Developing your life style of self-perfection with Traditional Japanese Ninjutsu Methods
Urban Combative Training - Ninpo Bugei – Kobujutsu Jissen Keiko
with Ralph Severe

This is the law: The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no possible victory in defense. The sword is more important than the shield and skill is more important than either. The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental.

Ninjutsu or Ninpo Bugei as a martial tradition traces its roots back a thousand years to the mountains of Japan. For the modern practitioner the term Ninjutsu-the ultimate and eternal reality of perseverance and stealth represents a set of unarmed and weapon techniques from Togakure ryu. Ninpo is a group of related martial traditions that have developed in Japan since the ancient period (before the 12th century), and that have been combined in the modern period under one comprehensive martial system, which includes the eighteen martial skills-bugei juhappan for the common Bushi-warrior, and another group of eighteen unconventional types of martial skills-Ninja Juhakkei for special warfare.

The techniques include many methods of self-protection, leaping, hiding, walking and running methods, and special utilization of the body. It is also possible to divide ninjutsu to four fundamental categories: taijutsu-body skill or special bio-mechanical awareness, ninki-weapons, heiho-strategy, and shugyo- philosophy practices. The arsenal of weapons includes a variety of conventional weapons such as Tachi-sword, Tanto-knife, Bo-stick and Yari-spear, and unconventional weapons such as Shuko-hand claws, Kusari fundo-chain and weight, and Kakushibuki-concealed weapons. Even astronomy and topography are tools of Ninjutsu. In any case, the combative self-protection characteristics of Ninjutsu, be it defensive or offensive.

It is common among those who practice ninjutsu these days to think that in medieval Japan the goal was to master all aspects and all the techniques associated with ninjutsu. In fact, it was quite the contrary. The aim was at specialization rather than an overall mastership. Historical records about Ninjutsu or Shinobi show that the basic training and nature of Ninjutsu was in fact methods of infiltration into unfriendly, often hostile territory much like a spy. The purpose of that infiltration was to gather information about the enemy, to cause disorder, to disseminate false information and to remove leaders of the enemy’s province.

For the person who is in search for the art of the ninja or shinobi, look no more. From 1985 to present, Ninjutsu in the Dallas Texas area is taught through Ralph Severe.

The Japanese Ninjutsu teacher, Soke (Grandmaster) Masaaki Hatsumi of Noda City, Japan, is head of his own worldwide Bujinkan (warrior god hall) Dojo network where ninjutsu students from around the world come to train. Ralph Severe received his master teacher certificate in NINPO TAIJUTSU directly from Soke Hatsumi in 1992, and is uniquely qualified to teach this ancient art of Japanese Ninjutsu living skills and warfare concepts. Ralph Severe graduated from the Bujinkan Dojo in 2004 and now is working towards using his skills to help others in the Japanese martial ways.

Ralph Severe feels that the arts of the historical ninja warrior are very "real" and effective for modern self-defense and believes that women and smaller people can really get a great system of self-protection from the training. Ninjutsu is not a normal system of self-defense. It goes far beyond the kick and punch arts. It becomes a way of life, which is "ninpo". Ninpo is not just a system of combative methods and fighting skills. It is a system of living in our 21st century. Ninjutsu becomes part of the student; it is a personal art of self-defense. Ralph Severe's school (dojo) of ninpo is called "Kamiyama Ninpo Happo Biken Dojo" or known around Dallas as the "Urban Combative Training".

Ninjutsu is a very powerful spiritual and health system that can improve any person’s life. This is NOT a martial system of just fighting! But of living values skills, survival skills and philosophy. Only through physical training in the Kamiyama Dojo methods (ryugi) can one realize the potential held within it.

Ralph Severe's main focus is on the well-known system of Togakure ryuha ninpo taijutsu concepts. Also with the other Japanese schools, Gyokko ryu, Kukishinden ryu, Takagi Yoshin ryu, Koto ryu, Shinden Fudo ryu, Asayama Ichiden ryu, Kashima Shin ryu, Katori Shinto ryu, and Muso Shinden ryu methods (ryugi) the Urban Combative Training offers a complete training outline.

A few words about the difference between technique and natural flow in the characteristic outline of the Kamiyama Dojo Methodology by Ralph Severe 3/2002.

I have been involved with sport and combative arts for most of my life. During this time my views and training methods have changed frequently because of my age, fitness levels and interest. The wonderful point of view I enjoy about being a full time student of Kamiyama Dojo ninjutsu is that it is always changing with the times and environment we live in. The main interest I have in Kamiyama Dojo ninjutsu is that it flows and adapts with the environment, conflict and attacker. This is where I believe I’m at right now in my personal development as a human being. In the non-technique rehearsed or programming form stage of my life. How many times have you personally seen students of martial arts doing techniques over natural reflective response? And how many times have you seen these same students not being able to respond to unrehearsed attacks? I to have been tapped in that mental position placing my trust in techniques against attackers and other type living conditions. Many martial artists have been programmed to believe that techniques and form is the key to confidence. We are programmed to believe we need to have something such as a special technique or special word or form so we can be important, more capable or at a higher level of understanding in the martial arts. I disagree. Dependency on this causes a lack of flow and understanding of nature, which is the very foundation of living skills. I feel the human being has a false confidence in techniques over natural response when techniques are a priority in their training. The methods of the Kamiyama Dojo have many different living outlines to follow. The one I enjoy the most is the sanmitsu method. It builds confidence in your personal methods of living. With confidence you begin to feel the forward motion of happiness and health living in your energy. Every thing flows smoothly with confidence. With the correct direction in your training methodology you can over come this programming of false confidence from techniques. In the Kamiyama Dojo methods this idea comes from failure and nature progressive drills. The point is to rid the student of the on-going frustration, confusion and lack of confidence they have with preprogram techniques by allowing him to be natural and himself. This is called going back to the ‘zero’ state of being. I have found when a student is allowed to be himself they begin to progress and to come alive with wonderful movement and skills that can be used in a stressful conflict. This is wonderful because they lose their static look and feeling to their movement and that of course allows them to progress more in their lives.

For more detail into the methodology of the Urban Combative Training check out the ‘New’ DVD series by the Urban Combative Training members. ‘The Definitive Attributes of the Kukishin Ryu Bojutsu’ , it has more information on the warrior’s staff methods than any other DVD on the market. You will not be disappointed !

This is a false “myspace” site with information about Ralph Severe taken from this web site. Don’t be fooled and think it is real!

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=35898523

For more information, or to enroll in this special training, contact the Urban Combative Training, please ask to speak to Ralph Severe for information about the wonderful art of ninjutsu. Classes in Japanese Bujutsu and Ninjutsu are three to five days a week.