Ninjutsu Training Online

Hello everyone,

I had a lot of emails come pouring in just as 1) we had a major ice storm here at the Shinobi homestead and were without grid power or internet connectivity, and 2) I had been traveling to the West Coast for business meetings, so I thought I would take a few questions that had a similar theme and answer them here!

“What is the best way to get in shape for a ninja or ninjutsu training?”

Great question! And I hope you enjoy the Ninja Warrior Workouts I have posted from time to time here on the blog. So, the first thing I would say is that I attack my own conditioning and physical training in a hard core manner. Whether it is with simple body weight exercises or in the gym, it doesn’t matter I train in a triangular fashion and no 1 leg of the triangle is more important than any other. The three legs are 1) Strength and Conditioning, 2) Cardiovascular conditioning, and 3) Flexibility/mobility work. Now, some of you may be stronger in one leg or another so no worries you just need to keep a strong balance to maximize your physical conditioning levels on an on – going basis.

As way too many people have been asking me about my training, I decided that in 2015 you will see more articles and videos on physical training and let’s not forget the upcoming Ninja Warrior Conditioning training package coming out as well!!

“Do I hold Public classes, or is everything private or members only?”

Well, this is a good question as I do have public and private sessions all the time. My schedule is pretty tight and most public classes are on Saturday mornings. Private sessions, one on one or small group are all scheduled with me and then added to my calendar, the same would go for any seminar or longer term event as well. As you may or may not know I do teach a variety of arts, everything I teach has some basis in ninjutsu’s strategies or principles, it may just take form in a different manner for a different art. I have also been asked why I don’t just have regular classes in a school somewhere and my reason is the same, I just don’t have the time at this point in my life to squeeze too much more in! Also, I have the ability here to run obstacle courses, pistol, shotgun and rifle programs, woodland survival etc. All without having to leave my lovely home! (Take that ninja bitches!! (LOL))

Alright, I hope this helps answer a few questions, keep the questions, comments, suggestion, whatever coming in! I love the feedback and it helps me work on to getting information!

Carpe Diem!

Bufu Ikkan

Airyu – “Living the Ninja Lifestyle!”

“Learning a technique is not an end in itself. It merely indicates where you need to start.” – Soke Hatsumi

As I finished up a lesson with my Son today, I fell back into a memory of when I began training way back when,  there was a passion in his eyes that I feel each day that I train. It doesn’t matter the art I am learning just this quest to be an eternal student.

Techniques are no different, as Soke points out here. They a just a beginning to the amazing flow of skills that start with one point and blossom outward as your understanding grows from the lesson. Now, it doesn’t matter what skill or “technique” you are starting with, for example I am working on new lock picking skills, and I am seeing a lock in a whole new light as I refine my skill sets.  So, let me step back to my Son’s training today, it started off with something very simple, basic parrying and boxing skills, but then I added a footwork pattern, a different henka of that footowork, which lead to a kneeling version, and then open the door for joint locking and what I like to call, “absorbing” an attacker’s energy. Lots of fun and it was quickly grasped as it built upon itself one layer at a time. Yet, it is just a beginning in the journey, there are so many variants that can be added to these basic moves, that it can almost seem endless. Well, of course I demoed afew of the me at each point along the way to show that there is always something new to learn, in fact I even came up with a few new ones that just flowed from where the techniques were at, and I had to smile at that! Always learning, always probing, always evolving!

I hope your week is packed with new opportunities to expand your training!

Bufu Ikkan

Airyu – “Living the Ninja Lifestyle”

As a few of you may know, I have been traveling a bit more than normal these past few months, but I have not let that stop my training. So, I thought a few tips of staying in shape on the road were in order here.

Cardiovascular Workout 1

15 Tuck Jumps

10 Burpees

25 Mountain climbers

10 Push up with a clap

(Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you 5 sets with 2 minute breaks between sets)

Mobility/Flexibility

Each morning I start with the following body loosening exercises.

Seated butterfly stretch

Hurdler stretch each leg

Forward split

Roll Back and Side knee twists

Native squat

Standing Hamstring floor touch

Oblique stretch

Pectoral stretch

Arm rotations

Alright, Ninja Road Warriors, now you cannot say that you can’t stay in shape while you’re traveling! No equipment, no problem! Treat it like a Ninja of ancient Japan would do, and use basic exercises and stretches to keep your self in tip top fighting shape!

Bufu Ikkan

Airyu – “Living the Ninja Lifestyle!”

Hey there ninjutsu practitioners and blog devotees!!

Well, it is 24 days into my new training once per day, every day routine and let me say I feel awesome!! Leaning out, getting stronger and feel more energized each day. So, I hope you have all started doing the same, whether it is flexibility, strength or cardiovascular conditioning, each day set aside some time and hit the floor with some physical conditioning. I am very surprised at my recovering flexibility!! Even at 50 years old, my flexibility has come way way back and I have been doing more each day to improve here(hey maybe it will help my snowboarding this year!!(LOL))

So the reason I started this post and Ninja Challenge is for each and everyone reading here to begin to develop a “Warrior Mindset”, to take on any challenge and succeed, push through those self limiting beliefs and do it anyway. I’ll be honest with you here, there have been several days where my body is hurting, my workout isn’t where I want it to be, and my energy is down. But that’s when I dig in and push myself to get out of bed in the wee dark of the morning, hit the trails for a run, or the basement dungeon for a strength and flexibility workout. My family thinks I’m crazy but yet, I do it anyway.

So have you taken up the challenge yet? Write back to me at Airyu@hotmail.com or post here to the blog, and I want to thank the 71 people who emailed me last week in response to my earlier post, I am getting back to each and every one of you so be patient!!

Bufu Ikkan

Airyu – “Living the Ninja Lifestyle”

 For those of you whom have been reading my posts for the past several years, probably know that I truly believe that  the ancient strategies and tactics of ninjutsu are well suited to the Modern Combative arts that are practiced today.  One of the most important traits in ninjutsu that you must continue to hone and develop is an unwavering never  ending path of self-improvement and self –development. You must be the one that you and your training partners rely  on in combat and the only way to do this to develop a work ethos that surpasses those around you.

Look at each of your days and review what you have learned or added to your skill sets, do this daily until you see a  pattern of improvement. If you have read this site Facebook post on Daily training you should know what I am talking  about. As an example from that post I am now at 16 days of training each and every day. Running, strength building, flexibility and mobility drills, every day I add one session to help me improve physically, now that’s not to say I am not working on my weaknesses as well. As the last few weeks have seen my wife and I down at our shooting range ( yes, the benefits of living where I do is that I have my on range), at first I was a bit rusty on my engagement to multiple targets but that is quickly changing!!

Ninjutsu is a Way of Life and that way is on of self-improvement and self-discovery, learning about yourself your strengths and weaknesses, and working to stay on the path. Here it is Sunday night and I am posting encouragement to my fellow practitioners of ninjutsu, so what say you am I hitting it home this time?

Bufu Ikkan

Airyu – Living the Ninja Lifestyle

ps: Write to me here or at Airyu@hotmail.com with your suggestions or questions! Alot more coming very soon my friends!

Fudoshin is the start of mind where one has become peaceful yet in a state of total determination with an unshakeable will. It is here that we begin our short lesson for today; how do you cultivate this state of mind on a daily basis? But first you must understand that Fudoshin is our protection from the “four sicknesses”  or Shikai of the mind. Those being Doubt, Fear, Anger and Surprise. As a ninjutsu practitioner, becoming immovable in your determination to face life head on is the beginning of this journey of discovery on how to cultivate Fudoshin.

This week, start on the following:

• Wake up early and whether it is dark, cold or hot and sunny, get outside and work out as hard as possible, 3 times. Force yourself to step outside your normal routine and push aside your doubts and just do it.
• When the next person makes you angry, take a deep breath and let it out, and speak very calmly and deal with the situation without anger coming to the surface of your outward appearance. This is very difficult and will teach you a lot about your personal level of control of your emotional state.
• Think about what you are afraid of and do one thing that challenges it to the maximum. Afraid of heights, go rock climbing, afraid of the dark take a flashlight and head out for a walk or a run. Control your emotional state and face down your fear.

“Mental Calmness and not skill is the sign of a mature Samurai”– Tsukahara Bokuden

Think on this, you are about to step out into a combative situation, you very calmly reach for your weapons, or approach with a deadly silent and cold hard stare at your opponent. Without hesitation or appearing at all concerned about their skill level or verbal assault, you psychologically have intimidated and owned your opponent. I have personally used this tactic in real conflict and watched as my opponent whom was one second before all tough and belligerent, suddenly changing their mind that they even want to now tussle with you. Fudoshin, can allow you to control a situation and or help you learn to deal with life’s shikai. Either way it is a skill that can be developed and should be a part of your daily training.

Bufu Ikkan

  Hey Ninjutsu Fans, first thank you for coming to this blog for the best Ninjutsu information that can be found on the  web!! (more to come on that in a second)

It is cold and dark outside and I am getting ready to train once again, just like I have been doing now for 40 years!  Yes, today is my birthday and I have been officially training in the martial arts for forty years!! Holy shit, that seems  like it went by in a heartbeat, and it did. I can remember back in 1978 hearing about Ninjutsu for the first time, then in  1979 reading my first article and I was hooked! Not just because of the martial technique but because the philosophy  or enduring and surviving was resonating in my heart. I am still just as passionate about the arts as I was as just a kid so many years ago. I get excited to see the newest martial arts videos or book to read, and I haven’t stopped training since I started way back when in the dark ages. But, this coming year is going to be very different…. How you may wonder??? ….well, I am going to be giving back to all of you loyal fans and practitioners here, with the best and most informative site on Ninjutsu you will find anywhere. Not only that but new and exciting products will be only released here and to those who are actively involved in our community. So get ready, get set and lets start another year of my training off, now it is time to hit the dark hills and trails for a short 5K before I hit the road for my other life and job!

Bufu Ikkan

Airyu – “Living the Ninja Lifestyle!”

ps: That’s me on the left back in 95 after passing the Godan test!

What there is more…well of course there is! But this is a bit of a divergent post, as it begins to deal with strategy and the application of Mushin, within this context.

In the space between an attack and counter there is a split second where chaos exists. By this I mean it can go either way, either your way or theirs, success or failure, surviving or dying, it is all in a split second between a decision or action or even a non-decision or non-action. This space exists in time, this space exists in distance and learning how to control and utilize it is a high art. Mushin – “no mind”, is exactly there, no thought of success or failure, there is only the now, and you deal only with what is in the “now” in order to survive. How can you deal with what is happened, you can’t you just move on, what about what will happen next, once again you can’t as it is not happening yet. Action in the now, is where the space in between a perfect attack and a counterattack , happens. This strategy is more than just a “strategy” but a piece of living, when you have it happen to you whether in training or when you have become fully engaged in an activity, it is there. There are some who try to grab at it without understanding the basics of the theory I am writing about here. Just so I don’t leave you without any hard lesson and not just my philosophical wanderings, here is an exercise you can practice: During your next training session take 3 or 4 partners and place them around you in a circle, at a specific time, each will attack you with 1 and only 1 attack, you have to only counter with 1 counter, then the next attacker goes, and so forth. The main idea here is not to allow the 1 in the middle to “think” of a counter, the attacks need to be fast, so that the receiver in the middle doesn’t have time to think about what is next. Slowly at first then add progressively more attacks at a faster pace, until it is seamless in flow, countering only with what is, and not anticipating what is next.

Bufu Ikkan

Airyu

The other day while training with my friend, we began to outline and discuss a strategy that I use  (a have stupidly violated, more on that later) in order to defeat techniques,  I call it “the space between or the moment between.”

Let me start off with a story of how I violated this strategy and learned a lesson: Several years ago I was teaching a grappling seminar at a Karate school. During the event I was demonstrating various counters to choking attacks, at one of the breaks, this large gentlemen whom was a police officer, approached me and asked, “how do you escape a rear naked choke?” I foolishly said it depends and let’s try and see. I sat in his guard and he got behind me and put the choke on. Now I thought he was going to just get in position and see what we could do, but he had other ideas and began to squeeze so hard that I immediately knew I was going out very quickly if I couldn’t escape, so I applied an ankle lock counter and a loud pop was heard with a sudden loud grunt as well! I got up and my opponent said, “if I was five years younger I would have taken you,” I said “ if I was five years younger I would have hurt you a lot more…” and so began the strategy “the space between”.

When any technique is on perfectly it becomes almost impossible to counter, this is especially true with weapons as there is no forgiving when a perfectly wielded attack has penetrated your counter, but it is the moment between the perfect ”ON”, and your counter that will save you. Miyamoto Musashi wrote “There is timing in everything. Timing in strategy cannot be mastered without a great deal of practice.” And with that said the space between the movements is where you can successfully learn to protect yourself or loved ones. Counters are just that a counter for a particular attack or defense, but if you truly master the underlying strategy it is almost as if you cannot be touched. Now this strategy sounds simple, but has taken years for me to deeply understand and apply in my martial practice. Soke Hatsumi speaks of the “kukan” which he translated at the time to refer to “Space”, now I move in between the spaces with much more ease, and so should you.

Practice diligently the way of strategy ,

Bufu Ikkan

Airyu

Good Morning Ninja Fans!

Well, fall is here! It is dark at 5:00am, and no better when I start training at 5:30…but like I challenged you all to from our Facebook page, what did you do this morning? Did you sleep in, in your cozy bed or did you get up and add some training to start your day?

Think about it!

Bufu Ikkan

Airyu

(Must work on my Tobi geri after seeing this photo!)