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Jan 3
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...

94 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...

209 views0 comments

Dave Giddings

Apr 27, 2020
3 min

Hidden in plain sight

"I'm a ninja..." "No you're not!" "Did you see that?" "What?" "Exactly...." The invisible assassin, disappearing in a cloud of smoke,...

86 views0 comments

Dave Giddings

Apr 27, 2020
2 min

Masked intent

This iconic piece of ‘ninja’ apparel has been done in so many ways. If we want to understand the form and function of this simple...

55 views0 comments

Dave Giddings

Apr 22, 2020
2 min

Near or far, hooked on you...

The kyoketsu shoge is a weapon that is said to pre-date the kusarigama and was used by ninja of the Japanese region called Iga. The...

54 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...

331 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...

238 views0 comments

Dave Giddings

Jul 23, 2017
2 min

In sickness and in health...

There is a general rule that if you have an injury or sickness you stop training until you've recovered. However Soke Hatsumi has said...

159 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...

262 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...

231 views0 comments

Dave Giddings

Apr 30, 2017
2 min

Where to train?

Sometimes we want to train in a bespoke dojo, a place that invokes a connection to the art (whatever we perceive that may be). But this...

127 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...

177 views0 comments

Dave Giddings

Apr 2, 2017
2 min

Fighting talk.....

I was at a big seminar recently, and taught a session on sword work. While there, some top instructors from other martial arts were...

145 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...

346 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...

355 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...

155 views0 comments

Dave Giddings

Oct 2, 2016
3 min

Hands of the Ninja

At the height of the historical ninja period, the clan's ninja operatives were trained in eighteen fundamental areas of expertise,...

1,408 views0 comments

Dirty white belt - However much I train, it is not enough

Dave Giddings

Sep 24, 2016
5 min

Dirty white belt - However much I train, it is not enough

Dirty White Belt What does it mean to be shodan? That first step on the ladder to learning an unlearnable art…and if that isn’t confusing...

363 views0 comments

Dave Giddings

Jun 26, 2016
3 min

Drawn to the bow..

I have always been fascinated by archery, and began practicing at the age of 14. I would cycle every Sunday about 10 miles to a field...

288 views0 comments

Dave Giddings

Jun 19, 2016
3 min

Getting the point, to be blunt

If there is a ‘ninja sword’ is there a ‘ninja knife’? Well the closest that comes to it is the Kunai. Although to call it a knife would...

102 views0 comments

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