Learn Ninjutsu - Overcoming The "freeze-frame" Perspective When Learning Ninpo-taijutsu Self Defense

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One of the common misconceptions when it comes to the kamae

, or defensive postures, when trying to learn Ninjutsu is that the Ninja's combat positions are used the same way as the "stances" used in conventional martial arts. And nothing could be further from the truth.

This article discusses this concept using the ichimonji no kamae as an example, but after reading this article, you should be able to apply this principle to every aspect of your ninpo and budo taijutsu training!

When looking at the "defensive", or long range fighting postures contained within the Ninja's armed and unarmed combat method, a common question that comes up, from both students and outsides to the art, is:

"Isn't the lead leg open for and exposed to the danger of a sweep, or other kicking attack from the opponent?"
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And, while this is a valid point, the problem is a matter of perspective - not of application within the Ninja's self defense system. In fact, this same misguided perception can also be applied to the leading arm that is extended out toward the attacker when you're in and using these "profiled" postures.

The problem lies in the fact that many people have more experience with the conventional martial arts of karate, etc., or have done a fair amount of research and study using the aid of books, magazines, and even web pages.

And, again, the problem isn't in the learning from these sources, but rather in the belief that the still pictures are showing "static poses," rather than the reality that the camera has "frozen time" and stopped the motion of a very dynamic process. This would be like looking at the pictures in a sports magazine and developing the belief that a particular basketball player hovers around the court in the same position he's in in the photograph of him doing a slam dunk!

In actual training and application of technique using the Ninja warrior's kamae, the leg or other limbs are never vulnerable to attack, because they are not held in place as a target. The point is that we are always moving during a physical combat situation. And, since this misconception is born out of two fundamental perceptions -

One being that printed or still media, including pictures on a web page, cannot convey the idea of motion, and...

The other is that the uninformed and uninitiated observer makes the assumption that the Ninja self defense skills are used and applied in the very same way that they see other conventional martial systems being demonstrated - with a static or step-1, step 2, robot-like movement pattern.

Using the Ichimonji, Seigan, or Doko no kamae as examples - where the body is sideways and profiled to the attackers forward movement and attack direction, we can see that when the body is in motion, the leg is not an easy target to attack.

Even from what appears to be a "static" pose, where the Ninja combatant is holding his or her position momentarily to control the attacker's decision-making process, the body alignment, balance, and dynamic nature of the joints while in kamae is such that the body has more of a feel of "floating" or "hovering" in place, rather than standing relaxed and still.

In this state, the limbs are easily moved to avoid any attempt at striking or grabbing.

by: Jeffrey Miller

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