Combat Arts - stuff that really works

Combat Arts - Ninjutsu - Are Ninja for real?

I started Combat Arts pages with Aikijujutsu - a traditional Samurai art. Now for something completely different - Ninjutsu.
Ninja were the SEALs of feudal era Japan.
Highly trained in unarmed and armed combat, they were most often used for information gathering in the enemy territory, as well as nighttime raids on high value targets - preferably enemy commanders.
Specialists in concealment, silent entry, and well versed in assasination techniques, they were feared throughout Japan. Currently, ninja arts are taught under an umbrella name of Bujinkan, organization headed by Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi - inheritor of 9 traditional warrior arts.

Ninja Today

Ninjutsu fad started in the United States in the early 1980s, and is going strong into the 21st century. Early promoter of the art was Stephen Hayes, who traveled to Japan to visit Dr. Massaki Hatsumi - who heads 9 warrior traditions ( ryu ), including Togakure ryu - a recognized ninja tradition. Hayes published a series of books, and gave seminars throughout the country. Soon, many American ninja "masters" appeared, to cash in on the fad. In the meantime, Hayes kept up his seminars, over time creating numerous training groups throughout the United States.

Stephen Hayes

Stephen Hayes has left the mainstream Bujinkan tradition,
and started his "own thing" - To-Shin Do - based on the training he received from Hatsumi. Here is a clip of Hayes in action. The white bearded guy is Hayes.

Stephen Hayes Ninjutsu

Stephen Hayes ninjutsu training

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Books by Stephen Hayes

Many of these books are old - showing his level of understanding of the art at that point in time - still, they are worth reading to get the feeling for the early days - the excitement, mystery and basic techniques.

The Ninja and Their Secret Fighting Art

by: Stephen K. Hayes

This is the book that started it all. Hayes descibes his trip to Japan to meet Dr. Hatsumi, and the conversations they had.
Descriptions of early training. Still considered one of the best books on the subject of Ninjutsu.

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Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 12/16/2009)
List Price: $14.95

Ninja Volume 1: Spirit of the Shadow Warrior

by: Stephen Hayes

First in a series fo 6 books that cover basics - positions, techniques, philosophy behind the movement.

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Amazon Price: $17.00 (as of 12/16/2009)
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Ninjutsu

by: Stephen Hayes

Hundreds of pictures of basic techniques. Warning: you cannot learn the movement from a book. Even watching videos, while can show movement, does not explain the vital
principles behind the movement. Not a substitute for studying with a qualified instructor.

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Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 12/16/2009)
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The Mystic Arts of the Ninja

by: Stephen Hayes

Phlosophical and spiritual aspects of ninjutsu; mental disciplines, the side not normally visible in training, yet just as important.

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Amazon Price: $15.34 (as of 12/16/2009)
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Secrets from the Ninja Grandmaster: Revised and Updated Edition

by: Stephen K. Hayes, Masaaki Hatsumi

Hayes interviews Dr. Hatsumi. Read and re-read. Many points are pretty subtle.

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The 9 Warrior Traditions of Bujinkan

Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi is the current head of the 9 warrior traditions that are taught under the Bujinkan umbrella organization:

Togakure-ryu Ninpo Taijutsu - a ninjutsu tradition, includes unarmed combat skills, ninja sword (a style of swordfighting distinct from that of the samurai), long staff, chains, throwing blades (straight and star shaped) and a number of special purpose weapons. In 2008 Togakure ryu is the focus for training throughout Bujinkan.
If you ever thought of learining true ninjutsu -this is the year.

Gyokko-ryu Kosshijutsu - art originating in China, involving attacks to muscle and nerve points.

Kuki Shinden Happo Bikenjutsu - a traditonal art involving both unarmed taijutsu (locks, entanglements, strangling, striking and kicking) as well as long staff, sword, and spear.

Koto-ryu Koppojutsu - this school specializes in using larger bones to strike weaker ones of the opponent (bone breaking art).

Shinden Fudo-ryu Dakentaijutsu - contains both grappling and striking methods, as well as use of battlefield (large) size sword, hammer, and battle axe.

Takagi Yoshin-ryu Jutaijutsu - believed to be an art taught to bodyguards, includes unarmed against sword techniques.

Gikan-ryu Koppojutsu - Koppojutsu means attacks against bones - Gikan-ryu is supposedly based on Gyokko-ryu and Koto-ryu
(another bone breaking art).

Gyokushin-ryu Ninpo - a ninjutsu tradition, involving espionage techniques, as well as many techniques of "sacrifice throws".

Kumogakure-ryu Ninpo - a ninjutsu tradition, similar to Togakure-ryu, includes use of spear, sword and body armor.

So what is it about...

Ninjutsu, as taught today in Bujinkan, has little to do with espionage. It is taught as a self protection art - allowing skilled practitioner to both protect himself/herself and his/her loved ones
(I say his/her not to be politically correct, but to recognize an unusually high percentage of female students - as compared to other martial arts).
Training emphasizes relaxed movement, using entire body mass to generate power for strikes, kicks and takedowns. Strikes are directed at all major joints, nerve centers, and other structurally weak parts of the body. As the practitioners advance in skill, movement becomes smaller, more refined, while increased attention is paid to unbalancing the opponent both physically and psychologically. Groundwork is considered normal part of training - many techniques result in the defender rolling along with/on the attacker, delivering strikes to nerve centers and joints. Weapons - swords, knives, half-staff and weighted chains are standard part of curriculum. They are not treated as separate arts, but rather as mere extensions of human body - the same body movement principles apply.

Masaaki Hatsumi - the grandmaster.

Anybody who has trained with Dr. Hatsumi can attest to his martial skills. Some detractors on the web question his abilities - clearly they have never met the man or any of his senior students - there is no mistaking their skill. Others claim Hatsumi is just a great marketing guy - sure, he is an "overnight success" - over 50 years in the making.
One of the hints at the quality of the training - most of the early American students were experienced martial artists who abandoned their black belts in other arts, in favor of wearing a white belt and training in Bujinkan.

Dr. Hatsumi and Stephen Hayes

Here is Dr. Hatsumi himself, manhandling Stephen Hayes, in one of the early videos. Notice, once Hayes is on the ground, Dr. Hatsumi continues atacks on a number of nerve centers, and finally immobilizes Hayes, leaving him totally defensless.

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Seminar with Dr. Hatsumi - Shinden Fudo-ryu

From seminar on Shinden Fudo-ryu - an art that emphasizes natural, relaxed movement. Even though the clip does not always show the footwork - concentrate on it - that's how Dr. Hatsumi puts himself in position of safety, while simultaneously unbalancing his opponents - the hand techniques used to finish them off are almost irrelevant.

Hatsumi sensei seminar

Hatsumi sensei does a seminar in Buena Vista hotel.

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A little free-for-all with Dr. Hatsumi

Notice that all of the attackers are doing their best to take his head off - and notice how he manages to move just far enough to get out of the way, yet positions himself for an effective counterattack.

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Previous Grandmaster - Toshitsugu Takamatsu

Here is a rare footage of Toshitsugu Takamatsu - the previous Grandmaster of the 9 traditions, who died in 1972.

Ninjutsu Soke Toshitsugu Takamatsu Teaches Techniques X

Sensei Toshitsugu Takamatsu Teaches ninja moves, very high quality content, this gu y is for real sobrenatural. (must be 90) Maasaki Hatsumi does the japanese talking El sensei Takamatsu Toshitsugu enseña tecnicas de ninjutsu con todo lujo de detalles, no pueden perderselo Maasaki hatsumi habla en japones explicando la tecnica

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Demo in body armor

Visually stunning, it includes rare footage of the previous grandmaster, Toshitsugu Takamatsu . Fight in body armor illustrates limitations faced by samurai who wore armor in battle - notice limited range of motion, slower movement and different center of gravity. Don't know who is wearing the armor. Last part shows Hatsumi unarmed against 4 attackers.

Kukishinden Ryu Seminar

June 2nd & 3rd Bujinkan Raku Rai Dojo present Kukishinden Ryu with Shihan Mike Pearce

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Books about ninjutsu

You cannot learn this art from a book or video - the quality of movement is very different from most other arts.
However, it's still instructional to read their throughs on the art, combat, and philosophy of life.

Stick Fighting: Techniques of Self-Defense (Bushido--The Way of the Warrior)

by: Masaaki Hatsumi, Quintin Chambers

One of the earliest books by Hatsumi - eminently practical - a walking cane or umbrella can be used instead of a fighthing stick.

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Amazon Price: $11.56 (as of 12/16/2009)
List Price: $17.00

Advanced Stick Fighting

by: Masaaki Hatsumi

More advanced techniques of stick fighthing,

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Amazon Price: $23.10 (as of 12/16/2009)
List Price: $35.00

Essence of Ninjutsu

by: Masaaki Hatsumi

Practical philosophy.

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Amazon Price: $12.21 (as of 12/16/2009)
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The Grandmaster's Book of Ninja Training

by: Masaaki Hatsumi

Provides insight into mental and physical approaches to training.

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Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 12/16/2009)
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Ninjutsu: History and Tradition

by: Masaaki Hatsumi

Goes more deeply into traditions of ninja warriors, lots of photos of unusual weapons and tools.

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Another demo by Hatsumi - head of Bujinkan

Notice that Hatsumi interrupts the flow of attack at the early stages, then redirects attacker's energy to bring about attacker's downfall.

THE ESSENCE OF THE 9 SCHOOLS OF BUJINKAN NINPO TAIJUTSU

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Books and DVDs

Ninpo: Living and Thinking As a Warrior

by: Jack Hoban

Written a few years ago by one of the highest ranked Americans.

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Amazon Price: (as of 12/16/2009)
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The Way of the Ninja: Secret Techniques

by: Masaaki Hatsumi

From the Grandmaster himself - again, I would not spend much time looking at pictures, but try to get a feeling for the attitude, philosophy of life.

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Amazon Price: $23.10 (as of 12/16/2009)
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Heart of the Bujinkan Volume I

If you were intrigued by the clips from YouTube,
it's worth checking out these videos.

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Amazon Price: $24.95 (as of 12/16/2009)
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Bujinkan Dojo Taijitsy

As usual, I suggest paying close attention to footwork, body positioning - they play key role in the techniques.

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Bujinkan Dojo Taijitsy

Another key element - distance and timing - Hatsumi often moves just out of reach of the attacker, yet it looks like he remains vulnerable. This leads the attackers to overextend themsleves - thus leaving them unbalanced - easy to defeat.

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Where to train

If you are interested in training, or just visitng and observing a class, check out these sites:

US based schools

schools in Europe

Most schools welcome visitors, you can come in and watch the class, often you can participate on trial basis with no monetary commitments.

Other places to visit

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Conditioning tools

Body Solid STT45 Strength Training Time Clock

Amazon Price: $30.00 (as of 12/15/2009)

Altus Athletic Adjustable Bow Bar

Amazon Price: $29.47 (as of 12/15/2009)

Carmichael Training Systems CTS Core Strength for Cyclists and Athletes DVD - TRAN8017

Amazon Price: $25.99 (as of 12/15/2009)

Mpowered Heavy Training And Strength Baseball

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Strength Training Anatomy Package - 2nd Edition & Software (Package)

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Martial Arts Books Worth Reading

These books are not ninjutsu related - but they provide a lot of insights gathered by guys who spent their lives practicing martial arts. Bujinkan practitioners are particularly encouraged to read "The Way of Kata" - to realize that what others have to search for and discern after decades of practice, Bujinkan instructors offer every day - explicitly and in English.

The Way of Kata: A Comprehensive Guide for Deciphering Martial Applications

by: Lawrence A. Kane, Kris Wilder

Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 12/16/2009)

The Way of Sanchin Kata: The Application of Power

by: Kris Wilder

Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 12/16/2009)

The Heart of Kendo: A Comprehensive Introduction to the Philosophy and Practice of the Art of the Sword

by: Darrell Max Craig

Amazon Price: $18.96 (as of 12/16/2009)

Time out for some fun and money:

Ninja jewerly? No, but if you are looking for a gift for someone special -
click here for a few ideas.

Check out this lense for Exchange Traded Funds info
About ETFs.

Couple other lenses to visit - to take a break from the money game:
Fun

and more fun

Back to money stuff:

Wealthencyclopedia.com

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