| Silent assassins, vagabond thieves, master less | | | | you would |
| samurai, and all round | | | | expect it to. It's very subtle, and it works.With |
| bad guy. That's the image portrayed of the Ninja in | | | | Karate you can see the punches and kicks, in Judo |
| movies and the | | | | you can see the |
| media ever since the Ninja Boom of the 1980's, and | | | | throw. In Ninjutsu, we try to keep things hidden. |
| it's an image | | | | Why let the person |
| that's hard to shack off.Like most things that come | | | | who has just attacked you know what you can do |
| out of Hollywood, they tend to go for the | | | | to defend yourself? |
| flashy, most over hyped parts, and then blow it up | | | | The other big difference between the other martial |
| a bit more. You | | | | arts and Ninjutsu, |
| only have to look at the most recent World War II | | | | is that we are not a sport. Ours is a system that |
| films released in | | | | was created over a |
| the past few years to see that.Well the historical | | | | period of time to protect the people of a certain |
| Ninja were just a group of people living in the | | | | area in Japan, not |
| Iga region of Japan, who didn't want to live like | | | | as a way of keeping fit, and entertaining |
| samurai. That | | | | others.Does Ninjutsu have a place in a modern |
| appears to be their only crime.They created their | | | | society? Yes, of course it |
| own system of self defence, and strategies that | | | | does. No only is it a way of keeping yourself active |
| enabled them to survive for over a thousand years | | | | the 33rd |
| to this day. These | | | | Grandmaster trained the day he died, at 82 but in |
| strategies are now taught around the world thanks | | | | this world with |
| to the 34th | | | | growing crime rates, protecting yourself and your |
| Grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi.Masaaki Hatsumi has | | | | loved ones is always |
| many personal students around the world teaching | | | | a good thing.We can punch and kick, throw and lock |
| Ninjutsu, the system created by the Ninja, including | | | | joints, we can defend against |
| 8th Dan Black | | | | weapon attacks, as well as learn how to use |
| belt Brian McCarthy, of the Bujinkan Brian Dojo, who | | | | weapons such as the humble |
| teaches | | | | stick effectively. We can fight standing up, sitting |
| traditional Ninjutsu throughout Europe. Here in | | | | down, on the |
| Portsmouth, Ninjutsu | | | | floor, in confined spaces and in the open. We train |
| is taught by Andrew Thomas, 4th Dan, who has | | | | to be able to |
| studied under Brian for | | | | operate in all environments, and to learn to perceive |
| 18 years, as well in Japan with the | | | | threats before |
| grandmaster.Andrew has been teaching in | | | | they become dangerous.You can't expect to be |
| Portsmouth, Bognor Regis and Brighton, for | | | | good in a few weeks, but you will start picking |
| 18 years, and has recently celebrated the 1st | | | | things up. If all you learn the first week is how not |
| anniversary of the new | | | | to be hit, then |
| Dojo location at Warrior Crafts in Highland road with | | | | you've learnt a very good lesson. A lot of martial |
| two days of | | | | arts give out |
| training and a meal at Rickshaws.Unlike nearly all the | | | | grading's like sweets, but it doesn't mean that you |
| other martial arts, Ninjutsu evolved over a | | | | have any real |
| thousand years and is still evolving. Only recently a | | | | ability, just a nice coloured belt.In the Bujinkan Brian |
| new throw was | | | | Dojo, you will only be graded when you have the |
| created by a student of the Grandmaster, so that | | | | ability of the grade. This doesn't mean that you |
| he could throw a man | | | | could walk into the |
| much bigger than him. The throw is named after him. | | | | roughest pub in town and take anyone on, it means |
| Ninjutsu isn't the system portrayed in films and | | | | that you can |
| television. In fact, | | | | recognise threats, and avoid them.But what does |
| until you've actually done some, it looks nothing like | | | | Ninjutsu mean to me? |