| One thing that becomes painfully evident to | | | | attempt in vain to use that as their default, |
| anyone who has been studying the Ninja's warrior | | | | regardless of the situation they're working on. |
| arts for any length of time is...the shear | | | | Difficult, if not impossible to describe addequately |
| impossibility of being able to practice all that | | | | using the written word, here are a few examples |
| you've learned. After even a short time in training, | | | | to convey this very powerful concept:1) A |
| the number of skills, technique models known as | | | | knife-wielding attacker will have a difficult time |
| "kata," and weapons hits a point where, even if | | | | getting at me if I stay farther away and out of |
| you wanted to, you could not consistantly | | | | his reach, however...2) An assailant armed with a |
| practice everything in the same way that, say, a | | | | handgun will find it easier to shoot me at the |
| practitioner of other arts might be able to do | | | | same distance. Instead, he will have increasing |
| so.However, in the martial art of Ninjutsu, you | | | | difficulty the closer I am to him and his weapon.3) |
| don't have to. For the Ninja's perspective does | | | | If a guy is trying to shoot at me with a |
| not limit itself to the building blocks of the art in | | | | high-powered rifle from a rooftop, I want to be |
| the same way that is seen in other conventional | | | | visiting my friends in another town, but...4) If the |
| forms or styles. Instead, the Ninja aspirant | | | | same lunatic has the trigger device for a nuclear |
| focuses not on technique but on principles and | | | | weapon, unless he has a death wish, I want to be |
| concepts. And, by concentrating on winning in | | | | standing right next to him!Now, I know that those |
| combat from a higher level or viewpoint - like a | | | | last two sound a bit far-fetched, but they |
| blimp overseeing a football stadium - he or she is | | | | illustrate the point. And that is that......distance is |
| free to exchange techniques, skills, and weapons | | | | dictated, in large part, by your opponent or |
| freely without ever changing the focus of the | | | | opponents, his or their tactics, and any weapons |
| lesson itself.Focusing On Concepts & Principles | | | | involved.Knowing and understanding the concepts |
| Instead of Step-By-Step TechniqueOne such | | | | of ma-ai, or proper distance, allows the |
| concept or principle that forms part of the core | | | | Enlightened Warrior to step out of the narrow, |
| of the Ninja student's training from the very | | | | limiting "box" that knows only preset techniques. It |
| beginning is that of distance. Also known in | | | | allows him or her to adapt freely to the situation - |
| Japanese as ma-ai, distance is a crucial aspect | | | | change as change is needed - and to always be in |
| within any given encounter and varies according | | | | the right place with the right defense to |
| to such fight variables as:size or height of each | | | | overcome the adversary and......win.Jeffrey M. Miller |
| combatant, especially where there is any | | | | is the founder and master instructor of Warrior |
| significant difference | | | | Concepts International. A senior teacher in the |
| type and length or reach of any weapons | | | | Japanese warrior art of Ninjutsu, he specializes in |
| involvednumber of combatants, including | | | | teaching the ancient ways of self-protection and |
| multiple-attacker to single defender scenarios, | | | | personal development lessons in a way that is |
| and...environmental considerations or limitationsIn | | | | easily understood and put to use by modern |
| my seminars and classes, we have a saying..."He | | | | Western students and corporate clients. Through |
| or she who controls the distance, controls the | | | | their martial arts training, his students and clients |
| fight."And, while this may sound obvious, it is | | | | learn proven, time-tested lessons designed to help |
| often far from it. What I and my instructors | | | | them create the life they've always dreamed of |
| under me see time and again, is the student's | | | | living, and the skills necessary for protecting that |
| tendancy to learn one particular distance and then | | | | life from anything that might threaten it. |