Mindset: Workout Partners come in all shapes...

After lifting & carrying the 400th box of books, certain doubts start to creep into your mind. Your ego will provide you with that sort of ‘inner-monologue.’ To pass the time, I suppose...
“Didn’t you start off with a team of lifters?” It asks you, and you shrug. Just keep moving.

“I could swear you didn’t sign up to work as a fork-lift…”
“Funny, the timing of this heat-wave…”
“Better hurry, classes start in a half-hour.”
“What’s funny is that you’ll need to move all of these back on Thursday.” You freeze, shocked. That was uncalled for. A low blow. A sucker punch.

It was at this point that Chuck called to check on the progress, and I dropped the offending box. He laughed, obviously immediately recognizing that I was out of breath.

“Workout partners come in all shapes and sizes.” He said, and I could practically hear him smiling through the phone…

Ninjutsu is unique in that your training does not stop when you leave the dojo. That task, I later came to realize, was nothing more than a multiple attacker exercise. My training partners were…

• My ego
• 500 heavy boxes of books
• 110 degrees Fahrenheit of summer

Shikin Harimitsu Daikomyo means we’re learning something each moment, it means that life is a constant pattern of growth. We all know that every moment we aren’t learning something, we’re forgetting something. Which are you doing?

Awareness is a Habit (are you bored?)

Mingling at the networking event, I felt about as ‘out of my element’ as I could be. Sport coats, hors d’oeuvres, business card-swapping and 30-second introductions had me scrambling for the patio in record time – desperate for some fresh air.
Gazing up from my pile of business cards, I saw Chuck approaching me, and steeled myself for another round of the networking game. Instead of ushering me back inside, however, he joined me at the small table on the patio.
“This is torturous…” the words escaped me before I realized I was too late. I was surprised when my gripe was met only with a smile.


“As a warrior, it is your job to be comfortable in any environment.” Chuck reminded me.
“Comfortable is one thing, but this is so boring.” I stared at the dining room with open dread.


“Then you are not paying attention.” I raised an eyebrow, and he continued.
“How many people are on this patio?” Chuck asked casually. I shrugged, and he answered for me. “There are 18 - 11 men, and 7 women.” I watched as a guest behind him rose from his chair, and made for the restroom. “Now there are 17.”

Chuck grinned, then froze. His eyes widened almost imperceptibly, fixed on something over my left shoulder. His grin vanished, and he began to speak very slowly – almost under his breath.

“There are two men behind you, walking towards us – one is hiding an automatic pistol under his coat, the other is holding a shopping bag. Do not turn around. Do not make eye contact with these two men.”

I froze, and kept me eyes locked on his....

“There’s an alternate exit in the dining room. Should we head back inside, and exit there?” I asked, all but paralyzed.

“No, the second guy has already split off. I think he’ll be covering that exit. We’ll head back through the kitchen, and exit through the loading bay. We’ll be able to pick up weapons on the way, and alert the manager – his office is in the back.” Chuck answered calmly.

“Let’s move.” I rose without another word, and had half-opened the door to the dining room when I noticed Chuck hadn’t made a move to follow me. As I turned to face him, I made a quick scan of he plaza.

There was no man wearing a coat. No one holding a shopping bag.

My breath escaped me in a rush, and I pulled out my chair to retake my seat.

“Awareness is a habit. You’re not aware some of the time. You either are, or you aren’t.” Chuck explained, smiling. “You asked me where we should exit. That’s a decision you should have made the moment you entered the building. Are you bored?”

Ninjutsu is unique...

in that your training shouldn’t end when you step outside of the dojo. Make learning a habit. A few things to study as you step outside are…

• Body language – you can learn a lot about someone by watching the way they carry themselves. Notice injuries, hidden tools/weapons, awareness levels.
• Crowds – notice who stands out, and who blends in. How many people are in the room you’re in?
• Conversations – is the person you’re talking to wandering? Did they just perk up? Are they nervous?
  

Mindsets in Training (a typical meeting...)

Chuck asked me to place my hand face down on the desk, and remove it when he tried to tap it with his hand. We played the game for several seconds, each time he reached to touch my hand, I’d quickly remove it. It was a safe environment, my awareness was maintained, and I could concentrate both on the activity, my physical response, and the conversation I was holding with Chuck.

He then asked me to repeat the exercise. The only difference was that this time, he would try to smack my hand with a Safetyhands keychain. We repeated the drill, and I continued to avoid being tapped with the keychain. The resounding thud of the keychain striking the desk brought more of my mental presence into the game. If I had been struck, he asked, what would have happened?

1. It would have hurt like hell
2. I may have gotten angry. Why?

• Maybe I fancied myself a competent martial artist, and felt that I should have been able to avoid the blow (ego)
• Maybe It hurt
• Maybe I looked like a fool
  

Have I trained in such a way that enables me (gives me experience/tools) to deal with these three responses and more? Am I training with the mindset of…someone grabs my arm and starts to twist it hard, so hard it hurts. Am I walking smoothly into an omote and bypassing the 3 responses above for more appropriate responses?

Chuck then asked me to repeat the exercise and place my hand on the desk. As he asked this, he took a sharp Knife out of his desk…


It took me several seconds to work up the willpower to place my hand on the desk (step into the uncomfortable situation) My entire awareness (physical, emotional, psychological presence) was trained/focused on that knife. Nothing else. The conversation drifted away, my 360 awareness of the room drifted away. I wasn’t even able to pick up on details in Chuck’s face, tone, body language. Nothing but focusing/ "preparing" to dodge that knife as it came down at my hand. He didn’t even need continue the exercise, as so many points had already been driven home.

1. Are we training with this mindset in class? Staring at that knife, I was in an extremely safe environment, with someone I trusted completely. Even then, my awareness disappeared (my physical, emotional & psychological taijutsu).
2. We will get out of our training no more than we put into it, and no less (if we open our awareness). If my aim in class is a social outlet, stress relief, physical exercise, that may be ok. But I will not take out of class these lessons. When I am attacked (physically, psychologically, or emotionally) and hurt, and I proclaim “this martial art doesn’t work”… Get the picture?
3. Bruce Lee said “The best training for the event, is the event.” We are training for something it is impossible to train for. We train for it anyway. A huge part of that training is our mindset. Had I been training in the dojo with the mindset of that third exercise (the knife), then I might have been able to play Chuck’s “game” without losing my awareness, psychological taijutsu, and more.

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Ninjutsu Hiketsu Bun (Toshitsugu Takamatsu)

The essence of all martial arts and military strategies is self-protection. Ninjutsu epitomizes the fullest concept of self-protection through martial training, in that the ninja art deals with the protection of not only the physical body, but the mind and spirit as well. The way of the ninja is the way of enduring, surviving, and prevailing over all that would destroy one. More than merely delivering strikes and slashes, and deeper in significance than the simple out-witting of an enemy; ninjutsu is the way of attaining that which we need while making the world a better place. The skill of the ninja is the art of winning.

In the beginning study of any combative martial art, proper motivation is crucial. Without proper frame of mind, continuous exposure to fighting techniques can lead to ruin instead of self-development. But this fact is not different from any other beneficial practice in life carried to extremes. Medical technology is dedicated to the betterment of health and the relief of suffering, and yet the misuse of drugs and the exultation of the physician’s skills can lead people to a state where an individual’s health is no longer in his or her personal control. A nutritious well-balanced diet works to keep a person alive, vital and healthy, but grossly overeating, over-drinking, or taking in too many chemicals is a sure way to poison the body. Governments are established to oversee the harmonious interworking of all parts of society and protecting the citizens, but when the rulers become greedy hungry for power, lacking in wisdom, or hesitate to commit their very lives to the cause, the country is subjected to needless wars, disorder, or civil and economic chaos. A religion, when sincere and based on faith developed through experience, a broad and questing mind, and unflagging pursuit of universal understanding, is of inspiration, protection, and comfort to people. Once a religion loses its original focus, however, it becomes a deadly thing with which to deceive, control, and tax the people through the manipulation of their beliefs and fears into a vulnerable position of danger.

It is the same with the martial arts. The skills of self-protection, which should provide a feeling of inner peace and security for the martial artist, so often develop without balance in the personality and lead the lesser martial artist into warped realms of unceasing conflict and competition, which eventually consume him.

If a seasoned master of the fighting arts sincerely pursues the essence of ninjutsu, devoid of the influence of the ego’s desires, he will progressively come to realize the ultimate secret for becoming invincible. This ultimate essential secret is the attainment of the knowledge of shin-shin shin gan, or the mind and eyes of the divine.

The combatant who would win must be in harmony with the scheme of totality. In tune with the providence of heaven and the impartial justice of nature, and following a clear and pure heart full of trust in the inevitable, the ninja captures the insight that will guide him successfully into battle when he must conquer, and to conceal himself protectively from hostility when he must acquiesce.

The vast universe, beautiful in its coldly impartial totality, contains all that we call good and bad, all the answers for all the paradoxes we see around us. Relying on keen perception and attuned awareness, the ninja can responsively follow the subtle seasons and reasons of heaven, altering just as change is necessary, adapting always, so that in the end, regardless of the infinite changes, there is no such thing as surprise for the ninja.

This is the essence of the Togakure Ryu martial tradition.

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Memorial Day 'Warrior Reflections'

Lifeskills Martial Arts would like to wish everyone a happy, healthy & safe Memorial Day weekend. Though classes will be closed on Memorial Day (Monday), we recommend taking this time to reflect on the warriors whose ultimate sacrifice we honor this time, every year.

The warrior does not get caught up in the turmoil of the times; he is able to exist outside of the flow of chaos.

There are stress sources assailing us all, every day. Financial stress, social stress, workplace stress, school stress and more. There are a thousand and one excuses presented to you each day, excuses for being unhappy & ungrateful. I congratulate each one of you who turns those excuses aside, and instead examines himself/herself. Responsibility is the first step towards freedom.

It is the
VETERAN,
not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the
VETERAN,
not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the
VETERAN,
not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the
VETERAN,
not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the
VETERAN,
not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the
VETERAN,
not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.

It is the
VETERAN who
salutes the Flag,

It is the
VETERAN
who serves
under the Flag.

We can be very proud of our young men and women in the service no matter where they serve. Shake a veterans hand, and thank him/her.

For over 15 years, we have offered our own soldiers 'military discounts' on Ninjutsu training at Lifeskills Martial Arts.

We are happy to continue providing our military with World Class training.

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The Four Universal Firearms Safety Rules

Lifeskills Martial Arts held a "Combat Pistol" seminar during the latter part of 2009, for LifeskillsMA Ninjutsu students. Here are select portions of the notes handed out during that seminar. Be sure to check www.lifeskillsma.com regularly, & subscribe to the Ninjutsu Weekly Newsletter for information on upcoming monthly seminars at LifeskillsMA.

Rule 1: Treat every weapon as if it were loaded
Dry practice means practicing with an unloaded weapon to polish the skills and techniques learned on the range. Even during dry practice, treat the weapon with the same respect as a loaded weapon. That respect, or mindset, generally prevents any negligent discharge that might otherwise occur. A negligent discharge means firing a round that you didn’t anticipate firing.

Rule 2: Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.
Usually, if you violate Rule 2 what you end up covering is yourself. You end up covering your hand, your leg, or some other body part. You need to be what we call “muzzle conscious.” Know where that muzzle is pointing all the time and never let it cover anything you are not willing to destroy.

Rule 3: Keep you finger off the trigger and outside of the trigger guard until you’re ready to shoot.
When you are pointed in at your target and have made the decision to shoot, ONLY THEN is your finger on the trigger. Any other time the trigger finger is straight and outside the trigger guard and resting on the referenced point.

Rule 4: Be sure of your target and what’s in line with your target.
On the shooting range your target is generally a flat sheet of paper. No one is in the foreground because everyone is on the same firing line. There is nothing behind the target except a large berm to absorb the impact of the rounds. On the street, Rule 4 is significantly more complicated. Several questions need to be answered. First, are you about the shoot the correct individual? If the answer is yes, then is someone going to step in front of your sights? And finally, if you press the trigger and the round over penetrates right through your adversary and continues down range, what’s it going to strike downrange? It goes without saying that once you have fired that shot you cannot alter its course and you certainly can’t get it back. You need to be absolutely certain of Rule 4 before you press the trigger.

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The Kusari Fundo (Weighted Chain)

Excerpt from Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi’s Ninjutsu , History and Tradition

The Kusari-fundo is a weighted chain weapon that is closely related to the kusari-gama in application. It is a close range weapon, ranging between approximately eighteen to thirty inches in length. It is generally constructed of a non-reflective etched steel chain or thick rope for training purposes. This flexible weapon can be used to strike, snare, or entangle an assailant or their weapons.

It’s rumored that the kusari-fundo was invented to disarm, disable or kill attackers of the imperial castle without bloodshed, as it was considered hallowed ground.

As with the kusari-gama (Togakure ryu) and kyoketsu-shoge, striking attacks with the kusari-fundo utilize the very end of the weight in motion to generate the most leverage and impact.

As a general rule, the fighting tools of ninjutsu usually incorporated the qualities of compactness, multiple usage, and potential for deceptive application. Unlike the beautifully crafted weapons of the samurai, the ninja’s tools were most often utilitarian implements turned out by an underground shop. Durability and ruggedness were their outstanding qualities, and aesthetic considerations lost out to pragmatism and economy.

The technique applications using ninjutsu fighting tools employ the same footwork, body dynamics, and energy concepts in the ninja’s taijutsu unarmed fighting system. The body-weight in motion supplies the power for the weapons strikes, which have a slamming effect when applied, rather than a stinging effect.

Watch as LifeskillsMA Head Instructor, Chuck Cory demonstrates the Kusari Fundo on the History Channel: HERE

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