Ever since the art’s introduction to the Western world, it has always been easy for folks, both inside and outside the art, and especially those coming from more conventional martial arts backgrounds, to try and relate to and/or translate Ninjutsu through that lens. What this means is trying to see Ninjutsu as another head-to-head /

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e236 – KUDEN! – Ninjutsu Strategy: Why Head-On Fighting Isn’t the Ninja Way

It’s easy to understand physical distance, known generally as MAAI in Japanese, regardless of whether we’re talking about a carpenter or other tradesman measuring off a certain length of wood or tubing to make sure things fit, or the distance between our body and that of our assailant in a self-defense situation. It’s also one

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e235 – KUDEN! – The Ninja’s Psychological Maai: Using Distance to Protect Your Sanity

Discover the “unseen” skills that set Ninjutsu apart from other martial arts in this episode of KUDEN! Radio. This week, we dive deep into the advanced art of “sensing” unseen danger—a skill famously tested for in the Bujinkan’s 5th Dan Sakki Test—and explore three other powerful perception abilities that extend Ninjutsu beyond mere physical defense.

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e234 – KUDEN! – Knowing the Unknowable!

Every master teacher I have ever trained with had a saying – something which summarized their approach to training, and a very important, core lesson they wanted students to “get,” through their study and practice. During this episode I’ll share some of these gems that I’ve received from several of my own teachers – focusing

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e233 – 3 Ways to Die in the Dojo!

Part of the art of enduring and persevering, in fact right there in the name: Ninjutsu, is a key element to being able to “weather any storm.” And, without it, one cannot really say that they are, or are really working on becoming, a true “Ninja.” During this episode, we’re diving into just how students

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e232 – How to Be More Resilient and Overcome Any Challenge!

Many years ago, Hatsumi-Sensei penned an article that was titled: “Pride Goes Before the Fall”. In it he discussed how one’s belief systems and bad habits, while allowing for certain success in certain areas will, eventually, cause them to fail. And, when that failure comes, it very often causes a catastrophic crash to rock bottom

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e231 – KUDEN! – 10 Signs You WON’T Become a Successful Martial Arts Master!

This episode is the next installment in Dai-Shihan Miller’s new: “Student’s Perspective” interview series, designed to not only spotlight his highly engaged Ninjutsu students, but also to give them a chance to share their successes and, perhaps most importantly, how they’re overcoming the obstacles to success. He and his guest this week, former U.S. Marine

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e230 – KUDEN! – The Ninjutsu Difference: One Martial Artist’s Journey!

What is “Mastery?” How do we go about attaining it? Not just the physical expertise with our bodies – with the physical fighting techniques – but with the core philosophical, strategical, and tactical lessons, insights, and levels of understanding described in the ancient scrolls? In this episode, we’ll delve into something that my teacher, Hatsumi-Soke

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e229 – KUDEN! – Gokui and Musha Shugyo – Why You Can’t Become a Master from YouTube!

What if the key to mastering self-defense and Ninjutsu lies not in flashy, pre-set techniques but in navigating the unseen paths of training? For many, the allure of immediate results can overshadow the profound truths hidden beneath the surface. Yet, for those committed to genuine mastery, understanding these invisible principles can make all the difference.

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e228 – KUDEN! – The Invisible Path to Self-Mastery!