Suggestions for Laying the Best Foundation for Your Ninjutsu Martial Arts Training

Bujinkan Shidoshi Jeffrey M. Miller

In this post I will be discussing some very important areas of study.  These areas should form the foundation of your training.  That way, your progress and the skills you develop will be strong, balanced, and ready for the ultimate test – having to defend yourself against a real-world attacker!

Aside from the lists of “ninja” techniques, tactics, and strategies contained in the scrolls or curriculum that you will be introduced to long the way, a true practitioner of ninjutsu must also be proficient with the common skills learned by those studying the more conventional martial arts like karate, tae kwon do, aikido, kung-fu, etc.  As you can see, if you're going to master the self-defense system of the Ninja, you have a little more to work on than most students of the martial arts.

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But, if you're serious about your training, you won't let this scare you.  Because, one of the unique things about real ninjutsu training – the kind of training that goes beyond mere body movement and unarmed self-defense training – is that you learn both viewpoints – the conventional and the Ninja's unconventional approach – at the same time!

To ultimately master something, especially something as complex and all-encompassing as the art of ninjutsu, you must lay a proper foundation.  Just like building a house, if the foundation is weak, or you just throw a bunch of sticks and other parts together...

… you will find that, when a good wind comes along, that your house comes tumbling down.

And, in the context of self-protection, that wind will be in the form of a real attack – an attack coming from someone who wants to harm you or your loved ones.  And, unless you want to just get by with a false sense of confidence, or you only care about how cool you look to others when you're training, the last thing you want to happen is for all of your knowledge, training, and skills to fail you because they were wrong.

If you want to master the art of ninjutsu, also known as Ninpo in it's higher, philosophical and life mastery form, then you must focus on getting your training regimen structured so that you can progress and grow in the right direction.  Here are a few of the beginning steps toward mastery in Ninjutsu:

First, you need to understand the make-up of the art and the principles and concepts upon which it is based.  After all, there are only so many things that you can do with, and to, a human body.  And, you can find all of those things throughout the martial arts and fighting world.  But, you must be able to answer the question:

“What is it that makes Ninjutsu different from all the rest?"

Next, you need to have a mentor, or several of them – people who really understand the art and it's practice – so that you don't fall into the trap of just throwing a bunch of things together and calling it Ninjutsu.  Your teacher will show you how to apply the many techniques, tactics, strategies, and skills contained within the system.

He or she will also introduce you to the weapons and tools that will allow you to be more effective than you could be with unarmed skills alone.

And, finally, you must be clear about where you are, and what you should be focusing on at each level as you progress.  The idea with Ninjutsu training is that you should be living and training “intentionally” rather than just being 'spoon-fed' by your teacher.

Ultimately, you and you alone are responsible for your own training and progress.  Your teacher and fellow senior students can only guide you and provide you with pieces of the puzzle.

If this article was helpful and you want to learn more about what it takes to progress toward warrior mastery in the martial, self-defense, and life mastery system of ninjutsu, then I suggest that you check out this ebook that I'm giving away: http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/becoming-the-master-subsc.html

Or if you are looking for a home study program to help you with your ninjutsu training, then check out this ninjutsu home study course: Sanshin Kihon Happo



I look forward to training with you very soon.

NINPO-IKKAN!

Shidoshi Jeffrey M. Miller SPS, DTI
Founder and Director
Warrior Concepts Int'l, Inc.
Bujinkan Moki no Tora Dojo
362 Market Street
Sunbury, Pa. 17801  USA

Master-teacher
Bujinkan Dojo Internationa
http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com

The Path of "Greater Sameness"

Do you know why it's getting more and more difficult to find the "best" martial art or self-defense system?

Do you have any idea why, if your attacker has been paying attention and not living under a rock somewhere, that it's getting harder and harder to have the advantage in a fight or self-defense attack situation?

It's because...

Everyone is doing the same thing!

I don't mean that all the martial arts styles and self-defense systems are doing exactly the same thing, but...

When you look at each style or system, you very quickly see that vitually everyone is focused on applying the same skills, against the same targets, and in practically the same way... REGARDLESS of what they're calling what they do.

On top of that, if you take a good, hard look at the way Ninjutsu, Ninpo-taijutsu, or Budo-Taijutsu (whatever you want to call it) is being practiced today, by and large, most teachers and students are doing the exact same thing. Everyone is saying that their art or system is "best," when in fact they are going about things that the teachers and students in the conventional martial arts are doing.

I call this, taking the Path of "Greater-Sameness."

Everyone wants to do the same thing as everyone else... only better.

The problem with this is that, every fighter, attacker, and potential threat to your well-being... has seen your moves before.

He may not have seen your stance or kamae, but he's seen one like it.

He certainly expects you to "block" or counter what he's doing - regardless of whether you call it a "block" or a ken-nagashi, or whatever.

In fact, if he can see what you're doing - at ALL -even a little bit...

whether he's trained or not...

He's NOT going to let you do your cool moves... BECAUSE he can see them coming.

So...

What's the answer?

Well, I can tell you that, for starters, it does not lie in or on the Path of "Greater-Sameness."

In fact, if you're going to be able to survive, you absolutely must think differently.

About fighting.

About conflict.

About Self-defense.

And about "Surviving violence."

You must think about these things from the perspective that no one else is doing. Not other martial artists. Not other self-defense "experts" and practitioners. And not even others studying the same art that you are!

That goes for the everything from the way you punch, kick, and apply a joint lock, to the way you actually think about and assess a violent situation.

My "Inner-Circle" students know this. My in-house, dojo students know this. And those who attend my intensive seminars and yearly Ninja camps know this.

And now it's time for you to know and understand this fundamental truth, if you're going to get out of the same trap that every other student and teacher of martial arts and self-defense are caught in.

Now, if you think that you don't need to know this... that what you're doing is perfect and unbeatable... or if you think I'm "full of it," then I wish you all the "luck" should you ever find yourself in the "thick of things."

But, if this is something that you think you want to explore, to know and understand, to Master...

Then, I have a special treat for you. Because...

I just conducted a free, online training seminar where I taught students how to avoid this trap. This was a special, closed-door, private and personal tele-seminar for serious students only - people who (I hope) are just like you - students and teachers who know that something is wrong with the way things are being done and taught in the self defense and martial arts world...

...and now they know why.

So, what's the treat?

The treat is that, if you're serious about your training, then I'm offering you a complimentary copy of the recording from this class.

All you have to do to claim your free audio training seminar recording is to shoot me an email with the words, "Greater Sameness" in the subject block, and then a short note requesting the recording.

That's it.


In Mastery!


Shidoshi Miller

Why Escaping From a Grabbing Attack Isn't Always The Best Move

by Jeffrey M. Miller

Self defense is a very deep and often complicated subject. Contrary to all of the books, videos, and programs out there that promise to "make you a master in 30 seconds or less," effective and authentic self defense training involves much more than learning a couple of "cool moves." This is not to say that you can not learn some important lessons that will allow you to be successful fairly quickly - it's not going to happen over night. In fact, this article discusses a strategy that you just won't find in the "drive-up window-style" self defense products.

In most self defense and martial arts programs, grab defenses are usually approached from the same perspective. The techniques are generally designed to effect your release from the grab. Regardless of whether you're defending against wrist or clothing grabs, body grabs like "bearhugs," or other restraints, the primary focus is usually on escaping.

This escaping and freeing yourself from the assailant's grip is not a bad idea. In fact, it should be the primary goal for the beginning student who wants to put as much distance between herself and her attacker.

But, as you grow in both ability and comfort level with "being attacked," the advanced training should offer you strategies that allow you more control of the situation, and...

...step outside the attacker's perspective.

One of these strategies is in the way we handle a grabbing attack. Where the beginner and the technique-oriented self defense systems focus on escaping, the advanced student sees that there are several benefits to NOT escaping from your aggressor's hold.

Some of those benefits include:

1) The attacker has given up a weapon. When he grabs you, he has tied up one of his weapons and can't use it for anything else without letting go.

2) You know where the grabbing hand is. In a self defense situation, you want to keep track of where his body weapons are at all times. That way, he can't pull a weapon or attack without you knowing it.

3) When you counter attack, he won't let go. This is very difficult to explain in print, or even in a demonstration and should be experienced to be understood. Suffice it to say that, since he "has you," psychologically he is almost conditioned to hold on all the way to the end.

The key to quickly, efficiently, and effectively defending yourself against a street fighter, or any assailant who has experience, is to be able to think outside the box and do things in a way that they have not seen before. This begins with seeing the situation with different eyes than everyone else uses.

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Self-Defense: Your Body's Own Natural Self Protection Modes

Contrary to common belief, the human body has a set of default, hardwired defense modes that can be used in your defense against a real-world attacker. Here, I'll briefly describe these modes and how you can use them to win against a dangerous attacker.

If you look at most martial arts and self-defense programs, you can easily come to the belief that all you have to do is learn a few moves or techniques, train until you can execute them well, and...well, that's it. You're a master or self-defense expert.

However, there is one aspect that's generally missing from most self defense training. And that is the addition of your body's emotions as tools for defense.

In the past few years, systems and programs have been developed that focus on what's known as "adrenal response training." These programs, however, tend to concentrate on only one of these emotional states, or modes.

There are actually four of these modes that we can find ourselves in when confronted with danger. Each state is a natural response to several factors including things like your:

• 1. Perception of danger or level of threat
  
  
• 2. Personality type
  
  
• 3. Rules and restrictions that you're aware of as a part of your job

And others

Each of these modes is more than a mood, state, or condition which we might find ourselves in. They also control, in many ways, how we process information, and even work to free or hinder certain types of body movement.

The Four Emotion-based Defensive Modes Are:

• Stable/Confident
  
  
• Adaptable/Defensive
  
  
• Direct/Aggressive
  
  
• Slippery/Evasive

As I said, each of these modes is both a reaction to the current situation, and a strategy for handling a situation in a very specific way. As a general outline, I'll quickly explain each mode from both a responsive and a controlling perspective.

Please note that the following modes are in no particular order of importance, nor is one better than any of the others. But you may find that a particular mode or two feel more comfortable or "natural" for you, each should be seen as an option that can be pressed into service in a self-defense situation. And, as I've said time and again, the more options you have in any given situation, the greater your chances of getting the results you want.


Stable/Confident "Earth" Mode.

This defense mode is marked by a general sense of relaxed calm. You really don't perceive a threat and you are in firm control of the encounter. Notice that I didn't say that you were stubborn and forced a sense of command. In what I call the "earth-mode," you use superior positioning and relaxed strength to stop his attacks and direct your strong points against his weak ones, using leverage and crushing pressure to put an end to his plan to hurt you.


Adaptive/Defensive "Water" Mode.

Just like the water, you adapt to his movements. You use long-range, defensive angling to pull away from his attacks and then crash back in with powerful strikes and kicks to his vulnerable weak points. This mode is often present when you feel intimidated by his size, strength, or other factors. You instinctivelly want to create time and distance between you and your opponent so that he has to work harder to get at you.


Direct/Aggressive "Fire" Mode.

Either out of fear, anger, or a need to react first, you move in and direct the fight to the bad guy. In this "fire" mode, you are almost pulled in by a sense of urgency and a need to get things over with quickly. When I say "aggressive," I do not necessarily mean destructive, but rather a direct, committed, "go-for-it" attitude which sends you directly in to meet the assailant before he can really get started. Again, this mode could be triggered by anger just as easily as it could be initiated out of a feeling of being cornered and needing to take action right away.


Slippery/Evasive "Wind" Mode.

This mode is marked by a very carefree, open movement with a sense of last-second timing to slip, avoid, and wrap up your opponent with his own attacks. The body position associated with this mode is very open and looks very different when compared against the conventional martial arts and self-defense stances that you usually see. This mode could be caused by a complete desire to avoid the situation altogether. It could also be used in a playful, confusing manner as you effortlessly evade your attacker's punches, kicks, and grabs only to catch him with your own attacks from unseen and confusing directions.

Like I said, there is no one best mode. Each is a natural response that is hardwired inside us and a part of our overall natural human self-protection mechanisms.

While each of us has steered toward one or another of these modes as we've moved through our lives, and perceive our chosen one as the "only natural" for us. The truth is that, with proper training, each mode can be developed, enhanced, and added back into our arsenal as a very powerful strategic option for dealing with a real-world self-defense situation with a very real-world attacker.

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Get the information you need to survive a real world self-defense situation.

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---

Jeffrey Miller is an internationally recognized self-defense expert. He is the creator of the unique EDR: Non-Martial Arts Defensive Training System and teaches individuals, security professionals, companies, and organizations how to survive danger in Today's often unsafe world. Go to his web site at => www.warrior-concepts-online.com

Martial Arts: Are You Learning To Get Your Arms Battered In A Real-World Fight Or Self-Defense Situation?

When it comes to defending targets against an opponent's attacks, especially punching attacks, a martial art student focusing on real-world\effective self-defense must be careful that you're not overlooking one. While this particular target may be virtually invisible to most attackers, not to mention martial arts students and instructors, facing a skilled attacker who knows how to exploit this weakness can have you on the losing end with a broken arm, if not more, when everything is said and doneit's all over.

What is this target?

And how can the bad guy get to this target and you end up with a broken arm, or close to it, as a bare minimum?

Before I answer that question, here's one for you.

Have you ever seen a boxer's stance? Have you ever watched boxers move around during a match?

I'm sure you have.

Now, where are their arms?

Up. Right?

And they do it for cover - to protect their heads and faces from being pummeled by their opponent's fists, right?

Of course.

One more question.

Have you ever seen pictures or film footage of one of the old-style fighters? You know, like Joe Lewis, or even those before his time? Have you ever seen how boxers stood back then, or positioned their arms...before boxing gloves were used?

If you haven't, you really should do some research so you can understand what I'm talking about. Especially if you're serious about being able to survive against an assailant who's serious about beating, breaking, or even killing you.

To get to the point, I'll tell you a little about the old school, bare-knuckle fighters. Even those who used gloves, didn't have the kind of padding that we do today. So, they held their arms and fists in very different positions than today's fighters.

Why?

Because they knew that holding your arms up and out in front of your attacker's fists, would get them beaten. They also knew that if their arms were hit while in this position, that they also stood the chance of punching themselves in the face with their own knuckles!

What does this have to do with you learning self-defense. Simple. Because many teachers are teaching their students to fight or defend themselves with their arms in this modern boxer position.

"So," you might be saying, "what's the problem?"

The problem is that not understanding why something is done, or why it's effective in one context, can lead you to think that it works all the time. And, especially in the realm of self defense and not-dying at the hands of some crazy maniac, this is certainly true.

The reason that modern boxers can hold their arms the way they do is precisely because of their gloves. Sport martial artists fighting in competitions can get away with this also. It's because the opponent's knuckles are covered with padding that protects your arms. So, these fighters never go for the arms as a target. They know that it's pointless.

But, without the gloves, the knuckles can deal a lot of damage to the narrow bones of your forearm. Something that's just not an issue in in a sport fight.

The point here is that, if you're studying martial arts to win trophies or to get belts, do whatever style you want and all the luck to you. However, if you're trying to develop the ability to protect yourself against a brutal assailant who will do anything to brutalize you, there are certain mistakes you can't afford to make.

So, regardless of what you've been taught, avoid holding your arms vertically or at least turned with the broad back of the forearm out and use distance to keep the bad guy from going after your arms. After all, it's going to be very difficult to throw your own punches with arms that have been beaten or even broken because you put them out there for him to beat on.

Are you a private individual, law enforcement or security professional, member of the military, or corporate manager looking for real-world self-defense training that works?

Get the knowledge you need to effectively handle a real world self-defense situation.

Get three self-defense reports when you get my Self-Defense Super Library

Jeffrey Miller is an internationally known self-defense expert. He is the creator of the powerful EDR: Non-Martial Arts Defensive Training System and teaches individuals, security professionals, companies, and organizations how to be more safe in Today's often unsafe world. Go to his web site at => www.warrior-concepts-online.com