Dave GiddingsJan 32 minDo 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 exp...
Dave GiddingsMay 19, 20202 minSole 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 doe...
Dave GiddingsApr 27, 20203 minHidden 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, sha...
Dave GiddingsApr 27, 20202 minMasked intentThis iconic piece of ‘ninja’ apparel has been done in so many ways. If we want to understand the form and function of this simple concept...
Dave GiddingsApr 22, 20202 minNear 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 weapo...
Dave GiddingsOct 25, 20173 minStick to the shadowsThere are many forms of stick fighting, from English quarterstaff, to Shaolin staff, to Bo staff in many Japanese styles, to Filipino an...
Dave GiddingsSep 30, 20172 minSolitary pursuitsAt times the question of training alone and what should, or can, be done without a training partner comes up. Its difficult to know what ...
Dave GiddingsJul 23, 20172 minIn 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 "W...
Dave GiddingsMay 29, 20175 minThrown intent....with edgesIf 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 h...
Dave GiddingsMay 18, 20174 minSomething 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 multi...
Dave GiddingsApr 30, 20172 minWhere 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 i...
Dave GiddingsApr 11, 20172 minTrain 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...
Dave GiddingsApr 2, 20172 minFighting 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 teach...
Dave GiddingsMar 25, 20174 minIt'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 th...
Dave GiddingsFeb 11, 20174 minClimbing combatOne of the less well known but almost iconic of ninja tools are hand claws or shuko. These concealed tools were also versatile weapons an...
Dave GiddingsFeb 4, 20172 minBasic 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 feelin...
Dave GiddingsOct 2, 20163 minHands of the NinjaAt the height of the historical ninja period, the clan's ninja operatives were trained in eighteen fundamental areas of expertise, beginn...
Dave GiddingsSep 24, 20165 minDirty white belt - However much I train, it is not enoughDirty 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...
Dave GiddingsJun 26, 20163 minDrawn 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 arc...
Dave GiddingsJun 19, 20164 minGetting the point, to be bluntIf 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 b...