KATA BASED CURRICULUM OVERVIEW ( ver 1.0 )

NINJA KIDS DOJO HOMESCHOOL 2023

About NINJA KIDS DOJO and NINJA KIDS DOJO HOMESCHOOL

Through Ninja Kids, I aim to make each child self-assured, capable of making decisions and get stronger in order to face problems in life. Ninpou as an educational tool provides more than discipline, knowledge and physical skills. Ninpou comes from the Ninja, Ninpou goes beyond physical and mental skills.

Through following this curriculum which is specially adapted for home study, I try to provide students (both parents / instructors and children) with a 1st degree Black Belt level (shodan).

WHO IS IT FOR? Anyone who wants to study Ninpo in their own house, parks, … at their own pace and rhythm. It is mainly meant for homeschooling kids and am now working to provide some type of official recognition in the US by educational authorities. In any case will provide a Black Belt certificate from my dojo after the full curriculum is covered and tests are passed ( anywhere from 2 to 5 years ).

ABOUT ME: My name is rick, I'm a certified senior instructor in Japan (taught Ninja Kids lessons at the Omiya Budokan and in civic centers for 2 years in Japan) and Europe. I hold a 10th Dan Kuu with an Outstanding Shihan mention by maximum authority on the subject. I'm also a researcher, developer, adventurer, and reality/experience based warrior. Furthermore, I've done 22 training trips and 3 years of study in Japan to study this martial art. I'm also a Certified Systems Analyst & Computer Systems Engineer by The City & Guilds of London Institute, developed 2 major systems for the fresh food industry. I speak 4 languages and have lived in 5 countries. Furthermore, I’m a Christian Traditional Conservative activist and a strong believer in the 1st, 2nd Amendments, Pro-Life. My curriculum and experience go on but hope that with this you now have an idea of my credentials.

I mainly value individuality, Freedom and Justice. Speak 4 languages, have lived in 5 countries and see life from a different (not better / not worst) perspective than most people, not only because of my International experience but also because of the life I've lived so far. I share that of my knowledge and experience which I believe may be useful to you - quality before quantity.

WHAT IS IT? Bujinkan Dojo Ninpou or as many know it "Ninjutsu" is based on 980 years of direct uninterrupted warrior heritage - it is not a sport. What I do, say and teach is my own interpretation of this historic legacy. We don't compete but rather better our general skills by self improvement, not only at a physical level but also in mind and spirit. I don't teach any dangerous stuff but do teach self defense, though for kids lessons I mainly focus on fun - when kids are happy they learn faster and better.

IMPORTANT: By no means do I want to generate violent or aggressive kids by teaching them true martial arts. Discipline, punishment, and screams are not part of my play book. Motivation to be decent, reliant and courageous young men or young women is part of the base of the essence of my teaching ideals. Discipline, obligation, and respect are taught through example and in ways that the student find logical, reasonable and are given reasons for why. Imposing by saying “because I said so …" or because "I am your teacher ... " don't [really] work on most kids.

True Martial [Military] Arts and a good, decent, God-Loving instructor (man or woman) help shape not only the body but also the mind and the spirit of an individual without losing their true essence. We define as a superior warrior one that not only is swift and skillful in combat but one with a good heart who also knows how to live an everyday life with joy, decency and martial spirit.

BUDO AS A COMPLEMENT FOR EDUCATION

Lesson after lesson, I used to hear my Sensei repeat the following phrase: “Budo is not only about fighting”. Japan is not the only country in the world in which martial arts exist or have existed, yet Japan is the only country in the world in which true martial arts from the past have been transmitted from Master to Master and still are taught today.

Anyone who is familiar with the history of Japan knows that the Samurai ruled Japan for many hundreds of years. After the Samurai Era, some schools survived. During the Edo Period, when Samurai didn't have to go to battle anymore, the holders of these schools preserved them not only as fighting systems, but also as ways of living and understanding life.

It required a very strong and motivated person to go out to the battlefield and fight, being ready to die with pride and honor. During the Muromachi Period, life expectancy was no more than 26 years old for warriors. There are poems, songs, and forms of Art left by The Ninja and Samurai from those periods that tell us that they were still able to feel happiness, dignity, pride and enjoy life even in the midst of extreme difficulties.

The teachings that made this possible are what I understand as the “Heart and Soul of Budo”. Life has always held many difficulties for all, during the last decades,,, most of the developed world's societies have seen many years of abundance and life has become more “easy” and relaxed for the young. Maybe due to this, values and important teachings have been lost. Today we get many suicides, mental and emotional / social diseases in youngsters. Many of them simply are not able to confront life or are many times unable to face difficulties since they lack the proper motivation or knowledge.

I have been teaching Japanese true Budo ( Bujinkan Budo ) for some 35 (2023). I was one of those kids who was unable to enjoy, understand and face life because I failed to understand values and motivation. Today, I share my experience of Budo with kids and young people so that specially those who are weak or not motivated by normal things in life can use the teaching of Japan's Warrior past to be able to live a happy life, struggle, and fight to live a normal and useful life.

Budo works on the spirit, body, and mind of a person. I am a good example of a person who has faced difficulties and kept ongoing thanks to Budo. I'd like to share with other people.

ABOUT TOGAKURE RYUU NINPO ( NINJUTSU )

After the Muromachi Era and Waring States period, some ryu-ha 流派 ( schools ) survived. Togakure Ryu Ninpoh 戸隠流忍法 was kept alive because besides being an outstanding fighting method it's also rich in human values, knowledge, and experience. For almost 45 years now, the 34th soke 宗家 ( inheritor ) of Togakure Ryu ( Hatsumi Masaaki 初見良昭 ) has been teaching people in Japan and also in the rest of the world. Togakure-ryu Ninpoh ( Bujinkan Dojo 武神館道場 Budo ) is very rich in both martial techniques / concepts and principles and knowledge. For children and youngsters, I believe  Budo to be an excellent educational complement. It can also help them keep fit, incorporate martial ways and find the right motivation to help them meet the difficulties and obstacles of life with a strong spirit and mind.

Note: Ninpoh = 忍法 ( Ninpoh is considered of a higher order than Ninjutsu because it is not only a fighting method, but also has a way of seeing and living life through the eyes of a warrior).

ABOUT THE NINJA

If you wish to become a Ninja, there are some qualifications you must meet. Everyone can become a Ninja, but you must work very, very, very hard to qualify!

By thinking that you are not able to do something, you may never be able to do anything. You have to give things a try. In Ninjutsu, you should not try to do [ for the sake of fun ] something dangerous that a real Ninja could actually do.

Train Ninpo and “become a Ninja" to strengthen your body, mind, and spirit like a real Ninja, but never try to do things that could harm you or others.

Ninja were like scientists, so there is a lot you can learn from them. By training Dr. Hatsumi's Budo we would like for you to understand the real Ninja in the correct way.

By training Ninpo you can help pull-out your sub-conscious and when you need to do something you think about it, you meditate and devise a solution to later do it successfully.

Ninja were most active during the Sengoku Jidai ( Warring States Period, 1467–1573 ). There is a famous story about Sasuke Sarutobi ( serving the Daimyo Yukimura Saneda ) fighting the Tokugawa clan.

The best ( superior ) Ninja were those that in the case of confronting the enemy were able to escape, therefore informing the Daimyo what the agent had seen or heard. Ninja always tried to avoid direct confrontation with the enemy.

Shinobi shozoku ( Ninja equipment ) was usually a uniform that was a yellowish brown/reddish black. It also could be turned around and have a different color to meet different situations/terrains and environments ( like modern camouflage ).

A Ninja was a specialist, a true artist. Ninja placed special importance on developing skills such as: music, painting, writing poetry. The Ninja took pride and had faith in his/her own self. A Ninja would not accept a job if it didn't help or do something positive for someone. There were many excellent Ninja besides the famous Ninja we know.

More about The Ninja (and Samurai) in my Basic Ninpo & Japanese Kobudo Manual

THE CURRICULUM

[SOME] MAIN OBJECTIVES and GOALS:

Through the practice of Budo the child may become a better student, daughter/son, citizen and human being. Budo will also improve a kid's health and happiness.

Improve these Physical skills:

- strength and flexibility.

- self-defense.

- speed, coordination and reflexes.

- help children who fear being touched by others be able to touch and be touched without fear as well as victims of abuse / trafficking.

- help victims of bullying ( both bullied and bullies ).

Train these Mental and Internal skills:

- awareness.

- develop/strengthen a sixth sense.

- self asuredness and security, specially for kids who suffer from anxiety, lack of self-esteem or other non-serious mental conditions/diseases.

- attitude, behavior, KI (essential energy).

- self righteousness, make the child aware that bravery and courteousness go together in Budo.

- if the kid has had some trauma, help the kid assimilate and live with it.

- develop a fighting spirit and cultivate a gentle and warm heart.

AGES, GROUPS AND LEVELS

Any kid from 4 to 14 years old can take part. The training groups are divided into 3 main groups for intermediate and advanced students and 2 for beginners. - 9 levels or kyus going from: 10th kyu ( white belt ), 9th kyu to 1st kyu ( girls red belt, boys yellow belt ).

- every 3 months they will take an evaluation exam and will pass levels.

- 1st Dan holders may wear: ( boys: a black belt, girls: black or red belt ).

- 1st Dan is divided into 5 levels ( chi, sui, hi, fu and ku ) each level requires 6 months practice (recommended).

GROUP 1 ( 4 ~ 7 YEARS OLD )

a - 4,5 years old

b- 6,7 years old

GROUP 2 ( 8 ~ 12 YEARS OLD )

c - 8,9 years old

d - 9,10

e - 11 ~ 14

5 LEVELS ( 6 MONTHS PER LEVEL )

9th + 8th kyu

7th + 6th kyu

5th + 4th kyu

3th + 2nd kyu

1st kyu + 1st Dan

UNIFORM FOR LESSONS: any black t-shirt, confie pants (black if possible) and a belt (white, yellow or red for girls).

LESSON STRUCTURE

Month 1:

Lesson week 1 ~ 5 (a + b)*

End of Month – MONTHLY QUIZ

Month 2:

Lesson week 1 ~ 5 (a + b)

End of Month – MONTHLY QUIZ

Month 3:

Lesson week 1 ~ 5 (a + b)

End of month – Kyuu Exam

*Where lesson 'a' is the study prelesson guide for lesson 'b'.

Different Lesson Structures

Type 1:

Resumed Explanation of Lesson

Juunan Taisso

Study Theme 1

--- Break ---

PE - workout & fundamentals (sabaki, tsuki, ... )

Study Theme 2

--- Break ---

Technique(s) by elements

Technique(s) repetitions

Technique(s) variations

Stretch, relax and discuss the lesson.

Juunan Taisso - There's a short and long form.

PE Physical Education - There are different sets of PE.

Stretch routines - There are different sets of stretching routines.

Note: You may find differences in spelling like in the word kyu, in Japanese it’s really kyuu, Ninpo and Budo are Ninpo-u and Budo-u - this text is a recompilation of several years of work and tons of material, this post / text will be in constant revision-