A Brief History of Ninpo (Ninpo Rekishi)
Hatsumi Sensei stresses that in Ninpo, there are no competitions, there are no rules or limitations on techniques, therefore, the art is very dangerous but the training is usually carried out in a friendly and relaxed manner. Hatsumi Sensei has also pointed out that as the Bujinkan becomes more international we must respect each other and strive to avoid taboos. We should always put self improvement and cooperation first for the betterment of the Bujinkan.
In the early spring of 1996 I met my first teacher, Dusty Miller. It was a chance encounter brought about by a brochure left in the reception area of the school where both of my daughters were enrolled in a gymnastics program. I had been looking for a martial art that encompassed more than simply the physical competition of a sport as well as something more than the sterile approach most teachers seem to use. I definitely wanted to avoid teachers who created little more than poorly trained assassins because they themselves had no grounding in the philosophy and spirit of their respective arts. It was clear from the very first meeting that Dusty was no ‘run of the mill martial-arts teacher’ and there was something much deeper and more profound about both the teacher and his art. He taught his students a distinctive way to tie their belts. The “kongo” or ‘diamond’ knot is a flat, four sided knot which does not come undone easily. We continue to use it because of it’s utilitarian design.
Where does Ninpo go from here and what is its role in the future of our world? A clue to this is provided by Hatsumi Sensei in the following quotes, “Ninpo is a living art - an art for one’s life, an art to live by, an art to preserve life and at the same time a fluid natural art.” and “The object is not to win or to become strong (once you do become strong and win, you realize just how vain an objective it was). Rather, it is to remain alive at the end.” Hatsumi Sensei has broadened Ninpo into Budo Taijutsu (warrior body movement) in the last few years to reflect a deeper meaning in our martial art. I think it is quite clear from these statements that the future of Budo Taijutsu is to build and grow by attracting people who are less interested in winning and losing and find those who want to truly involve themselves in the Budo life way.
This should all be done with a sense of wonder and happiness and I think this is best expressed by Takamatsu Sensei in the following quote, “The way to experience ultimate happiness is to let go of all worries and regrets and know that being happy is the most satisfying of life’s feelings. Reflect back on all the progress in your life and allow the positive, creative and joyous thoughts to outshine and overwhelm any sorrow or grief that may be lingering there in the recesses of your mind. Knowing that disease and disaster are natural parts of life is the key to overcoming adversity with a calm and happy spirit. Happiness is waiting there in front of you. Only you can decide whether or not you choose to experience it. Take this to heart.”
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