Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Medindia
Advertisement

Ninjas Gather in Japan to Train Women in Self Defence

by Enozia Vakil on March 23, 2013 at 10:35 AM
 Ninjas Gather in Japan to Train Women in Self Defence

More than 200 ninjas gathered at the Tokyo gymnasium to fuel the two-day training seminar, designed particularly for women.

The disciples of Grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi, the founder of the Bujinkan school, gathered from more than 17 countries at the Tokyo Budo-kan martial arts gymnasium to sharpen their self-defence skills.

Advertisement

Gone are the days when the Japanese historical masked agents carried out espionage acts against opposing warlords, they said.

Mondern-day ninjas are ordinary people with normal jobs who practise self-defence skills, or "ninjutsu", stressing use of balance and space to bring opponents to submission.
Advertisement

The historical image of a ninja may attract many people, but they soon find the importance of the culture and philosophy behind it, said Sheila Haddad, an American instructor who helped organise the event.

"It's appealing to women because it does not rely on power and strength," she said, adding that many disciples are involved in law enforcement or the military in their countries.

Ninjutsu techniques as well as the ninja philosophy can be applied to real combat settings, said Doreen Montesclaros, 25, a soldier in the New Zealand army.

"Military martial arts as well as other (forms of martial arts) are very rigid and all about strength and all about being fitter and being stronger... overwhelming your opponents," she said.

But ninja ways are more relaxed, she said.

"Being surrounded by male colleagues, I find that it adds new dimensions to the way I approach battle scenarios. I come into it with an overall picture, as opposed to being stuck in the moment and relying on aggression," she said.

"It helps me realise the greatest weapon that I have. That's my mind and being able to see all the factors that make up situations."

Jinichi Kawakami, the 21st head of the Ban clan, a different line of ninjas that can trace its history back some 500 years, is considered by some to be the last living ninja and has said that "ninjas proper" no longer exist.

Font : A-A+

Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Latest Lifestyle and Wellness News

Social Media Reshapes New Parenting Journeys
Amid the challenges of caring for newborns and toddlers, a study notes a rising trend of new parents seeking social media's help for managing their children.
Social Isolation With No Family & Friends Visits Linked to Mortality Risk
Lack of friends and family visits is tied to a 39% increased risk of mortality that can be used to develop effective therapies associated with social isolation.
Sunscreen & Its Pseudoeffects of Sun Protection
Compared to wearing sun-protective clothes and avoiding the sun, using sunscreen is the least effective way to prevent sunburn on the skin.
How Fruit & Vegetable Microbiomes Benefit Human Gut Health?
Bacterial diversity in the human gut is benefited by eating fruit and vegetables with microorganisms of probiotic and health-promoting characteristics.
Surprising Independence of Weight Loss
New research challenges the common notion that couples achieve better weight loss results.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Ninjas Gather in Japan to Train Women in Self Defence Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests