| One of the key elements that separates
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| | such thing as a finite or limted list.
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| the Ninja's self-protection methods,
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| | That means that a Ninja, though he may
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| including the study of weapons like the
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| | say that he has '16 Body Weapons," the
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| Kubotan self-defense keychain, from many
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| | list that follows will always contain an
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| other approaches to self-defense training
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| | element that is open-ended. In the case
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| is the concept of "strategic thinking."
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| | of weapons, the "combination" class
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| And one of the ways that this important
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| | contains weapons that cross boundaries
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| mindset manifests is through the ability
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| | and bring together elements of two or
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| to see through the "form" to what's
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| | more of the preceding classes.
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| really going on.
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| | This classification includes weapons like
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| In the case of weapons training, the
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| | the spear and halberd (staff and bladed
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| Ninja aspirant works to see any
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| | weapons), nunchaku (although NOT a Ninja
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| particular weapon, not as a specific
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| | weapon, is a bringing together of the
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| weapon limited to a certain form and
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| | stick and flexible classes), and even the
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| function, but as a model for the use of
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| | secret Ninja weapon known as the
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| any other weapon or object of similar
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| | Kyoketsu-shoge (a double-bladed knife
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| shape and size. An example of this might
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| | connected to a metal ring by a 12 - 18
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| be to see a knife, not just as a knife,
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| | foot section of rope - combining elements
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| but as a sword with an extremely short
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| | of the bladed, flexibles and projectile
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| blade. Or to "see" a cane or short-stick
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| | classes.
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| weapon as a sword without an edge. This
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| | Since this article focuses on the
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| alternate "sight" allows the Ninja
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| | self-defense keychain weapon, we'll stay
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| warrior to expand his or her knowledge
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| | within the "stick" classification. In a
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| and options and employ the weapon in ways
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| | recent seminar that I taught, focusing on
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| that confuse and surprise their attacker.
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| | the use of the Kubotan self-defense
|
| It also vastly expands the number of
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| | keychain, students were able to see,
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| techniques and options at the Ninja's
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| | first-hand, how this strategy works in
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| disposal.
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| | the real world. After learning some basic
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| Instead of making a list of all of the
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| | techniques with the actual Kubotan
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| weapons that might be contained within a
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| | weapon, my students were shown a variety
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| certain "style" of training, the Ninja
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| | of every day items that could be used as
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| instead employs a system by which all
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| | substitutes for the actual, "official"
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| weapons are placed into 5 basic
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| | weapon.
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| classifications. These classifications
| |
| | Students found that such common,
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| are:
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| | easy-to-find items, like:
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| 1. Bladed - Including swords, knives, and
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| | 1. Rulers...
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| even broken bottles. Anything that
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| | 2. Pens...
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| "cuts."
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| | 3. Markers...
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| 2. Stick - Including staffs, staves,
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| | 4. Lipstick cases...
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| canes, shorter sticks, and even items
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| | 5. Small flashlights
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| like rolled up magazines and umbrellas.
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| | ...and even parts of other weapons like
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| Any item the "clubs."
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| | a...
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| 3. Flexible - This class of weapons
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| | 5. Knife pommel...
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| includes such weapons as chains, ropes,
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| | 6. Handgun grip, and...
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| and everyday items like belts and even
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| | 7. Weight of a kusari-fundo
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| open newspapers. The idea here is
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| | 'chain-weapon'
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| anything that can be manipulated to whip,
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| | Could all be brought into service in many
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| tie, and bind an opponent.
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| | of the same ways as the little weapon
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| 4. Projectile - Weapons that, in whole or
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| | they were learning to use.
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| in part, fly and allow the Ninja defender
| |
| | It is this concept of seeing the
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| to extend his or her ability to reach the
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| | "universality-of-technique" and
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| assailant across larger distances.
| |
| | application that gives the Ninja
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| Traditional weapon in this catagory
| |
| | practitioner seemingly magical abilities,
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| include the bow and arrow, spears and
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| | not just when using a weapon like the
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| javelins, shuriken ("throwing stars") and
| |
| | Kubotan, but in all areas, that makes
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| blowgun darts. Modern equivalants to
| |
| | them stand-apart from the conventional
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| these are the gun, certain throwing
| |
| | tactics, techniques, and strategies being
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| knives and blades, and even items like
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| | used by most fighters, martial artists,
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| drink coasters, ashtrays and tea saucers,
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| | and self-defense students.
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| and coins.
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| | The key to success, in any field, is not
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| And...
| |
| | limited by what you know or have But, in
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| 5. Combination - The greatest thing about
| |
| | how you apply it that makes the
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| the Ninja mindset is that there is NO
| |
| | difference.
|
