Trust is a funny thing. For some people, they trust anything... for others nothing at all.  But for most, it's somewhere in between. We discuss this in our Mikkyo mind-science (think psychology on steroids), and recognize that more often than not, our trust is "politically" motivated.

No, I don't mean that in a "who are you voting for," kind of way.  I mean, we base it on a feeling more than logic (even if Ego tries to convince us of otherwise - it's science, so don't kill the messenger!).  It means that, more often than not, we trust something or not, based on whether or not we like the person who's telling us about it, or...

...in the case of something really polarizing like Ninjutsu... whether or not we like that 'thing,' itself.

Don't like it, or don't believe it's valid... and nothing anyone says will make you listen to, look at, or try it.

Like it and, more often than not, anything with that name on it gets your attention, energy, time and, maybe even your money.

Ninjutsu, Bujinkan... 'a rose by any other name...' as they say.

But, WHAT do we really know about it - about this 'thing' called "Ninjutsu?"  I ask because in this world of the 21st century, where Ninjutsu is seemingly everywhere... where it seems like there is an over-abundance of information about it and it's not secret anymore... that you'd have to have been living under a rock somewhere to NOT know what Ninjutsu is... right?

But, even with all that information... do we really know what we think we know?  After all...

How can we assess the truth or falsehood of something that we know little to nothing about?  And, how can we trust the person telling us if we don't know them... or the subject?

I saw a quote by a guy named Dave Arnolds, a podcaster who's show focuses on cooking (I only said I saw the quote, I didn't say I listened to the show. LOL), that I absolutely agree with:

"The less I know about a subject, the less I trust information about it, because I realize I lack the knowledge to accurately judge the information's correctness."  -- Dave Arnolds

This is true of anything we're trying to learn.  And, with Ninjutsu, we can get caught up with all of the Youtube videos, articles, books, and anything else with the word Ninja or Ninjutsu (Bujinkan, etc.) in it.  But, what's at the root of all the stories - all the techniques - what makes Ninjutsu different from all of the other "styles" of martial arts or martial arts philosophy out there?

After all... how do we know that we're learning and practicing correctly, if we don't know what's supposed to be... and not supposed to be "Ninjutsu?"

THAT was the premise behind the very first online training program I created for students WAY back.  And, again, even today you can look up the name and the framework I'm about to give you, and think that you have it all because you think you know what you need to know about each subject... just by it's name.

But, even with an easy list and a short article or video someone created to explain it... what's really behind it all?

That's what I covered in a live 10-week program I called: Ninja no Hachimon: The Traditional 8 Gates of Authentic Ninjutsu Training.

Here's what one student said about it after going through the home study version:

From the very first class, focused on answering the question: "What IS a Ninja?" (based on actual historical research, discussions from those with access to the scrolls, ancient works... and not opinion), and moving on from there through each of the "gates," or historically REQUIRED training areas, we looked at each area from the perspective of why each was there to begin with...

...what were the principles and concepts behind each?

And, what would that look like today, without violating those minimum principles or (gulp) making $h!t up or just thinking that every special ops operator was a modern Ninja because they did stealthy shite?  'Cause, you know... that's what it looks like!

And... how can you get beyond the limited perspective held by most training today, where Ninjutsu has been reduced to a single aspect - reduced to a mere shadow of itself?

This is part of the Seishin of Gyokko-Ryu, the Seishin Teki of Togakure-Ryu, as-well-as work done to understand how to master (become Enlightened about) any 'thing' you're seeking to study, develop the skills in, and truly understand the Truth of from within our Mikkyo mind-science.

You can see for yourself what's in each module (it's now a stand-alone, learn-at-your-own-pace home study course), on the information page here:

https://onlineninjaacademy.com/8-gates/

But, regardless of whether you enroll in the program or not, the question, based on Mr. Arnold's statement, remains the same... "How can you trust information about a subject if you lack the knowledge to accurately judge the information's correctness?"

This was the reasoning behind Hatsumi Sensei yanking Ninjutsu out from under the feet of the masses back in 1998, when he said that, because of Ninjutsu's core principle of being a variation on conventional warrior skills, it was impossible for anyone to grasp it without first learning those skills (which turned into everyone thinking that those skills, with a few cool Ninja weapons thrown in for good measure, was actually the real thing).

And, while you can believe anything you want to believe (and will), this program can, regardless of whether we like what we see in it or not... help to the lay a proper foundation for all study, training, and progress to follow.

In Mastery!

Dai-Shihan Miller
Bujinkan Mori no Tora Dojo