subject: A Self-defense Lesson From The Art Of The Ninja - "don't Fight To Win A Fight!" [print this page] When most people think about the concepts of fighting or self defense, they usually divide themselves into two general groups those who believe in the strike first strike hard, school of thought, and those who take the more spiritual turn the other cheek approach. And, while both viewpoints do have their own merit, there is a problem inherent in each.
In the aggressive, fighter, mentality, the problem lies in the need for ego to always be competing to winning or being better than everyone else. Of course, from the Ninja's perspective, the aggressive fighter who relies on the conventional concepts of speed, strength, and force...
...shows his hand and gives away his every intention even before he moves.
The passive philosopher has an entirely different issue. While generally accepting and living in a way as to avoid conflict, this person lives in a state of deluded ignorance to the danger that lies in wait for just such an unsuspecting soul. And so, from this state of denial that says, that will never happen to me, the passive person easily falls victim to a dangerous attack, because nothing was done to prepare for the possibility.
From the Ninja's perspective, the goal is to live a quality, happy, and peaceful life one that allows for the appreciation of the finer things and the enjoyment of nature. However, the practitioner of Ninjutsu also understands and is fully aware of the potential for danger in the world.
While striving for peace, the Ninja also prepares for the necessity to protect the life that has been built.
But, this philosophy is much more than a good idea for living life it is also an advanced strategy in the Ninja's combat system.
The idea is that, if we fight like the aggressive fighter, exerting force to control the attacker that force can be used against us. Our opponent can sense and feel our intentions even before we physically attack with our body.
So, the Ninja borrows the lessons from the passive person's philosophy but applies them in a different way. Rather than choosing a fight or no-fight doctrine, the true warrior chooses to respond to the attacker's movement without the need to...
* fight back
* resist, or even...
* win!
This frees the Ninja to freely adapt to the aggressor's movements, to sense his intentions, and to take advantage of the spaces that the attacker creates with his own actions. This way, the attacker provides the means, direction, and opportunity for his own demise.
