| One of the most common statements that I hear | | | | Okay? |
| from both Ninjutsu students, as-well-as those | | | | The question is: "What kind of punch are you |
| training in other 'traditional' forms of martial arts is, | | | | most likely to deal with - to have thrown at you - |
| "I'm not looking for modern self defense | | | | during a street fighting or street self defense |
| techniques. I'll just stick to the classical approach." | | | | situation?" |
| This article addresses several flaws in this | | | | A karate front punch? |
| approach to real-world self defense training in the | | | | A ninpo-taijutsu "tsuki?" |
| 21st century. | | | | A White Crane Kung-fu finger-tip strike? |
| After you've finished reading this article, your job | | | | Nope. |
| will be to assess, with a critical eye, your current | | | | A good old right-cross! |
| training, and more importantly, your understanding | | | | That's not my opinion. That's the cold, hard reality |
| of that training, to see whether or not you are | | | | of today's world! |
| really prepared to protect yourself against a real | | | | And, this isn't an argument over me telling you |
| attack, from a real attacker, in today's real world | | | | that you should train in my system - an |
| - and NOT 16th century Japan, Korea, China, or | | | | ego-based idea that says that, "If I do it, then it's |
| wherever your art originated! | | | | right, and you should be doing the same thing" - |
| Please know that I am not criticizing any style of | | | | but rather a lesson that comes from experience |
| martial arts, or approach to self defense. What I | | | | knowing what happens on the street. Because, if |
| am driving at, is the need to see beyond the | | | | you don't know what it's really like inside of a real |
| "models" that were passed down from ancient | | | | attack - not a sport or competition setting that's |
| times, and be able to see how the lessons - the | | | | loaded with rules and safety measures - then you |
| principles and concepts - that the models are | | | | can never know if what you're learning will actually |
| teaching, would, should, and could be applied today. | | | | work outside of the dojo, dojang, or self defense |
| It's one thing to be able to execute your art's | | | | class! |
| snapping, front punch, or in the case of the | | | | Do you understand? |
| modern Ninjutsu student's so-called "classical" tsuki | | | | Do you get the significance of this apparently |
| (pronounced: 'ski'), which was originally designed to | | | | simple, little lesson? |
| be effective while wearing, or while dealing with | | | | I hope so. Because, the question IS NOT: "Are |
| an opponent who was wearing ancient armor... | | | | you learning self defense?" |
| ...and being able to quickly, easily, and effectively | | | | The REAL question is... |
| punch a modern-day street thug who doesn't | | | | "While you're practicing against the "official," |
| care one iota about where you train, the art or | | | | "classical," and "proper" strikes from your martial |
| style that you have a Black Belt in, or where that | | | | arts' style... |
| style came from. Not one bit! | | | | ...are you learning how to not get your lights |
| The same thing goes for your defense tactics | | | | turned off by the guy who doesn't punch like |
| against a punch. | | | | they do in class?! |
| To illustrate this point, let me ask you a question. | | | | |