Looking for a new martial art

[Bazwollv]

Hello there;

Ever since recently I have been very interested in completing my university studies and taking a gap year to go study martial arts abroad. But what I am looking for is far from just combat, I am looking to delve into other aspects such as weapons, stealth or schools which extend far from unarmed combat.

I have done some research and I have found that the Japanese excel in these forms especially in ninjutsu. Reading it on wikipedia I find that not only does it focus on combat but in other forms as well. Now what I am asking here is what would you recommend for me and where I can travel in the world to get the best training out of it.

The reason I am asking to train else where is simply because I believe I will gain the most if I am training in the country of the art. I am looking for an experience, a new way of thinking something which will change me when I come back, and hopefully get the most out of it in I learn the most when it comes to unarmed combat. I find Jujitsu very interesting and I have actually taken a couple of lessons in it, but what doesn't interest me a lot about it is it focus's too much on it's ground game. I am looking for a martial art which is all rounded.

So what martial art would you recommend and what are some of the best academies which teach it?

[lordbd]

Ninjutsu probably isn't real. Maybe you could try one of the traditional schools of Japanese jujitsu? Or you could join the military and learn how to fly a gun-laden stealth drone.

[slamdunc]

First of all, Welcome to Bullshido.

Although I rarely use Wikipedia as a reference, you did open the door. Wikipedia recognizes the fact that Ninja did exist at one time, and are no more. Anyway, here is what Wikipedia really says:

A ninja (忍者) or shinobi (忍び) was a covert agent or mercenary in feudal Japan who specialized in unorthodox warfare. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, and open combat in certain situations. Their covert methods of waging war contrasted the ninja with the samurai, who observed strict rules about honor and combat. The shinobi proper, a specially trained group of spies and mercenaries, appeared in the Sengoku or "warring states" period, in the 15th century, but antecedents may have existed in the 14th century, and possibly even in the 12th century (Heian or early Kamakura era).

In the unrest of the Sengoku period (15th–17th centuries), mercenaries and spies for hire became active in the Iga Province and the adjacent area around the village of Kōga, and it is from their ninja clans that much of our knowledge of the ninja is drawn. Following the unification of Japan under the Tokugawa shogunate (17th century), the ninja faded into obscurity, being replaced by the Oniwabanshū body of secret agents. A number of shinobi manuals, often centered around Chinese military philosophy, were written in the 17th and 18th centuries, most notably the Bansenshukai (1676).

By the time of the Meiji Restoration (1868), the tradition of the shinobi had become a topic of popular imagination and mystery in Japan. Ninja figured prominently in folklore and legend, and as a result it is often difficult to separate historical fact from myth. Some legendary abilities purported to be in the province of ninja training include invisibility, walking on water, and control over the natural elements. As a consequence, their perception in western popular culture in the 20th century was based more on such legend and folklore than on the historical spies of the Sengoku period.

If you want to train in the stealthy, cloak and dagger stuff, re-read lordbd's post:

Ninjutsu probably isn't real. Maybe you could try one of the traditional schools of Japanese jujitsu? Or you could join the military and learn how to fly a gun-laden stealth drone.

If you join the military, you can try to qualify for Special Operations Forces (Navy SEALS, Marine Force-Recon, Army Rangers, Green Berets or Delta, or Air Force Pararescuemen). These guys are real ninjas without the Booj.

[Vieux Normand]

How new is the martial you are you looking for?

New ones are apparently invented all the time.

However, most of them seem to get old real fast.

[DARPAChief]

One year isn't time enough for much of anything.

[Fuzzy]

You could potentially go and do something like the Sensushei course: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senshusei_course

Its Aikido, not Ninjutsu, but its probably the best option for the kind of immersion you're looking for.

That said, it is Aikido, so don't expect much in the way of super-combat-effectiveness.

[Bazwollv]

Hmm the Senshusei course seems very interesting! Akido, have heard of that but I hope it's what I am looking for, will do some research.

I am also looking towards that military training slamdunc talked about, if I do choose to join would it be possible to only just do 1 year of it? Because after that 1 year I want to look towards getting back to the real world.

Thanks for all the replies so far :D

[slamdunc]

I am also looking towards that military training slamdunc talked about, if I do choose to join would it be possible to only just do 1 year of it? Because after that 1 year I want to look towards getting back to the real world.

The only way to get a 'slice' of military is to join the National Guard or Reserves. You still get the training, but it is broken down into segments. Keep in mind that if you go the Special Operations route, you will probably be deployed somewhere unpleasant for a year at a time.

Good luck with whichever path you choose.

[Tonuzaba]

Hello Bazwollv, welcome to Bullshido.

Which country do you live in? We have members from all over the world and I am sure we could point you towards a decent MA school after some clarifications on what you really want.

See the point is not to train the MA in it's country of origin - it is to train it with the best instructors available to you, which is not always the case in the homecountries.

Also, your plan to learn something complex in a single year sounds a little fantasy-like. In any art you would need much more than a year to master it, even if you happen to be a natural talent and train several hours each day.

And one more thing about what your goals are and the already mentioned military: if the only kind of people needed would be Spec Ops guys, there would be no other parts of the army. But there are. Complex situations require the cooperation of specialists of different fields, not a single McGyver.

[erezb]

Hmm the Senshusei course seems very interesting! Akido, have heard of that but I hope it's what I am looking for, will do some research.

I am also looking towards that military training slamdunc talked about, if I do choose to join would it be possible to only just do 1 year of it? Because after that 1 year I want to look towards getting back to the real world.


Thanks for all the replies so far :D

Well, i suggest you test your resolve and warrior spirit first, before you go to be a one year elite soldier or a ninja. All ninjas and warriors are brave men first, are you brave? do you have what it takes? i suggest you go check it out, test your chi first in a good old-school boxing gym and/or Kickboxing gym close to you. Do it for a month, go hard on people so they go hard on you, after a month and at least 30 hard sparring rounds with people that can fight think again of your plans.