Noob Corner

Discussion in 'Ninjutsu Resources' started by xen, Aug 24, 2006.

  1. Primus Death

    Primus Death どうか私を教育してください

    Questions for future training

    Firstly, I would like to say that I'm sorry if this has all been asked before but I've been reading stuff all day and can't be bothered to compulsively read every post on this thread (I managed to stop myself at the end of the first page ^^')

    Next, I want to say that I have asked very similar questions on the main forum but the thread got out of control and was closed within a week or two.

    Now a bit of background. I'm from NSW, Australia and I've been doing karate since 2007 (also, I did it for a couple of years around 2002-03). I'm a 2nd Kyu and I consider myslef a lifer for martial arts - it's something I want to do 'till my dying days. I would also like to mention that I have experience in both traditional and "modern" schools.

    However, it's not all well and good. My parents plan on moving to Tasmania and I will have to leave my curent school behind. When I get to Tazzie I'm going to have a big decision on my hands. I could continue with karate, try something similar or start something completely different. The main thing I've been looking at is Ninjutsu - it fascinates me, I think it will suit me just fine. From what I can tell it's a good mix of strikes, kicks, grappling and takedowns, pressure points, weapons and (in some cases) spiritualism.

    Now the questions:

    1. I want to know what some good, creditable schools are. I know of the X-Kans but I don't know a lot about their specific training (or where to find information on these). I'm sure they're not the only good schools though.

    So, if you have a school you can credit (including x-kans), please tell me what it is. A rough overview of it's good points. And whether I can find a dojo for that school in Tasmania. I'm looking for places around Hobart.

    2. If I'm wrong about my evaluation on Ninjutsu, please tell me what I've got wrong or what I've missed.

    3. Where can I find some good videos of the training and classes? I've seen some of seminars but I want to see ones of students practicing drills and more basic techniques.

    4. Now, this is always a controvesial issue. Should I (even for just a reference) buy any DVDs for 'home training'?

    I do not wish to have that as my only training but if I cannot get to classes more than 2-3 times a week (I would like to be training 4-5 days a week) I want some kind of reference so that I can practice my skills at home.

    5. Weapons, how much concentration is there on training with them? I don't want them as my main focus but I would like to do far more than 15 minutes every 10 lessons.

    These final two are probably one of the most important things for me:

    6. How much kumite/sparring (I don't know whether it's named differently in Ninjutsu) on average is done in Ninjutsu? I know this varies from one instructor to the next but I'd like a little insigt.

    7. How 'full on' is the training? Am I going to wind up beaten and bruised after most lessons? Am I going to be winded, thrown, have painful pressure points applied to my person? Am I going to be fought into a corner when sparring and have to get my way out?

    I ask this because I DO NOT want to be mollycoddled in my training, I want the bruises and pains (not so much broken bones, but if they make me a better martial artist I'll put up with it). I want to be given realistic training and I want to be conditioned to being punched.

    Sure, I've got this from karate - but not as much as I need. Some of it has cone from sparring, arm twists and pressure points but most of my pains are from too many push-ups, holding stances for too long or just training too long in a short amount of time.

    It's made me stronger but I want it from sparring - from being punched, kicked, thrown, contorted, tripped, grappled and winded. It may sound like I enjoy pain or something but the truth is that I want to be prepared for all of this pain so that I can push through it when my life is in danger.

    I seem to have gone overboard here and I've written a lot but I will be very thankful to anyone who is bothered to read all of that and try to help me. Thanks in advance.
     
  2. Hayseed

    Hayseed Thread Killer

    Hey Primus,

    Pretty sure Duncan Stewart is in Tasmania. Here's a decent video of him...

    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgvOvG4RF2A&feature=related"]æ­¦ç¥žé¤¨æ­¦é“ Bujinkan Budo France Bushinden Kai 2012. - YouTube[/ame]

    and his blog at...

    http://tazziedevil.wordpress.com/

    As far as what it's like or what kinds of things are covered. Better to make contact and ask him.
     
  3. BklynJames

    BklynJames Kung Fu New Jack

    New Jack Alert...

    Hello All,
    Im new to the Bujinkan and I do have a few questions. Would anyone be able to tell me how many katas there are in each ryuha? I understand there are 9 schools and this is an extremely N00B question. But it will help me become more familiar with school if I can create some baseline. My next question is which Ryuha is usually taught first? Other than going to class as much as possible. Is there anything else I should be doing? Maybe start off reading some books? Finally, is there any other advice you can give a N00b..?
     
  4. BklynJames

    BklynJames Kung Fu New Jack

    Bueller....

    Bueller...
     
  5. llong

    llong Valued Member

    There are well over 100 kata across the 9 Ryu.

    I'd recommend Gyokko Ryu first, especially the Kihon Happo which is mostly derived from Gyokko Ryu.

    My recommendation is to:

    1) Find the best teacher you can.
    2) Buy and read as many Soke books as you can afford.
    3) Stretch daily
    4) Learn some ukemi
    5) Don't think you did a technique right if the guy fell, or that you did it wrong if the guy didn't.
    6) Don't use muscle.
     
  6. Kurai

    Kurai Valued Member

    Focus on the basics. Kamae and Kihon. Everything "Advanced" is based on a solid foundation of basics.
     
  7. furinkazan

    furinkazan Valued Member

    It's actually delightfully refreshing seeing a noob corner. Im a second dan and I personally know I have a long way before I am worth a 1st dan.

    Heck I can't even understand reading the english translations of dencho! I get lost with 'zanshin' and any of the japanese language, so I just try my damndest, but I couldn't name a technique outside of saying: it's kihon happo 5 with a feeling of' or 'it's this sanshin technique with this weapon moving like this' etc etc.

    Probably would have an easier time if I could understand the language better to be honest, memorizing terms has never been a strong point for me.
     
  8. Kurai

    Kurai Valued Member

    I take it you mean 2nd kyu is your current rank? As far as names, do you ever write notes of your own? It may help commit the name/meaning easier, if it's in your own words.
     
  9. furinkazan

    furinkazan Valued Member

    yeah, I do, it's just a lot of the actual names of techniques are unfamiliar to me. I have the names for the chi no kata, sui no kata etc commited to memory but I'm reading through dencho and I'm just thinking stuff like: what is Ryomen Shime? What on earth is Kagato Keri? I never heard the vast majority of these terms in my six years of training, but I tend to find I'll see techniques and I'll write what I practice in my own way. It just means I get lost with the japanese terminology a lot.

    Does make me question if I'm worth a damn, let alone the current grade I have.
     
  10. llong

    llong Valued Member

    Are you 2nd Dan or 2nd Kyu? Let's start there. :)
     
  11. BklynJames

    BklynJames Kung Fu New Jack

    Thank you for your reply.

    1) Find the best teacher you can.
    I think I have found the best teacher around.

    2) Buy and read as many Soke books as you can afford.
    Starting to acquire them now.

    3) Stretch daily
    I do that now.

    4) Learn some ukemi
    Thats easy, did Aikido for a long time.

    5) Don't think you did a technique right if the guy fell, or that you did it wrong if the guy didn't.
    Im working on that now. There is a lot of distance and height variations im trying to work on...

    6) Dont use muscle...
    Working on that too...



    6) Don't use muscle.
     
  12. furinkazan

    furinkazan Valued Member

    2nd kyu. Not a massive deal by any art's standard, but I am trying to make myself better. I even have some of Paul Richardson Dencho translations (gyokku ryu, tenchijin ryu no maki etc) but I can't seem to work out what I'm reading when it comes to the japanese as far as putting it together
     
  13. Acealon

    Acealon New Member

    Im looking for someone that is willing to partner with me in Ninjutsu. Whats the best place to find someone that i can learn with?
     
  14. JibranK

    JibranK Valued Member

    What is it that you're looking to learn, first of all?
     
  15. Dean Winchester

    Dean Winchester Valued Member

    A Dojo.

    What's your location?
     
  16. peterc8455

    peterc8455 Valued Member

    ^^^This. You should have plenty of partners there.
     
  17. JibranK

    JibranK Valued Member

    The question about what he's looking to learn comes even before that, though.
     
  18. jclevien

    jclevien Valued Member

    Adding other weapons

    Hello, I wonder if anyone has worked on expanding the historical ninja arsenal to include nowadays weaponry, like grenades, exoskeletons or pain rays, I have heard that USA is working on carrying a pain ray gun in your pocket for disuading or torturing, much like our techniques with ****o ken or similars.

    Thanks for your answers, keep going!
     
  19. jclevien

    jclevien Valued Member

    Spiritual Development (Seishin Teki Kyoyo)

    Hello, enjoy this video, is about compassion, one of the ideas we train in Bujinkan, at every class, with a nice green tea in the middle.

    [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oe37bq88BA"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oe37bq88BA[/ame]
     
  20. CovMike

    CovMike New Member

    New to Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu

    Hi there,

    I'm interested in starting Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu & have a few questions. Hopefully I'm posting in the right place & these questions haven't been asked before, apologies if they have!

    1) When looking for an instructor, what grade should they be at least?

    2) I've read that there's no set grading curriculum in the Bujinkan & that individual instructors grade their own students. At what grade then can an instructor award a Dan grade?

    3) Do any of the senior Japanese masters give seminars abroad or is it still necessary to travel to Japan?

    4) Is there a hierarchy amongst the Japanese masters & is there a successor to Soke Hatsumi?

    Thanks.
     

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