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NOTE FROM THE EDITOR It’s been a bitter cold winter for most of us and the attendance numbers might have dropped dangerously low if we didn’t have such inspiring Sensei at the helm of NinjaSA. We ended up grading almost the same amount of students in the June/July Grading as we did last year in December which is a very good sign and I am sure you will agree that December is going to be a real hum dinger.
Enjoy our news letter and please mail me if you have any suggestions.
Embrace the Shadows
Brian Minnaar
editor@ninja.co.za
www.ninja.co.za |
THE SCORE 
Ninja SA - CourseThe upcoming course details have changed. The course will cover ASP baton and Kali Escrima. This course will teach you the techniques and effective application of the ASP baton and Kali Escrima.
Escrima / ASP please add the following :
Date : 22 October 2011 starting at 9am at Emmerentia Dam, main entrance, walk through , you can’t miss us. Contact Nathan Lee on 083 269 7658 or nathan@ninja.co.za for bookings.
Training will be done in full uniform
Cost : Students R60 – Public :R90
Your Instructors for this event are :
Andre – Bloemfontein Study Group – An expert in Kali Escrima
Chris – Randparkridge Dojo – Professional Bodyguard
Gradings
Randparkridge 26th & 28th September
ChallengeRandparkridge dojo only - is running a competition at the moment ,whichever student has more than 30 posts on the Forum can win a set of Sai. The Forum posts should be relevant to the topics and do not spam the threads. http://ninja.co.za/ninjablog
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Spilled Milk
Dear Ninja Phil
I write this letter with a pang of regret. Since I was a young boy I wanted to be a Real Ninja. I wanted to become one with the night, scale walls like a cat and pounce on unwitting enemies like a bat. When I finally got my opportunity to become a ninja with NinjaSA the sensei made me do a lot of push-ups and sit-ups, we then struck each other in the mid section and did these funny blocking actions against each other’s arms that left my belly painful and my arms bruised. I feel like I know nothing and I don’t think that I am cut out to be a Ninja after all.
Sob, Nick
Nick, I am very happy to hear that you joined NinjaSA with the goal to become a Real Ninja and I am even more moved that you weren’t cutting any corners in class. Don’t despair young man, Ninjutsu isn’t something you can master in a couple of lessons. In class we aim to toughen you up and only by embracing your pains in training will you be able to scale the wall that is Ninjutsu and become one with the shadow that is the Ninja within and surprise the fool who dares venture below your standards and commitment.
Weighing me down
Hi Ninja Phil,
I have always been a bit overweight and I love eating all the wrong things like ice-cream and pizza and wash it down with a Coke. I recently joined Ninja SA and notice that all the ninjas in the class were very fit and quite lean. Should I rather try Kung Fu?
DrunkenMaster.
Dear DrunkenMaster if you are considering a path in any martial arts you should consider it as a life changing commitment. You will need to spend a lot of time in the dojo to master the techniques and more time by yourself to make the techniques your own. I am not saying you should stop eating the wrong things and stop enjoying your life although it will defiantly help if you followed a balanced diet and steer clear of drunken brawls. The ninjas in the dojo trained long and hard to get to where they are and so should you.
If you have any questions you would like to ask the big guns, email them to us and we might just publish our response in the next newsletter. Remember we also have a forum on Ninja SA site and I am happy to answer your question there as well.
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What is your full name and Title?
Sensei David Field
How long have you been involved in Martial Arts and what was your
first style and in which art was it?
I have been hooked ever since I was three, although not much memory of when I started. My uncle being a police officer and Karate expert, got me going and I just simply never stopped. I have trained in several arts since then.
I thank him for giving me the head start in the martial arts world that most do not get.
When you started Ninjitsu, what was then single biggest motivation for
your perseverance?
This style taught me who I am, it was different from the styles I had been training.
I realised that this system would give me the edge over most, and would not stop for anything.
I promised myself to focus and achieve a mastery of this art.
That and Master Lee never let up on me, I was adamant to prove to him I am the best.
I thank him for everything he has done for me since I first walked into his dojo, as my life is better for it!
What made you start Ninja SA?
Ninja SA started when our current federation fell apart due to bad management and lack of any development forward.
I started Ninja SA because I refused to let this amazing art fade away. I kept running my dojo and had a great group that stuck with me through the dark days where we were working hard to develop and upgrade our vision to what Ninja SA is today.
The style took a dramatic change too, and became very dynamic as I laid out the new syllabus and developed it further with my experience from my life time of martial arts training.
We finally had a upgraded and solid martial system to work from. As originally envisioned this would and has changed with the times as more students and instructors have joined and added to the body of knowledge Ninja SA holds.
Ninja SA started as a small dojo in the Berario area, with 22 students, four of these students have now reached instructor status and have their own dojos, one in London, two run Honeydew and the forth runs a kids class in Honydew.
Other instructors that trained and ran dojos in our old federation, joined me and run three other very successful dojos.
Today Ninja SA is the biggest modern hybrid Ninjitsu group in South Africa and possibly the world.
I would just like to take this opportunity to thank all the instructors and students for their commitment to Ninja SA
Who was your super hero when you were a boy?
Well growing up in Zimbabwe we did not have a TV, so it would have been a combination of my dad and my uncle.
Who is your Super hero today?
Have to say Wolverine!
Who or what inspires you?
HMMM… is it wrong to be inspired by myself?
If you had enough resources to change the world, what would be the
first thing you do?
The very first thing I would do is develop martial arts dojo’s, make it available for everyone, no matter what the style. It’s my passion!
There is not enough support for the arts in general, this should change as it makes better people.
What is your favourite board game and why?
Never liked board games, rather be training or reading, can’t stand card games either, I just get bored! Lol
What is the single most irritating thing?
Idiots that self-proclaim their ranks and merit in martial arts. Warning for all those that are looking into training, do your research and check up on the instructor.
The self-made Masters are all over the place. You will see them easily, they will have 10th dans in several arts or will have a high dan at a young age.
I believe that if you are master material, your students will one day just start calling you master instead of sensei. Unless your master grants you this honour, if he is not a fraud!
What are your hobbies?Ninjitsu, Judo, BJJ, Kyusho, Paintball, air rifle shooting (UK) but when I was in SA combat shooting, Hiking, Camping, PC gaming.
What is your vision for Ninja SA?
Ninja SA – will continue to grow and develop professional martial artists that no other art or style can match individually.
I want the system to continue to evolve and change with the times. I’m so proud of what it’s become today, it has taken a lot of work to get here.
One thing that I enjoy about Ninja SA is, the trust between each of our members, we must remain a family.
Thank you to all the instructors and student that have stood by me since the beginning.
What do we need to do to realise your vision?
You need to learn the system and develop it for yourself, take what you have learnt and make it your own, develop the art within yourself.
By doing this I believe even the most senior member can learn from the most junior.
This will promote the dynamics. But learn the basics, and always be open to criticism.
Trust each other.
How can this newsletter help?
This newsletter is great, we need to get information out and let people know what a great and friendly group of martial artists we are and hopefully grow the family.
What is the one thing people will remember you for?
Hmm, you tell me J
How many black belts have past under your teaching?
I do not award black belts easily.
Some will train under me for many years and only when I think they are worth the belt shall I give it.
It’s an honour for me, an achievement for the student.
I have had four graded to black and beyond; one student to third dan and another to 2nd dan. I have two students recently go to 1st dan, but their last year of training was not under me.
If there is one thing you can say to anyone who ever reads this newsletter what would it be?
If your currently training in martial arts, keep training, and keep an open mind, Ninja SA does not discriminate, so feel free to try a session at one of our schools, will be great cross training.
If you’re not training yet, get to your nearest Ninja SA dojo and give it a try!
What is it about Ninjitsu that kept you from moving on to another Art?
This art for me consists of all other arts. Why would I leave. I do cross train, and always bring Ninjitsu to the other styles just gives that edge they don’t have.
What do you say to people who believe "their" art is better than what Ninja SA has to offer?
I ask them for a lesson, and try to learn what they have that’s better, if it’s any good, I integrate it into my personal style.
My personal style is what my students learn on top of the Ninja SA syllabus. So dynamically we grow our knowledge.
I’m always finding ways that are more efficient. It is the nature of what we do as martial artists.
I believe firmly that there is no ONE ART that tops the other, but the person utilising the art or the system that makes it a top art.
It’s always in the practitioner, one thing I always say is try many styles till you find one you enjoy, then you will be hard to defeat. Don’t go with the trendy, go with what feel right for you.
Check out www.martialartsclubs.co.za and try visit a few schools before you decide on one.
What is your first thought when you know "now you have to fight"?
smile!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Train hard, and be true to yourself. Put in the sweat and the time, martial arts are a lifelong commitment. |
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BLOEMFONTEIN GRADING AUGUST 2011 Hai,
‘n Paar jaar gelede het ek met sensei David in vebinding getree oor Ninjitsu, maar in daardie stadium was daar nog geen sprake van ‘n “distance learning” nie. Was ek nie baie bly toe ek weer in 2008 met hom gesels en hy sê hulle werk aan so iets nie. In Desember 2008 het ek my eerste “distance learning” dvd ontvang. Groot was die opgewondenheid, al het ek baie jare se “martial arts” agter die blad, om iets nuuts te leer is vir my ‘n groot voorreg. Ek sal altyd ‘n student bly, maak nie saak hoeveel swart belde ek het nie.
So is ek al deur ‘n paar video graderings en gewone graderings, elke keer is dit net meer leersaam en al hoe seerder. Veral Oktober 2009 toe sensei David hier in Bloemfontein was. Vir 2 weke het ek gesukkel om weer soos ‘n mens te loop, maar dit was lekker. Ek is ook nou nie meer ‘n jong lat nie, so die ou lyf voel die "punishment". Elke keer wanneer die sensei’s Bloemfontein toe kom, doen hulle baie moeite om ons te help, te leer en te verbeter. Elke sensei het sy eie styl, so op die einde van die dag leer ons verskillende opsies om dieselfde beweging te doen. Meer tools vir ons NSA toolbelt.
Augustus 2011 was ook so. Sensei Brian, Sean en Stuart het Bloem toe gekom vir ‘n naweek. Met ‘n siek groep mense, myself ingesluit het ons die Saterdag gegradeer en gewerk op ons foute en die Sondag het hulle ons nuwe syllabus werk geleer. Soos gewoonlik is dit pynvol maar asemrowend.
Wat die gradering aanbetref, my studente is wonderlike mense. Sonder hulle sou ons nie gegradeer het nie. Sonder hulle sou Bloemfontein se weergawe van NSA nie bestaan het nie. Baie dankie julle, ek waardeer die “effort “ en “dedication” wat julle insit. Alles wat julle opeet wat ek uitdeel. Ek buig voor julle.
Aan my vrou, Elmarie. Dankie vir al jou hulp en opoffering om die Bloemfontein graderings ’n groot sukses te maak.
Aan al die sensei’s wat nou al tyd by ons gespandeer het, dankie. Dankie vir julle opoffering.
Aan sensei David, baie dankie sensei. Sonder jou, sou Bloemfontein nie bestaan het nie.
Hai Sensei.
Andre van Vuuren
Bloemfontein Study Group Leader
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DISCIPLINE I remember as a boy, my dad telling me about discipline. Back then it seemed like it was a sort of punishment for something I didn’t do. I saw it as being disciplined because I lacked discipline. Is the term really negative or can it aid us in our day to day activities?
By looking at the dictionary I found that the idea in my young mind was on track. Discipline involves training and that training can be administered as punishment. A synonym for Discipline is Chastisement which in turn has a negative connotation in our minds due to the lack of gratification the term symbolises, but it is here that the basis and meaning of discipline become apparent.
For only through the abstinence from certain things does the mind and body become one and do we begin to gain focus. A wise man once said that obstacles are those frightful things we see once we take our eyes off our goals. Like me, I am sure you have seen and met people from all walks of life, some successful, others not so successful. You will find the self-help section full of motivational speakers who claim to have the answer to success and I am sure some of you have been to those sections in the bookstore. I still go there, but can you be successful if you don’t know in what you want to be successful? You need a goal.
Once you have a clear goal you require discipline and focus to make it a reality. It’s that simple. Instinctively you will know how to separate the bad from the good. Anything that will hamper your progress toward your goal is bad. Anything that will propel you closer to your goal is good. Discipline is how you stay on track towards your goal.
I once read that we self sabotage our efforts at success. One morning Pieter woke up and decided that this was the day that he will make a change in his life. While having breakfast he planned all the activities that will help him make this huge change in his life and as he looked in the mirror, while brushing his teeth, he knew that noting will stop him. He was on his way to success. He went through his day walking on air and felt great about his decision and all the plans he has set in motion in his head, but as he drive home lethargy set in. “It’s been a long day, surely I deserve to relax a bit after such a taxing day” he thought to himself.
At home he settled in on the couch and with a beer in his hand he started feeling a guilty about not following through with his plans that he made this morning. Begrudgingly he got into his uniform and dragged himself to class. Everything became too much, the stretches too long, the warm-ups too tiring, the bag-work to intense. Soon his concentration was shot and his footwork went out the door. The class was too long and by the time he got back into the car he felt worse than ever. The next day he was back to your old easy ways. Weeks turned into months and when he finally mustered the courage to go back to class, all his friends stopped coming and the one or two that stuck it out graded past him. The guilt stabbed him in the back. What am I doing here anyway, I failed already and noting has changed” he thought to himself. What happened, where did Pieter go wrong?
Like Pieter, We have to discipline ourselves to abstain from thinking lazy thoughts. Chastise ourselves from thinking about comfort and luxury. Sloth is such a big deal that it made it into the 7 deadly sins in the Bible. These thoughts are the seeds to failure and the tools used by the self saboteur. Let’s go back to the point where Pieter made his fatal mistake: When he drove home the fantasy about the sofa and the long cold beer seduced poor Pieter and as he took that first sip he realised that this wasn’t part of the plan.
The little boy inside his mind threw a big tantrum when he jumped up to get dressed. Every move since then became so much more taxing because he dragged that little upset boy behind him all the way and after an evening in the zoo of his mind he gave up. He didn’t discipline the little boy and the boy got his beer.
If Pieter just kept coming to class eventually the little boy would behave. If Pieter told the little boy that he could have his beer over the weekend if they train hard during the week the little boy would behave. If Pieter told the little boy that sitting around drinking beer won’t accomplish anything accept a big belly and a heart attack the little boy would behave.
You are in control, not the little child in your head. Discipline starts with chastity, with abstinence from sloth. If you decide tomorrow to make a change in your life, start by changing yourself, your thoughts and discipline your little child.
Embrace the shadows.
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THE JAPANESE WORD FOR... I have picked 5 Japanese words that I want you to learn. But there is a catch. You have to do a bit of searching to find them. The correct answers will be entered into a draw and the winner will get a Ninja SA Cap worth R80 Mail your entries to editor@ninja.co.za
- Method or way of the Ninja
- The original reading of the word “ninja”
- The arts and skills of the Ninja
- How to be guided by locals
- “Thieves and scum”
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