80's Ninja Craze?

Unfortunately, there are a few "80's throwbacks" that continue to drag a good art through the mud. Fictitious histories, "poof I vanish" crap, and a seeming belief that the workings of Kim and Dux are true martial arts.

Ah well, back to Atlantis for me. I need to recharge my crystals before Master Shredder posts again.
 
My 2 Cents:

The ninja craze of the 80's also involved a lot of SKH togakura-ryu articles, with him standing in kamae so rigid he looked as to have a pole inserted where poles don't go, always demo-ing stealth maneuvers in broad daylight in black jammies. Got to where you couln't pick up a copy of a martial arts magazine without there being an article by he or his kin.

I wish I could recall them as the good ole days, but...I never really could get on board with the BJK kamae & basics. Too unpleasant on the bod after years of kenpo. Went almost a whole decade trying to find a MA mag that did NOT have a ninjutsu article in it. I remember a kenpo instructor...oddly enough, addressing the lack of integrity in lineage for ninjutsu...who said if it got any worse, he was just going to paint the entire dojo black, and sit in the middle on a divan watching burning incense...he was sure people would pay to join him, as long as he said "it's ninjutsu".

Commercialism meets tradition, on an order of magnitude.
 
Is that episode of CHiPs the one where Eric Estrada used Nunchaku?

That was cool :)
 
MisterMike said:
I think the comic book even pre-dates the cartoons.
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I think the turtles came from the very early 1980's or late 1970's as bad guys. They appeared first I think in a comic then disappeared. A few years later they came back as good guys in the Turtles comic books.
 
The Ninja utility belt..I almost forgot about that one...
 
I think the turtles came from the very early 1980's or late 1970's as bad guys. They appeared first I think in a comic then disappeared. A few years later they came back as good guys in the Turtles comic books.
Click to expand...

*blinks* Errr... that's news to me.

The first "real" appearance of the TMNT was in their own book, in 1984. They weren't what you'd call "bad guys", but did kill a lot of criminals in the issue (including the Shredder). It was originally intended as an one-shot, but quickly expanded into an ongoing series (which spawned an animated series about 5 years later).

Another comic series, based on the kid-friendly cartoon, was published by Archie Comics beginning in 1989 or so. That may be the "good guy" version you are referring to. But, the original Mirage series was ongoing at that point in time, too.

Oh well. I've proved my geekdom enough for now....
 
phlaw said:
Is that episode of CHiPs the one where Eric Estrada used Nunchaku?

That was cool :)
Click to expand...
Nope. In this episode, Ponch & John were only part of the wrap-around (a minute or so at the beginning and end of the show). The bulk of the show featured a squad of martial-arts cops called "Force Seven" . There were only four members at the time, all classic TV stereotypes. There was the grim leader with a dark past (Fred Dryer, pre- "Hunter"), the Asian chick, the big strong silly guy, and the "bad boy" who needed direction. I'm guessing the other three to be added were the crazy guy, the computer geek, and the con artist.

BTW, I do believe that the nadir of the '80s ninja craze had to be the article "Is Batman a Ninja?".
 
I thought Batman was a Ninja of some sort..i remember in 1 cartoon episode he ended up fighting some ninja from his old school or something...
 
AaronLucia said:
I thought Batman was a Ninja of some sort..i remember in 1 cartoon episode he ended up fighting some ninja from his old school or something...
Click to expand...

No no... Batman was trained as a Samurai... the Ninja was a student who tried to steal the master's sword and was kicked out and joined a ninja clan...

It was 2 episodes... "Night of the Ninja" and "Day of the Samurai"

:asian:
 
Heh, this thread has given me an idea: I received an invitation to a Halloween party, so I think I'll dress as a ninja
ninja.gif
 
TimoS said:
Heh, this thread has given me an idea: I received an invitation to a Halloween party, so I think I'll dress as a ninja
ninja.gif
Click to expand...

Nahhh... do somthing scary and dress as ashida kim...
 
Technopunk said:
Nahhh... do somthing scary and dress as ashida kim...
Click to expand...

He's not that well-known here, fortunately :) Though I have to admit, that would be scary :supcool:
 
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