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The
Unshaming of Ninjutsu
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Nowadays
what do most people think of martial artists? Do
you believe that they respect you for the skills that
you worked so hard to attain, or that many would like
to be just like us? Guess again. Most of
the western world (Europe, America's) regard martial
artists as misfits, as individuals who train to
overcome others. Whereas in Asia martial arts
instructors are highly respected people, and have been
for centuries.
Who is to blame for
this? The movies are somewhat at fault for
taking something such as Ninjutsu and overly
distorting it. In most cases though "we"
the martial artists are to blame.
In the west
(for example) a student begins training, and after a
few months gains a false sense of confidence in their
newly earned skills. Believing they know
something vital they can't wait for an opportunity to
try it out, yet in reality they know nothing.
This person's) may search for situations where they
might try out their techniques, or sometimes with the
best intentions attempt to help someone in need, but
because they don't have enough training go too far and
injure the opponent, possibly breaking bones when only
one strike or even better an appropriate choice of
words might have resolved the conflict.
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Lieutenants
Zeljko Selak and Zoran Skara
of the Croatian Presidential Guard
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| Seen from the eyes of
someone who doesn't train, it appears that the martial
artist is a bully. Those individuals who
actually provoke altercations are of the worst caliber.
Bragging about how they defeated this person or how
quick their reflexes are. Braggarts are neither
liked or respected, nor are those who provoke
incidents so they can show off and try out their
skills paralleling the ancient samurai tsujigiri
(testing one's sword on living innocent bystanders).
It is because of such individuals that the arts have
such a bad reputation in the west. These
students have trained in the use of the hands and the
feet but have only acquired half of what has been
taught. They have trained but haven't learned.
In effect they are similar to robots, acting for the
most part without thinking of why or the consequences
of such actions.
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| In Asia the student
also trains to control the self. Control of
oneself is a much greater and admirable accomplishment
than of another. Knowing where, when and how to
use your skills is the true sign of a man (person).
If we as martial artists are to be respected as
people, and not thought of as just misfits, we must
first look inside ourselves and not allow a negative
image to grow. Only we can make this happen and
rightfully we should, seeing how we are at fault
anyways. To demean someone who is weaker or less
skilled in the arts of self defense (as well as
anything else) is something no real man (person) would
do.
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| By learning to fight
you can become a well trained animal, but by being
humble, educated and cultured you become a well
rounded man (person).
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Pope
John Paul II , President Tudjman and author on far
right.
Presidential
Palace, Croatia
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Two
Commendations presented to the author by Major General
Mile Cuk.
1. Letter
w/photo
2. Commendation
One
Certificate of Recognition
1. Certificate
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