weight and flowing motion. 
• Third, Soften them up. Strike their over-amped muscles, they make great targets and your opponent isn't used to getting hit there. They are used to getting hit from body blows, head shots and shin strikes against the legs. So go for the biceps, quadriceps, you know actual muscles. Try grabbing and digging you fingers into their pectorals as one example.
• Fourth, actual targets for attacks would be the opponents knees, groin, throat area, eyes, etc. These are called 'Soft targets'. Avoid the areas that they actually train to get hit on. These guys allow are de-sensitized to getting pounded by an opponent.
• Fifth, you will have to fight dirty. Spit in their face or throw sand (distraction). Pull their hair. Get behind them and go for the eyes, nose, and throat.
• Sixth, Do the unexpected. Be invisible. 
• Seventh, and most important. If you can avoid the situation altogether then do so. There is nothing wrong with running. Escape and evasion is a ninjutsu skill you should practice!!

  Remember that we train to fight, so we don't have to. Until next time...train hard and play hard!

Distance - Maai

- Maai 間合い - Distance

In the martial arts, maai is often used to describe the distance, or space between two opponents. However, like most principles studied in budo this is much more complicated then what we refer to as distance. It is a more complex concept that includes the distance, but also the time it takes to cover that distance, as well as the angle and rhythm of attack. This makes maai a dynamic use of the space between you and your opponent. For example a faster opponent will use a distance that is further than a slower opponent.

This inherently brings with it a sense of timing. On a more subtle level it relates to the gaps of awareness that manifests itself in the opponent's mind. This gap or mental interval (kokoro-no-maai 心の間合い) and the ability to enter into this space, this is also a part of the principle of maai. This mental interval is the point in which Joen-nin 如焰忍 is applied (one of the 10 methods of spying).

One of the subtleties of combat is the use of angles that manipulate the advantage of distance, which creates an illusion of that distance. The manipulation of this distance is often used to appear closer or further than you really are, enabling you to overcome an opponents speed. This interplay of truth and falsehood is kyo-jitsu 虚実. Note that jitsu 実 here means "truth", related to kyo 虚 meaning false. This is in contrast to jutsu 術 which means skill, technique etc.

In psychological strategy or even esoteric application, maai can mean the distance between two points of references. In other words, it is the understanding and use of the different perspectives between you and another.

Source: Kerwin Rodriguez (https://www.facebook.com/groups/2204541888/)

Muto Dori Hiden

Muto Dori Hiden

Many people think that Muto Dori is about the opponent wielding a sword while you have none, but this is not the case. Even if you have a sword, muto dori starts with the development of the courage to face an opponent with the preparedness of not having a sword. This means if you don't thoroughly train in taijutsu you will not obtain the knowledge of the refined skill of muto dori. Therefore, you must first know the purpose of the path of training. If you are unaware of this and proceed down the path of thinking that sword training is only about cutting and thrusting, then there is a danger that you will go down the path of the evil sword. The sword harnesses a pure essence that is life-giving; one who cannot live the way of the sword saint will foolishly think that the sword is only a tool for cutting. Those who do this can never achieve enlightenment.

- Masaaki Hatsumi

Masaaki Hatsumi - Progression of technique

"The techniques are initially practiced with the consciousness directed towards understanding the purpose and practical application of the physical movements. Next, the student begins to work on making his technique a natural part of knowledge; in effect, allowing his body to develop the natural ability to perform the technique. Finally, the technique itself is dropped from consciousness as a technique, and becomes yet one more variation of the body and personality to handle things in an effective manner."

Masaaki Hatsumi

Warrior Zones Facebook page

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Budo Taijutsu, is like a bear waking from a long hibernation.

"Budo Taijutsu, which is by no means exclusively Japanese, is like a bear waking from a long hibernation. And now humankind is starting to wake up. The reason I draw the analogy of the hibernating bear is because regarding Taijutsu, the essence of fighting, mankind has been sleeping and has forgotten this essence. Martial friends, the alarm bell has started ringing. Wake up from your slumber!" - Masaaki Hatsumi

Gokui

"My belief is that gokui, or essence, is living with change (henka). If people change then things change and the times change. It would be strange, therefore, if each respective era didn't have gokui. Ironically, gokui is about change; people and times must change, but the fundamental aspect of gokui does not change. Budo has existed for thousands of years and the fact that my Budo is understood around the world shows that it exists within something that is like the gokui." - Masaaki Hatsumi

Walk like a ninja