Jesse Enkamp on Uechi ryu

[Haruhiko]

I can't make my mind up about Enkamp.

Especially after these videos with, allegedly, a self-awarded "Doctor":

 

[isshinryuronin]

I can't make my mind up about Enkamp.

He is a skilled technician in both karate and kobudo. I've seen clips of his bo and tonfa kata - excellent! Don't be deceived by his goofy nerd persona.

 

[Haruhiko]

He is a skilled technician in both karate and kobudo. I've seen clips of his bo and tonfa kata - excellent! Don't be deceived by his goofy nerd persona.

Nerdiness is goodness. I'm more sceptical about the "Dr" in the linked videos.

 

[isshinryuronin]

I'm more sceptical about the "Dr" in the linked videos.

Don't know what, if anything, he's a doctor of, but I thought he had some good moves, flowing from one to another. Jesse has a broad base of TMA experience, and I'd like to think he wouldn't peddle someone's BS just for viewership. But with ninjas, who knows?

 

[opr1945101]

Nerdiness is goodness. I'm more sceptical about the "Dr" in the linked videos.

I think the Dr. is the instructor In education first is the bachelor degree (BS bull manure), masters degree (MS more of same), then the doctor degree (PhD piled higher and deeper). The student is learning more and more about less and less. I once met a Doctor whose area of study was the first 6 minutes of the Renaissance.

Students earn advanced degrees in some very small and unique areas of study.

 

[Flying Crane]

I think the Dr. is the instructor In education first is the bachelor degree (BS bull manure), masters degree (MS more of same), then the doctor degree (PhD piled higher and deeper). The student is learning more and more about less and less. I once met a Doctor whose area of study was the first 6 minutes of the Renaissance.

Students earn advanced degrees in some very small and unique areas of study.

It isn’t so much about the narrow subject matter, as it is about learning to be a skilled researcher. The topic of study to earn the degree is just a vehicle to teach those skills (as well as deepen the knowledge of the topic, of course). But then the successful candidate has shown the skills to research effectively.

 

[opr1945101]

I am more curious about "Ninjutsu" than about "Dr."

There are posts saying they didn't exist all over.

"It’s a ninjutsu belt. For your own safety, burn it immediately! "

 

[Flying Crane]

I am more curious about "Ninjutsu" than about "Dr."

There are posts saying they didn't exist all over.

"It’s a ninjutsu belt. For your own safety, burn it immediately! "

My understanding, and @Chris Parker would probably have a lot to say about this and a lot to correct, is that there were no secretive “ninja clans” living in the mountains, hiring out their skills to the regional warlords and running around in black costumes to hide their identities. It takes very little contemplation on that scenario to realize how ridiculous and impossible such a reality would be.

Local warlord’s stronghold gets infiltrated and he gets assassinated. So his retainers hike on up the mountain to the local ninja hideout and have words with their leader.

Retainers: “Hey Bob, why did you have your guys bump off Fred last night? I thought we were on favorite customer status.”

Bob the ninja: “hey boys, business is business and I gotta make a living. Jeffrey from down the way came to me with a job and offered a nice price, know what I mean?”

retainers: “oh ok, no worries. Hey, are you still doing that job for us next month?”

Bob the ninja: “oh of course, that contract is solid!”

None of this makes sense, and the “ninjas” would need to keep their identity secret so nobody can take revenge, but at the same time someone who wants to hire them needs to be able to contact them. So how does a “ninja clan” live in their hideout in the mountains, keep their identity secret yet still be contactable, while seeing to the daily needs of life including building and mending houses, cultivating crops, and the other mundane chores of life? It doesn’t make any sense.

I believe that skills of espionage, infiltration, and subterfuge were included within the body of skills of various Ryu. Nobody specialized in being a ninja. That wasn’t anyone’s full-time job. But when the need arose, retainers within a lord’s household had some skills and training to undertake such a mission. I suppose wearing dark clothing for a night mission would make sense for the circumstances, but it wasn’t the “uniform of the ninja”. Rather, they would blend in with the surroundings in whatever way made the most sense, including acting like an ordinary person in a crowd, with legitimate business.

 

[Haruhiko]

I think the Dr. is the instructor In education first is the bachelor degree (BS bull manure), masters degree (MS more of same), then the doctor degree (PhD piled higher and deeper). The student is learning more and more about less and less. I once met a Doctor whose area of study was the first 6 minutes of the Renaissance.

Students earn advanced degrees in some very small and unique areas of study.

I'm well aware of the academic tower.

Less aware of how he climbed it.

 

[Haruhiko]

Don't know what, if anything, he's a doctor of, but I thought he had some good moves, flowing from one to another. Jesse has a broad base of TMA experience, and I'd like to think he wouldn't peddle someone's BS just for viewership. But with ninjas, who knows?

Home - Kacem Zoughari — Japanese Martial Arts, History & Transmission

Bridging Tradition, Knowledge, and MovementDr. Kacem Zoughari, PhD in Japanese Studies and expert in classical martial arts, has dedicated his life to exploring the depth of Japanese culture — from its language and history to the refined art of movement cultivated by generations of warriors...

kacemzoughari.com

This guy?

As a fellow "academic", his circular citation and non-peer reviewed publications speak volumes about his integrity.

How he got his doctorate is a VERY interesting avenue.

 

[Haruhiko]

It isn’t so much about the narrow subject matter, as it is about learning to be a skilled researcher. The topic of study to earn the degree is just a vehicle to teach those skills (as well as deepen the knowledge of the topic, of course). But then the successful candidate has shown the skills to research effectively.

Which "successful candidate" might this be?

 

[Haruhiko]

He is a skilled technician in both karate and kobudo. I've seen clips of his bo and tonfa kata - excellent! Don't be deceived by his goofy nerd persona.

I'll actually go one more: he's significantly misinformed.

 

[Haruhiko]

My understanding, and @Chris Parker would probably have a lot to say about this and a lot to correct, is that there were no secretive “ninja clans” living in the mountains, hiring out their skills to the regional warlords and running around in black costumes to hide their identities. It takes very little contemplation on that scenario to realize how ridiculous and impossible such a reality would be.

Local warlord’s stronghold gets infiltrated and he gets assassinated. So his retainers hike on up the mountain to the local ninja hideout and have words with their leader.

Retainers: “Hey Bob, why did you have your guys bump off Fred last night? I thought we were on favorite customer status.”

Bob the ninja: “hey boys, business is business and I gotta make a living. Jeffrey from down the way came to me with a job and offered a nice price, know what I mean?”

retainers: “oh ok, no worries. Hey, are you still doing that job for us next month?”

Bob the ninja: “oh of course, that contract is solid!”

None of this makes sense, and the “ninjas” would need to keep their identity secret so nobody can take revenge, but at the same time someone who wants to hire them needs to be able to contact them. So how does a “ninja clan” live in their hideout in the mountains, keep their identity secret yet still be contactable, while seeing to the daily needs of life including building and mending houses, cultivating crops, and the other mundane chores of life? It doesn’t make any sense.

I believe that skills of espionage, infiltration, and subterfuge were included within the body of skills of various Ryu. Nobody specialized in being a ninja. That wasn’t anyone’s full-time job. But when the need arose, retainers within a lord’s household had some skills and training to undertake such a mission. I suppose wearing dark clothing for a night mission would make sense for the circumstances, but it wasn’t the “uniform of the ninja”. Rather, they would blend in with the surroundings in whatever way made the most sense, including acting like an ordinary person in a crowd, with legitimate business.

But what about what Iga clan?

 

[Prince_Alarming103]

He's impressive, interesting, informative and entertaining but he does occasionally overplay his hand and sometimes has a tin ear for nuance, claiming for example that karate is a phillipino martial art and that yoga is just swedish gymnastics. The truth, I suspect, is more complex.

 

[Haruhiko]

The truth, I suspect, is more complex.

All should suspect that at a young age.

 

[Flying Crane]

Which "successful candidate" might this be?

The one enrolled in and successfully completing the PhD degree program.

 

[Flying Crane]

But what about what Iga clan?

No idea.

 

[Haruhiko]

The one enrolled in and successfully completing the PhD degree program.

Was his doctoral thesis submitted in front of a board? Did he defend the thesis?

 

[Flying Crane]

Was his doctoral thesis submitted in front of a board? Did he defend the thesis?

Are you referring to a specific person? I am not. I am talking in generalities, as I was responding to a specific earlier post. It is my understanding (having not done it myself) that part of earning a PhD is presenting and defending a dissertation. I believe this would be done in any properly accredited university in good standing with a nation’s educational systems and programs. If a PhD was awarded by a properly accredited university, then I think it can be assumed the dissertation process was included.

 

[opr1945101]

The guy in the second video is Dr. Kacem Zoughari, PhD in Japanese Studies and expert in classical martial arts, has dedicated his life to exploring the depth of Japanese culture — from its language and history to the refined art of movement cultivated by generations of warriors. Through KAGE Teaching & Consulting, he shares this legacy across disciplines: martial arts, academia, cultural consulting, and performance. His approach bridges scholarly insight and lived experience, offering a rare perspective on tradition in motion..