Comments on: Ninja Magic Presence

By: Kelly Coones

Kelly Coones — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:09:13 +0000

I was once talking about my training to a friend of mine (more of an acquaintance) and she commented that it “sounded like I spent a lot of time and resources on something that I would probably never use”. I didn’t say anything to defend my training. It’s for me and no one else and she is also entitled to her opinion. It wasn’t till much later, however; that I realized something. Her words popped into my head again and I saw that she was only talking about the fighting. If I had to do over again, I would have replied, “but I use it every day”. That is what is so enamoring about this art form we train in. It goes so far beyond the “physical self defense aspect” that I have only just glimpsed the beginning of the road. I believe this could be considered, in part, the source of the ninja’s “luck”. The fact that his art permeates his life, and the energy, confidence and unorthodox ways of thinking that is produced from that, affects all he interacts with.

By: Michelle / chelpixie

Michelle / chelpixie — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:30:37 +0000

I met such a ninja person a couple of years ago. He instantly became my mentor and friend. My life has been pretty remarkable since and has lead me here, to read you as well.

One thing that I enjoy the most about this friendship is he doesn’t give me all the answers, but enables me just enough to find them. I learn the lessons I need to better that way.

By: Garrett Haines

Garrett Haines — Fri, 22 May 2009 20:09:03 +0000

In 1780 Luigi Galvani made an interesting observation. He was dissecting a frog while his assistant was experimenting with an electrical friction generator nearby. When Galvani touched one of the main nerves running down the spine, the dead frog’s legs twitched. He touched the nerve a second time, but noticed no response. For decades scientists had difficulty explaining how a machine could make a dead frog’s leg move without a physical connection. Today we understand that muscles, especially when injured building up small electric potentials. Nerves are electrical conductors, and have a smaller potential energy. Thus, touching a nerve to a muscle can release excess electricity, causing the limb to move. Modern medical equipment such as the electrocardiogram and the electroencephalogram operate on these principals. Today, no one would even question the usefulness or even the existence of these machines. Yet, Galvani died poor and without distinction – because he could not explain what he had observed.

Why the science lesson? Well, if Hatsumi Sensei contends that, ‘historically, the ninja was a bringer of good luck’. I am cautious about dismissing his claim simply because current human understanding fails to explain the specific cause and effect of ‘ninja luck.’ We can’t directly see gravity, electricity, magnetism, and many other forces of nature, yet we believe in them because scientists have found a way to justify or prove their existence. But those forces existed long before 1800 – or whatever year ‘modern man’ decided it was acceptable for those forces to be in vogue. I see no reason to discount ancient martial arts lore simply because a PhD has failed to write up a paper on it.

-GH

By: Jenn Zuko Boughn

Jenn Zuko Boughn — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:21:28 +0000

I definitely do!
This makes me think of my research into the court jesters of old: often the intelligent men and women that would choose to be a court fool as a job would be expected to bring just this kind of thinking outside the box, honest smarts, and even merely a presence that would light up a room and they certainly were thought to bring luck.

By: J

Thu, 14 May 2009 13:38:18 +0000

Thanks for sharing these experiences! There is a saying, “Luck is what happens when preparedness meets opportunity.” If I understand you, you prepare yourself and become the kind of person you’d want to have in your life, and magically, Ninja Angels appear seemingly, out of nowhere.
To illustrate the opposite, if we take a liking to someone we admire but don’t know, and instantly try to flatter them or boast to win them over, at best, they may politely acknowledge us and move on.
It seems to me, the Ninja Angels in my life are the ones that share my passion. These are the people that protect, explore, mentor, study, politely disagree, and empathize with me.

By: Bill

Bill — Thu, 14 May 2009 03:00:03 +0000

Great topic! Should remind us all that within each moment, experience is the wonderous lessons to cultivate that “Magic Presence” in our lives as well as others.

By: Christopher S. Penn

Christopher S. Penn — Wed, 13 May 2009 17:45:35 +0000

This begs the question: what training do you need to focus on as a practitioner to become or increase the amount of that “magic presence”?