Ninja in Iraq

[joshuahai]

So, I'm deployed to Iraq. I do not practice martial arts right now, but am planning on taking BJJ when I get to San Diego. But I heard that they were offering martial arts at the base gym so thought I'd stroll over and check it out. The guy that is working with me decides he wants to come check it out with me. I walk in and see two posters. One is for Aikido/Aiki-jitsu the other is for Ninjitsu.

I kind of snickered a little, just thinking about all the ninja threads I have read on here. My friend, who I have spent everyday with for the last several months, gets all big eyed. He lets out a little laugh. Looks at me and say "Want to see something!" I say sure. He takes off his coat and shows me a tattoo on his arm in what appears to be Japanese Kanji. "It says Ninjitsu" he says proudly.

Now everyday I have to listen to stories about his Ninjitsu antics. How he is an 8th level zen, but his sensei is a 14th and I should really see what he should do. How he used to get into bar fights with his ninja skills every weekend. Now I like this guy. He's not bad, but is there any rescuing him from this ninjaism?

Also, should I bother with Aikido or Ninjitsu? Or should I just hold out for BJJ? I was just thinking it would pass the time.

[Matt Stone]

I'm curious... What service are you in, and what base are you at? I'm at Victory, and we have an MMA class and a semi-JJJ class.

[joshuahai]

I'm at Al Asad, aka Camp Cup Cake. I'm in the Navy.

[Matt Stone]

Sorry, sorry, and sorry. ;)

[omoplatypus]

fuck ninjitsu

but seriously, fuck ninjitsu

play around with them and all you will do is learn bad habits that are hard to break later.

[Melchizedek]

haha, Victory can be a cup cake too. All depends. Hey Matt, when I was there, a guy names Michael Foley was teaching some varied martial arts; he was over on the Liberty side. Ever see him?

[panthersix]

Damn, they taught the MCMAP and boxing at Ramadi when I was there in '05. Freakin boxing class was 3 hours of throwing leather...the instructor was a reservist pro boxer that got called up. Talk about a scary punch!

[joshuahai]

WK- yeah thats what I was thinking. I was going to do it, but I don't want to learn any bad habits. I'm pretty set on studying BJJ.

Matt - Yeah 10 years of ships and somehow I end up in a desert.

Is there any exersise I can do to prepare me for BJJ? I've been doing a lot of distance running. Should I be lifting?

[Sam Browning]

I'm glad I'm not in the military. If I was I would recruit several of your buddies to go visit the guy, people he's never seen before. Your friends would be wearing no insignia, have a folder with the word Top Secret stamped on it and talk earnestly to the guy about a "high speed, low drag" project. They would start asking him how his land nav ability was for places East of the Euphratraties(sp) and if he was able to function with very little water for periods of up to a week or more. I would have him start making the conditions more and more scary until the guy punked, at which point they could say, "I thought you were a Ninja, you pussy".

[rw4th]

Is there any exersise I can do to prepare me for BJJ? I've been doing a lot of distance running. Should I be lifting?

BJJ is intensely anaerobic, so try mixing is some HIIT type conditioning like sprints or if there's a Crossfit group on the base you could try that.

As for the ninja training, I'd tell you to get the guy's name and post it here so we can check him out (who knows, he might be one of the 1% of ninjas that doesn't suck), but seeing as he's deployed publicly posting his name is probably not a good idea.

[illegalusername]

If I was I would recruit several of your buddies to go visit the guy, people he's never seen before. Your friends would be wearing no insignia, have a folder with the word Top Secret stamped on it and talk earnestly to the guy about a "high speed, low drag" project. They would start asking him how his land nav ability was for places East of the Euphratraties(sp) and if he was able to function with very little water for periods of up to a week or more. I would have him start making the conditions more and more scary until the guy punked, at which point they could say, "I thought you were a Ninja, you pussy".

Do this.

Just do it.

[joshuahai]

I'm glad I'm not in the military. If I was I would recruit several of your buddies to go visit the guy, people he's never seen before. Your friends would be wearing no insignia, have a folder with the word Top Secret stamped on it and talk earnestly to the guy about a "high speed, low drag" project. They would start asking him how his land nav ability was for places East of the Euphratraties(sp) and if he was able to function with very little water for periods of up to a week or more. I would have him start making the conditions more and more scary until the guy punked, at which point they could say, "I thought you were a Ninja, you pussy".

So I'm still kind of new around here. Am I suppose to do push-ups or something when you make me choke I'm laughing so hard?

[ninjaboj]

Hi Joshua

Hi Joshua, you must be damn hard to get into the army in the first place! Good luck with whatever you choose! And scalp a Paki Iraki for me! HAHAHA Seriously, Ninjitsu cannot be taught only learned in my opinion. And if you get that your a bigger man then I ! HAHAHAHA

:qbluepira

[ninjaboj]

Hi Joshua

Hi Joshua,
You must be pretty hard to get into the army in the first place! Scalp an Iraki Paki for me would ya? HAHA Also Ninjitsu cannot be taught only learned. Take it easy.

[joshuahai]

Ummm...not sure what an Iraki Paki is. My wife is pakistani maybe she knows. Thank you for your support?