Lifeskills Martial Arts

Mindset: Workout Partners come in all shapes...

2010-11-01T15:04:00.000-07:00

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?)

2010-10-21T14:24:00.000-07:00

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...)

2010-08-04T12:25:00.000-07:00

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?

It would have hurt like hell
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.

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).
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?
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)

2010-06-30T11:22:00.000-07:00

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'

2010-05-26T14:22:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-14T14:01:00.000-07:00

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)

2010-05-14T13:45:00.000-07:00

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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Las Vegas Seminar Clip 1

2010-05-06T13:54:00.000-07:00

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Kumogakure Ryu: The "Hidden Cloud" school

2010-05-06T11:38:00.000-07:00

Kumogakure Ryu is a ninjutsu school. Not much is known of Kumogakure Ryu, but we do have several stories that are fun to hear.

The scrolls (Japanese history books) mention a ninja named Sarutobi Sasuke, who came from the Kumogakure Ryu. It is said that he could use kamayari (a hooked spear) to swing from one branch to another through the trees, much like Tarzan did with vines.

The kamayari was a special weapon in Kumogakure Ryu. It was a large spear with a hook on the end. It was used to climb up the sides of ships. Once aboard the ship, it was used as a weapon. It was also used as a defense against swordsmen.

Think of using the hook on the end of a long stick to trap a sharp sword and safely control where it goes. Hooks are handy things that can be used in many ways. They can be used to trip fleeing enemies, or to hook onto clothing. Hooks can be lowered from the trees to pull things up. Or they can be used to swing from tree to tree, as did our friend, Sarutobi Sasuke.

Kumogakure Ryu also used a climbing tool called the ippon sugi noburi. This was a metal tube with three rows of spikes on the outside, a metal chain through the middle, and a hook at each end. This was used like we would use a rope, or chain around a tree to pull ourselves up. It was also used as a weapon.

Light armor was worn to protect the arms and legs, but allow the person to move quickly and quietly. The ninja in Kumogakure Ryu often hid in trees, so the armor had to be very flexible and easy to climb in.

Kumogakure Ryu uses jumps a lot. Our grandmaster’s teacher, Takamatsu Sensei, once fought a Shorinji Kempo fighter when he was in China. As the man attacked, Takamatsu Sensei would jump away from him, sometimes up to eight feet. His opponent could never reach him, so eventually had to give up the fight.

The ninja in Kumogakure Ryu liked to wear masks that looked like monsters when they fought. This would inspire such terror in their opponents that sometimes they would turn and run. If this happened, the fight was over before it could begin. And if the enemy didn’t run off in fear, and the battle had to be fought, the mask had sharp horns that could be used as weapons.

Kumogakure Ryu sounds quite fierce, but it was actually developed to avoid violence. If the ninja could stop a fight before it began by scaring away a superstitious enemy, they did. If they could hide in the trees and avoid a fight by not being seen, they would. As with all of our training, the most successful fight is the one that doesn’t happen.

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Seishin Teki Kyoko: Spiritual Refinement (Masaaki Hatsumi)

2010-04-22T14:09:00.000-07:00

The Togakure ninja worked at developing a deep and accurate knowledge of himself, his personal power, his strengths and weaknesses, and his influence on the playing out of life. The ninja had to be very clear about his intentions, his commitments, and his personal motivations in life. Personality traits could often mean the difference between life and death in his line of work. Exercises in mental endurance, ways of looking at things, and proper perspective when evaluating things, were taught to the ninja along with his physical skills. By evolving into a mystic’s understanding of the universal process, the historical Togakure ryu ninja became a warrior philosopher. His engagements in combat were then motivated by love or reverence, and not by the mere thrill of violent danger or need for Money.

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Takagi Yoshin Ryu: "Tall Tree Felling Heart"

2010-04-22T13:43:00.000-07:00

Takagi Yoshin Ryu is school that teaches throws, much like Judo. It was officially created in the 17th century, in Japan, by a Samurai named Takagi Oriemon Shigenobu to be used indoors in tight spaces, like castles, inns and private homes.

Buildings in old Japan had very narrow hallways and small rooms. So for a martial art to be practical indoors, it had to use small movements, small steps, and tight throws. But the art also had some advantages—the fighter could use the stone walls as weapons.

In Takagi Yoshin Ryu, we tend to move to the right and left, instead of at angles. Our throws are very fast and hard. We watch our opponents’ eyes to see where they are looking, and what their intentions are. One reason for this is that most people signal what they are about to do with their eyes, even if they’re good at faking incorrect movements with their hands or feet. We also tend to point our weapons directly at our opponent’s eyes, as Takagi Oriemon learned to do for his sword fight with Yagyu.

But the part of Takagi Yoshin Ryu that might be the most fun is that it’s a tricky art (as are the other two ninjutsu schools). In Takagi Yoshin Ryu, we let our opponent think that they’ve won the fight…up until the point where it’s just too late for them to actually win. How do you let someone think they’ve won when they’re actually losing? It’s like being an actor—you play a part to fool someone. Think of some ways you could pretend that you were losing when you were really winning.

Most of the techniques in Takagi Yoshin Ryu are taught from seiza (the kneeling position) as well as from a standing position. This is because the Japanese did not use chairs, but knelt on the floor instead. So to practice a technique from seiza was the same as if we practiced it from sitting in a chair. Takagi Yoshin Ryu was a school used by bodyguards, so it was important for them to be able to respond to attacks whether standing or kneeling.

Although the techniques in Takagi Yoshin Ryu are done fast and hard, we actually train to be soft in this school. We throw hard punches, but receive punches in a “soft” way, moving as we block. We do hard throws which trap the other person, not allowing them to roll out of our throw. But we roll with our attacker’s throws.

Hatsumi Soke once described the Takagi Yoshin Ryu softness this way: “The feeling of Jutaijutsu is to have the skill of catching a bee and holding it in your hand without being stung, or placing a scorpion in your mouth without suffering an injury.” Think of how gentle you have to be to hold a bee in your hand without it stinging you.

The school founder, Takagi Oriemon Shigenobu described it differently. He said that “A willow is flexible, but a high tree is breakable.” What does this mean? Well, a willow tree is skinny and bends very easily. To most people, the willow appears weak and insignificant. But how often do appearances deceive us? In the strongest storm, the willow bends as far as it needs to, to survive. Then it springs right back up again as soon as the storm is over, no worse for the wear. The oak appears mighty and strong. Its trunk doesn’t bend at all even before the mightiest wind. But since it doesn’t bend, the oak will break.

To many people, the oak is mightier. But the flexible willow is the one that survives the strongest storms. Shigenobu created a school where his students were taught to be willows. Clever willows that survived storms that broke “mighty” oaks.

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Building your Toolbox in Martial Arts (Cathy Lewis)

2010-04-02T14:24:00.000-07:00

Have you ever found yourself in a class where you recognize a waza, you get a sense of comfort with this recognition and proceed to do what you already know? (“Oh, I know this one”)

Why is it important to have alternatives and to think outside the box? What if, when you got sick, there was only one doctor you could see? You'd feel very uncomfortable, right? We are accustomed to having alternatives available.

When you have options and the opportunity to choose, you have power in your life. Yet sometimes we develop blind spots and we become tunnel vision to one idea, one way of looking at a problem or solution. May be because we were raised to think a certain way, or perhaps we prefer the security of the known to the uncertainty of the unknown. However when we lock on to one idea, or a singular way of doing things, we automatically block out other alternatives, and in the process, we rob ourselves of power.

The more alternatives you can recognize and learn the more power you have. It helps to expose you to different ideas and other points of view. This builds your toolbox. You will reduce your feelings of being threatened by differences, because you choose what is best for you, whether it is treating an illness or dealing with one or more attackers. Even when things happen that you cannot control, you still can control your response, therefore not feeling like a helpless victim.

Hatsumi Sensei has talked about his own learning many times. He has repeatedly told his Shihan that for 20 years he was learning and to forget everything. Three years ago he said study Juppo-Sesho and learn the wazas for the first time. He tells his Judan that it is great that they have forgotten the name of the waza, because now they can begin to study it.

Teachers have stated that:

Children before teen years respond to statements with the phrase “I know”
Teenagers respond that “this info is wrong”
20 – 30 year olds respond with “they know a better way”
30 – 40 year olds start to listen and find a better way
After 40 – you know the way, lost your way or you were pushed aside to get out of the way by the people who were leading the way. They never stopped learning.

Build your toolbox of options and you can play more, enjoy the process of learning more and feel that you have a much higher degree to control what happens to you. This isn’t arrogance or ego; it is an aspect of Shikin Haramitsu Daikomyo.

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Shinden Fudo Ryu: "The Immovable Heart"

2010-04-02T13:57:00.000-07:00

Shinden Fudo Ryu was founded by a man named Izumo in the 1100’s. Izimo knew a Chinese form of boxing and brought many of its principles to Shinden Fudo Ryu.

Shinden Fudo Ryu has its own style of movement which is different from the other schools in the Bujinkan. In Shinden Fudo Ryu, the movement tends to be up and down. Imagine how a leaf spirals down to the ground when it falls from a tall tree. Or how you pop up out of the swimming pool from the bottom into mid-air to surprise your friends. Falling leaf or leaping person, both are moving in Shinden Fudo Ryu style.

Shinden Fudo Ryu also likes to stay hidden. How do we hide our intentions? We use our brains and get tricky. Of course, this can make Shinden Fudo Ryu a fun school to train in. Imagine, a school where you get to learn how to be tricky and fool people!

One way to hide our intent is to always keep our hands free. That means that in Shinden Fudo Ryu we don’t grab anything with our hands. If we need to hold on to something, we use elbows, feet, legs, but not hands and fingers. That leaves our hands free for anything, and our opponent can’t tell what we’re going to do next.

To hide our attacks, we can do several things. We can look in one direction and move in another. We can start a really obvious punch and then do a subtle kick. Football and basketball players do this all the time—they fake going one direction and then run the other direction.

Shinden Fudo Ryu techniques tend to be done very close to the opponent. This helps us fake our attacks and our intentions, because sometimes it’s a lot harder to see what is right under our noses than what is a couple of steps away. Imagine springing straight up from your opponent’s feet—what a surprise for him!

To generate power for our attacks (when we really need to attack), we move from up to down and from down to up. Remember the leaf that falls from the tree? Many things in nature use Shinden Fudo Ryu’s direction of movement. Big cats, like lions and cheetahs pounce on their prey. Eagles and hawks swoop down from the sky.

If you look, you can see the spirit of Shinden Fudo Ryu everywhere. A few years ago there was a boxer named Sugar Ray Leonard. He had a boxing match against a fighter who was stronger, and had beaten him before. What did he do? Did he rely on strength and muscles? Not this time—for the rematch, he used his brain. He twirled his right arm around and around like a windmill, as if he were going to land the biggest cartoon punch you’d ever seen. Then as quiet and slick as you please, while his opponent was watching the windmilling arm, he landed a small, quiet punch with his other hand, with no warning at all. It may have been a small punch, but as unexpected as it was, that one small punch won the fight.

Sugar Ray Leonard used his brains and won his fight Shinden Fudo Ryu style. And you can bet he’s never even heard of Shinden Fudo Ryu!

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The Origins of Kukishinden Ryu

2010-03-19T14:59:00.000-07:00

The Techniques of Kukishinden Ryu are said to have come from China and the Land Beyond. During the life of the school it was employed by Japanese seamen to help protect them. The warriors of Kukishinden Ryu are said to have used the masts and rigging of their ships during combat.

In 1330, the Japanese emperor Go Daido was held under house arrest at his royal summer palace on Yoshino mountain, by the Shogun Ashikaga Takauji. Kusinoki Masashige, a high ranking samurai, loyal to the emperor, was ordered to lead a rescue attempt.

Masashige had in his employment a young sixteen year old Gyoja (mountain ascetic) from Kishu, named Yasushimaru Kurando. Kuraundo was well known to be skilled in Ninjutsu and other Bujutsu arts, and thus was given the task of rescuing the emperor, aided by the samurai Kagoshima.

The two managed to infiltrate the Palace and, upon reaching the emperor, disguised him as a woman. Unfortunately, the Ashikaga samurai were alerted when Kuraundo attempted to cross the “hizume corridor” with the emperor on his back. This long wooden corridor was specially designed to make a loud sound when walked on, thus alerting the guards (the floor was made of interwoven bamboo reeds, which creaked loudly when stepped on.) It should be noted, however, that Kuraundo, who was skilled in ninjutsu, made no sound as he crossed the corridor. It was, in fact, the emperor who made the noise, giving away their position.

Kuraundo and the emperor were surrounded. Placing the emperor with his back against a nearby tree, Kuraundo faced the oncoming adversaries, armed with his naginata (halberd). One by one they attacked, and one by one he cut them down, until only the skilled samurai officer was left. As Kuraundo cut at him, the samurai retaliated and cut the blade cleanly from the shaft of his naginata.

Armed with only a wooden pole, Kuraundo defended himself and the emperor with a secret Rokushaku Bo (6 foot staff) technique called “Gyaku Kuji.” Upon defeating the officer, Kuraundo and the emperor made good their escape, and with Kagoshima they returned to the capital Kyoto.

In recognition for his brave act, the emperor gave Kuraundo permission to use the “Kuki” of Kukishinden Ryu, suggesting he fought like “Nine Demons.” Although Formalized at this time, the Kukishinden Ryu has a history stretching back to the Kamakura Era (late 1180’s).

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Gyokko Ryu: The 'Jeweled Tiger' School

2010-03-19T14:23:00.000-07:00

Gyokko Ryu is a boxing art that started in China. It was originally created by a princess in the Chinese Imperial Court.
Princesses are usually known for being small, dainty people. We don’t know exactly what this princess looked like, but Gyokko Ryu is perfect for smaller people who might not have the super muscles you’d normally expect in a martial artist.

Gyokko Ryu uses shorter, smaller steps than most of our other schools, to attack and move away fast. It uses quick, sharp movements to attack specific kyusho points on the body. What are kyusho points? Those are points on the body that hurt more than others. There are many specific points where nerves come together, and a hit there is very effective if you need to distract someone to get away from them.

In Gyoko Ryu we move in circles around our opponent. This can be helpful to distract and confuse the person we need to defend ourselves from. We move in, hit, and move right back out again, always on a circle, and always moving from our hips.

Remember kamae…our stances? Kamae is very important in Gyoko Ryu. Always stay in kamae as you move around. But stay in a living, moving kamae. Never stand statue-still. Kamae lives and breathes, so don’t freeze.

Elbows are important in Gyoko Ryu. Use your elbows a lot, both to attack and to distract. Follow your opponent’s elbows. Walk where his elbows lead you, and you’ll be in a good place to be safe and attack, if necessary.
Here is an interesting thing about Gyoko Ryu style. Have you ever played with two magnets? Depending on how you hold them, two magnets will either stick together like glue, or they will push apart. Think of yourself and your opponent as magnets that are stuck together. If your opponent moves toward you, you move the same amount backward. If your opponent moves backward, you move the same amount forward. It’s like a dance of magnets. Practice this in class or with a friend. Just move with someone else, matching their movements like magnets. Take turns leading and following. It’s fun!

Remember when I said that we attack kyusho points (nerves) to cause extra pain and distraction? Well, kyusho points are not only for hurting people. What can be used to hurt can also be used to heal. We should never forget that we don’t really want to hurt anyone, and we will only hurt a person if we must do so to keep ourselves safe.

There is a saying in Gyokko Ryu that “The warrior’s heart is precious and essential.” This will mean many different things to different people. But one thing it does mean is that although we don’t want to fight, and always look for a way out of a fight, if the fight becomes unavoidable, then we fight with a warrior’s heart. We fight with all we know, and we fight to win.

We don’t know much about the origins of Gyokko Ryu, but this one fun story comes to us from ancient Japan:

The legend tells of Gyokko Ryu’s founder, Yo Gyokko using his system to defeat a large group of warrior monks. The monks were led by an old man of strange appearance. The old man wanted Yo dead because of Yo’s reputation for defeating challengers.

Yo killed over fourteen monks and defeated the old man, even after being struck on the head by a sword which bounced off, as his head was so hard. Later, after killing a lion with only one fist, he became known as Koto-ou (lion battling king).
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The Rules of Ninjutsu (Masaaki Hatsumi)

2010-03-12T12:39:00.000-08:00

The ninja should never initiate an aggressive action. Always wait for your adversary to make the first move...this is the first rule in the ninja code of conduct.

As you learn the way of the ninja, you will need to forget the notion that you direct a combat situation yourself. Your opponent’s moves will dictate your moves. This is a fundamental concept of the ninja's method of combat. Sabaki (footwork) is by far the most important part of the ninja's physical training. With the ninja’s center of gravity firmly planted in the lower torso, and energy radiating from the pit of the stomach, all it takes is the slightest pressure on an attacker's body to redirect the momentum of the charge to his own advantage. Therefore, all Masters and students alike go to great lengths to take care of their feet and legs.

Another vital aspect of our Ninpo taijutsu training is developing a natural ingenuity for finding ways of defeating an opponent. Women and ultimately men alike should strike with ferocity while feigning weakness (kyojitsu). The ninja art is anything but a test of strength, for strength and other advantages can be neutralized using correct ninja tactics. Rather than defeating an opponent, a ninja leads him into defeating himself for a ninja is in control long before the unbalanced opponent ever knows it.

The balanced life is the key for the ninja. On the path to becoming a ninja, one must strive to create a pattern of consistency in every aspect of daily life. Ninpo taijutsu only realizes its full meaning from acquiring this aspect. Our Ninpo entails a great deal more than the skillful performance of a group of movements.

Though quite simple and straightforward, this once secret teaching is extremely complicated and profound. The way of the ninja is the way of the total person. Practice, enlightenment, the art of living itself... for the ninja, they are one and the same.

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Kukishinden Ryu: The 'Nine Demons' School

2010-03-12T11:48:00.000-08:00

Kukishinden Ryu was started way back in the 1100’s in Japan. Its techniques are said to come from China. The name “kuki” means “nine demons.” It was given to the original founder of the school by Emperor Go-Daigo when Yasushimaru Takazane and another samurai saved the Emperor’s life by fighting like “nine demons.”

Kukishinden Ryu was used by Japanese sailors to protect themselves from pirates aboard ship. The kamae (stances) are wide and stable—just as you would need to stand to stay upright on a rocking ship. And sailors are not limited to standing on deck. They could climb the rigging (ropes and masts) and fight from there, with swords and fists. Kukishinden Ryu taught them what they needed to know to use everything available on a ship—sails, ropes, even the rocking motion of the waves—to stay safe.

This school was also used by soldiers on the battlefield. These soldiers wore heavy armor, and so they had to learn to move slower, with wider steps and wide, stable stances. They couldn’t afford to lose their balance and fall on the battlefield in such heavy armor, or they would be killed before they could get up again.

Kukishinden Ryu, therefore, is not a quick-moving school, like some of our other schools. It uses slow, deliberate movements, usually forward and backward (instead of at angles, or sideways). It uses stances that are very low and stable. Traditionally, it used armor and large weapons, like the naginata, the yari, and the bow and arrow. But that was on ships and on the battlefield.

We no longer have to fight pirates aboard ships, or wear armor on the battlefield. So how does Kukishinden Ryu apply to us?

We can use Kukishinden Ryu to learn another way of moving; a stable way of moving when the terrain is rough. A way of moving without falling when we’re carrying something heavy.
We no longer wear armor, but we often have to carry heavy backpacks. Wearing a heavy backpack is much the same as wearing heavy armor. If we fall down, it’s hard to get back up quickly. Using low and stable stances make moving in the backpack easier and safer.

Perhaps we like to sail on the weekends. Kukishinden Ryu’s movements and stances are a safe way of moving around a boat that’s being rocked by waves. Or perhaps we have to avoid being hit by a bully on a rocky hillside. Again, Kukishinden Ryu is a great way to keep our balance and our safety, while avoiding the fight. Or fighting safely, if we have no choice but to fight back.

And what about the weapons of Kukishinden Ryu? Most of us don’t carry naginatas or yaris around every day. But what we learn by training with a naginata in our martial art can also be used with a baseball bat or a hockey stick.

As ancient and stale as some arts may seem, there are always ways we can use the knowledge they give us in our modern time. Nothing is stale if we use our brains to keep it fresh and learn from it!

If you’re ever in a dangerous situation and have no choice but to fight, then look around you to see what looks similar to a weapon that you’ve trained with. Sticks, rocks, dirt, baseball bats, even a bicycle...so many things around us can be used in self-defense.

Remember, the best choice is always not to fight. If you can get away from a bad situation—run away or somehow diffuse the argument—that’s the best and safest thing. But if there’s no choice but to fight, fight hard, and fight with all of your knowledge and weapons. And fight to win.

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"Ninja Weapons" video (The History Channel special)

2010-03-11T10:28:00.000-08:00

Lifeskills Martial Arts was featured on the History Channel's "Modern Marvels"! Catch a glimpse of our facility, and a few of the tools LMA Students train with on this episode, featuring Personal-protection Expert Chuck Cory, and LMA Instructors demonstrating authentic Ninjutsu weapons!

The episode's topic was "Strange Weapons" of the past and present, and Lifeskills Martial Arts' Instructors were invited to demonstrate several of the deadly arsenal of the Ninja.

World Class Ninjutsu training can be found at our Irvine, CA. location (www.lifeskillsma.com). Students enjoy take-home curriculum guides, monthly specialty seminar opportunities, quarterly progress reports, and more.

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Kenjutsu: An Introduction

2010-03-06T13:34:00.000-08:00

Kenjutsu is the method of dispatching an enemy as quickly as possible using any methods available. Therefore it is not an isolated system, but a complex mix of a variety of skills. A ryu is a collection of skills and strategy that would naturally go with such arts as battle strategy, castle fortifications, and other similar endeavors. A ryuha was more than just a collection of waza, it was a way to live. Traditionally, it was not good common sense to be familiar with only one “way.” Ninja learned all weapons, not only to be personally flexible with his skills, but also to understand the limitations of each given tool. This gave the ninja a greater capacity for survival when dealing with any given encounter.

When forging the katana, smiths generally had five grades of steel on hand or available. These had been prepared by laborious hand processes, consisting of melting, chilling, breaking, re-melting, forging, folding, and re-forging until the texture and carbon content were as desired.

The five basic steels were:

Sen - Pure or nearly pure malleable iron. This contained 0 to .1 percent carbon and could be reworked into almost any kind of steel.

Hocho - Soft steel which was .1 to .3 percent carbon. It was generally reworked to contain .5 to .7 percent carbon.

Jami - Medium steel which was .3 to .4 percent carbon. This was worked over to .7 or .8 percent carbon.

Chigusa - Hard steel which was .7 to .8 percent carbon.

Dewa - Tool steel which was .8 to 1 percent carbon.

These were refined to suit the personal taste of the smith, after which they were combined in various ways to form the different grades of steel for edge, center, sides, and back of the blade. The repeated forging caused a loss of from 60 to 80 percent of the material started with. The resulting bars were combined and drawn out to sword length according to one the following systems or schools. In latter times, any smith could use any system his customer desired or could afford.

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Koto Ryu: The 'Knocking Down the Tiger' School

2010-03-04T11:58:00.000-08:00

Koto Ryu began in China many hundreds of years ago. It was originally developed for a Chinese princess. In those days, women wore long gowns with long, flowing sleeves. So the techniques were also very flowing, and used those sleeves to help puzzle attackers and hide punches. Princesses are not known for their huge muscles, so the punches and kicks are very light, not strong.

Koto Ryu is a good art for smaller people, and people who aren’t very strong. And yet, many ninja and samurai trained in Koto Ryu over the centuries. So don’t think that light punches means weak punches! The name of this school literally means, “to knock down a tiger with the tips of the fingers.” So Koto Ryu students long ago would train to make their hands and fingers strong.

Koto Ryu tells us to move at 45^oangles. That means that you never move straight forward or backward or sideways. You always move at an angle from your attacker. This helps you avoid being hit quite easily without ever having to block. Imagine that you are standing in the middle of a big X. Moving 45^omeans that you can move on any of the arms of the X.

In Koto Ryu, you don’t do the techniques exactly as taught. Instead, you figure out how the technique can work best for you. Are you shorter than your attacker? Perhaps your teacher will have you move in low and attack low points. If you are taller than your attacker, your teacher will have you use your height as an advantage when doing the techniques. Koto Ryu can be a tricky school, too. They taught their students a unique way of using the sword. They changed their footwork and their grip on the sword so that they would appear to be beginners. That way, their opponents would constantly underestimate their skills and underestimating an opponent is one of the worst mistakes a person can make in a fight or in many other areas of life!

Even though we call Koto Ryu a martial art school, it is not about fighting. In fact, Koto Ryu is about not fighting. We make very light, non-threatening movements in Koto Ryu. We control the attacker. We don't throw punches and kicks, because that would create a fight. And we never really want to get into a fight. So what would be the perfect Koto Ryu move? Running away from someone who threatens us. Don’t laugh! Any time you can avoid a fight, you stay safe, so running away is often a good choice.

Koto Ryu is a thinking person’s art. It’s about fooling the other person. It’s about finding the other person’s weak points and using them. It’s about winning any way you can, but using your brain as well as your body. And like any other martial arts school, it’s all about protecting yourself. You only attack if you must do so to stay safe, and then you do everything you can.

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Kenjutsu: Sword Etiquette

2010-03-04T11:33:00.000-08:00

In early Japan, after battlefield conditions gave way to a more civilized style of living, an interesting behavior soon evolved in Japanese culture: Saya Ate, the striking of two warriors scabbards together. This act, either accidental or intentional, was one of the highest insults and typically resulted in combat. The conservative and usually more skilled warrior, would keep his scabbard well tucked and down within his obi. Another way of provoking an encounter was to turn the sword scabbard in the obi. This was seen as a direct attempt at drawing.

In feudal Japan each warrior was careful to exercise a high level of etiquette because the katana was viewed as the soul of the warrior, and his skill with it was to be respected. Leaving your sword within easy reach of another swordsman was tantamount to saying, “I do not respect your abilities as a swordsman nor to I fear you.” To touch the sword of another without permission was an insult and would even suggest that a possible attack was imminent. Stepping over a warrior’s sword would basically bring about an attack.

When inspecting another’s sword, rules were strict:

The blade was handed to you with the cutting edge toward the owner. As you took the blade you turned the edge to yourself, showing a mutual act of trust. Then you took the hilt in the left hand and the cutting edge was away from the owner of the blade.

Never touch a blade with the hands, for the minerals and oils in the skin would damage the metal. To touch the blade was another sign of disrespect.

If you were going to inspect the blade from a close distance, a piece of fabric, usually silk was placed in the mouth to keep the moisture from the blade. Never draw the sword fully from the scabbard, as it may appear to the owner to be more than simple admiration for the sword. If the owner insisted it be drawn, one would do so very carefully, bringing the sword to the chest and bowing. The saya was held in the left hand and the blade drawn slightly upwards. If you wished to steady it, you would use a tissue in the left hand and place the back edge of the sword on it.

Never hand a blade back to anyone unless it is in the saya and never have the cutting edge facing anywhere other than oneself.

Do not wave the blade about or carelessly endanger those around you and never give your sword to anyone who does not appear responsible for your safety.

When entering the dojo with a sword, it should be held upright in the right hand with the cutting edge facing backward. The hand should hold the sword below the tsuba.

If it is brought to the reishiki (bowing in) it should be placed at the right side with blade facing toward the owner.

Email Max: max@lifeskillsma.com with questions or comments.

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The 5 Parts of Effective Striking: Speed

2010-02-13T11:06:00.000-08:00

Striking is best broken down into 5 elements, which can be studied individually, then combined again into a whole. The first of those five (5) pieces is speed. You'll hear Chuck Cory say over and over, "speed is not fast; speed is smooth."

1. Smooth is about eleminating the gaps in your movement

There are several universal truths in combat, personal-protection & martial arts. There will always be someone stronger than you. Ninjutsu adapts to this fact by utilizing movements which do not rely on strength, but rather use bodyweight & distance. There will always be someone faster than you. Ninjutsu adapts, and understands that being truly fast isn't about quick, jerky movements. Fast is about moving smoothly, without gaps. When we practice in the dojo, we never practice 'one' strike, 'one' punch, 'one' kick. For example: you've practice the finger jab (shishitan), which transitions to an extended knuckle strike (shikan ken), which transitions to a fist (fudo ken), to a wrist (oshu), to an elbow (shukki) and so on... Gaps are eleminated between strikes.

2. "Inappropriate reactions" will prevent you from being smooth

Stereotypical images abound of Bruce Lee-esque martial artists, jumping around unpredictably as they face down their opponents. While entertaining, our goal is to eleminate this habit. If you build jerky, snapping reactions into habit, you may find that you place yourself into an even more dangerous situation than you begin with. Remember to breath, and move with good taijutsu, smoothly to a safe place. It may be fun to whip out a 10 strike combination in 1.5 seconds, you may find yourself moving so fast, you leave your opponent behind. Stay connected to your uke, work to eleminate "jumpiness" from your movements, and "jerkiness" from your strikes and combinations.

3. If you do not breath you will not move smoothly

If you remember to breath, you'll find it easier to move your body as one connected unit, rather than a number of smaller disconnected unites. This principle is sometimes called ken tai ichi jo. As you connect your strikes into combinations, you'll find it easy to off balance yourself or fall into poor kamae. Practice slowly, and focus on your breathing to keep your center of gravity low, your movements smooth, and your body moving to take advantage of bodyweight.

4. Slow down your practice, to understand smooth movement

Slow down your practice in the dojo! A common mistake among martial artists is to practice so quickly, that their gaps are disguised during practice. While this "absence" of holes in their movement may feed their egos, it does not make for much improvement in their taijutsu. Slow down your movement, and work on practicing the combinations at a constant pace, without breaks. Eleminate your gaps during training, and as you naturally move more quickly, you'll find your technique dramatically improved. Remember patience: A large jug is filled drop by drop.

5. "Practice makes permanent"

Remember; whatever you practice in the dojo, you'll repeat outside the dojo. If you take the time to practice your strikes slowly and smoothly, eleminating gaps, you'll strike effectively out of habit, when the need arises. If you practice quickly, with jerky movements, you're gaps will be apparent outside (and may put you in danger!).

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Shurikenjutsu: Intro to the Art of Throwing

2010-02-02T14:58:00.000-08:00

Throwing blades were carried in concealed pockets and used as harrassing weapons by the Ninja. Constructed from everyday materials, these "shuriken" (litterally translating to 'sword hidden in the hand') embodied the ingenious and clever nature of Ninja. The Ninja used shuriken in many different ways...

embedded in the ground, for the enemy to step on
wrapped in a fuse, to be lit and thrown to start a fire
tossed at an opponent's eyes, to distract him.
used as a handheld tool
to be thrown at an enemy from a hidden position (the samurai, who were very superstitious, could spend hours panicking as they sought the "invisible swordsman" that cut them)
and more...

Remember these pointers while practicing your throwing at Lifeskills Martial Arts...
- Your finger should be pointed at your target as you complete the throw. Build this habit to build your accuracy.
- Start from kamae, bringing your throwing hand back to your rear hip before the throw.
- lightly tense your wrist at the last second of the throw, to properly release the blade without tention.

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"Your Ninjutsu Library: An Introduction"

2010-01-25T12:02:00.001-08:00

Ninjutsu exemplifies the old definition of Martial Arts, and therefore has no limitations on what the art encompasses today. At the height of the historical Ninja period, the ninja clans' operatives trained in the eighteen (18) fundamental martial skills of Ninjutsu. These skillsets were known as the Ninpo Bugei Ju Happan, listed below.

Imagine you were assigned a research report on martial arts. If you were to visit your library and head to the "martial arts" section, you'd be limiting yourself. Bujinkan Budo is similiar to the library in it's entirety. The Art of Living is expansive, and stresses an interest in everything. You could visit the magic section and find Ninjutsu (sleight of hand, escaping binds and ties, fire & explosives, concealment), you could visit the nature section and find Ninjutsu (san shin, geography, meteorology, etc.). The beauty of this is that your training does not end as you walk off the dojo floor. Shikin Harimitsu Daikomyo: "Every moment holds the potential for enlightenment."

• Tai Jutsu - unarmed combat
• Kusari Fundo - chain and weights
• Ninja Ken - ninja sword
• Bo Jutsu - stick and staff fighting
• Shuriken Jutsu -throwing blades
• So Jutsu - spear fighting
• Naginata -halberd fighting
• Kusari Gama - chain & sickle
• Kayaku Jutsu - fire & explosives
• Henso Jutsu - disguise/impersonation
• Shinobi Iri - stealth and entering
• Hojo Jutsu - binds, ties, escapes
• Sui Ren - water training
• Bo Ryaku - combat strategy
• Inton Jutsu - escape & concealment
• Ten Mon - meteorology
• Chi Mon -geography
• Seishin Teki Kyoyo - spiritual refinement
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Training Tips: Psychological Training

2010-01-09T11:02:00.000-08:00

"Training Tips: Psychological Training"

Lifeskills Martial Arts teaches physical, psychological & emotional self-defense. Ninjutsu encompasses these three areas, in the style of the historical martial arts. You will begin to find, in your training, that no drill, exercise, or waza is purely physical, purely psychological, or purely emotionally challenging. These three pieces of your training mix and mesh, and by studying them in each movement, you can multiply the effects of your training. The next time you're in class, practicing a drill, waza, or skillset, take a moment to note what you're thinking or feeling. Are you...

Frustrated with having to do this 'seemingly pointless' exercise?
Losing patience with your uke?
Admiring your last punch, kick, etc?
Bored with the exercise, class?
Annoyed with your instructor
Preoccupied with variations in the demonstrations?
Thinking about the future?
Thinking about the past?
Are you determined to take some valuable piece from each waza/exercise?
Learning from your uke, regardless of your/their rank?
Breathing life & intensity into your training (not speed!)
Practicing with the accuracy, kamae, distance & timing you want to build into habit?
Aware of your 360 degree surroundings?
Breathing?
Challenging yourself, & taking responsibility for your learning?
Completely in the present?
Working to eliminate the feelings in red, and encourage the feelings in green?

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Special Review: "Ninja Assassin"

2009-12-01T16:47:00.000-08:00

LMA Students gathered on wednesday night, to pay homage to the latest "Ninja Flick," Ninja Assassin, which hit theaters tuesday at midnight. Below are some of their reactions...

"Every time a ninja hit someone, I was like 'yesssssss'!"

~Sean Bernhardt

"Perhaps the most historically accurate documentation of ninja techniques ever filmed."

~Max Carr

"Max, It's a movie. Get a life..."

~Michael Hicks

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"Giving Thanks"

2009-12-01T16:38:00.000-08:00

I hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving Holiday. It's opportunities like this which remind me how easy it is to take certain thnigs for granted. We're all facing different challenges each day, obstacles, negative influences, or negative people.

This year, I really made an effort to give thanks for the freedom we enjoy in the U.S. That freedom isn't the absence of any of those negative elements. Adversity is part of life. Freedom is our ability to make choices, surround ourselves with positive things & people. Freedom is our ability to learn from each mistake or challenge, an ability that no one can take away from us. Freedom is our power to create whatever life we want for ourselves, and the right to ignore anyone who calls us crazy.

Lifeskills Martial Arts is an environment which fosters, protects, and stands for that freedom. Each time you walk through the doors, our classes, instructors, & students will be waiting to help you secure your own freedom. Each night you'll take home different tools to help you move through daily adversity, challenges, & negativity unhindered. Free.

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"Training Tips: Take Notes!"

2009-12-01T16:22:00.000-08:00

Each of us learns differently. If you haven't already learned this, then you'll certainly learn it at some point during your study of Bujinkan Budo. Part of your initial goals at Lifeskills Martial Arts were (are/will be) to study the foundations of safety & personal protection (physical, psychological & emotional). Your next goal was (is/will be) to study the wazas from the 6 samurai schools of the bujinkan, & the Ten Chi Jin no Maki. In order to categorize the knowledge you're absorbing, and be able to call upon it (by name) at will, it is vital to organize your notes in a way best suited to your learning style.

Lifeskills Martial Arts Students have a huge advantage, in being given a Shodan (first degree black belt) Syllabus, complete with diagrams, physical requirements, recommended reading, warriorship principles and even space for notes. Despite all these tools, this syllabus is not designed to take the place of your personal body of study, notes & research.

Refer to your syllabus often, use it as a guidline for your path of study (combined with your personal progress reports & instructor feedback, it is a powerful tool). However, to progress in your study of the complete martial art, you will need to take your own notes and organize them into a meaningful format. This may mean rewriting everything you see in that syllabus, adjusting the order, grouping of techniques, etc. LMA Instructor Patty Carr uses herself as an example often; she rewrote the manual in its entirety over 12 times, to study for her shodan test.

Take advantage of the multiple avenues of information Lifeskills Martial Arts has made available to you! Links on the right hand column of this letter will lead you to Facebook Profiles, Twitter Feeds, Blogs, Youtube videos and more! Each website serves the same purpose in a different way, the same purpose the Free E-zine serves: Make informative, inspirational, & important information available to you 24/7. Questions on training, notetaking, or categorizing your knowledge? Utilize any one of these online resources, ask in class, ask over email (max@lifeskillsma.com). Our instructors are always happy to answer your questions or concerns.
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"The Perfect Climate for Warriorship"

2009-11-15T17:17:00.001-08:00

I was speaking to Chuck Cory earlier this year, and he identified the economic/psychological climate of 2009 in a powerful and moving way. He called it "The Perfect Climate for Warriorship."

What sounded like a simple offhand comment, actually held much depth and meaning. Togakure Ryu Ninja developed their system of living to protect them from physical & psychological attacks. They created the system to preserve their Freedom in an unpredictable & chaotic environment. Attacked by hordes of brutal enemies every day, these warriors refused to be victimized, and proceeded to find advantages in every negative or dangerous situation. The results were ingenious tools & weapons, highly sophistocated developments in psychology, astrology, geography, chemistry, and more. These methods were preserved in the scrolls of the Togakure Ryu & the 9 schools of Bujinkan Budo.

Do not leave your training at the door. Apply the principles you learn at LMA every day. This year presented many challenges, twists, turns, and most of all: Many excuses to stop moving towards your goals. "The sharpest sword is forged in heat."

This year may be that forge, and the warriors will come out of the fires of 2009 sharper than they've ever been. Will you?

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Lights Out: Training our Senses

2009-11-15T17:09:00.000-08:00

Those of you who have attended the Adults' Classes on Friday recently, have had a chance to train in a very different (uncomfortable) environment, possibly for the first time. In the Dark. We have all heard horror stories of men & women attacked by assailants who "came out of nowhere."

Critical to training in Ninjutsu was the development of our 5 senses, and building comfort in uncomfortable/unpredictable environments. A few bullet points to review & remember...

Get Low: As soon as the lights go out, build the habit of lowering yourself towards the ground. You maintain a chance of spotting your assailant's silhouette against the horizon, or a lighter backdrop. Your body will also recover a large sense of it's equilibrium & balance as you lower your center of gravity.
Heads Up: Fight the instinct to lower your head & roll your shoulders in. This unhealthy posture will shut off your senses. Find your open posture with your shoulders & keep your eyes level.
Don't Panic: remember, as always, to breath. Your attacker still needs to come to you to harm you. Use your 6 senses to pick up a 360 degree scan of your environment. Your first priority is to find a safe place. A door? A light switch? A tool? Don't miss these opportunities & gifts. Build that house of awareness. Make Safety a Habit.
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2009-02-13T15:15:00.000-08:00

Dear Students,

I hope your Year of the Ox is off to a great start so far! Among other things, the Ox is a symbol of prosperity through fortitude and hard work. If we tie this back to the principle of “Endure,” which Andy Bierwage explored in the Kanji for Ninpo, then 2009 will be revealed as an excellent year for us, in our study of Ninjutsu and Togakure Ryu.

One of the possible origins of the 12 animals on the Chinese Zodiac calendar originates from an old Chinese Story… Buddha was said to have invited all the animals in creation to a great race, the 12 winners of which would be featured on the Zodiac Calendar. The Rat (Togakure Ryu?) actually came in first, despite it’s fearsome contenders, and the challenging course. The Rat, it is said, used his cleverness (ninjutsu?), hitching a ride atop the mighty ox (the greatest swimmer). As the Ox reached the shore, the rat hopped down from his back, and crossed the finish line first. The ox took second place.

Within this seemingly simple legend, we find good tidings for the year of 2009. As illustrated in the legend...

“The skill of the Ninja is the art of winning.”

The Year of the Ox, then, presents us with a fitting vessel, to accomplish our goals. Having set our goals in January (if not, do so!), we’ll now begin to utilize the discipline of the ninja, and the toolbox we ever-expand at Lifeskills Martial Arts, to reach those goals. This month, we continue our study of physical, psychological, and emotional self-defense (Togakure Ryu), within the framework of Kihon Happo and San-shin.

Be sure to visit us on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, and at www.Lifeskillsma.com

Gambatte,
Max
Visit us on facebook, twitter, youtube & (of course) www.lifeskillsma.com!

Frequently Asked Questions

2009-02-10T16:32:00.000-08:00

What's the difference between Sport Arts, and Martial Arts?

We do not teach Sport Arts at Lifeskills Martial Arts. Sport martial arts have many different things to offer, but there is no substitute for the Art of Living. Sport martial arts prepare you for a single occurence, a competition, tournament, fight, test, etc. A Complete Martial Arts combines the physical, psychological, and emotional teachings, passed down through quality instructors, and evolves through time. At Lifeskills Martial Arts, we give you the tools to live day-to-day, comfortable with who you are, aware of the world around you, and prepared for everyday stressful situations, ranging from unhealthy relationships, to abusive bosses, to the rare-but damaging-physical assault.

At what age am I Too Old to begin studying the Art of Living?
Never. Our Art's survival for over 2,000 Years is a testament to it's ability to adapt to the physical and mental abilities of it's students. Available at Lifeskills Martial Arts are special Senior Classes (taught by Roberta Clark, Black Belt, age 79) Call (949) 251-8646 for more information!

At what age are my Children Old Enough to begin studying the Art of Living?
Lifeskills Martial Arts offers classes beginning at 4 Years Old. Call (949) 251-8646 and ask about our different children's program for One Free Class. Be sure to inquire about Family Discounts.

Will my Personal Challenge(s) keep me from a Black Belt, and learning Physical, Psychological, and Emotional Self defense?
(See question 2) NO! The only one who can stop you from learning and growing is you! Lifeskills Martial Arts has taught classes to the Blind, Deaf, injured, Mute, students in Wheelchairs, Children with Autism, ADD, Aspergers Syndrome, and more. It is our firm belief that the Art of Living is adaptable to anyone, in any circumstance. All you need to do is take the first step. Call (949) 251-8646 to schedule your first visit.

How can I Progress in the Art of Living, with my Busy Schedule?
Lifeskills Martial Arts holds Adult classes Monday through Friday, from 6pm to 8pm, and schedules private lessons on Saturdays. We provide instruction 6 Days Each Week! Your responsibility is to prioritize your life. If you miss a class, try and make it up the following week. Life changes everyday, and we know things come up in our lives that we can't plan for. Enjoy the flexibility of our class schedule, and make the choice to make it work.

What do I need to succeed?
Your Best! Lifeskills Martial Arts teaches a University-Level curriculum to all ages. As part of our Adults' Program, students will receive manuals, complete with information on Physical, Psychological and Emotional Self-defense... and room for notes! These manuals will help provide you with stepping stones in your studies, sure to lead you Forward. As we all know, every moment you don't spend learning, you spend forgetting.

What do my children need to succeed?
Their Best! As part of our Children's Program, students will receive our "Lifeskills Books" program, a series of 18 books, reinforcing Lifeskills. From "Please and Thank you" to "Leadership and Teamwork", our Lifeskills Books reinforce values and lessons parents dream of for their children; Take our principles outside Lifeskills Martial Arts, into school, home, and beyond. Don't Settle for anything less than the best.

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Physical, Psychological and Emotional Self-defense

2009-02-09T14:10:00.000-08:00

Physical, Psychological, and Emotional self-defense Irvine, CA.

Lifeskills Martial Arts is about teaching the art of living. We teach physical, psychological and emotional self-defense. We provide the experiences for people to find and develop their ability to deal with the different challenges of every day life; Specifically, every day we are faced with disappointments, bullies of every type that confront us with psychological and emotional challenges. Our easy access to the world exposes us to the possibility of the very damaging physical attack.

Visit us on facebook, twitter, youtube & (of course) www.lifeskillsma.com!