This is why ninjutsu is such a dirty word in MA

[Vagabond]

I think what Mr. Holley said has a profound meaning, and is legit. However this guy is not claiming to jsut have a god at it? 150 videos is not "Just a go", nor is claiming to be a master at something. If I post a video of myself imitating Jackie Chan after watching Drunken Master, that is not a go. A Go is trying to find a Sifu, Sensei or some sort of Master of an artform I want to learn, not jsut doign my best to imitate. Gichin Funakoshi said "A little knowlege is dangerous", and I feel that greatly applies to this situation. He has seen the artfor... maybe. He has no real instruction and is therefor imitating. Does tracing, terribly at that, count as artwork? No I don't think so. And no one is criticising this guy over giving it a go, because he is trying to seem like a know it all, especially with that ridiculous get up that Ninja hardly used.

[Mekugi]

I think it has been done before.

IIRC, there was something on line about using the martial arts of aliens learned while the teacher was abducted by UFOs. It caused some chuckles on a board I was reading. But someone in the area decided to go to the rec center it was supposably taught at and the staff had never heard of it. So it looks like someone beat you to the punch.

We had that here for a while...we need to dig out the patches and certificates again.....

[Don Roley]

Well this guy is not the most elegant or gracious swordsman, but I'll atleast give him credit for having a go. I'm sure it would be safe to say that all those people who have responded to this thread with negative critisism, mockery and insult were not experts the first time they picked up a weapon and engaged in a routine, and I may be jumping to conclusions, but he is probably more adept than some of you even are now.

As has been pointed out, this guy is not 'having a go' at anything. He has not sought out instruction but instead puts videos of himself on the internet in the belief that people will marvel at him. What he does makes real students of the sword cringe.

I have tried in the past to help folks like this get real instruction. They never listen. There is a point where you just know from experience that the guy is too far gone and has too much invested in his fantasy to give it up. This is one of those cases.

The only real thing you can do is to publicly laugh at him and let the entire world know that he has nothing to do with real martial arts.

[starkjudo]

Solly,

Even though I do not study a sword art, there is a discernable difference between someone who's a beginner in the art and someone just hacking around in the air. A beginner would not do such a long form and even at one half this long would be slower and more hesitant with their techniques. He'd be concentrating as much on his foot and body movements as well as how to handle the sword. On the other hand, someone who's played with a sword just enough not to cut himself <yet>, is swinging around trying to imitate what he's seen in the movies and making it up as he goes would look just like this guy. He only deserves scorn and maybe a little small, tiny amount of pity for being an idiot enough to post that on youtube.

[Tripitaka of AA]

I don't know Sword. I don't train. I mocked. You won't find me on YouTube.

Sure, enjoy your studies. Film yourself to get an idea of how it looks. Perhaps show it to other people if you think they can offer advice. That isn't what this chap did. He stepped up onto a Soap-box in the middle of the Town Square (In London it would be Speaker's Corner), inviting a reaction to his endeavours. He's lucky he only got a few rotten tomatoes thrown at him. Oh, and this crowd moved on some time ago... plenty more to see over here, and over there. No need to re-visit Loserville.

So why would you seek to defend this nonsense? Friend of yours?

[nirgle]

Jason Stork seems to be serious and not trying to play a joke.

This guy I still don't know if he is serious or is something cooked up by the Jerry Springer show.

Don't go ninja'n nobody 'don't need ninja'n!!

Hi folks, I'm back after an extended break from the site. (Been training the whole time, just haven't been keeping up on BudoSeek)

[Webmaster]

Hi folks, I'm back after an extended break from the site. (Been training the whole time, just haven't been keeping up on BudoSeek)

Hey Jason, it has been a while! Welcome back!

[Bruno@BS]

Well this guy is not the most elegant or gracious swordsman, but I'll atleast give him credit for having a go. I'm sure it would be safe to say that all those people who have responded to this thread with negative critisism, mockery and insult were not experts the first time they picked up a weapon and engaged in a routine, and I may be jumping to conclusions, but he is probably more adept than some of you even are now.

I may be a noob at biken, but I know I am better than him, just by virtue of knowing how to actually hold it. And if you really think that what he displayed has any martial value at all, then you really have no clue about sword.

As for this man being the reason why ninjitsu is a dirty word in MA, I'm not so sure. Ninjitsu, aswell as all arts, have a share of beginners and those who may not have the physical prowess of the masterers yet, and not being a master or an expert in weapon handling skills does not reflect on the art, ryu, sport or otherwise, that a student is practicing.

This man is not a beginner at all. No legit dojo would let him train this. They would start by teaching him how to hold the sword. The fact that he doesn't know even that indicates he has not had any formal training at all. Maybe he watched a video or something...

Likewise, I am not sure if the actions of one who indulges in mockery and put-downs of those who may or may not yet be as skilled as others, reflects badly on the art they practice, but to me it certainly says something about the character of the individual who does this.
I can only guess at the motivations and intent of people who ridicule others who are genuinly having a go at something, but as very few of you actually directed your comments to the guy in the video, only posting them here where he will maybe not read them, I guess your criticism was not for the benefit of who it should of been.

He doesn't train in my art. He pretends to train in my art. And by making a fool of himself while doing so, he brings negative images to it. He makes a mockery of it, and people like him contribute to the fact that we are not taken seriously.

BEWARE OF GOSSIP - To speak this and that about other people's affairs is a big mistake. Even words of praise is not becoming. One should be clearly aware of one's own capacity, giving ones best to one's own practice while keeping guard over one's mouth. Hagakure 2:104

By posing as one of us and making our art look ridiculous, he is making it our affair.
But if you really feel like that, you should take this advice yourself and not chastise us, no?

[De_Franza]

Me and some friends have actually talked about creating a completely fake martial art and uploading some horrible videos just to see how many folks would actually think it's real.

you SO have to do it!

[nirgle]

you SO have to do it!

If it is some sort of internet-born martial art, designed to be the best of the best, I'm definitely in! Distributed-fu, for home study only. (Broadband recommended)

[solly]

Thank_you for your feedback, Jay.

[Mekugi]

Okay,
I've been stalking this thread looking for a moment to say something witty, clever, inappropriate or something like that. During this time I really didn't come up with anything good...as in clever or cheeky....but I supriswd myself with possibly something serious. Here goes:

What really gives ninjutsu a dirty word type reputation I'm the martial arts:

The perception of ninjutsu.

That make sense?

[Vagabond]

Okay,
I've been stalking this thread looking for a moment to say something witty, clever, inappropriate or something like that. During this time I really didn't come up with anything good...as in clever or cheeky....but I supriswd myself with possibly something serious. Here goes:

What really gives ninjutsu a dirty word type reputation I'm the martial arts:

The perception of ninjutsu.

That make sense?

Now that was golden haha. Serious yet still witty.

[Mark Jordan]

This guy is weird. I was laughing my head off while watching. It looks more like he's auditioning for a 3 stooges movie.

[starkjudo]

Man, that guy is just a fountain of bad videos. I wish he had more of his "aiki-jujitsu." He claims he's been doing martial arts for 25 years.

[Vagabond]

Just a heads up he claims to be searching for his inner truth and has studied the spiritual martial arts for 25 years. These SMA (I coined the term oh yeah!) include but are not limited to Escrima, Jujutsu, Hapkido, Silat, Kali, and Judo. So maybe he is a black belt. He is also a new age healer.
I did not make this up he put this on his Youtube page.

[starkjudo]

Patrick, I'd question whether he's a black belt in anything. Everything in his videos suggest he's someonw who took Bruce lee's advice about taking from all the martial arts the wrong way, and never bothered to actually learn anything deep from any of them.

[Vagabond]

I must object to what you are saying Mr. Thornton.
*This post, as well as my last one is overflowing with sarcasm*

[Don Roley]

http://www.youtube.com/user/destinie...35/BanUQXvNGQ4

I can't make this stuff up!

[Tripitaka of AA]

Thank you Don... err... I think.

SENSEI,TIMOTHY ANDERSON EXPLAINS THE NAMES OF SOME THE OLD SANKIDO-KATA'S THAT HE HAD TO SPICE UP IN PRISON; BECAUSE SOME
OF OTHER KATAS WERE NOT MADE FOR THE COMBAT WE FACE TODAY AND SOME WERE,THESE PARTICULAR KATA'S HAVE VARIOUS TECHNIQUES TAUGHT TO HIM BY ALL OF HIS SENSEI'S SOME HAVE JAPANESE INFLUENCE,KOREAN,VIETAMESE,AND CHINESE.....
HE HAD TO TEACH PRISONERS SOMETHING QUICK AND EFFECTIVE ;BECAUSE EVERY DAY YOU NEVER KNEW IF YOU WERE GOING TO HAVE TO KILL SOMEONE..... THE NAMES OF THE SANKIDO KATA'S ARE:SAN-KU-KA,SHIN-SHODAN,NIDAN,SAN-DAN,YON-DAN,GODAN,TORA-TE,IBUKI-TE,WASHI-YAMA,KEN-JITTE,HEIBU-TE,WASHI,NO-CHIE,TORA-NO-CHIE,AND TATSUO-NO-CHIE

If you were to make something up... this would be a pretty good benchmark with which to compare your efforts. Methinks this poor chap may be destined for stardom and ironically, may become famous. If Star Wars Kid can show the way, then this gentleman may soon become a household name.

Perhaps we can just hope that the next time we see the name, it will be on a list of Darwin Award nominees.