| Have you ever wondered why mixed martial arts | | | | principles that each "style" is base upon. |
| became so popular? Could it be because at least | | | | But, we ninja like to say that, "we were mixed |
| part of the martial arts world saw the gaps that | | | | martial artists long before MMA was cool!" |
| existed within each of the popular systems and | | | | And, the reason for this is that there is no |
| sought to remedy the situation? I think so. After | | | | contradiction between our principles of punching |
| all, why limit yourself to just punching and kicking, | | | | & kicking, grappling, joint locking techniques, |
| or just grappling, etc., when you can have a | | | | or the way we use weapons. There is no |
| greater advantage with both in your arsenal? | | | | contradiction because, unlike the systems created |
| The problem with this new approach, other than | | | | by mixing other styles together, everything in |
| the fact that MMA tends to be sport-oriented and | | | | Ninjutsu is based on the same principles and |
| is laden with rules that run contrary to street self | | | | concepts. |
| defense tactics, is that non-complimenting | | | | So, the ninja never has to try to make his body |
| systems were brought together and forced to | | | | conform to, and reconcile the different demands |
| co-exist. | | | | of, combining techniques that require often |
| What I mean by this is that... | | | | opposite principles of application. And, this is just |
| Wrestling and ground-fighting tends be | | | | accounting for the unarmed part of the Ninja's |
| strength-based and relies on muscle contraction. | | | | arsenal. When we add in all the weaponry |
| Judo and aikido lean toward a more passive, | | | | (modern and classical), stealth tactics, wilderness |
| relaxed adapting to the opponent's advances, and... | | | | survival, and other aspects of the art, it's easy to |
| Karate and tae kwon do are very aggressive, | | | | see how... |
| attack-oriented arts. | | | | Not only was the art of ninjutsu MMA before |
| This creates a situation where the practitioner is | | | | mixed martial arts were cool, but... Ninjutsu offers |
| required to constantly switch between the | | | | much, much more than mixed martial artists can |
| contradictory and often conflicting concepts and | | | | conceive of! |