| Even if there is a lot of evidence that this path to | | | | student of the greatest self-protection and |
| training - the path of the lone student who has | | | | personal development system ever created by |
| only minimal contact with his or her teacher - is a | | | | man... |
| proven and perfectly viable vehicle for attaining | | | | |
| mastery in the Ninja's martial art, there is still the | | | | |
| question as to whether or not... | | | | ...here is a brief personal assessment. |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| ...it's right for YOU. | | | | |
| | | | | - 1) Are you self-motivated and goal-oriented, or |
| | | | | do you have to be reminded, pushed, or baited |
| Contrary to popular belief, solo training is not the | | | | with the promise of a reward before you do |
| same thing as being "self-taught." | | | | something? |
| | | | | - 2) Do you work through challenges - finding the |
| | | | | way to get the results you need - or do you hide |
| You can teach yourself to fight - in fact, I'll share | | | | behind excuses for not making progress? |
| a simple method for doing this later in this chapter. | | | | - 3) Are you committed and a person of your |
| However, this is not the same thing as teaching | | | | word, or do you get easily distracted, |
| yourself the scientifically developed skills, | | | | side-tracked, and change directions often? |
| strategies, tactics, and "ways of thinking" of | | | | - 4) Do you take responsibility for your own |
| ancient warriors who were absolutely nothing like | | | | actions, decisions, successes, AND failures, or are |
| the conventional martial arts fighters you see | | | | you quick to blame other people, events, or |
| today. | | | | circumstances? Do you shoulder the responsibility |
| | | | | for results, or do you only accept responsibility if |
| | | | | things are going well - "passing the buck," |
| Most people believe that, to be a Ninja, all you | | | | so-to-speak, when they're not? |
| have to do is mix together the techniques of | | | | - 5) Do you focus on positive, healthy, |
| several different martial arts - throw in a sword, | | | | relationships, or do you stand around with others |
| some throwing stars, and a not-so-easy-to-hide-in | | | | engaging in aimless, negative, and time-wasting |
| black outfit, and, voila!...You're a Ninja! | | | | gossip? |
| | | | | - 6) Do you want to become a master warrior |
| | | | | for what you'll be able to do FOR others, or |
| Sorry. | | | | because of what you'll be able to do TO others? |
| | | | | - 7) Do you see yourself as a survivor, a creator |
| | | | | or your own destiny, or as a victim of forces |
| Just isn't so. | | | | that you cannot do anything about? |
| | | | | Do you see a common theme here? To step |
| | | | | onto the Path that leads to mastery of the ninja's |
| The truth is that, if you don't understand the | | | | arts - ultimately to self mastery - requires a |
| perspective, the very foundational ideas, | | | | special kind of person from the outset. |
| concepts, and principles that this art was born | | | | |
| from, there is no way that you can make it up, | | | | |
| simply because you "think" you know what's going | | | | I'm not going to convince you that I fulfilled all of |
| on! | | | | the positive qualities on this assessment when I |
| | | | | first started. But, I can tell you this... |
| | | | | |
| That would be like traveling to a foreign country | | | | |
| where you don't know the language, customs, or | | | | Training in Ninjutsu, by it's very nature, will require |
| subtleties of communication and think you're going | | | | you to do more, endure more, and face more |
| to be effective and successful "guessing" your | | | | things than you can imagine right now. And, you |
| way around. You may get lucky every now and | | | | will have plenty of opportunities to change your |
| again. But, you're never going to have the | | | | mind, quit, and tell whatever story that you want |
| success rate, power, or effectiveness that the | | | | to justify your actions after the fact. |
| ninja were, and still are, famous for. | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | But, if you want to become all that I implied in the |
| In other articles, I talk about the benefits of solo | | | | assessment, and more, then you will find at the |
| training and how this method of training can give | | | | end of the day, that all of the hard work, |
| you the freedom to explore much more than you | | | | sacrifice, study, and pain was but a glimmer in the |
| might be able to within the confines and structure | | | | overall scheme of things. |
| of the dojo. But, in others I also shed some light | | | | And, the skills, abilities, and powers that you come |
| on the pitfalls and limitations of it. | | | | away with will make any other endeavor pale by |
| | | | | comparison. Because, even if you fall short of |
| | | | | ultimate mastery, you will still have done more, |
| Just as there are valuable rewards to be gained | | | | attained more, and become something far greater |
| during the course of being a solo student, there | | | | than most people can ever dream of. You will still |
| are also many traps and dangers - both physical | | | | have become a master in your own right! |
| and personal - that await the student who is not | | | | |
| mindful, responsible, and focused on results. | | | | Are you serious about mastering the art of |
| | | | | ninjutsu - about having the power, confidence, and |
| | | | | control to handle any attacker - any situation? |
| To help you to determine if you have the | | | | |
| necessary character traits of someone who will | | | | Read my newest ninja training book, "Becoming |
| do well, not just as a solo-student but, as a | | | | The Master. |