Hello, and let me first say that I am indeed impressed with alot of what I have seen posted by members of bullshido. Most of you have alot of good advice to offer and really seem to know what you're talking about and I look forward to future conversations.
However, the purpose of this post, and I'm sure it has been done countless times before, and I'm sure lots of people can't wait to let me know all about it, is to address the overall attitude that practitioners of the Bujinkan seem to always have thrown their way.
It is my opinion that if someone can't be mature enough to "live and let live" they shouldn't be involved in any martial arts training whatsoever. The inability that I've seen people demonstrate both here and other places to "allow" someone to do what makes them happy without basically attacking them is a sign of a lack of self discipline. Self discipline is something that most martial arts I've seen teach in abundance, and for good reason. If you don't like someone's car, don't buy one like it, but don't kick in the windows either.
I have seen many posts that regard the Bujinkan as useless in a real situation. I think that it should be seen as good rather than bad that Bujinkan budoka do not find often find themselves in the situation to have to fight. This shows awareness, good judgement, and self control in that they seem to have the ability to either avoid a fight or simply walk away. The fact that Bujinkan budoka say "Our techniques are too deadly for sparring" is in most accounts wrong I will admit. However, it is also wrong to say that an entire art is useless just because they don't participate in full contact brawls. Nearly every martial arts class I have seen weren't full contact. They had contact sparring that deffinately let you know your opponent was there, but it wasn't a full on MMA type match. Safety is key in any martial art, I've never seen ANY class that went full speed all the time, from beginner onward. You would seriously hurt people and if your class is like this I would suggest finding a decent school. Some Bujinkan members spar alive opponents and some don't. It's just the way it is. There really is no need to ridicule someone just because he trains differently than you. If alot of people put more time into their training and less time complaining or researching ninjutsu to put someone else down for no good reason, there would be alot of more competent martial artists.
As far as "larping" goes I find this point very amusing. Yes, some Bujinkan budoka cross the larping line. Most of them don't. We are called larpers because we wear a gi. So do practitioners of many classic martial arts, yet they aren't larpers...interesting. We wear tabi...kendo budoka wear straw sandals...we train with weapons...a vast majority of styles do so...seems like a double standard to me and just a reason to hurl insults at people for basically no reason. The only aspects that Bujinkan budoka train in that I can think of that may constitute "larping" would be the stealth aspects of ninjutsu. Those are done out of tradition (as are many aspects of ninjutsu) and are not practiced by all. Practitioners of sword arts are engaged in a beutiful and graceful art that is steeped in traditions that are no longer applicable. Are they ridiculed? Not really from what I've seen and they shouldn't be either. Once again, a double standard. This should mean then that any practitioner of any martial art is larping. Larping stands for "Live Action Roleplaying" and if you have ever sparred, you have larped. Two people who are not actually engaged in a real fight but are "practice fighting" (which is what sparring is) are two people who are PRETENDING to be in a real situation. Real people sparring gives it the "Live Action" part and the "Roleplaying" comes from the fact that the two fighters are fighting, but not really fighting (as in not trying to SERIOUSLY hurt one another, go ahead and tell me you intentionally break noses and bones when you spar...I'll believe you I promise!). So in this light, everyone here is a larper, one less thing you should say when laughing at Bujinkan members.
Also, and I mean no disrespect here, it seems to always be the bjj/mma people, here and elsewhere that seem to relish the opportunity to sling crap at everyone. Not all of them of course, but when you look at the most "informed", "I know everything about fighting" replies to a Bujinkan budoka's posts you see that they practice these arts most frequently. I really don't know why that is, it's just something that I noticed. Perhaps it is because alot of people cross train in those two arts. I will say however that I think it's amusing when MMA fighters critique other martial artists when MMA matches are hilarious to watch. The big, championship matches are nice, but have you ever seen the matches on spike tv, vs, etc? It's great to see the supreme skills of these guys when they fall flat due to a sloppy kick aimed at the other guy's head, then funnier when they lay on their backs and kick at their opponent like a little kid trying to keep an older brother at bay. Or when they happen to take their opponent down, which from what I've seen is a mixture of tackling, wrestling with their opponent's leg for a few seconds, then pushing him over only to lay on top of him and kind of hit him, usually ignoring obvious openings. Nice display of skill when you throw 50 punches/kicks and 10 of them connect. I'm not saying this about all the matches...just most of them.
The point is that every martial art has strengths and weaknesses. Most people you encounter in bad situations are not going to be trained individuals, and anyone with any martial training has the advantage over someone without it. And I do consider someone who constantly fights in bars, etc to be trained. Experience is a good teacher. An MMA fighter who trains and spars constantly, wins 100 matches, and is well thought of on the bullshido forums could be beaten half to death by a guy in a bar just because the other guy hasn't trained with rules and will gouge your eyes, hit your groin, bite you, stab you etc. I hear alot about ground game from alot of people, but what good is it when it has rules? BJJ and MMA both have rules (eye gouging, groin, biting, no weapons, etc.) and therefore the system of fighting is based upon those rules. You don't have to train for the possibility of an opponent having a knife or protecting your eyes from his fingers because it isn't a part of MMA matches or bjj matches. So don't be surprised if your ground game is defeated by a simple thumb putting out your eye or a fist to your groin, or even a knife or broken bottle in your ribs. But, at the same time don't ridicule the "ninjer" for training in the use of metsubishi, calling him out for nothing, when he is in the same situation and simply throws his eye burning shot of tequila in the bar brawlers face and heads out the door getting away from the situation like he is taught to do. The same goes for ridiculing any practioner of any martial art. Everyone has something they can bring to the table, and at the end of the day, I guess we're ALL (you AND me) just a bunch of larpers anyways!
Sorry for the long post, and I'm sorry if I offended anyone. I didn't mean to. I just think we all should look at ourselves before we look at others. Kind of seems like high school where the jocks ("ninjer" haters) pick on the misunderstood kids (the "ninjers") for really no reason at all, besides to make themselves feel superior. After all, what would it hurt to be receptive and possibly learn something from each other rather than argue all the time?
Let the inevitable flaming begin! I guess I deserve it for dropping blood into shark infested waters.
However, the purpose of this post, and I'm sure it has been done countless times before, and I'm sure lots of people can't wait to let me know all about it, is to address the overall attitude that practitioners of the Bujinkan seem to always have thrown their way.
It is my opinion that if someone can't be mature enough to "live and let live" they shouldn't be involved in any martial arts training whatsoever. The inability that I've seen people demonstrate both here and other places to "allow" someone to do what makes them happy without basically attacking them is a sign of a lack of self discipline. Self discipline is something that most martial arts I've seen teach in abundance, and for good reason. If you don't like someone's car, don't buy one like it, but don't kick in the windows either.
I have seen many posts that regard the Bujinkan as useless in a real situation. I think that it should be seen as good rather than bad that Bujinkan budoka do not find often find themselves in the situation to have to fight. This shows awareness, good judgement, and self control in that they seem to have the ability to either avoid a fight or simply walk away. The fact that Bujinkan budoka say "Our techniques are too deadly for sparring" is in most accounts wrong I will admit. However, it is also wrong to say that an entire art is useless just because they don't participate in full contact brawls. Nearly every martial arts class I have seen weren't full contact. They had contact sparring that deffinately let you know your opponent was there, but it wasn't a full on MMA type match. Safety is key in any martial art, I've never seen ANY class that went full speed all the time, from beginner onward. You would seriously hurt people and if your class is like this I would suggest finding a decent school. Some Bujinkan members spar alive opponents and some don't. It's just the way it is. There really is no need to ridicule someone just because he trains differently than you. If alot of people put more time into their training and less time complaining or researching ninjutsu to put someone else down for no good reason, there would be alot of more competent martial artists.
As far as "larping" goes I find this point very amusing. Yes, some Bujinkan budoka cross the larping line. Most of them don't. We are called larpers because we wear a gi. So do practitioners of many classic martial arts, yet they aren't larpers...interesting. We wear tabi...kendo budoka wear straw sandals...we train with weapons...a vast majority of styles do so...seems like a double standard to me and just a reason to hurl insults at people for basically no reason. The only aspects that Bujinkan budoka train in that I can think of that may constitute "larping" would be the stealth aspects of ninjutsu. Those are done out of tradition (as are many aspects of ninjutsu) and are not practiced by all. Practitioners of sword arts are engaged in a beutiful and graceful art that is steeped in traditions that are no longer applicable. Are they ridiculed? Not really from what I've seen and they shouldn't be either. Once again, a double standard. This should mean then that any practitioner of any martial art is larping. Larping stands for "Live Action Roleplaying" and if you have ever sparred, you have larped. Two people who are not actually engaged in a real fight but are "practice fighting" (which is what sparring is) are two people who are PRETENDING to be in a real situation. Real people sparring gives it the "Live Action" part and the "Roleplaying" comes from the fact that the two fighters are fighting, but not really fighting (as in not trying to SERIOUSLY hurt one another, go ahead and tell me you intentionally break noses and bones when you spar...I'll believe you I promise!). So in this light, everyone here is a larper, one less thing you should say when laughing at Bujinkan members.
Also, and I mean no disrespect here, it seems to always be the bjj/mma people, here and elsewhere that seem to relish the opportunity to sling crap at everyone. Not all of them of course, but when you look at the most "informed", "I know everything about fighting" replies to a Bujinkan budoka's posts you see that they practice these arts most frequently. I really don't know why that is, it's just something that I noticed. Perhaps it is because alot of people cross train in those two arts. I will say however that I think it's amusing when MMA fighters critique other martial artists when MMA matches are hilarious to watch. The big, championship matches are nice, but have you ever seen the matches on spike tv, vs, etc? It's great to see the supreme skills of these guys when they fall flat due to a sloppy kick aimed at the other guy's head, then funnier when they lay on their backs and kick at their opponent like a little kid trying to keep an older brother at bay. Or when they happen to take their opponent down, which from what I've seen is a mixture of tackling, wrestling with their opponent's leg for a few seconds, then pushing him over only to lay on top of him and kind of hit him, usually ignoring obvious openings. Nice display of skill when you throw 50 punches/kicks and 10 of them connect. I'm not saying this about all the matches...just most of them.
The point is that every martial art has strengths and weaknesses. Most people you encounter in bad situations are not going to be trained individuals, and anyone with any martial training has the advantage over someone without it. And I do consider someone who constantly fights in bars, etc to be trained. Experience is a good teacher. An MMA fighter who trains and spars constantly, wins 100 matches, and is well thought of on the bullshido forums could be beaten half to death by a guy in a bar just because the other guy hasn't trained with rules and will gouge your eyes, hit your groin, bite you, stab you etc. I hear alot about ground game from alot of people, but what good is it when it has rules? BJJ and MMA both have rules (eye gouging, groin, biting, no weapons, etc.) and therefore the system of fighting is based upon those rules. You don't have to train for the possibility of an opponent having a knife or protecting your eyes from his fingers because it isn't a part of MMA matches or bjj matches. So don't be surprised if your ground game is defeated by a simple thumb putting out your eye or a fist to your groin, or even a knife or broken bottle in your ribs. But, at the same time don't ridicule the "ninjer" for training in the use of metsubishi, calling him out for nothing, when he is in the same situation and simply throws his eye burning shot of tequila in the bar brawlers face and heads out the door getting away from the situation like he is taught to do. The same goes for ridiculing any practioner of any martial art. Everyone has something they can bring to the table, and at the end of the day, I guess we're ALL (you AND me) just a bunch of larpers anyways!
Sorry for the long post, and I'm sorry if I offended anyone. I didn't mean to. I just think we all should look at ourselves before we look at others. Kind of seems like high school where the jocks ("ninjer" haters) pick on the misunderstood kids (the "ninjers") for really no reason at all, besides to make themselves feel superior. After all, what would it hurt to be receptive and possibly learn something from each other rather than argue all the time?
Let the inevitable flaming begin! I guess I deserve it for dropping blood into shark infested waters.
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