American Ninja Magazine

merican-ninja-magazine.us

2015

Advertising Fees
Full Page: $375.00

Inside this issue:

NINJA HISTORY

Half Page: $190.00

Page: $95.00

History of the Martial 9

Belt Colors
Front Choke Defense 12
Hangover Cure

16

Fire Starting Hints

19

Ninja Nite Games

21

The information contained in these pages can be

highly dangerous. It is intended only for
informational purposes. Any action one taken as
a result of the articles presented here is done
so by the individual doing such and not sanctioned by ANM or its associates.

All artwork is done by the advertiser

and must be submitted in JPEG or PNG
format.

Volume 3, Issue 1

Publisher: Pat Mitchell Inc.

Editor: Christopher Bashaw
Advertising and Sales:
bashawcj@gmail.com
american-ninja-magazine.us
Submit Articles:
bashawcj@gmail.com
SUBJECT: ANM Article Submission

Page 2

American Ninja Magazine

NINJA HISTORY (a brief review):

http://modernnija.jimdo.com/

Concerns about modern schools of ninjutsu relate to the schools' claims to authenticity (direct linesof tutelage
from the ancient schools) and secondly, to claims of notability by those who operate them. For example, some
ask
schools
Thiswhether
story canmodern
fit 75-125
words.of ninjutsu qualify as "Kory".
Your headline is an important part of the newsletter and should be considered carefully.

The concerns about authenticity are voiced by historians of koryu arts and by representatives of the Iga Ninja
In a few words, it should accurately represent the contents of the story and draw readers into the story. Develop the headline beMuseum
of Japan. Some have suggested there are no longer any true ninjutsu schools. Most (reputable) historifore you write the story. This way, the headline will help you keep the story focused. Examples of possible headlines include Selling
ans
agree
NinjaOffice
(Shinobi)
Your
Homethat
and New
Openswere
Near active
You. from the 15th - 17th century. Most Japanese martial arts experts
and historians agree that the link between modern Ninjutsu and the historical Ninja is tenuous at best. It's clear
from historical records that Ninja were often from the Samurai warrior class; a specialized division if it were.
Japanese history is filled with spies, assassinations and tricky military tactics. Many such historical events are
attributed to Ninja- but remember ninja can mean a clan for hire specializing in this form of military science,
samurai who practiced this type of military science, or simply the military science itself.
The ninja are without doubt the most misunderstood and misrepresented figure in military history.
Just what is a ninja, anyway? The word itself derives from the Japanese Shinobi-no-mono, which is written with
two kanji characters that can also be pronounced as nin-sha, if the Chinese pronunciation is used instead. The
first character, nin, suggests concealment, while the second, sha, means person.
The origin of the ninja is considered a "Dark Age" in Japanese history as no historical documentation of its creation, is contemporary to the first records of ninja activity. This means that all ideas aimed at the ninja origins,
are open to theory and are not supported in any way by documentation that was written when the ninja first
appeared. However, there is one theory will never "fit the bill"; and that is the idea of a ninja counter-culture of
peasants that were based in Iga and Koka and that developed special skills to defend against samurai oppression. That being said, no one knows where in Japan the ninja first were created, but they became most well
known in the provinces of Iga and Koka (Koga), but this was not until at least two hundred years after their first
appearance in Japanese history which was in the thirteen hundreds.
By the year 850, the Tang Dynasty in China was in decline. It would fall in 907, plunging China into fifty years
of chaos; the collapse prompted some Tang generals to escape over the sea to Japan. These commanders
brought new battle tactics and philosophies of war with them. Chinese monks also began to arrive in Japan in
the 1020s, bringing new medicines and fighting philosophies of their own. Many of the ideas originated in India, and made their way across Tibet and China before turning up in Japan. The monks shared their methods to
Japan's warrior-monks, sohei or yamabushi, as well as others who would incorporate these teachings in what we
think as ninjutsu.
When the claim is made that Ninja arts originated in China, what is really being said is that the influences of
China, especially Sun Tzu's The Art of War which was written there around the fifth century BC, and contains a
chapter about the importance of espionage. Some of the tactics described in this book, specifically the espionage chapter, were eventually put into use by the ninja. For this reason, ninja skills are often described as

Volume 3, Issue 1

Page 3

Chinese in origin (which is not to say that China had its own cultural version of what we know as ninja). On the
other hand, there was nothing particularly secret about this book, and the strategems were widely known, once
the book finally made it over to Japan sometime in the seventh or eighth century AD. The Chinese often referred
to it, and many other books which followed it, when planning for warfare and studying tactics. The Japanese,
too, came to use the book and many of its teachings, not just the espionage chapter. Samurai battles used tactics laid out in The Art of War. A school of thought may have begun in China with Sun Tzu's The Art of War, but
the ninjutsu as we understand it from Japan was created in Japan which included some of this information and
was known as shinobi and must be said to be a unique to the cultural creation of Japan.
So for those who prefer an ancient Japanese origin for the ninja, there is another myth. This story involves the
legendary hero Prince Yamato and is recorded in two of the oldest written texts in Japan, the Kojiki and the
Nihon Shoki. Both tell origin myths and early history of the Japanese people, and are a mix of folklore, fact,
and legend. Both were written in the early eighth century AD for the imperial household. The story of Prince
Yamato is usually pointed to as an illustration of how old the arts of the ninja are allegedly taking place in the
first century AD. But not even the firmest believers in the Prince Yamato story can call him a ninja for it, rather
he is a 'proto-ninja.' The story which interests ninja historians concerns Prince Yamato's mission to subdue the Komaso. He arrives in the Land of Kumaso, and the story continues as follows (as translated by W.G. Aston):
Now the Kumaso had a leader named Torishi-kaya, also called the Brave of Kahakami, who assembled all his
relations in order to give them a banquet. Hereupon Prince Yamato let down his hair, and disguising himself as
a young girl, secretly waited until the banquet should be given. Then with a sword girded on him underneath his
inner garment, he entered the banqueting muro of the Brave of Kahakami and remained among the women.
The Brave of Kahakami, enchanted with the beauty of the young girl, forthwith took her by the hand, and made
her sit by him. He also offered her the cup, and made her drink, and thus amused himself with her. By and by
the night grew late, and the company fewer. Also the Brave of Kahakami became intoxicated. Hereupon Prince
Yamato drew the sword which he had in his inner garments, and stabbed the Brave of Kahakami in the breast.
After which, before dying, the Brave imparted on Prince Yamato the name Yamato-Takeru, or "Yamato the
Courageous."
Moving forward in history about four hundred years, a ninja-like night raid does show up in the Heike Monogatari, which documents the battles between the Taira and Minamoto clans for command of the nation in 1182. A
couple samurai warriors secretly sneak into the enemy's camp and are defeated.
So, when exactly do ninjas show up in the historical record? Despite many popular folktales, historical accounts
of the ninja are scarce. It seems the earliest reference to a band of ninja occurs in the Taiheiki, written around
1360 and referring to an event which took place in 1338. The documentation records their defeat, but it does
note their act. It was not until the 15th century that spies were specially trained for their purpose. It was around
this time that the word shinobi appeared to define and clearly identify ninja as a secretive group of agents.
From that point, references to ninja activity increase in the histories and romances written at the time, with ninja
activity finally coming into its own during the age of Sengoku, when all of Japan was plunged into war, a state
of affairs which lasted throughout the sixteenth century, with the most ninja activity seemingly occurring around

Page 4

American Ninja Magazine

the Iga and Koga provinces. Evidence for this can be seen in historical documents, which began to refer to
stealthy soldiers as shinobi during the Sengoku period.
The skills required of the ninja has come to be known in modern times as ninjutsu, but it is unlikely they were
previously named under a single discipline, but were rather distributed among a variety of covered espionage
and survival skills.
The first specialized training began in the mid-15th century, when certain samurai families started to focus on
covert warfare, including espionage and assassination. Outside the expected martial art disciplines, a shinobi
studied survival and scouting techniques, as well as information regarding poisons and explosives. Physical
training was also important, which involved long distance runs, climbing, stealth methods of walking and swimming. A certain degree of knowledge regarding common professions was also required if one was expected to
take their form in disguise. Some evidence of medical training can be derived from one account, where an Iga
ninja provided first-aid to Ii Naomasa, who was injured by gunfire in the Battle of Sekigahara. Here the ninja
reportedly gave Naomasa a "black medicine" meant to stop bleeding.
There were various clans of Ninja who had different espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination methods. The best known ninja clans were the Iga and Koga. But there were other clans who practiced shinobi (Ninja
martial arts).
With the fall of the Iga and Kga clans, daimyos could no longer recruit professional ninja, and were forced to
train their own shinobi. The shinobi was considered a real profession, as demonstrated in the bakufu's 1649
law on military service, which declared that only daimyos with an income of over 10,000 koku were allowed to
retain shinobi. In the two centuries that followed, a number of ninjutsu manuals were written by descendants of
Hattori Hanz as well as members of the Fujibayashi clan, an offshoot of the Hattori. Major examples include
the Ninpiden (1655), the Bansenshukai (1675), and the Shninki (1681). These later manuals of espionage are
often grounded in Chinese military strategy, quoting works such as The Art of War (Sunzi Bingfa) by Sun Tzu.
Most ninjutsu techniques recorded in scrolls and manuals revolve around ways to avoid detection, and methods
of escape.
The ninja emerged as mercenaries in the 15th century, where they were recruited as spies, raiders, arsonists
and even terrorists. Amongst the samurai, a sense of ritual and decorum was observed, where one was expected to fight or duel openly. Combined with the unrest of the Sengoku era, these factors created a demand
for men willing to commit deeds considered not respectable for conventional warriors. By the Sengoku period,
the shinobi had several roles, including spy (kanch), scout (teisatsu), surprise attacker (kishu), and agitator
(konran). The ninja families were organized into larger guilds, each with their own territories. A system of rank
existed. A jnin ("upper man") was the highest rank, representing the group and hiring out mercenaries. This is
followed by the chnin ("middle man"), assistants to the jnin. At the bottom was the genin ("lower man"), field
agents drawn from the lower class and assigned to carry out actual missions.
The ninja did not always work alone. Teamwork techniques exist: for example, in order to scale a wall, a
group of ninja may carry each other on their backs, or provide a human platform to assist an individual in
reaching greater heights. The Mikawa Go Fudoki gives an account where a coordinated team of attackers
used passwords to communicate. The account also gives a case of deception, where the attackers dressed in the
same clothes as the defenders, causing much confusion. When a retreat was needed during the Siege of Osaka, ninja were commanded to fire upon friendly troops from behind, causing the troops to charge backwards in

Submission Guidelines
ANM includes articles about all Ninjutsu to include martial arts styles and techniques, mystical approaches, and
healing/restorative arts systems and styles.
Before sending a complete article to ANM, we recommend you submit a query letter. The query should describe
your proposed article and specific if it will include photos (which we suggest). Please be as specific as possible
in your article description.
Please do not submit editorial material that has been published or submitted to other publications. The author
must tell us if the material was or will be submitted somewhere else. By submitting material, the author agrees
that ANM has the rights to publish it.
Please, send all submissions by email to bashawcj@gmail.com.
Please submit articles as Word documents or typed within the email. Please do not send photos embedded in
Word documents. All photos should be sent separately in either JPEG or PNG format.
If we like your idea and have not recently compiled a similar story we may work out the details of publishing
your story (Deadlines, publication dates, story requirements, etc.) Please understand that submitting material
does not guarantee it will be published. Please do not e-mail digital photos until your article is approved. Submission of photos means you have the legal authority to publish these photos.
The big rule of journalism is accuracy. All statements and quotes need to be accurate and verifiable. Use authoritative sources and double-check your information. Check spellings and clarify unfamiliar terms.
Please submit any seasonal material 3 months in advance of the publication date.
Photo guidelines:
With any submitted photos please include: who took the photo, everyone who appears in the photo, and a brief
caption about what is taking place in the photo.

Professor Christopher Bashaw, PhD/MA

Editor, ANM- American Ninja Magazine

Page 6

American Ninja Magazine

order to attack a perceived enemy. This tactic was used again later on as a method of crowd dispersal.
Over time the legend of the ninja grew. During the relative quiet time of the Edo period, under the rule of the
Tokugawa Shogunate, the arts flourished. Stories, woodblock prints, and plays all told dramatic stories from the
past. In these tales, the ninja became semi-mythical beings, whose ability to hide, stay silent, to siege castles,
and to kill, grew to superhuman heights, and so the only explanation for their powers became sorcery.
Superhuman or supernatural powers were often associated with the ninja. Some legends include flight, invisibility, shapeshifting, the ability to "split" into multiple bodies, the summoning of animals, and control over the five
classical elements. These fabulous notions have stemmed from popular imagination regarding the ninja's mysterious status, as well as romantic ideas found in later Japanese art of the Edo period. Magical powers were
sometimes rooted in the ninja's own efforts to disseminate fanciful information. For example, Nakagawa
Shoshujin, the 17th century founder of Nakagawa-ry, claimed in his own writings (Okufuji Monogatari) that he
had the ability to transform into birds and animals. Perceived control over the elements may be grounded in
real tactics, which were categorized by association with forces of nature. For example, the practice of starting
fires in order to cover a ninja's trail falls under katon-no-jutsu ("fire techniques").
The ninja's adaption of kites in espionage and warfare is another subject of legends. Accounts exist of ninja
being lifted into the air by kites, where they flew over hostile terrain and descended into, or dropped bombs
on enemy territory. Kites were indeed used in Japanese warfare, but mostly for the purpose of sending messages and relaying signals. Turnbull suggests that kites lifting a man into midair might have been technically
feasible, but states that the use of kites to form a human "hang glider" falls squarely in the realm of fantasy.
But today ninja-magik is widely debated. Kuji-kiri is an esoteric practice
which, when performed with an array of hand "seals" (kuji-in), was meant
to allow the ninja to enact superhuman feats.
The kuji ("nine characters") is a concept originating from Taoism, where it
was a string of nine words used in charms and incantations. In China, this
tradition mixed with Buddhist beliefs, assigning each of the nine words to a
Buddhist deity. The kuji may have arrived in Japan via Buddhism, where it
flourished within Shugend. Here too, each word in the kuji was associated
with Buddhist deities, animals from Taoist mythology, and later, Shinto kami. The mudr, a series of hand symbols representing different Buddhas,
was applied to the kuji by Buddhists, possibly through the esoteric Mikky
teachings. The yamabushi ascetics of Shugend adopted this practice, using the hand gestures in spiritual, healing, and exorcism rituals. Later, the use of kuji passed onto certain bujutsu (martial arts) and ninjutsu schools,
where it was said to have many purposes. The application of kuji to produce a desired effect was called
"cutting" (kiri) the kuji. Intended effects range from physical and mental concentration, to more incredible claims
about rendering an opponent immobile, or even the casting of magical spells. These legends were captured in
popular culture, which interpreted the kuji-kiri as a precursor to magical acts.

Volume 3, Issue 1

Page 7

KuroShinobi Ryu History

The KuroShinobi Ryu is neo-ninja. It was created and founded by Michael Kamatsu.
Mr Kamatsu was born in 1942, on the big island of Hawaii and was born to Japanese American parents. As a youth he moved to the mainland.
When he reached the appropriate age he joined the military and learned the art of Tang Soo Do. He also studied Judo. He was awarded dan ranking in both, a 3rd and 2nd respectively. He also was a student of chi kung and Yang Tai Chi. He married in 1963 and had three children; David,
Sylvia, and Tina. He also has 4 granddaughters. With a family history that touts ninjas and monks he always was drawn to the stories and concepts
of Ninjutsu. Through his knowledge of the martial arts, as well as the stories of his youth he created the Kurishinobi Ryu and its nine traditions in hopes
to recreate the family lineage that was told to him of the stories of his family.
After his death the ryu was passed onto Professor Christopher Bashaw who now oversees this neo-ninja tradition honoring Mr Kamatsu's vision and
allowing it to grow and develop further.

Volume 3, Issue 1

Page 9

History of the Martial Belt Colors

Modern-day students of martial arts generally assume that the ranking system of kyu (color belt) and dan (black belt)
levels, and the various titles that high-ranking black belts hold, are, like the katas, a part of martial tradition extending back centuries. However, despite the fact that karate and its sibling arts are indeed very old, the ranking system
itself dates back only to the early 20th century. Some early Japanese martial arts utilized a three-rank system which
involved the awarding of certificates. The first, shodan, signified a beginner; the second, chudan, indicated middle
rank; and the third, jodan, or upper rank, allowed the student to enter into the okuden, or secret traditions, of his
school or style.
Another early system utilized a series of licenses called menkyo. The first rank, kirikami, was usually awarded after one
to three years of training, and signified that the student had been accepted by his school as a serious practitioner. After three to five more years the student was presented with a mokuroku, or written catalog of the systems techniques.
After two to ten more years the student finally received his menkyo, or license to teach. The menkyo might also specify
one of several different possible titles indicating his position with the systems organizational structure. The ultimate
certificate was the menkyo kaiden, awarded to students who had mastered every aspect of the system. Some system
headmasters awarded only a single menkyo kaiden in their lifetime,to the person they chose as their successor.
Today we have the colored belt ranking system
Dr. Jigoro Kano originated the martial arts belt ranking system. Dr. Kano, who was Japanese and known as the
"Founder of Modern Judo" was first to devise many of the concepts that are the foundation of modern martial
arts. Dr. Kano devised the colored belt system as a visible sign of a student's progress, awarding the first "black
belts" in the 1880"s.
Gichin Funakoshi, who was Okinawan and the founder of Shotokan Karate and often referred to
as the "Founder of Modern Karate" adopted the belt ranking system and other organizational
and philosophical concepts from Dr. Kano, who was both his contemporary and friend.
Byung Jick Ro, who is Korean and the founder of Song Moo Kwan and known as "Founder of
Modern Taekwondo" was a student of Gichin Funakoshi, receiving his black belt from him in 1939,
and thus, the color belt ranking system has been part of Modern Taekwondo since it was developed in the early 1940's.
Today, schools and styles use the karate belts as a sign of progress, achievement, confidence building and selfawareness.
Dispelling an Urban Legend
One common legend concerning the tradition of belts claims that early martial artists began their training with a
white belt, which eventually became stained black from years of sweat, dirt, and blood. However, there is no real
evidence for this story, so it should be relegated to the status of myth.

Page 10

American Ninja Magazine

In some arts and schools there is the opinion that the belt should not be washed; by doing that one would "wash away the
knowledge" or "wash one's ki away." This is all related to the dirty belt myth.
Levels of Advancement
Another common misbelief that needs to be clarified is the "black belt as master" stereotype. In reality, a black belt indicates the wearer is competent in a style's basic technique- it really means that the black belt has demonstrated competency with the basics of said style. Since in Song Moo Kwan a black belt takes approximately 2.5 to 4 years of training to
achieve, a good intuitive analogy would be a 1st Dan Black Belt is equivalent to a college Bachelor's degree. The 1st Dan
black belt is thus seen not so much as an end, but rather as a beginning, a doorway to advanced learning.
The 5th Dan is Master in most styles, and can be viewed similar to a college Masters degree, and 8th degree black
belt Grandmaster can be seen being equivalent to a university Doctoral degree.
As students pass through the ranks taking grading examinations they are awarded with different colored belts. The color
order and which colors are used varies from school to school, as does the relationship between belt color and rank (=
Kyu).
However the Kyu or number/rank always starts at 10 and ends at 1. Black belts ranks then increase normally, from 1st
Dan to 10th Dan. In most Karate schools beginners are automatically considered a 10th Kyu (wearing a white belt). Some
schools are known to grade beginners for their 10th Kyu.
Colored belts and how they came to be
In the old days the white belt was simply dyed to a new color. This repeated dying process dictates the type of belt color
and the order of the colors. The standard belt color system originated as white, yellow, green, brown, and black (getting
darker in color and advancement). Originally, the white belt was simply dyed to a new color. This repeated dying process dictated the type of belt color and the order of the colors.
Due to the dying process, it was only practical to increasingly use darker colors. All of this came about shortly after the
Second World War, when Korea and Japan were very poor countries. Dying the belts to a new color was a cheap way
to have a visible, simple and effective ranking system.

Volume 3, Issue 1

Page 11

Definition: Neo-Ninja/ Neo-Ninjutsu:

SHINOBI-DO

A 20th-century revival of interest in the culture of the

shinobi/ninja of Japan.

Shinobi-do includes martial arts training and military war sciences. Shinobi-do as taught by the KuroShinobi Ryu is not a
particular style of martial arts. It is a Martial Science, or even
more correct a Military Science that embodies the ideology of
the shadow warrior.

Neo-Ninjas have no direct, genuine or provable lineage to

Japanese ninjutsu, but practice according as they appreciate those philosophies. Neo-Ninjutsu is not so much a martial art as it is a philosophy of practice surrounding the art
of stealth and the philosophy of the ancient shinobi.
Neo-Ninjutsu organizations cover a wide spectrum of belief
and ideals regarding their training.
Being a Neo-Ninja does not make their training any
less or more authentic then those who believe they are of
authentic Ninja lineage
Ninjutsu (Way of the Ninja or Ninja Way) is often translated to the art of stealth or the art of invisibility; ninjutsu
can also mean "the skill of going unperceived". Ninjutsu is
not a martial art system, as it is most commonly mis
portrayed. Ninjutsu is a separate and selfsufficient art of
warfare.
In the Sengoku period, they were referred to by a variety
of names, but not "Ninja". "Ninja" is an Edo period term.
The two characters, "Nin" and "Ja" are the same characaters as "Shinobi" and "mono". One of the original terms was
"Shinobo no mono"--literally, person of stealth. Prior to the
Edo period, the word "Ninja" was not used. Shinobi, or
Shinobi no mono, was one term. "Kusa" was a very common
term also, used to denote stealthy scouts.
Some have created new systems based off the historical
evidence of ninjutsu, in turn employing a system that meets
a modern world; these are typically referred to as neo
ninjas or neoninjutsu.
Remember, ninjutsu is not so much one particular approach
tomartial arts, but a collection of fundamental survivalist
techniques that came out of necessity in a politically volatile
Japan; now modified for today's practitioners. Knowing
this, it is reasonable to see similarity between systems as
well as the uniqueness that each system portrays. Remember there is no one definition of what a ninjutsu system must
include; there is no governing ninjutsu body. Only the ethics
and principals of each system determine the authenticity of
that system.

Military science serves to identify the strategic, political, economic, psychological, social, operational, technological, and
tactical elements necessary to sustain relative advantage of
military force; and to increase the likelihood and favorable
outcomes of victory in peace or during a war. Military scientists include theorists, researchers, experimental scientists,
applied scientists, designers, engineers, test technicians, and
other military personnel.
Military personnel obtain weapons, equipment and training to
achieve specific strategic goals. Military science is also used to
establish enemy capability as part of technical intelligence.
Martial Science is not a style or system, not of any specific nationality, not of any location or origin. The principles of
Martial Science are universal and found throughout nature.
On a more philosophical level, transcending the specific context of combat and self-defense, Martial Science ultimately is
the universal link that integrates mind-body mastery with the
attainment of total human peak performance and character
leadership.
http://ninjutsu.yolasite.com/

www.createspace.com/4042206

KuroShinobi Ryu- Shinobi-do

Genin: Self Defense Foundations for the Beginning Ninja
Authored by Dr Pat Mitchell PhD

Page 12

American Ninja Magazine

Three Ways to Defend Yourself from Chokes from the Front

Taken fron an issue of Popular Science,1962 , that contained a feature on unarmed self-defense. The article was
adapted from a book entitled Modern Judo and Self-Defense by Harry Ewen, a police judo expert.
Finger Lock

Grab the thugs little fingers, with your thumbs under the tips (fig. 1). The knuckles of your index fingers should
be over the the second joints of his little fingers (fig. 2). Move your wrists in a circular motion down toward your
hips. Applied pressure will force the thug to his knees to avoid broken fingers. As he goes down, strike him in
the face or jaw with your knee (fig. 3).

Volume 3, Issue 1

Page 13

Nose Break

First, clasp your hands (fig. 1). Then, with fingers locked and elbows bent, swing hard from the waist and strike the thugs
forearms with the bony parts of your arms. Follow through until your clenched hands are above your assailants head and
the choke is broken (fig 2). Finish by bringing down your still-clenched hands, with all the force you can muster, on the
bridge of his nose (fig. 3). Stop short of this, naturally, while practicing this move.

Volume 3, Issue 1

Page 15

Basic Arm Lock

Grasp the thugs right forearm with both your hands (fig. 1). Holding his right wrist firmly with your left hand,
slip your right thumb under his right palm and pull his arm toward you to ensure that it is straight (fig. 2).
Keep on turning until you are almost at your assailants side (fig. 3). Keep his hand elevated above the level of
the rest of your arm (fig. 4). Now put all the weight of your body behind your left upper arm and elbow, pushing down on his right arm just above the elbow (fig. 5). Unless he submits, he will end up with a dislocated shoulder.

Page 16

American Ninja Magazine

HangoversAnd How to Cure Them

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/in-search-of-a-cure-for-the-dreaded-hangover/
http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/hangover-helpers
Ancient Greeks ate sheep lungs and two owl eggs to cure such a hangover. Sicilians recommended dried
bull penis although Mongolians prefer tomato juice and pickled sheeps eyes. Since the fermentation of the
grape man has sought the cure for the hangover.
Hangover cause
Shortly after a person starts consuming an alcoholic drink, the liver gets to work. The enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) metabolizes the ethanol (that's the type of alcohol in alcohol) into toxic acetaldehyde. From there
the liver enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) metabolizes acetaldehyde into acetate, a less toxic compound that breaks down into water and carbon dioxide. According to the Department of Health and Human
Services, some alcohol metabolism also occurs in the pancreas, gastrointestinal tract and the brain, but the liver
does the bulk of the work with its two enzymes.

The problem is: all this takes time and, the next day, the drinker suffers.
That dreadful feeling the next day is the condition often called a hangover, which the journal Alcohol
and Alcoholism characterizes as general misery with symptoms of drowsiness, concentration problems, dry
mouth, dizziness, gastrointestinal complaints, sweating, nausea, hyperexcitability and anxiety. Most of these
symptoms have been linked to elevated levels of acetaldehyde.
Getting rid of the hangover really comes down to understanding how the body reacts to alcohol in the first
place. Alcohol is a diuretic -- that is, it tends to increase urination, and therefore, dries you out, explains alcohol
metabolism researcher James Schaefer, PhD, professor at the Union College in Schenectady, N.Y. Drinking plenty of water the morning after helps to compensate for the dehydration.
But that's not all that's going on. Impurities are added to alcoholic beverages during the distillation process, and
these contribute to the nasty stomachache you get with your hangover. These impurities are especially high in
sweeter drinks and malt liquors. Drinking lots of water, then, does two things: it rehydrates your body and dilutes the impurities left in your belly.
Add Carbon: make burnt toast a part of your morning-after
breakfast.
Carbon in the charred part of the toast filters the impurities. In
fact, people who come into hospital emergency rooms with
alcohol poisoning get a potent carbon slurry pumped into their
stomachs for the same reason. The burnt toast is a much more
moderate version of the same remedy.

Volume 3, Issue 1

Page 17

Fatty foods, if eaten before drinking alcohol, "grease" the lining of the intestines. The alcohol then takes longer
to be absorbed by the body. Pizza, even chorizo is a good choice; swallowing a spoonful of olive oil to do the
same trick. Besides filling your stomach before you drink, eating almost any kind of food the morning after can
help alleviate a hangover, says Stephanie Brooks, MS, RD, a nutrition consultant in San Francisco. Food provides
electrolytes that replenish the body after dehydration. This is especially important for someone who's vomited
within the last 24 hours. Brooks particularly recommends a fruit smoothie or a sports drink.
A hangover's not a hangover without a pounding headache. The pain comes from a mix of dehydration and
your body's adjustment to the rapidly dropping blood-alcohol level. Taking two aspirin before going to sleep
and another pair when you wake up, if the headache's still there is helpful.
How effective any of these remedies will be depends on how much alcohol you can handle and how many
drinks you actually put down the night before. It takes the average 150-pound man about an hour to fully digest a standard drink -- that's roughly how much alcohol is in a bottle of beer, a glass of wine, or a standard
shot of hard liquor.
There's no magic pill that you can take, f you're going to drink a lot, you're going to pay the piper eventually.
There are two warning signs you should take very seriously indicating you may be surpassing your limit:
Multiple vomiting. This is simply your body's natural way of quickly getting rid of the toxins in alcohol -- not a
bad thing by itself. But it can rapidly lead to potentially life-threatening dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Lay off the liquor and start drinking lots of water.
Passing out. If someone drinking heavily passes out, and doesn't respond when you try to wake them, take that
person to a local emergency room. People in that condition are in danger of choking on their own vomit or going into shock. Passing out is a serious medical emergency.

American Ninja Magazine

Page 18

Amazing handy Gun of Ninja " Nigiri-Teppou "

Matchlocks were introduced to Japan from Western-World in 1543. After that independently from Europe, Japanese people invented
a handgun for themselves. Further Ninjas created handy guns as secret weapons called " Nigiri-Teppo () " . Generally speaking, the
construction of a gun is quite simple. In order to make a gun, something necessary is only a barrel and an ignition device. It is OK as long as they are
tough and functional. In this case, it is not a problem what kind a form it has. Since such a reason, Ninjas created a portable and one shot gun. That is
Nigiri-Teppo. The barrel of Nigiri-Teppou is " Yatate () ", which is an inkstone for brushes to store. So Ninjas can bring a Nigiri-Teppo with camouflaging Yatate. Or in another case, a case of a short sword could be a barrel of a Nigiri-Teppo. Then, Ninja can feign a gun as a short sword. The
weight of Nigiri-Teppo is about 250-350 g, the length is 160-180 mm. Gunpowder would be jammed in the bottom of a barrel, and a handle is
attached on the barrel. Of course only one bullet is set in the barrel. By grasping the handle strongly, the gunpowder is compressed and exploded.
Then, the bullet is fired. Certainly, a Ninja can handle Nigiri-Teppo only with his one hand. It is
Kosho Shorei Ryu
considered that the accuracy of Nigiri-Teppo is not so excellent in the long distance. But in the
short and middle range, it is supposed to have shown the power.

Although Master Rick Wilmott

has earned Black Belts in 10
different martial arts systems,
his main focus is on the 22 generation old Japanese WarriorMonk art called Kosho Shorei
Ryu. Call today and start
training with New England's
premier Kosho Instructor.

iLoveKickboxing.com - North Providence

1385 Mineral Spring Ave, Suite D, North Providence, RI 02904

Phone: (401) 383-3990

The purpose of NigiriTeppo is regarded

mainly for assassinations. But it can be
thought that NigiriTeppou could be used
for intimidation or
deceiving to make
enemies to think there were gun corps close to them.
The guns which look like Nigiri-Teppo were invented in Weatern-World. They are called " Palm
Pistol " . But it was in 19th century. It is amazingly that Ninjas created such guns earlier than western people prior to 300 years.

Volume 3, Issue 1

Page 19

Starting Fires Survival Skills

http://www.inquiry.net/outdoor/skills/fire/1_starting_fires.htm
First a curl of birch bark dry as it can be,
Then some twigs of softwood, dead, but on the tree,
Last of all some pine-knots to make the kittle foam,
And there's a fire to make you think you're settin' right at home.
(Ernest Thompson Seton, Two Little Savages).
Fuzz-Stick (1). Every hiker or camper may test his skill with a knife by trying to whittle a fuzz-stick.
All that is required is a piece of dry wood (preferably soft), a sharp
knife, and a little skill in using it. Point the end of a piece of wood about a
foot long and an inch thick. Holding the pointed end, rest the other end
against something solid (not your leg, unless you have a first aid kit
handy), and whittle long thin shavings, leaving them attached to the stick.
The trick of whittling so that the shavings remain on the stick can be easily
accomplished ; pull up on the stick, and cut a little deeper as you near the
end of the cut.
Fuzz-Stick Substitutes (2). Hikers without sharp knives and without ability
to whittle (the woods are full of them) must use a substitute for a fuzz-stick.
Gather a large handful of very small, bone-dry twigs, plant stalks, or
weed tops, at least a foot long. Break off both ends of the bundle so that
the sticks are of about the same length, and crack the middle across your knee. Hold the halves at an angle of
about forty-five degrees, and with the ends scratch a depression in the ground so that the twig wigwam will
stand rigidly.
1. What is the objection to starting a fire with paper or leaves? Did you ever see a real woodsman do it?
2. How are the lives of birch trees endangered when children are taught to start fires with birch bark?
3. What hardwoods are suitable for whittling fuzz-Sticks?

Fuzz-Stick Substitute

American Ninja Magazine

Page 20

Pyramid, or Wigwam Fire (3). A pyramid fire is popular with novices who enjoy watching a big blaze. The expert outdoor cook is annoyed by the blaze because he usually prefers glowing hardwood embers. The objection to a pyramid fire for cooking is that the center falls to only a small bed of coals surrounded by blazing
and smoking chunks. Hikers, however, should be familiar with this fire, since it is commonly used for starting other
types of fires.
Erect one or more fuzz-sticks, or a fuzz-stick substitute, and set upright around it in wigwam fashion sound, dry
wood varying from the size of your thumb to that of a lead pencil.

Pyramid or Starting Fire

When starting any fire, remember:
1. Hardwoods produce better coals than softwoods.
2. Split wood burns faster than round branches.
3. Fire burns upward; use long sticks.
4. Fire needs air ; leave plenty of space for it.
5. Lay the fire and have a supply of wood before lighting.
6. Conserve heat ; hang the kettle before lighting the fire.

Volume 3, Issue 1

Page 21

Ninja Nite Games

Training can be fun. So why not apply your night ninja skills in a game with your class or study group? Here are
a few games to consider
There are plenty of games you can play, indoors or outdoors, in which blindfolding can produce the effect
of the nights dark. These are also good games for sharpening your ears and making your sense of hearing more acute and more useful to you when you do go out on your ninja missions at night.
Blind Man
All the players sit down in a circle, except one who is blindfolded. He stands in the center, points in any direction, and utters a bird or animal call ; or instead, he may laugh, moan or squeak. The one who is pointed at must
imitate the noise as well as he can, and the blind man must try to guess his name.
He may require the individual he points at to repeat his imitation of the noise twice more, to help him to recognize the voice. If the blind man is correct, he changes places with the seated player ; if not, he tries again.
When there is a new blind man in the middle, players should of course change places.
Copy the Cat
Creeping and crawling take a long time and are very tiring, so you will resort to that method of progress only
when you are near your objective.
You should keep upright on your feet as long as you can, until you get quite close. As has been said, walking
noiselessly is largely a matter of balance, and you can learn a lot about it by
watching a cat when it is stalking a bird.
Watch how the cat moves one foot at a time, setting each down most carefully and delicately ; see how it " freezes " instantly at the first hint of a movement of the bird.
So you, too, must practice putting down each foot in such a way that you can
stand stock still like a statue on the slightest alarm. Be careful where you
plant your feet, so that leaves do not rustle as you advance a foot for the
next step, or twigs crack with your weight on them.
Your bo or jo staff can be used to help you to balance upright, but be careful where you plant that, too.
It is like a third foot, and must be managed skillfully to avoid making a noise in grass or leaves. Take care also
not to press your staff down into soft ground, or it will throw you off your balance, perhaps disastrously. It may
also make a sucking sound when you pull it out, which will be enough to warn your quarry of your presence.

American Ninja Magazine

Page 22

Woodsmans Walk
You will find the woodsmans walk the best way to walk silently; that is, with knees slightly bent, and loose, and
the toes pointing straight forward. Then, when you are drawing near to your objective, use the stalker's crawl
on hands and knees, imitating the cat stalking the bird as nearly as you can.
Move a hand forward, and bring your knee up to the place your hand formerly occupied, keeping all four
members as nearly as possible in a straight line. Lift your toes clear of the ground so that they do not scrape
along it, or hook up against a stone or a branch.
The closer you get, the more careful and the slower must be your progress. You must also crouch lower, remembering to keep your tail down-not up, like the horsey in the song. Finally, you must crouch right down on the
ground and slither very slowly along, making use of all the cover available, of course, and being really patient
and persevering.
Success will be well worth all the trouble taken. The sight and hearing of animals and birds is much more acute
than ours, so it will be a real triumph for you if you can get within ten yards or less of a blackbird before it flies
away, uttering its shrill alarm call.
Another tip is to adapt your movements to the natural noises that are around you. The noise made by a gust of
wind disturbing the leaves of the trees will cover the extra sound you make if you take a quick pace forward ;
and of course a waterfall can be most helpful in covering the sound of your advance upon your prey.
Such natural covers, though, are more useful when you are stalking a human " prey " than when you are stalking
a bird or animal, because the wild creatures will probably be so used to the sound of the wind or the waterfall
that they do not notice it, and they will hear any noisy movement of yours just the same. It is like living on a
main road in a town; you soon grow accustomed to the noise of buses or trams, and you don't consciously hear
them.

Volume 3, Issue 1

Page 23

When you have practiced stalking by day until you are really good at it, you will be able to stalk at night with
prospects of success. Only practice can make you expert; and when you have learned by daytime practice to
balance properly, and to use your staff, to crawl on all-fours silently and to wriggle along like a worm on your
tummy, you will not find it so difficult to travel silently in the dark.
We have already reviewed a few stalking games and you will remember the emphasis laid on skylines. So at
night-time it may not be possible to stalk in the upright position ; and, of course, if you crouch down low you will
stand a better chance of seeing your " enemy " if he is stalking you in the upright walking manner.
Enemy Airships
"Enemy Airships" is a good night signaling game. Two student-ninja are spies, equipped with a searchlight, with
which they intend to signal navigational directions to the raiding airship. The airship is represented by another
pair of ninjas with a lamp. These two pairs set off to reach two separate points a good distance apart, and at
least a quarter-mile from base.
When they have had five or ten minutes' start, the rest of the group set out to hunt them down, hunting in pairs. If
a pair of detectives can find one or other of the pairs of " enemy " (the " spies " or the " airship "), they win, and
the game is started again with different fellows as " enemy."
If the " spies " can reach their signaling post and start signaling to the " airship " before either party is caught,
the detectives must stop pursuing, and read the message that the " spies " send, scoring points for accuracy in
reading, and for accuracy in repeating it afterwards from memory. When signaling is ended, " spies " and "
airship " must try to return to camp uncaught, and the detectives may again hunt and try to catch them.
Hunting the Signaler
This is a good game to play in wooded country. The fugitive, armed only with a whistle, is given five minutes'
start, after which he is pursued by pairs of ninja police.
He tries to send a message for help to his friends,
by signaling in Morse with his whistle. He may send
one letter at a time, or two or more, pausing as he
pleases, or whenever pursuers are too close to him ;
but he may not let more than three minutes elapse
between letters.
The police will score points for accurately reading
and remembering the fugitive's message, or as
much of it as he is able to send; as well as for capturing him if they can.

American Ninja Magazine

Page 24

Listening Post
Here is another Night Ninja game which you can play indoors in the autumn. Collect a good lot of dry leaves,
or branches with leaves on, that have been blown off the trees; you can find them in plenty on the pavements
of a town, provided the weather has been dry for a spell.
Spread them on the floor near one end of the room but with gaps among them, and put one or two sentries,
blindfolded, and armed with an electric torch, behind the barricade of leaves. Then turn out the lights, having
lined up the other players at the far end of the room.
These players then have to try to pass through the barrier of crackly leaves without being heard by a sentry.
If a sentry hears a leaf or twig trodden on, he shines his torch in that direction; the player on whom the torch
shines (if any) retires to the starting line, and begins again, "scoring " one point against himself.
An umpire can also note down one point to his sentry's credit, if there are two or more sentries. This game is really excellent practice for Night Ninja out-of-doors, when you may have to creep through a wood full of fallen
leaves and bits of dead wood to capture a flag or get up to an animal.
It can also be played outdoors as a game, for practice. Litter a stretch of ground with obstacles, twigs, ditches,
etc., and practice walking among them in the dark silently.
Sleeping Pirate
Have you played the game called " Sleeping Pirate " in your clubroom? The " pirate " sits, blindfolded, in the
middle of the room with an open knife or sheath knife stuck in the floor in front of him.
The others try to creep or walk up to him and remove the knife. He points towards any sound he hears, and if
he is right the ninja pointed at must go back and start again. This is good practice in listening for the " pirate,"
and good practice in silent walking or stalking for the others. All should have a turn at being " pirate."

Volume 2, Issue 3

Page 25