faq

Question - What really is Ninjutsu?
Answer - NINJA were warriors clans of feudal Japan trained in special arts, these arts ranged from chemistry, impersonation, espionage and natural medicines to weapons of war such as sword, staff, spear, throwing, chain and rope weapons, archery just to name a few plus horsemanship, fire and water skills (some of these skills like 'fire and explosives', 'poisons' and 'entering skills' are no longer taught for obvious legal, moral and ethical reasons).
Their art is known collectively as NINJUTSU!
SHINOBI of old strived to achieve 'BALANCE' in life, balance with nature, the world and with the universe.
Note: SHINOBI is the old term for Ninja, literary 'Heart under blade' referring to 'a warrior in balance with nature, the world and the universe'.
The terms Ninja and Shinobi do not mean 'assassin' or 'evil samurai outcast' as Hollywood 'movies' would have you believe . . .
NIN also means PERSEVERANCE, PATIENCE, ENDURANCE and SURVIVAL!
We are NOT pretending to be Ninja or Samurai, we actually train in these authentic arts based on 9 traditional schools !
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Question - Why choose Ninjutsu over other arts?
Answer - When you join us you don't just join a Martial Arts group . . . you actually join a Ninja Clan (family) !
Ninjutsu is perfect for both Boys and Girls as the techniques you learn don't require a lot of physical strength or strange unnatural postures or movements and we are not sports orientated or competitive.
Each level builds on all the previous levels, the basics (our foundation) is drilled and practiced so that the intermediate and advanced techniques become simply a natural extension of your own natural ability to move.
Students learn the cultural aspects of being a ‘warrior’ and a ‘clan’ (family) member, learning how rewarding responsibility can be, how self discipline and focus will help them achieve what they really desire in life and how being part of the community can have great benefits for them.
Training in our martial art is very different from training in most modern competitive, aggression based sport martial arts around today.
We encourage personal growth and personal understanding, we do not promote unhealthy ego, rivalry or competitive fighting.
Ninjutsu is not aggressive or competitive and is truly about balance in all things of life.
You don't have to be able to do all things perfect, just to the best of your abilities. It is not about who's art is better, or who's sensei is right or the toughest and it's not about how fast you can get to black belt!
Ninjutsu is about reality . . . we deal in reality not fashionable fads or what's popular at the moment due to the latest movie etc.
As an example of a common misunderstanding in martial arts reality, did you know that Karate did not originate from Japan?
It's Okinawan (islands south of Japan), when the Japanese took control of these islands they re-enforced the rule of Okinawan people not carrying weapons, this is where Te (Hand) one of the original names of Karate was developed.
Karate - 'China Hand' or now known as 'empty hand' (as the Japanese changed the 'Kanji' to to avoid association with China) was taken back to Japan in the early 1900's by a professor from an Okinawan teachers college, first officially demonstrated in 1922 in Japan.
Note: the kanji used for 'empty hand' does not mean 'nothing in hand' as many people think, it is from the Zen Buddhist philosophy meaning of 'to render oneself empty' as in 'empty the mind of selfishness and wickedness in an effort to react appropriately toward anything one might encounter'.
So . . . 'competitions and seeking glory by beating others' kind of contradicts the true meaning of the art!
So as you can see Karate really has no connection to the Samurai arts at all, so why do so many Karate organisations pretend to have a connection with the Samurai Bushido code, wear Samurai style outfits and use Samurai weapons?
Ninjutsu as we study it comes from a merged Ninja and Samurai lineage with both 'arts' intertwined and passed on by a succession of family lineages for over 800 years. This is one of the few arts that has an unbroken lineage!
This lineage is recognised in the DAI JITEN BUGEI RYU-HA the book of official schools of Japanese martial arts.
Ask instructors of other arts what their formal lineage is and how far back it can be proven and most cannot answer in detail.
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Question - What really is 'budo' (Warrior ways)
Answer - If you want to get fit, many other sports are better than most martial arts, if you want discipline many other organisations (Air or Army cadets etc) are better than most martial arts, if you want strength and power go to a gym . . . most martial arts or 'Budo' really only teach fighting or defensive skills!
If someone says to you 'Martial arts are character building' they are right, but know this, a person of poor character will end up a dangerous person of poor character if the martial art does not have a balanced curriculum including cultural and spiritual studies . . . that is the 'reality' of Budo !
We offer true warrior code practice with both written and practical formal study in the warrior code, with cultural studies required for advancement in the organisation.
The Ninja actually practiced separate fitness, strength, discipline skills as well as fighting methods brought together as a total package within the clans training while most other martial arts have had to adopt these skills to complement their arts fighting skills.
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Question - Competition in Martial Arts . . . good or bad?
Lol . . . The debate rages!
Answer - In my opinion competition in martial arts is neither good nor bad, it is just what it is!
I recently got sent this fable from Todd Herman of 'The Peak Athlete' I'm sure he wouldn't mind me sharing it with you . . .
The Farmer and His Horse
A farmer had only one horse. One day, his horse ran away.
All the neighbors came by saying, “I’m so sorry. This is such bad news. You must be so upset.” The man just said, “We’ll see.”
A few days later, his horse came back with twenty wild horses. The man and his son corralled all 21 horses.
All the neighbors came by saying, “Congratulations! This is such good news. You must be so happy!” The man just said, “We’ll see.”
One of the wild horses kicked the man’s only son, breaking both his legs.
All the neighbors came by saying, “I’m so sorry. This is such bad news. You must be so upset.” The man just said, “We’ll see.”
The country went to war, and every able-bodied young man was drafted to fight. The war was terrible and killed every young man, but the farmer’s son was spared, since his broken legs prevented him from being drafted.
All the neighbors came by saying, “Congratulations! This is such good news. You must be so happy!” . . . The man just said, “We’ll see.”
So as you see, not all perceived losses are bad and not all wins are good.
The reality of Competition
Competition, in the right conditions can test your skills and abilities allowing you to improve where you can . . .
Competition, in the wrong conditions can give you a false sense of your skills and abilities leading you to not improve.
Competition can test your character, allowing open minded individuals to assess and improve their character . . .
Competition can bring out the worst in your character if you are ego driven or unwilling to change.
Competition requires rules that equalize the inevitable differences in individuals . . .
Competition rules equalizing individuals can lead the less effective or less skilled to win!
Competition rules mean the reality and randomness of real fighting is never tested!
I have seen many competitors make it through rounds at NAS (National All Styles) tournaments by demonstrating kata because they didn't have anyone to compete against in their class! They proudly wave their trophy around and move on to state or national titles with ease . . . I have witnessed adults throw tantrums when they lose at NAS tournaments!
I have seen perfectly good martial arts technique not gain a score as it doesn't fit the rules and conversely seen poor technique win because of poor refereeing.
I haven't seen anyone say I didn't deserve that point or win, when they obviously didn't . . . so where is all the character building that tournaments/sport martial arts are supposed to develop???? It's ALL about beating another person to be the best!
The reality of the most asked martial arts questions!
Many people ask which is the best martial art? Who is the best martial artist? Who would win between 'this' vs 'that'
This question CAN NOT be truthfully answered!
Think about it, lets say we compare Karate to Kung Fu (just for example),
Firstly lets take a black belt in each, what you say? Kung fu doesn't have black belts!
Ok lets take two instructors, hold on! What if one has just started instructing and the other has been instructing and competing regularly for years?
Well then, 30 year olds with 15 years experience . . . no, no, no! Surely they haven't trained the exact amount of hours?!?!
Both are fighting fit? . . . surely no two people can have exactly the same strength or aerobic fitness?
What if the Karate guy has had a bad day at work and isn't concentrating?????
What if the Kung Fu guy has a cold?????
Do we use Kick boxing rules, MMA rules, Karate rules, Kung Fu competition rules, Marquis of Queensbury rules or no rules?
What if the Kung Fu guy really isn't any good at Kung Fu?????
What if the Karate guy really isn't good at Karate?????
What if the Kung Fu guy is a mean dude that will not hold back?????
What if the Kung Fu guy is not mean and backs off before using his most dangerous moves?????
What if . . . what if . . . what if . . . what if ?????!!!!!!!!
Then you get my all time personal favorite comment (usually from grapplers) - '80% of fights end up on the ground'
What? . . . have you ever watched boxing? The only time either hits the ground is when they are knocked out!!!!!
'80% of fights between grapplers end up on the ground' is what should be said!!!!
If you just strike and the other guy just grapples the fight might be decided by who get their best technique in first . . . standing or on the ground!
(it's very hard for a grappler to take it to the ground if he's unconscious from a king hit!)
Remember the 'Gracie's' (Brazilian Jujitsu) . . . kicked ass hey! Until the kick boxers that they predominately started fighting against when NHB, MMA, UFC style competitions first started figured out they needed a ground game and went and got some Jujitsu or Judo!!!!!!
Note how world champions eventually get beat or retire before they get beat?
Remember: There is always someone bigger, faster, nastier or smarter than you just around the corner!
See what I mean, how can you possibly compare arts or artists.
Just be content to be your best, after all at the end of the day, you are the only one you have to impress!
Sport is sport, don't confuse sport fighting with martial arts!
OUR POLICY
Friendly (but serious) Warning: We are not a sport martial art!
We do not compete in 'all styles' or MMA style tournaments and do not encourage competition using our art!
Please do not approach us for some 'ninja' stuff to use in competition or to add to other arts.
Individuals found to be using this art to compete against others, cause harm to others or
boost the popularity of another art are dishonorable and will be barred from membership.
Please respect our art!
But then this is all just my opinion . . . for whats it's worth
Sosai Garyu