subject: Learn Ninjutsu - Levels Of Strategic Control That Will Give You An Unfair Advantage In Any Fight! [print this page] Do you want to do more than just learn Ninjutsu, in it's most basic, technique-oriented form? Are you looking to attain true Mastery in the art of Japan's shadow warriors?
If this describes you, then keep reading. If not, then this article is definitely not for you.
I can assume that if you're still reading, then you are interested in taking your training to the next level of proficiency - from the level of mechanical, step-by-step technique, to that of dynamic and strategic control of the situation. And, I will assume that you understand that this is the next, natural stage in your development as a Ninja, warrior, and future master of the art.
The purpose of this article is to outline a part of this strategic control at this level of skill development. The aspect of control that I want to share with you involves specifically controlling your opponent's perceptions and therefor his decision-making ability.
This is very different from the focus that the new or technically-minded student has on training - where the technique "tells" you what to do. Here, you will take control of the situation by actively giving your attacker what he wants and needs to...
...attack you EXACTLY the way you want him to!
The following are a few of the tactics that will allow you to do just that:
1) Use your kamae positioning, including limb placement to control the direction, level, and angle of his attack
2) Use the relative placement of your limbs to his to help him choose which hand or foot to attack with
3) Use the movement of your limbs - whether striking or grappling - to control his attention and belief about what you're doing, so that you can execute a technique without him attempting to block it
4) Present your strengths as weakness and/or your weaknesses as strengths to confuse him and make him believe that you are something that you're not
5) Use your body movement in such a way as to make your opponent believe that you are attacking with one type of grab, punch, or kick when in reality you are throwing something very different!
Remember that each of the above strategies and tactics are natural abilities to be developed as you advance towards Mastery. But, and this is the important thing, it will be necessary to find a teacher who understands these techniques on a very deep level in order to learn them for yourself.
Of course, you can try to learn them on your own. But, without a clear understanding of, not only the physical cues that you should be sending, but also the psychology that allows a particular technique to work...
...it could take you longer than necessary to get where you want and need to be.
The Ninja's science is just that. And, it's much more than just another martial art or self defense system. So, the question is...
