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Questions For Kyoshi Allie Alberigo
Question Dated 6/15/09
Kyoshi,
I hoped you enjoyed your recent weekend trip to Bermuda. I know that we enjoyed having you and training with you while you were here.
A friend of mine said that "it was his understanding that Ninjas only taught their Art to their own Clan members." How, when and why did it get taught to non-Clan members?
Regards,
A friend of mine said that "it was his understanding that Ninjas only taught their Art to their own Clan members." How, when and why did it get taught to non-Clan members?
Regards,
Rich Smith – L.I. Ninjutsu Centers - Hekigan Dojo – Bermuda
Hello Rich:
It was great being in Bermuda teaching the students and being around such positive energy. For me it is much different than I am sure it is for you. Because you are used to looking out and seeing Oceans of beautiful blue color with cascading cliffs overlooking beautiful waves crashing on the beach on a daily basis. To me no matter how many times I have been to the island it is simply paradise. Anyway, I will stop making people jealous so thanks for having me.
Your question is a great one – and one that students will appreciate. There are many layers - Remembering I am not a historian but have spent a great deal of time researching, traveling, training in Japan and speaking to Japanese Masters about this very same question. For hundreds of years, the Ninja kept their arts secretive, only taught from family to family, clan to clan. There was an interesting cross over though. Through history, the Ninja were actually Samurai. Let me be clear on this – Shoguns, would hire Ninja Clans to work for them as higher level security, bodyguards and warriors. The Ninja’s secretively guarded gates at castles, posed as Gardeners, and ran missions and even headed up armies. It was ingenious – because, the Shogun knew if that particular clan was in his higher, it was highly unlikely they would be hired by someone else to infiltrate and assassinate them. Also, like in our C.I.A. or F.B.I., we have snipers who know where other snipers would get specific shots, so we send out our anti-sniper’s to scout locations and stay one step ahead of them. The Ninja were basically a secret society within the Samurai clans. Who better to know the Ninja then the Ninja themselves. Although, many Ninja clans specialized in different things.
Now that we know Ninja were actually acting as Samurai, the answer to your question is - Ninjutsu became public in a big way in the 1980’s. Before I go into that let me digress a bit, as more and more Caucasians started traveling to Japan, meeting, and also marrying Japanese, Ninjutsu slowly started being taught to people outside of their clan. Also, with fear that the art would be lost, some select Japanese masters would teach non family members as a means of preserving their arts.
Now back to the 1980’s, “The Ninja Boom,” this is when I became enthralled with Ninjutsu. I watched movies like “Enter the Ninja,” with Sho Kosugi and other films like “Shinobi no Mono,” at this time I was following around Shihan Vazquez an American Ninja master, watching him in tournaments, hoping that one day I could train with him. I was currently training in Filipino Kali/Arnis under Tuhon Sayoc. I later became a personal student of shihan Vazquez and one of his top students and ended up traveling to Japan under his wish. I was on the outside looking in, reading every Ninja book, watching every Ninja movie, reading every magazine. One American’s name continually came up – which was Stephen Hayes. Stephan Hayes traveled to Japan, started training and eventually brought the Ninja boom back with him to the U.S.
There could be an entire book written on what happened after that, but that is another question. I later became good friends with Stephen Hayes, which ws the ultimate reward. He was kind of my mentor indirectly and I highly respect him. When people say “The world is a small place” they are 100% correct. I used to watch this man teach Ninjutsu, but by happenstance ended up training with his first Ninja teacher – Tanemura Soke of Genbukan Ninpo Bugei. Stephen Hayes, was the first person to bring Tanemura Soke to the U.S. Later on due to political reasons, Stephen Hayes, ended up training with Hatsumi Sensei, who was at the time Tanemura Soke’s teacher. Now these two individuals are two of the top Ninja teachers in the world. Stephen Hayes, has contributed more to the Ninjutsu community more then anyone else to date.
The Ninja boom was a big reason that Ninjutsu is still around today, and most of the reason that it is taught so freely. With the lessons of these two Ninja teachers and also, some others not so famous Ninja masters - Ninjutsu caught on and is one of the most widely practiced arts today.
With the many amazing teachers out there that are now preserving the once secretive art. We not only owe a debt of gratitude to the foreign students who continue to train and preserve this art but some of the higher ranking teachers who continue to hold the art dear to their hearts. Now Ninjutsu is freely taught to the public and just like any other martial art you can easily gain access to it. I still however hold specific teachings such as the esoteric arts to long time students. As you know and most of my students know, recently I made it public that what I teach is no considered 21st century Ninjutsu. This is what I have learned throughout my life, which incorporates all of my 4 decades of martial arts training and all of my life-experiences. I am honored to have you and all of my students in my school. Ninpo IKKAN!
In spirit;
Kyoshi
Allie
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Kyoshi:
As you know I have been training for close to 2 years now and in all that time there is only one aspect of training that I have never had actual instruction in, and that is how to Kiai, and why we are supposed to. I my self learned how to kiai from Aikido and what purpose it served there. I have read some of the books that mention Kiai Jutsu so I understand somewhat of its' expanded purpose in Ninjutsu.
The only reason I ask you this question is, one of the other students approached my brother the other day during training and asked him what he was doing when he did his Kiai and what purpose it served. I have asked some younger students what purpose it served to see what they may have been taught, and there answer was the most basic reason, which was to make sure they keep breathing when they fight. I have never asked anyone if they were taught the basics of how to Kiai, but from listening to some of my classmates I get the impression that they are kind of trying to figure it out on there own with varying levels of success.
So I was wondering if this is something that is taught in beginner levels that I may have missed. Is the training of it something you want students to figure out on their own.Christopher Webster - Sankyu - Blue Belt
Dear Chris:
First - thank you for presenting this question. As you know when I teach I always ask at the end of class "does anyone have any questions" usually I meet with a room filled with blank stares as if a question is a death sentence. I then explain further to help the students out a bit "questions, can be on anything, technique, spirituality, protocol - anything." Most of the time, I get nothing. As you and most students know, I am at no shortage of giving my opinion and the many lessons that I have learned in my lifetime. So here goes.
The Kiai "Spirit Shout"
For many martial artists this is nothing more then a reminder to breathe like you mentioned above. In its simplest form, it is to force a student to continue to breathe. Most students don't realize how they are holding their breath and how it restricts their technique and power. With that being said, the Kiai is so much more. The definition the Spirit Shout is really more what this is about. If you remember in the movie "Braveheart" with Mel Gibson at the end battle scene both armies stood in front of each other and took turns yelling (Kiai) trying to intimidate each other. What most people really don't get is what it does for the person or the army itself. It helps to build energy, enthusiasm and of course courage. Really the point is the kiai is all about your inner spirit, it reflects who you are. Sometimes I tell my students - you don't always have to Kiai outwardly. You can Kiai internally. For example: a grunt a grown a thought to yourself. The Kiai is really taking your time to pull you into a state. I just taught state change the other day in Black Belt Club.
In our system their are two types of kiai's and of course hundreds of
interpretations. Most people are familiar with the "Yin and Yang" in the Chinese culture. This is the circle with black and white divisions with the squiggly line and the two dots. In the Japanese culture there is a similar one called "In and Yo." The picture represented is different it is a Egg shaped circle, normally red and white. We have a In - Kiai and then we have Yo - Kiai. Some may say, which goes where. Well, the answer really is
in the practice. For practical purposes and practice within the dojo all attacks are in the sound "Epp" (Pronounced IP) all Defenses are in the sound "To" (pronounced Tow). What is the attack and what is the defense, when does a defense become an attack, when does a attack become an offense. This is where the confusion lies. Really the answer is in your feeling at the moment. The kiai is developed through years of practice. No matter what, whether it be a - Ura Kiai (Inner) - thought or inner growl or sound, or a outward Kiai Omote Kiai makes no difference, it is up to you. Kiai is a representation of who you are, how you train and how you work. IT is also a sign of your motivation, your intensity, your attitude, drive and determination.
I am sure you can see why, the answer to this question is not brought up by instructors. Most of the time it creates more confusion, at the beginner level, then it is worth. So we allow students to continue to train and build up inner spirit, confidence and a martial spirit, and sooner or later, the Kiai is understood, but most importantly it is not something a Black Belt does, it is who they become.
In spirit;
Kyoshi Allie
