Dave Giddings
Hooked on ninjutsu...
The subject of how to use a kagi or hook is rarely seen in ninjutsu. It seems obvious that its a climbing tool and it is, but are there...
top of page
Dave Giddings
- Jul 7
- 2 min
Eight notes of Budo...
Soke Hatsumi has often said that the Kihon Happo is the foundation of taijustsu, the fundamentals needed to be able to create infinite...
57 views0 comments
Dave Giddings
- May 27
- 2 min
Finding comfort in the uncomfortable
That some skills cannot be learned on the mats is an uncomfortable truth within many martial arts. If your martial art is to be used...
56 views0 comments
Dave Giddings
- May 20
- 2 min
Small irritations, big problem
There is a saying in ninjutsu "Banpen Fugyō" or "Ten thousand changes, no surprises". It is related to expressions of mushin, munen muso...
84 views0 comments
Dave Giddings
- Jun 9, 2023
- 2 min
Fundamental techniques...fundamental weapons?
When we talk about training there is always an emphasis on the kihon happo and san shin no kata - the fundamental kata that are the...
172 views0 comments
Dave Giddings
- Mar 27, 2023
- 3 min
Testing for the first step - Shodan
Here goes, opening a can of worms (which quite frankly are less dramatic in real life) the test for Shodan - the first black belt grade....
192 views0 comments
Dave Giddings
- Nov 19, 2022
- 5 min
Newbury Ninja - the story so far...
With the dojo shrinking (unlike my waistline) I have been thinking a lot recently about why and when I started the dojo here in the wilds...
183 views0 comments
Dave Giddings
- Nov 11, 2022
- 2 min
Weapons? Can you handle it?
There are often debates about when weapons should be added to training, at what grade, time, or student development. I have to say I have...
76 views0 comments
Dave Giddings
- Jun 13, 2022
- 5 min
Chain Reaction...
Don’t get me wrong, I like those Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as much as anyone. I do. But if anything bugs me about them it’s the...
235 views0 comments
Dave Giddings
- May 30, 2022
- 2 min
Makin' it work...
That is bullshit, would never work for real, why does anyone train in that? The common cry of those who don't see the value in other...
130 views0 comments
Dave Giddings
- Jan 3, 2021
- 2 min
Do not teach...
Part of developing your own skills is found in teaching, but you shouldn't teach... While that seems a contradiction in terms, let me...
207 views0 comments
Dave Giddings
- May 19, 2020
- 2 min
Sole of the Ninja...
“Why do you wear those funny slippers / shoes?” A common question for people starting or watching ninjutsu classes. On the surface it...
416 views0 comments
Dave Giddings
- Oct 25, 2017
- 3 min
Stick to the shadows
There are many forms of stick fighting, from English quarterstaff, to Shaolin staff, to Bo staff in many Japanese styles, to Filipino...
567 views0 comments
Dave Giddings
- Sep 30, 2017
- 2 min
Solitary pursuits
At times the question of training alone and what should, or can, be done without a training partner comes up. Its difficult to know what...
276 views0 comments
Dave Giddings
- May 29, 2017
- 5 min
Thrown intent....with edges
If any weapon can be said to be iconic for the ninja it could be argued that the shuriken is the one. So many films, books and cartoons...
501 views0 comments
Dave Giddings
- May 18, 2017
- 4 min
Something in your eye....
Disappearing in a puff of smoke, the legendary skills of the ninja! Fuelled by superstition and propaganda this way of dealing with...
402 views0 comments
Dave Giddings
- Apr 11, 2017
- 2 min
Train for your own arena...
In the world of martial arts, self defence, combat, fighting and survival there is always the discussion about what constitutes 'real' or...
256 views0 comments
Dave Giddings
- Mar 25, 2017
- 4 min
It's not a straight blade...
When looking at a ‘ninja’ sword (ninja-to) there are many misconceptions – the first being the whole straight blade issue. If you take...
615 views0 comments
Dave Giddings
- Feb 11, 2017
- 4 min
Climbing combat
One of the less well known but almost iconic of ninja tools are hand claws or shuko. These concealed tools were also versatile weapons...
706 views0 comments
Dave Giddings
- Feb 4, 2017
- 2 min
Basic secrets....
There is always a training theme that is set by Soke Hatsumi at the beginning of year and this year is no exception. This year the...
187 views0 comments
bottom of page