Learn Ninjutsu - Ninja Stars May Be Illegal Where You Live - But These Things Aren't!
With the realm of the ninja's self-protection methods
, there are an almost infinite number of weapons. One of these weapons, while not strictly limited to the martial art of ninjutsu is the shuriken - commonly known as the throwing star.And, while the history, development, and use of this effective weapon is nothing like the illusion that Hollywood has created around them, this has not prevented law-makers in many areas from buying into the illusion, and making this symbol of Japan's ancient shadow warriors illegal.
One of the questions that I get quite often from students who live in these areas is, "How can I train and develop my skills with the shuriken - one of the historical 8 "Gates," or minimum study and mastery areas required to be a Ninja - if they are not legal where I live?" What these well-meaning students are asking is, "What can I do, short of breaking the law, to avoid leaving a hole in my self-protection skills?"
The focus of this article is to take a look at modern equivalents to this age old weapon, and to dispel some of the myths and misconceptions that have grown up around it. For it's only when we can overcome what we think is true about a thing, can we bring ourselves closer to being able to use it with power and freedom.
Myths & Realities Regarding The Ninja Shuriken
Here are some of the reasons why the so-called "ninja star" has been made illegal in many areas. It is not the purpose of this article to discuss these myths and false-beliefs in any detail. Suffice it to say that if legislators used the same criteria, universally, as those used to decide the fate of this innocuous little tool - then we would also find that nails, kitchen knives, and ball-point pens would also be on the banned weapons lists!
Among the more common myths regarding the shuriken, you will encounter those that suggest that the "star":
1) Is a deadly weapon - when in fact it was a distraction tool
2) Was historically tipped with poison - as if a Ninja would carry poison-tipped weapons inside a jacket pocket that he ran the risk of sticking himself with during a roll or other maneuver! And...
3) Was sharpened to a razor's edge - again, as with the "poison" theory, handling sharpened steal with no handle for safety, increases the risk to the weapon's handler. Not to mention making it impractical to use the weapon in a hand-held fashion!
It's easy to see how, if we continue to focus on the object itself, we can feel limited in our ability to master our skills. However, if we remember that the Ninja tends to view his or her weapons - as with any technique or tool - as an example of principles and concepts, rather than as a specific object with a set form...
...we can break through to a better understanding of the fact that the shuriken, like any other weapon in the Ninja's arsenal, is really a model, or example, of a wide range of items which fit into a "strategic category."
With this in mind, the following is a partial list of common, everyday items that can be pressed into service in our defense should we find them readily at hand.
1) Cards (playing cards, business cards, credit cards, etc.)
2) Tea saucers and small ash trays
3) Drink coasters
4) Circular saw blades
5) Pens, pencils, nails, etc. (Remember, shuriken are not always "star" shaped!)
6) Calculators, video games cartridges, (and their cases!)
7) Floppy disks, DVDs, older cassette tapes
8) Wallets, cosmetic cases, checkbooks, etc.
9) Combs, brushes (tooth & hair), etc.
In fact, look around your house or office - open any drawer or cabinet - and look for anything small and flat (hira "flat" 'wheel-like' shuriken), or long and thin (bo "stick" shuriken). Look for any of these items that can be thrown or used hand-held to cut, scrape, gouge, puncture, or otherwise inflict enough damage, or fear of damage, so as to distract an assailant long enough for you to escape or employ a more powerful technique.
Remember, the ultimate origin of the shuriken can be found in the sticks and stones that early warriors picked up and threw at pursuing attackers or wild animals to give themselves the much-needed time to accomplish their task. It's only when we can see past the form of any weapon or technique, that we can find the true power which lies in what our Ninja ancestors passed down to us as one of the most powerful methods of self-protection and living a life of power, confidence, and control - that has ever been developed by man!
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