| To most martial artists, fighters, and self defense | | | | into the same target, then... |
| practitioners, the concept of striking is pretty simple. | | | | ...as he leaps away, he again extends his arm so that a |
| You use whatever fist or fists that are a part of your | | | | shuto ('knifehand' strike) delivers a chopping blow to |
| system to deliver blow after blow to the opponent's | | | | the same damaged ribs. |
| body, until he's done. Right? | | | | Another example might be against an incoming punch |
| The problem with this method is that these strikes are | | | | where the ninja avoids to the inside and delivers a |
| generally sent out one at a time. | | | | knifehand strike to the forearm to parry it away. As |
| So, what you see is maybe a jab or two, then a right | | | | the arm is still moving, the ninja twists in and flips his |
| cross. Or, the fighter will throw himself into the foray | | | | forearm, over to strike the attacker's face with an |
| with a barrage of right and left punches. | | | | inverted boshi-ken ('thumb-drive' fist). And, without |
| But, it's always the same. One hand flies out. Then, as | | | | breaking from the flow of movement, he continues |
| it comes back, the other goes out. | | | | turning toward the attacker, who is falling away from |
| "So?" | | | | the thumb tip strike to the face, only to swing his arm |
| "What's the deal," I can almost hear you asking. | | | | out with another knife-hand strike, or a raking strike |
| After all, that's how you punch. Right? | | | | with the extended fingers of his shuto. |
| And I would answer... | | | | This same principle can be applied with the legs. |
| "Not if you're a Ninja!" | | | | Advanced-intermediate students are introduced to the |
| In the Ninja's unarmed combat method, known as | | | | concept of kicking combinations. Here, the defender |
| ninpo-taijutsu ("the ninja's body art"), there is the | | | | learns to deliver multiple kicks with the same foot... |
| concept of san-uchi ('3 strikes'). That means that, | | | | ...WITHOUT putting the foot down between kicks. |
| every time a Ninja strikes his or her opponent, they are | | | | This is not to be confused with the bouncing, flashy, |
| delivering 3 punches to either... | | | | "circle kicking" that Tae kwon do practitioners like to |
| 1)The same target, or... | | | | demonstrate at shows. |
| 2)3 different targets... | | | | In the ninja's taijutsu method, the concepts of flow and |
| At the same time! Well, almost the same time. | | | | following the "karmic chain of events" from one move |
| What allows the Ninja to do this is the fact that he has, | | | | to the next - where each move sets up the next - is |
| at a minimum, 16 different body weapons at his | | | | the most important. This way, you don't have to use |
| disposal - half of which are hand-weapons. | | | | big, obvious movements to wind up and deliver each |
| This allows the Ninja to strike a target with one fist, | | | | strike. |
| and then, without withdrawing or retracting the arm, | | | | In the Ninja's scientific method of natural response, you |
| change his hand or the positioning of the weapon so | | | | can use less power to deliver each strike because |
| that it creates the necessary space to drive another | | | | there will be the effect of cumulative damage and |
| strike home. | | | | increased damage because of the precision of each |
| One possible combination might be a straight punch | | | | strike being delivered. |
| into the ribs, followed by an elbow from the same arm | | | | |