Ninja Survivalist - an individual who possesses the skills, ability & intent to adapt & thrive in any situation or surrounding without standing out or as standing out as a hard target when needed, concealing his or her true skills, ability and/or intent from others.
Ninjutsu is the Invisible Art, meaning that is an art of doing things that are done secretly. Primarily an espionage, sabotage, scouting, assassination (typically enemy agents) and skirmish (think Commando Tactics & Guerrilla Warfare) system. So to discuss a ninjutsu method of survival does have a great deal to do with networking and information gathering. Two key aspects to the Ninjutsu Survival Strategy are Invisibility (Yes, we have this in common with the Grey Man Directive) & Preparation (also in common but on a different level).
Lets keep things simple; here is our focus.
1. Personal Preparation
2. Information Data Base
3. Network Information
4. Network Association
5. Adaptable Planning
Personal Preparation:
This goes beyond prep items to skill development and skill training. Skills are cheaper to maintain and don't need batteries. Our "Ninja Survivalist" is going to focus on developing combat skills initially, then go into other skills as well; first aid, herbal medicine, animal care, farming, mechanics, electrical work and so on. One should keep hard copies of required information especially dealing with herbs & medical treatment, use a common cold or flu are a testing ground for self-treatment, fix one's own car, change one's own oil or build one's own Bug-Out Cabin.
A gun doesn't give you the ability to defend yourself, your will to survive and ability to use it effectively do however. The focus is simple, be skilled and above all else never stop improving yourself.
Information Data Base
Beyond the individual skills and hard copies, keeping a designated "SHTF Laptop/Notebook" or USB stick with digital copies of more information them you can carry in hard copy is a must. Think of it this way; if you have a hard copy and the skill to fabricate a small generator using hand tools and liquid weld you can power your lap top, if your lap have designs for more powerful construction projects then you can easily turn Mad Max world into Fall Out: New Vegas.
Networking Information
The Grey Man seems to be a "Lone Wolf" style of survival. Lone Wolves don't last long in the wild and in a SHTF environment te "Lone Wolf" won't last long either. For this reason you need to Network with others; I'll go into how the 5 types of spies from Sun Tzu's Art of War can be used as 5 types of associations later in this Blog. Either way, the "Ninja Survivalist" needs to have a network for gathering information after a SHTF event and that requires some preparation before the SHTF event.
The goal is to establish a network of associates who pass along information to each other. This need not be a declared plan of action. It can simply be as simple friends met over the Internet through survival forums or CB radio, asking truckers about conditions up the road or just talking to local CBers. CB radio is vital give that it puts you in contact with local people and can be used with battery power.
Network Association
The "Ninja Survivalist" needs to establish a network of people in their life, we will take the 5 types of spies and apply the concept to 5 types of associations in our network.
5-Types of Spies:
Living: Living agents are spies sent out with the intention of returning alive to be used for other missions or to bring back important information.
Dead: These are spies that one intends to sacrifice, disposable proxies.
Doubled: Enemy spies who have been bribed or blackmailed to join with one's own side.
Native: These are spies native to a region under the control of the enemy; those the agent is an enemy native they are at odds with the enemy or the enemies policies.
Sleeper: These are spies trained and sent off behind enemy lines who await an activation signal to "awaken" and carry out a preplanned action.
5-Types of Associations:
The five types of associations makes use of one's association with different groups of people in one's life, many of us, especially professionals, already maintain this type of association groupings though many won't realize it until they read this.
Living: Living associations are associations we wish to maintain, these may be friendships, family or co-workers whom we've learned to trust and as such wish to see these relationship maintained.
Dead: Its sad to say but some people you just keep around because you need them. These useful relationships should be maintained and disposed of once their usefulness has ended. Ultimately all associations fall into either living or dead categories.
Doubled: These are the frien-enemy relationships were you've made some kind of alliance with a former enemy or rival. Such people either consider you a dead association; waiting to betray you when convenient or a living association where both are starkly aware of the other's faults and virtues.
Native: Native associations are people who live outside your area but are in contact with you. As such they can offer aid and/or assistance when leaving your immediate area & biggest assistance is information.
Sleeper: Sleeper associations are associations that doze off from time to time, with people not seeing each other for long periods but maintaining some connection. Usually this is family but friends from the military or a college fraternity also play a part in this role as well, really any social body that connects people can apply here.
Adaptable Planning
Situations change and the "Ninja Survivalist" has to be willing at adapt and overcome (yes, I was Army Infantry and "Adapt and Overcome" is our unofficial motto). In some cases bugging in is the plan in other case its bug out, the world won't adapt to fit your plan so plan to adapt to the changing world.
Using Survival Think Tank's Grey Man Definition and Four Stages of SHTF, I want to compared the Grey Man Directive to the Ninjutsu Survival Strategy; http://www.survivalthinktank.com/2011/11/grey-man-directive.html
Compare:
Grey man - an individual who possesses the skills, ability and intent to blend into any situation or surrounding without standing out, concealing his or her true skills, ability, and intent from others.
Ninja Survivalist - an individual who possesses the skills, ability & intent to adapt & thrive in any situation or surrounding without standing out or as standing out as a hard target when needed, concealing his or her true skills, ability and/or intent from others.
Phase 0: This is the No Alarm Phase.
Phase 1: Flash Mob/Frenzy Warning, Minor Increased in Violent Crime Rate
Phase 2: Mass Rioting, Looting & Violent Protest, Major Increase in Violent Crime rate
Phase 3: TEOTAWKI (The End Of The World As We Know It) open conflict, in the Streets... Think Balkans or Argentina with Armed Criminals becoming virtual Localized Warlords & Loss of Government Control Nationally.
Phase 0: Kit
Grey Man: Handgun (Concealed), Knife & Smart Phone
Ninja Survivalist: Handgun (Concealed with Concealed Carry Permit on a neck wallet), Multitool with knife blade, Tactical Folding Knife, Phone, Lighter, Flashlight (smaller the better) & (Pocket) First Aid Kit.
The reality is if the police stop they will ask if you have any weapons and search you, you can not refuse this search as its a pat down of the outside of one's clothing with the intent to search you for concealed weapons; this is called a Terry Stop or Terry Search and based off the Supreme Court Case Terry V Ohio (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_stop). At best you can pull out the neck wallet with one's concealed carry permit in a visible pocket and refuse to surrender your weapon until you are placed under arrest. An Altoids tin can carry the contents of a first aid kit, with a key chain flash light and lighter in one pocket, one's phone in the other and one's multitool on one's belt.
The situation is no overt chaos, that says nothing of one being the victim of violent crime and the Ninja Survivalist is focused on self-defense. The goal is survival and if injured in the course of self-defense one needs the ability to treat the injury. If you can't avoid a violent assault, practice escape & evasion and if necessary employ individual tactics; this is where the "Ninja Survivalists" self-improvement and constant self-training is key as matter of self-defense which is linked to minimal survival skills.
Style of Dress & Camouflage:
It is vital you understand that style of dress and color pattern is linked, just as self-defense and survival is inexplicably linked. Dress according to environment, and don't try to look like you're trying to blend in; to the trained eye the "Grey man" in earth tones and none descript clothing stands out. Remember criminals train to be criminals and violent criminals train to be violence criminals. Whether you wear a suit jacket or casual clothing depends on how others around you are dressed. In or around the professional offices of doctors, lawyers or other suited professionals the "Ninja Survivalist" is trying to blend into the crowd. At a Rock Concert all Black Clothing with "Fuck Everything" on one's shirt and Blood Red hair might be the proper camouflage.
Urban Color Scheme: Tans, Grays & at night Tans, Dark Gray (flat black) & Dark Blue such as Blue Jean Pants & Jackets in a Drab non-reflective color scheme blend in.
Rural Color Scheme: In a rural environment, Tans, Olive Green, Browns, Grays and even BDU or RealTree camouflage clothing might be acceptable. The RealTree or BDU is dependant on whether your rural environment is full of hunters and military fan boys who dress in camouflaged clothing.
Phase 1: Kit
Grey Man: Handgun with Higher Ammo Capacity (Concealed), Folding Knife, Smart Phone, Flash Light, Pepper Spray, 2 spare magazines on one's belt Back Pack/Currier Bag: weapon system can be kept in your urban style pack but concealed on your person recommended, along with extra water, energy bars, rain gear, socks, and phone/flashlight batteries.
Ninja Survivalist: Handgun (Concealed with Concealed Carry Permit on a neck wallet), Multitool with knife blade, Tactical Folding Knife, Phone, Lighter, Flashlight (smaller the better) & Back Pack (earth tone) with Standard First Aid Kit, Additional Ammo, 2 Bottles of Water (20oz), Poncho (dark color), Socks & Energy Bars.
Unlike the Gray Man, I don't agree with using a courier bag or brief case unless you need on professionally, I want my hands free if I need to defend myself. So a small back pack or camelback with additional pockets seems good to me; the water bladder removes the need to carry water bottles. Also think about running to avoid a dangerous situation, hands free means climbing fences, or ladders. In a phase 1 environment of increased criminal activity and the potential for peaceful protests to turn into flash mobs much like the L.A. Riots you might have enough ammo to deal with self-defense or survival. You're goal should b reaching a point of safety away from the violence that can mean hopping fences or climbing fire escapes.
Phase 2: Kit
Grey Man: Handgun with Higher Ammo Capacity (Open Carried), Folding Knife, Smart Phone, Flash Light, Pepper Spray, 2 spare magazines on one's belt Back Pack/Currier Bag: weapon system can be kept in your urban style pack but concealed on your person recommended, along with extra water, energy bars, rain gear, socks, and phone/flashlight batteries. Also suggests Body Armor worn under clothing at this point...
Ninja Survivalist: Battle Rifle or Shotgun, Handgun (Open Carried on a pistol belt), Multitool with knife blade, Tactical Folding Knife, Pistol Belt w/ Suspenders, with two Triple 30 round Magazine Pouch, with 30-round Magazines, Handheld Radio and (if the cell network is up Cell Phone), Lighter, Flashlight (Tactical) & Back Pack (earth tone) with Standard First Aid Kit, Additional Ammo, 6 Bottles of Water (20oz), Poncho (dark color), Space Blanket, Poncho Liner, 2 spare sets of Socks, E-tool, Binoculars & 3 MREs, Mainstay 3600 bar or food for 3 days, additional Ammo for both weapons. Body Armor is optional...
At this point, the government has lost control in major urban centers and many people will be open carrying. Personally, if everyone has a handgun I want something bigger. I suggest a Bug-In strategy but criminal activity, home invasions and violence might suggest otherwise. Covering kit with one's jacket or a coat is a must, however fortifying one's house is a top priority.
Let me state this as well for those who wonder about carrying the battle rifle; Gourko v. United States allows a common law US Supreme Court ruling that carrying a gun is an innocent act & Thompson v. United States allows a Supreme Court ruling that says Carrying a Rifle for Self-Protection is perfectly fine. In other words its legal and I'm going to show a gun I want to show that I can & do; out gun everyone else.
I suggest having a modular homesteader's kit;
Solar Panels, Marine Batteries, Rechargeable AA, AAA, D cell and 9 volt Batteries, Hand Tools; Hammer, Screw Driver(s), Hatchet, Axe, Shovel, Mattock, Saw & screws and nails. A large tent, 2 to 6 5-gallon Gas Cans, Food & Water stored of a Year (3 Years at most) & crop seeds. Two Large Tarps, one under the tent to keep moister from rising into the tent from the ground and one over the tent can be stuffed with leaves to act as insulation. Wired CCTV and monitors. CB radio in Vehicle.
Here the Network of the Ninja Survivalist comes into play; the ability to get early warning becomes a key to survival. The information passed along the network can allow Ninja Survivalist to Evacuate to safety. Ideally having somewhere to go but more importantly having different sources of information, this limits one's invisibility a bit compared to the Grey Man Directive but also comes with a simple realization. Now I don't want to look like some Tacti-Cool Commando Joe but I don't want to look like an easy target and don't want the Tacti-Cool types to think they outgun me when recruiting/press ganging me into the neighborhood militia.
Its important to remember the Shinobi (Ninja) of history were Samurai; meaning they were warriors/soldiers and spies. While I may seek to conceal my preparation once violence breaks out to the extent of localized or even National States of Emergency; all bets are off. While most vehicles aren't bullet proof, they can be up armoured with plastic shopping bags full of dirt; i.e. sand bags. As such if you're going to look like you're going to war. If you need to fight, fight to win... Stealth has its limits and if you're gonna be exposed, expose the fact that you should be last on that list of people to bring violence against.
This is a deterrent against those criminal types but could make you a target of law enforcement like we saw in Katrina.
Phase 3: Kit
At this point society has just broken down into chaos, welcome to the end of the world as knew it. From here the "Ninja Survivalist" is going to use his network and even expand it, if possible. One might have prepped as a "lone wolf" but you will survive as a community/group. The reality is there may be a massive die off in Phase 2 & even in Phase 1 leading up or transitioning into phase two. Reliance on camouflage as a strategy or any tactic as a strategy is poor planning and not strategic.
A strategy is series of planned goals that when met, inter link into the fruition of a final end goal. Camouflage is a tactic of blending into your environment to go unnoticed if observed. The Ninja Survivalist is in fact; makes use of all three forms of obstructing unwanted sight...
Cover: Any Object or Substance which hides one's appearance and prevents physical contact between opposition.
Concealment: Any object or substance that obscures appearance but does not prevent physical contact between opposition.
Camouflage: The tactic of blending with one's environment to escape notice but not sight; usually appearing as something else then what one really is.
Alarm: A warning of existing or approaching danger.
The Ninja Survivalist doesn't rely on camouflage or invisibility for safety but a mix of stealthy concealment and an invisible system of alarms; well invisible to those outside of it. Even if some enemy were to jam radio communications the Survivalist Ninja would make use of force multipliers like strings and bells, CCTV cameras powered by solar or some crank powered generator to keep them informed. Even the lack of communication in a network maybe a warning. When seen the Ninja Survivalist appears as "Hard Target" enticing criminals to look else where. In the case of a state funded thug using/abusing their authority the Ninja Survivalist is adept at losing any tails avoiding contact.
I cannot offer much advice in an environment such as the Katrina aftermath where Police and National Guard sought to disarm the population; except returning to a Phase 0 posture or evacuation if the early warning comes through one's Alarm Network & one has the time to do so. Ideally, one has an early warning allowing one to make better decisions and use more accurate information.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Combat Effectiveness: What makes a martial art combat effect?
Combat Effective is a slogan that gets tossed around a lot in the martial arts and self-defense markets, but what is combat effective? What makes a martial arts self-defense system combat effective? Is Mixed Martial Arts combat effective? How about Traditional Martial Arts like Karate? The answer is universal, its a meaningless term used to market a system of martial arts and more correctly books, videos and classes for teaching "combat effective" systems.
To begin with we have to address violence; not all violence is equal. There are three distinct types of violence and a situation can be disguised as other forms of violence, can mutate into other forms of violence and quite simply unless you understand the different types of violence and the different reasons for those types of violence you are not combat effective and may very well become socially ineffective.
Types of Violence:
Here we will examine the three distinct types of violence individually, and we will see where combat effectiveness can mean "Overkill."
Social Violence: Social Violence is the use or threat of violence to maintain or gain social dominance. This is were fighting over a mate or fighting over someone correcting a statement comes in. This is a simple case of fighting to prove one's alpha male/female status. Generally speaking social violence is mock violence, a lot of "barking, growling and a few snaps" but no real "bite." The intent is to inflict minor injury and show whose tougher or right. The video below shows what social violence looks like, I'm not saying being punched & kicked doesn't hurt but the intent is rarely severe injury or death...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O01Q-jbKPj8
Criminal Violence: Criminal Violence is both an extension o social violence and in some ways a form of combative violence. The goal of social violence is material gain, it is the threat or use of force to take possession of material property from another; this includes the my sacred of material property one's own body.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljckY6guE3A
Combative Violence: Combative violence is far based in intent, it is the intent to do serve injury an or death. The intent to kill, cripple or maim. In the videos below those using such violence are more concentrated on the goal of doing damage, not showing who is superior or in gaining a material possession. Combative violence is also called Asocial Violence.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZkv3H9-2dM
Violence & Culture:
Here in a America we don't have a single ethnic culture but a melting pot of ideas and cultures. I myself I'm from West Virginia and with a last name like Collins you can bet I am of Irish Descent. A large part of "Hill Billy" culture in West Virginia is "Being a Man" an it is the same with Irish-American culture in general. Being a man as different implications to different people but the common themes are self-responsibility and self-sufficiency; to include being able to defend one's self and family. We often take to using the "fighting Irish" stereotype to well... cause trouble. The Irish Americans aren't alone many African-Americans during the 40s to the 70s and even in the present new millennium have a sense of fighting a guerrilla war against an oppressive "White Government." Most often you are talking about the poor and that were most criminals come from, the poor. Even with the spread of communism the "Guerrilla Identity" of the poor struggling against the rich and middle class has held.
As such, violence especially social violence is a theme of the sub-culture(s) that surround the poor in this country. Social violence is generally more acceptable then say the criminal violence of a robber or rapist and certainly more acceptable then the violence of combat. Because social violence is common among the poor and often under-educated masses being able "hold one's own" is seen as an important virtue. By comparison, someone using a knife, gun or other weapon in social violence is seen as cowardly. Most of all is this minor point of fact; not all violence is combat or a life or death struggle.
A combat effective system must deal with situations which are not life or death, dealing with a drunk uncle or friend who wishes to show how tough they are. Would you kill a friend for trying to have a "contest" with you? How bout that drunk uncle? Combat effectiveness is more then dealing learning to "kill with your bare hands" or "use techniques illegal in MMA competition." Combat effectiveness is dealing with a sliding scale of violence, knowing when to be combat effective. Knowing how de-escalate stress based social violence, knowing when people are posturing and when someone intends to do you harm, knowing how criminals size up and target their victims. Finally, combat effectiveness (at least in my opinion) needs to deal with conditioning the mind to respond with tactics and to react to the tactics of an aggressor under al three forms of violence without consciously having to go own a mental check list. This implies at least in part a bit LARPing; Live Action Role-Playing the threat conditions and the reaction to the dangers in a realistic setting.
To begin with we have to address violence; not all violence is equal. There are three distinct types of violence and a situation can be disguised as other forms of violence, can mutate into other forms of violence and quite simply unless you understand the different types of violence and the different reasons for those types of violence you are not combat effective and may very well become socially ineffective.
Types of Violence:
Here we will examine the three distinct types of violence individually, and we will see where combat effectiveness can mean "Overkill."
Social Violence: Social Violence is the use or threat of violence to maintain or gain social dominance. This is were fighting over a mate or fighting over someone correcting a statement comes in. This is a simple case of fighting to prove one's alpha male/female status. Generally speaking social violence is mock violence, a lot of "barking, growling and a few snaps" but no real "bite." The intent is to inflict minor injury and show whose tougher or right. The video below shows what social violence looks like, I'm not saying being punched & kicked doesn't hurt but the intent is rarely severe injury or death...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O01Q-jbKPj8
Criminal Violence: Criminal Violence is both an extension o social violence and in some ways a form of combative violence. The goal of social violence is material gain, it is the threat or use of force to take possession of material property from another; this includes the my sacred of material property one's own body.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljckY6guE3A
Combative Violence: Combative violence is far based in intent, it is the intent to do serve injury an or death. The intent to kill, cripple or maim. In the videos below those using such violence are more concentrated on the goal of doing damage, not showing who is superior or in gaining a material possession. Combative violence is also called Asocial Violence.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZkv3H9-2dM
Violence & Culture:
Here in a America we don't have a single ethnic culture but a melting pot of ideas and cultures. I myself I'm from West Virginia and with a last name like Collins you can bet I am of Irish Descent. A large part of "Hill Billy" culture in West Virginia is "Being a Man" an it is the same with Irish-American culture in general. Being a man as different implications to different people but the common themes are self-responsibility and self-sufficiency; to include being able to defend one's self and family. We often take to using the "fighting Irish" stereotype to well... cause trouble. The Irish Americans aren't alone many African-Americans during the 40s to the 70s and even in the present new millennium have a sense of fighting a guerrilla war against an oppressive "White Government." Most often you are talking about the poor and that were most criminals come from, the poor. Even with the spread of communism the "Guerrilla Identity" of the poor struggling against the rich and middle class has held.
As such, violence especially social violence is a theme of the sub-culture(s) that surround the poor in this country. Social violence is generally more acceptable then say the criminal violence of a robber or rapist and certainly more acceptable then the violence of combat. Because social violence is common among the poor and often under-educated masses being able "hold one's own" is seen as an important virtue. By comparison, someone using a knife, gun or other weapon in social violence is seen as cowardly. Most of all is this minor point of fact; not all violence is combat or a life or death struggle.
A combat effective system must deal with situations which are not life or death, dealing with a drunk uncle or friend who wishes to show how tough they are. Would you kill a friend for trying to have a "contest" with you? How bout that drunk uncle? Combat effectiveness is more then dealing learning to "kill with your bare hands" or "use techniques illegal in MMA competition." Combat effectiveness is dealing with a sliding scale of violence, knowing when to be combat effective. Knowing how de-escalate stress based social violence, knowing when people are posturing and when someone intends to do you harm, knowing how criminals size up and target their victims. Finally, combat effectiveness (at least in my opinion) needs to deal with conditioning the mind to respond with tactics and to react to the tactics of an aggressor under al three forms of violence without consciously having to go own a mental check list. This implies at least in part a bit LARPing; Live Action Role-Playing the threat conditions and the reaction to the dangers in a realistic setting.
Ninja Vs Grey Man
The "Grey Man" has been a subject of mild amusement to me. I find it to be complete fantasy tacti-cool thinking. I can see many proponents of the "Grey Man" being up in arms over that statement. The truth us I find many aspects of the idea to be solid tactical thinking but to have to create a psuedo-SOP for sound tactical thinking shows its an idea created by "civilians" with little to no tactical thinking, training or understanding.
All you wannabe Johnny "Chuck" Rambo-Van Norris types can sit down to; because the tacti-cool grey men (sometmes spelled gray men) have a lot more common sense then you do. Their strategy relies on the tactic of camouflage and the best case for the "grey man" comes from SurvivalThinkTank.com who abandons the concept almost halfway through.
Do Not Be This Guy: Adding rail and Assault Rifle Stocks to non-tactical weapons.
In all seriousness (there will be more funny images I promise you) I have always hated the "gray man" thoery as a survival strategy. I've resently been shown a blog for a "grey man directive" and while I had issues with the grey man theory; which I will try to explain in this article, I have seriously less issue with the Grey Man Directive. Viewable at this Link:
http://www.survivalthinktank.com/2011/11/grey-man-directive.html
The Grey Man Directive states the definition of the Gray Man as Grey man - an individual who possesses the skills, ability and intent to blend into any situation or surrounding without standing out, concealing his or her true skills, ability, and intent from others. I have no problem with this because the Gray Man appears like this: Prepared without threat of Mad Max World
And Like this: During Mad Max World major SHTF events...
This isn't a strategy its camouflage and good camouflage at that, more terrain specific earth tone clothing should be worn based on one's specific location. In a more wooded or wilderness location going full on BDUs might work better or obvious reasons. Terrain alway dictates tactics and camouflage is a tactic. The Image directly above is far better then this guy;
As the caption says the Tacti-cool guys are all about looking good but being able to do their thing when the time comes it becomes a subject of much amusing debate on the internet. Now that I'm done with pictures I'm going to get to the subject at hand. A full review of Invisible Resistance to Tyranny can be found here: http://tensmiths.wordpress.com/2012/08/03/mixed-thoughts-on-invisible-resistance-to-tyranny/ and Ten Smiths Blog is very close to my personal feelings on the matter. This is where my distaste for the Grey Man comes into play. The basic theme of invisible resistance to tryanny is "Dwell on the past and hope some magical/mythological heroes save the day. While you sit home doing what you are told; going along to get along but resisting in your head." So those people who are rich and successful in their heads have escaped poverty right? I'm reminded of Fredrich Nietzsche's statement "A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything." The sentiment of faith without works (as the bible says is dead) holds true here as well.
However, Survival Think Tank's Grey Man Directive is vastly different from Invisible Resistance to Tyranny's Grey Man Theory. Both use the terms Greyman/Grayman/Grey Man/Gray Man and both use a strategy of camouflage (which has its various similarities). Survival Think Tank's Grey Man Directive even comes with a handy graph, I've bastardized it to show the massive differences in the two Grey Man concepts;
My adjusted graph makes it a bit easier to understand as the situation becomes worse the Grey Man Directive places a higher need for defense over stealth. With each phase having a standard discription of events relating to increasing the appearance of one's ability to defend themselves. This i functionally a sound guide and I agree with much/most of what Survival Tink Tank has done with the concept. Even feeling they have abandoned much of the concept addressed by Invisible Resistance to Tyranny.
A Psychology Today Article titled Marked for Mayhem, explains how criminals target their victims... signs that being gray might just put you in danger in Phase 0 or later Phases. The Link Below for the full article:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200812/marked-mayhem
Lists 5 specific areas that might make you seem like an easy target.
I'm not against the Grey Man Directive and find it so much more realistic then the Grey Man Theory of Invisible Resistance to Tyranny. I am against single stage solutions, one size fits all thinking and mistaking tactics for strategy. I addressed this in a YouTube video. Camouflage might be needed and should be exercised in most cases; however do not mistake it for a Strategy for Survival. A tactic is a method and action used to deal with an immidiate situation/threat, a strategy is a planned meeting of a series of goals that coenside with a single end goal.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uES-sVjvVTA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
All you wannabe Johnny "Chuck" Rambo-Van Norris types can sit down to; because the tacti-cool grey men (sometmes spelled gray men) have a lot more common sense then you do. Their strategy relies on the tactic of camouflage and the best case for the "grey man" comes from SurvivalThinkTank.com who abandons the concept almost halfway through.
Do Not Be This Guy: Adding rail and Assault Rifle Stocks to non-tactical weapons.
In all seriousness (there will be more funny images I promise you) I have always hated the "gray man" thoery as a survival strategy. I've resently been shown a blog for a "grey man directive" and while I had issues with the grey man theory; which I will try to explain in this article, I have seriously less issue with the Grey Man Directive. Viewable at this Link:
http://www.survivalthinktank.com/2011/11/grey-man-directive.html
The Grey Man Directive states the definition of the Gray Man as Grey man - an individual who possesses the skills, ability and intent to blend into any situation or surrounding without standing out, concealing his or her true skills, ability, and intent from others. I have no problem with this because the Gray Man appears like this: Prepared without threat of Mad Max World
And Like this: During Mad Max World major SHTF events...
However, Survival Think Tank's Grey Man Directive is vastly different from Invisible Resistance to Tyranny's Grey Man Theory. Both use the terms Greyman/Grayman/Grey Man/Gray Man and both use a strategy of camouflage (which has its various similarities). Survival Think Tank's Grey Man Directive even comes with a handy graph, I've bastardized it to show the massive differences in the two Grey Man concepts;
The Bastardization below is my own doing and has nothing to do with SurvivalThinkTank.com
My adjusted graph makes it a bit easier to understand as the situation becomes worse the Grey Man Directive places a higher need for defense over stealth. With each phase having a standard discription of events relating to increasing the appearance of one's ability to defend themselves. This i functionally a sound guide and I agree with much/most of what Survival Tink Tank has done with the concept. Even feeling they have abandoned much of the concept addressed by Invisible Resistance to Tyranny.
- Phase 0 is the most stealthy phase of the Grey Man Directive. It is also the safest operating environment. In this phase, your goal is to effect interaction with your environment and evade the detection of all agents as to what you really are--someone who will protect yourself and your loved ones with deadly force if threatened with congruent levels of force by a hostile agent (looter, rioter, thug, murderer, etc., etc).
- Phase 1: In this phase, the hostility threat level has increased to the point that your safety is in question. As you can see in at the top of this knowledge base article, your stealth will be compromised to allow for more kit, and firepower. Certain areas of the United States are in Phase 1 at the time of this writing; particularly areas with high incidents of flash mobs, Occupy Wall Street Protests gone bad (Oakland, CA) and racially motivated hate crimes.
- Phase 2: Well, the crap has hit the fan and the situation has retrograded into chaos. Welcome to Mad Max (not quite, but almost). This phase discusses the Grey Man Directive as it pertains to Phase 2, or all out flash mobs, rioting and looting on a massive scale in the major cities. During this phase, local, state and federal governments have lost much of their control of the cities, leaving you in charge of your own destiny, but wasn't that always the case?
- Phase 3: We are now in the final phase of the four phase Grey Man Directive. We now find ourselves in the midst of calamity during a full blown social and economic collapse. Hyperinflation has run its course and the populous as a whole has devolved to animalistic behavior. Bands of rioters, looters and bandits control the cities and roam the countryside. There is all out rioting and looting on a national/continental scale. It's quite literally a war zone in the United States during this level of the Grey Man Directive. I might even note: That the Aftermath of Katrina could be Seen as a Localized Phase 3 (Phase 2.5?).
A Psychology Today Article titled Marked for Mayhem, explains how criminals target their victims... signs that being gray might just put you in danger in Phase 0 or later Phases. The Link Below for the full article:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200812/marked-mayhem
Lists 5 specific areas that might make you seem like an easy target.
- posture,
- body language,
- pace of walking,
- length of stride,
- and awareness of environment
- Intent: Thr criminal has psychologically decided to attack.
- Interview: This is were the criminal closes with scopes out and fients innocence to get close and check out the awarenss of the intended victim.
- Positioning: Set the stage at achieving a position to attack and over whelm you suddenly. Trapping people in choke points like doorways, elevators or between cars, walls or other assailets is all a brief explaination of Positioning. Sometimes getting in your fce over a proceived slight is a means of testing your awareness an experience to knowing how to respond to certain tactics.
- Attack: This is the point were the criminal attacks; usingviolence or threa of violence to get what they want.
- Reaction: This is response to your reaction ad how the criminal views what he/she just did and your reaction to his action plays a part in this.
I'm not against the Grey Man Directive and find it so much more realistic then the Grey Man Theory of Invisible Resistance to Tyranny. I am against single stage solutions, one size fits all thinking and mistaking tactics for strategy. I addressed this in a YouTube video. Camouflage might be needed and should be exercised in most cases; however do not mistake it for a Strategy for Survival. A tactic is a method and action used to deal with an immidiate situation/threat, a strategy is a planned meeting of a series of goals that coenside with a single end goal.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uES-sVjvVTA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Modern Ninjitsu, Poisons, Pryotechnics & Explosives...
Many times in this day see events like the Terrorists acts of the Boston Marathon Bombers and hear the use of pyrotechnics and explosives. More so we see arguments for & against gun control heat up. People demanding to feel safe. The fact remains our society lives in fear of what it doesn't understand. Terrorists have become the Witches & Warlocks of the 21st Century. So what are we to do...?
Ninjutsu (Yes I know I spelled it "Ninjitsu" in the title) & Bujutsu are two distinct art forms; the former espionage and clandestine operations and the latter military strategy and combat arts. They go hand in hand and in fact a Omoto Ryu Ninjutsu teaches us we must embody three basic principles, three roles as it were; The Warrior, The Hunter & The Healer. The warrior maintains keeping personal responsibility with himself and for himself. A warrior must ensure and maintain his skills, weapons and armor. A hunter must know the ways of his prey even i his prey hunts him. A Healer must be willing to mend wounds injuries and heal old wounds.
This is the archetype of the preparation and survival sub-culture of America. The same skills these "lone wolves" learned was readily available the Internet. Does this some how mean we should censor the Internet? God no. It means the people who fear bombs, who fear poisoning and who fear guns must realize the difference in fearing it and respecting it. If the terrorists are scary because they have such knowledge then what is stopping any other person from learning these skills? Whats to stop a person from buying a gun to protect themselves from criminals who have guns? So misguided notion the Police will come save us all. Did the Police save the people in Boston? Sure, after the bomb went off. Did the police save the children at Sandyhook? Not even after the shooter killed 20 children, they showed up after Adam Lanza shot himself.
Truth is the best person to save you is YOU and, that's just like the best person to contain and put out a grease fire on your stove is you; don't call the fire department and wait for the house to burn down. That whole component of personal responsibility is lacking in the minds of many people in the US. Its a weakness we cannot afford to have and in fact do. The skills to wire a simple circuit and a few chemical formulas from the Anarchist Cookbook can build anything from cell phone wired "call from a world away" bombs to simple light and throw pipe bombs. Anyone can read information in poisonous plants and animals or find out how to make Potassium Nitrate to make gun powder from scratch. The STEN sub-machine gun was designed so that it could be built with hand tools by guerrillas in WWII. Anyone can learn combat tactics off the Internet or old movies; not the crappy 80s movies like Commando but Rambo First Blood and Micheal Collins give good examples of some combat principles. Modern movies like Zero-Dark Thirty show case better information on tactics. While videos of tactical training show how to employ and handle weapons in the present on YouTube.
The age of information has in dead made criminals more dangerous but it can also be used by everyday people to become more knowledgeable. Beyond IEDs, Combat Tactics, Hand-to-hand Combat, Sentry Removal & Knife Fighting, one can acquire the knowledge of first aid, herbs, de-escalation, electronics, pluming, mechanics, sailing, skiing and other skills that one need only test, train and develop as an individual. Why is it that self-improvement is use and abused by those who would do us harm but not by us make our lives safer, fuller, funner and learn through experiment and self-education. Why is we cling to fear... dwell on disadvantage and hardship... why is it we do not (as my good friend Ashida Kim has said many times) "Enjoy the Great Game of Life..."
Ninjutsu (Yes I know I spelled it "Ninjitsu" in the title) & Bujutsu are two distinct art forms; the former espionage and clandestine operations and the latter military strategy and combat arts. They go hand in hand and in fact a Omoto Ryu Ninjutsu teaches us we must embody three basic principles, three roles as it were; The Warrior, The Hunter & The Healer. The warrior maintains keeping personal responsibility with himself and for himself. A warrior must ensure and maintain his skills, weapons and armor. A hunter must know the ways of his prey even i his prey hunts him. A Healer must be willing to mend wounds injuries and heal old wounds.
This is the archetype of the preparation and survival sub-culture of America. The same skills these "lone wolves" learned was readily available the Internet. Does this some how mean we should censor the Internet? God no. It means the people who fear bombs, who fear poisoning and who fear guns must realize the difference in fearing it and respecting it. If the terrorists are scary because they have such knowledge then what is stopping any other person from learning these skills? Whats to stop a person from buying a gun to protect themselves from criminals who have guns? So misguided notion the Police will come save us all. Did the Police save the people in Boston? Sure, after the bomb went off. Did the police save the children at Sandyhook? Not even after the shooter killed 20 children, they showed up after Adam Lanza shot himself.
Truth is the best person to save you is YOU and, that's just like the best person to contain and put out a grease fire on your stove is you; don't call the fire department and wait for the house to burn down. That whole component of personal responsibility is lacking in the minds of many people in the US. Its a weakness we cannot afford to have and in fact do. The skills to wire a simple circuit and a few chemical formulas from the Anarchist Cookbook can build anything from cell phone wired "call from a world away" bombs to simple light and throw pipe bombs. Anyone can read information in poisonous plants and animals or find out how to make Potassium Nitrate to make gun powder from scratch. The STEN sub-machine gun was designed so that it could be built with hand tools by guerrillas in WWII. Anyone can learn combat tactics off the Internet or old movies; not the crappy 80s movies like Commando but Rambo First Blood and Micheal Collins give good examples of some combat principles. Modern movies like Zero-Dark Thirty show case better information on tactics. While videos of tactical training show how to employ and handle weapons in the present on YouTube.
The age of information has in dead made criminals more dangerous but it can also be used by everyday people to become more knowledgeable. Beyond IEDs, Combat Tactics, Hand-to-hand Combat, Sentry Removal & Knife Fighting, one can acquire the knowledge of first aid, herbs, de-escalation, electronics, pluming, mechanics, sailing, skiing and other skills that one need only test, train and develop as an individual. Why is it that self-improvement is use and abused by those who would do us harm but not by us make our lives safer, fuller, funner and learn through experiment and self-education. Why is we cling to fear... dwell on disadvantage and hardship... why is it we do not (as my good friend Ashida Kim has said many times) "Enjoy the Great Game of Life..."
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
The Last "Last Ninja:" The Fraud of the Ninjutsu Lineage Arguements
If you have spent any time on martial arts forums or facebook you notice that the issue with ninjutsu is lineage. So lets discuss lineage...
Before we get further let me say that I would like the thank Antony Cummings & the Historical Ninjutsu Research Team for translating the Densho and Historical Ninjutsu Research Group for helping to throw some ideas around on Facebook. So thank you all.
Now then let me start by addressing the ninja lineage issue in itself, as such... There is no verifiable ninja lineage proven to exist in the 20th Century and therefor none in the 21st Century. That's right my lineage is basically someone told me "this is ninjutsu" and I've told my students "this is ninjutsu" then Antony Cummings pops up with translated scrolls and says "This is Ninjutsu!"
So we know what ninjutsu is and what it isn't. Imagine a coin; this coin is warfare. On one side is the heads; the public image of combat skills, strategy, tactics etc. On the other side is the tails; except our tails is just a blank space because the tails is invisible and unseen. Ninjutsu is not the art of invisibility but the invisible (unseen) art, its practice is not in stealth killing or hiding but in gathering information, infiltration and investigation. Or as explained by others ninjutsu is Espionage, Sabotage & Assassination; though the use of assassination is more geared toward enemy agents who themselves are seeking to gather information and subvert your side's own operations then killing enemy leaders and politicians.
Oddly enough the first "Last Ninja" was Fujita Seiko who never stated if had or hadn't passed on his ninjutsu lineage and while it is assumed he didn't it is of little consequence at this point. The fact remains (again thanks to the efforts of Anthony Cummings while in Japan) a copy of the Nakano Espionage Course revealed Fujita Seiko did teach ninjutsu at the famed Nakano Espionage School in Japan during WW2 and that he taught from the Bansenshukai. Two distinct versions of this text exist, one for Koga (Koka) Shinobi and another for Iga Shinobi. Both are basically the same text with only a slight difference in how things are compiled. So for a "fraudulent ninja" with no proven lineage Fujita Seiko had a hand in training modern Japanese Espionage Agents during WW2. To be honest, that's pretty **Bleeping** Ninja!
Now to consider the issue of whether Fujita Seiko actually passed on his ninjutsu to someone else? We don't know, if ninjutsu is meant to be an invisible art then would even have passed it on to a new Soke? He never stated he wished to let the art die. Of course he never stated he wished to see it kept alive either. The fact remains ninjutsu is not a martial art and is separate from the combat methods of soldiers. It does not mean the Shinobi/Ninja is not trained as a soldier/warrior but that the combat training and soldiering skills are separate from the espionage skills, trained differently and hidden from the eyes of regular soldiers.
Preface & InterductionPhilosophy of Successful Warfare & StrategyHistorical Examples of Successful Warfare & StrategyIndex of the Volumes
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Volume 2: Seishin
Sincerity, Motivation & Moral Strength of Intention
Correct approach to Life & Death
Volume 3: Shochi
Methods For Managing a Ninja Organization
Using Ninja Successfully
Conditions for Stopping Enemy Agents
Methods for Infiltrating An Enemy's Base
Volume 4: Yo-Nin
Various Methods For Observing The Enemy's Intentions:
*Continuous observation through agents placed during peaceful times
*Location of agents after war breaks out
*Observation of the geographical layout of the enemy's territory
*Observation of the enemy's force numbers, capabilities and other strenghts
*Observation of the enemy's strategy and positioning
*Nokisaru: (The Eaves Monkey) Agents who specilize in watching and listening (Ancient Application of using Audio-Video Bugs and Wiretaps)
Volumes 5, 6 & 7: In-Nin
Shinobi Yochi- Ninja Night Attack/Raid Techniques
Goto- Mugging & Assailent Techniques
Methods Of:
*Stealth
*Deception
*Confusion Tactics
*Surprise Attacks & Ambushes
*Disguises
*Sneaking In & Burglary
*Capturing Enemys
*Betrayal
*Individual Fighting
*Group Hit & Scatter Tactics
Volume 8: TenjiTentoki {Heaven Time} Tenmon {Heaven's Gate}
Methods For Interpreting The Coditions InThe Enviroment:
*Weather Forcasting
*Tide Tables
*Moon Phases
*Determination Of Direction & Location By Observing The Stars
*Divination
*Predicting Future Trends & Happenings
Volume 9: Nin-ki
Toki- Climbing Gear
Suiki- Water Gear
Kaiki- Entering Gear
Physical Dimensions & Specifications of Equipment
Volume 10:
Kaki- Fire Gear:
*Explosives *Smoke Bombs
Medicines
Poisons
Sleeping Potions
Formulas
While the Bansenshukai deals with a selective concern of small teams tactics (considered skirmish tactics in their time) it has nothing on ninjutsu as a martial arts system teaching either joint manipulation or striking, nothing to hold a sword or shoot a bow and arrow. These are soldier skills and a special forces unit does not shoot a gun any different then an infantry soldier fresh out of basic, except that the Special Forces soldier trains more and has more experience.
So what does this have to do with the Last Ninja or Last Ninjas that seem to be popping up? Quite simply, while Fujita Seiko may or may not have been a Soke of a tradition, he was an instructor for the Nakano Espionage School training spies and commandos during World War 2.
The Last Ninja title is now claimed by Hatsumi, who has no connection to ninjutsu or a proven lineage; except that claims a higher order of Ninjutsu called Ninpo & he learned it from Takamatsu. In fact much of Takamatsu-den lineage claims to be false. Lets examine it and then why.
Toshitsugu (Chosui) Takamatsu claims to have inherited several schools from Toda Shinryuken, these schools are;
Gyokko-ryū/Gyokko-ryū Kosshijutsu
Kotō-ryū Koppōjutsu
Shinden Fudo Ryu/Shinden Fudō-ryū Dakentaijutsu
Togakure Ryu Ninpo Taijutsu
Gyokushin Ryu Ninpo
Kumogakure Ryu Ninpo
As Toda Shinryuken Masamitsu is listen in Volume 1 of the Bugei Ryuha Daijiten as having died 4 years before Tokamatsu's birth, however this was not fixed until the 3rd edition of the Encyclopedia of Martial Arts; the Bugei Ryuha Daijiten, after being addressed in the 2nd edition. And the existence of fictional characters the equal of Robinhood and King Arthur in the west was stated in the first volume and corrected by Takamatsu other questions require answering.
How come as a military man and sword instructor no record of Toda Shinryuken exists?
How come as a bone setter no tax records exist?
How come Takamatsu placed his death 4 years before his own birth?
The reality Takamatsu seems to have made up Toda Shinryuken after being forbidden from teaching claiming a ninjutsu lineage through the Kuki family. You see the Amatsu Tatara claims a direct transmission from Babylon via a Chaldean King who brought a great library of knowledge to tribal Japan. While Takamatsu claims this knowledge was in the Kuki Family's possession and has a creditable lineage to the Kuki Family, the Family denies the existence of the Amatsu Tatara before Takamatsu "discovered it" and disputes Takamatsu's claim to destroyed scrolls and his own copies of the documents.
So automatically six of the nine traditions are proven false, looking at the issues with Takamatsu's story more so then his lineage and his habit of making grandiose claims; such as hiss letter detailing his "secret spy missions" in China during World War 2; Takamatsu had bragged that a busted ear drum (a training injury) prevented him from joining the military during that time. More so, as proven by the Kuki family the destroyed scroll claim is false due to the Densho being held in wood cases that protected them; while their are missing scrolls these have been lost to time and while their was a fire several scrolls which were "burned" merely had their wooden cases scorched while the scrolls inside where protected from the damage.
Many Bujinkan "scholars" point to Shindenfudo Ryu Daikentaijutsu as being proof of Toda Shinryuken's existence. This is relatively true except that the Shindenfudo Ryu studied by Kuki Takei from the Kuki family of Kukishin Ryu and a Senior student of Jugaro Kano the founder of Judo was not a student of Toda Shinryuken. In fact their is a style of Shinden Fudo Ryu Jujutsu with a completely different lineage and no connection to the Bujinkan or Takamatsu except that it was studied by Kuki Takei. This lineage of Shinden Fudo Ryu Jujutsu and Judo are the sources of Baritsu; an English Self-Defense System created by Edward William Barton-Wright in 1898. Barton was an Engineer who spent several years in Japan.
It is therefore easy to assume in light of the other falsehoods that either;
a) Takamatsu invented the Kuki Takei connection to Shindenfudo Ryu or
b) Takamatsu added Shinden Fudo Ryu to the list of arts taught to him by Toda Shinryuken (a man yet unproven to exist) to make the fictitious Toda seem more real by adding a legitimate martial art to the fictional arts passed down to him by a fictional master.
So no argument stands as none of these six ryu ha have been proven and the man Takamatsu claims as the source seems non-existent.
This leaves only Kukishinden Ryu, Takagi Yoshin Ryu & Gikan Ryu.
*Kukishinden is a splinter from the Kuki family's Kukishin Ryu formed by Takamatsu. While the Kuki family doesn't wish to speak of Takamatsu save for clarifying the destruction story to be a falsehood & to label the Amatsu Tatara as the work of Takamatsu not much else is gleamed. Whether Takamatsu broke away from the Kukishin Ryu and founded his own ryu-ha Kukishinden to become Soke of own traditional is debated. The fact is Kukishinden Ryu is a verifiable and traceable system to the Kukishin family.
*Takagi Yoshin Ryu under Mizuta Yoshitaro is also not disputed and Takamatsu was in possession of the Takagi Yoshin Ryu Densho to validate his claim.
*Gikan Ryu has some dispute as there are two different lineages claiming Takamatsu inherited/learned from both Mitzuta Yoshitaro and Ishitani Matsutaro Takekage; yet no proof exists for Ishitani's existence and a supposedly claimed grave site with the name doesn't prove this person knew, taught or inherited a lineage to pass on to Takamatsu.
So we see 2 and half (I give Gikan Ryu a half value) lineages that are proven under Takamatsu and none of them are ninjutsu or have anything to do with ninjutsu except that Takamatsu experienced the Ninja Boom of Japan in the 1930s and 50 years later Hatsumi a student of Takamatsu mass marketed the ninja image during that time.
In 1969, Donn Draeger wrote in Comprihensive Asian Fighting Arts "The late Fujita Seiko was the last of the living ninja, having served in assignments for the Imperial Government during the Taisho and Showa eras. No ninja exist today. Modern authorities such as T. Hatsumi are responsible for most research being done on ninjutsu."
Fujita was also called the last true ninja in his obituary in 1966 published in a tourist magazine in Japan. Despite claims that Fujita didn't teach ninjutsu at Nakano has been disproved by historical research done by Antony Cummings, however is was only a 8 hour course of study.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CZV1YtII4w8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The Iga Ninja Museum (a tourist attraction and not an academic institution) claims the "last ninja" is their honorary directer Jinichi Kawakami; however he claims only to be the Soke of Koga Ban family Ninjutsu both Iga and Koka Ryu arts.
Hatsumi claims title of "last ninja" from Takamatsu whom Hatsumi believed was divine (yes they worship him in the Shinto sense of paying homage to spirits) and named his Bujinkan Dojo after Takamatsu; Bu: War or pretaining to War, Jin: God or Divine Spirit & Kan: Hall or Domain. Bujinkan literally translates to Hall of the Warrior God or War God's Hall.
In his 2006 book Takamatsu Toshitsugu: The Last Shinobi Wolfgang Ettig refers to Takamatsu as the "last shinobi" citing unproven and fanciful tells of Takamatsu fighting death matches in China and similar unproven tells. Such as his self-established Moko no Tora (Tiger of Monogolia) title. Surely a famed fighter of several "death matches" who carried out espionage activies for the Japanese government and known by such a name to his enemies would have some proof?
Consider that (picking on Hanshi Frank Dux) a "notorious ninja fraud" Frank W. Dux is often reputed by his enemies as having been proven to have lied about the whole Blood Sport Kumite fighting event; had taken Soldier of Fortune Magazine in court and proved they used unverified claims and never investigated the facts. Consider that an alleged fraud who sued Jean Claude Van Dam actually attended the Iran-Contra hearings as a witness, whose claims to being an (untrained) agent for the CIA was verified by an assistant director for the CIA, a Naval Intelligence Officer and a former Soviet Officer who defected to the US. Oh and those alleged sugared glass bottles he broke in Bierce France and the alleged fake bullet proof glass is listed as real in the Genius Book of Records.
So Frank Dux isn't a fraud? You decide my opinion is, no. Nor does he claim to be the "Last Ninja" or such nonsense. The fact remains the Last Ninja title has a very specific point to it. Money...
Let us examine Shidoshi Richard Van Donk's site advertising a video ninjutsu course, that takes you up to shodan; though fine print says training requires direct testing for shodan. But the second image is priceless; it lists other courses...
* Nidan Course for you second degree black belt
* Sandan Course for your third degree black belt
* A Shidoshi-Ho Course teaching you to be an instructor
* A Ninja Masters Course teaching you to go from beginning to Godan (5th degree black belt) requiring you to test in Japan before Hatsumi in Japan.
Shihan Van Donk isn't the only one doing this;
That's right more mail order black belts offering authentic ninjutsu; this is little different then video self-defense courses & I don't believe these courses are without merit as a tool for learning. They are marketed towards a single end goal. Offering an instant "bad ass certificate" that proves you are a "bad ass" without having to put yourself at risk. Much like the Military Hand-to-Hand combat courses and Civilian Self-Defense Courses they offer you a good feeling and little chance to exercise those skills; to prove them in a training or real world situation.
The problem comes from lack of usage or experience with these skills; its been covered ninjutsu is not fighting arts & these courses do not offer anything in regards to espionage or intelligence operations.
Instead they offer a Hollywood image of being a deadly ninja assassin with black suit and sword, not very in line with the Bansenshukai is it?
More so looking at the Ninja Master Courses and Shidoshi-Ho courses we see a present trend of "home schooled martial artists" becoming instructors. Claiming a legitimate and authentic system, which isn't in any way related to historical ninjutsu and, many spending their time on the Internet attacking "fraudulent ninja practicers" to boost their own self-importance.
Looking first at Secrets of the Ninja, we see a contents page; with the first subject after the preface on Ninjutsu History speaks of espionage as a weapon, followed by a basic coverage of ninjutsu dealing with meditation for inner strength and kuji kiri. This compares with the spirit of the Bansenshukai Volumes 1 & 2, which is considered by many historical researchers the "Bible of Ninjutsu."
The rest deals with In-nin/inpo and tonin/tonpo which also follows along the lines of Volumes 5, 6 & 7 of the Bansenshukai but also takes elements from Volumes3 & 9 in spirit.
So elements in the section on tonpo would follow along with the spirit of sections on Yonin and using ninja successfully.
Before we get further let me say that I would like the thank Antony Cummings & the Historical Ninjutsu Research Team for translating the Densho and Historical Ninjutsu Research Group for helping to throw some ideas around on Facebook. So thank you all.
Now then let me start by addressing the ninja lineage issue in itself, as such... There is no verifiable ninja lineage proven to exist in the 20th Century and therefor none in the 21st Century. That's right my lineage is basically someone told me "this is ninjutsu" and I've told my students "this is ninjutsu" then Antony Cummings pops up with translated scrolls and says "This is Ninjutsu!"
So we know what ninjutsu is and what it isn't. Imagine a coin; this coin is warfare. On one side is the heads; the public image of combat skills, strategy, tactics etc. On the other side is the tails; except our tails is just a blank space because the tails is invisible and unseen. Ninjutsu is not the art of invisibility but the invisible (unseen) art, its practice is not in stealth killing or hiding but in gathering information, infiltration and investigation. Or as explained by others ninjutsu is Espionage, Sabotage & Assassination; though the use of assassination is more geared toward enemy agents who themselves are seeking to gather information and subvert your side's own operations then killing enemy leaders and politicians.
Oddly enough the first "Last Ninja" was Fujita Seiko who never stated if had or hadn't passed on his ninjutsu lineage and while it is assumed he didn't it is of little consequence at this point. The fact remains (again thanks to the efforts of Anthony Cummings while in Japan) a copy of the Nakano Espionage Course revealed Fujita Seiko did teach ninjutsu at the famed Nakano Espionage School in Japan during WW2 and that he taught from the Bansenshukai. Two distinct versions of this text exist, one for Koga (Koka) Shinobi and another for Iga Shinobi. Both are basically the same text with only a slight difference in how things are compiled. So for a "fraudulent ninja" with no proven lineage Fujita Seiko had a hand in training modern Japanese Espionage Agents during WW2. To be honest, that's pretty **Bleeping** Ninja!
Now to consider the issue of whether Fujita Seiko actually passed on his ninjutsu to someone else? We don't know, if ninjutsu is meant to be an invisible art then would even have passed it on to a new Soke? He never stated he wished to let the art die. Of course he never stated he wished to see it kept alive either. The fact remains ninjutsu is not a martial art and is separate from the combat methods of soldiers. It does not mean the Shinobi/Ninja is not trained as a soldier/warrior but that the combat training and soldiering skills are separate from the espionage skills, trained differently and hidden from the eyes of regular soldiers.
Bansenshukai
Volume Index & Contents
Volume 1: JoPreface & InterductionPhilosophy of Successful Warfare & StrategyHistorical Examples of Successful Warfare & StrategyIndex of the Volumes
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Volume 2: Seishin
Sincerity, Motivation & Moral Strength of Intention
Correct approach to Life & Death
Volume 3: Shochi
Methods For Managing a Ninja Organization
Using Ninja Successfully
Conditions for Stopping Enemy Agents
Methods for Infiltrating An Enemy's Base
Volume 4: Yo-Nin
Various Methods For Observing The Enemy's Intentions:
*Continuous observation through agents placed during peaceful times
*Location of agents after war breaks out
*Observation of the geographical layout of the enemy's territory
*Observation of the enemy's force numbers, capabilities and other strenghts
*Observation of the enemy's strategy and positioning
*Nokisaru: (The Eaves Monkey) Agents who specilize in watching and listening (Ancient Application of using Audio-Video Bugs and Wiretaps)
Volumes 5, 6 & 7: In-Nin
Shinobi Yochi- Ninja Night Attack/Raid Techniques
Goto- Mugging & Assailent Techniques
Methods Of:
*Stealth
*Deception
*Confusion Tactics
*Surprise Attacks & Ambushes
*Disguises
*Sneaking In & Burglary
*Capturing Enemys
*Betrayal
*Individual Fighting
*Group Hit & Scatter Tactics
Volume 8: TenjiTentoki {Heaven Time} Tenmon {Heaven's Gate}
Methods For Interpreting The Coditions InThe Enviroment:
*Weather Forcasting
*Tide Tables
*Moon Phases
*Determination Of Direction & Location By Observing The Stars
*Divination
*Predicting Future Trends & Happenings
Volume 9: Nin-ki
Toki- Climbing Gear
Suiki- Water Gear
Kaiki- Entering Gear
Physical Dimensions & Specifications of Equipment
Volume 10:
Kaki- Fire Gear:
*Explosives *Smoke Bombs
Medicines
Poisons
Sleeping Potions
Formulas
While the Bansenshukai deals with a selective concern of small teams tactics (considered skirmish tactics in their time) it has nothing on ninjutsu as a martial arts system teaching either joint manipulation or striking, nothing to hold a sword or shoot a bow and arrow. These are soldier skills and a special forces unit does not shoot a gun any different then an infantry soldier fresh out of basic, except that the Special Forces soldier trains more and has more experience.
So what does this have to do with the Last Ninja or Last Ninjas that seem to be popping up? Quite simply, while Fujita Seiko may or may not have been a Soke of a tradition, he was an instructor for the Nakano Espionage School training spies and commandos during World War 2.
The Last Ninja title is now claimed by Hatsumi, who has no connection to ninjutsu or a proven lineage; except that claims a higher order of Ninjutsu called Ninpo & he learned it from Takamatsu. In fact much of Takamatsu-den lineage claims to be false. Lets examine it and then why.
Toshitsugu (Chosui) Takamatsu claims to have inherited several schools from Toda Shinryuken, these schools are;
As Toda Shinryuken Masamitsu is listen in Volume 1 of the Bugei Ryuha Daijiten as having died 4 years before Tokamatsu's birth, however this was not fixed until the 3rd edition of the Encyclopedia of Martial Arts; the Bugei Ryuha Daijiten, after being addressed in the 2nd edition. And the existence of fictional characters the equal of Robinhood and King Arthur in the west was stated in the first volume and corrected by Takamatsu other questions require answering.
How come as a military man and sword instructor no record of Toda Shinryuken exists?
How come as a bone setter no tax records exist?
How come Takamatsu placed his death 4 years before his own birth?
The reality Takamatsu seems to have made up Toda Shinryuken after being forbidden from teaching claiming a ninjutsu lineage through the Kuki family. You see the Amatsu Tatara claims a direct transmission from Babylon via a Chaldean King who brought a great library of knowledge to tribal Japan. While Takamatsu claims this knowledge was in the Kuki Family's possession and has a creditable lineage to the Kuki Family, the Family denies the existence of the Amatsu Tatara before Takamatsu "discovered it" and disputes Takamatsu's claim to destroyed scrolls and his own copies of the documents.
So automatically six of the nine traditions are proven false, looking at the issues with Takamatsu's story more so then his lineage and his habit of making grandiose claims; such as hiss letter detailing his "secret spy missions" in China during World War 2; Takamatsu had bragged that a busted ear drum (a training injury) prevented him from joining the military during that time. More so, as proven by the Kuki family the destroyed scroll claim is false due to the Densho being held in wood cases that protected them; while their are missing scrolls these have been lost to time and while their was a fire several scrolls which were "burned" merely had their wooden cases scorched while the scrolls inside where protected from the damage.
Many Bujinkan "scholars" point to Shindenfudo Ryu Daikentaijutsu as being proof of Toda Shinryuken's existence. This is relatively true except that the Shindenfudo Ryu studied by Kuki Takei from the Kuki family of Kukishin Ryu and a Senior student of Jugaro Kano the founder of Judo was not a student of Toda Shinryuken. In fact their is a style of Shinden Fudo Ryu Jujutsu with a completely different lineage and no connection to the Bujinkan or Takamatsu except that it was studied by Kuki Takei. This lineage of Shinden Fudo Ryu Jujutsu and Judo are the sources of Baritsu; an English Self-Defense System created by Edward William Barton-Wright in 1898. Barton was an Engineer who spent several years in Japan.
It is therefore easy to assume in light of the other falsehoods that either;
a) Takamatsu invented the Kuki Takei connection to Shindenfudo Ryu or
b) Takamatsu added Shinden Fudo Ryu to the list of arts taught to him by Toda Shinryuken (a man yet unproven to exist) to make the fictitious Toda seem more real by adding a legitimate martial art to the fictional arts passed down to him by a fictional master.
So no argument stands as none of these six ryu ha have been proven and the man Takamatsu claims as the source seems non-existent.
This leaves only Kukishinden Ryu, Takagi Yoshin Ryu & Gikan Ryu.
*Kukishinden is a splinter from the Kuki family's Kukishin Ryu formed by Takamatsu. While the Kuki family doesn't wish to speak of Takamatsu save for clarifying the destruction story to be a falsehood & to label the Amatsu Tatara as the work of Takamatsu not much else is gleamed. Whether Takamatsu broke away from the Kukishin Ryu and founded his own ryu-ha Kukishinden to become Soke of own traditional is debated. The fact is Kukishinden Ryu is a verifiable and traceable system to the Kukishin family.
*Takagi Yoshin Ryu under Mizuta Yoshitaro is also not disputed and Takamatsu was in possession of the Takagi Yoshin Ryu Densho to validate his claim.
*Gikan Ryu has some dispute as there are two different lineages claiming Takamatsu inherited/learned from both Mitzuta Yoshitaro and Ishitani Matsutaro Takekage; yet no proof exists for Ishitani's existence and a supposedly claimed grave site with the name doesn't prove this person knew, taught or inherited a lineage to pass on to Takamatsu.
So we see 2 and half (I give Gikan Ryu a half value) lineages that are proven under Takamatsu and none of them are ninjutsu or have anything to do with ninjutsu except that Takamatsu experienced the Ninja Boom of Japan in the 1930s and 50 years later Hatsumi a student of Takamatsu mass marketed the ninja image during that time.
In 1969, Donn Draeger wrote in Comprihensive Asian Fighting Arts "The late Fujita Seiko was the last of the living ninja, having served in assignments for the Imperial Government during the Taisho and Showa eras. No ninja exist today. Modern authorities such as T. Hatsumi are responsible for most research being done on ninjutsu."
Fujita was also called the last true ninja in his obituary in 1966 published in a tourist magazine in Japan. Despite claims that Fujita didn't teach ninjutsu at Nakano has been disproved by historical research done by Antony Cummings, however is was only a 8 hour course of study.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CZV1YtII4w8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The Iga Ninja Museum (a tourist attraction and not an academic institution) claims the "last ninja" is their honorary directer Jinichi Kawakami; however he claims only to be the Soke of Koga Ban family Ninjutsu both Iga and Koka Ryu arts.
Hatsumi claims title of "last ninja" from Takamatsu whom Hatsumi believed was divine (yes they worship him in the Shinto sense of paying homage to spirits) and named his Bujinkan Dojo after Takamatsu; Bu: War or pretaining to War, Jin: God or Divine Spirit & Kan: Hall or Domain. Bujinkan literally translates to Hall of the Warrior God or War God's Hall.
In his 2006 book Takamatsu Toshitsugu: The Last Shinobi Wolfgang Ettig refers to Takamatsu as the "last shinobi" citing unproven and fanciful tells of Takamatsu fighting death matches in China and similar unproven tells. Such as his self-established Moko no Tora (Tiger of Monogolia) title. Surely a famed fighter of several "death matches" who carried out espionage activies for the Japanese government and known by such a name to his enemies would have some proof?
Consider that (picking on Hanshi Frank Dux) a "notorious ninja fraud" Frank W. Dux is often reputed by his enemies as having been proven to have lied about the whole Blood Sport Kumite fighting event; had taken Soldier of Fortune Magazine in court and proved they used unverified claims and never investigated the facts. Consider that an alleged fraud who sued Jean Claude Van Dam actually attended the Iran-Contra hearings as a witness, whose claims to being an (untrained) agent for the CIA was verified by an assistant director for the CIA, a Naval Intelligence Officer and a former Soviet Officer who defected to the US. Oh and those alleged sugared glass bottles he broke in Bierce France and the alleged fake bullet proof glass is listed as real in the Genius Book of Records.
So Frank Dux isn't a fraud? You decide my opinion is, no. Nor does he claim to be the "Last Ninja" or such nonsense. The fact remains the Last Ninja title has a very specific point to it. Money...
Let us examine Shidoshi Richard Van Donk's site advertising a video ninjutsu course, that takes you up to shodan; though fine print says training requires direct testing for shodan. But the second image is priceless; it lists other courses...
* Nidan Course for you second degree black belt
* Sandan Course for your third degree black belt
* A Shidoshi-Ho Course teaching you to be an instructor
* A Ninja Masters Course teaching you to go from beginning to Godan (5th degree black belt) requiring you to test in Japan before Hatsumi in Japan.
Shihan Van Donk isn't the only one doing this;
That's right more mail order black belts offering authentic ninjutsu; this is little different then video self-defense courses & I don't believe these courses are without merit as a tool for learning. They are marketed towards a single end goal. Offering an instant "bad ass certificate" that proves you are a "bad ass" without having to put yourself at risk. Much like the Military Hand-to-Hand combat courses and Civilian Self-Defense Courses they offer you a good feeling and little chance to exercise those skills; to prove them in a training or real world situation.
The problem comes from lack of usage or experience with these skills; its been covered ninjutsu is not fighting arts & these courses do not offer anything in regards to espionage or intelligence operations.
Instead they offer a Hollywood image of being a deadly ninja assassin with black suit and sword, not very in line with the Bansenshukai is it?
More so looking at the Ninja Master Courses and Shidoshi-Ho courses we see a present trend of "home schooled martial artists" becoming instructors. Claiming a legitimate and authentic system, which isn't in any way related to historical ninjutsu and, many spending their time on the Internet attacking "fraudulent ninja practicers" to boost their own self-importance.
Looks like I'm buying a Sham Wow!
with Ninjas...
The fact remains several shidoshi-ho (godan ranked instructors) are listed in the Success Stories section who have used this course and are now instructors operating Dojos, some with websites listed.
Then your "home schooled ninja master" becomes a home schooled instructor and teaches your kids the "secrets of the ninja." I think I mentioned Sham & Wow at some point (joking by the way). While this has value as a learning tool; something I don't discount and in all honesty most instructors from creditable arts, lineages and organization often have little real world experience. I myself was a student of McDojo baby sitting service and except for a few school yard fights and teenage stupidity (ok a lot of teenage stupidity) had to get experience the hard way. It is honestly better to be untested then to have to test yourself when you are unprepared from academic learning, my personal experiences and observations after the experiences had ended.
Looking at the Ninjutsu IBDA Course Curriculum; this course who's subject matter is martial arts and fighting techniques; nothing concerning ninjutsu as listed in the Bansenshukai or other historically research materials.
All the way up to judan (10th Degree Blackbelt) ninjutsu is not covered and while a passing glance does uncover the mention of Togakure Ryu we have the problem; excluding the lineage issues, that Togakure Ryu is mostly weapons with little unarmed "taijutsu" and hardly any espionage mentioned or taught.
How does this compare the "frauds" like Frank Dux and Ashida Kim; well Hanshi Dux was a private contractor contracted to operate as a spy; an espionage agent. I don't have much concerning frame work for teaching as Hanshi Dux desires to keep it a secret of he and his students. Grandmaster Ashida Kim (Admittedly a Stage/Ring Name); allegedly Radford Davis Jr and Christopher Hunter, seems to follow the course of what is historically accurate.
The rest deals with In-nin/inpo and tonin/tonpo which also follows along the lines of Volumes 5, 6 & 7 of the Bansenshukai but also takes elements from Volumes3 & 9 in spirit.
So elements in the section on tonpo would follow along with the spirit of sections on Yonin and using ninja successfully.
Looking at the contents from Ninja Hands of Death; three things immediately jump at the reader...
1) The Breakdown of sections Kata Dante, Submission Holds, Ninjutsu & Post Script...
Ashida Kim did not consider ninjutsu a martial art in itself but separated it from martial arts techniques. This book copy written in 1985 comes before Historical Ninjutsu Researcher Anthony Cummings addressed this very element in the modern image of ninjutsu.
2) That Ashida Kim refers to Nine Methods of Prevailing...
What are these nine methods of prevailing that are different then Kata Dante; a striking and trapping form or grappling skills? They are over views of strategic principles of social infiltration and manipulation. I would suggest one reads the book for details; http://www.amazon.com/Ninja-Hands-Death-Ashida-Kim/product-reviews/0873643224
3) A post script titled the World's Deadliest Fighting Secrets...
While this seems mostly geared toward combat on the title alone, one cannot discount the words of the post script. That is that all warfare whether personal combat or fielding armies is a matter strategy and Ashida Kim offers methods of attacking by strategy in this post script.
So why is there such a competition fueled by people trying to validate themselves through Internet attacks on business competitors, empty titles of the "Last Ninja" and learn at home mastery courses? Well because this is America. Because some people want to feel good as opposed to doing good works and because quite simply its a desire to validate one's self and one's choices. Many times we are unaware that their are no good or bad, right or wrong choices. Our opinions and actions are so irrelevant to all but ourselves we cannot see how unimportant they are.
In the end its whats we do with what we have. I don't want to be the "Last Ninja" nor would I care to learn an 800 year old tradition. I'm to focused on being the First Ninja; the first to design a thermal blocking shinobi gi, the first to develop a sniper course and add modern firearms to the curriculum, the first to teach strategy, intelligence warfare and espionage tactics openly to the public. If my lineage is a fraud; so what my methods (methods I discussed on this blog) have worked for me and a real life or death situation. I can't be accused of giving away national security secrets concerning espionage training if my ninjutsu is real or fake and I make no claim to being a CIA or otherwise operative.
In the end things are what you make them and you get out what you put in, if you work hard those courses might benefit you. But, if you spend all your time validating choices you made and not working hard to achieve results, you gain only the illusion of progress.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
2012 The Year of the Black Dragon
The Year of Black Dragon Ninjitsu:
This the Year of 2012 is the Year of the Black Dragon in according to the Chinese Calendar. It has been an adventurious year for me and it has sparked a great deal of interest in the methods I have used to gather information concerning mt court cases and police officers using informants to establish their own form of organized crime here in Beckley, West Virginia.
It was one of these methods (Chikari No Jutsu) I discribed in an earilier Blog: Keep Your Enemies Closer that sparked a great deal of attention to the subject of Yonin and Espionage Training in the Black Dragon Ninjutsu System. As Such I have decided to include a slightly less then full docturine of the Choho No Jutsu (Art of Espionage) used in the Modern Black Dragon Ninjutsu system.
The first edition of Black Dragon Ninjutsu was small red book pamplet that was very well recieved and many noted I placed more concern with training then I did with techniques. The Second Edition was a Home Study Course Handbook and this the Third Edition dedicated to my friend and mentor Grandmaster Ashida Kim contains a great deal of Espionage Strategy and Tactics...
A great deal of contraversy surrounds my association with the Black Dragon Fighting Society, Ashida Kim and Frank Dux, it is a little known fact that the Omoto Ryu claims some connection with the Kyokuryukai of Japan. This my interest in seeking out Grandmaster Ashida Kim and membership in the BDFS which shares similar roots. As such this 3rd Edition (and their will be no more editions of Black Dragon Ninjutsu; though I may publish a Black Dragon Ninjutsu II at an unknown later date) discusses and discloses the greatest secrets of Ninjutsu Yonin; the ability to Penitrate while Seen. With a virtual second book added to the origional 2nd Edition Text which has been expanded in itself dealing with information gathering, psychological manipulation, control and methods for analyzing human behavior. I truly hope this final edition does itself and the Year of its release the Honor it deserves.
Black Dragon Ninjitsu is Available in both Paperback and Hardcover Editions
Paper Back Black Dragon Ninjitsu $19.99
Hardcover Black Dragon Ninjitsu $29.99
Sunday, January 6, 2013
I do not want I war; but I will start one...
I do not want a war, I do not want the
bloodshed and pain that comes along with combat and constant
conflict. This is not a war I should have to fight. It was a war my
Grandfather should have fought, a war my father and mother should
have fought in the 70s when it was political. We let men like John F.
Kennedy tell us greedy men were using our government and politics to
push their own agendas and Ronald Reagan build our economy back up
after the welfare state of Carter kept us being dragged down by the
Great Depression. Thinking was going to be OK if we just had the
right leader, my parents did nothing to stop the first AWB or were
even aware of the Department of Justice PATCON Operation that allowed
an FBI informant to build the real bomb use in the OKC bombing.
PATCON stood for Operation Patriot Conspiracy (google it) it was a
DOJ program instituted by the FBI under the Attorney General under
the direction of President at the time William “Blowjob Bill”
Clinton.
We were at war when innocent Americans
were falsely arrested, falsely imprisoned and in the later 50s, 60s
and until 71 when the FBI under the COINTELPRO (Counter-Intelligence
Program) to combat the Civil Rights Movement & Communism. Then
last because a humble black preacher humbled himself in protest and
allowed himself to be beaten, sprayed with fire hoses and have dogs
attack him. Martin Luther King; named at the monk Martin Luther who
lead the Protestant revolution against Catholic Church. He justified
the Black Panthers who's vow of being armed for “self-defense”
showed they needed a reason to be armed to defend themselves from a
corrupt government. That was using brutality against a peaceful
non-violent man. The Civil Rights area conflict was not about being
black or white, it was about being Americans. As Americans we should
have fought to make ourselves free before I was born, our parents and
grandparents should have fought before it came to this.
Now it falls on me, and my children
will have to fight a war I'm willing to start because if I fear if I
don't start it they won't have a chance to. I am willing to be the
villain, to be hated and hunted to bring more bloodshed and pain into
the world. We have been at war with an enemy attacking us
psychologically, politically and using clandestine warfare against us
before they called it the FBI Counter-Intelligence Program, PATCON or
even the present Counter Terrorism Programs; started under Reagan who
while good for our economy was a plague on our civil liberties and
the Iran-Contra hearings proved that. Those same bad choices and
excess use of scare tactics & psychological warfare have shown us
that we need to defend ourselves from the government.
The difference is I, swore an oath
against the Tenants of my Christian Faith which says to “swear by
nothing that is on earth or in heaven but instead yet your yes be yes
and your no be no” to “Uphold and Defend the Constitution &
Ideas of the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic”
before my country, my family and my God. I do not want glory, honor
is in my word my oath to my Country, the ideas of liberty and my God.
I don't care what religion a man is, that is his personal choice. In
the end it comes down to a choice, we all have a choice...
I will not stand by and do nothing, I
will make the choice and have made the choice in my heart to fight
this battle. I will history and God decide if I am a villain or a
hero. I don't care who stands with me, if I stand alone so be it. One
day I will die and I hope it is a good death, before I die a good
death I must live a good life. I'm human, I have my faults and my
weakness and my insecurities and my fears... but the man serves a
greater calling. We have allowed it to come to this point by degrees
using the system and we our forefathers have fought in that system,
so long as blood shed is an opinion I choose not to use it but you
take away that opinion then it leaves to believe you fear me having
it and I will use it.
I don't care what uniform a man wears,
I've said it was stupid to proclaim all LEOs as good guys because of
the uniform they wear. I once wore a US Army uniform that didn't make
anything but a man in a uniform but I know a man who watched the guy
in front of him land on a landmine and the force knocked him into a
tree and with a broken neck went out in a mined LZ and pulled 2 men
out of hell itself. When the medic told him to stay there he bad a
broken neck he ran out there again and dragged back to more guys. The
man was a hero and the uniform didn't make him one, his choices did.
That man was my Senior Drill Sergeant in basic training...
Of everything he taught including a few
things born out of experience and not in the US Army Manual he taught
me this; we as men and women make that uniform mean something... We
all have choices to make & just as its stupid to say that all
LEOs are good guys it also stupid to accuse them all of being Jack
Booted Thugs and the same goes for our military. When the time comes
I hope I can make the choice to be the kind of man who rushes into
hell to save others and risks it all for who I am & what I
believe. There is a line in the sand and you cross it I will cross it
into hell bring it with when I push back & I simply won't cross
that line, I will run as fast and as far as God and my legs will
carry me. I'm no hero I'm just man inspired by them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)