First of all, people will probably wonder what my experience is after they have read this post. So far not much...
I trained from childhood in Goju Karate. After that, I studied budo for several years, trying out different forms of karate (notably Chayon Ru). I have recently joined a Bujinkan Dojo, run by a 5th dan under Hatsumi sensei. I am 20, and do not doubt that there is a huge number of people on this forum and elsewhere who have far more martial arts experience than me.
The fact that I am posting about Ninjutsu will probably instantly send eyes rolling, but I cannot help but notice the massive amount of resentment toward Ninjutsu that I see on this forum. Often times even the mention of Ninjutsu on this forum will instantly render the poster an 'idiot', 'pile of cow shit', or whatever else. Or maybe someone will reply along the lines of
Thats why this forum is great and you suck ninja tits.
----
I think this type of resentment toward Ninjutsu is due to a few things...
1) Modern Ninjutsu is very rarely used as a lethal practice, and is never used as a sport. Therefore you get few examples of reality combat effective technique (where both parties are legitimately fighting), and admittedly the technique itself cannot be practiced with true effectiveness.
2) There was and is somewhat of a ninja craze, which has brought to light many fakes like Ashida Kim, and crappy teachers who have tarnished what true Ninjutsu is. Ninja are so blown out of proportion in modern society, that this public viewpoint makes Ninjutsu seem not very credible.
3) Ninjutsu is an art with a lot of depth, and isnt mastered even in a lifetime. Most people you see on youtube are below 10th dan, and a lot of times 5th. Go study with a Shihon and you will see the effectiveness of the art.
4) MMA is very very different from Ninjutsu. :argue:
4) :ninja7:
MMA is different, but still a really cool thing in my opinion. Its great for building physical endurance, honing martial arts skills, and training for real time combat. Take the average MMA chap and line him up with an egotistical ninjutsu practitioner in the octogon...
:beatdead: and you better believe the ninja is dead
But this does not mean ninjutsu is not effective. If someone swings a club at you from behind, a ninjutsu practitioner has training which can help with this real-time situation...
-Sakki jutsu (practicing to roll away from a downward sword strike from behind, when in a kneeling position with eyes closed. youtube it)
-Hanbo Practice
-Katana Practice
-Taijutsu Practice (against weapons etc)
In fact, the effectiveness of true ninpo taijutsu is displayed by history. For example, Takamatsu sensei, the teacher of Hatsumi sensei (the current grandmaster of Bujinkan ninjutsu), fought many to the death duels with experienced fighters in China and Japan. He lost an eye in combat, and had a glass eye until the end of his life. Keep in mind that this is the 33rd of the 34 grandmasters. Ninjutsu has adapted over time, and you see alot of similarities ins Chinese Boxing, and Spider Kung Fu.
Koga Ryu ninjutsu is not legitimately practiced any more, since the art died with Fujita Seiko. This leaves the Bujinkan as the oinly remaining historically legitimate authority for Ninjutsu. Keep in mind that the Bujinkan encompasses a lot more than just that ninjutsu. There is a TON of stuff encompassed by the Bujinkan, and its a lot to learn, let a lone learn to use in real time combat.
Ninjutsu practitioners should follow 18 disciplines(google for details), many of which are arguably not too relevent in modern times.(example: katana, naginata, etc). However, praticing with a katana/naginata just helps you train to move with energy in combat. All of the disciplines can contribute to making you a better martial artist, MMA or not. Spiritual Refinement is the most emphasized of the disciplines, and is not associated with religion, but rather self empowerment. Sui-Jutsu another discipline, and is the practice of water stealth, swimming, etc. Also stealth, survival technique, and geographhy are all included in the disciplines. On the modern battlefield, you will find yourself needing stealth technique, survival technique, and geography experience far more than the ability to take a fist to the head (not that this is not useful). Therefore in reality, ninjutsu is extremely effective if fully utilized. If for some reason you need to hide, you know how. If for some reason you need to fight, you know how. Ninjutsu is refered to as the art of survival for a reason.
These days however, most dojos primarily practice the discipline of Taijutsu (unarmed combat), and also fighting with weapons. In my dojo we have stealth siminars and survival seminars, as well as a lot of taijutsu and weapon practice. The Taijutsu has a lot to offer to a MMA martial artist, or any martial artist for that matter, if they stick with it and enjoy it. Many of the techniques are seen in many marital arts today.
So why not study Ninjutsu, Judo, Aikido, Tang Soo Do, Boxing, Wrestling, and everything else rather than bash so much on ninjutsu? The Bujinkan has a lot to offer to the martial arts community. Thanks for reading my rant :rolleyes:
I trained from childhood in Goju Karate. After that, I studied budo for several years, trying out different forms of karate (notably Chayon Ru). I have recently joined a Bujinkan Dojo, run by a 5th dan under Hatsumi sensei. I am 20, and do not doubt that there is a huge number of people on this forum and elsewhere who have far more martial arts experience than me.
The fact that I am posting about Ninjutsu will probably instantly send eyes rolling, but I cannot help but notice the massive amount of resentment toward Ninjutsu that I see on this forum. Often times even the mention of Ninjutsu on this forum will instantly render the poster an 'idiot', 'pile of cow shit', or whatever else. Or maybe someone will reply along the lines of
Often times even the mention of Ninjutsu on this forum will instantly render the poster an 'idiot', 'pile of cow shit', or whatever else.
----
I think this type of resentment toward Ninjutsu is due to a few things...
1) Modern Ninjutsu is very rarely used as a lethal practice, and is never used as a sport. Therefore you get few examples of reality combat effective technique (where both parties are legitimately fighting), and admittedly the technique itself cannot be practiced with true effectiveness.
2) There was and is somewhat of a ninja craze, which has brought to light many fakes like Ashida Kim, and crappy teachers who have tarnished what true Ninjutsu is. Ninja are so blown out of proportion in modern society, that this public viewpoint makes Ninjutsu seem not very credible.
3) Ninjutsu is an art with a lot of depth, and isnt mastered even in a lifetime. Most people you see on youtube are below 10th dan, and a lot of times 5th. Go study with a Shihon and you will see the effectiveness of the art.
4) MMA is very very different from Ninjutsu. :argue:
4) :ninja7:
MMA is different, but still a really cool thing in my opinion. Its great for building physical endurance, honing martial arts skills, and training for real time combat. Take the average MMA chap and line him up with an egotistical ninjutsu practitioner in the octogon...
:beatdead: and you better believe the ninja is dead
But this does not mean ninjutsu is not effective. If someone swings a club at you from behind, a ninjutsu practitioner has training which can help with this real-time situation...
-Sakki jutsu (practicing to roll away from a downward sword strike from behind, when in a kneeling position with eyes closed. youtube it)
-Hanbo Practice
-Katana Practice
-Taijutsu Practice (against weapons etc)
In fact, the effectiveness of true ninpo taijutsu is displayed by history. For example, Takamatsu sensei, the teacher of Hatsumi sensei (the current grandmaster of Bujinkan ninjutsu), fought many to the death duels with experienced fighters in China and Japan. He lost an eye in combat, and had a glass eye until the end of his life. Keep in mind that this is the 33rd of the 34 grandmasters. Ninjutsu has adapted over time, and you see alot of similarities ins Chinese Boxing, and Spider Kung Fu.
Koga Ryu ninjutsu is not legitimately practiced any more, since the art died with Fujita Seiko. This leaves the Bujinkan as the oinly remaining historically legitimate authority for Ninjutsu. Keep in mind that the Bujinkan encompasses a lot more than just that ninjutsu. There is a TON of stuff encompassed by the Bujinkan, and its a lot to learn, let a lone learn to use in real time combat.
Ninjutsu practitioners should follow 18 disciplines(google for details), many of which are arguably not too relevent in modern times.(example: katana, naginata, etc). However, praticing with a katana/naginata just helps you train to move with energy in combat. All of the disciplines can contribute to making you a better martial artist, MMA or not. Spiritual Refinement is the most emphasized of the disciplines, and is not associated with religion, but rather self empowerment. Sui-Jutsu another discipline, and is the practice of water stealth, swimming, etc. Also stealth, survival technique, and geographhy are all included in the disciplines. On the modern battlefield, you will find yourself needing stealth technique, survival technique, and geography experience far more than the ability to take a fist to the head (not that this is not useful). Therefore in reality, ninjutsu is extremely effective if fully utilized. If for some reason you need to hide, you know how. If for some reason you need to fight, you know how. Ninjutsu is refered to as the art of survival for a reason.
These days however, most dojos primarily practice the discipline of Taijutsu (unarmed combat), and also fighting with weapons. In my dojo we have stealth siminars and survival seminars, as well as a lot of taijutsu and weapon practice. The Taijutsu has a lot to offer to a MMA martial artist, or any martial artist for that matter, if they stick with it and enjoy it. Many of the techniques are seen in many marital arts today.
So why not study Ninjutsu, Judo, Aikido, Tang Soo Do, Boxing, Wrestling, and everything else rather than bash so much on ninjutsu? The Bujinkan has a lot to offer to the martial arts community. Thanks for reading my rant :rolleyes:
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