THE PHYSICAL TRAINING OF THE NINJA
The ninja train on mountain-tops because training in this region of low atmospheric pressure gives them an endurance advantage over most humans. The body reacts to the low atmosphere by producing more red blood corpuscles. In this way, when a ninja breathes in, he can hold vast amounts of oxygen in his blood. Thus, a ninja seeks to enhance his endurance beyond the human.
Below is one of the mountain training grounds of the Gyokku Ninja...
THE FOCUS OF NINJA TRAINING IN FITNESS:
There is a tendency, especially in the mass media today, to define fitness as a heavy musculature. The ninja laughs at such an inane philosophy. Indeed, a person who has the agility to avoid an enemy blade lives longer than any man, no matter how strong, who lacks the agility to avoid that blade.
For all that is flesh dies before a weapon.
Therefore, the ninja seeks to train for physical perfection, for a body that is strong, agile, effective in combat.
A LENGTHENED LIFE-SPAN AND EXTENDED YOUTH:
Another important effect of the physical aspect of ninja training is that the aging process is considerably slowed. The ninja's training triggers massive cellular regeneration.
This means that not only are the body's healing processes far more responsive to injuries, but also that the aging process is significantly slower.
The training - combined with a deep purity of lifestyle - gives a ninja a health and longevity that is all but incredible. A ninja does not seem to age until sixty, and retains full function for decades after that. Diseases common among 'modern' society - heart disease, diabetes, every form of chronic and many forms of so-called hereditary diseases - are unknown among ninja.
I mentioned that the ninja have a deep purity of lifestyle. The 'common' malpractices of 'modern' society - drinking, smoking, drugs - these are unknown among ninja.
THE GYOKKU NINJA CLAN HAVE A SAYING, 'WE DRINK LIFE PURE, EVEN ITS DARKNESSES.'
What this means, in simple words, is that the ninja needs no additives in order to savor life. The ninja is self-confident enough to be able to laugh and talk with friends without the addition of alcohol, the ninja can take pleasure in life without drugs, the ninja can stare sorrow in the eye and force it to look away, rather than trying to 'drown it' with alcohol. Such is the way of the ninja.
This is the way of the warrior, unafraid to laugh with his friends, unafraid to face sorrow without a crutch.
Combined with this mastery of the body is mastery over the domains of the mind. Go on to the next page to learn of ninja meditative techniques...
NEXT PAGE: NINJA MEDITATIVE TECHNIQUES AND THE KUJI KIRI >>
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