The Beginning...

So...there I was, 22 yo and I had just drove from Florida to Phoenix, AZ. After getting settled in I decide I need to find a school to train with...

I found myself in a Army Surplus store and I'm looking at the bulletin board. I spy a flyer that advertises "Ninjutsu" training...I was estatic. I just hoped it was legit. I make the call...

...so I'm headed to my first class. I'm headed to the instructors house for our first meet and hopefully a bit of training. He's a fellow in his 30's and speaks with an Aussie accent. He invites me in for a cup of tea before we head up to the park. We are waiting for a couple more people.

As I mentioned in my last post...I thought I was a badass. I knew "karate" so I was skilled. I had the typical attitude of most martial artists. We all like to think our art is the best and we can hold our own. Ever hear of high level black belts who are beaten by street fighters? Happens all the time.

Anyhow...

We head over to the park and we do a bit of stretching...I'm really flexible so no problems for me. He teaches rolling which I had always avoided since my karate days and I had tweaked a knee. He teaches rolling properly...I begin to flow, it naturally comes to me. I learn that the Bujinkan (as it now called, we no longer say ninjutsu do to bad teachers and hollywood) is all about natural body movements. Using body weight not muscle...awesome. I'm a skinny guy...no muscle. Females excel in the Bujinkan since they naturally don't try to use muscle.

He knows of my background and allows me to use some of what I know on him. All of my fancy kicks are easily defeated. I typically end up on the ground. I'm not used to close in fighting and I have no clue what to do once he comes within my defenses...then again I don't know what to do when he is at arms length...

From that day on....I made the extreme effort of forgetting my karate...Bujinkan Ninpo was and is my chosen warrior path.

Oh, I mentioned the pinch. Yea, have you ever had anyone reach down and pinch you on the inner thigh or pinch your pec muscle right in the middle of training? Talk about distraction...