human weapon series...ninjutsu

[kiddbjj]

hey all

take a look at this link to part of the Human Weapon serires. This episode is on Ninjutsu. There are two weapons matches at the end, the second is the better of the two.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uUeHEqDe40

I had always thought that Ninjutsu was pretty weak but they seem to incorporate some interesting things. Also I was under the impression that they didn't do 'sparring' or any form of competition so it was especially interesting to see these 'matches'.

What do you guys think? I'm still undecided but my estimation of the style has gone up quite a bit since seeing this, especially with regards to weapons and improvising/cheating

[Knuckles&Knees]

hey all

take a look at this link to part of the Human Weapon serires. This episode is on Ninjutsu. There are two weapons matches at the end, the second is the better of the two.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uUeHEqDe40

I had always thought that Ninjutsu was pretty weak but they seem to incorporate some interesting things. Also I was under the impression that they didn't do 'sparring' or any form of competition so it was especially interesting to see these 'matches'.

What do you guys think? I'm still undecided but my estimation of the style has gone up quite a bit since seeing this, especially with regards to weapons and improvising/cheating

I saw the show and enjoyed it. Many years ago I studied in the Bujinkan rival the Genbukan.

I've stated before in other threads that I think there are very worthwhile combative skills to learn in Ninjitsu (many traditions too if you like that sort of thing - such as sword work etc).

But one of it's major flaws is the way in which it executes punches. The Genbukan incorporated Jujutsu training into its curriculum many years back, in my opinion due to the popularity and proven effectiveness of BJJ and MMA grappling.

If one wants to improve over one or three years, as a person able to fight on modern streets, parks, and etc... I would place escrima, BJJ, MMA, boxing and Thai boxing much higher up on the pole (in fact I'm not even sure I would put Ninjutsu in the picture at all).

If you like tradition first and foremost I would put Ninijutsu ahead of those other arts. If you are already a half way decent fighter then I think studying Ninjutsu (with the mind of someone in JKD) will only further benefit you.

That's my opinion. And for the record I think Taijutsu is pretty decent. I think Ninjutsu schools would greatly improve their quality of students if they taught Taijutsu more in the methodology of BJJ and MMA.

Oh... and an escrimador that is good in parkour is probably a better *modern day* Ninja than those in traditional Ninjutsu.

[kiddbjj]

Could you tell me more about your ninjutsu training? pm or otherwise

What motivated you to train there and subsequently leave?,

How does it compare to what you do now?

Cheers

[freefighter2010]

I studied a couple of months of Ninjutsu in Amsterdam with Bujinkan school and just didnt fit in what i wanted in terms of self defense.

We spent months perfecting the triangle footwork and the "Austen power" judo chop to the neck which i felt was not good for self defense.

[Knuckles&Knees]

Could you tell me more about your ninjutsu training? pm or otherwise

What motivated you to train there and subsequently leave?,

How does it compare to what you do now?

Cheers

Some things have changed in the Genbukan since I left. So, I'm not sure if daily regiments still run pretty much the same or not.

But when I was training under that branch or sensei would have us practice moving out of the way of the sword (bamboo) every class. We did this while facing the sword and while having our backs to the sword. We did it standing and kneeling. Ninjas believe that humans have senses like lower animals but that over time humans have lost their ability to sense danger like animals. They believe constant training to develop this sense brings back the human persons ability to once again sense danger.

Generally you move up from the bamboo sword to the wooden sword and from the wooden sword to the actual real metal sword. I was not in Ninjitsu training long enough to ever move beyond the bamboo.

When a person has fully developed their senses supposedly they are able to sense a knife attack or other attacks coming from behind. Supposedly, Grandmaster Tanemura has escaped actual knife attacks from behind, in Japan by the Yakuza when he was a police officer.

As it was explained to me, traditionally there was no real belt rank structure in Ninjitsu nor any set of things one had to know to obtain this or that belt. The Genbukan was supposedly the first to initiate this (due to supposedly ranks and belts being sold in the 1980s to foreigners with the right amount of money). Traditionally, I was told, the Ninjitsu sensei would just teach his students whatever he felt like that day. I sensed that the Genbukan felt this was the better way, but that need required a break from that long held traditional method of teaching.

Generally in our classes we either practice or be shown in wide range of a number of things, from climbing poles to wrapping people up (this was very impressive - done with no knots) with thin ropes (we didn't do it but our sensei demonstrated) to dodging chunks of wood being thrown at us (mock star throwing) to knife or stick work. Mainly we did Taijutsu every class and worked on how to use the sword (sword holds/strikes) every class.

Kicks in Ninjitsu our like kicks used by cops to knock open doors. You use the flat bottom of your foot (kind of like Thai foot jabs but not quite). The side kicks are the same way, they are not strikes but more so *pushes.* Ninjitsu does not believe in throwing high kicks. Most their kicks that are thrown as strikes rather than pushes per se are launched at areas below the waist (groin , knees etc). More advanced students will learn to strike with their toes too.

The chops in Ninjitsu are executed by cupping the hand slightly and turning it palm up (assuming you're hitting the side of the neck) as come to impact.

From a stationary position punches are thrown wist fist turned side ways and by torquing the waist per turning of the feet, like punches in Kung Fu, rather than "Karate punches."

Most punches are excuted from "Ich Munji" (spelling?) though. And that is some way archaic way of throwing a punch. You try to hit someone like that on the street and you'll get your a** kicked or ribs broken.

Ninjitsu is permeated with tradition and superstition. We would kneel and clap something like three or five times (can't remember the number) at the beginning and end of class due to some Eastern mystic belief. The reason they hold one hand floating over the heart in Ich Munji (spelling?) stance is because ancient Japanese superstition had/has it that the hand would calm the heart while in confrontation.

My sensei for Ninpo was/is in all honesty a very good martial artist. One of the best I have ever personally seen (in person that is). He is naturally gifted towards the martial arts in general I can tell. Unlike me, he can pick up even complicated martial arts move fast and easy. And he has a natural body awareness (his body) on how to utilize and execute moves.


I prefer my JKD training today - much more practical and effective - especially for urban environments. Chances are I'll fight two or more people in a cluttered home, alley, or bar, people that intend on doing me traumatic harm right then and there. My Thai kicks and elbows, my Western boxing instincts about moving, will do me well in a quick-fast-and-hurry. I need to hurt my aggressors then and there (without the use of a sword). Escrima stick training translates into machete use, which is practical in todays world whether it be out camping or hunting down combatants like Filipino Marines.

I would think of Ninjitsu training as "additions" to "fundamentals" (like Thai boxing, BJJ, escrima and so forth). For me personally I do not regard it as something to study as "fundamentals" to real, practical, combat on modern streets or in modern jails and prison environments.

I got into Ninpo because of the mystique of the Ninjas. I left because of two parts: 1) started lacking desire to train 2) I signed up with the Marine Corps.

[DickHardman]

that video was pretty silly. thats the kinda stuff i was doing when i was like 10 years old, throwing paper ninja stars around at my classmates at recess and looking around the yard for any stick or twig that resembled a knife, sword, or gun that we could pick up and use while we played out scenes from teenage mutant ninja turtles and other movies like that........

dont get me wrong, all that stuff in the video above looks like tons of fun, but it looks more like fantasy than anything else. its like 1 step away from wearing star wars or lord of the rings constumes and having lightsaber battles n shit.....

[bodhisattva]

Ninjas are silly.

Fighting is fighting. Ninjas are silly. It's not about what you call yourself, but rather about what you are doing to train yourself. Guys who "practice ninjutsu" are the same kinds of guys (I figure) who join mind cults and download text files like "5 handed death face technique" to only find out they were written by some equally insecure fellow with no more knowledge of fighting than Barney dinosaur could demonstrate.

If you want to be a "modern ninja" go join the Navy Seals, or Marine Recon or Marine Snipers. There's your "modern ninjas." But you really shouldn't go join them - they kill people who have never done so much as piss them off. Who wants to be like that? I mean, when I was 17 I thought I wanted to be like that. But, really, that's a mental illness brought on by too many war movies and not enough real purpose and motivation in our culture.

Anyway. Ninjas are silly.