The Art of Preparedness

We live in an unstable world and you really don’t have to look far to find some kind of trouble brewing. Whether it is rioting, kidnapping all the way to mother nature’s fury, there is no better time to begin practicing ninjutsu.

Our ancient forbears faced many if not all of the same pressures and dangers that we do, and they created a martial arts tradition that prepared them to be able to deal with the situations that surrounded them. From the 18 traditional skills in the Togakure ryu to the combative arts contained within the 9 traditions we practice, the art of ninjutsu is one of preparedness.

The other day I treated 6 youth with basic first aid. First, because I was prepared with a well stocked medical kit and secondly because I was prepared with training. When I train I apply the same approach with my students and I. Application of strategies and tactics that prepare them to survive a combative situation, and that could be a mugging, fight, counter kidnapping or escape and evasion situation.(I do have an interesting mix of students who may need to apply these skills real time)

In the coming months we will be focusing this website to preparing each of you with new skills, challenges, and training advice to take you to a new level of application in ninjutsu’s traditions. So take some time and hit me up via email to send me your suggestions on what you would like to see here and on the Facebook page(You better be there as well!) and I will do my best to start supplying us all with the best information possible!

To a new beginning here!!!

Bufu Ikkan

Airyu – Living the Ninja Lifestyle

Mi wo Shinobu – a body that is conditioned, trained and maintained for physical endurance.

Hello Ninjutsu Fans

This post is partly a rant as well as a wake up call for all those individuals who call themselves a practitioner of ninjutsu.

The other day I was working with a student and they were complaining that they didn’t get any time to train outside of class and they were out of shape and not progressing where they wanted to be. Being the enlightened teacher I am, I stated “ then start working out, no one has the time, you make the time or you don’t.” As an example, I am a very busy guy, I work as an executive running a business, I travel at least a week a month, I have a growing homestead/farm, I am active in my community and I train every day for the last 63 days in a row, and before that at least 4 times per week!

Don’t tell me you don’t have time, get your ass up and make the time. Get up early or stay up late and get your training session in. This is a mental game , the physical part of it will cause you pain and hardship but driving you each day has to be the Ninja mindset and discipline to do it.

So why my rant, well how many of you know an overweight and out of shape “Sensei” who watches and tells the class to do X an all the while is doing Y. Meaning he is doing very little!

Alright enough of the rant, here are a few things to start doing every day:

• Cardio conditioning: skipping rope wind sprints, trail running, road running, swimming, biking and so much more.
• Strength training: Body weight, free weight, machine driven, odd objects, all great work.
• Flexibilty/Mobility: static stretching, dynamic stretching, yoga, mobility chains. As we age this is critical!

Only 3 areas to focus on but so much to cover so stay tuned as there will be several new videos posted, drills added, and routines discussed!

Now hit the training floor, no excuses!

Bufu Ikkan

Airyu – “Living the Ninja Lifestyle!”

Hey there ninjutsu peeps!

Well, it has been a crazy couple of weeks here in the USA, the first Hurricane bore down on Texas and now the second is tracking toward Florida, Yikes!!

This reminds me of ancient times when a ninja had to be prepared for all eventualities in life. Bad weather, war, famine, disease, whatever it was a ninja had to be ready to deal with the circumstances and survive. Today is no different, except we as a culture have become a whole lot softer and more reliant on others to “care” for us. But if you are here reading this post, you are not the average run of the mill person. You have taken time to train in an art that teaches us to endure and survive. So here it is are you ready for what can come at you? Are you able to endure 72 hours without hitting the stores?

Think about walking into the store and seeing this:

So, what are you doing to prepare for all eventualities? I am blessed to live in a rural area with a small homestead. The power can go out, and I can still thrive here.

What about you and your family?

So here is the challenge for all of you out there become 72 hour independent! 72 hours sounds so easy, a little food, water, a box of band aids, but what about entertainment, lighting, food cooking, finances…oh you thought of everythin g now didn’t you!

Sounds easy, but this isn’t about martial arts practice, no it isn’t it is about life skills! I think it is time we (maybe me) started getting some information and skills out to you ensure you have the best information you can get Here is a short list of items to have on hand:

FOOD AND WATER

(A three-day supply of food and water, per person, when no refrigeration or cooking is available)

• Protein/Granola Bars
• Trail Mix/Dried Fruit
• Crackers/Cereals (for munching)
• Canned Tuna, Beans, Turkey, Beef, Vienna Sausages, etc (“pop-top” cans that open without a can-opener might not be a good idea.)
• Canned Juice
• Candy/Gum (warning: Jolly Ranchers can melt and using mint gum might make everything taste like mint.)
• Water (1 Gallon/4 Liters Per Person)

BEDDING AND CLOTHING

• Change of Clothing (short and long sleeved shirts, pants, jackets, socks, etc.)
• Undergarments
• Rain Coat/Poncho
• Blankets and Emergency Heat Blanks (that keep in warmth)

• Cloth Sheet
• Plastic Sheet

FUEL AND LIGHT

• Battery Lighting (Flashlights, Lamps, etc.) Don’t forget batteries!
• Extra Batteries
• Flares
• Candles
• Lighter
• Water-Proof Matches

EQUIPMENT

• Can Opener
• Dishes/Utensils
• Shovel
• Radio (with batteries!)
• Pen and Paper
• Axe
• Pocket Knife
• Rope
• Duct Tape

PERSONAL SUPPLIES AND MEDICATION

• First Aid Kit and Supplies

• Toiletries (roll of toilet paper- remove the center tube to easily flatten into a zip-lock bag, feminine hygiene, folding brush, etc.)
• Cleaning Supplies (mini hand sanitizer, soap, shampoo, dish soap, etc. Warning: Scented soap might “flavor” food items.)
• Immunizations Up-to-Date
• Medication (Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, children’s medication etc.)
• Prescription Medication (for 3 days)

PERSONAL DOCUMENTS AND MONEY

(Place these items in a water-proof container!)

• Scriptures
• Genealogy Records
• Patriarchal Blessing
• Legal Documents (Birth/Marriage Certificates, Wills, Passports, Contracts, etc)
• Vaccination Papers
• Insurance Policies
• Cash
• Credit Card
• Pre-Paid Phone Cards

MISCELLANEOUS

• Bag(s) to put 72 Hour Kit items in (such as duffel bags or back packs, which work great) Make sure you can lift/carry it!
• Infant Needs (if applicable)

Bufu Ikkan

Hey Ninjutsu fans, it has been quite a while since I have written a post here. I am not dead and if you are following the Facebook page you would know that I am posting there at least once a week (Motivation Monday’s) but anyway no excuses, I am back to posting so let’s jump in!

Every day we have a choice to wake up and start the day with a bang or hit that snooze button and go back to sleep. Well, if you are like me you get up and start the ninja grind, pushing yourself to be better, learn more and be a better martial artist. There is no easy day, no day off if you want to achieve and improve. Yeah, that is the hard truth, No Easy Day!

This morning I woke up early (shit it is even Sunday) sore and stiff from class the day before, grabbed some coffee, and started self-massage, stretching, and mobility drills. Then suited up for a 6.6 mile run on the rural roads around my home, had breakfast (yogurt, nuts and fruit), finished this post, cut and split firewood, got in some no spin short blade throwing, time on the range, developed plans for the week, class notes posted etc..etc..etc

What did you do?

My days are far from easy, I push myself hard, when I need rest, I rest but then I hit the learning aspect to keep me sharp, my mind and yours needs training just like any other muscle. Now, this isn’t supposed to be some motivational, Pollyanna post to say, now you can do it to, this is a post about what I do and think that Ninjutsu practitioners, hell good martial artists should be doing every day. Whether or not you decide to read this and get inspired or not is up to you. I am just throwing it out to get you thinking like a ninja…No Easy Day, yes the SEAL’s use this saying as well as elite athletes around the globe, and I am here to tell you it is true, your days should not be comfortable, or easy as it does not prepare you for life.

I am a big fan of the stoic philosopher Seneca and I read this short piece at least once or twice a week:

“Set aside now and then a number of days during which you will be content with the plainest of food, and very little of it, and with rough, coarse clothing, and you will ask yourself: ‘Is this what one used to dread?’”

It reminds me that what I think, dread and fear is far from the truth, and that by training hard and pushing myself each day, I can overcome obstacles that I didn’t think I could. My philosophy of “No Easy Day” isn’t unique, it isn’t for everyone and most people who start down this path will drop it after a few days, but a true ninja warrior will read this embrace it and put it into practice in their lives and training.

Now, what are you going to do after reading this, just asking…

Bufu Ikkan

Airyu –“Living the Ninja Lifestyle!”

Hello Ninjutsu Fans,

Time for another post to help expand your training and knowledge, this post is about Cover vs Concealment.

Pretty straight forward  and easy to understand but too many people I have seen or even trained with make common mistakes when talking about cover or concealment. So lets start with Concealment. Concealment by it’s name alone explains it, you are hiding or concealing yourself from someone or something. Common methods utilize camouflage, shadow play, night movements etc. A key here is that you are not protected by anything (usually) when you are speaking about concealment.

Now cover is something completely different but it can also conceal you. Cover is the use of solid objects between you and your enemy, preventing projectiles or another type of weapon to penetrate you easily. Not all cover is good, like hiding behind soft furniture will not stop a bullet, nor will most single sheet rocked walls. A nice brick or concrete wall or multiple inches of solid wood can help to cover you. So I think you are getting the difference here.

Now there are methods to enhance your concealed location to enhance your protection. Some examples are layers of ballistic cloths within a couch or chair, the same can also be added to your automobile panels. Other ideas are a bit more work like hardening your walls with layers of steel plating or sand bags in a wall.

A modern ninjutsu practitioner must be aware of the use and protection from firearms and cover and concealment are two tactics that you need to understand well and make use of in your life plans.

Bufu Ikkan

Airyu

Hello Ninja Warriors,

I am back to posting again!! Well, if you follow the Facebook page you would see there are a lot of additional posts that happen there as well..hint..hint!

Here we go —

“However, you must be aware of being touched or moved by something negative. I am referring to what we were discussing earlier, about immature and open hearted young people being “touched” by manipulative con artists. They want so badly to believe in what they want, that they do not realize they are being lead dangerously astray from the true warrior ideal they claim to have pledged themselves to in the first place.” – Soke Hatsumi

How true these words are today in so many aspects of our lives!

Look at the recent rhetoric thrown back and forth between the presidential candidates, news media, rumors from friends, various martial arts schools, cults etc. But how do you hold true and see through the clouds of misinformation that is spewed out from individuals? Well you have to be resolute in your approach to discerning the underlying truth!

Let me utilize the news as an example: you hear a story on the evening news, and take it at face value, but really you should be doing your own research on the situation. Looking at alternative view points left, right, center even conspiracy theorist have a place in your review. I look at martial arts schools and teachers the same way. I have met many, probably hundreds of instructors in many styles, some only believe their way is the way. But how do they know this? Over the years I have gathered a large collection of research material in written, video and audio form. I have interviewed many individuals, been involved in the launch of the martial arts forums around the web, and yet I still have only scratched the beginning of understanding the way.

A ninja, whether historical or modern, must be deeply involved in understanding, researching and defining his knowledge and information each day. You have taken a step by reading my posts, but don’t take my word on anything, your individual research will point you to the truth.

More to come, my brothers in the arts.

Bufu Ikkan

Airyu

Situational Awareness

“Fumio sat in the small soba shop, carefully positioning himself near the rear exit but allowing him an unobstructed view of the front of the shop. He had already noted the two men sitting at right of the shop when he entered, both whom were armed with tantos under their clothes. The tattoos indicated they were Yakuza. Fumio rarely missed an opportunity to hone his awareness and observational skills, as in his line of work it could spell the difference between life or death….”

Our ancient Ninja predecessors possessed an almost superhuman ability to observe and analyze their surroundings, giving them an “edge” over those individuals attempting to do them harm. This isn’t just some “spy” tactic but a real world skill that you can learn and improve upon, it is known as situational awareness.

Situational awareness is being aware of what is happening around you and understanding and processing that information, so that you can take actions that may be necessary in a variety of situations. What many people won’t tell you though is that situational awareness is’nt a natural occurring skill, and it is perishable, and requires practice to be maintained.

When I teach others about situational awareness I normally start off with this basic drill(I have written about this before)

Drill #1 – “What would I do if….” Ask yourself what would you do if a situation occurred when you were in a restaurant. Can you access a weapon? Are you carrying a weapon, where is the best cover and or concealment, How would I get my loved ones to safety? Etc etc, this game can go on and on and it should be a daily part of your life and training.

Ok, so you probably all remember that drill so here is the next one in the training series:

Drill #2 – “Eyes up and ahead” – Each day when you are walking, take a look around you and notice how many people will not make eye contact with you, or are caught up on their phone, texting or even listening to music. Now your part, don’t look down or away, but each person you walk by try and make eye contact with them. Be confident and sure of yourself, hold your head up and eyes ahead, be aware of who is approaching or entering your space.

So, it two drills to quickly start adding to your skill base. But…wait there is more!

Drill #3 – “Kim’s Game. I love this game, I have used it in many, many ways teaching this to boy scouts, police, military as well as martial artists for years. The game develops a person’s capacity to observe and remember details. The name is derived from Rudyard Kipling’s story, in which the hero, Kim, plays the game during his training as a spy. Basically at it’s simplest, it involves setting up a few objects on a tray covered and then quickly removing the cover, allowing the students to see them and then quickly covering them again. Now it is up to the student to remember what is was on the tray. Now that is a simple version, one I often add is to ask my students questions like “ How many cars are in the yard? What color are they? What was different on the way into the school? And I ask these a lot! Forcing students to be aware of what is around them as they never know when I am going to ask the next question. This game is utilized in military sniper training, recon work etc. It will go a long way to building your observation skills!

Drill #4 – “Wide angle vision” – This drill is a great way to help people understand we too often have tunnel vision when we are in an area we feel comfortable in. Focusing only on what is right in front of you is a sure way to get yourself killed on a battlefield. Basically this drill involves you using drill #2 but also to expand your view to take in everything that is in the 180 degree capability of your eyes.(Yes, I know not everyone can see that wide! But try!)

Drill # 5 – “Exit interview” – Now this one you will need a partner for, next time you go somewhere let’s say a restaurant, after you leave ask your partner How many people where at the server station? How many people were in the waiting area? What color was the shirt of your server? What was there name? How much was the check? Again this is another way to get you tuning in on what is going on around you each day.

Too often we are in a bubble that surrounds us and we close off what is actually going on around you. We need to break down the artificial barrier and take in with all of our senses what is going on around you. Not only will you be better prepared to face potential threats but also you may just take in more of life that is going on just outside of your awareness.

Bufu Ikkan!

Airyu!