It seems that the vast majority of people who are interested and attracted to the art of Japan’s ancient ninja warriors only seem to focus on the “cool moves” and exotic weapons they see in the movies. To these “fanatics”, the ornaments ARE the art, and no amount of discussion or proof will convince them that the image is not the art.

As I regularly remind my own students, the skills, weapons, masks, outfits, etc. that we see in movies are not art. These things, individually, are no more Ninjutsu than owning a car and knowing how to drive makes you a professional racing driver!

What Makes a Ninja a Ninja: The power that was passed down from the people originally known in ancient Japan as Shinobi no Monkey – It’s not the skills, weapons, or anything else. In fact, most of these things were also known, used and performed by other warriors of the time.

Nope.

The difference is not in what you can see, but in what you cannot.

The power is not in the techniques and tricks, but in the way the Ninja thinks and approaches things, regardless of whether we are talking about combat and self defense, or if we are talking about how and where you are. you are going to live your life.

In fact, one of the basic skills of a true Ninja is what gives their abilities, weapons and tactics the power they have.

Do you understand that?

What makes Ninja skills, techniques, and “moves” as powerful as they are is the mindset that puts them to use, not the “things” themselves.

One of the strategies – one of the mental abilities of a true Ninja is summed up in the phrase “munenmuso” (pronounced, “moo-nehn moo-soh”). The term itself simply means, “No Thought / “No Action” but it is what is being pointed out that changes the whole “game” and gives the Ninja his power in any confrontation, against any attacker.

Munen Muso it points to a state of mind that you must have when facing a skilled, determined and resolute opponent. It is not something you do, but an aspect of who you are at that moment. You can’t do” munen-muso, the more you “do” anger. Either you’re “mad” or you’re not. And… or are you in a state of munen-musoor you are not.

So what is munen-muso? Like I said before, it really has two aspects, but it’s the state of being completely neutral in the face of a violent attacker. These two aspects are really reflections of a mind, of a state of being.

One aspect is that of Munen, “without thought.” This is the reflection of being “neutral” where you are not looking for anything. You’re not guessing what he’s going to do. You don’t expect anything and therefore you can’t be surprised when he doesn’t do what you thought he would.

The other aspect, so-so, “no action”, is a different reflection of being “neutral”. Where Munen represents an internal state of being, museum it represents this calmness, neutrality and grounding on an external level.

Mu-so, “non-action”, points to the “stillness” of his presence and outward appearance to his attacker. You don’t send any hints or signals about your intentions, so there is absolutely nothing for him to detect, nothing for him to use against you.

As you can see, being a warrior, being a true ninja, is much more than just dressing a certain way or being able to mimic some step-by-step kata that have been passed down through time.

So… the question is…

Are you just a “fan” of the Ninja? Does your idea of ​​what it means to be a Ninja match some kind of movie image, or…