| One of the more unique aspects of the Ninja's | | | | about their own internal state - until that state is |
| self-protection and life mastery arts is the | | | | extreme. Instead of being able to monitor their |
| concept of kamae. Often referred to as stances, | | | | moment-to-moment state and "condition," the |
| the shinobi warrior's body postures are much | | | | average person - martial artists included - is left |
| more dynamic and "alive" than the fixed fighting | | | | feeling like they have absolutely no control over |
| positions found in the more conventional martial | | | | their emotional or psychological state due to this |
| arts systems. | | | | complete lack of self-awareness. |
| This article explores the concept of kamae from | | | | And, this is where the kamae of Ninjutsu come in. |
| an often overlooked perspective - a perspective | | | | Studying these seemingly basic pieces of the |
| which removes the Ninja's "postures" from being | | | | self-defense puzzle, unlocks for the astute |
| merely martial arts stances - and extends them | | | | student, the understanding that you are much |
| to become tools for all aspects of your life! After | | | | more than an unrelated construct of body "parts," |
| reading this article, you will have a better idea of | | | | mental "images," and emotional "feelings." |
| why the Ninja do not use the term "stances" | | | | By coming to recognize the connection between |
| when referring to their body postures. | | | | these three aspects of our being, the Ninja is far |
| While kamae can be translated as "posture," | | | | more capable of adjusting to the ever changing |
| "attitude," etc., the idea of kamae is much deeper | | | | conditions, impulses, and input that reaches us. By, |
| than the obvious, self defense applications that | | | | "being aware of our condition," we can adjust |
| everyone seems to be focused on. In fact, | | | | much more quickly - and much more effectively - |
| kamae is a life-lesson, not merely something used | | | | to what comes at us from both within ourselves, |
| for self defense. | | | | and from the world around us. |
| Another way to look at the body postures of | | | | The serious student comes to find that the idea |
| Ninjutsu, is from an attitude of "self-awareness." | | | | of kamae is much more than just a physical thing |
| What I mean by this is that, based on the way | | | | that we do with our body - much more than just |
| you are "hard-wired," at a very deep level, your | | | | a part of the Ninja's self defense method. You will |
| body is an outward reflection of what is going on | | | | find that the study of kamae will unlock a whole |
| "inside." Literally, your body "tells" on you. | | | | new world of possibility and potential into the |
| Unfortunately, the average person is not only | | | | Ninja's Mikkyo mind-science studies, and into the |
| unaware of what is being communicated to them | | | | realm of our own spirit and ability to produce the |
| from others, but they are also nearly oblivious | | | | kind of results we want in our lives. |