Need expert advice

[Davejbay]

I really want to take up ninjitsu but live in a small coastal town in South Africa so the closest Dojo is 1200km from where i live.
I started researching home study courses but most of them look like rip offs and i dont want to get ripped off! The only course i came accross that looks okay is Richard Van Donk's black belt course.
he sais that he trained under Dr Matsaaki Hatsumi, can anyone tell me if this is true?

I read Hatsumi's book "The Way of The Ninja" and would like to quote something he wrote " Studying for oneself and making one's own discoveries is much more important than group learning ". Does this mean that Hatsumi would agree with what Van Donk is offering?

Could anyone advise me on how to train and learn best in my situation?

[Thai Bri]

Learn how to avoid Ninjitsu like the plague. It is nothing to do with the ancient art of the stealthy assassin anyway, and merely comprises of a con men doing crap ju jitsu whilst wearing stupid biggie toed booties.

[Davejbay]

Thanks Thai Bri

Can you maybe give me a pointer on where to start researching the original art, and is it possible to learn it without an instructor?
Sorry man i dont want to sound like a dumbass asking stupid questions, but when looking for info i just get fed commercial BS! thats why i joined this site, to get some real awnsers, be glad if you can help man

[Hardball]

Maybe you can join the Army to feed your hunger for adventure and excitment. They do have some steath training and maybe you can qualify for special forces thus learning how to Ice people.

[Davejbay]

lol, i live in South Africa man, you qualify for special forces if you can count to 10. Shot, i'll check it out

[Thai Bri]

Why the fixation on Ninjitsu?

Tell us what your goals are, and we may be able to suggest a great alternative.

[JBolton]

My personal advice, go train with Morne Swanepoel. He is one of Burton Richardson's JKD unlimited instructors in South Africa. Website http://www.jkd.co.za. You can't go wrong with him.

[Davejbay]

I did budo ryo karate up to brown belt, but sensei left the country and i am looking for more. i became ficinated with ninjitso because it seems to be a good balance between strenght, technique and speed. The culture and history also great. i am looking to practice a style which covers a wide spectrum of combat methods, from hand to hand to weapons. Self defense is a bonus and fitness i can get from going to the gym so that is not what drives me.

[Davejbay]

Thanks JBolton, i will check out the site

[stauburn]

Go to winjustu.com and see if they have some links to a dojo in your area. Also do a search for Genbukan and Jinenkan they might be someone in you area for their systems.

I would be very careful when trying to learn an martial art from videos, especially when you haven't practiced in the art before. If you are going to invest in video , do start with any of Hatumi's videos to get a concept of what you might be studying if you chose to study in the Bujinkan system.



Good Luck in your search

[Davejbay]

Thanks Rob, i appreciate and will have a look