Ninja.

[Named]

Feudal Japan:
"Religious turmoil arose when Sino-Buddhism came to Japan in the 6th Century and found itself in direct conflict with the native religion of Shintoism. The two religions fought for the emperor's attention. Monastries even raised their own armies, called "yamabushi" or warrior-monks, to face challenges from other non-religious factions. The 8th Century onwards saw the rise of powerful landowners and their supporters, called the 'Samurai'. The Imperial Court was dominated by the powerful Fujiwara family; two samurai clans, the Taira and Minamoto became very strong and fought for imperial favours. Their rivalry culminated in the Gempei Wars of 1180.

To summarise, between the 8th - 12th Century, Japan was in a state of hostility, and there was a constant struggle for power, where everyone seemed to be fighting everyone. The Buddhists were fighting the Shintoists; the monastries, with their yamabushis, were in turn fighting the samurai over land rights; the Samurai, under various feudal lords, were also fighting among themselves. The Imperial Court itself saw a constant struggle for power.

A group of people who practiced the Tao, or Zen (before it was integrated into Buddhism), retreated to the mountains where they could live their lives in accord with nature. Nature was their teacher: everything stemmed from nature and therefore one could not attain a state of balance and harmony unless one was in accord with the environment. The mountain region became the environment for the practitioners of the NIN. The fighting style of the Nin-ja was therefore a style that flowed from one's natural movements. Like nature, it has no 'method', for a method is of no use unless it can blend with the situation. An understanding of the environment is therefore even more important than an understanding of the technique itself. Through the study of the Tao, the Ninja seemed able to allow everything to develop naturally, from a deep understanding of the human body and healing methods (kuatsu) to fighting techniques and spiritual development. Through meditation and contemplation the Ninja were able to achieve what the warring factions living in the plains below were not able to: a state of harmony and balance. But it must be remembered that most of those living in the plains were not very impressed with what the Ninja living in the hills were doing. They regarded these "mountain freaks" as a threat to their way of life and system of beliefs.

In 1924 Jushin Oshima established the school that came to be known as Ninjukai Taijutsu. He wanted his school to study as closely as possible the way of the Ninjas as practiced in the 8th - 12th Century. Jushin Oshima was a naval captain in the Japanese Imperial Army, and it was his devotion and research that ensured the survival of the art in its present form. Oshima coined the word 'Ninjukai', which alludes to the broader world, or path, of the classical Ninja warrior, full of spiritual and martial values. With the close of the War in Asia in 1945, Ninjukai Taijutsu found itself based in Malaysia, where it had earlier been adopted by the occupying Imperial Forces. This was a blessing, as the art was sheltered from the social conditioning and cultural sterilization that was occurring in Japan under American occupation. All martial styles in Japan succumbed to this American influence (as can be seen by the introduction of katas and competitions in martial arts). In this respect, Ninjukai Taijutsu was left untouched. This is where a retired Imperial Sergeant, Major Akito Yashida (an 8th Dan Grandmaster), took over and trained, and in 1977 passed the Grandmastership to his student, John Ang (now 6th Dan). In 1987, Shihan John Ang moved to Perth and established the Australian headquarters for the Art of Ninjukai Taijutsu, the first dojo for this art to exist outside of Japan and South East Asia."

I study Ninjukai Taijutsu under Shihan John Ang.

I share this summary of what Ninja really were and what we have become to lay to rest the grotesque stereotypes plaguing the minds of uninformed Westerners. I'm tired of people boasting any acrobatic ability labelling themselves Ninja. I'm tired of Ninja being portayed as assassins or superhuman entities.

We're just practitioners of a martial art and Taoist philosophy, ok?

It would be considered a crime against the political correctness governing most societal opinion for any walk of life to be as frequently insulted as Ninja are.
This is an effort to educate people so that they may understand the error of their attitudes.

[Bap]

Ok, but I'm surprised you are concerned with such a trivial thing. People are ignorant, you know that. I know many don't actually think Ninja's were anthropomorphic turtles. However, they still go with that description because it amuses them. I'm not a fan of this "ninja fad" either, but others find it humorous.

I didn't think you were one to dwell on a matter that will eventually die out. I didn't think you would let the ignorance of others get to you so. I can understand how the ignorance of people towards the environment would get to you because that physically affects you. But to be concerned about an image? I am surprised.

[DonEmu]

Dont think too much of it Bap, he has been acting "PROACTIVE" recently on many topics...

[narutoIZZAbest]

oh cool. never knew that.

yanno, i think that america is basically created over stereotyping.

[Dorphuk]

Named, get a grip.

Ok its a serious point and yes people should care about it, to a point but from all your posts recently you need to chill out.

[V.VELDANEN]

Yay...go Malaysia!

[Named]

'Chill out'?

Why is it any intellectual assertion is automatically assumed to be emotional. I find it to be of utmost ignorance to dismiss another's opinion of what is clearly a serious matter to them as an overreaction on their behalf.

Of course you don't care about the honour of Ninja, you are not one. If I were to insult matters of personal relevance to you, it would be an issue. Learn a little empathy or leave human soceity.

When criticised for caring of something seen as of 'little importance', I do wonder if people believe we as humans have a set degree of 'care' to which we must accordingly distribute amongst what we value.
I can care about Global Warming, escalating violent crimes in my hometown, what sandwich I feel like as well as concern for the honour of my beliefs.
Caring for one thing does not take from the commitment to another. And if we were to really dissect it, the worth of the 'greater issue' is only so by relation to a trivial one. They are reliant on each other in this relationship.
What should I care about?
How about everything. There's no limit.

So get a grip of what, Dorphuk? Being a mindless knave with no motivation in life?
I'm fine with voicing my worldview, thank you. All of which I can do without raising my emotions a single iota.

If you do not agree, exercise your right to leave. *shrugs*

And Bap, this is no concern of image. I am attacking ignorance as you have known me to always do. Small or large, I dislike ignorance.
Though I can admit without shame that it can bother me from time to time to have my values openly and repeatedly mocked by stupid people.
I do not threaten the stability of my mind by becoming angered by it, nor do I lash out at anyone. I simply shake my head in disapproval and pity those turmoiled minds. So what?

[V.VELDANEN]

No one is to be blamed here, no one deserves to be taken up the ass. Its just Chaos Forum has been lacking with intellectual topics and discussion, and the mood here has been casual and easy going with all the veterans gone, replaced by the younger audience.

It's just bad timing to deliver such serious toned issue at this time.

I understand and fully appreciate Named efforts to shift the mood...unfortunately, Chaos is being plagued by posters who demands less pressing issues...

[Named]

I thank you for your interest, though =D

[kjrav]

I agree wih you.I think many parts of american society if not society in general are ignorantly following Stereo types.If anything you short explination of true ninja ways has further increased my love of ninjas.My only disagreement with you is how you seemed to pin point Westerners.I feel that while most stereo types do stem from western Society in this paticular case the stereo type was and still is caused by Eastern Society, so if any one is to blam it's how Eastern societies began to portray Ninjas.

[Named]

Oh, absolutely. As history illustrates, the animosity towards Ninja began in JAPAN. However, the stereotypes are propagated by the West, so I chose to target them in this address. Besides, Japan has -become- 'the West', it's certainly not what I would now regard as the East after the heavy social sterilising America put upon it.

Thank you, too, for your understanding. I was only trying to point out that, when we insult any walk of life like we do Ninja, those people are profoundly insulted and it becomes an -issue- to society. There are in fact people who are real Ninja such as myself who, like a Christian or an Islam or a Police Officer or a Teacher is offended by his beliefs being mocked or portrayed unfairly.
If any one of the complaints submitted by these people are taken seriously- like I KNOW they are - why is mine put down as 'over-reacting'.
Rhetorical question - I know why. So heavily conditioned towards Ninja being a joke, the defence of their honour is also a joke.

THAT is what i'm trying to attack. We are NOT a joke.

Named isn't here condemning anyone; instead I am pleading for respect for my beliefs.

[V.VELDANEN]

Meh...

There's no one to be blamed here, exaggerated facts and over-glamorized concepts are often by-product of people's need for entertainment. The idea of super Ninjas being dark, broody and murderous is just literal translation of the real thing to satiate people's need for wild imagination.

If people demands it, there will be more of these kind of things. And what Named is trying to do here, is to provide a body of well-informed facts about Ninjas, to educate people of the reality behind flying ninjas with supernatural chakras...

Yes, this topic is important, as I believe the society today should be more learned, taking every tiny opportunity to learn more from each other...when provided with amazing tools, like the internet. Sad to see when Named, placed so much effort to educate people, people brush it off as being trivial...

*~Shrugs~*

[.ZabuZa.]

so is the school in perth and is that the only one? just asking cuz im goin there in the future and wouldnt mind to see what its like ^_^

[Named]

I do not believe it is the only one. Though if you are coming to Perth I would be happy to show you my dojo, if you know what I mean... SORRY, couldn't resist.

I'll look into other locations.

[Davis]

I am sort of a ninja I guess.
The only parts that keep me from it are,
1-I dont know the diffrence between Zen and Tao(IF that does anything)
From what i understand, Zen is basically Taoism, with buddist beliefs added.
take away the buddest beliefs, and you have Tao.

2-There is No Dojo where I live(MAJOR)
So, I study the fundamentals of a couple styles, and train the basics, createing a more freeform versinon of monkey, and Mantis

[Named]

What you describe is Wushu, not Ninjukai Taijutsu. It is a Japanese martial art, you seem to have it mistaken with a Chinese one.

[Davis]

Which part of my post are you reffering to?

[Named]

There are no forms in Ninjukai Taijutsu. In particular I was refering to styles Monkey and Mantis, which are forms in Wushu.

[Davis]

Uhhhh, I didnt know where to find anything on Ninjukai, no dojos, no reiganal masters, no wikpedea.
So i guess i'm no ninja.

[Named]

Ninjukai is less like a sport than what most other martial arts have become. This does not do wonders for its popularity amongst people who only want competitions from which they can earn superficial trophies and titles. It is most certainly not widespread.

[Davis]

Well, I used to be in shotokan, Until They started judgeing me on superficial titles and medals.
So, I guess ill never learn Ninjukai unless I move.

[.ZabuZa.]

@named i will be going to Perth since my father lives there ^_^

[Davis]

*cough*LUCKY!*Cough*

[Named]

The reason the dojo is here is because Shihan, after recieving Grandmaster, decided to move here. It's not commercialised and so there aren't imitation dojos across this country or any other. If it were to be commercialised it would lose its authenticity in a day.

I am fortunate to be living here *_*

[Davis]

Its Impossible to learn Ninjukai unless yu live in australia then!
What about Ninpo?
There are a couple of Dojos that are still in Japan in the mountains of ninpo.
WAIT..... THEY ARE OVERLY MATERIALISTIC!



I have an IDEA!
i'll pm you about it!

[Named]

I couldn't agree that any dojo other than the one I study at is materialistic. I would have to see how each individually practice the philosophy for myself before passing judgement. Even then, i'd rather reserve it lol. It is not my place to judge.

[Davis]

They only let in current "Ranking martial arts masters"

[Bap]

I do agree with you Named -- people should learn to respect other people's beliefs; try to become less ignorant. However, everyone is ignorant to some extent, just some are more ignorant that others.

But also, I think if people want to portray a "ninja" as superhuman, they may. If people want to portray Mohammed as a terrorist, they may. Americans as white supremist war-mongers; Mexicans as border-jumpers; Blacks as criminals, they may.

I think people shouldn't identify themselves with certain groups. I think this would force people to become less ignorant. I may have common beliefs as some groups, but, besides humanity, I don't think I could fully identify with any one group.

[Named]

I reserve everyone those same rights, Bap. I never sought to take them away, only to IDENTIFY them as what they are; ignorant.
The views of ninja are not considered ignorant, in the way we view the belief of all Mexicans being border-jumpers or Muslims being terrorists. It's just a fiction people embrace. One minute the social crusader is telling his peer off for espousing a racial attitude, to the next minute wrapping a shirt around his head and calling himself a ninja.
That is offensive. Equally offensive.

So what, you might ask? Indeed so what, I don't care to do anything about it or deny them their right to be idiots. I merely want to point out that they are equally stupid for this as they are for any other form of bigotted ignorance, which they might have reconsidered given the fear of others regarding them as bigots.

That is all. =D

[Bap]

So they may be -- but I don't see what matter it is :/ Let stupid be stupid. Why concern yourself with them? I think or at least I hope that eventually they will realize they were stupid, and this realization will be more profound than someone telling them they are stupid.

I did enjoy the history of Ninjas you gave. But compare the ignorance of people to what a Ninja is to their ignorance of the evironment. Indeed, the former does seem trivial to me. Sometimes they can cause conflict, but even so, I think that is ridiculous.

[Named]

So they may be -- but I don't see what matter it is :/ Let stupid be stupid. Why concern yourself with them? I think or at least I hope that eventually they will realize they were stupid, and this realization will be more profound than someone telling them they are stupid.

I did enjoy the history of Ninjas you gave. But compare the ignorance of people to what a Ninja is to their ignorance of the evironment. Indeed, the former does seem trivial to me. Sometimes they can cause conflict, but even so, I think that is ridiculous.
However the latter is still an issue, is it not? It would be depressing to focus entirely on the issue of our environment, ignoring all other pleasures and concerns in our lives. I hope that our world continues to live; I do strive to see that accomplished, and in the meantime I will do what I can to promote education and understanding of all things. I don't need to commit all my attention to one cause.

I believe you missed my point. You are dismissing the ignorance while assuming it is naturally on the same level as the examples you previously listed.
In the minds of most people, it's not. The very same common person who condemns racist/sexist or even politically offensive statements will have no objection to people running around calling themselves ninja.
I do shrug off the ignorance of racism and religous prejudices. What more can we do? But at least these attitudes are recognised by intelligent people as thoughtless and hateful.

The purpose of this topic is to place the attitude towards ninja where it belongs; in the big heaping pile of bigoted views, rather than the cutesy joke people regard it as.

[Bap]

But you also see it on the same level as the others, correct? That's why I was surprised you brought it up an issue like this. I had thought that you would just shrug this off as well. But I also see now why you would bring this up. This topic wasn't for me :P

[Named]

I do shrug it off AS an attitude I regard as ignorant. What I wanted to share with others is the opportunity to understand what ninja really are, so they can decide if they consider the way ninja are viewed as offensive. Many people do not even realise they're mocking a way of life. And many of those people are not the sort to LIKE mocking people's beliefs. This is their revelation. Yes, ninja really exist, and by the way, we're not portrayed fairly to the world.

[Bap]

I think I was unknowingly in agreement with you then :P

[Named]

lolz I would give you a quickie now but I actually have a Ninjukai Taijutsu class to attend =D

[Yuber]

This is a very entertaining and informative thread. Thanks for the information that I wouldn't know about otherwise. If I weren't drunk, I would debate. Voted 5.

[.ZabuZa.]

maybe you should talk some more about todays ninja and how its changed, like do they still practice the same things as before when they were in japan or is it different now that they moved to malasiya and again to australia and also when your sensai left malasiya were they mad about it? oh one more question and dont take any offence to it--- how to you think Ninjukai Taijutsu would stand up to todays martial arts like if they had a tournement like k-1 or pride? i do know that Ninjukai Taijutsu is not a competitive art and is not meant for compitition.

[Named]

Martial Arts cannot be fairly compared in any competition. There would be unrealistic measures, yes, but in any tournament the only conclusion one can make of the victor is that HE himself(or herself) is a greater fighter.

The unrealistic measures, mind you, would be pitting hundreds upon hundreds of martial artists from each faction, of varying ranks (but pre-determined proportions) and declaring the martial art of which the average scoring winners belong to the superior.
Even so, it could still be argued that those individuals were the better of fighters, and would have been regardless of which techniques they were instructed to use.

With that said and my bias clear, from what I have personally observed in many martial arts- Ninjukai is a superior method of teaching. Almost ALL of the others are FAR too rigid in instruction all the way to the base philosophy of the martial art.
Ninjukai begins teaching its students techniques to develop our reactions to situations and general strength. This is necessary so that students may know how to control their body and minimise its damage. We are taught the best way to clench fist or form a foot for a kick etc. We are taught how to break our fall and roll to minimise impact and damage.
As we progress in rank, the process of 'unlearning' begins with stress on the unpredictable nature of circumstance. Simplest way to explain this; "We could teach you a 1000 techniques, and yet you could find yourself in a 1001 situations. There is no predicting your opponents behaviour or the environment in which you are engaged."
An anecdote I include in this is one of my earliest experiences in the dojo. During my first tour, I was witnessing a fight between two higher ranks on the mat. The two of them ended up on the floor.
While these two higher ranks were struggling with each other, one of their Hachimaki (headbands) fell off. Instantly, the other grabbed it and began to choke his opponent. The spar ended in him tapping out, of course.
That is the nature of a true fight. Now, there is no where on the syllabus dedicated to 'choking your opponent with his headband, should it fall off'. So why did he do this? Because it worked. Because the opportunity presented itself and he exploited it.
We are taught this spontaneity, and that is the definition of a Ninja.
Sidenote: wushu/kung fu teaches no grappling techniques. This, in my opinion, is its greatest failing. Often you will end up on the floor. Particularly if you were to fight an opponent such as a Ninja. So what do you do then? Well, probably die.
Sidenote 2: In learning throwing techniques, we are instructed to complete each successful throw with a finishing move, usually a punch or kick to the throat/head. There is no point in throwing your opponent to the ground if he's to only get up again. The idea is we place them there so that we may kill them, essentially.

The only definitive statement I will make of any martial art is this:
If it engages in competition, it is a sell-out and a mockery. Martial arts are not sports, nor to ever be categorised as such. There is no scoring system you can apply to subduing and ultimately killing your attacker. "You kicked in the wrong place! You used the wrong technique in this instance! You mustn't attack them there! Disqualification!"
NONSENSE. You must do what WORKS. You must be aware of your environment and use it to your benefit.
Ninjukai places its emphasis on adapting to situations and natural movements; the correct technique is whichever works.

There are no katas or forms. Only personal instruction for each student and hands on experience.

PS- my back really hurts from today's class and I think I scratched Jaebin's arm. =D

[Named]

Disclaimer: I do not care to open a debate comparing martial arts. That is far from the intention of this thread.

I agreed to stating the above because the information was requested from me.

The best martial art is the one which works for you. Who cares what works for Named =D

[kjrav]

I wish there was a place nearme where I could learn Ninjukai...*sigh*... I guess I just gotta move to Australia.

[Lonely Wolf]

Dear Named

I've found your post about ninja's very interesting. How long have you studied this ninja art for?