Keeping secrets

Why is it bad if someone else knows what you know?

 

No, people get what they get and that's life. If you don't do your homework and due diligence and end up with less of a teacher than you bargained for, then that is on you. Nobody is going to hold your hand or show you the way, you have to do it for yourself. If you choose the best teacher(or rather they choose you), you still have to worry about how you train and conduct yourself if you want to be taught the depths of the arts. It has always been that way and probably always will. Therefore, a small select group of people will be able to maintain the integrity of the art.

There is more than enough information out there, even in the public eye, far more than there has ever been. If people for centuries and generations were able to get it without the benefit of the internet, videos, or loads of books, why can't we in today's day and age?

You want the secrets, make yourself worthy of them and go find them.

 

Pretty much the pointing was going to get at. Every boxer knows the same techniques as Floyd Mayweather, nobody is beating him though.

 

Meh.

I share everything I know about flexibility training here for free, which I charge to teach in person.

Some of it might even be used by rival teams.

I don't mind because sharing knowledge is a far greater purpose than making green.

Let's face it, people really withhold information so they can sell it.

 

Not necessarily. The true secrets of these arts can't be bought. When you think of the things that some people accuse Hatsumi sensei of selling(or rather giving out like candy), they aren't the important details of the arts, it is stuff like rank. You can do whatever you want, however you don't study these arts or have an in-depth personal experience with the issues involved with the flow of information in them(as evidenced by the part of your post I quoted).

There are plenty of reasons not to share certain information that is contained in these arts. Hatsumi sensei has taught other aspects around the world for decades, there are numerous books, and hours upon hours of videos as well out there in the public domain. What you won't find though, are the important aspects of the arts that must be learned one on one with a teacher who knows the depths of the arts.

Traditional arts are generally kept that way because they are not open to the public. Whether or not it is necessary is a moot point. That's just the way it is. If you want to learn kabuki for example, you can't just go down the the nearest culture school and learn it. You have to be born into or adopted into a particular family, do a particular apprenticeship, and learn it from the bottom up. Not everyone is willing to dedicate their life to kabuki, so it remains a small and particular form of theater. Don't like it, don't go see it.

 

So it's this way, because it's always been this way? Nice way to remain static.

 

Kind of seems a bit cultish to me sort of like scientoligy. You will only learn the truth once you reach the highest of levels, and your check clears.

If you only keep your knowledge to yourself one day it will die with the last person who studied it. It also remains as chaddez said. Static.

 

Maybe part of the training is learning how to find things out, also how to learn from observation - without being told every detail like a child.

If is when this info is just handed out for whatever reason that a lesson (or alleged secret) is missed! Not the other way round.

 

Keeping secrets is only important with information of value. The only real value here would be to withhold information from people who may have an interest in Ninjutsu to get them involved which may do the antithesis of what is intended. There are probably 50 modern day alternatives to every secret thing in Ninjutsu from weapons to empty hand training. I can't see anything super secret cool badass that comes from the feudal age in any region of the earth that would trump anything in the modern world. Secrecy due to practicality and application that is superior to other methods? Definitely not.

It's kind of asinine to write "it's secret though, so I won't share it." I mean hell man, just don't even say anything at all. It's no different than saying something like, "I have the recipe for Damascus Steel and Greek Fire, but I ain't sharing!" Good for you man, you have contributed nothing. ::double thumbs up::

 

Or maybe you're all being conned into taking more ninjutsu lessons? I could ask my Instructor about every technique and principles that he knows, and he'd tell me. Wouldn't make me much better because I'd have to training endlessly on the mat.

 

You are the one who hasn't contributed anything. You don't even study ninjutsu and haven't the faintest clue about what it encompasses or why things are the way they are.

So it would be pointless to tell you then anyway. You guys make the most logical statements…

Nobody has to be conned into anything and they are free to quit at anytime. If you don't like your training or what you are learning, nobody is holding a poisoned shuriken to your head making you stay.

 

Translation: "You don't do ninjutsu so your opinion is invalid."

Pathetic.

 

Nothing cultish in teaching things when and if it becomes appropriate. The masters of these arts haven't kept their knowledge to themselves. To suggest otherwise would be a bit odd. Anyone who has studied these arts for a few years would know the depth of insight and information that has been disseminated. However, no matter how much information is out there, it is up to the student to figure things out for themselves. Don't like it, do tae kwon do.

 

Does The Boss answer if you ask or does he just hold back? That to me is the biggest difference

 

Well at least if someone asked me a question about any aspect ova techniques could tell them about it rather than "it's a secret".

 

Nope. You don't know what you are talking about so you were being corrected. Simple and no value judgement involved. You made an assumption about people's motivation for doing something. It was one possible assumption you could've made, and just happened to be the wrong one. Nothing more, nothing less. One reason you might've come up with said assumption was due to your lack of familiarity with these arts, the issues involved with the different organizations, and the amount of frauds out there claiming to teach ninjutsu.

It's great that you share your flexibility experience with others. Many aspects of these arts are also shared with the public. Some aren't. Whatever the reason, that's the way it is. Discussing it or debating about it won't change that.

 

I would tell you why you're wrong Please Reality, but it's a secret. Only myself and a few people on MAP know the secret. Sorry brah'. It's an open secret on the Supporting Member's Forum though.

Spoiler

About as legit as most of the arguments being made in this thread.

http://www.martialartsplanet.com/forums/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=1074856037#