A ninjutsu perspective of shinkengata

By Wade Goodner -- 8th Dan Bujinkan Raiken Dojo Jonesboro, Georgia USA

Long ago in feudal Japan, when wars were plenty and one would be killed simply for not bowing low enough to a superior, martial arts were a necessity in order to stay alive. Even in times of "peace" it is also important to keep this same understanding that your life may be taken at any time--especially in an age where a simple twitch of the finger on a trigger can kill. Now-a-days you don't need any skill to take a life, but you still need these martial basics in order to protect your life and those of your loved ones.

One of the main points of ninjutsu is hiding. That is, hiding your technique, hiding your intention, hiding your skill to simplify the discussion. It would mean certain death for a martial artist of old to openly share his knowledge and strong techniques and weak points with another. This information could be used against him and this would be deadly. Of course now-a-days we are more relaxed and death does not come so close to us on a daily basis. This does not mean that the modern times are any less dangerous.

In competition, martial artists will get up and compete in front of the crowd and on T.V. in some cases (Olympics) to win the trophey. Yet, this is showing the world your best techniques. Anyone would be able to study your movements and defeat you the next time they fight you (or try to kill you).

Take sports, for example, teams always review the tapes of other teams so they will know what's coming when they meet on the field. They learn what pitches the hitters can and can't hit. This way they have an edge. If you don't know what's coming, you are at a disadvantage and may lose (or get killed). This is one reason the ninja never discussed techniques or showed another their sword.

The ninja sometimes did not have a normal katana. It was sometimes shorter than the normal length for quicker drawing in smaller spaces and the sheath was longer than the blade so secret documents or blinding powder could be carried in secret and used against and opponent when the sword was drawn. The opponent would never suspect.

"Fight to the death." I think that this is the only time your technique should be shown. I feel that it is important to be able to kill with your techniques--that's what they're for--killing!! Anyone who says otherwise isn't studying martial arts. I tell my students as I was taught by Grandmaster Hatsumi that your technique should be able to at least knock out your opponent and at most, kill him. Here we are assuming that the situation has progressed to a point where there are no other options to get away, talk the guy out of it, or hurt him and make him change his mind. I order for you to walk away you must stop his ability to kill you--in some way. This way of thinking is the basis for shinkengata.

If the opponent knows you are an budoka then he will arm himself and get more numbers and prepare for your defenses. If he thinks you will be another inncoent victim, then you have the advantage, but be careful!! We now live in a society which protects the victim and incarcerates those who enpower themselves and use that power to protect home, life, and freedom. Even though you saved your life by injuring, maiming, or killing your attacker you may still have your freedom and possessions stripped away from you in a civil law suit by the attacker's family!! It would not be hard to prove an excessive force case against the martial artist who has learned lethal techniques and controlling methods. The deck will be stacked against you. Is this what we're training for? Of course not. We must also be prudent with our knowledge. Hide it away until we must show what we must. Also, when you do show it. Make sure you have plenty of witnesses that will testify that you are the victim. You may even want to let him rough you up a bit and go to a doctor afterwards and let them take pictures. If you throw the guy around like Steven Seagal in his movies, they'll lock you away and throw away the key. Keep this in mind.

The next point is hiding your intention. Those out there who are businessmen and have attended long takeover meetings know the meaning of this. Don't let your opponent sense what you are going to do. Don't let those around you know either. Don't make your techniques pretty and clean and easy to see. You just told the whole world who and what you know. It is important to understand "otonashi no kamae." A position of no sound. Don't express anything. If you hit the opponent without the intention of hitting him, defend without the intention of defending, win by being natural and not trying to defeat--the opponent will never see what's coming. Neither will anyone else.

I often use the example of being in a bar fight and you clean out the bar with your skill. There is one man sitting in the corner watching you, studying you, not attacking, learning what you know so that he will best know how to attack you. If you hide your technique, intention and skill, he will be just as confused as the bozos you defeated. He will not have gained a thing by watching you. Hell, it may have just looked like a comedy of errors that you survived the bar brawl and he might get a laugh and go home--losing his drive to kill. Yet if he saw you have more skill and technique than he does, he may just pull out his semi-automatic and start shooting. . . .

Takamatsu-sensei, the 33rd Grandmaster of Togakure (hiding behind the door) Ryu Ninjutsu was once called the Mongolian Tiger because of his ability to defeat any opponent that faced him. When he returned to Japan and became and old man a co-worker taunted him saying he looks more like a housecat that a tiger. Takamatsu-sensei laughed with him and said that it was a good thing because women like to hold housecats in their laps.

Hope this post is helpful.