OP
shorinfighter
Yellow Belt
- Thread Starter
- #21
Thank you very much. I will do that.
All i want to know is what basic things i should practice. Not anything complicated that requires an instructor. I just want to know what the basic techniques used in ninjutsu are. Kind of like how taikwondo focuses on kicking. What does ninjutsu focus on?
All i want to know is what basic things i should practice. Not anything complicated that requires an instructor. I just want to know what the basic techniques used in ninjutsu are. Kind of like how taikwondo focuses on kicking. What does ninjutsu focus on?
Doesnt ninjutsu focus a lot on stealth and evasion and stuff like that?
Go on tell me how stupid I am, just like everyone else. No matter what happens, i will still practice martial arts. I dont care weather or not it is with an instructor or not. I will always learn martial arts. And I will learn ninjutsu.
Doesnt ninjutsu focus a lot on stealth and evasion and stuff like that?
Honestly, I'm too tired tonight to even know where to start with this.
Chris, I think I'll leave this to you...
I am new to ninjutsu and I wanted to know how I could practice it at my house and what sort of techniques and/or exercises I should do.
I dont have an instructor in my area. I am just asking. What are the basic forms i should start off with in ninjutsu, since i am pretty much training myself using information from the internet.
I am well aware that learning it by yourself is not as good as with an instructor. I have taken martial arts before with an instructor so i know what can get me hurt and what can't. I also know how to prevent injury. I believe that learning it without an instructor is better than not learning it at all. But even if i don't learn much online. I will still search for other techniques from other forms, that way i can learn their knowlege too and how to better defend myself.
Well I was in shorin ryu karate for three years. And you are right there are different ways to get hurt in different forms. But it isnt hard to prevent injurym even in a form you are just introduced to. And learning by myself is possible. I just need a good way to get information on the forms then i practice what i am told. The reason i want to learn ninjutsu is so i can learn a more complex style of fighting. I still practice my karate but, my goal is to learn many forms. Not completely, but enough to know how to use them correctly. My karate doesnt apply to ninjutsu one bit, but before you tell me to go back to karate I must respectfully say "no"
Another reason i am practicing online is because i cannot afford to go to a real dojo right now. So online is my best option. Going to a real dojo is not cheap you know.
Go on tell me how stupid I am, just like everyone else. No matter what happens, i will still practice martial arts. I dont care weather or not it is with an instructor or not. I will always learn martial arts. And I will learn ninjutsu.
That's exactly what i've been trying to say!!!!!!!!
All i want to know is what basic things i should practice. Not anything complicated that requires an instructor. I just want to know what the basic techniques used in ninjutsu are. Kind of like how taikwondo focuses on kicking. What does ninjutsu focus on?
I am not asking for approval. I am asking for help that actually helps me. I am not asking for a lecture on how i cant learn without an instructor. Because instrustors are way too expensive for me right now. I just want to know what the focus of ninjutsu is and how i should practice it.
Doesnt ninjutsu focus a lot on stealth and evasion and stuff like that?
I am not asking for approval. I am asking for help that actually helps me. I am not asking for a lecture on how i cant learn without an instructor. Because instrustors are way too expensive for me right now. I just want to know what the focus of ninjutsu is and how i should practice it.
Wow.... okay, how long you got?
There's a lot to go into before we even get to the idea of what Toshindo teaches, firstly looking at exactly what ninjutsu is... and, believe it or not, that can be rather hotly debated.
In essence, there are two primary definitions. One is specific, and is used when referring to portions of larger curriculums, found within classical Japanese arts (Koryu). In this definition, ninjutsu refers to a range of information gathering and espionage skills, although the specifics change depending on the system itself (for example, one system might include scouting, another won't, one will focus on anti-espionage, another is more pro-active, some will have sabotage activities, others won't, and so on...).
The second definition is a modern one, and primarily stems from the popularity of organisations such as the Bujinkan, and is a more generic term, used to refer to arts who share some historical connection with the areas of Iga and Koga, as well as other arts, focused on combative methods (as distinct from the specific definition, which is a non-combative definition). Most famously, the Bujinkan was originally known as Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu Bujinkan Dojo (with Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu being the art taught at the Bujinkan Dojo). Over time, the Bujinkan name became the dominant one, for a variety of reasons.
From there, we need to look at this more "modern" usage of the term, and look at what is encompassed by it's use. Starting with the Bujinkan, the technical make-up of the organisation is derived from 9 individual systems, largely related (in two groupings, at least); Gyokko Ryu Kosshijutsu, Togakure Ryu Ninpo Taijutsu/Ninjutsu, Kukishinden Ryu Happo Biken, Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu, Shinden Fudo Ryu Dakentaijutsu, Koto Ryu Koppojutsu, Gikan Ryu Koppotaijutsu, Gyokushin Ryu Ninpo, and Kumogakure Ryu Ninpo Taijutsu. Interestingly, it's really only the first six that are used to provide the techniques, with Gikan, Kumogakure, and Gyokushin not really being taught. The reason Togakure Ryu was used as the original name is that it has the longest list of headmasters, giving it precedence over the others, and affording it the greatest position, although the bulk of the techniques and basics coming from other Ryu. Among these systems, there are questions as to the historical validity of a number of them, with others being very well accepted (for a number of reasons). Those that have some doubts include the ninjutsu traditions, which is where a lot of the controversy comes into it. That said, it's generally accepted that the only organisations/schools that have a legit claim to historical traditions of ninjutsu (other than the aforementioned Koryu systems) are the Bujinkan and schools that came from them (such as the Genbukan, the Jinenkan, and Steve Hayes' Toshindo).
Each of the organisations have their own focus and approach... which can make it a little hard to see similarities at times. The Bujinkan, for instance, doesn't really teach any of the various systems it is made up of, instead, the focus is on a more free-form creative expression of martial arts, known as Budo Taijutsu. This expression is explored using the various techniques of the systems, but without necessarily looking at the individual aspects of the various systems (making a congruent whole). The Genbukan, although containing many of the same systems (and a large range of others) is focused on Tanemura's desire to preserve and protect the essence of Japanese traditional martial arts (Tanemura was formerly the Vice President of the Bujinkan, directly under Hatsumi. He left in 1984 to form the Genbukan for a range of reasons that aren't needed to go into here). As a result, the focus is on correct and proper transmission and movement. The Jinenkan is focused on teaching the various Ryu the way they are written in the scrolls that Manaka (head of the Jinenkan, and Hatsumi's first student) received from Hatsumi. Steve Hayes' Toshindo is more focused on modern application.
Now, whether or not you feel that makes Toshindo "ninjutsu" is up to how you interpret the relationship and definition of the term. To me, it's a modern ninjutsu-derived system... although Hayes does still teach the traditional kata as well.
Did that help?
but i will not try to teach myself. I will only practice the techniques i learned properly while i was in karate to get better at them.I thank everybody for their helpful advice. I also apologise if i came off as rude i meant no disrespect. I will look for instructors in my area and until i find one i will practice the katas i learned from when i was in karate. But i will no longer try to learn over the internet.
I thank everybody for their helpful advice. I also apologise if i came off as rude i meant no disrespect. I will look for instructors in my area and until i find one i will practice the katas i learned from when i was in karate. But i will no longer try to learn over the internet.
I thank everybody for their helpful advice. I also apologise if i came off as rude i meant no disrespect. I will look for instructors in my area and until i find one i will practice the katas i learned from when i was in karate. But i will no longer try to learn over the internet.
but i will not try to teach myself. I will only practice the techniques i learned properly while i was in karate to get better at them.
I thank everybody for their helpful advice. I also apologise if i came off as rude i meant no disrespect. I will look for instructors in my area and until i find one i will practice the katas i learned from when i was in karate. But i will no longer try to learn over the internet.
That's a great attitude and idea.
When I first got involved formally in the martial arts, I was really interested in learning ninjutsu. I owned most of Stephen Hayes's books, watched every ninja movie out there (anyone else remember Sho Kusugi... or the American Ninja movies with Michael Dudikoff?) But I couldn't find it in the area. (This was back in the pre-internet era...) A few friends of mine almost literally tripped over this martial arts club in the area. The price was affordable, it was being taught somewhere I could get to... so I gave it a try. That was more than 25 years ago... and I'm still training and learning Bando. So... keep your eyes open to other possibilities, too. You never know what you might find.