ElfTengu
Blue Belt
This is all good, however it was said that the Genbukan test was done on at least one occasion with no sakki being emitted by your Soke.
So is it a test of feeling the intention of another human being, or a simple gut feeling of impending danger (as per the scaffold pole and motorcycling analogies), or a combination of both, or something altogether different and difficult to explain in words?
Not that gut feeling is unkown to the Japanese mindset, it is literally known as Haragei from which I am sure you can spot the reference to the gut or belly.
Now haragei extends beyond a feeling of impending danger, and beyond the perception of another human being's malicious/murderous intent, it is also about perceving martial ability in another person, regardless of whether they are a potential friend or enemy. I believe Hatsumi Soke referred to it with a example from samurai comic books where two characters say something along the lines of "There is something about you", a martial je ne sais quoi if you like.
Most of us can spot dangerous people in a crowd, it is ususally not rocket science because such people often want to appear dangerous because they can then do as they like with little resistance due to the fear of those who are acknowledging their Alpha-male persona exhibition.
But many people without knowing it can also exude a quiet confidence, intentionally or unintentionally, which is almost as perceptible as the chest thumping of the aforementioned individual. And because many of the unpleasant characters in society are cowards at heart they will often try to gauge in advance the likelihood of their intended victim putting up a fight. In which case they will either move onto another target or excalate their plan of attack into use of knives, guns or recruit other wolves for strength in numbers.
Ninpo practitioners should not exude anything really, but I also doubt if we would put out the obvious victim-waves of an injured fish to be picked up by any predators in the vicinity. It is a balance of not looking like a victim and not looking like a threat.
Another point is how often I am surprised to find out that someone is a martial arts yudansha, without picking up on anything myself, and probably without conscious effort on their part to conceal it, so there is probably an aspect of ego to this. If you think you are great, you will have a harder time trying to keep a low profile.
So is it a test of feeling the intention of another human being, or a simple gut feeling of impending danger (as per the scaffold pole and motorcycling analogies), or a combination of both, or something altogether different and difficult to explain in words?
Not that gut feeling is unkown to the Japanese mindset, it is literally known as Haragei from which I am sure you can spot the reference to the gut or belly.
Now haragei extends beyond a feeling of impending danger, and beyond the perception of another human being's malicious/murderous intent, it is also about perceving martial ability in another person, regardless of whether they are a potential friend or enemy. I believe Hatsumi Soke referred to it with a example from samurai comic books where two characters say something along the lines of "There is something about you", a martial je ne sais quoi if you like.
Most of us can spot dangerous people in a crowd, it is ususally not rocket science because such people often want to appear dangerous because they can then do as they like with little resistance due to the fear of those who are acknowledging their Alpha-male persona exhibition.
But many people without knowing it can also exude a quiet confidence, intentionally or unintentionally, which is almost as perceptible as the chest thumping of the aforementioned individual. And because many of the unpleasant characters in society are cowards at heart they will often try to gauge in advance the likelihood of their intended victim putting up a fight. In which case they will either move onto another target or excalate their plan of attack into use of knives, guns or recruit other wolves for strength in numbers.
Ninpo practitioners should not exude anything really, but I also doubt if we would put out the obvious victim-waves of an injured fish to be picked up by any predators in the vicinity. It is a balance of not looking like a victim and not looking like a threat.
Another point is how often I am surprised to find out that someone is a martial arts yudansha, without picking up on anything myself, and probably without conscious effort on their part to conceal it, so there is probably an aspect of ego to this. If you think you are great, you will have a harder time trying to keep a low profile.
. 
