Ninja

How to Be a Ninja

A ninjaYou've seen them in movies and Japanese anime. But what exactly are ninja? A true ninja (shinobi, in Japanese) is not just someone who wears black, drops down from the ceiling and slices everything into pieces. Ninja have been around since at least the 14th century, when guerrilla warfare in feudal Japan called for subterfuge and assassination - activities which samurai would not perform because they were forbidden by Bushido, the samurai code. [1] Ninja were employed as master spies, assassins and specialist warriors. While some aspects of the ninja way may be outdated, the principles and techniques remain valuable for anyone who is interested in espionage and deception. Being a ninja is extremely hard work, but the tips below will help you get started.

StepsLearn the Ninja Way

Decide upon a series of ideas, morals and philosophies and food that you truly can live by. Educate yourself on the history of ninja. For example, you might want to read Masaaki Hatsumi's book, Secrets From The Ninja Grandmaster. Most ninja were freelance mercenaries who used their skills to support their families. Some ninja, however, were employed by lords and government officials. And some worked solely for their own clan. The ninja lifestyle was diverse. You need to direct your lifestyle accordingly.

Silence is Golden

Silence is a valuable asset. One's decision to live by ninjutsu discipline is not and should not be public knowledge. Your first responsibility is to learn and practice ninjutsu in secrecy, and privately.

Never publicize that you are a ninja. A ninja must be able to function as a spy, which means that you cannot reveal your status as an aspiring ninja, or else no one will trust you. Do not dress like the stereotypical ninja. The black outfits that most people associate with ninja are a construct of Kabuki theater (although this has not been proven), in which ninja characters were disguised as prop handlers (who always wore black to minimize their presence while moving props on stage .When you do wear ninja clothes, the idea is to never let anyone see you in them.

Learn the Ninja Way

Learn how to move stealthly. Tabi boots are great for this, try and roll your feet from toe to heel. Become adept at social and physical invisibility and silence. Walk silently. Learn the appropriate clothes for the appropriate times. Do not stand out or draw attention to yourself in any way. Sometimes that may mean being sociable and friendly because in the modern world, a person who sits quietly in the corner arouses suspicion and is carefully watched.

Know how to escape. No matter where you are, know how to get out of the situation as quickly and as anonymously (unseen) as possible. This is a critical skill for a ninja, especially when performing missions. Historically, smoke bombs and firecrackers were used to create diversions, but you will have to devise more subtle techniques, like starting a fight or switching off the lights. When you enter a room, always be aware of every potential (possible) exit, and have several plans in place for how you can create a diversion if necessary. As you escape, strive to leave no evidence behind, like clothes, weapons or fingerprints (wear gloves?). One way that ninja accomplished this in the past was with ashiaro, or wooden pads worn on their bottom of their footwear and carved to look like an animal's paw or a child's foot so that the ninja's footprints would not be noticed, this was also used in WWII.

Learn to control people by words and non-violent influence. Use people's desires, needs and wants as a leverage against them. Humans need security, wealth, pride, strength and to have their wants and needs satisfied. This is a key ability in most if not all events.

Master self-control. A true Ninja is a master of his/her environment, which consequently requires one to be in control of one's self. To master one's self, learn to: cut emotions out of the decision making, engage in rational and logical thinking no matter what the situation is, make tactical decisions that may upset one's ego, finding the flow of situations/problems and one's place with in them, make decisions for one's own situations as if giving someone else advice. Applying these tips to every day life is a must, as it stands in the way of the mastery of one's self. If one cannot master self, one cannot master others, and their surroundings. Example: Engaging in physical combat due to provocation knowing one can defeat the threat may not be the best of interests for the big picture. Walking away while ridicule may hurt one's ego, but will keep one in the clear of the public's eye from things to come.

Mind & Body

Exercise and maintain a ninja body. This does not necessarily mean becoming lean and muscular; it means building endurance, agility, strength and flexibility. Go for long distance runs, swimming, Jumping-jacks, push-ups, sit-ups, but most importantly stretch. Your body is a tool - as long as it can perform the functions of a ninja, it is a valuable tool. In fact, becoming too fit may be counterproductive, especially if you stand out as being the only slim or muscular person in the room.

Feed your mind. Ninja were often very knowledgeable. With knowledge comes power and this can help you become more resourceful and also help you blend in more easily.

Practice Meditation. Perhaps not traditional meditation, but meditation based on complete awareness of your actions. Train your mind to be completely aware of your actions when the need arises, for prolonged periods of time.

Acquire the Skills, Equipment, and WeaponryKnow what a ninja needs. A ninja is a master of sabotage, infiltration, and martial arts. Here's a short list of skills, equipment, and weaponry at his command:

o Seishin-teki kyōyō (spiritual refinement)o Taijutsu (unarmed combat, using one's body as the only weapon)o Kenjutsu (sword fighting)o Bōjutsu (stick and staff fighting)o Shurikenjutsu (throwing blades)o Sōjutsu (spear fighting)o Naginatajutsu (naginata fighting)o Sui-ren (water training)o Bōryaku (tactic)o Chōhō (espionage)o Intonjutsu (escaping and concealment)o Tenmon (meteorology)o Kusarigamajutsu (chain and sickle weapon)o Kayakujutsu (pyrotechnics and explosives)o Hensōjutsu (disguise & impersonation)o Chi-mon (geography)o Shinobi-iri (stealth and entering methods)o Bajutsu (horsemanship)

Tips• Ninjutsu is a lifelong pursuit, and shall take a lifetime to master. There is always room for improvement. Don't expect to become a true ninja in a week. Shinobi usually start at the time of childhood until they are about 20-25 and they keep on going to become better. It's like in school, we start at childhood and finish high school and you have an option to go on further.• Women ninja are called kunoichi and historically, were trained differently because they had different tools of disguise at their disposal. Aside from the view that they seduced men in order to get close to them, they were more likely to be disguised as a household servant, which allowed them to overhear conversations and get close to the target individual as well. A modern female ninja should use people's perception about women to her advantage - generally, people are less suspicious of women than they are of men.

• Get Started in Parkour . Parkour is compatible with being a ninja because it not only allows you to escape and hide easily, but it also builds strength and agility. Parkour will be more useful than freerunning as it concentrates on effectiveness and speed more than showing off and is used for personal development.• Look into Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu. It is the real ninja martial art.• Know how to use self-defense the right way if not used properly it can be a very dangerous thing.• Do not use weapons if you do not need them. Ninja are not violent.• Ninja are known to wear disguises (like Sherlock Holmes), so they can spy on enemies or to get closer to their intended target. They also wear normal clothing to appear as the common person when traveling to other places.• Ninja don't always work alone. Historically, the best known groups of ninja came from the Iga and Koga clans, so if you have a friend(s) who is(are) into the ninja business or you know of any other ninja in your area, then work out some kind of agreement to work together to accomplish a mission or start a clan. Only join together with someone that that you would trust with your life. If possible you might need a real ninja to help you train.• Normally, ninja begin their training at a very young age. But Masaaki Hatsumi, a ninja grandmaster, started his training when he was 27 years old. (Note: he was involved with various other martial arts disciplines before focusing on ninjutsu.)• Household items can be used as weapons.

Edit Warnings• The ninja you see in movies and comic books are vastly different than reality. Always keep that in mind.• If one's motivations to be a ninja involve any of the following: to provoke and engage in open physical confrontations, for notoriety, or solely for revenge and inflict harm (self absorbed reasons), then thou shalt never be ninja... just an angry individual in dark clothing covering its face. There is a big and clear distinction.• During training there is nothing better than trial by fire. However, if one tries to evade, confront, and/or combat local law enforcement or engage in any other criminal activity to test ninjitsu skills: one must be truly ready to accept the consequences one's actions will bring.• Most ninja weapons are defined as illegal, be ready to discard or hide them quickly. Never carry anything you aren't prepared to leave behind for the success of the mission, or when caught to avoid trouble. Dressing all in black with one's face covered will raise alarm if spotted. This is why you should wear civilian clothing (unless, of course, it's Halloween.)• Never use your ninja skills to harm animals, or to break into peoples houses.• Use your skills, but don't forget your natural talents as well. When able to use peace as a cunning weapon against the task ahead, it is most wise over violence.• Ninja don't wear bright colors, (i.e orange/red). Wear black or dark blue to blend into the night (or white to blend into the snow).

• Crying and selfish pride are not honorable things. Thus they are not part of the ninja arsenal.• Your body is your tool and weapon. If you injure yourself, go to the doctor or to the emergency room. And don't forget to treat past injuries in a proper manner.

Things You'll Need• Patience, strong personal will, and desire to learn, practice, and apply practices and concepts that may be counter-intuitive to your persona.• Time, personal space.• Black, dark blue, white (if snowy) or gray outfit. Choose dark blue or gray if you will be in low light, not full darkness. Dark blue is preferred over all at night.(black will look like a shadow moving)• Depending on the mission some times you need to wear normal clothes• Ninja stars (called shuriken)• Martial arts training• Ninja sword (a katana, sometimes called a ninjato)• You could use knifes, kunai knives, throwing knives, etc., for close and long range combat.• Weapons skills of most melee weapons will work if no sword is available.

NINJA

The ninja of Old Japan are dead, and the little that is known about them is no longer relevant to life today. Ninja culture was basically espionage and assasination in an olden era.As modern ninja, it is crucial to reestablish our purpose, our way of ninja. Then only can we determine our path to become ninja.

The way of ninja is a set of ethics or rules that the modern ninja should follow.

It is true that the ninja followed no code of honour, and valued completing a mission above anything else.

However, their missions always served their personal beliefs, morals and philosophies. Some ninja were ninja

because of their loyalty to a cause. Some ninja were ninja due to their desire to protect their village from rogue

samurai and vagabonds. And there were ninja who served their selfish aims.

Your way of ninja should be a path that you are able to live with. Ask yourself why you want to become a ninja? What

are your beliefs and philosophy? And consequently, how do those answers affect the kind of ‘missions’ you accept.

No matter the path you choose, you are still working toward being a ninja.

That said, I’ll gather and provide resources for both paths. I understand that when people talk about ninja

training, they usually refer to ninjutsu. However, I do provide information about training (in stealth, martial

arts and escaping) that is unrelated to ninjutsu.

How to become a Ninja

Using these tried and true methods, we can guarantee that if you survive the training, you

will be able to wear the secret black uniform of a Ninja with pride. Using our patent-pending

workout, the muscles you haven’t Googled in years spring to life with deadly force! Wow

( “surprise”, for World of Warcraft players) your friends, impress your date, and scare the

hell out of your enemies with your new-found ability to punch through a wall, kick an apple

off someone’s head, and backflip across an airport runway. Lets get started!

Clothing should be loose and non-binding. You cannot high-kick wearing

briefs, so boxers are a requirement. If you choose to go commando, then proceed

at your own risk.

For the first 45 seconds, deep breathing exercises and stretches. This will

involve bending down and picking up your cell phone. You drop it 100 times a day

anyhow, so we aren’t breaking any new ground just yet.

Two minutes of high kicking: Hold the large ex-girlfriend-stuffed-animal,

imagine it is her, and toss it in front of you. Kick the hell out of it. Repeat, while

shouting her name. Satisfying, isn’t it!

Get your breath, and stand at the side of the bed. Jump as hard as you can

backwards, and kick your feet up at an imaginary target at eye level. Backwards

is key here, otherwise, you will end up with a bleeding face and possibly a broken

leg. For a change of pace, replace the bed with a futon, with or without a

mattress.

Ninja speed reflexes are legendary. For one minute and thirty seconds, drop a

dollar bill out of your hand, and try to catch it before it hits the ground. To

improve your reflexes, make it a $20 bill.

For the last exercise, practice jumping over a moving vehicle. For beginners, a

neighbor’s kid on a tricycle is considered to be a moving vehicle. Advanced

jumpers can move on up to Big Wheels, sorority girls on bicycles, and pizza

delivery drivers. Remember to add a few feet of clearance because of the leet

pizza car signs that strap to the top of the car.

Ninja Fighting Techniques:This guide is for the ninjas that want to take their game to the next level. By the end of this guide, you will learn how to fight all the classes effectively. I will teach you what I've learned in my first 16 levels of closed beta. Additions to this guide in the future will include what I continue to learn, so stay tuned for those updates. If you don't read this guide, expect that you will come up with these same results after your own extensive testing. For the sake of time and success with

your first character, sit back and read for 2 minutes and let the guide help you greatly.Ninjas strengths are in grips and golem games. If you aren't gripping and you're not in a golem game, you aren't playing a ninja like a ninja. Hell, I even grip IN golem games, even though I'm better at killing the golem. It's simply easier to grip in golem games when people use high-delay attacks. Keeping an eye out for those high-delay attacks is key to ninja success.Character vs. CharacterSwordman:Swordsmen are very annoying to fight. My best advice for countering a swordman is to jump around like crazy and watch for an opportunity. See:Backstab List. Swordsmen are notorious for charging so never run straight towards or away from one or you'll be thoroughly pwned.Archer:Archers are easy to beat. The key to beating archers is movement. Even if they're focused on you, it's really easy to dodge arrows. All you have to do is jump and strafe around and watching for obstacles while trying to get closer to them. When they are focused on you, just stay right on their ass and the second they pull back an arrow, front grab them. A back grab is impossible when they're watching you.What I recommend is jumping and strafing in a sporadic fashion so they can't hit you with arrows. If they pull out their sword it's that much easier. Wait for them to either swing twice, charge combo, or spinning kick combo and then grab them. Always try for the grab: it's not that hard and they really can't

kill you without at least giving you a small opportunity to grab. Keep in mind that you will be able to grab at smaller and smaller opportunities as you get better.BlacksmithBlacksmiths are annoying but really not that difficult to beat. Treat blacksmiths like the other classes: jump around like crazy, wait for them to swing, and grab them. If you miss, jam the jump button to get out of there before they can manage to hit you.MageEasy. Again, treat mages like the others: jump around like crazy, wait for them to use a skill, and grab. Mages have enough delay that even beginners should be able to dodge, get in position, and grab before they recover... so try for the grab.ALWAYS watch for bombs. If you see one, get the hell away from them. Generally, there are mages who throw bombs at golems' feet, so be careful when you go golem hunting. These mages who toss bombs at golems' feet are really easy to grip because they just stand there and toss, ignoring anything else because the fighting is going on elsewhere. Try to get behind them and grip.Homing missile mages are easy. You are faster than mages, but they can still be really annoying if you don't pay attention. I've never been hit with a homing missile... you'll learn yourself when to jump. As common practice, when a homing missile is coming right at you, about 1/2 second before it hits you, jump while running straight at it. It'll fly in the air and blow up every time, leaving the shooting mage wide open while you charge. Hopefully you're close enough that you can get a combo or a grip off but if not, just chase him. WATCH VERY CAREFULLY because if I was the mage, I'd turn around and nail you with a projection. I recommend strafing

slightly while chasing just to give that blurry effect where they won't get any ideas to turn around and shoot incase they miss. Generally, when a mage is running from you, your only choice is to 1 combo them constantly until they stop running or try to execute a move. If there are other targets around while you're chasing him, try to get them. But be warned - the mage will notice when you've stopped and he'll nail you. I've sometimes used shuriken on these running mages. Just using the left click shuriken has actually really helped at times and I've even got several kills from them. However, try to stick to melee and grips if you can. Shuriken leave you open to grabs and other long range attacks by other players.NinjaNinjas are difficult to fight 1v1. There really is no strategy to defeating a ninja: it just comes down to who's better at dodging, aiming, and counterattacking. Generally, I like to hop around until they attack using more than a one move combo, then grab. (consult my backstab list again). It basically comes down to how experienced you are at melee fighting and grabbing. Read some of my general tips later for defeating a ninja.General Tips for DM and TDM:Surprise is your best friend. Learn the maps and try to travel the using least busy areas and try to get behind the enemy team. Grab, grab, and grab. Grabbing not only does an insane amounts of damage, but it also looks cool and gives you a sense of accomplishment and reputation. Use my above character vs character tips if you get in any situations where the enemy is aware of your presence.General Fighting Tips and Obstacles:Although I recommend trying to

go for the grab, if you aren't very skilled at it yet, the enemy is better than you, or constantly uses single combos, try this technique: act like you're running away, run around the first corner where the enemy will be following the wall closely. Doorways, hallways, or other small areas are best. Quick turn your camera to look third person down that hall. Don't stand too close to the edge so that they don't see you. When they get close, pop out and start a combo... it gets them every time. I have not been countered yet while jumping out and starting a combo on an enemy pursuing me. If there is more than one person following you, hit W-W-Left Mouse to do a slide, hopefully hitting all of your enemies, giving you an oppurtunity to run away. You can also toss your enemies (kind of sad how everyone falls for this) by running around a corner, comboing them, running around another corner, doing the same thing, then running back to the first corner. It works very well, even if the enemy knows you're going to come out. There's nothing they can do except block or jump. Do all 4 to flip back if they block, but stop the combo if they jump. Mages can throw a bomb but you can rush out and start a combo before they recover from that.General Tips: Golem WarsThis is by far the best way to get exp and gold as a ninja. Basically run at the golem as fast as possible, get really close, and do the long-range right click shuriken throw. If your aim is good, you should take about 1/3 of it's hp in one hit. Watch your enemies as some people (including me sometimes hehe) think golem wars is about PVP and they'll try to hit you while you nail the golem. Just dodge them. Your focus is exp and gold which you get from defeating the enemy golem; however, it is

very easy to take out most of the enemy team by gripping while they go after the golem because they all use high delay attacks on the golem. After you get the golem sword (hopefully you get it and not some other class unless they are in chaos), just go and kill their golem. Half of the time (or more), you can get the golem sword, go the least busy way to the enemy golem, and kill the golem before the enemy even reaches you.

Additional TipsTo get anywhere faster than normal, unless you have maxed movement speed (see my attribute guide), W W Right-click is a very effective way of getting around fast. With practice, you can scoot around nonstop almost twice as fast as other classes. Start the combo again right after you right click, making the following combo: W-W-R-C-W-W-R-C-W-W-R-C.When an enemy is gripping another enemy (DM) or gripping a fellow teammate (TDM/Golem), run up to them and hold right click until just before their immunity runs out, and let go, hitting them with all 3 of your special move. This does a LOT of damage and is the only thing you can do to a gripper. This works both ways, so be prepared to get hit by specials a lot as a ninja. Just try to move and jump right after you finish gripping.This concludes my little guide, hopefully all of you will become better as ninjas. Maybe you non-ninjas might put up a better fight if you read this. Good luck, and don't forget to check my other guides.PS. Include any of your strategies and I'll consider adding them with credit to my guide.-Youshoujidai, ninjaComments or questions? Visit

the forum thread to include your input.

How to Learn Ninja Techniques

The techniques of the ninja are taught secretly. Whenever the ninja thought of new techniques, they would write it down into makimono (scrolls) for the next generation ninja.

Steps

Stealth First, you might need some clothes that fit the enviroment around you, unless you think you could do without. There are many articles that tell you ninja clothes (shinobi shozoku) should be tight-fitting to avoid making noise. This is incorrect as tight clothes prevent your blood from circulating. This is a major factor in mission failure. Also, tight clothes shape you. The idea of camouflage is to distort your shape so you would not be easily identified as a human. Your night clothes should be dark blue and must be loose and comfortable. Consider wearing a keikogi and a hakama. The bottom parts of your hakama should be tucked into your tabi (ninja boots) and tied with a string for each foot.

1. Nuki Ashi or pulling out the foot. This is one of the techniques of Shinobi Aruki (Ninja Stealth Movements). It is very useful for moving across creaky floor boards and the like. Starting in a low crouching position with arms extended for balance, put most of the weight on the front leg. Move the back leg from the rear and swing it close to your other leg so it barely touches at the ankles. Extend the moving leg forward and use it to feel for any creeky floor boards. Then starting from the outer edge of your foot, ease your weight onto that leg. Repeat.2. Yoko Aruki or side walk. A walking technique used to travel along walls and through tight spaces, yoko aruki starts with one's back to the wall. Move the rear leg in the direction of travel and cross it over the other leg. Bend the knees deeply when doing this. Once in this position move the other leg from under the front leg and in the direction of travel. The movement should be smooth.3. Ko Ashi or tiger feet. A technique for walking through high brush or water. First, lift your front leg straight out of the brush. Slide your foot over the spot in which you intend to step. Point your foot straight down and step into the brush. After the foot has reached the ground return it to a normal postion. Repeat.4. Crouching. Perhaps the best overal way to move about, crouching allows less of you to be seen while moving.5. Crawling. Excellent for visual concealment, the crawl is good for crossing soft grass and clean surfaces. The crawl is not good for crossing anything noisy such as hard grass, leaves, and rocky ground.

Extra stealth tips When you're about to turn around a corner, listen for footsteps or talking around or behind the wall. If you're skilled enough, you can tell which direction they are facing by listening to them. Be sure to press your weight against the wall, and crouch as low as you can and peer around the corner. The lower you are, the less chance they'll see you looking. When going up steps, if they are creaky, walk on the side of them, closest to the wall.

Throwing Bo-Shuriken Hold the Bo-Shruiken in your hand, laying on your middle finger (With the point facing outwards from you) and held in place by your middle and index finger. Tuck your thumb in to keep the bottom half of it held. Point the arm that is not holding it towards the target, and the foot on the side of that hand should be in front facing the target also, while the foot in the back should be facing your left/right, forming a kind of L with your feet (But make sure your feet aren't touching). Have your hand that's holding the bo-shuriken be facing horizontally (as if you were going to hit someone with your palm) and right behind your head. Bring your BS holding hand straight down, accelerating as you bring it down. Make sure it's powerful enough so that it slips out of your hand, and then traveling straight forward and hit the target, but not too powerful or it won't have much accuracy.

Throwing Shuriken Hold the shuriken in your hand like they do in the movies and junk. Reach around your body to where you back pocket would be, and then pull your arm around and let your wrist snap forward. This takes practice, at first, just worry about your accuracy snd not the power, distance, or flashy coolness.

Wielding A Sword. Here I will show you the five basic postures of wielding a sword. 6. Jodan no Kamae, holding the sword overhead at a 450 angle.7. Seigan no Kamae, the sword handle is at hip level with the tip aiming at your adversary's eyes.8. Chudan no Kamae, the sword is held at the center above waist level with the tip pointing to your adversary's stomach.9. Hasso no kamae, the sword at your side in a manner similar to a baseball bat.10. Gedan no kamae, the sword handle at hip height so the tip aims towards the opponent's feet.

Making Smoke Bombs One way melt SIX parts potassium nitrate(salt-peter. Usually can be bought at Home Depot)and FOUR parts sugar in a over a low heat and then the result you get can be molded into balls and fuses put into them. A cheaper way is two get a bag of some sort, close the top, make sure there is a hole in the bottom of it. Then put powders into it, such as flour, sugar, or even plain dirt.

Tips• For the Taijutsu, I will reccomend you to take up Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Kung Fu, MMA, etc. You need to enroll in a Bujinkan, Genbukan, or Jinenkan dojo. Toshin-do and Koryu Bujutsu also work fine.

Warnings• Don't go in public places wearing Ninja outfit. You'll be classified as a major dork, and you may have to go to a police station to be interrogated.• The things shown here are only 10% of real ninjutsu. The rest is hidden.

The Art of Invisibility

Learn why Black is NOT the best color for a Ninja and other mistakes wanna-be midnight warriors and soldiers of twilight make when training to be a Shadow Warrior.

The "Art of invisibility" has always been a popular topic when it comes to learning about Ninjitsu / Ninjutsu or the Art of the Ninja,

Who are these masters of the very hard to see?

Who are these Warriors in the woods that look like leaves and trees?

This popularity (of people either being invisible or disappearing) was brought on by the ever growing Ninja and martial arts films - not to mention the fact that it often serves as a realistic tool in today's excuse related system of business self-defense. The attention brought by the media and other forms of entertainment have done a fare share to expand awareness and help spread the need for being rather stealthy. For example:

The villain in the movie "The Blair Witch Project"

David Copperfield

Rambo

Great presidential candidates

OJ Simpson.

All of which were masters of stealth, invisibility, survival, hiding, and/or verbal claims such as, "I wasn't there."

Let me start by saying, "There are no deep dark secrets about the art of invisibility."

The above is true, even though it (being sneaky) may create an awe of mysticism in the eye of your adversary.

Invisibility is the art of employing simple techniques and skills utilized in an effective manner in order to make one hard to perceive or hear.

None of what you learn here will teach you to just disappear. This and all articles (outside of the story of how I survived a fight with 10 Black Bears from Yosemite) are based on realistic approaches towards training. I will not (and I hope you don't either) concern myself with black magic or concepts based on ancient history and storytelling. So put away the twisty fingers and the books on Kuji-Kiri and let's focus on some fancy footwork.

If you truly want to master the art of invisibility, I would also suggest you throw away your ninja text guides to wearing black (which honestly isn't even the right color for hiding in the shadows). And until you manage to track down David Copperfield - here are a few tips to improve skills in the physical realm. The first is to memorize (not mesmerize) my definition of being hard to see:

To be invisible, you must not be seen or heard in a way that would distinguish you as YOU.

Remember that forest with that tree that falls with no one around to hear it fall? You know, the one that ends with this question: If there is no one there to hear the tree fall, does it make a sound?

Yes, the tree does make a sound. Why, because if you were there - you would hear it and you would say, "wow that was loud." Regardless of your presence or your perception of reality, the tree will always make the sound. The real question is do we define the word "sound" and associating that to our hearing. When in fact, the falling of the tree creates a noise as a fact regardless of the way we perceive definitions. This is another concept of invisibility. Both the theory and the tree remain elusive and thus invisible. You want to be that tree.

Okay, let me take you out of the woods before we you get lost. The concept of invisibility means that you can make sounds and even cross within your opponent's visual sight, but you must not be perceived.

So, you can be within your enemy's eye sight, in fact, he may even see you. However, because you have blended in with your surroundings, you are not perceived. Another example is, "Where's Waldo?" You may be looking for Waldo, who is well within your sight, but unless you perceive him, he remains invisible.

Invisibility is the art of blending in, becoming an insignificant part of our environment and disappearing within it. Hey, this reminds me of high school.

So, in order for us to remain invisible - we have to master the art masking any and all indicators. An indicator is something that would basically say, "hey, it's me and I'm hiding behind this rock."

We mask indicators by developing our skills in the following areas:

Camouflage

Obviously you want to remain quite when traversing through the woods or a dark alley. The key to concealment is learning and practicing a few techniques of stealth. Camouflage is usually seen as green patterned clothing for use in a forest. Camouflage (whether artificial or natural) is actually any and all skill you use to remain unseen. This includes - sight, sound, smell and sense:

Sight

The human eye sees movement first. So, this is your number one priority, in order to stay out of sight, you need to know what you can do and what your opponent is trying to do. This goes for all your invisibility training. Here are the basics:

Don't be a jerk

You need to lean to move with patience and fluidity. Jerky movements are easy to see. Also, don't go disturbing the peace in a natural environment. A flock of birds taking off is a sign that something is in the area.

If you are heard - it does not mean that you will be perceived. Even if it is obvious that you are there. However, if you are seen - not only is it obvious that you are there, but your exact position is now revealed.

What is that? Is that a big black head?

Your visual goal is to remove the distinct shape of the human form. You will also need to pay attention to shape and lighting. Think of what might create a silhouette and know when you should hide, crawl, walk, stealth or run. What kind of uniform or outfit do you have on? Do you stand out or blend in? Are you carrying a big sword or what looks like a tree branch?

Form - an opinion

Depending on your situation, jogging clothes often make a much better outfit for urban invisibility. Why? Well, what if you happened to be revealed? A jogging suit is much more believable than the embarrassment of having your tabi (a ninja warriors split toed footwear) out in plain sight. For photographs and Ninja films the uniform portrayed looks great, but it is more effective to look like a fallen tree branch than a model for Ninja magazine.

Colors for concealment

In order to be invisible, it is crucial that you wear clothing or material that blends in with your surrounding environment. Colors should have the same level of intensity, brightness and contrast in order to remain consistent. Use the following guide.

Night: Dark blue, black, gray or other dark color

Country: Green and browns

City: Gray sometimes blue

Just because it is night, does not mean a black uniform from head to toe will make you invisible. That outfit will actually make you stick out and it will be easy to spot you when moving. Unless you remain deep in the darkest part of a shadow, a dark black outfit is not realistic. Remember, black isn't a very natural color - the sky is dark blue not black and trees, leaves and grass are usually made up of greens or browns. Also, a black uniform is limited to night work, while a green and brown uniform can adapt when the sun comes out.

Remember, the goal is to remove the distinct shape of the human form. Color choices can help to do this.

Movement

Always move from shadow to shadow, rock to rock, obstacle to obstacle. Other strategies and specialized body tactics are used in combination with your movements. The more you look like part of the surroundings and the less you look like a human hiding behind a bush, the more likely you will remain invisible.

You will usually use your environment in one of two ways: either to hide behind or blend beside. If the area you are hiding behind does not fully conceal your figure or form, then it is important that you shape your body to look like that of your cover. For example: laying down in a field, crouching amongst rocks and extending your arms and legs along tree limbs and branches.

Note that when doing so (aligning your body with that of an object for concealment) that you do your best to be in a position you can respond from. If you lay face down in the mud and can't react when an opponent is about to stick a 6 inch dagger in your back you will have more than just mud in your face.

This ends Part One - be sure to read Part Two to learn more tips on how to Stealth like a master Ninja.

The Secrets of StealthStealth is the art of remaining undetected; the art of being ‘invisible’. To be ‘invisible’, the ninja has to understand how

a person’s presence is detected.

A person detects presence by his eyes and ears. The ninja must learn to fool the enemy’s sense of sight and hearing.

In addition, when there are dogs guarding the premises, a ninja should avoid being detected by the dog’s sense of

smell.

To isolate how the eyes detect presence, let us pretend that it is dark. The first way to detect a person’s presence in

the dark is movement. The second way is the shadow or outline of a person’s silhouette. Lastly is colour because the

darkness inhibits the detection of colour.

So, the eyes see these thing in the following order:

• Movement

• shadow

• Colour

Next, when we hear a noise, our eyes tend to look for the disturbance at our eye level. Very seldom would our eyes

look up or low down to seek the cause of the noise.

To avoid detection, slow down your movement when sneaking in the dark. If someone is facing you, stop moving.

Blend in with the shadow of natural elements in the environment (trees, huge rocks, furniture). His eyes will be fooled

and he will not see you. Unless of course, it is bright enough to see colour.

Conceal yourself in the darkest portion of the shadows while sneaking and hide behind objects and crouch to make

yourself appear small.

Be aware of light sources. You do not want to stand in front of a lamp and show your moving shadow. Remember! the

eyes see movement first.

Hearing ability varies among human beings. But one thing is for sure. When we hear something unfamiliar, it naturally

arouses our curiousity. If we are reassured that the noise was imagined or came from something we know, we would

cease investigating the source of the noise.

By not making noise of course! There are several techniques to walk silently, which will be shared in other articles.

What if the terrain you are walking on doesn’t allow you to move silently? Here are some methods to counter the

noise.

Make use of natural noise to mask your footsteps. A passing aeroplane can cover the sound of footsteps. Take

advantage of it to move faster. Don’t do this if someone is directly facing you though. You movement will be noticed.

If you need only walk a short distance over noisy surfaces, throw a piece of cloth over the surface to walk on. The

cloth will muffle most of the noise.

Bring an animal companion to distract the sentry.

While moving in the dark, you accidentally made a noise. The guard’s curiosity will ensure that he investigates the

source of the noise. You could let out an animal (maybe a rat) from your bag. When the guard sees the animal, he

would think the noise was caused by the animal.

I’m sure you’ve heard this tip before. Make sure when you’re sneaking that the wind isn’t blowing your scent towards

the dogs.

These are some of the principles of stealth. Think out of the box to conceal your presence.

Train Your Mind With An Ancient Ninja Technique 3The key to the anchoring technique is your state of mind. What is the mental state that you want to anchor to a

particular hand seal or gesture.

For example, you would like to become confident. You must prepare intense memories of you being confident in a

situation. If you find that you cannot find a true memory, you can instead create an ideal situation of confidence in

your imagination. Either way, intense emotions of confidence must be evoked for the technique to anchor.

The other thing you need is the gesture or hand seal. It should be unique, easy to do and inconspicuous in a situation

where you need confidence.

Watch the video instruction by Steve G Jones.

Why in the world would you need an Anchor Kuji-In in this day and age? Let us explore circumstances where

anchoring becomes useful.

You want to feel confident in uncertain situations (e.g. public speaking)

You want to quickly calm yourself from anxiety

You want to feel motivated to train

Train Your Mind With An Ancient Ninja Technique 2

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is a means to understand how someone process their thoughts, emotions,

language and behaviour to produce the results they do. The premise behind NLP is if we are able to alter our

thought-process, we can change the way we react or perform in certain situations.

After all, human beings perceive and interpret situations based on their experiences in the past.

By breaking down the thought-process of an expert, we can copy what they do and use their methods to improve

ourselves.

The Big Book Of NLP Techniques: 200+ Patterns & Strategies of Neuro Linguistic Programming

For example, we can observe the mental process of a calm person and a anxious person. If we learn to process our

thoughts in the manner used by the calm person, we will be able to become calm as well.

Ivan Pavlov discovered a phenomenon on animal conditioning and human conditioning. In one of his experiments, he

would use a bell to indicate to the dogs of their mealtime. After numerous times, the dogs learnt to associate the

ringing sound to food. The moment Ivan rang the bell, the dogs began to salivate.

This is the principle of the ‘NLP Anchor Technique’. We associate a stimuli (smell, taste, action, sound, touch) with a

mental state, through strong emotions and repetition. To activate the state, we recreate the stimuli.

Let me illustrate how powerful the technique is with a case. A lady was once a nurse during the World War Two.

Everyday, she smelt the strong odour of antiseptic and took care of soldiers who were severely injured. Of which,

some lost their limbs and died. Decades after the war, whenever she smelt antiseptic, she would feel depressed and

helpless. The smell took her back to the melancholy of war. Of course, the anchor that occurred in this case was not

purposely created.

In the same way, we can regard the kuji-in and ketsu-in as an ancient version of the anchor technique. The ninja

formed a hand seal and uttered the corresponding character to summon the mental state he needed. It is probable

that they attached the state of mind to the hand seal by meditating with each hand seal for some time.

We’ll learn to use kuji-in in the modern context by combining some of the hand seals with the NLP Anchor technique.

Train Your Mind With An Ancient Ninja Technique 1The ancient ninja were steeped in esoteric Buddhist beliefs, the core of Japanese mysticism and spirituality. Thekuji-

in was a series of hand signs used to summon a ninja’s state of mind in order to complete their missions successfully.

Another form of mysticism prevalent in the ninja traditions is the Ketsuin. It was said to be a method created by the

Yamabushi (mountain hermits/wise-men). Similar to Kuji-in, the Ketsuin was used to increase a ninja’s concentration

and abilities prior to their missions.

The method involves the use of 9 characters: 1. (Rin), 2. (Pyo), 3. (Tou), 4. (Sya), 5. (Kai), 6. (Jin), 7. (Retsu), 8. (Zai),

9. (Zen). The ninja would first say ‘Rin’ and move his finger like a sword from left to right. Next, he would say ‘Pyo’

and move the finger from top to bottom again like a sword. All the other characters would be repeated in the same

way as illustrated in the above chart.

Qi-Gong and Kuji-In: A Practical Guide to An Oriental Esoteric Experience

Both the methods of Kuji-in and Ketsuin were used by ancient ninja to draw out a mental state appropriate for

succeeding their missions. Whether it was courage, focus or enhancing their abilities, they were able to use these

methods. However, are these methods based off superstition, or can we as modern ninja understand how these

methods work. And will we be able to use the principles behind these methods to achieve any state of mind that

would be useful in our daily lives?

In the next article, we shall explore the modern equivalent of Kuji-in and Ketsuin.

The Skills Ninja Should HaveWhile each ninja had their own way and path to follow, the common thing among them all are their skills.

‘Trademarks’ of a ninja, these skills are crucial for a ninja if he or she wishes to survive. These skills can be split into

four core categories.

• Stealth

• Martial Arts

• Escape

• Others

First and foremost, the skillset that is most important to ninja is stealth. This is the essense of ninjutsu.

Ninja have to complete their missions without their enemies knowing or detecting their presence. Stealth dictated that

a ninja must not arouse suspicion.

Ninja had to learn how to disguise themselves and, conceal their presence.

Some circumstances require ninja to fight. And it was usually because the ninja had failed in stealth.

The martial art that modern ninja use should be quick and effective to neurtalise the enemy.

When detected, the ninja should simply get away quickly if they can. After all, if one is captured, the enemy may

torture the information out of the ninja.

In the past, if the ninja could not escape, he would most certainly kill himself to avoid such a situation. Ninja had to

honour their word to secrecy.

Other than the three skillset mentioned above, to a ninja (or anyone else) knowledge is power. And in the world of

espionage, it can make the difference between life and death.

This category refers to a ninja’s general knowledge, specific knowledge, healing knowledge (first aid), survival in the

wild knowledge and so on.

The ninja’s specific knowledge of his mission is vital, so that he can disguise himself. The healing knowledge will be

beneficial if he is injured in the course of the mission. Oh yes! a good memory to store gathered information is

necessary.

Becoming a ninja relies on your determination and peseverance. One must train the mind to do mental feats, train the

body to do physical stunts, and train the spirit to have undying faith in one’s own abilities.

Way Of Ninja is a training guide to become a modern ninja.

Blend martial arts, parkour and stealth techniques for physical agility. Learn to assess human behaviour and animal

instinct to gain a mental edge over dangerous situations. And discover the true history and obscure folklore of the

ninja before us.

I have some good news for 7 fans of Way Of Ninja. I have already contacted 5 of the 7 via Facebook message. They

are Travis Smith, Daniel (read more)

In the past weeks, I have posted more articles and news stories on Way Of Ninja. I hope to continue to do this

despite lacking time. The military (read more)

To my surprise, 5th of December is the International Day of The Ninja and it has been a holiday since its founding by

Ninja Burger in year 2003. (read more)

Many of you may not remember Way Of Ninja's old social network (my.wayofninja.com). One of the members

succinctly summarizes its state as 'a ghost town' and it indeed is. It is (read more)

Featured on 'Jump City: Seattle', Korey Sarvas passed away last week on December 4 at the young age of 22.

Sarvas was a gifted traceur who became popular (read more)

To the readers and members of WayOfNinja.com, it has been my privilege to have you here. On the 29th of July, I will

be enlisting into the Singapore (read more)

How to Learn Martial Arts

Have you ever watched those amazing martial arts action films and thought, "What if I could do that?"? Well, anybody who is dedicated to changing their life around is able to do this. There are few life changing paths to take that will help you become a martial artist.

Steps

Change your mindset and outlook on life. Martial arts is not teaching you how to fight (that's more like kickboxing). Martial arts is training your mind and body to work as one in a combative like aliveness.

In order to become a successful martial artist, you have to take a martial arts class. Unfortunately this means picking a style. When choosing a class you want to find dedicated martial arts instructors who will really teach you the style, step by step. The convenience and actually knowing what you learn is more important than the style you choose. On the other hand, if you are in a situation where both instructors could teach you successfully, then choose the style you like the best or what is in convenience for you.

Change your mindset once again into not allowing your one style to become who you are as a martial artist. Always study every style that you can, and do not like or dislike any type of martial art or fighting style no matter what. If you do, this will only limit your knowledge and cause you to become weak in the mind.

Study a mixture martial arts.Everyone's different so one form could be the best for you and not work out for your friend. Experiment and see which one's best for you.

Work in your martial arts, and always do some type of training everyday. The most important part about martial arts is training. Always train, (even if it's just standing on one leg for balance).

Be patient. In order to see a difference in your fighting combat, it usually takes up to 3 to 6 months of hardcore dedicated training. Also, martial arts takes years to master THE BASICS. But once you know the basics, the principles and the stylish tricks become second-nature.

Start to develop your own style of fighting and your own style of the martial arts you learn. Be free, don't be robotic into all of the forms you learn. Even as you first start out being a martial artist, have a time set in which you openly fight being free. Let the forms become you don't become the forms. Eventually, you will develop a naturally unnatural fighting combat or a unnaturally natural fighting combat.

Tips• When you first start out in martial arts, everything is difficult, however things get easier over the course of the time.• If you want to be a martial artist, you never stop learning, even if you do not take a particular class anymore you still seek information.• Do not limit yourself, in fact, taking multiple martial arts makes the best martial artists.• Buying books are a great way to help study a style or remember your own particular one.• Great martial arts books are ones written by Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris. The Tao of Jeet Kune Do also is great in helping martial artists become more free. (Some people do not understand the concept but if not that is fine).• Watching martial arts films are a great way to see martial artist express themselves.o If it is a movie that was made for entertainment and not information on combat techniques be weary of the techniques used. Bruce Lee himself has admitted that many of the moves he uses in his movies, despite making him look cool, should never be used in a real fight, as they are far too impractical and flashy.• Watch actual videos taken during martial arts tournaments.• Be aware of ALL of your surroundings at all times during a fight, not just one area.

Warnings• Martial arts does not make you invincible, you will get hit and sometimes beat up!• Be careful about the teachers who are only in the business for the money, get the instructors that want to teach. The ones who don't seem to be working you hard enough probably aren't and are most likely in it for the money. Don't go to a franchised school!!

• You may get made fun of for taking martial arts, but don't let this discourage you. In fact, you don't have to let anybody know your taking martial arts, (you could just surprise them if they mess around with you)!• Martial arts is a long, life-long process. It will take years to become good or to master the basics, so be patient.• Remember that it is illegal to use martial arts on a normal person unless you're defending yourself!

How to Choose a Martial Art

Here's how to choose a Martial Art!!

Steps

Set a budget. Some arts require a significant investment in equipment. For example, Kendo armor can run up to $1,000 US for a high end set, while Karate requires only a white cotton uniform. There's no point in getting interested in something you ultimately can't afford to do.

Determine your ultimate objective. The four major categories are usually as follows. (a) Health & Fitness with martial efficacy as a subordinate benefit. (b) Martial skill as the primary concern with a nice side dish of discipline and health & fitness. (c) Being part of a heritage and cultural tradition stretching back hundreds or thousands (depending on the art) of years. (d) Winning trophies in sporting events.

Decide on a martial arts style. You might choose a hard style, such as Muay Thai (Thailand) or Western Boxing, a semi-hard style such as Tae Kwon Do or Hapkido (Korea), a soft style traditional art, such as Aikido (Japan) or one of the many Kung Fu styles (China), or a grappling/ground fighting art, such as Jiu Jitsu (Brazil/ Japan) and Western Martial Arts (Europe). Do you want to compete one-on-one in the ring with opponents who use the same style as you, or study the traditions of a particular culture's martial art, or learn to defend yourself against real-life attackers on the street? The training methods are vastly different, and most martial arts schools focus on one aspect. Any school that purports to make you the king of the ring plus a fully effective battleground warrior plus healthy and fit plus part of a cultural heritage is heading for "Jack of all trades and master of none" territory.

Recognize your physical limitations. If you are older or not very acrobatic, Wushu (China) probably isn't for you, but Tai Chi (China) might suit you nicely. Furthermore, recognize that striking martial arts like Karate or TaeKwonDo may or may not be well-suited for smaller physiques. The grappling styles of Judo, Aikido, or Jiu-Jutsu, while being close-combat styled martial arts, emphasize technique and leverage and therefore become more readily useful as you progress. Likewise the combative Chinese styles are all about technique and are less dependent on your being a particular height or weight to succeed.

Consider your cultural interests. If you have a respect for or interest in a certain culture, learning more through one of their martial arts can be a great experience. If that is part of your goal, choose a school taught by a native of that culture, or someone who trained directly under someone of that culture.

Consider the effectiveness of the martial art as well. For example, a modern martial art such as Krav Maga (Israeli), reconstructed Western Martial Arts such as ARMA or the AES (European) or classes led by experienced soldiers or police officers will place a greater emphasis on the "martial" aspect rather than the "art." This is not to say that traditional Asian arts are less important; It may take longer to learn basic self defense this way as many Eastern arts are about developing more than just basic self-defense skills. If you are willing to spend the time to fully train in many different styles you will ultimately learn to defend yourself much better than if you train at a mixed martial art school. But if your sole concern is martial efficacy and the ability to defend yourself 'on the street', the physical and mental effort required to develop those skills have to be weighed up against the effort required to purchase a can of Mace or become proficient with a small, legally obtained, manageable weapon.

Decide when to join. Sit in as a polite observer before joining a class, if you wish, although for some it is better to just jump straight in there, choose what works best for you.

Decide whether or not the teaching style suits your personality. If you are looking to learn practical martial arts, does the class encourage or allow beginners to get involved in sparring or "free-play" or is this reserved for more advanced students who have spent more time and money at the dojo?

o Realize also that beginner sparring, even if encouraged, should be more restricted than the more experienced students because beginners do not usually have sufficient control of their strikes to effectively reduce the chance of injury.oTake note of the students at your school, and the way they interact with each other and their seniors. Are they friendly and receptive? Are they respectful? Would you consider them to be friends? You're going to be spending significant amounts of time with them, so it is important to understand their personality, as well. You'll also be putting your safety in their hands; if that makes you uncomfortable, keep looking.

Check the teacher's qualifications. Don't worry so much about degrees and certificates; there are no universal grading standards and no universally-recognized governing body in martial arts. What's important is:

o Who did this person learn from?o How long did he or she study with this person?o How long has he/she practiced this art?o Does the teacher have any experience as a teacher, or is he or she simply a skilled martial artist? Just like great football players can make bad coaches (and vice versa), great martial artists are not necessarily great teachers.

Set aside a significant amount of time each week to dedicate to your training.Most arts have exercises or forms you can practice at home to keep it all fresh in your mind; if you only practice at class, your progress will probably be stunted. "We come to class to learn. We train at home."

Tips• Be aware when looking at your local schools that many teachers will tell you that their school/system is the best. There are many martial artists that are very loyal to their arts and will be negative if you express interest in another art. Be careful if this happens; they probably are not the best instructors if they do not show respect for others in this way.• Rather than focusing on a specific art, it may be better to find the best teacher in your area, and study whatever he or she is teaching. As the months go by, the frustration of long travel times to and from class can lead to quitting early.• Understand that arts established in modern times and founded by one person (e.g. Aikido, Judo) will have a more consistent curriculum than older arts practiced by multiple teachers (e.g. Karate, Wushu, Tai Chi). If you plan to travel, move around, or would like to practice in different cities, take this into consideration. A black belt in one Karate school is not necessarily recognized by another, even within the same styles (e.g. Shotokan, Wado-Ryu, Goju-Ryu), because of the art's eclectic tradition, but Judo groups usually follow the same training guidelines as its founder.• Review the grading methods and fees involved in a school before joining. Most schools have adopted the Japanese black belt grading system (developed for Judo in the 1880s), but what's required to earn black belt can vary widely, and some schools can charge hundreds of dollars for black belt degrees. You need to decide whether or not it's worth it to you; remember, a black belt degree has no meaning outside the school that awarded it. If you have a third-degree black belt in a Shotokan Karate school and join a Goju-Ryu Karate school, you may be a white belt again, and will certainly have to start at a lower rank.• Avoid schools that have advanced degree requirements that their own founders would not qualify for. The degree inflation that has developed since the 1960s is a result of egotism and commerce. For example, if it takes 30 years of training to earn the highest degree in the school, and yet the school's founder only trained directly under his or her teacher for 5 years, ask why. It could be that the founder trained 4 hours a day every day as a live-in disciple, and you only go to class 2 hours a week; or it could be that the school's teaching methods are inefficient.• If you're learning a martial art for self defense, keep in mind that on the street no one cares what color your belt is. Schools that tout "we are a black belt school" or "black belt in 1 year" are just trying to sell you on a marketing idea. They are not actually interested in developing you as a martial artist.

• When you shop around for a martial art school, go to the advanced classes to watch and watch the "top" students. How well do they fit into the goals that you have for learning martial arts? If you don't like how the "top" students have turned out, find another school.• Be aware that some martial arts styles encompass concepts and practices involving the body's energy, called "ch'i" (also spelled "qi", both pronounced: CHEE), or "ki" (KEY) in Japanese. Examples may include using your body's energy to heal or protect yourself, or to blend with an attacker's energy to overcome or control him. If such concepts raise concerns involving your personal spirituality, you may wish to find another style.• Learn the vocabulary of your art. Keep in mind that many arts use the word "karate" as a generic term, when among martial artists it refers specifically to an empty-handed art of self-defense which developed in Okinawa, Japan in the 1300s and became a sport in mainland Japan in the 1930s and it can be offensive to some martial artists to call their art "karate" because you don't have to work for 10+ years to get a black belt. Likewise "kung-fu" (or gongfu) is a generic term for "training" or "hard work," and does not itself define a Chinese style, such as Wuzuquan, Hung Gar, or Choy Li Fut.• If you are really interested in martial arts to defend yourself, take an art specifically designed to do so such as American Kenpo Karate, Hapkido, Aikido, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Jeet Kune Do, Ninjutsu or Muay Thai. Sport-based Karate, kickboxing and Tae Kwon Do focus more on earning points in competition- if and when a fight goes to the ground, which happens quite often, you will have hardly any training or none at all with which to defend yourself.• Traditional styles of Kung Fu such as Wing Chun, Hung Gar, etc. are not designed to teach you to fight in the ring. You can and will learn exceptional self defense in these systems, but it will take a good long while before your basics are solid enough to have any impact in a combative situation. You can often train in a traditional style while also training in boxing/kickboxing to develop a better ring fighting style if you wish - but the old saying goes that if you chase two rabbits for your lunch, you will go hungry ...• Remember that there are no superior martial arts, just superior martial artists. All arts have strengths and weaknesses. All arts deal with the human body, with two legs and two arms, and most arts have figured out how to use this form well.• If possible, watch a test at the school you are interested in studying at, so that you understand what the requirements really are. While some schools require their students to work hard to earn each rank, other schools may give a student rank whether they have really earned it or not, because schools make money by testing students and keeping them in the program. If you want to feel like you've earned your rank, avoid these schools, because even if you worked hard and mastered the techniques at a particular level, the person next to you can wear the same belt and not know much more than when they started.• If you are on a tight budget, check with the nearest college or university or recreation department. Depending on whether they can use school facilities, and whether the instructors volunteer or are paid, student martial arts clubs may charge lower or no fees, and you may not have to be a student at their school in order to participate.• Another good way to save money is to look for classes that do not operate out of a storefront. There are many successful schools that operate in community centers, church basements, YMCA's and recreation halls. Just because a school does not have a fancy storefront does not mean the quality of instruction is inferior.

Edit Warnings• Many martial arts instructors do not understand the minute aspects of form that prevent people from injuring themselves while executing a high number of repetitions of a single technique. Because of this, practitioners of such arts tend to be young. If you do not want to destroy your body as you train, do inquire as to how long practitioners usually train for.• Martial arts teachers are not necessarily sports physiologists or trained educators. If some form of training keeps injuring you and the teacher will not modify it to suit your body, quit the class. If you're not able to understand or learn at a reasonable pace, find a new teacher. Even a great teacher is not necessarily the best teacher for every student.• Martial Sports (e.g. Olympic TaeKwonDo, Japanese Karate, Wushu, and Judo) have a higher injury rate than traditional or self-defense martial arts (e.g. Traditional TaeKwonDo, Aikido, Tai Chi, Okinawan Karate, Tang Soo Do). It is common for people to practice Martial Sports in their teens and early twenties, then shift to traditional arts.• Teachers may insist on being called sensei or sifu or master, according to their training and school's tradition. It may be sufficient in some schools to call the teacher Mr./Mrs. So-and-so or Sir/Ma'm, as with any teacher in any class. 'Sensei' is a term of high respect in Japan (similar to "Dr." in the US), and roughly translates to "honored teacher" (or more literally 'someone who has gone before' as in a more experienced person) in Japanese. If the teacher deserves your respect, by all means use the title he/she prefers. Using it also shows respect for the school's customs. If you feel the teacher does not deserve the respect the title implies, choose another school.• Never teach your own art in another teacher's school unless you are sufficiently advanced and the teacher asks you to do so. If you're there as a student, act as a student. That's just good manners.• All schools have a very individual culture; when starting out at a new school, take the time to learn the etiquette for that particular school.• Be aware of cult like schools or schools that forbid you from taking additional classes at other schools. Many false schools will pretend that they have secrets or secret techniques.• Be cautious of "hidden" fees. Ask about costs other then membership fees. Some schools will charge extra money for tests and training beyond the regular classes.• Watch out for schools that will only allow you to purchase supplies from them directly. Some schools use this as a way to sell you inferior quality products at high markup prices. Some schools will allow you the option to buy directly through them or to buy from another source. Be sure you are not being ripped off.

How Can I Become A Ninja?The ninja of Old Japan are dead, and the little that is known about them is no longer relevant to life today. Ninja

culture was basically espionage and assasination in an olden era.

As modern ninja, it is crucial to reestablish our purpose, our way of ninja. Then only can we determine our path to

become ninja.

The way of ninja is a set of ethics or rules that the modern ninja should follow.

It is true that the ninja followed no code of honour, and valued completing a mission above anything else.

However, their missions always served their personal beliefs, morals and philosophies. Some ninja were ninja

because of their loyalty to a cause. Some ninja were ninja due to their desire to protect their village from rogue

samurai and vagabonds. And there were ninja who served their selfish aims.

Your way of ninja should be a path that you are able to live with. Ask yourself why you want to become a ninja? What

are your beliefs and philosophy? And consequently, how do those answers affect the kind of ‘missions’ you accept.

Once you have sorted out your way of ninja, how do you become ninja?

This depends on the type of ninja path you’d like to follow. There are three.

• Bujinkan Ninjutsu (traditional ninja techniques)

• Urban Ninja Techniques (a hybrid of different styles, notably parkour) – a term defined by WayOfNinja.com

• Combination of both

No matter the path you choose, you are still working toward being a ninja.

That said, I’ll gather and provide resources for both paths. I understand that when people talk about ninja training,

they usually refer to ninjutsu. However, I do provide information about training (in stealth, martial arts and escaping)

that is unrelated to ninjutsu.

Ninjutsu Martial Arts, An IntroductionNinjutsu involves using every part of the body – hands, feet, elbows, knees, and forearms -as weapons. Training with

weapons such as swords and chains is also a major part of ninjutsu. The original ninja were born into ninja families

and trained from childhood in the arts of horse riding, archery, espionage, and assassination. Three main types of

ninjutsu are: Bujinkan, Genbukan, and Jinenkan.

Bujinkan, headed by Masaaki Hatsumi, is a system of nine separate martial arts traditions. Several of the martial arts

taught in the Bujinkan can be traced back to the Iga region of Japan. Bujinkan training consists of both armed and

unarmed fighting methods

A variety of weapons are taught, including:

1. Swords

2. Bamboo

3. Nawa (rope)

4. Kusari-fundo (weighted chain)

5. Kusarigama (scythe with chain)

6. Yari (spear)

7. Tessen (iron fan)

Students are encouraged to use any available weapons in self defense, and learn to hide weapons to surprise their

enemy. Bujinkan emphasizes stealth and deception.

Genbukan was founded in 1984 by current grandmaster Shoto Tanemura. Genbukan means “place that nurtures the

professional martial artist.” The Genbukan’s specific purpose is propagation and preservation of the Genbukan Ninpo

Bugei, or martial arts techniques.

Genbukan taijutsu consists of five major types of training:

1. Dakentaijutsu (emphasizing striking techniques)

2. Jutaijutsu (emphasizing throwing techniques, locks, and chokes)

3. Koppojutsu (emphasizing nerve and pressure point attacks and bone breaking)

4. Kosshijutsu (similar to Koppojutsu in emphasis)

5. Taihenjutsu (emphasizing body movement and placement to counter or avoid attacker)

Jinenkan is a Japanese kobudo (old/ancient/classical martial way) organization. Jinenkan means “Hall of Nature,”

and emphasizes natural movements and strength found in nature and natural surroundings.

The Jinenkan was begun in 1996 by Manaka Fumio, who had been a student of Bujinkan master Masaaki Hatsumi.

All training is done strictly in keeping with the Densho, or the written legacy of tradition made to be passed on from

teacher to student.

It was ninja’s intensive physical and mental training that created the impression that ninja had magical abilities.

Stories of such magical techniques were promulgated by people who feared what they could not understand. The

ninja were happy to let the stories spread because it made them appear to be a more frightening force to be reckoned

with. Other articles in this section will focus on Bujinkan, Genbukan, and Jinenkan individually.

How To See In The DarkThe ninja must be able to see in near darkness to excel in stealth.

The eyes have two types of cells that enable us to see. They are the cone cells and the rod cells. The cone cells see

colour and works better when it is bright, whereas the rod cells can see in low light and detect movement. However, it

takes up to 30 minutes for the eyes to adjust to the dark.

1. Allow your eyes to become accustomed to the dark

You can do this by closing your eyes for 10 seconds and then opening them when you first encounter a dark

environment. If this is impossible to do, you can either squint both eyes or cover one eye before you enter the dark

area.

2. Use your peripheral vision to see

Your direct vision utilises cone cells, which is better at seeing colour in good lighting conditions. However, if you need

to see in the dark, use your off-center vision. Look at the environment with the side of your eyes.

You can do so by looking 5 to 10 degrees above, below, or sides of the object.

3. Scan and blink to ensure optimal night vision

Within 5 to 10 seconds of focusing on one point of your peripheral vision, the visual will fade out. Your eyes will

become less sensitive to the visual. Therefore scan the area constantly or blink to make sure that your rod cells don’t

become desensitised.

If you need to read the map during your mission, you’ll obviously need light. However, the type of light you use can

affect your night vision temporarily. Use low-intensity red light to read the map. Red does not affect your night vision

as much as white light.

However, please do not use red light for regular reading at home. It is ridiculous and can spoil your eyesight

eventually.

If you truly want to harness your night vision, try to practice a few times a week at moving around in the dark. Do

choose a place safe and familiar to you (your house/backyard). You do not want to be attacked by a wild animal while

training.

There are also artificial ways to night vision. Within W.O.N.’s search store are affordable night vision goggles.

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Flexibility Training

"Do your high kicks embarrass you?" - Here's the answerThis section on flexibility training will give you a very firm grasp of the basic principles of flexibilty training. The pages listed at the bottom of this page contain a wealth of information related to flexibility training

Version: 1.18, Last Modified 94/10/12 Copyright (C) 1993, 1994 by Bradford D. AppletonPermission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of this document provided the copyright notice and this permission notice are preserved on all copies.This document is a modest attempt to compile a wealth of information in order to answer some frequently asked questions about stretching and flexibility training. It is organized into chapters covering the

Physiology of Stretching / flexibility training

Although each chapter may refer to sections in other chapters, it is not required that you read every chapter in the order presented. It is important, however, that you read the disclaimer before reading any other sections of this document.Disclaimer.The author makes no warranty of any kind in regard to the content of this document, including, but not limited to, any implied warranties of merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose. The author of this document shall not be liable for errors contained in it, or for incidental or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing of, use of, or reliance upon information contained in this document. In other words: "I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV!" I can not be held liable for any damages or injuries that you might suffer from somehow relying upon information in this document, no matter how awful. Not even if the information in question is incorrect or

Thanks to all the readers of the `rec.martial-arts', `rec.arts.dance' and `misc.fitness' newsgroups on Usenet who responded to my request for questions (and answers) on stretching. Many parts of this document come directly from these respondents. Thanks in particular to Shawne Neeper for sharing her formidable knowledge of muscle anatomy and

Other portions of this document have been taken from the following

Sport Stretch, by Michael J. Alter (referred to as M. Alter in the rest of this document)Stretching Scientifically, by Tom Kurz (referred to as Kurz in the rest of

SynerStretch For Total Body Flexibility, from Health For Life (referred to as SynerStretch in the rest of this document)The Health For Life Training Advisor, also from Health For Life (referred to as HFLTA in the rest of this document)Mobility Training for the Martial Arts, by Tony Gummerson (referred to as Gummerson in the rest of this document)Further information from these books and others are available

flexibility training

Physiology of stretching Flexibility understood

Work towards the splits & Joint motion - normal ranges

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Jujitsu 'Secret' Revealed...... Lost Secret of Jujitsu !......

American Infantry Captain Allan Corstorphin Smith - One of the first 'Westerners' to be awarded a Black Belt in Japan in 1916 reveals the Jujitsu secret of the 'Stahara'

“Captain Smith wrote this series of seven books comprising of over 60 individual lessons during his time as hand to hand combat instructor at The Infantry School, Camp Benning, Georgia 1917-1918..... Revealing the secret the Japanese had guarded for centuries!”

From the desk of: Paul Swift

finally be let in on the “insider” knowledge that allows you to get the most from your Martial Art.... and... secrets from other martial Arts...

importantmessage you’ll ever read!

with your permission) … going to send you a rather intriguingthat has been rediscovered titled:

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"An old Japanese master, told me once when I was very much discouraged at the progress I was making, that Hyaku ii-yasushi Ichi ii-gatashi. Which, being interpreted, means: The hundred tricks are easy to learn But the one principle is difficult to learn. On asking him to be kind enough to impart this one principle to me, he informed me that that could only be acquired after years of practice. This elusive principle, which the Japanese professors make you search out for yourself, this course imparts from the start by means of Stahara

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Defense when a man attacks your throat. After mastering this lesson, the weakest woman will be safe from such an attack. (17 photos.)

Defense when attacked by knife, club, pistol, kicks, etc. This lesson teaches you quick thinking and gives you presence of mind in an emergency. (44

Taking prisoners, hammerlocks, and a number of tricks whereby the weaker man can get the stronger.

Three of the secret grips of Japan never yet published in any book, Japanese or otherwise.

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The Text Book Of Close Combat (E-book) - The techniques described and illustrated in this text book have been used in general warfare by Western states from the early 1900's onwards. These armies have always used close combat training programs for two main reasons; First, close combat training promotes fighting spirit and ruthless efficiency. Second, close combat training programs are the solid foundations for self confidence on the battle field.

· Hagakure: The Book Of The Samurai (E-book) - Although it stands to reason that a samurai should be mindful of the Way of the Samurai, it would seem that we are all negligent. Consequently, if someone were to ask, "What is the true meaning of the Way of the Samurai?" the person who would be able to answer promptly is rare. This is because it has not been established in one's mind beforehand. From this, one's unmindfulness of the

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Samples Of Some Of The E-Books:Lost Secret Of Jujitsu -JUJITSU IS BOTH SELF-DEFENSE AND MENTAL TRAININGJujitsu as a means of self-defense will teach you to take care of yourself in dangerous situations whether armed or unarmed. It is a valuable study as it trains you to evade the impact of an opponent's strength and attack him at a point where he can bring only 20 per cent of his strength to bear. It teaches you to unbalance your opponent. Conversely it trains you to retain your own balance and to bring 100 percent of your strength to bear in every effort you make. A man trained in jujitsu will instinctively act on this principle in everything he does whether engaged in a physical contest or a mental one. A course of jujitsu therefore will leave its permanent mark on your mentality. It

teaches you to retain your poise in the arena where the contests are physical, brawn against brawn, or in the public forum, where mind is pitted against mind, intellect against intellect. It has another and more immediate result in the resources of self-defense that will be at your immediate disposal whenever you are attacked, or whenever you go to the rescue of someone else. A strong man by its aid will be enabled to use his strength in a more workmanlike manner, and a weak man will be able to discount the superior strength of his adversary. A woman equipped with this science will no longer be at the mercy of a ruffian. She will furthermore retain her presence of mind and keep cool, in an

THE COURSE CONSISTS OF: -

1. An introductory course showing: That the secret of jujitsu is in the Stahara. How to use the Stahara. How to train the Stahara. (22 photos. ) 2. Defense when a man attacks you by seizing you around waist. There are five tricks in this series, and they provide a splendid means of exercise. (18 photos. ) Defense when a man attacks your throat. After mastering this lesson, the weakest woman will be safe from such an attack. (17 photos. )3. Defense when opponent seizes your wrists. Teaching how to lever them out by the strength of your body. This lesson trains you to use your body as a whole. (26 photos. ) 4. Defense when attacked from behind. By having your practice partner attack from behind, you master a series of tricks that will be useful in any situation of attack or defense. (34 photos. ) 5. Defense when attacked by knife, club, pistol, kicks, etc. This lesson teaches you quick thinking and gives you presence of mind in an emergency. (44 photos. ) 6. Taking prisoners, hammerlocks, and a number of tricks whereby the weaker man can get the stronger. These are intensely interesting tricks, most of them published for the first time. (49 photos. ) 7. Three of the secret grips of Japan never yet published in any book, Japanese or otherwise. These tricks give you the power of life or death. The method of instruction allows them to be practised as an interesting pastime, and with absolute safety. (38 photos. ) (TOTAL 248 photos. )

This lesson illustrates the principle of putting the strength of your whole body into everything you do instead of merely using the strength of the particular hand or arm which is immediately concerned in the

Ninja Knife Throwing -The universal throwing knife is the most versatile and easiest knife to begin training with. Handle-thrown knives are the second best. Blade-thrown knives are slightly more difficult to master for beginners.Other facts about throwing knives.Do not be surprised if throwing knives do not resemble regular combat knives. Many throwing knives are flat and do not have regular wood or plastic handles. They can be used in hand-to-hand combat, but that is not their primary function.A note on throwing ordinary knives and miscellaneous objects:Any knife (or any object which can be picked up) can be thrown

effectively, once a Ninja understands both how an object is balanced, and the basics of throwing: judging distance, throwing methods and rotations. This includes knives and objects not specifically designed for throwing: hunting knives, kitchen knives, and even items seldom considered to have potential as weapons, such as ice picks, scissors and screwdrivers. Once the basics of knife throwing contained in this book are learned, a Ninja can apply those same principles to throwing almost anything. The general NINJA KNIFE THROWINGrule of thumb is to find the center of balance of an object, and understand how it flies. For example, a screwdriver can be treated like a knife. If the handle is heavier, throw the object by the blade, using full rotations. If the blade is heavier, throw it by the handle, using half rotations. Practice with such irregular items on large cardboard boxes. It will be surprising just how many “household” items can be trans- formed into deadly throwing weapons in the hands of a Ninja who has mastered the art of throwing. But be careful; items not designed to be thrown may be damaged or ruined by such practice and training. It is often enough just to know that the principles of Ninja knife throwing can be applied to other objects as well.One other caution remains to be explained. Knife throwing is a difficult skill to learn which requires dedication, determination and constant practice. Study the following throwing and training methods and practice them con- sistently. But once in combat, never throw a knife or other weapon unless there is a good chance of distracting, wounding, or slaying one’s opponent. A knife which misses and does not affect an opponent results in wasted effort. And it may even supply one’s enemy with a weapon he did not have before.

The two basic ways of gripping a throwing knife are by the handle and by the blade. The two basic throws are the underhand and the overhand throw. Other more complicated throws are performed with a sidearm motion. All of these techniques, along with some variations, will be presented and discussed in detail in this section. But first, how to carry and conceal throwing knives must be discussed.Carrying and Concealing Throwing KnivesObviously, Ninja must either carry throwing knives on them or have them accessible in some way in order for the knives to be useful. There are a variety of carrying and concealment methods.............The Art Of Close Combat -First Steps in Offensive and Defensive Close Combat

The purpose of this text book is to present the reader with both offensive and defensive examples of close combat. A very wide spectrum of techniques and tactics will be described in this text book. The original purpose of this approach was to allow the reader to select techniques that suit them personally and also meet their operational requirements. The techniques described and illustrated in this text book have been used in general warfare by Western states from the early 1900's onwards. These armies have always used close combat training

programs for two main reasons;• First, close combat training promotes fighting spirit and ruthless efficiency. • Second, close combat training programs are the solid foundations for self confidence on the battle field.

Self Defense. The amount of physical force used in self defense must be the minimum necessary to protect either you or others. This degree of force should allow you to either escape ward off or neutralize an attack.Close Combat. To fight and oppose with little regard paid to minimum force requirements. The amount of force used will depend on the operational aims. This may include neutralizing, disabling, capturing and

Whenever possible, text book and video studies must be complemented with "hands on training" from a competent instructor. First hand accounts from combat veterans will also give more credence to the

Join a boxing, karate or kung fu club and gain valuable contact experience. This must include the practice of timing hits, judging distance, feinting, counter attacking and closing in for grappling techniques. Do not spend to long learning the one style. Focusing on the one style will create a mind set for that particular style. For example, focusing on boxing may cause you to miss the chance to either kick or throw your opponent when that opportunity arises.

Join a club that specializes in judo, jujitsu, sombo or wrestling. Here you will learn the fundamentals of balance, break falling, strangling, choking, limb locking, the mount, the guard and escapes. A good substitute for sound practical hands on instruction in these areas does not exist. When you are fighting more than one opponent, grappling must be avoided. You will limit your chances of survival if you allow yourself to be tied up by either applying or being caught in body holds

A competent ground fighter can be defeated by any of the following quick and lethal tactics.................

If you're still dithering like a rabbit caught in the headlights, Go take a look at the offerings from our competition. I'll see you back here in a few minutes ! (If you've got any brains !)The ultimate Jujitsu Secrets