“The vast universe, beautiful in its coldly impersonal totality, contains all that we call good or bad, all the
answers for all the paradoxes we see around us. By opening his eyes and his
mind, the Ninja can responsively follow the subtle seasons and reasons of
heaven, changing just as change is necessary, adapting always, so that in the
end there is no such thing as a surprise for the Ninja.”

Toshitsugu Takamatsu

Ha (Break)

When begin to discuss the philosophy of “to break” one needs to understand your art deeply. Here is where I find many people lose track of the purpose of a technique. The purpose is to teach a principle that applies to a specific attack situation (kata). The purpose of varying from the technique (henka) is to expand upon your understanding, and application of a technique or principle.

To break away, is the step, which begins to internalize the nature of Ninjutsu. Too many beginners want to start with all the fancy variations that Instructors teach or demonstrate, but yet how can they, if they do not have a proper understanding of the fundamental of their art? This applies to both the physical combat methods, or the strategies and esoteric knowledge that is contained within ninjutsu.

As an example, when I was learning lock picking on a basic master lock, I was at times frustrated as I
could not open the lock immediately, yet with hours of practice, I could eventually open the lock in less than a few seconds, but I had not yet broken away from the basic skills. So, I decided to challenge myself with my Yale door lock I had purchased awhile back for practice. Within a minute or so I was able to apply my skills and open the lock! I had moved from the basics of one lock
and broken off to a new and different feel and type, yet I was still grounded in the fundamentals of the art.

As you continue to develop their will be many walls or obstacles put in front of a student testing your greater understanding of Ninjutsu principles and practice. Here are some words of wisdom that were passed to Soke Hatsumi from Takamatsu Sensei,

“As for walls, think of them as being made out of ice. If you are a man who possesses a warm heart of natural justice, Hatsumi, hitting a wall will be no problem. Walls made of ice will just melt!”

Remember – first preserve, then break and diversify, but stay grounded in the fundamentals.

Bufu Ikkan

Sensei Steve L.

Tobi – Ninjutsu’s Leaping skills:

In this short clip you can see one of my students and I clearing about 4 ½ feet high over the bar, but why the hell would you ever need this in you training or life.

Tobi- The category within taihenjutsu, that covers leaping
is an essential skill to aid your abilities for avoidance, climbing, advancing
or retreating quickly, or even added to your ukemi skills. As an example, when
I trail run, I often have to leap over logs, boulders, ditches, even small
streams, I do this on the run and can cover some significant heights and
distances through my training efforts. If you would like to improve your
leaping skills here are three training tips to send you on your way.

1)     Explode! Yes, explode; learn to utilize every
ounce of energy and muscle tension to leap forward, backward, Up and side to
side. Do this while starting from a standing position (Shizen no kamae), and
see how far you can expand your leaps over several weeks.

2)     Use resistance bands to pull you back while you
practice. I actually use bungee cords and have even used old bike inner tubes
to add this type of resistance.

3)     Plyometrics. Add plyometrics training to your
regular routine and you will be leaping further and higher, never mind the
added cardio sessions to your workouts.

In the Ninja Warrior Conditioning series, you will learn a
host of bodyweight and simple tool assisted training drills that will push you
to a  level of conditioning like those of
our  ninja warrior ancestors. (all in the
Ninja Lesons!)

Shu – Ha – Ri

(Protect-Break-Leave behind)

During your training in Ninjutsu, you will transition through many development stages. Along this path, you will have to
overcome obstacles that hinder or slow your progress. I have been asked by many students wondering about what to concentrate on, or what is right or wrong at each of these stages.  They see senior students training on the kihon happo, and various henka, and ask me “what is right?”, “where should I focus my next practice on?”  “how can I progress faster?”My answer to
these questions, are the principles contained within “shu – ha – ri. “

To grasp the principles contained in shu – ha – ri, you must start at shu (Protect).

Shu
(Protect)

In “protecting” one’s art, and at the simplest of understanding, each of us, have to start with
the fundamentals of our art, and practice them diligently. There is no need to forget them in fact you must master them for a true understanding of that which you practice. Training daily in the fundamentals of ninjutsu, like the sanshin
no kata, happo no sabbaki, kihon happo, and the kata of the various ryuha that comprise the curriculum of ninjutsu.

In Soke Hatsumi’s words,

“It means a Budoka obeying that which he must while pursuing Bufu Ikkan, and refers
to a process where one is consistent and single minded about observing kihon
happo, budo techniques, one’s attitude when learning budo, and the rules of
training.”

“Protecting” is the essence of learning a warrior tradition, the lessons being taught in these basic and sometimes even advanced lessons, are ones that have been gleaned from successful combative encounters, and can form the basis for many strategies, that you can employ in self protection or the protection of others. They may include deceptive tactics (kyojitsu tenkan no ho),
solid fighting tactics or even avoidance method. This stage in your training should not be glanced over or even treated as being “just a beginner”, as it is here you will form a firm and deep understanding of the systems fundamentals.

Remember, “We all need to continue to develop a beginner’s heart.”

In my many years of training and teaching I have run across several if not many low level instructors teaching in a very mediocre manner when this most basic of steps was left out of their  training. This could be  due to their Instructor’s teaching or even the young instructor simply deciding that they did not need to learn and master their fundamentals of their system in
this manner. What is sad is that many are not even aware of their deficit and their students will only suffer for it.

So I end this post with a question and a request: Honestly reflect and self examine where you are today in your training, and if you have not mastered the fundamentals and are protecting your art, take a step back and learn with a beginner’s mind once again.

Bufu Ikkan

 (As I am preparing Lesson 3 for release, there is an 8 page component covering “shu” which includes a checklist to help you stay on track.)

A Ninjutsu Practitioner should be keenly aware of their actions and
how it announces them to the world. In the ancient days there were even several
famous jonin whom lived quiet unassuming lives, some even having multiple
families and dwellings to confuse their enemy’s, all while being active
espionage agents.

Within Ninjutsu’s curriculum there is a term, “mugei munei no jitsu” (No
name , No Art) I have taken this strategy and expanded  it to the Anonymous living series of lessons. Contained in those lessons are a host of ideas to make your life much more difficult to
track or to become an easy target of your enemy’s actions. Here are a few tidbits from the various lessons:

1)     Avoid placing personal identification on your
checks. That includes your address and telephone information.

2)     Don’t have items delivered to you on a regular
basis. Items such as the paper, or if you are lucky milk or groceries. This is
a sure way to tell if you are currently around or traveling from your home.

3)     Vary your routes on the way to and from basic
errands and work.

4)     Keep your schedule varied! Don’t fall into the
trap of always stopping for your favorite cup of coffee at the same location each
day.

5)     Examine your daily habits and eliminate those
that make you stand out. Remember to be the gray man.

Yes, there are only 5 hints here, but they can become very
powerful in your life if practiced in a daily fashion.

Bufu Ikkan

Sensei Steve

Here is a pretty sweet video of the Fukiya (Blowgun) utilized by the ancient ninja warriors. Utilizing a common tool, or instrument for that matter, into a deadly weapon or unothordox tool to accomplish a mission, was decidely a very powerful strategy of the ninjutsu clans.

Bufu Ikkan

Sensei Steve L.

Many people are curious as to the diet consumed by the famous martial artists of Japan known as the Ninjas. Today, we currently acknowledge that the Japanese diet is considered by health experts to be one of the healthiest in the world. Japan, has one of the highest Life expectancies, and obesity has only recently become an issue with the infiltration of western fast foods. But as a subset of this culture the Ninja diet was born. From historical sources, we’ve learned the ninja diet was largely macrobiotic in nature and consisted of:

• Brown rice
• Sesame
• Buckwheat
• Tofu
• Umeboshi
• Seaweed
• Various mountain vegetables.
• Small fish (bones and all)

Living in remote areas, a ninja clan would often have to live off the land, augmenting their cultivated crops with wild edible plants, and game. This type of diet would be high in nutritional factors, low in fat or processing. All things that we today should be striving for in our warrior diet, maybe it is time for you to adopt a new and healthier ninja nutrition plan in your life!

Now this is just a small sample of the nutrition that a ninjutsu warrior would need to keep them in top fighting shape and in lesson two there is an expanded lesson covering the Ancient and Modern Ninja Warrior Diet, while in lesson 3 there are several recepies for delicious and nutritious meals.

Stay tuned here for more on the Ninja Warrior diet, recipes and much, much more!!

Bufu
Ikkan!

Ningu, or Ninja Tools, covers a wide array of specialized tools that an ancient practitioner of ninjutsu would utilize to accomplish their missions on a daily basis. Some of these items would include, shuriken (Throwing blades), tetsubishi (caltrops), metsubishi (Blinding powder), gando (candle spotlight), even the shinobi shozoku (ninja costume). Each of these tools was specialized and fit into the daily life of our distant practitioners (yes I do cover this area in great detail in the lesson sections) but these items may not “fit the bill” in today’s environment. Items such as high intensity flashlights, night vision devices, OC dispensers etc are what amodern ninja may be carrying.

So in today’s society just what would a Ninja carry as his everyday tools to help them survive in a chaotic world and if captured help him or her escape. Well, this is a short list of a rotating equipment list that I and others utilize on a daily basis, sometimes know as a Tier 1 level kit, review, absorb, and what is specifically your own!

Tier 1

1)     Multitool

2)     Lock picks

3)     Small flashlight

4)     Handcuff key

5)     Bobby pin

6)     Barette shim

7)     OC fog grenade

8)     Fixed blade

9)     Lighter

10)  Paracord

11)  Cell Phone

I hope you enjoyed this material, coming soon Kakushi buki (hidden weapons)!!!

Bufu Ikkan

Sensei Steve

Fudoshin (Immovable heart), the enduring through trials and tribulations, both physical and or mental,that is what a Ninja excels at.

“The essence of the ninja spirit is fortitude. Perseverance of mind, body, and character. Endure shame, forget jealousy. The origin is patience.” – Shoto Tanemura

One trait that a ninjutsu practitioner must acquire and develop is in Japanese, Fudoshin, or immovable heart. This is the
endurance to persevere through hardships and continue on undaunted. Is this any different than the warrior elite community? Those members of the special operations groups and teams that put their life on the line each day, but not only this offered themselves up in training, only to learn that they could push through what they didn’t believe possible with their bodies and mind.

The Ninja or Samurai of the distant past developed the same trait and so can you. You must be able to endure even what the most impossible of circumstances might throw at you, and continue on. There is no easy path in any endeavor towards success, at times you must fight and train with a ferocity unbridled, and then the next day comes and you pick up your own sore and battered body to start again and again until you have mastered what you are seeking.

This is Fudoshin, the immovable heart of Ninjutsu.

My question to you is, are you ready to take that first step and apply yourself fully to a long and arduous path in learning and developing the skills within ninjutsu.

If you are, the lessons here will take you far, so start now.

Bufu Ikkan

Sensei Steve

Choho is Ninjutsu’s method of Espionage.

Choho, includes such skills as reporting secret investigations, political plots, unconventional tactics to accomplish necessary
ends, the recruitment and directions of agents, the establishment of intelligence gathering programs and networks, and finally unconventional warfare tactics. But how do you begin to take the traditional strategies and tactics and apply them in a modern day life?

Let’s give you a little practice…

Neighborhood Intelligence Gathering:

1)     Find out your nearest neighbors full name, birth
place and how many siblings they have.

2)     Where do your neighbors work?

3)     Are any of your neighbors active in the shooting
sports?

4)     Are any of your neighbors medically trained?

5)     How many off road capable vehicles are in your
neighborhood?

6)     How many homes are alarmed or have dogs?

7)     List 3 different routes to and from your work to
home

Alright, just a few tasks for a budding Ninja operative to know about their surroundings, there will be several more of these pop quizzes
heading your way!

Bufu Ikkan

Sensei Steve