Jarvis on 25/5/2009 at 02:38
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6ucmznFQGo) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6ucmznFQGo
Chad pointed me to this video. I'd like to draw attention to the stalking steps seen here. I've not seen many Ninjutsu (bujinkan) methods of stalking, nor have I met anyone with any substantial training in their methods that I've had the honor of comparing techniques to. I have encountered it here and there though in small ways, and find some methods to be very similar. It is those methods I'd like to bring attention to in this video. My thought being, if multiple cultures on opposite sides of the world came up with very similar techniques, then there must be some universal truth somewhere between (even if that universal truth is hidden behind a veil of falsehood).
- Shinobi Ashi: The fox walk, plain and simple. She comes down with angular steps instead of straight on steps, but that's the only difference. The fox walk is the basis of all Apache stalking steps, and I'm willing to bet that Shinobi Ashi is the same to Bujinkan movement.
- Uke Ashi step: In this portion of the video she moves quickly up behind a sentry and takes them out. It's really hard to see what her feet are doing because she's moving so fast, but it looks to me like she's doing a Scout run here, only sideways. She appears to come down on the toes and roll to the heels. The scout run is ideally done on the toes only, only rolling to the heel as necessary for balance. I'm not sure if that's what she's doing here. Note the primary difference here, she's essentially doing the same thing, only turned to the side just like in Shinobi Ashi. I've seen that a lot in what little of Ninjutsu I've seen, and I wonder if it's related to breaking up shape and outline. After all, I've modified the standard Apache stalking steps to accommodate that very consideration.
- Inu Bashiri step: She's on the ground where she braces with her hands and shoots her feet forward. I've seen no similar step in the Tracker School. So I'll give my thoughts and opinions, be warned, they are just my opinions. I think this step was designed with man made flooring in mind. It appears to be a great method of staying very low, but maintained a ready position and moving quickly at the same time. The obvious drawback that I see is sloppy, hasty, and uncontrolled foot placement (relatively speaking of course, as she does the step quite gracefully). In natural environments with ground debris, this step would make a lot of noise.
I'm sure you all recognize a pattern in the different forms of Scout movement: they always maintain balance and the ability to freeze and hold their position at any moment. The Inu Bashiri has a moment in which you'd be supporting yourself with your arms if you froze.
As I said, I can certainly see many worthy applications to this step. Just recognize the limitation. I'll be working this into my own training, just to play around with it.
- Kitsune Bashiri: This is much more like traditional Scout movement. Though I've never seen this specifically, it maintains balance and enables freezing at any moment. Again, it appears to be a method of rapid movement while staying low, but also while maintaining a ready position. It's very similar to a standard hands and knees crawl, which is used in Apache stalking. The Kitsune Bashiri seems to have the same application, but stays on the feet as opposed to the knees in order to maintain readiness. A common theme in Bujinkan stalking it seems.
- Yoko Bashiri: Notice the foot placement. Outside edge of the ball of the foot, rolled to the inside ball, then heel. Standard fox walk foot placement. The rest of this step I can't speak for. This is obviously a method of moving along a wall, but it's operating on some level that I don't. Everything that I know of stealthy movement tells me to make movement economical and subtle. The movement she makes with her arms appear to be wild and unnecessary.
If I had to guess, I'd assume it's balance related. I've seen a Ninjutsu method of running in which they toss their arm out like that to maintain balance on a narrow surface. Whether or not that's what's she's doing in this video is pure conjecture on my part, but I believe this step is designed for speedy and silent movement, and *not* invisible movement.
Granted, there is one thing I want to point out about this step. Notice how similar it is to Uke Ashi. However, in Uke Ashi she would bound from step to step. In Yoko Bashiri she seems to make a point of pausing between each step, isolating each movement. Again, this emphasizes the ability to freeze at any moment and lean against the wall (which she can clearly be seen doing).
Shin-so-To-ho: Well there's an odd looking step, but honestly it's the most familiar to me. This is very similar to the weasel walk, and I actually think I prefer this version. The purpose of the weasel walk is to remain at the lowest possible body position and movement, while maintaining the highest possible awareness of your environment. I'm sure you've all noticed the down side to Scout Crawling... you're blind on one side of your body. The weasel keeps your head up and your eyes on the horizon rather than the ground.
The same can be said for the Shin-so-To-ho. Low position, forward movement, ready position, maximum awareness. Are you beginning to see a pattern here?
Allow me to compare stalking step progression charts, fastest to slowest AND highest to lowest (these are abbreviated lists).
Apache Scout:............Bujinkan Ninja:
Scout run......................Uke Ashi
Scout walk
Fox walk.......................Shinobi Ashi
Scout stalk....................Yoko Bashiri
...................................Inu Bashiri
...................................Kitsune Bashiri
Weasel walk...................Shin-so-To-ho
push-up crawl
Scout crawl
I'm sure there are plenty of other Bujinkan steps, and I've not scratched the surface of Apache steps I do know of in this list. Notice that Bujinkan steps favor the middle to top range of speed and height. This makes sense to me, as they practice a more aggressive method of stalking than the Apache Scout. It's a difference in philosophy that's reflected in technique. I can rant for hours about the wonders and effectiveness of the Scout Crawl, and how invisible it makes you. From a martial stand point though, it's nearly useless. You'll be invisible, but you won't be in a position to do much about it if you are seen, or need to suddenly move in an efficient manner.
The Scouts were guardians of their tribe, and to do "sentry removal" would betray the presence of the entire tribe and put everyone at risk. So, their techniques tend to favor the top and bottom of the chart. Rapid movement between points of invisibility, and trust me that in the presence of enemy tribes they were painstakingly patient and used very slow and very invisible techniques. Of course both cultures encompass all ranges, some favor particular ranges though, and there's value in paying attention to what other cultures excel at and focus on. I'd like to give some of the middle range Bujinkan stalking techniques a whirl.
*note: I'm copying this from a thread I posted in another forum (
http://atlantamartialartcenter.com/home/smfforum) here. So forgive the more personal references. I had forgotten about this old discussion until Magpie brought it again to my attention. I thought more taffers here might appreciate it as well. Enjoy.
