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A Day in the Life
of a Warrior-2
The Ninjutsu training of today is much different from the
training of ancient Japan, primarily because there is not nearly as much
at stake. And it has also assumed some Western influences of compete-to-win.
Except, perhaps, for the military, most people participate in martial arts
today as a hobby. However, when you look at martial arts as a way to a better
mind and body through enlightenment, it takes on a whole new meaning.
Modern Ninjutsu training is performed on a merit, or hierarchical system with different awards (or belts) marking a student's progress. The basics include learning to kick, breaking your fall, punches, walking in controlled, stealthy ways, and relaxing as much as possible. To achieve even relative success, a high level of all-round fitness is required.
Ninjutsu students need to learn to motivate themselves, to develop their own abilities and rely on their own common sense, rather than being driven into action by emotions.
Much of the Western educational system consists of learning by memory, rather than by using one's own initiative.
The Ninjutsu student studies most of the recognized Japanese martial arts systems. Many techniques similar to jujitsu are also learned, and given the name Tai, which means body, so taijutsu means "body combat art"; the entire body is used as a weapon, and anything it can do to defend and protect itself is legitimate. The physical side of Ninjutsu has no real moral limitations. The fighter is not restricted by self-defeating ideals such as rules of fair play. If saving your life means hitting a man while he's down, then so be it.
Each dojo teaches differently and from a slightly different set of values. However, for Ninjutsu to be an effective tool for spiritual and mental development, all areas of the ancient training methods should be considered, even though some are no longer taught. In this section we look at some of the different skills and their significance in self-defense. The techniques in this chapter are without weapons. Ninjutsu with weaponry is discussed in the next chapter
For a typical training session for fundamental skills, turn to Appendix A. The appendix contains information on punches, kicks, rolls, and some weaponry: swords, sticks, throwing stars, fishnet throwing and others.
The ancient Ninja trained at developing a deep self-knowledge of his own strengths and weaknesses and how his own personal power influenced his destiny. The Ninja needed a clear view of his commitments and motivations. Emotional instability could cause one to lose his life. Exercises in mental endurance, spiritual awareness and controlling one's emotions and attitudes were as important as physical training. By developing a spiritual understanding of the world around him, the ancient Ninja rooted himself in steadfast self-assuredness and tenacity
These are the skills that come to most people's mind when they think of martial arts--skills of the Daken Taijutsu which include striking, kicking, and blocking; Jutaijutsu or grappling, choking and escaping the holds of others, and Taihenjutsu or silent movement; rolling, leaping, and tumbling.
The Ninjas of feudal Japan were masters of silent movement, burglary, and gaining access to seemingly inaccessible areas. Ancient Ninja learned special walking and running methods for covering long distances, moving across floors in silence, and skulking in the shadows
The Ninja's disguise system involved impersonating the character adopted in all ways, including areas of knowledge, and body dynamics of the identity assumed. He or she literally became the new personality, whether taking the identity of a monk, craftsman, or royalty.
Ancient Ninjas were instructed in horsemanship, including combat skills.
The Ancient Ninja perfected various methods of espionage. They included ways of locating and recruiting spies within enemy ranks.
Ninja learned to use nature to conceal themselves, allowing them to vanish at will. The five elements of escape were based on a working familiarity with the creative use of earth, water, fire, metal and wood aspects of nature and of the environment.
Ancient Ninja learned to predict weather and use it to their advantage.
Stealth swimming, silent movement through water, and special boats and floats were used to cross over water. Underwater combat was also taught to Ninja warriors.
Using the terrain to their advantage was taught to ancient Ninja warriors.
By employing or influencing seemingly outside forces to bring the enemy around to doing what the Ninja wanted him or her to do, the ancient Ninjas worked their will without drawing undue attention to themselves.
It should be remembered that Sun Tzu in The Art of War stresses a strategy of defeating the enemy with the least amount of force possible, and with the variety of tools and strategies at one's disposal.
In combat the Ninja makes use of all resources necessary to accomplish his goals. Martial arts skills play as vital a role as do physical skills. Ninjas are supposed to know truth and sense falsehood instinctively. Personal power and self-realization plays a substantial role in a Ninja's success or failure.
In combat survival, to win, one makes use of all resources, including the influences of the mind. To increase difficulty for an enemy, ancient Ninjas developed this strategy with the interchange of falsehood and actuality. A strategy for winning that relies on the presentation of truth and falsehood in ways that permit the antagonist to be deceived is the basic approach for all Ninjutsu activities and thinking.
Because the Ninja deals with the concepts of truth and falsehood, adeptly blending one into the other, he or she must be well rooted in reality. To prevent becoming lost, misguided, or engulfed in his or her own deception or awareness-altering, the Ninja must maintain seishin, or purity of heart. The Ninja knows the truth in his or her heart. Intentions remain resolute, though others may have no idea what those intentions are. Because he or she is completely honest with him or herself, he or she can venture into the realm of falsehood without contaminating his own spirit.
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