Ninjutsu Training - Suggestions For Handling Stressful Situations From the Martial Art of Ninjutsu

One of the most common concerns that I hear from people - men and women - who have taken martial arts or self defense training is they doubt whether or not they'll actually be able to use what they've learned under pressure - during a real attack. And, unfortunately, because of something that I call, "The Karate-Myth," this is no surprise.

This article offers a few, very important, suggestions for handling stressful situations from the art of Ninjutsu - the system of self defense and Life Mastery developed by the ancient Ninja families of South-central Japan, and still used today as one of the most effective systems ever developed for the serious self defense student.

But, before I discuss some ways for effectively dealing with stressful and dangerous situations, I want to talk about something else. And, this something else is...

DENIAL!

Denial is the most dangerous impediment to most people developing the skills necessary to overcome stress, and to be able to successfully handle danger, whether physical, psychological, or emotional. Regardless of whether we're talking about protecting ourselves from a physical street attack, harassment on the job, or the emotional trauma that comes from the abuse from a significant other - people go through their days with one of two types of denial or ignorance.

The first is personal denial in that they believe that, "it will never happen to them." And the second is...

Denial of personal responsibility - they refuse to believe that they have any power to effectively neutralize the problem and make it go away! Before we ever begin to look at "what" we can do in a stressful or dangerous situation, we must first accept and operate based on 2 truths:

1) That it CAN happen to YOU (whatever "it" is), and...
2) You have the right, and can learn how to keep yourself safe from danger, attacks, and other stressful situations!

It is this "general awareness" stage that forms the foundation for any serious self protection strategy, and what determines whether or not you will be able to use or apply anything that you learn - whether from the typical self defense guy with a few "tricks" to show you, or a real world self defense expert who has actually "been there" where you are and has not just knowledge, but also the experience at being successful where it matters most.

Now that we've covered that, let's take a look at a few ways to deal with a situation. Please note that not all of these suggestions will work in every situation, nor will they work to the same degree. It is your responsibility to have more training than merely memorizing this list and thinking about this from the comfort of your chair, if you have any hope of being successful using this information against a real attacker who wants to beat, break, or kill you!

Here are a few options taken directly from the "8 Phases of Effective Self Defense" training model that I teach my students:

1) Learn to focus and be more aware of your surroundings. This "situational awareness" will allow you to notice possible warning signs and danger clues long before the danger ever gets close to you. The idea here is: if you want to be able to handle stressful situations effectively, then be able to notice them when they are still far away from you - before you feel the effects of stress and while you can still think calmly and clearly!

2) Develop multiple escape routes and strategies for getting out of a given situation or away from a dangerous threat before it can touch you. One that comes to mind that I see kids do almost instinctively is the old, "I've got to go to the bathroom" tactic. The idea here is: if you can't prevent danger from or stress happening, then have an escape plan for removing yourself from it. After all, if stress or danger can't touch you - it can't hurt you!

3) Learn methods and techniques for de-escalating a situation. Through the use of things like humor, distraction tactics, and even threats if you have the position, power, or authority to back it up, can all be effective in reducing and eliminating the possibility of the situation escalating to a more dangerous level. The idea here is: do, say, or communicate whatever you must, and an in a way that deters the cause of the danger from going further. If you can get the attacker to think about, or focus on something else instead of you - then you no longer have to deal with the problem!

Of course, if you cannot do these things, or you have not been successful in reducing or eliminating the threat, then you will have to handle the stress on a physical level. But, that's for a different lesson.

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Tai Chi Sword

If you are passionate about your tai chi and would like to extend your knowledge and training of this ancient art form, you may be interested in learning about the tai chi sword. Maybe it could renew your enthusiasm and give an extra edge to your training that has been missing for a while.

Tai chi sword is said to be an advanced level of martial art training, which is hardly surprising considering how challenging tai chi itself can be. Although by adding the sword you are basically going through the same movements as in unarmed practice, you do need a subtle wrist and to be comfortable handling a sword. It is also something that should only be attempted after you have mastered some basic tai chi forms.

Great care should be taken when training, and be sure to use a practice sword at first so as not to harm yourself, or anyone else for that matter! There are different types of sword for practice, the wooden one being the most likely to be used by a beginner. There are even collapsible ones for ease of transport for people who travel regularly and like to continue their training.

Basically there are two types of tai chi sword, the broadsword or 'dao' which is a shorter one sided blade, and the chien or 'jian' which is a longer straight double edged blade; the chien being the one more commonly used in training. A chien would usually be around 36 - 40 inches (90 - 100 cms) long including the handle, the length and weight would vary according to the user.

The sword, known as the king of close combat martial art weapons, has been used in China for the last 2500 years, gradually evolving from crudely constructed bronze swords to the more sophisticated steel ones of today.

Looking back in history there is much to be admired about the 'eye to eye' close combat encounters in battle, which sets the sword apart as more honourable than longer range weapons. These days however, it is mainly used for ceremonial purposes, training for competition, or within a discipline for good health and longevity.

Adding the sword to your armoury of tai chi knowledge can make you become more appreciative of the martial art aspects of the past. It can make quite a difference to your training as well, as it becomes an extension of the body, allowing you to project even more chi from the body along the arm to the tip of the sword.

Many people are interested to know how a tai chi sword can be used in such an elegant art form as tai chi, as historically it has been used to such deadly effect in battle. These days people use the sword as part of their training for health reasons to bring harmony to the mind, body, and spirit.

Who would have thought many years ago that a weapon such as the sword, in the past used so often to kill, would eventually be used by many people as an aid to extend life!

Martial Arts Training - Developing Better Balance For Maximum Performance and Power!

Almost daily, students ask me for suggestions in developing better techniques in their martial arts training. To which I reply, "fix your balance and you will have better control, speed, and power.

And, while it's easy to quickly demonstrate something for a student in the dojo, conveying some of these ideas to a student who contacts me through email, especially if he or she is new to martial arts training, or their teacher does not incorporate these Ideas in class - can be a bit 'difficult.

One of the tools I use for my students to improve and strengthen the skills, what I call the "drill". These drills and exercises to develop skills "are a way to isolate a special skill and drill" over and over again, until the desired results are achieved. Drills used to improve things like:

Balance

Speed

Timing

Reaction

strategic thinking under pressure

The decision (the choice of the right skillsor technique to do next)

etc.
In the case of this article, I'll be talking about ways to improve balance. But, you can feel free to substitute any other quality or ability. You will just have to come up with a drill or exercise where that quality is the primary skill needed to perform the exercise.

But, for now, it's about balance. Because, balance or, more more correctly, "balance control," is the one skill or ability that most human beings lack. And, for the martial artist focused on real-world self-protection, you're betting your life on what you can and cannot do in this area!

While anything can be "used" for balance training - what most people think of as martial arts training can be described as a technique or kata. I cannot speak for any particular school or "style," and what they do or don't do to help you to attain mastery. However, from my experience, research, and observation, most students are limited to step-by-step "technique" instruction, and the mock-fighting practice known generally as "sparring."

Regardless of the martial art, one way to look at a drill is an exercise that is NOT a self defense technique - but has everything to do with self defense. What I mean is that, it can be a single "piece" from a technique, or a completely different exercise that is "drilled" or practiced again and again to gain proficiency.

An example of this can be seen from the world of music. Perhaps I play an instrument. And when working on playing a particular song, there is a note combination that I'm having trouble with.

Instead of continuing to rehearse the entire song, "hoping" that I'll get the move/notes correct "this" time - I can isolate that string and just play that part. By practicing just this piece over and over until I gain proficiency with it, I do 2 things:

1) I fix that part of this particular song, and...

2) I fix and strengthen every other song that I'll ever play that has the same note combination.

So... the drill with the note combination is not about playing a song. But, it has everything to do with how well I play songs on my particular instrument.

Do you understand?

In the case of developing better balance for our martial arts/self defense training, I could do several types of drills or exercises to strengthen my balance. And remember, balance is about physically aligning the parts of the body, each other and the center of the body - with the effect of gravity.

Here are some ideas for practice and the development of a better balance:

1) on one leg (if your system or a leg as the posture Hich Ninja has no Kamae, I use it) should be. Do relax in this position so that for longer and longer periods without wavering or drop your pedestal.

2) To extend the previous financial year, slowly raised his leg, as if kicking,and bring your leg has fallen from the rest position without the leg base. It is also possible to turn your torso upright with the leg extended, or leg in various directions.

3) If the stand head and hand. (This body is in an inverted position with respect to gravity and awakens your brain is the awareness of the effects of gravity and body alignment -. do something when you had to get up and walk as a child, then you can be knowledge, if theseyou are standing normally. Remember - Balance is about "alignment" of body parts to center AND the effects of gravity!

4) Practice your rolling or other breakfalls as SLOWLY as possible. Rolling is an exercise in "balance-control" - not agility. You will be more capable of not only faster rolls when you find the balance line that your body is supposed to be on, but you will also be able to change speeds and directions - in the middle of a roll - when you can do this.

5) Use aids like balance-beams (both horizontal and on rising and declining angles), K-Boards (boards with a fixed or moving fulcrum underneath that you will stand on and practice holding and shifting your weight so that the edges of the board do not touch the floor), etc.

As you can see, the above suggestions are not self defense techniques. But, like the analogy that I gave about music, they have EVERYTHING to do with how effective and how much power you'll be able to generate with your body as you move THROUGH your techniques - ANY techniques.