Ninjas are Bullshit! Mind of the Ninja & the Bujinkan Martial Arts Cult.

Now I want to make a statement, a disclaimer really, that not everyone in the Bujinkan is a Martial Arts Cultist. Many do not teach their art with religious under tones or Shinto prayers to Takamatsu. However, many do and it has largely always been that way. It is not uncommon to see this in any Asian Martial Arts, Chinese as well as Korean, arts as well. Even traditional Muay Thai has certain religious undertones and rituals from Buddhism that come from Thai culture. However, very few people I know who studied Mauy Thai in the states learned it as a Traditional Martial Art, with said additional cultural traditions attached. Nor, do these people practice any of the cultural aspects of their arts, with a claim secret mystical knowledge or power.

Regardless, we are now going to examine the book Mind of the Ninja... A reflection of the philosophical and religious teachings within the Bujinkan. As well as providing proof that Hatsumi taught incorrect, dare I say knowingly false information, to Western Bujinkan artists.

Years ago as a teenager, I got a copy of Mind of the Ninja by Kirkland C. Peterson. And it had some nice photos and lots of information pertaining to Japanese Historical Documents like the Bansenshukai which only recently in the last few years have become available to the English speaking public at large. As Book of the Ninja by Anthony Cummins and the Historical Ninjutsu Research Team. Shows that many of the statements made by Kirkland Peterson (attributed to either Hayes or Hatsumi) about the Bansenshukai are outright false, including comparisions to historical and new age occult texts.

Since then it is now far easier to see the problems with the book & Hatsumi...
1. The author had bad information from Hatsumi or others within the Bujinkan to explain meditative training, religious indoctrination and unverified claims.
2. That false claims about historical documents, then (1986) were only available in Japanese. So its easy to tell someone who doesn't speak Japanese, especially 17th century Japanese, a historical document says something it doesn't. They can't tell the difference anyway... (makes you wonder why they took cursive out of school right?)
3. That Hatsumi was not completely honest with the Americans who came to him to learn authentic "Ninjutsu." Worse yet is that this isn't something that can be passed off on Takamatsu. Takamatsu taught Hatsumi "Ninpo" but, Hatsumi knew the truth about what was in the documents, and told people who wouldn't know the difference lies, untruths and falsehoods about said historical document.

There is some good information here but it is watered down with propaganda and, bad pop psychology from the 80s. Best of all it shows why Ninjas are Bullshit!

Here is a little page talking about the philosophical aspects of darkness. The Ninja retaining the "Inner Light" when doing dark deeds. For the most part I don't disagree with the little information shown here.

 Here we see a nice piece of fluff dedicated to countering the arguments of other writers in This particular case the "unmentioned author" is in fact Ashida Kim. Since Ashida, makes reference to similar skills among different groups throughout history Indians and similar, he opens the door to not only examine the core methods of his ninjutsu but, provides the reader with other places to seek additional knowledge...

So Kirkland Peterson, seems to be trying to discredit the additional references for study. Even as the argument goes, Mr. Peterson seems to be making an argument for limited knowledge to a particular school (the Bujinkan) & ignoring the other sources of viable information and historical references.

More so, Kirkland seems to dismiss the idea that nature (the universe of you will) is the source of stealth since all stealth is based on an understanding of nature and natural orders within it... This would seem to be a counter-argument to the Bujinkan's own Gotonpo methods of Intonjutsu.

Here is another interesting reference to the propaganda passed off as history by the Bujinkan. Above 'The "Unimpressive" Ninja' heading we see a reference to Ninjutsu as a martial art, comparing it to Karate and stating you have to unlearn certain habits.

I always found it laughable that a trained fighter would have to unlearn what is natural to him or her to learn "natural body movements." Its like citing Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do philosophy about avoiding fixed positions and movements but, ignoring that the body and mind are so conditioned that responses are ingrained habits. Thus, one doesn't need to unprogram reflexes but, to recondition them to be fluid and reflexive.

More so, under heading  'The "Unimpressive" heading we see an argument that only Hayes and Hatsumi are the legitimate sources of information. That ignoring them, means one is ignoring true and complete information.

Hayes is responsible for nothing bit relaying what he was taught by Hatsumi. Hatsumi however, began claiming his secret ninja teachings along side Takamatsu. Who was often known to exaggerate, embellish and outright lie. More so, as you will see later on, Hatsumi has made outright false statements about Historical Documents. This destroys any claims of credibility with the English Translations of said Historical documents.

Above the heading 'The "Outdated" Ninja' Kirkland makes a very lacking argument that those "other authorities" compare ninjutsu to other and similar systems. He says this is to confuse the issue but, in truth he is avoiding the logical application of clarifying any skills.

For example, the ninja used a method of starting a fire in a hole and covering the hot coals with dirt to have a warm place to sleep in colder climates. The North American Tribes such as the Sioux and others extending into Canada used this same method for scouts and braves who needed to move fast and carry little to no shelter. By comparing these methods we find that the ninja and the tribal scouts used the same methods. This means that it is an effective survival camping method to be used in the field.

Yet, under the Heading 'The "Outdated" Ninja' we see a reference to (once again martial arts) this time describing the defense of avoiding the attack with a sideways handspring... This section also talks about "techniques and stances that are mismatched with the realities of the twentieth century." I mentioned some of the issues with Ichimonji no Kamae, and the claim that no one can hit you with a reverse punch if you are standing in Ichimonji no Kamae at a 45 degree angle to the center of the opponents body. However, the issue of both a matter triangulation (angles) and rotation of the body to drive the reverse hand to the target. And explained on This Blog.

Ultimately, its an argument for large and exaggerated stances and strikes that are not explosive. Which is why Fujita Seiko favored Okinawan Karate and Kobudo over Japanese Koryu Arts, in part by his Soke status of Na Ban Sato Ryu Kenpo which was a modern (gendai) Japanese version of Okinawan Te or Okinawan Karate. So who is a superior Source of Knowledge of Ninjutsu, Fujita Seiko or Massaki Hatsumi..?

It all depends on the researcher and observer to decide for himself. This decision must be based on research and understanding of history and facts. Ultimately, evidence proves that Takamatsu and Hatsumi plagiarized hostorical documents and attempted to reference Fujita's own research to invent Togakure Ryu Ninpo Taijutsu.

Here are two images from Kirkland Peterson's Mind of The Ninja addresses the "Bible of Ninjutsu" the Bansenshukai. Translated as "Ten Thousand River Flow Into The Sea." The Bansenshukai was translated by Anthony Cummins and The Historical Ninjitsu Research Team as The Book of the Ninja.

Now in examining the page below, Peterson makes reference to the Ninja's Spiritual Purity and the Bansenshukai as a reference to a historical text. A text that we now know has no mention of anything Spiritual. This is only a Smaller example of a considerable whole...

Here we see a closer examination with Kirkland mentioning references to Hayes and the Bansenshukai. More so, Mind of the Ninja states that the third chapter of the Bansenshukai where it references Yo-nin. Now we know thanks to the historic Ninjutsu Research Team, we know the characters refer to "hiding in or under light" (plain sight) and not some quasi-mystical teaching.

Kirkland Peterson's whole text, actually convolutes the Matter. The matter being that of culture and context which Mr. Peterson's argument lack. However, I will clear this up. The Taoist ideas of the Tao (way) being a whole of two parts, opposing forces of Yin and Yang. You see when the Bansenshukai was written Japan was separate from China govermentally, and culturally but the Nationalist influence of the 1920s to 40s that shapes modern Japanese culture didn't exist and what Mr. Peterson wrote is wrong... Because, in the context of the time most knowledge in Japan was drawn from Chinese Sources and people often referenced China to seem more creditable.

In Japan, the Tao is used at the end of word and Spelled in English as -do, such as Aikido, Judo and Karatedo. The Do is made up of two opposing forces In and Yo. This concept isn't taken from Chinese influence, it is Chinese cultural influence used to discribe two opposing view points on Performing spy craft... Both just as valuable and necessary as the other.

Here Peterson writes incorrectly,
"The next volume, Yo-nin takes a step into the more philosophical, aspects of Ninjutsu. It deals with the yo (yogi in Chinese), or masculine, bright and firm side of the ninjas power. "

Pick up a copy of The Book of Ninja by Anthony Cummins and Yoshie Minami and the sections on In-nin deal with essentially breaking in and sneaking past guards. Those of Yo-nin talk about psychological manipulation, disguise and similar. In fact Kirkland makes other claims to mystical ninja teachings in historical documents that is also outright false.

If you look above you see another whole page dedicated to the Bansenshukai. It references making poisons, medicine and a variety of tools in majority of the text above. Then you read the first line under the Heading Cryptic and Poetic Secrets & see that here Kirkland refers to the Bamsenshukai (a document only recently made available to the west) as a source of "Poetic and Cryptic Secrets" and that Kirkland goes on to state the Bansenshukai is a text like the Tibetan Book of the Dead or the secret teachings of the sorcerer Duan Juan. In the section above Kirkland even compares the Bansenshukai to the I-Ching of Chinese history falsely claiming the information on moon phases, navigation by the stars and weather forecasting are used in mutual context (for divination of the future). The I-Ching referenced above is a Ancient Chinese Manual on Predicting the Future. The Tibetan Book of the Dead is religious text in Tibetan Buddhism with deals primarily with levels of human consciousness & meditations on what happens after one's death. The The Secret Teachings of the Sorcerer Duan Juan is book based on the Master Thesis of Carlos Castaenda in 1968 about his apprenticeship with a self-proclaimed Yaqui Sorcerer named Don Juan, the text deals with using Hallucinogenic plants to speak with spirits, divination  using lizards and similar shamanic practices. These metaphysical and mystical teachings  do appear in some lesser known ninja documents that have been translated by Anthony and Yoshie, however they are not found in the Bansenshukai.

Using Kirkland Peterson's own argument that it is "wrong" to compare Ninjutsu to similar methods by other cultures outside of Japan which operate on the same basic physical principles. How much more wrong is it for Kirkland Peterson to claim that the Bansenshukai (at the time unavailable to the West) is comparable to books (then available)  that addressed Mystical and Metaphysical teachings which not alike or have any cultural roots to unite them...

Thus, we clearly see that Kirkland Peterson's Mind of the Ninja is not much different from many other New Age texts trying to reveal some secret teachings about the universe... This is the pseudo- mystical teachings of Asian culture which Count Dante detested.

Speaking of Dante, lets address one of his students (if only briefly) Ashida Kim. Kirkland Peterson's Mind of the Ninja is about 1/3 of which dedicated to attacking Ashida Kim. Ashida Kim who is never named but, many times referenced was even imitated in the Book and referred to as the Terrorist Ninja.

Here Peterson makes a pretty good argument for the the Terrorist acts of the past, and the association with the ninja. Unfortunately, again thanks to the ethical research on the part of Anthony Cummins and Yoshie MInami as well as others, we know the ninja were historically known to commit the very Terrorist Acts that Peterson describes...

Political Assassinations, taking Hostages and while Peterson mentioned car bombs, the historical shinobi didn't have cars, they were known to poison enemy supplies or burn down buildings without regard for the bystanders within, much to the same effect. In view of such actions the Shinobi\Ninja could be considered terrorists.

This is the problem with Peterson's context in full, the ninja were also Samurai. Samurai Special Forces to be exact. Such actions were taken as part of the mission in the context of a warring states period. The historical ninja, was viewed with disgust by the modern Japanese, as terrorists and in modern media portrayed as magicians (evil sorcerers was another historic portrayal of the ninja).

And Kirkland, did not miss a chance to make his Jab at Ashida Kim... Using staged pictures to let us all know we he was talking about. I call this Bujinkan Propaganda to attack their competition and spread the New Age Mystical Ninja Religion.

 Ninja Mind Prob... If this was meant to be the Kata Dante... He did it wrong?

I don't know... Ninja squat?

Somehow I see this and think Ninja Stage Magician in Vegas...

Ok I have no issue with the stab him in the neck from behind part... A reference to Ashida Kim's Book Secrets of the Ninja and Ashida Kim's (more historically accurate) partial of ninjutsu as an espionage based system.  I don't know What the Hell is with that shuriken pose?

Another bad attempt at imitating Ashida Kim badly. More Sentry Removal skills.

And, he is posing with a sword and a mask.

Finally, we have to ask are people like Don Roley who claim to be researchers and translating Fujita Seiko's books, as well as Phillip T. Hanover who wrote Fujita Seiko: The Last Koga Ninja (both connected to the Bujinkan) doing so to spread the cult like teachings within the Bujinkan?

This produces another issue within the Ninjutsu Community. So much disinformation has been spread and lies that no one is really worth believing... Another reason why Ninjas & Ninjutsu is Bullshit...

Go back and read:
Ninjas are Bullshit: The Root of the Problem &
Ninjas are Budo! Black Dragon Ninjitsu & Omoto Ryu Budo

Note: As I no longer own Mind of the Ninja,  all images were provided by a friend.

Stalking & Harassment 2: The Pattern of Behavior expanded

This is a Continuation of Stalking & Harassment: A Pattern of Behavior examined where I showed the intent of the "Internet Trolls" like Phil Elmore, Don Roley & Barron Shepherd to harass and stalk me. Some may not know this but these same clowns even tried to become involved in my legal cases, of which I had all charges dropped. While Phil has been careful to not go out of his way to exaggerate claims into the grounds of slander, Barron and Don Roley have not...

Regardless of me and my own agitations, it doesn't take a lot to see a pattern develop. When I first started "fighting back" online and even now people told me I was being too negative. Perhaps, but you fight back, you don't back down... Bullies are the same regardless. After Paper Tigers & Ducking Dragons 8, I received a message across facebook. Now Paper Tigers & Ducking Dragons 8 showed Trition D. Smith using the image of a former Dux Ryu student, trained under Sky Benson, defending Barron Shepherd backing out of a challenge to me. Stalking & Harassment showed how Barron was dead set on trying to entangle me in legal troubles, rather then face me directly. Quite simply put these "people" exist only to harass and defame other martial artists to push their products.

Here is one example;

This is only one example of the Harassment that someone faced, harassment they chose to protect their students from. I am in some ways lucky, part of what is claimed about me is true. I have been arrested a lot but, all but five charges were dismissed by the state without a battle in court, many times the charges were to push threats and intimidation by police officer who were themselves corrupt and criminal. So what? Some online ass clown talks trash and tries to ruin my business? Perhaps they seek to harass me into committing suicide like Dan Harmon?

Now Dan Harmon is an example of a person who was mentally ill. Dan lied and made up stories because he wanted be more then just who he was... He wanted to be respect, admired and loved. He made the mistake of thinking he needed some external source for this... He didn't.

He didn't have a teacher or the money to get a lot of training in "ninjutsu." What he developed on his own, was his own concoction from many different sources, he told stories and such. Cool... I really don't see a problem with developing your own style. The reality is it doesn't matter if you learn martial arts off YouTube or in a Dojo, it is what you do with the information that matters. Do you think a mugger cares if you stop with a self-defense technique you learn from online, a book or in school with a proven line to some ancient master?

Does it matter if the guy or gal who kicks your ass trained in his garage or in dojo? Do you know how many legitimate Karate black belts with lineage going back to Funakoshi himself, who have told me stories about fighting in Karate in Japan and they have never been out of the country? Too many... I know qualified and legitimate martial artists with made up stories of secret kumite and claims of being street fighters with no proof & just weren't the type. The type of person who is a Street Fighter is either crazy or near suicidal by the way.

I remember a story Where at a Tai Kai Event Hatsumi called a man in stage to help him demonstrate a technique and the man stated his rank was "Soke" and Hatsumi addressed him with the respect of calling him "Soke." I remember watching Ashida Kim dealing with other self-proclaimed masters who he addressed then with the same respect and often "traded ninja secrets" with them, often helping them to develop better techniques and skills. Many times looking back, I often wonder to myself if he ever did this with me... Playing the role of the "secret teacher." Dan Harmon would have no doubt fallen into this category with me and many, many others over the years. Karl Jung would have referred to this as the Wise Old Man & in some ways the Trickster. Regardless, Ashida Kim did show me a different way of looking the phrase "When the student is ready the master will appear." Masters appear to us in all ways of life and we often never know it.

Being blunt, terms like Shihan, Hanshi, Sensei and so on all sound awesome Master, Grandmaster & Teacher sounds authoritative but what do they mean? No not the dictionary meaning but context. They are ranks right? Sergeant sounds impressive but what does it mean, it is a rank right? So colored belts show rank and have titles to go along with them that context. I person ranked as a black belt in BJJ shouldn't have to prove himself or herself by breaking bricks like a Karate or Tae Kwon Do belt. Two different systems with two different ranks, its not about rank it is about the knowledge. Rank is dependent on the system involved and nothing more. So Dan Harmon invented a history and invented a rank to rank himself... Did that mean that he was to be harassed, threatened and mentally abused to the point of ending his own life?

This is an ongoing pattern of abuse, threats and intimidation designed to do one thing and one thing only... Harass people into dropping the term "Ninjutsu" so that the Bujinkan is free to sell their products alone. Dan Harmon didn't sell books or Home Study Courses like I do... He doesn't run a company like Shadow Warrior Publishing, like I do. No what Dan Harmon did was more painful to the Bujinkan bottom line... He put out free information online, he made commercials for non-existent course he was in the process of making and they looked pretty good given the low quality but still it looks remarkably like the other non-contact, non-sparring instructional videos produced by the Bujinkan.

My concern isn't what the Bujinkan is doing, I don't like what they do... So what, I don't have to. My concern wasn't that Dan Harmon had a mental illness or lied about is past. My concern is that psychological abuse in the name of a bottom line against a person with mental illnesses is akin to beating up a man in a wheelchair or (sorry for my blatant masculine bias but) beating women.

Unlike my cited friend above, I am lucky in that I don't have a school or students to protect and don't have to "nut ride" or attack others to sell products. In fact, I am simple... I hate bullies. Anyone who knew me in grade school will tell you I was often fighting bigger kids, not to protect myself but to protect other kids. Someone, who said many of my posts seem negative dealing with this drama and BS asked me how I would convince parents that I was qualified to teach their kids to warriors and, I will end this blog with that answer...

I don't want to teach anyone's kids, my own if I had any, to be warriors. Teaching children to be warriors is akin to raising child soldiers. I will teach kids to be fighters but not warriors. Being a warrior is not about how brave you are or how strong you are. Its not about your tradition or system. Being a warrior is about one thing, the belief that you have to stand up for those who can't. Sure this crap is negative and it is something I rather not be typing about or people I don't want to deal with... However, I'm taking it upon myself to do so. Not because of being a warrior or any martial arts stuff I learned, not because I am defending my business. I'm dealing with this because I am worried about the next person driven to suicide by mental illness and the harassment of so called Martial Arts Instructors.

What happens when the next person to be driven to that point is a teenage kid with ninja fantasies to escape abuse and violence at him? Rather then having someone ease them into real world and helping them to better themselves they just get pushed further by so called fraud busters online. So if being a Warrior means, standing up for those who cannot themselves stand up... I guess I'm warrior but like many things in my life, I'm not the best man for the job, I'm the guy who showed up cause their was no one else... I'm not a warrior, I am just that guy.

Update: 4/18/2016

After speaking with someone about what happened to Don Harmon, I decided to "go back in time" to an earlier blog about this same issue... Fake Koga Ryu Ninjutsu & The Events Leading to Dan Harmon's Death. In that blog I posted three images, two dealing with the statement's of another martial arts group on facebook talking about those who harassed Dan Harmon and pushed him too far.

It is plain to see that these alleged instructors and martial artists are nothing more then corrupt businessmen. Frauds and cowards devoted to harassing anyone who might be competition for them, even if they are fakes and frauds... Even now I have gotten several anonymous text message from 1-916-216-9579, each message contains insults, threats and in some cases images trying to insult me or make me feel bad about myself... May be they just want to make me mad, sitting behind their computer screens laughing at how they've "pissed me off."

I've fought through more then cowards like you all could ever deal with and I doubt any of you are strong enough to face the same challenges I have overcome. Its very sad and pathetic, this is the very best in mental abuse these cowards can offer...

Really all you did is a get chuckle out of me,.. LMFAO WTF are you trying to do..?

The Failure of Martial Arts... Martial Arts Cults

Arbitrary
adjective

1. subject to individual will or judgment without restriction; contingent solely upon one's discretion:

an arbitrary decision.

 

For a few days I been having fun Ninja Quest a facebook group because the group's "owner" wanted me to sack things up and I'm bored at the moment so I did. One of the things that cause quite a stir was that I do not believe in the Bujinkan's lineage and along other things some lies I told in the past. Of course that's only because without proof of the Bujinkan lineage, they boiled down to person attacks and even outright lies. There used to a video of me admitting to such on a 2010 video on YouTube but, my old buddy Phil Failure had it taken down for copyright infringement. Either way, I once again stated I lied about being a Force Recon Marine and actually explained why. Origonally, to one up some troll giving bad advice in an online forum, then people started demanding proof. What is funny is that no one can support their own claims and expects others to account for everything when they themselves can't. But this comes back to what martial arts are and, what we pretend them to be...

 

From Wikipedia (it'll get the job done in this case): Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practices, which are practiced for a variety of reasons: self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, entertainment, as well as mental, physical, and spiritual development.

 

Notice the word entertainment? Yes, that refers to martial arts schools that are basically baby sitters for children. Many people like to point to Tae Kwon Do, but having leaved in Tongduchon South Korea for 3 years I have a bit better understanding why this is the case in tae kwon do. It is the national sport of South Korea, all young men at 18 are required to serve in the military & they teach them a more combat oriented version of tae kwon do in the military. It is a nation under constant threat of war with its counter-part North Korea.

 

Regardless we often pretend martial arts are more then they are, as belonging to a martial arts organization will make better or special in some way. I love people who study arts claiming to be of the samurai or ninja and claiming to be warriors. Its like saying that if you learn Navy SEAL hand-to-hand combat, you are a  Navy SEAL. What you choose to study and why is completely arbitrary, based on your own choice. I've along ago abandoned any hopes of finding a legitimate ninjutsu school with a proven lineage. Why because no such school exists, what one finds instead is schools claiming to offer you "ninja secrets" but only want to teach you jujutsu/taijutsu instead. Oh and my favorite that ninjutsu is "esoteric." Meaning given only to a rare few or practiced by a select group...

A big problem with those claims and the martial arts in general is that martial arts behave more like a cult, especially when no one else can use the cult's "catch phrase" in the case of the Bujinkan that catch phrase is "ninjutsu."

From Cult Watch: http://www.cultwatch.com/cultic-warning-signs.html

Cultic warning signs     

Here are some example of what Cultwatch believes represents mind control and cult warning signs:

• Single charismatic leader.
• People always seeming constantly happy and enthusiastic. Especially if you discover that they have been told to act that way for the potential new recruits.
• Instant friends.
• If you are told who you can or cannot talk to or associate with.
• They hide what they teach.
• Say they are the only true group, or the best so why go anywhere else.
• Hyped meetings, get you to meetings rather than share with you.
• Experiential rather than logical.
• Asking for money for the next level.
• Some cults travel door to door during times when women are home alone. They, and this is rather sexist, think that women are easier to recruit and once they have the woman then it will be easier to snare the husband or partner.
• Saying that they have to make people pay for it because otherwise they will not appreciate it. This is of course a very silly reason, plenty of people are able to appreciate things which they did not pay for.
• They do not allow their teachings or practices to be questioned. If you question, then automatically the group assumes that something is wrong with you. It can never be the case that anything is wrong with the group’s practices or teachings. Often they will try to shut you down by accusing you of having a “bad attitude”.
• They will push you to obey by using guilt. They will demand complete “submission” to the group, its leaders and its teachings. They will do this by making you feel absolutely rotten about yourself. They will ridicule you and attack any weakness you might have (or invent weaknesses you might have if they can’t find any). Their goal is to break your will by causing you mental anguish.

So if we look at any martial art out there do they claim a single charismatic leader? Certainly, the Bujinkan claims Hatsumi is the one true Soke. How about students or instructors who seem always constantly happy and enthusiastic? Instant friends? Has anyone ever been told been told who they can or can't associate with? "Stay away from Koga Ryu they are all fakes" perhaps...? I know both times I stepped in a Bujinkan Dojo they were pretty much everything sucks but us. Do they hide what they teach? Well if you joined the Bujinkan because they advertised ninjitsu out the ass, only to be told its me esoteric knowledge, that's a yes... Does the Bujinkan claim to be the only source of ninjutsu? You bet they do... Over hyped claims about training and events... I think I will refer to the two videos below.

 

Video 1: Hatsumi Tougher Bujinkan Training Days

Here we see a younger Rchard Van Donk and Hatsumi training in Japan. These are the tougher days look a lot like more modern and, with this being the "tougher training days," relaxed training days. Which prompted this video by a YouTuber named Bujinkult... Is the Bujinkan a scam.

Warriors... effective techniques... secret ninja arts... or just martial arts, good or bad I'll let you decide.

 

Do they claim you need to experience it? Who has ever questioned the Bujinkan and been told to train in it? That's what it means when we get to, experiential rather than logical, on our list. Asking for money for the next level? Ok all martial art do that, so we may be can let that ne slide. Saying that they have to make people pay for it because otherwise they will not appreciate it? Again all martial arts make you pay, what matters is do you get what you paid for. How about, they do not allow their teachings or practices to be questioned? If you question, then automatically the group assumes that something is wrong with you. It can never be the case that anything is wrong with the group’s practices or teachings. Often they will try to shut you down by accusing you of having a “bad attitude”. That ever happen to anyone? You can look at the Ninja Quest RC vs PDF to see just that even going so far as to lie d exaggerate to attack my character. I was quite clever to add some spice (an incomplete listing of my ranks achieved I limited myself to "ninjutsu") to make sure Phil Failmore will spread it around. And last on that list, they will push you to obey by using guilt. They will demand complete “submission” to the group, its leaders and its teachings. They will do this by making you feel absolutely rotten about yourself. They will ridicule you and attack any weakness you might have (or invent weaknesses you might have if they can’t find any). Their goal is to break your will by causing you mental anguish.

 

Rick Ross from the Cult Warning Signs Institute lists those warning signs as;

Ten warning signs regarding people involved in/with a potentially unsafe group/leader.

1. Extreme obsessiveness regarding the group/leader resulting in the exclusion of almost every practical consideration.
2. Individual identity, the group, the leader and/or God as distinct and separate categories of existence become increasingly blurred. Instead, in the follower's mind these identities become substantially and increasingly fused--as that person's involvement with the group/leader continues and deepens.
3. Whenever the group/leader is criticized or questioned it is characterized as "persecution".
4. Uncharacteristically stilted and seemingly programmed conversation and mannerisms, cloning of the group/leader in personal behavior.
5. Dependency upon the group/leader for problem solving, solutions, and definitions without meaningful reflective thought. A seeming inability to think independently or analyze situations without group/leader involvement.
6. Hyperactivity centered on the group/leader agenda, which seems to supercede any personal goals or individual interests.
7. A dramatic loss of spontaneity and sense of humor.
8. Increasing isolation from family and old friends unless they demonstrate an interest in the group/leader.
9. Anything the group/leader does can be justified no matter how harsh or harmful.
10. Former followers are at best-considered negative or worse evil and under bad influences. They can not be trusted and personal contact is avoided.

So with all this addressed don't think my picking on the Bujinkan is just limited to them. I think the Bujinkan is a cult, plain and simple. I do want address what Black Dragon Ninjitsu is however, firstly I use the term ninjitsu rather freely. Black Dragon Ninjitsu is modern system developed by me from the  ninjutsu I learned as part of Omoto Ryu Budo, my US Army infantry training, Jeet Kune Do Concepts, Boxing & a few hard learned lessons in life. I also started modernizing it with some elements researched from Sociology and Psychology. I started calling it Black Dragon Ninjitsu because I was a member of the Black Dragon Fighting Society of Ashida Kim before he other students of John Keehan/Count Dante reformed it into the IFAA/BDFS.

 

I'm not calling it traditional and don't want to get caught LARPing the past. I wanted an effective combat-survival system. I'm not offering "Ninja secrets" or "warrior Bull Shit." What I'm offering is a functional system. I never claimed to be a Force Recon Marine to my actual students and just used it as a dare to one up the "fraud busters" online, no ever got proof and just waited to try to get me to prove it to them. As long as, I never proved anything. I added to it because only an idiot would believe anything from an internet forum or anywhere else without checking their facts. I had fun with it to but it got out hand.

 

You see the failure of martial arts is that they are only ways fight, they offer no secrets of enlightenment, no great understandings of the universe or no lineage that will make you or anyone else special. They can't redefine you or make you more then human or, even a better person and, won't make you special. You are already special if you choose to be you don't need someone else, even if they are claiming to hold the secrets of the universe to tell you so. Its a flaw of human nature to spend so much time trying to look special or unique and not realize how special we already are, if we so choose. 

Martial arts will teach you how to fight and, that is all. Asian martial arts are often associated with Asian religions and philosophies, I am not calling these religions cults. I am saying that many times, more so then people want to martial arts becomes a transmitter for cult personalities that often claim to transmit "secrets." More often then not people simply wish to expand their social circle and repeat the mantra of the martial arts cult & schools of great traditions (those of a koryu nature) do not claim to be the sole source of some great truth, only a specific tradition. Certainly the real martial artists don't run about claiming others frauds and starting online drama... a thing I noticed about criminals is that they will betray others on the spot to pretend to be "legitimate" offering the line "I exposed so & so, so you know I'm not a (enter type of criminal here)." This is especially common among sex offenders, who expose and even assault other sex offenders to claim they aren't sex offenders. Makes you wonder about the state of "legitimate martial artists" online...

Phil Failmore still stalking me... yet again.

So in my last blog I address the fat failure of Phil Elmore stalking me over the net and his apparent fear of the truth coming out in Never Back Down. It is always a question of what is afraid of? But, ultimately comes the simple truth it doesn't matter. What is funny is that while I was discussing how Phil got his black sash in Liu Seong to justify his bad advice in Short Hand Emptyhand, I posted this meme making fun of the bad and improper example of a Mantis Kung-fu Stance;

This challenge to Phil's manhood, integrity & knowledge prompted more harassment from Phil including his doughy boyfriend showing up to challenge me online. David Pearson is the co-founder of a martial arts system with Phil Elmore that Phil never reached black sash in and never continued training with Pearson to actually earn that rank. Thus, suggesting it was a failed stunt to justify his lack of knowledge further, with the help of his "teacher" & "co-founder" David Pearson. Here David Pearson (Phil lil buddy & alleged life-partner) suggests I revealed all my secrets for recognition; the fact is I honestly addressed ninjitsu as a strategic art. My competitors in the Bujinkan claim to know ninja secrets that are rarely revealed (never revealed) and are upholding some kind of mythological ninja lineage of taijutsu/jujutsu in black gi and tabi.

Black Dragon Ninjitsu is the only ninjutsu book that covers stealth, herbal medicine, survival, pyrotechnics, intelligence gathering and strategy. Black Dragon Ninjitsu has also been called the best Ninjutsu book ever written.

Having Shadow Warrior Publishing block Mr. Pearson on twitter, as I want nothing to do with Phil Elmore, his "partners" or anything else associated with him. Phil Elmore using a Spam account as Spambot but linked to his philelmore.com site. So one might ask if Phil wants the attention of himself being addressed by me? Which is why I largely ignore him but, this blog and other previous blogs show that there is a record of Phil Elmore stalking me across the net. Oh sure I give as good as I get, but its Phil Elmore and not myself who initiates contact. And these blogs serve as public records of Phil's harassment and attention seeking. If David Pearson is any indication, Phil likes short men.

 

Simply look at the linked account to see that Spambot McEmail is associated with Phil Elmore's philelmore.com. Which popped up right after I block Phil's "partner" David Pearson.

 

 

Above is Phil Elmore's review of true path of the Ninja by Anthony Cummings. Anthony may do the writing but his Historical Ninjutsu research team does the much of the research. So why would a Reality Based Self Defense guy like Phil care about Anthony? Oh yeah, Phil gets much of his support from the Bujinkan in association with liars and frauds like Barron Shepard and Don Roley.

 

 Here is Phil trying to claim some form of copy infringement in the cover of the Ashida Kim's book "Last Ninja Standing." The fact is Phil does this in response to Ashida Kim and launched this attack after Ashida Kim showed a well documented case of Phil Elmore harassing him over the internet. Which Phil threatened Ashida Kim with suit to have his name removed. In order to get online support from the Bujinkan who plainly doesn't care about Phil Elmore's RBSD claims but also sell self-defense fantasies to the fat and lazy, like himself. Phil harasses non-Takamatsu lineage ninjutsu practicers and slanders their products while supporting the Takamatsu-den lineage. Why? To get online support for a flawed, fraudulent & pointless view of martial arts and survivalism that mimics in a sad parody of those of whom he attacks like Ashida Kim, Frank Dux & myself. After all, Koga Ryu Ninjutsu has been an interest of those in the survivalist community for years before they adopted the "Prepper" title not for the martial arts training but for the strategic, tactical and survival based knowledge that is a large part of the modern art & the sole source of the historical art (proven by Anthony Cummings Research).

 

Perhaps Phil Elmore's stalking is cover for where he gets ideas from; often giving bad advise especially on unrealistic weapons like nunchaku (illegal in some states, illegal to carry in all states) and the infamous Street Sword for which he has no formal training in such weapons and all clearly defined as "martial arts" or "ninja" weapons and not associated with Reality Based Self-Defense by any creditable Instructors.

 

I am a Ninja Warrior! So does everyone keep laughing at me?

I am a Ninja Warrior! So does everyone keep laughing at me?

This blog is meant to be Satirical for comedic purposes but its also meant to engage in the reality of what ninjutsu is or isn't. It may offend some people and that isn't my goal. I say lets all just sit back and laugh at the reality of our art is portrayed.

I have always found martial arts to be a big let down. More often then not I've been drawn into the hype and found it less then what it was advertised as. Martial arts have always been seen as a joke by people on the street and in everyday life.

Take a Look at Karate as viewed by Red Fox & the Writers of Sanford & Son...

The moral narrative to the story is that Lamont wants to study Karate to be a “tough guy” and being relies on Karate to make him tougher to stand up to a bully with a reputation for violence. Its a comical look at the truth that certificates & belts do not condone any thing beyond one's ability to actually fight. Having not engaged in actual violence, many will seek a proxy for combat experience. Playing paintball is not the same as doing a tour in Iraq.

Or Jim Carry as a Karate Instructor...

A look at prearranged drills taught in many martial arts classes that use over exaggerated attacks to instill a sense of false confidence.

Ninja by ICP (Insane Clown Posse)

A whole song dedicated to every little kids dream of being a superhero and adolescents desire at having the power to change one's life in a sudden and amazing way.

The hype in Ninjitsu is, well, extreme. For years ninjutsu has been portrayed as a mix of secret killing arts, stage magic and guerrilla tactics. In truth, with most legitimate independent study coming from Antony Cummins lead Historical Ninjutsu Research Team & Historical Ninjutsu Research Team Facebook Group where ninjutsu enthusiasts can discuss history, the translated shinobi densho (written by ), show case their own experiments in using the historical information gathered by Antony Cummins.

On a more personal level, I've applied methods gathered from “fraud ninjutsu” instructors all one has to do is look my Blogs is Koga Ryu really Dead or The “Last” LastNinja to see where history & the claims of others on the internet really don't match up. As it turns out there is no proven ninjutsu lineage or tradition. So I looked at skills and basically created my own art, mixed with applications of modern US Army Infantry training. As someone said the other day in speaking with me about my art “What is more dangerous then a Ninja? A ninja with a gun.”

 

For the hype and hoopla about martial arts and even ninjutsu (which is actually ancient Japanese Espionage Skills & not martial arts) the reality is that it often becomes a matter of hype. Appearance is not the same as substance. You see one must always look past appearance to the substance at its core. In doing this we find many things and most people are not as they appear. A friend of mine commented on Don Roley's habitual use blogs attacking Ashida Kim, Frank Dux and I, suggesting or stating (I don't know I don't read Roley's blogs) that he consumed my every thought. Yet as I was told it seems that Roley is instead obsessed with my school and me. I kinda laughed at this comment & told dear “St. Thomas” I might quote him on that but wouldn't give his name (I don't want him harassed).

You see Don Roley, has been using false names; fake profiles and such on the internet to harass me and level complaints with none other then Antony Cummins trying to get Mr. Cummins to separate himself from me. Why? Because to Don Roley, Antony Cummins & I are his biggest competition. Antony representing actual historical ninjutsu examination and education and myself someone who openly admits I don't have a proven lineage. This same Don Roley who is more then happy to lie (once more) excluding information actual facts for more lies to get his way.

Now I very much admit that in my FullDisclosure Blog I graphically stated I did not intend to do any harm to Greg Duckworth (the West Virginia State Trooper responsible with Chrissa Kunrod of the Raliegh County Prosecutor's Office & one Theresa Redden mother of Ashley Redden; who forced Ashley Redden to give false testimony against me). Now while I very graphically explained I could have done certain things, I also stated I had no intent to do them. It wasn't a threat it was a very clearly made point: I could have killed you & still can but don't want to. I didn't make that point because I am a bad ass or ninja killing machine, I did it because I have very real enemies with very real guns and very real bullets that will kill me. I did it to draw someone into the spotlight of internet drama & ninja related childishness that is ninjutsu on the internet.

Screen shot of what I said:

As you can see, I make it clear I have a concern for my life and the lives of my friends and family. While graphic in what I could have done, I have no fear in where I draw that line in the sand. A far better men then me; my Senior Drill Sergeant in the Army once told us the story of how he broke his neck parachuting into a minefield & of how he ran out  on that same mine field to rescue four fallen soldiers. He told us this story and then asked us why he did it. Answer came back because you were a Ranger or because you were Special Forces. And he corrected us with this lesson, he did what he did because he had to do it. The Uniform is cloth, the tabs meaningless if the man wearing them depends on them to define rather then himself.

 

Screen shot of Don Roley lying yet again:

Once again distorting the facts t push his own agenda. Fortunately Don Roley is too stupid to see why I used him. Now Trooper Greg Duckworth of Taylor Made fame is publicly addressed on the internet, in the 3-ring circus side show we call ninjutsu on the internet. Putting a spotlight of sorts on him and keeping me a bit safer with everyone's eyes on us both. Makes it harder to make me "disappear" especially true now that a private investigator is examining my evidence and following my own investigation into the events.

He wants to be dirty Harry... but he's just dirty...

 

Facts remain, with the asshole above trying to kidnap me using false charges to cover up his own involvement in child pandering, drug running, illegal gun sales, drug dealing & other crimes and trying to make out to be some sort of terroristic, pedophile, sex offending-stalker (sounds a little much for me to be on a $25,000 Bond right?) who shouldn't be on the street. Being called a fake ninja (in truth we all are fakes in the ninjutsu community, I just admit it...) or crazy, (many would call me crazy just for taking a stand but if I don't who will?) isn't a concern. In fact they may be welcomed by the time this is all said and done. Other then a very hyped & graphic warning used to draw in those whom would (with their own added twists) draw my little spider above into a very public spot light, the substance is just as simplistic & just as powerful; I wanted attention on us both...

 

But what is the substance and what is hype here with Don Roley? You see, I find the whole Takamatsu lineage and arts less then useless. Takamatsu has forged many “tall tells” and of those who want to sit around telling them to each other to reinforce their illusions of competence and skill or boost their feelings of false security I welcome them to do just that. Only, please don't cry because I don't believe you or I think you are full of “it.” (whatever “It” is)

I address this in highlighting the problem here. Many times what people feed as hype in the advertising of a particular martial art or in general in any product is very different from what is presented. How many hamburgers look like they do in the commercials? That is the commercialism of the martial arts and with it the hype, often unfounded and many times pointless beyond selling you something. When there is a lack of substance to support the hype, those selling the over hyped product resort to lies and name calling.

It doesn't matter were you find your hype, in competition arts and sports like MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), in Reality Based Self-Defense (often with the same draw backs as any self-defense system) or in traditional martial arts espousing a lineage to some great warrior and offering you the secret skills of the “ancient order of wombats.” In the end the hype and substance must be separated. So to answer the title question; I am a Ninja Warrior! So does everyone keep laughing at me?

Because you have done nothing of substance to support your own hype. What good is a certificate in (enter martial arts here) or a trophy from (enter competition here) if you've yet to prove who you are in the face of adversity and difficulty? What does it matter how you hype yourself or your accomplishments if the substance of your character is lacking? You can be a “Ninja Warrior” but what have done with the title or is it merely something that hangs on your wall gives you a feeling of accomplishment?

 

The legitimacy of the claim to being a "Ninja Warrior" is based more on accomplishment & skills then lineage. One doesn't become a "Ninja" by training or by lineage, the fact that ninja is an extinct additional duty of a samurai class that became extinct with the Samurai class itself. As no ninjutsu school has a proven lineage & the only source of historical ninjutsu being the historical documents themselves, we must ask what is the direction of our training? What is the goals of our club or dojo? 

 

If its to sit around telling yourself you're something or someone your not because of a lineage that doesn't exist and depends on trolling internet forums for attention. You might be better off enjoying a good LARPing round of Alliance Roleplaying to feel nice and ninjery. However, if you're looking at authentic skills then get into the historical documents and experiment. As for modern ninjutsu well that's were modern technology, martial arts and the best in physical and psychological training meet real world application of historical ninjutsu to fill in the espionage base that is as unknown to most civilians like myself.

You are wht you make yourself out to be and you have to power to master your life and yourself. Ninjutsu is no different then Karate in that they are both tools. You can use a hammer to bash something or to build a book case (trust me I've done both... lol). I've met men and women who defined themselves as warriors & served their country honorably with distinction and courage in the military, I've also met people who defined themselves as warriors and fought for those who couldn't fight for themselves defending handicap kids from bullies or filling bags of dirt to build levies against floods to protect their communities. Warriors are defined by the battles they fight and worth of their sacrifices...

 

No battle is fought without sacrifice & this is something the warrior must accept. You can choose to fight for yourself or something more. For me the ideas of justice, honor & freedom out weigh any master on this earth. Either way the sacrifices must be worth the battles or he war, sometimes you do not get to choose the battles or the war, they choose you. In either case you must choose to fight or accept your own falling...

If You Get Proven a Liar, get your friends to lie for you...

Well after I explained to Trooper Duckworth I could have harmed him, if I had the intention to do so in the Full Disclosure blog. I even posted a YouTube video after I saw him in up town Beckley & all I got was a dirty look from him and a surprised look from some Federal Marshalls; no arrest to the disappointment of Don Roley. Who admitted on Budoseek to informing the police in hopes I would get arrested & relied on his Budoseek Peon Jonathan Russell to reinforce his delusions prompting the Open Letter to Jonathan Russell blog post.

But of course when your friends don't distance themselves from you when people spread vicious lis  & the liars get outed as be slanderous and libel frauds they do what every "thug" does, they get their gang to help.

Now not to throw Mike Witte & Jack Williams out there as my "friends" their defense here is specifically what it is. They're defending the integrity and purpose of the Historical Ninjutsu Research Team facebook group; the discussion and application of historical ninjutsu material from the historical Shinobi Densho (ninja scrolls). A lot of independent research went into Seiko Fujita by Antony Cummins which is why I referenced him as a source of info.

But lets look at Banga & Michael Sampson first;

Almost every group he is a part of is Bujinkan focused... all but the Historical Ninjutsu Research Team facebook group that is.

Among his friends we find Don Roley, odd has heavy Bujinkan ties and is friends with one of those I named for spreading slanderous comments? Tried to imply that my desire to speak to Mr. Roley directly when I went to Colorado Springs to visit family concerning his behavior was somehow a threat? I guess Don Roley has gotten a few death threat for things he's said safe behind his computer screen he doesn't list the address of is dojo on the website & you have to go through a background check as well...

It was so transparent, that I even called it out to Banga, who didn't reply...

Oh but lets not forget dear Michael Sampson; who is Banga's friend on facebook and brought this up on the Historical Ninjutsu Research Team facebook group in clear violation of the rules.

So we have Banga who as of a few hours ago changed his name to Japanese Kanji for fear of being discovered... funny. Yet Michael "Black Dynamite" Sampson friends of Banga & Don Roley has one of my students Marlo on his friends list? Right here beside Banga Gazi!

 Can anyone say internet stalker? Oh but our story doesn't end their & it didn't begin here either. This was the first appearance by Mr. Sampson on Ashida Kim's facebook page.

Its highly important to realize that as I type this at approximately 9:15pm (2115hrs) Mr. Sampson has yet to provide proof. Only responds with an attack on my character & was no doubt the individual reporting such a claim. Most likely, sent an e-mail to Proboards claiming a treat was made; which it wasn't (even if graphically wasn't). Or is spreading lies for Don Roley.

Now if we look at Banga & Don Roley's ties we see where the issue arises; my association with Antony Cummins. As an independent researcher into Historical Ninjutsu who doesn't push the Bujinkan agenda Anthony Cummins is a  threat to the Bujinkan's bottom line. I as a Koga Ryu Ninjutsu practicer who is focused on modernizing Ninjutsu into an effective combat-intelligence system & directs all Historical Inquiry to Anthony. As Mr. Cummins is the only non-system imbedded & truly independent researcher on the subject of ninjutsu. I don't need to train in the Bujinkan or listen to Takamatsu myths to enjoy historical ninjutsu (remember Robert Bussey originally left the Bujinkan because he didn't want to worship Takamatsu or so the rumors go). The fact that I even have to defend my association with someone because I enjoy the work they do &, Antony Cummins stands behind no modern Ninjutsu school as being historically accurate; not even mine, is pathetic in the least.

Here from Don Roley's own facebook page is Banga Gazi owner of Tengu Books, endorsed here on the Don Roley's Ninjutsu Information Dissemination Network facebook page. Created by Don Roley to spread Takamatsu-den mythological ninja history as a counter-productive construct to the truth. Antony Cummins Historical Ninjutsu Research Team (HNRT) facebook group tried to b style neutral & focus on history.

The concern is that others will know about Don Roley's malicious pattern of lies and slander to push the Bujinkan-cults fantasy ninjutsu. I was careful not to address any of this on the HNRT facebook page as it was against the rules, set forth by Antony Cummins.

You see I predicted Don Roley's pattern of behavior in the Full Disclosure & Full Disclosure II Blog post, I addressed the very information I said " case being dropped to a plea agreement for delinquency was bull shit as well. But its a lie started by Don "bitch ass" Roley who also is the source of info for Phil & Bullshido. Phil doesn't have the balls to call me by name in his little news editorials on Huffington Post; instead calls me "John" which isn't phonically too different from Ron." I then used the Budoseek post directed at me by Jonathan Russell trying to create to image of group-thinking (you know the cool ids think I'm a freak so you should to, high school mentality) to address the evidence of Don Roley's pattern of behavior I predicted in Full Disclosure II & addressed openly in my Open Letter to Jonathan Russell. I even addressed how I used all these people and their criminal intentions to further my own stratagems; in The Ninja: Understanding Strategy & Tactics.

You see the biggest concern is that I have people in my local area, an area with  single Bujinkan dojo ran by James Lilly (I don't know his rank or connection to Lilly crime family). West Virginia is fertile ground for paramilitary, militia & ninjutsu training, with several mountains, rivers, valleys, creeks and forests for training. The issue is business and concealing their own unethical business practices. Because God-forbid I get found innocent again, with me openly stating I used my ninjutsu training & directing historical research to Antony Cummins; as the only truly independent ninjutsu researcher.

Or that I would speak of my use of modern Ninjutsu openly in these criminal matters while addressing the Historical Ninjutsu Research Team. I get no endorsement from Antony Cummins, he isn't proclaiming me or my style a Historical Tradition or condoning my use of ninjutsu or actions. We simply share a passion for ninjutsu and honest historical research.

So let me set the record straight... once again.