A cutting word is a question mark, an exclamation mark, a sense of wonder at the end of the poem, a word indicating probability, an adjective to end a clause, or a verb.
Other forms of Japanese poetry include Tanka (5,7,5,7,7), Haibun (short story), and Haiga (with paintings, usually of the moon and/or zen zero.
" Quietly, quietly, yellow mountain roses fall - sound of the rapids". Matsuo Basho
A 5,7,5 pattern in Japanese probably won’t translate with the same pattern.
More examples:
“Old pond, frog leaps in, water's sound.” - Basho
“The first cold shower, even the monkey seems to want, a little coat of straw.” - Basho
This one deviates from the 5,7,5 pattern: “The wind of Fuji, I've brought on my fan, a gift from Edo.” - Basho
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]]>Gikan Ryu Koppojutsu is translated as the Truth, Loyalty, and Justice School. The secret techniques were handed down from one Soke to the next, usually from father to son. Gikan Ryu was founded in 1558-1570. The founder was Uryu Gikanbo, a lord of Osaka, and his castle was named Uryujo. He was a good leader, a great warrior, honourable, and tried to keep Japan at peace. His specialties were
Koppojutsu (bone breaking), Hichojutsu (jumping), and Senban Nagejutsu (blade throwing). He was heavily influenced by the Chinese influence of Cho Gyokko’s Gyokko Ryu Koppojutsu, and Ikai from Togakure Ryu. Gikan Ryu contains secret punches, kicks, and throws, and has a punch that will snap a sword in two.
The 10th Soke had the same name as the founder. On August 17th, 1863, he was involved in a battle called Tenchu Gumi no Ran. He was injured by a rifle and retreated behind a temple. An Iga warrior named Ishitani Matsutaro approached and was going to join the battle, but Gikanbo told him the battle was lost and not to waste his life. Ishitani took him back to Iga and tended to his wounds. Ishitani was already Soke of Takagi Yoshin Ryu and Kukishin Ryu and Gikanbo rewarded him by teaching him Gikan Ryu, making him Soke.
When Ishitani was 61 years old, he got work at Takamatsu’s father’s match factory. His family’s ancestors were related to Takamatsu’s. He started teaching Takamatsu while he was young and received Takagi Yoshin Ryu, Kukishin Ryu, Gikan Ryu, and more.
Takamatsu awarded Gikan Ryu to Akimoto Fumio, whose scrolls were destroyed during WW2, then died in 1962. At this point, the Sokeship reverted back to Takamatsu who then gave it to Masaaki Hatsumi at the request of Akimoto, but, supposedly, Akimoto gave it to Sato Kinbei who kept it a secret. This makes it very difficult to confirm. Supposedly, the secret Sato gave it to Shoto Tanemura, a former student of Hatsumi’s. Due to this, they both claim to be Soke, but the Dai Nippon Bugei Ryu-ha book lists Masaaki Hatsumi as the Grandmaster.
The scrolls of Gikan Ryu are unique from other scrolls in that the kanji to decribe things are elaborate and the drawings of kamae are in colour.
The strong influence of Gyokko Ryu on Gikan Ryu means that the differences are not very big.
Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu: Hidden Door School
In the early stages, Togakure Ryu included early forms of Jojutsu, Sojutsu, Naginata, Taijutsu, Muto, Koppo, and Shuriken. Daisuke, the 1st Soke, adopted Kagakure's warrior teachings (Happo Hiken) to his own Shugendo training, and the beginnings of the Togakure Ryu were formed. In the 1600s, the school was taught at the Hattori Ryu to the Ninja and Samurai of the Kishu Fief. The immediate family died out and the Toda family took over leadership of the Togakure Ryu. Some of the Toda family were previously Soke of Kumogakure Ryu Ninjutsu. It is therefore possible that the Toda came from the Kumogakure Ryu, and joined the two Ryu together. Takamatsu once said that he didn’t like the training of the Togakure Ryu and instead preferred the training of Koto Ryu which was fun.
Gakure means “hiding”, and Kagakure means “hiding in the mist”. Togakure Village is almost always surrounded by mist or fog, so it was a good place to hide.
Kagakure Doshi and Kasumi-Gakure might be the same person.
The 22nd Soke was also a student of Momochi Sandayu, Soke of Momochi Ryu, Gyokko Ryu, and Koto Ryu. At this point, the Togakure kata were retired in favour of Gyokko Ryu and Koto Ryu since they were better.
The Sakki test comes from Togakure Ryu.
"Violence is to be avoided, and Ninpo is Bujutsu".
"Use the sword to be peaceful, and protect country, family, and nature".
"The enjoyment of peaceful harmony with the same effortless compassion as that of the wildflowers."
lzuna no Ho used to be a part of Ninjutsu within this school, as recent as 1 742 AD. It used small foxes that were bread and kept to divine the future, possess people, and other sorts of witchcraft related things.
The Togakure Ryu may have been related to a clan that lived in the Togakure Mountain that specialized in breeding wolf-dogs. They were employed by Daimyo often. They could dig under castle walls to gain entrance, fight, carry messages, or signal to it’s master if an enemy camp was sleeping or not.
The 9th Soke of Kukishin Ryu, Kuki Yoshitaka, a vassal, was put in command by Oda Nobunaga of a naval fleet that had been constructed, whose ships were covered in iron. The enemy’s arrows and musket balls simply bounced off. This is where we get the term “iron clad”.
The 9th Soke of Kukishinden Ryu, Kuriyama Ukongen Nagafusa, was on horseback facing a man named Suzuki, also on horseback. Suzuki had a tachi sword measuring 3 feet, 5 inches in length. Kuriyama had a red octagonal rokushaku 6 foot bo staff. Suzuki swung at Kuriyama, cutting his bo in two in the middle. Suzuki raised his sword for another attack and Kuriyama struck him on the wrists with the newly invented han-bo (half staff), causing him to drop his sword. A retainer (weapon carrier) gave Suzuki a yari spear, who then thrust at Kuriyama, but he dodged and struck Suzuki on the head, later dying.
Since Kukishinden were also a naval force, the daisharin wheel and axle assembly comes from this school, and was used to help get boats in and out of the water. The bisento battlefield blade also came from this school.
Takamatsu was hired as a teacher of Kukishin in the Kuki’s own dojo. He compiled the separate Kukishin arts into the Kukishinden Ryu complete system and made copies of the scrolls, with permission. The original scrolls were destroyed during a bombing in WW2, and the Kuki family asked Takamatsu to reeducate them in their own style. Apparently, he showed them a rough, watered down version and kept the best parts for himself. The Toda (Takamatsu’s grandfather) and the Kuki family were related as far back as the 1500s, intermarrying and working together for shoguns.
Ueshiba Morihei, the founder of Aikido, studied with the Kuki family after Takamatsu had “loosely” reeducated them on it after having lost it to him. Ueshiba then later, with permission from the Kuki family, opened the first Kukishin Aikido dojo.
Takamatsu’s grandfather, Toda, from whom he learned most of the schools, taught Kenjutsu to the Tokugawa shoguns, and also taught at a military academy. Toda also published a textbook on military strategy and he and Takamatsu published another one together.
Zhāng Wǔxiāng 張武相 is the Chinese name of Cho Bushō, the same Cho Bushō of Gyokko Ryu.
Kumogakure Ryu Ninpo: Hiding in the Clouds School
1. Iga Heinaizaemon Ienaga (Tenmon Era 1532-1554)
2. Toda Sagenta Nobufusa
3. Toda Gohei Nobunaga
4. Toda Noriyoshi
5. Toda Seiryu Nobutsuna (Kwanyei 1624-1644)
6. Toda Fudo Nobuchika (Manji 1658-1681)
7. Toda Kangoro Nobuyasu (Tenna 1681-1704)
8. Toda Eisaburo Nobumasa (Hoyei 1704-1711)
9. Toda Shinbei Masachika (Shotoku 1711-1736)
10. Toda Shingoro Masayoshi (Gembun 1736-1764)
11. Toda Daigoro Chikahide (Meiwa 1764-1804)
12. Toda Daisaburo Chikashige (Bunkwa 1804)
13. Toda Shinryuken Masamitsu (1824 - 1909)
14. Takamatsu Toshitsugu Uoh (1887 - 1972)
15. Hatsumi Masaaki (1931 – Present)
16. Furuta Koji
The first Soke of this school was also named Kumogakure Hoshi and is believed to be the first Soke of Iga Ryu Ninjutsu. The main characteristics of this school are the kamayari sickle spear, kote uchi forearm strikes, Intonjutsu escape and evasion skills (which are unusually similar to Togakure Ryu), Taijutsu (also verey similar to Togakure Ryu), the Onibi no jutsu (use of the demon mask to prey on people’s superstitions), the kikaku ken head butt, double blocks and strikes, jumps during combat, survival skills such as how to start a fire in wet weather, tree climbing devices, and armoured sleeves.
The famous Hanzo Hattori was a Jonin commander within the Iga Ryu Ninjutsu system and had over 200 ninja under his command. He was born in 1560 and served the Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa, whose shogunate ruled between 1603 and 1867. He was his director of Ninja tactics and chief military adviser. He was killed by another Ninja clan, the Fuma Kainin, whom he was sent to kill. But, since the battle was waged at sea, they swam underneath his boat and disabled his rudders, and also covered the whole are with oil. As one of their burning ships came within range, the entire bay caught fire and killed Hattori and all his men, December 4th, 1596.
A famous story is told about Hanzo and Ieyasu Tokugawa before he was the shogun of Japan. One day, when he was 25 or 26, he grabbed Hanzo Hattori by the collar and drug him to a river and held him under. While Hanzo calmly held his breath, Ieyasu had to break the surface, gasping for air. He crawled to the shore weak and exhausted. “How long can a ninja stay underwater?” he asked. “Two days or so. However long you request of me.” replied Hanzo. He then dove beneath the water. Several hours passed and still, there was no sign of him. Ieyasu and his retainers began calling out to him, then Hanzo broke the surface of the water with bursting bubbles. Not only was he not out of breath, but he was smiling. He handed Ieyasu his short sword that he was wearing. Ieyasu was surprised. “I was not under water the whole time.” Hanzo explained. “After I dove underneath the water, I swam to the other side and took a nap behind a rock. When I heard you calling, I swam back.” The listeners were astounded! “I’m sorry for taking your short sword, Sir, but this is Ninjutsu.” Ieyasu was extremely impressed.
There is a ninja in this family scroll named Sarutobi Sasuke that used a kamayari to swing from tree to tree like a monkey.
The Taijutsu of this school is very similar to Togakure Ryu.
“Shiken Haramitsu Daikomyo” comes from Kumogakure Ryu.
There is another claim to Soke of what we call Tonobi Kumogakure Ryu, but the Dai Nipon Bugei Ryu-ha only lists Hatsumi.
Natori Ryu Gungaku: Little Bird School of Warfare
This school was dead and has recently been resurrected by Antony Cummins with the reluctant approval of the Natori family. Antony claims there is absolutely no connection to the schools of the Bujinkan and that any claims have only come about since he made it public, but the truth is, Hatsumi has claimed that several of the schools of the Bujinkan had passed into the Natori family and then to the Toda family as early as 1980 and is so stated on several of his videos from that time, showing unequivocally that Hatsumi said it first.
You may be interested to see the other traditions that are somehow connected to the Bujinkan through merged Soke. Unless noted, the other cases are connected via Masaaki Hatsumi.
1. Shindenfudo Ryu Taijutsu - Menkyo Kaiden
2. Bokuden Ryu Jujutsu - Menkyo
3. Kukishinden Tenshin Hyoho - student
4. Kukishin Ryu Bojutsu - student
5. Tenshin Hyoho Kukishin Ryu Bojutsu - student
6. Hon Tai Yoshin Takagi Ryu Ishitaniden - student
7. Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu Uenoden - student
8. Hon Tai Yoshin Takagi Ryu - diverges at 13th Soke from Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu Mizuta Den, 17th Soke. Died out at Ishitani,14th Soke. His children inherited the scrolls.
9. Koto Ryu Koppojutsu Uenoden - student of 14th & 15th Soke
10. Amatsu Tatara Kukishin Ryu Bojutsu - student of 13th & 14th Soke
11. Hon Tai Kukishin Ryu Bojutsu - student of 13th Soke, 15th Soke was student of Hatsumi
12. Gyokushin Ryu - student to 15th Soke
13. Gikan Ryu Koppojutsu Satoha - student of 12th Soke, 14th Soke was student of Hatsumi
14. Takenouchi Ryu Jujutsu Sodenke - 2nd Soke of Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu (of which Hatsum is 17th Soke) received Menkyo Kaiden from 3rd Soke
15. Shinto Tenshin Ryu Kempo - student to 8th Soke, 8th Soke student to Takamatsu
16. Chinese Kenpo - 1st Soke of Shindenfudo Ryu Taijutsu (of which Hatsumi is Menkyo Kaiden), student of Ganjin Wajo & his escort.
17. Ban Shinden Ryu - 4th Soke of Shindenfudo Ryu Taijutsu (of which Hatsumi is Menkyo Kaiden) was 1st Soke
18. Chinese Karate Jutsu - Third of the teaching of Ban Shinden Ryu
19. Shinden Tartar no Jutsu - Third the teaching of Ban Shinden Ryu
20. Hotten Masamichi - Third the teaching of Ban Shinden Ryu, later called Seishin Fudo Ryu
21. Musashi Ryu Taijutsu - Miyamoto Musashi learned Ban Shinden Ryu and renamed it.
22. Shindefudo Ryu Yarijutsu - 36th Soke of Shindenfudo Ryu Taijutsu (of which Hatsumi is Menkyo Kaiden) developed this style.
23. Shindenfudo Ryu Kenjutsu - 36th Soke of Shindenfudo Ryu Taijutsu (of which Hatsumi is Menkyo Kaiden) developed this style.
24. Shinden Fudo Ryu Jutaijutsu - 42nd Soke of Shindenfudo Ryu Taijutsu (of which Hatsumi was Menkyo Kaiden) taught this to Takamatsu.
25. Kukishin Ryu - the larger school of Kukishinden Happo Bikenjutsu, 28th Soke
26. Iga Ryu Karate - 15th Soke of Gyokko Ryu Kosshijutsu was also Soke of this ryu
27. Takagi Ryu - 1st Soke of this ryu was 2nd Soke of Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu, of which Hatsumi is 17th Soke
28. Muken Ryu - 1st Soke of this ryu was 2nd Soke of Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu, of which Hatsumi is 17th Soke
29. Kakugai Ryu - 1st Soke of this ryu was 2nd Soke of Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu, of which Hatsumi is 17th Soke
30. Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu - 3rd Soke of Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu (of which Hatsumi is 17th Soke) taught this school after amalgamating it with his Menkyo Kaiden from Takenouchi Ryu Jujutsu Sodenke.
31. Takagi Yoshin Ryu Bojutsu - 3rd Soke of Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu (of which Hatsumi is 17th Soke) taught this school after amalgamating it with his Menkyo Kaiden from Takenouchi Ryu Jujutsu Sodenke.
32. Takagi Yoshin Ryu Sojutsu - 3rd Soke of Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu (of which Hatsumi is 17th Soke) taught this school after amalgamating it with his Menkyo Kaiden from Takenouchi Ryu Jujutsu Sodenke.
33. Takagi Yoshin Ryu Naginatajutsu - 3rd Soke of Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu (of which Hatsumi is 17th Soke) taught this school after amalgamating it with his Menkyo Kaiden from Takenouchi Ryu Jujutsu Sodenke.
34. Takagi Yoshin Ryu Senban Nagejutsu - 3rd Soke of Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu (of which Hatsumi is 17th Soke) taught this school after amalgamating it with his Menkyo Kaiden from Takenouchi Ryu Jujutsu Sodenke.
35. Takagi Yoshin Ryu Dakentaijutsu - 3rd Soke of Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu (of which Hatsumi is 17th Soke) taught this school after amalgamating it with his Menkyo Kaiden from Takenouchi Ryu Jujutsu Sodenke.
36. Amatsu Tatara Rinpo Hiden - Abe Unryu passed it along, finally to 1st Soke of Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu
37. Gyokushin Ryu Koppo - 1st & 2nd Soke of Gyokushin Ryu Ninpo were also trained in this ryu. They were also Sokes of Gyokko Ryu Kosshijutsu.
38. Gyokko Ryu Shitojutsu - early name of Gyokko Ryu Kosshijutsu, 28th Soke
39. Shoken Ryu Dakentaijutsu - 14th Soke of Gikan Ryu Koppojutsu (Hatsumi is 15th Soke) was also Soke of this ryu.
40. Kishu Ryu/Han - 3rd Soke of Koto Ryu Koppojutsu and Soke of Gyokko Ryu Kosshijutsu was also from this ryu.
41. Mukai Ryu Suijutsu - This ryu worked closely with the Kuki family during Nobunaga’s war.
42. Kuki Suigun Ryu-ha - related to the Kukishin Ryu.
43. Kukishin Ryu Kusarigama no jutsu - related to the Kukishin Ryu.
44. Tenshin Soden Kukamishin Ryu - 10th Soke here was also 9th Soke of Kukishinden Happo Biken, Hatsumi being 28th.
45. Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Ishibashi den - 13th Soke of Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu Mizuta Den (of which Hatsumi is 17th) taught Ishibashi and it diverged.
46. Hon Tai Takagi Yoshin Ryu Fujita den - 14th Soke passed it to Takamatsu’s teacher.
47. Hakuun Ryu Happo Hiken - Ninja from this ryu taught 1st Soke of Togakure Ryu.
48. Shugendo Buddhism - 1st Soke of Togakure studied this.
49. Minamoto Shogunate - 1st Soke of Togakure was samurai of this shogun, as was his father.
50. Karate Koppojutsu - Takamatsu trained in this style.
51. Yagyu Ryu - The most advanced teachings of this ryu are known as Kukishin Ryu Happo Biken Jutsu, 28th Soke
52. Iga Ryu - The Happo Biken Jutsu is also a part of this ryu.
53. Kito Ryu - very early style whose 2 sokes founded Ryoi Shinto Ryu.
54. Ryoi Shinto Ryu - This style eventually became known as Kuki Shin Ryu, 28th Soke.
55. Takamatsu Ryu Karate - Takamatsu’s own theories of karate.
56. Takamatsu Ryu Ninjutsu - Takamatsu’s own theories of ninjutsu.
57. Kukishin Yo Ryu - Ishitani was apparently soke of this style as well, which Takamatsu was student.
58. Karate - 10th Dan
59. Judo - 6th Dan
60. Aikido - 8th Dan
61. Kobudo - 6th Dan
62. Kendo - grade
63. Aiki-jutsu - grade
64. Western boxing
65. Amatsu Tatara Hichibuku Goshinjutsu - Hatsumi
66. Asayama Ichiden Ryu - student
67. Bikenshin Ryu sword method - Shinryuken Masamitsu Toda, Master
When Takamatsu was in China as a spy, he taught the Chinese a quick version of Ninjutsu, and during the occupation of Russia of some parts of China, they learned it from the Chinese and developed what is known today as Systema, which means, The System.
33rd Soke Toshitsugu Takamatsu Emphasized Ninja Must...
• Learn patience, in the time it takes a cigarette to burn
• Learn that the way of man is truly his righteousness
• Learn to think of all sadness and chaos as life’s destiny
• Forget all desire, life’s easiness, and one’s stubbornness
• Do not distance loyalty from one’s parents and rulers
• Work always to master the cultural and martial arts
Dux Ryu Ninjutsu
The movie “Bloodsport” played by Jean-Claude Van Damme was supposedly based on the true life of Frank Dux. Dux claims to have been taught by a Japanese American named Senzo Tanaka. The orginal style was called Koka Yamabushi Ryu Ninjutsu.
Dux had been criticized for decades as being fake since no records of his teacher had ever been found. But they have been recently found. A man with the same name and dates and location have been verified. He was even in England for a bit and met Ian Flemming, who wrote the book “You Only Live Twice” which has a character named Senzo Tanaka. This character was thought to be stolen by Dux, but with this new information seems to verify his story.
Choson Ryu Ninjutsu
Choson Ryu is so named after the Joseon dynasty in Korea, which dates to 1392 AD. The current head is Greg Park. It is believed he died in the mid to late 2010s. This style is said to maybe have origins in China and then the style and people immigrated into Japan making up the first clan of warriors (Yamato), not to be confused with the Ainu, who are the original Japanese natives.
Shizen Den Ryu Ninjutsu
My 1st teacher was Maurice Goguen, and his teacher was John Willson. Eventually, John Willson became my direct teacher when Moe left to train under Phil Legare instead. I am no longer affiliated with that group.
John told me that he asked Hatsumi if he could teach the more direct Ninjutsu component and Hatsumi said no, so he “invented” a new style called Shizen Den Ryu. He went to the World Sokeship Council and passed off this “new” material and was granted sokeship for it. In reality, it is a combination of Bujinkan, Oikiru Ryu Aiki Jutsu, Shorin Ryu Karate, Combat Ki Jutsu, Judo, Toide Karate, Dai Yoshin Ryu Aikido, Hungar Kung Fu, Arness, Tai Chi, Systema, and Ne Waza, as he is certified in all these to some degree (except Systema). There is absolutely nothing new under the name of Shizen Den.
He claimed that he was part of a secret training group in Japan that met once a month that only the Japanese could be a part of where he learned the goof stuff. When I posted this online (because I believed it), John told me to take it down and I was quickly emailed by dozens of Dai-Shihan that confirmed he was full of shit and they told me what really happened with him. He started the Bujinkan Dojo Ninja Brotherhood of Canada in an attempt to centralize all of Canada but Hatsumi was very disappointed in this move and told him to cease and desist. He refused. Nagato Sensei told me directly that John used to be good, emphasizing again “used to be”, and that he and his offshoot are not official Bujinkan members any longer and they are not welcome in Japan. For some reason, the Honbu in Japan continues to take their money though and humour them with paperwork. When wearing their Bujinkan Dojo Ninja Brotherhood patches, they were singled out and pushed aside, unbeknownst to them, according to a Dai-Shihan I will not name.
John Willson used to have a large following, but after this, most of them left him and John became observably bitter, often lamenting to us who were still around to listen. He complained incessantly of others as do his students that remained with him, telling stories that could no longer be trusted. He would throw shuriken at Stephen Hayes book, telling me how much he hated him, with more stories between the two. He once played a VHS training video for me that started with pornography on it. He would tell me why prominent people within the Bujinkan were liars. I learned to hate Nagato as he did and immortalize Ishizuka. It turned out the opposite was true. Eventually, I had had enough and I left shortly after. To this day, his students are known as trouble makers, bullies, liars, and most people want nothing to do with them.
He even asked me to stop teaching Shizen Den or to use the BDNB of C name. I still claim that name because it pisses them off, and some of my training was organized under that banner, even though I know better now. For instance, he claims to have invented the idea of punching with the opposite hand as the lead foot (cross punch). But I learned this in Japan too, and when I told John’s students I learned it, they laughed and suggested they stole it from John!
They had for some time dropped the Bujinkan name and uniform completely, but once I became a Dai-Shihan, they started using the Bujinkan name again and are fervently trying to catch up in ranks. They hate the idea I succeeded without them. Imitation is the best flattery, I guess. ;) To this day, they cannot tell enough lies about me locally to discredit me.
From Phil Legare to Jason Steeves: “Sakizuke neh (pre-emptive strike eh?). You will work hard to better the Bujinkan in Canada, of that I have no doubt. And Soke has given the ability to cut through the BS.”
From another Dai-Shihan, who latter became a soke, “Soke made it clear he wasn't going to get any attention at all in Japan from him or any of the Japanese. He was upset that Willson set up the brotherhood thing. Thought it was similar to the Shadows of Ignorance and that he was trying to be like Hayes.”
Korean martial arts
Choi Yong-Shul, at the age of 8, was taken to Japan from Korea, later abandoned, and then taken into
the household of Takeda Sokaku, a teacher of Daitô-ryû Aiki-jujitsu. Choi said that he remained in Takeda’s home for thirty years before being repatriated to Korea at the end of World War II. This set the foundation for Hapkidō.
Similar stories of Koreans in Japan not being allowed to learn Japanese martial arts so they watched through the windows and then upon returning to Japan, recreated the styles they saw, creating new Korean styles.
What is Koryu?
Japanese martial arts are categorized into modern or Koryu. A Koryu is a classical martial art that has roots in Samurai culture dating back to at least the 19th century and can prove the lineage as such. Basically, it means its old and has been proven in battle and survived. A Ryu is just a packet of information that is structured to teach to the next generation by a master. There are Ryu in Japan for things other than martial arts, like tea ceremony, flower arranging, calligraphy, etc. Koryu was banned in Japan from the Meiji restoration until 1952. Many died because of this, but some continued in secret and are public today. The word Ryu and Ryuha are difficult to define. From what I can tell, Ryu could mean a parent tradition, while Ryuha is a subset within it. Another definition states that a Ryu is an official tradition, while a Ryuha is a gathering of like-minded individuals to unofficially study. Iga Ryu could be considered a parent Ryu while Togakure Ryu would then technically be a Ryuha. A dead Ninjutsu Ryu might have documents that have been found and they bring it back to life without an official direct lineage. The ideograms for Ryu 流 can also be read as “nagare” or as a flow, a line, as in a transmission. You could even say that schools that amalgamated with Takamatsu are Takamatsu Ryu, or even Takamatsu-den (a branch), like Kukishin and Kukishinden. I have even heard Hatsumi Ryu and Bujinkan Ryu. Once a Ryu is complete, especially in martial arts parlance, a master license is given. This notes not only mastery, but ownership. This person is responsible for passing it on and is authorized to make any changes as he sees fit. This is why Hatsumi says our styles are alive and grow and change. We learn it faster than our predecessor because he learned from his teacher then added his fresh experience afterwards, and organized the information better for more efficient transmission. We add our knowledge to improve them or modify them to unforeseen changes in our world, such as firearms when they were first introduced. Now we have cameras, technology, cars, and cityscapes. Koryu are generally a small number of practitioners, dozens or less, and are centralized to one primary location under the supervision of a headmaster. Admittance is strict, requiring long commitments, control of student’s behaviour, letters of recommendation, background investigation, elaborate entrance ceremonies, admittance gifts, fees, signing pledges, blood stamps, name stamps, etc. Koryu were very secretive, and the information sometimes seemed chaotic in order to confound someone who finds it without permission.
Because of Koryu’s lack of competitions, mysticism, the length and dedication of instruction, the strictness of meeting graduation qualifiers, and reality warfare components, it will never have the mass appeal as other mainstream systems do.
In the 1920s, the government of Japan began sending police to inspect dojos to make sure they had kamidanas (Shinto spirit shelves, altar) in accordance to the state religion. The rules stated that students had to begin and end each training session by worshipping the altar. During the 1930s, training halls were called dojo, a word originally meaning “religious chapel” and names of techniques took on religious terminology, such as Oni Kudaki (demon crusher), TenChiJin (heaven, earth, man), or Bujinkan (divine warriors). I did not choose the name Divine Warrior Ninjutsu for Shinto religious reasons, just so we are clear. I just wanted an English version of Bujinkan.
Ninja Uniforms
What did they wear? Let’s keep this short. It’s said the ninja borrowed the uniform from kabuki theater. When the play was on, stage hands wore all black to blend in the background. It could be true, but unlikely. Basically, the ninja would wear whatever worked best for the mission at hand. If they had to move in public, they would wear whatever they needed to blend in, be the grey man. What we think was the iconic ninja suit was really nothing more than normal clothing to most. Hakama (skirt) were worn by many, tabi (socks) were worn by many, straw sandals too, and even hoods and masks were pretty common. The ankle boot covers, known as kyahan, and hand gauntlets, known as tekko, were also common. They are really just devices to tighten and loosen in order to restrict blood flow when one was too cold or too hot. The ninja would also use them to keep cuffs from snagging on tree branches and such. Rubber soled jikatabi are worn in Japan today by construction workers and others, but they are probably more modern. The colours of their uniform also depended on the situation. Black is usually too stark a colour for the night and can be seen. A faded black, dark blue, grey, brown are all good colours. It really depends, and just use common sense.
A note on Antony Cummins
Cummins was once a Bujinkan student and now vehemently opposes the X-kans (Bujinkan, Genbukan, Jinenkan). He once told me he asked Hatsumi if he could see the scrolls and when Hatsumi refused, he decided they do not exist and is therefore fake. He also states the Bujinkan does not “fit” in history and evidence used states comic book characters and the lack of a Togakure Ryu scroll before Takamatsu or any evidence his grandfather really existed under the name Toda. But, as can be seen, the scrolls have been seen by many (I even own copies), the comic book character was taken from a real person first, copies of the Togakure Ryu scrolls have been found that pre-date Takamatsu, and Toda has been found in records since this claim.
What is the Genbukan and Jinenkan?
Shoto Tanemura, a once high ranking student of Hatsumi, left the Bujinkan under bad conditions and began his own school called the Genbukan. Similarly, Fumio Manaka also left and started Jinenkan. Stephen K Hayes also left and started To Shin Do. They all left over disagreements and are generally no longer on good terms.
Whether your child practices karate, taekwondo, or another style of martial arts, you know they will be tempted to practice outside of sessions. A well-designed home studio allows them to engage in their sport safely, and you can even set it up so that the whole family has a workout space. Bear in mind that you can’t completely replace the professional training your child receives at their martial arts gym; what you can do is encourage your youngster to practice safely, stay healthy, and develop character by setting up a home martial arts studio to serve as their practice space.
Building a home martial arts studio might sound like a major undertaking, but with these resources, you’ll find that it’s actually relatively easy to set one up!
The Right Space for Your Studio
A home martial arts studio isn’t just a place to work out. In fact, if you design it as a multipurpose room that could be used as a home gym, playroom, or home office, it can actually help improve your property value.
Top Tips for Buying Gear
Martial arts workouts can be tough, so you’ll need to purchase exceptionally durable gear for your kids. These guides will help you select top-notch equipment for your studio.
Ideas for Home Workouts
Even if you don’t know much about martial arts, you can still help your kids practice their skills and improve their techniques.
Having a home martial arts studio where your child can practice anytime they want will help them take their abilities to a whole new level. And if your child continues their lessons and develops a long-lasting passion for martial arts, they will get plenty of use out of this studio in the coming years!
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]]>The styles of Shodō are: seal script (篆書 tensho); clerical script (隷書 reisho);
regular script (楷書 kaisho); semi-cursive (行書 gyōsho); cursive (草書 sōsho).
Tensho is the oldest style of writing and was developed before paper and ink
existed. It is referred to as “seal script” because it was used to make seals for
stamping impressions onto other materials and is still used on seals in Japan today.
Reisho formed as a more practical and efficient writing style. Known as “the scribe’s script,” this style of writing was achieved with ink on wood or bamboo strips and is still used on currency in Japan today.
Kaisho (“formal style”) is a block style of writing and is considered the foundation of other less formal styles, and as such, it is required to get a proper feel for the craft. Each stroke follows a rigid order, and the composition and proportions are carefully executed. Once Kaisho is understood, artists can move on to less formalized, more artistic styles.
Gyosho (“moving style”) which accurately describes the technique used within this style of calligraphy. Less formal and rigid than Kaisho, Gyosho is a semi-cursive script that focuses on motion and fluidity with less angular characters. The calligrapher’s brush does not leave the paper, and each stroke is intended to continue on to the next. Thus, it offers a more creative outlet for artists and is widely used as the everyday handwriting style amongst writers.
Gyosho (“moving style”) which accurately describes the technique used within this style of calligraphy. Less formal and rigid than Kaisho, Gyosho is a semi-cursive script that focuses on motion and fluidity with less angular characters. The calligrapher’s brush does not leave the paper, and each stroke is intended to continue on to the next. Thus, it offers a more creative outlet for artists and is widely used as the everyday handwriting style amongst writers.
Sosho is the most difficult type of calligraphy. This cursive style emulates the effect of the wind blowing grass, where characters flow into one another. Strokes are greatly modified, and sometimes even eliminated, to create a smooth sensation of writing. Sosho is used mostly in abstract works of art, especially Zen art, where it’s important to transmit energy throughout your work.
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Do not use handouts until maybe at the very end. People will focus on the paper and hypnosis is very much about focus on the person. Switch partners constantly.
What hypnosis is not: able to overcome ethical reasoning.
What hypnosis is: an altered state of mind, a situation where everyone wins, a trance, a state of relaxation, therapeutic.
The CIA had a program called “MK Ultra” that used hypnosis for super assassins. They would need to be trained as assassins voluntarily first.
Hypnotic trances happen all the time in the world around you, usually by accident. Whenever you “zone out” during an activity, you are self-inducing a hypnotic trance.
You are the target of intentional hypnosis daily, such as in video or radio commercials, or advertisements on social media, or the government.
The 4 stage protocol:
Capture people’s focus and absorb their attention. Draw them into you. Make sure all their thoughts are following along what you set out for them.
Bypass the critical factor, the part of their brain that tries to justify why something can’t be true or possible.
Activate any unconscious response. It doesn’t matter what it is at this point.
Lead those responses into the desired outcome.
An implanted message can hide within another message as a suggestion. They should be suggested multiple times in multiple ways to improve effectiveness. You should use confusion such as double negatives like “you shouldn’t not do that”.
Practice this exercise: watch people when they get really focused while doing something, such as, reading a book, watching tv, playing a game, surfing the net, taking the bus or train, trying to ignore people around them, in a conversation while shutting out the rest of the people around them. Ask yourself what is different about them? What makes them highly focused on what they are doing? What changes can you see while they are highly focused? Become sensitive to this change. This will be the beginning of your Signal Recognition System that will tell you when someone is or is not in a trance. Be a people watcher.
Practice this exercise: try getting and keeping people’s attention anyway you can. Going too far out of the box may lose their attention. Maintain eye contact. Do not break it, and remember to smile so you don’t look evil.
What is rapport? Rapport is when two people understand each other and share similar ideas or goals or something else. People feel comfortable around others who share similarities. This will be important.
Mirroring is when you copy someone’s body language, breathing, or motions in order to strengthen rapport. Mirroring, when used, must be done subconsciously and undetectable to the other person. If they discover you are copying them, if will have the opposite effect and they will become angered ore defensive.
6 mistakes people usually make in building rapport:
They end up being too nice, to the point they present artificially and it puts the relationship in a permanent state of super nicety, thus neither of you ever getting to know the real person. Remember there is a time to stop being so nice in order to save the relationship.
They end up trying too hard and consciously interfere with an unconscious process. You need to slide into a subtle rhythm.
They end up being a little bit too pushy in order to get something from someone else, much like a salesman. Fractioning rapport is when you build rapport a little bit, then back off, then build a little more, then back off, then again, and again.
They lack a genuine interest. This will unconsciously send your own signals that you are bored and disinterested which will make the other person begin to shut down. To correct this, you should convince yourself for the time being that the other person is to be valued and is worth listening to, if you don’t already view all people this way. You should also use a trackback technique. This is where you confirm or at least dialogue what they have said using the exact same language, emotion, and intonation so they don’t feel you have misunderstood them.
They play the wrong role. You should be flexible and sometimes be an underdog, sometimes an equal, and sometimes a leader who shows the way forward, but you cannot do this by taking a role away from the other person who needs to be in a certain role, and you must pace yourself to match them so you do not outpace them by getting ahead of them.
They talk at length about a common interest (deep rapport), so much so, that when they meet under different circumstances and in a different environment, it now feels awkward and ends up eroding at earlier rapport. To fix this, establish wide rapport, that is, talking about multiple topics, or, in various locations to establish a new rapport in that environment. Another method is to use hypnotic storytelling. This is just telling stories about various topics or in various locations in order to show a wide array of your personality so now the other person feels like they can talk to you about anything.
Language Pattern Cards
What would it be like if you can absorb these patterns naturally? I’m not suggesting that you can do that, I’m just wondering what it would be like if you could.
If you were to understand how easy these patterns are, how much more would you be enjoying these exercises?
You don’t have to be able to use these patterns naturally right away. It’s important that you just progress and use them as natural and easy as is possible for you.
You really shouldn’t make changes now to your behaviour. You have all the time in the world to do that on your own time.
It’s only natural that you practice each step to the point where you’re improving your language skills and progressing naturally for you.
Notice how a single word can focus your thought. In order for this to happen, you would have to notice first. Notice how your thoughts can be persuaded in any direction quite easily.
What would it be like if you could just relax and just do this so naturally? You don’t have to do it. Just wonder what it would be like.
It’s as if all your attention is focused on learning now as if it was very easy to learn now.
What’s it like when you’re learning fascinating new things now? As you’re doing that, doesn’t it make it interesting to learn new things now?
The fact that you are here means that you are receptive to learn to master this more quickly.
You might realize that you are beginning to speak differently after you realize people are responding to you differently.
You should remember that learning is a natural thing to do, just accept the process and enjoy the ride.
The more you expose yourself to the experience and learn to do it more quickly, the more you’ll learn now to do it.
As Hatsumi, the Soke of the Bujinkan once said, “It is important to remember what my teacher, Takamatsu said, “A subtle conversation, that is the Garden of Eden.”
Most people can, Jordan, enjoy the process of communicating with more subtleness and clarity.
As soon as you discover the ease at which you can put this practice to work, you’ll feel great about it.
How do you know when you’re so totally absorbed in a project that everything else just seems unimportant? Now.
Will you practice these skills every day or just learn them at your own pace so that before you know it, you will be implementing them?
Because every time you practice a skill like this, you will enjoy doing it even more.
Will you find yourself speaking differently now, or will you not notice that until later?
When you find yourself using this powerful new model of communication, will you find yourself being surprised or just delighted?
Imagine, just imagine what it will be like to speak with such confidence and power.
I know you’re wondering how this all has to do with how quickly you can learn to speak with authority, and it’s a good thing to wonder.
Just pretend for as moment that you have already mastered these skills. How would you come to grips with what you’re doing?
When you read this card, you will notice how good your learning has been so far, or when you practice, how will you know how it has been going?
A person can learn to use these skills and when you use a person’s name, Jordan, they will pay more attention.
As you practice speaking with intent, you will notice yourself speaking more elegantly and with more authority.
It’s not necessary that you should speak differently. Just speak and learn to define it.
You might find yourself beginning to understand fully how you might use these language patterns.
And you will notice how easily you will be able to break the normal rules of grammar and people will listen more intently and they will be persuaded just so.
Notice what it’s like when you begin to speak differently. Just notice how your speech is so natural.
You may be wondering how easy it is to do these exercises, and if you weren’t wondering before, you are probably wondering now.
Have you ever learned something new and discovered how much fun you can have with it?
Because you have enjoyed learning new things in the past, you know you can enjoy the process of learning this exercise.
It’s a good thing to open your mind and learn new skills as that is how you learn new things.
You may notice you begin to speak differently and feel good about the fact that you’re learning new things and enjoy the process.
One can, you, Jordan, let go and learn for the sake of learning.
You could just pretend to be good at this, couldn’t you?
I wonder if you realize just how much more subtle your conversations are becoming now?
Sooner or later you will discover the ease with which you can have conversations like this for yourself.
There’s no need to understand clearly how these patterns work together until you find you are using them for yourself.
And how will you learn all these patterns for yourself?
It’s not night time yet. It’s still daytime, and you are thinking about these language drills, looking forward to how much you will be able to use these for yourself.
If you continue to use these drills in everyday conversation, then you will learn how much easier it is than you first thought.
Suppose you were learning all these at a deeper level than you now realize.
When you realize how everyone could do this, you would see that communication could be a breeze.
Remember the last time you were faced with a challenge and you managed to rise to the occasion.
Notice what it’s like when you speak differently. Just notice how you speak with ease.
7% of the meaning comes from the words themselves, while 38% comes from the way you say it, and 55% comes from the way you compose your body. Therefore, use should use the principle BMIR (Behavioural Manifestation of an Internal Representation). This is much like the quote “I think, therefore, I am.” If you want to make someone relax for a hypnosis session, you must think of relaxing scenarios in order to illicit relaxation in yourself first. If you do not, your true feelings and emotions will shine through in the 93% that is not verbal.
Practice this exercise: Squeeze the meaning out of your words. Say the following words or words of your own by trying to portray with the tone of your voice what the words mean:
Affection
Adventure
Endure
Minuscule
Bizarre
Wonderful
Superb
Despise
Rage
Concentrate
Relaxed
Now try telling a story with these words in it and the same tones you just practiced.
Practice this exercise: Lean on certain words. This means to emphasize a meaning by putting extra emphasis on a word. Try leaning on each of these words one at a time and have a partner tell you the hidden message it seems to infer: “Did you get the item today?”
Practice this exercise: Now try using all these with people in real conversations. Start with the four power words and slip them into normal conversation, then try tonalities, and so on. The more you use it, the more comfortable you become and the easier it is. You will start making it normal and you will see that because of this, you will be able to turn your hypnotic speech on and off at will.
Practice all of these multiple times and really get to know them and better at them. It is the foundation on which the next parts will build.
We, as human beings, always play roles, sometimes called power roles. Even when we are in a flat group with no hierarchy and we are supposed to all be equal, we will unconsciously form a hierarchy and respond to different people as in roles. As a hypnotist, you will want to take on a high-status role so people will unconsciously want to follow you, but there could be times when you want a low status role, such as if someone has a dislike of authority figures. Once that type of person trusts you, you can shift back into a high-status role.
High-status role individuals will have certain characteristics. You will want to adopt these: Smooth speech without non-words like um, uh, like, or stuttering; eye gazes will be fixed and not darting around nervously; naturally sensitive areas that people unconsciously protect, like the throat, stomach, and groin, will be presented as not threatened and unprotected; a speed of speech that is not too fast or nervous, but not too slow and boring; no grand hand gestures or body actions that overcompensate for inner difference; not too authoritarian so you come off as mean and people dislike you, but not too soft so you seem like a pushover.
The Consistency Principle is when someone is in a high-status role, anything they say will be taken to be correct. The higher your status, the more consistent people will believe you are.
The Suggestibility Test is when you demonstrate in a public group your authority by means of a magic trick, a musical talent, funny jokes, or even “did you know” type of knowledge, it suggests to people subconsciously that you are also skilled and an authority figure in everything and they may begin confiding in your with their problems of life. This will also serve to tell you they are ready to be put into a trance.
Agreement Tactics is when you bypass the critical factor, that part of your brain that filters out things it does not want to believe, or does not conform to reality as it has been learned. There are 4 of these: Plausibility, the Agreement Habit, Yes Sets, and Piggy Backing Suggestions.
Plausibility is a sliding scale. The more awake the subject is, the more their critical factor is online, and the more plausible your suggestions may be. As they go deeper into a trance, their critical factor slowly slides to zero and then your plausible suggestions may be virtually implausible and still be accepted. If I say that there is a walrus on the 7th floor of an office building, this will at first seem unlikely, but if I present this to you after your critical factor has been lowered, you will accept it as part of this reality.
Practice this exercise: Close your eyes and relax comfortably in your chair. Imagine yourself in an office building on the 7th floor. It’s a Friday afternoon and your company has decided to stop working and have a fun socializing time before the weekend starts. They begin playing Caribbean music on speakers and they bring out cake and beverages. Look around at people smiling and laughing, maybe telling jokes. The boss brings in his puppy and sets in on the floor, when all of a sudden, the small dog begins to slowly grow and change colour and shape until it becomes a walrus. Now you see that the walrus is not so disturbing in this setting because it was introduced slowly and appropriately. Now you will open your eyes feeling refreshed and feeling wonderful.
The Agreement Habit is when you use positive reinforcement to bring their critical factor offline. To do this, you want to unconsciously to the other person lead the conversation, but you want to do this in a certain way. So if you are both discussing martial arts, for example, and the other person says his views and notes several things, some of which you agree with, and some of which you do not, when he states the things with which you do agree with, you want to reward the person with nods and smiles, or something similar, but when they say something you do not agree with, you do absolutely nothing. In this way, it will reward items you agree with but will not reward or punish items you do not agree with. By doing this over time, their critical factor will go offline because everything positive was rewarded subconsciously and they direct the conversation to only items they anticipate you will agree with. Next, when you introduce your views, they will agree with them too because their critical factor is now offline.
The Law of Successive Approximations is next. With this, you could make someone hallucinate a scene of your choosing, but in a more practical situation, you might use this to influence people to do what you want in small, incremental steps getting closer to what you want. For a hallucination, you might get a person with their eyes closed to imagine a cat in front of them. Then imagine the sound. Then maybe imagine the cat rubbing on their legs. Eventually, after you have presented small steps, you have them open their eyes and look at the cat and it will be there. In a practical way, you might have a student who does not want to lead a class, help you by handing you something in front of everything, then next time, you have them say something very brief, maybe only a term. Then a sentence another time. Then to demonstrate something. Then to teach a new student a whole set of techniques. Then eventually, to lead the whole class. If a step is too great and you lose them, go back to the last step that worked and you rebuild with Yes Steps, or another tactic, then you suggest another step forward but much smaller than before so they are more likely to take it.
The Law of Compounding Effect is the last tool in Persistence Tactics. You could say something like, “In a moment you will blink, and when you do, you will...” But in a broader sense, this effect basically states that every time you successfully get someone to agree with or do any previous steps, they become more comfortable doing any and all steps and future steps will become easier for them with less resistance or prepping.
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For all our courses in a single membership, get it HERE.
Visit our website at divinewarriorninjutsu.com
]]>Let’s get started. Gravity pulls our earlobes 0.22mm longer every year and shrinks our height 1cm every ten years after the age of 40. Older people even give off a smell called 2-nonenal pheromone. People after about 25 can no longer hear 17.5 khz, sometimes called the mosquito tone.
Identifying people on a dark night
Stay along the sides of houses and building and under eaves. You ears are your eyes. Large men walk with a heavy step and smaller men walk with a lighter step. Suspicious people come quietly. Troublemakers come quickly. Violent drunks breathe heavy and their steps are confused.
Face
Look at a person’s posture, movements, voice, face colour, expressions, and behaviour.
Tenchū 天中 — Top part of the forehead
Tentei 天庭 — Upper part of the forehead below the tenchū above the shikū
Shikū司空 — Upper mid part of the forehead below the tentei above the chūsei
Chūsei 中正 — Lower mid part of the forehead below the shikū above the indō
Indō 印堂 — The glabella, between the eyebrows and above the nose
Sankon 山ん根ん — The base of nose
Nenjō 年上 — The top of the nasal bone
JuJō 寿上 — The top of the nasal cartilage
JunTō 準頭 — The tip of the nose
Ninchū 人中 — The philtrum (lines under the nose)
Suisei 水星 — Mouth
Shōjō 承漿 — Between the bottom lip and the chin
Chikaku 地閣 — The chin
Jōtei 上停 From the hairline down to the eyebrows. A long jōtei indicates you will be happy in your old age.
Chūtei 中停 From the eyebrows to the tip of your nose. A long chūtei indicates you could be a king of men.
Katei 下停 From the nose to the chin. A long katei indicates bad luck in most cases.
These point names are the same as acupuncture.
Women who have a masculine voice or with a prominent uneven forehead, or who are angry looking will have bad luck.
You can see how much of this seems ridiculous by today’s standards. Try not to stare too much at someone while looking at their features. But using a little psychology, some things can be deduced. What do cartoon villains look like and why? How about villains in movies?
By listening to an accent, can you tell where someone is from?
If someone is drunk, what does that tell you? Can you tell if they are habitual drinkers or why? Maybe they are self-medicating a problem. Being drunk in itself might cause them to tell you secrets.
What nationality is a person? What so they do for a job by looking at their clothes, their hands and fingernails, or tan lines?
Can you tell if they are married? Do they wear a ring? Do they have kids, how many, how old?
Do they walk in such a way that it gives away injuries, or do they have band aides?
Can you tell how fit they are and if they work out or eat healthy? Are they healthy enough to fight?
How old are they? What sex are they really? Are they gay?
What do their tattoos or piercings tell you, such as club affiliations or interests? Goth looks generally want to keep people from talking to them. Are there scars from self-harm? From a fire? Are they a criminal?
Women who take selfies is pretty normal, but a guy who takes selfies is considered pompous and arrogant.
Can you tell what their fears or phobias might be?
Do they act overly aggressive?
Are they introverts or extroverts?
A person (especially women) with lower back dimples indicates high sex drive and are squirters.
A big nose is said to be Jewish. Is this true?
Do they keep care of their teeth, hands, and fingernails?
I recommend revisiting the Lie Detection course and notes as there was much related information there.
Machines are even being developed or have been developed to use AI to detect criminals, homosexuality, and other traits for government and private work positions by measuring facial features.
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Quenching is the rapid cooling of the blade which makes the metal hard so it will hold its edge longer. You would normally do this in oil, not water. Thermocycling is the process of heating up your metal and cooling it down several times in order to make it stronger, AKA heat treating. Tempering is a heat treatment process that reduces brittleness. A differential quench is when you quench only the blade edge side to leave the spine softer so that it will absorb impacts. A hamon line is a visible line on the blade that is indicative of the harder steel of the blade from the softer steel of the center and top. Only medium and high carbon steel can be hardened. These are called hardened steel. Low carbon steel have higher melting points which make them hard to work with. A serrated edge helps keep that position of blade sharper longer during combat when you don’t have time to keep sharpening it. Grinding is the process of refining a blade by grinding off unwanted parts. Etching is the process of submerging the blade in an acid bath to bring out the detailed pattern in the metal. You can straighten a warped or bent blade using what is called the 3 pin method. You put the bent portion in the vice with 2 pins on one side and 1 more in between the other 2, but on the opposite side, then vice it. File testing is when a file will skate across a hardened blade smoothly. If it is not hard, it will not. Sometimes hardened metal can be softer than your file used for testing. In that case, it will still bite in but it is hard. A strop is a strip of leather used to sharpen razors and can be used to sharpen blades too. If you push too hard when you sharpen your knife on a grinding wheel or sandpaper belt, it will heat up the edge and you will lose the temper on your edge.
A bolster is a piece between the blade and the handle to provide extra strength and durability, much like the tsuba of a samurai sword. A lagnet is a thin strip of metal that runs down the handle to help secure the head in place (as on war hammers). If a drill bit squeals while you are drilling into your tang (handle portion of the metal), it means it is too hot (or broken/dull) and it will break if you don’t add oil or let it cool. A cold peen is when you hammer the end of your tang to mushroom it so it holds your handle without heat.
Sugar canes have similar consistency as human limbs for testing. Just saying.
Wear proper safety equipment. Don’t learn about safety by accident. Some injures are permanent. If you want to learn about eye protection, ask someone who only has one eye. Hearing protection is a sound investment. Breathing in metal dust can lead to siderosis, or welder’s lung. Leather aprons or the like are extremely helpful. Splashes of molten metal on your skin does not feel nice. Reaching in near a forge oven opening is also extremely hot. Gloves are handy. Forging a blade is definitely very loud, hot, and messy. And you might even get burned, sweat (a lot), and ruin some clothes. Be prepared.
You can forge completely without electricity, power tools, and gas, and you should know how in case you need to someday. But obviously, power tools and gas make things much, much, much easier. And I want to reiterate body mechanics. Workspace height is important and your swing is very important so you don’t get tired and sore. I have even seen a fire pit in the backyard used, filled with charcoal, and a tube and hair dryer. You can guess the temperature of your metal (if you need to) by sprinkling salt on it. Salt melts at 802°C.
Tools you will find good to have (I don’t want to say need) are an anvil, a forge (obviously), a hammer, tongs, safety equipment, a quench tank, and grinding tools.
The most plentiful element on earth is iron. The atoms in iron can be made stronger by introducing carbon atoms. They fill in the space between the iron atoms and prevent it from sliding. Carbon in different configurations will have different effects that could result in warping, blade rolling or chipping, breaking, or bending, or you can do it purposefully to get one part of your knife hard for strength, and another part soft for absorbing impacts. Adding carbon and other elements creates steel. Forging on a charcoal or coal forge will naturally impregnate iron with carbon, but there are other ways to do it, such as adding carbon from fingernail clippings or human hair, or carbon-based living mater by folding steel over the carbon-based material, or adding it to liquefied/melted iron, but now we are talking hard to do things. Rust is the result of iron atoms being removed from steel, and it will destroy your steel.
When steel is heated above 1350°F (732°C), the carbon and other alloys start to dissolve in the iron. The crystal structure of iron begins to change into a new structure called austenite. The level of austenite increases as the temperature rises. When the steel reaches 1450°F (788°C), all the crystal structures in the steel have become austenite where the grain formation is broken up and redistributed evenly. When you cool austenite steel slowly in still air, a structure called pearlite is formed. This form is a fine pearlite structure with small, evenly distributed carbides. A process called annealing is the same, except you slow the cooling process, which results in a softer metal. When you cool the steel very quickly, it is hardened and sometimes can be too hard and brittle. This can be avoided by not quenching steel that is glowing too red. You need to find the balance. Extremely high temperatures can actually burn the carbon out of the surface layer of steel. If this happens, it’s no longer high carbon steel and can’t be sharpened.
If you sharpen or shape a knife after you have hardened it, you could ruin the hardness. Watch for a gold colour, which means it is beginning to change, and blue, which means it has been softened too much. When you have more acute angles and less mass, your knife will have less drag and will cut easier. A thinner knife will cut better than a thicker one. A thinner
blade will have less drag and will pass through material easier. In losing thickness, you also lose overall blade durability. When grinding your angle, both sides make up the total when you are claiming the knife has such and such a degree. Scalpels and razors are 12°-17°. Hunting knives are 18 °-25°. Bushcraft knives are 26 °-30°. Samurai swords are 30°. Machetes and hatchets are 31 ° and up. If you grind the edge too thin, it will have a greater likelihood of warping or cracking during the quench. A good trick is to colour the edge with a marker so you can see what has been grinded. Start with a 50 grit and work up toward a thousand (2,000 for samurai swords). In between passes, dip it in water so you don’t ruin the blade and/or remove the temper. Don’t wear gloves. In this way, you can feel the temperature of the metal with your bare hands. You can use push sticks if you are near to grinding your skin, but that will take away your feel for temperature. Some knife makers use a jig to hold the knife in place at a designated angle and systematically grind away material. Use metal sanding paper such as aluminum oxide, and a little oil on your metal such as WD-40 will keep the sandpaper from wearing out too fast.
Hardening in water is usually frowned upon. It cools too quickly and can usually damage or crack your blade, but using water while shaping will keep it cool so it doesn’t turn blue. You probably should harden in oil. And agitate it so air bubbles don’t affect the hardening. You could preheat the oil for better control, but I personally don’t think that’s necessary. Salt water cools even faster than regular water.
Galvanized steel will release toxins when heated. Don’t use. You should aim for a steel between 0.6% and 1.6% carbon, if you can figure it out. The lower end is softer and easier to work with, and the higher end is harder and will perform better and hold an edge longer.
The numbering system of steel types (like using 1095 steel) is done in the following way: the first digit represents the primary alloy used, the second digit represent the secondary alloy used, and the last two digits represent the percentage of carbon (1095 being 0.95% carbon). 5160 is essentially 1060 plain carbon steel with added chromium. It contains between 0.56 percent and 0.64 percent carbon. Adding chromium helps rust from forming a little, and helps make the metal stronger. Another type of alloy steel, 6150 was originally used in coil springs, and has 0.48 percent to 0.53 percent carbon content and a small amount of added vanadium. It doesn’t hold an edge quite as well but it is much easier to work with. High carbon content of 52100 steel is between 0.98 percent to 1.10 percent. A2 is a tough and relatively hard steel with 0.95 percent to 1.05 percent carbon content. D2 steel has a 1.5 percent to 1.6 percent carbon content, so it is very hard with high 12 percent chromium. O-1 steel has a carbon content of 0.85 percent to 1.0 percent. Stainless steel has added chromium which adds a thin layer to the surface of the metal which prevents oxidative rust. One of the most commonly used metals is 440. It has a carbon content between 0.95% and 1.2% carbon making it hard, hard to forge, but holds a great edge and easy to sharpen. CPM154CM is a stainless alloy that has 1.05 percent carbon. S35VN is considered by many to be one of the best available knife steels. Damascus steel has recently been used to refer to layered steel that forms a pretty pattern, but true Damascus steel is was first made in Sri Lanka where typhoon winds would power their forges, then it was adapted in Syria where it was named after their capital. The steel was so hard, it could cut through other blades in battle. Tool steel is very hard and has varying degrees of carbon and is excellent for blade making.
When making handles, epoxy won’t bond properly to a surface if it is dirty or has any oils on it, so make sure your hands are clean as you’re handling it. Finish your handle by applying a coat of oil to the wood.
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]]>Watch some of these videos on YouTube below
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Mobile, website, & app passwords
Bot attacks are common these days. They are computers designed to use brute force to cycle through combinations of letters, numbers, and symbols until they crack your password. Most bots are programmed to move on if they fail for 15 minutes, but they can cycle through 500 characters per minute. Change your passphrase to 24 characters or more. This will deter a supercomputer for years.
8 Things You Can Do to Improve Your Car for Escape and Evasion
1. Install run-flat tires. These are relatively cheap enough that most people can afford them and will enable you to get away if you get a flat.
2. Add 3M shielding to your windows. This will make them break proof from something like a brick or rock, but not bullets. If you want to make them bulletproof, use what’s called polycarbonate. This is like plastic plexiglass. The thickness determines the calibre of bullet it will stop.
3. Install a sunroof. This will allow alternate escape, posting a gunner if need be, or to throw items back behind you if you are being followed.
4. Get a bag full of nuts and keep them next to your drivers seat. These are great for throwing at pursuers. Ceramic like spark plugs will break windows very easily.
5. Store a 1 million candlepower spotlight next to your driver’s seat. They cannot pursue if they cannot see.
6. Build a larger version of tetsubishi (caltrops) for your car. These will burst tires of pursuers.
7. A baton, because it can expand and be small when stored.
8. A tazer, because, you know, it’s a tazer.
Stolen Credit Card
A thief will do several things when they first get your credit card:
- They’ll rack up debt as fast as possible.
- They’ll make a small donation to a charity to see if you credit card has been frozen yet.
- They’ll sell the credit card number on the dark web to someone else to use.
- They’ll try to get your identity from it, such as your SIN#, DOB, etc.
- They’ll open up a bank account or apply for more credit.
Things you can do to stop it:
- Use an RFID blocker to prevent them from scanning your wallet on a walk-by.
- Shield your credit card number from possible cell phone cameras and all cameras.
- Shield your PIN# when you need to enter it.
- Put a freeze/fraud alert on your credit so that you must be notified when it’s used.
- Use an aluminum wallet to prevent RFID’s from passing through it.
How to keep hackers out of your house
Smart devices are becoming more vulnerable to hackers, whether private or government. Cameras mean people can see you. Microphones mean people can hear you. Here are some things you can do to stop them.
- Buy devices that use FHSS (Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum) technology to connect to the internet. This will change frequencies 75 times every 400 milliseconds. The vulnerable technology to avoid is called DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum). It stays on the same frequency at all times.
- Avoid using a cloud service. Many devices record or backup to a cloud service, but these clouds are easy to access and hackers can use it as a backdoor to gain access to your device.
- Devices like wireless routers broadcast what is known as an SSID (Service Set Identifier). By default, the manufacturer or provider has given it a name. You should change the name, and also disable the SSID broadcasting. This does not disable Wi-Fi. This means that someone wanting to connect to your network would need to know the SSID name ahead of time, as they will not see it in the list of available networks. Most routers or modems can be accessed and the settings changed by typing the web address 192.168.2.1 in any web browser currently connected to your network. If that doesn’t work, consult the user manual of the router/modem or call your ISP (Internet Service Provider) and ask them how to do it.
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1. 3 dice trick - Starting with 3 dice, place all 3 together from end to end, with the 2 outers the same number so people can confirm you did it. Squeeze all dice hard and very quickly separate your fingers so only the middle die falls into a glass. Make them try it first. One 2 fingers, no touching the dice on anything else.
2. Dice pole position trick - 2 people, each person has 1 die. Each person takes turns selecting a number on the die and setting it down. It doesn’t matter who goes first. You keep adding the die number to the total score and the winner is the person who reaches 50. In order to win every time, you must keep some basic rules in your mind secretly. There are certain numbers you must hit along the way to 50. These numbers are 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 36, 43, and 50. But it’s easier to always match your opponent in such as way that the 2 dice equal 7. If you go first, you place a 1 to hit that first special number. If the opponent goes first (and it might help to let them decide who goes first so it seems less rigged), whatever he places down, match his to equal 8. If he places a 1, though, put down something else to assist you hitting the 8 the next round. If you miss it, you just adjust in the next round to hit multiples of 7 following that first 8.
3. Tic tac to coin trick - Make a tic tac to grid with straws, popsicle sticks, or stir sticks, anything, then give the opponent 6 coins, or dice, and have them arrange them within the grid so that there is never 3 in a row, or a win in tic tac to. The answer is 3 around 1 corner, and 3 around the opposite corner.
4. 3 move square trick - Make a tic tac to grid with straws, popsicle sticks, or stir sticks, anything, then have the opponents try to make 3 equal squares by moving the sticks around and having no left over pieces. Then have them do it in increasing less moves. The lowest possible moves is 3. To do this, move the 2 center left most horizontal sticks to the very top and bottom to complete 2 boxes. Then move the center left most vertical stick all the way to the right.
5. 4 phases of picking up a date - How to approach someone in a bar setting or for work. This is social engineering. Phase 1. Genuine connection and build rapport. Phase 2. Breaking rapport by using a magic trick to introduce unusual interest. Phase 3: Qualification. Ask deeper questions and offer your own deeper answers to those questions, like what are your dreams and ambitions to see if there is any common ground, otherwise, you probably will not get along and it won’t work out (in a dating situation). Phase 4: Escalation. Now you set up a real date to eat, see a movie, or do something together that matches your likes.
6. Method of detecting confidence levels - Ask people to guess the pattern by listing something like places, or objects in the room. If they ask in an upward ending intonation, the answer is no. If they ask in a downward intonation, the answer is yes. That is the pattern they are trying to guess. It also tells us something psychological about the person. Asking in an upward intonation denotes lack of confidence, while a downward intonation confirms confidence in themselves. If they corner you in a catch 22 with a question like “It’s this.” with a downward intonation, according to the rules, you are supposed to say yes, but it is not correct, so you need to divert to an alternate by saying something like, “That’s a good point. Pause on that for a second.” then continue asking a 2nd person or something else.
7. Draw on paper 2150 = 101010 and tell the person to make the statement true by adding only 1 straight line. But it cannot be . The answer is based on a 24 hour clock and is 2150 = 10TO10.
8. Impossible drawing - Have the person draw an image of a vertical line with a large circle on the line and a small circle also on the line but inside the larger circle, without lifting the pen or crossing any lines whatsoever. They cannot retrace lines either. The answer is starting at the top, come down, stop. Go right to start the large circle, stop at the bottom. Go up slightly to the starting point of the bottom of the small circle, stop. Go right and up to the top of the small circle and stop. Go straight down to the bottom of the small circle, stop. Go left to the top of the small circle, stop. Go up to the beginning of the large circle, stop. Go left to the bottom of the large circle, stop. Go straight down, end.
9. Mutus spell - Have 2 people shuffle a deck of cards. Have them make 10 pairs of cards face down on the table. Look away while they select 1 pair and split it between them and remember their cards. Tell them to put them back in the same spot so you cannot tell they have been moved. Pick up all pairs, even having them dictate which order. It’s very important each pair stay together in your hand. Now you place each card face up on the table in what appears to be a random order, but you must actually use a special phrase for placement, putting each card of a pair on each letter of the phrase (as if it was written on the table), which only appears twice in the entire grid. That phrase is “mutus nomen detid cocis”, 1 word on each row from top to bottom. Have them tell you which row their card lies. Discard the other 2 rows. Before picking up the
remaining rows, remember which 2 letters appear in these 2 rows as these are their chosen cards. Gather 1 row at a time and give them to the person that chose that row. Have 1 of them lay out all 5 cards. Pretend to read their body as you select their correct card. Repeat for the 2nd person. If they appear in a single row, discard the other row, then pretend to read their body language and lay out the 2 cards face down. Have them name their cards, then have them flip them over together.
10. How to tell someone’s fortune - You can use tarot cards or playing cards. It doesn’t much matter. The whole process is fake. Dazzle up the room to make it look mysterious (candles, incense, tapestries, bells, beads, etc). Play on their superstition so they think you are speaking directly to them. You could even charge a very small fee to help eliminate people who are skeptics and unwilling to pay for such “foolishness”. Take out in advance the cards you will present to them and keep them hidden. Have them shuffle the deck. Next, tell them to close their eyes, breathe deeply and meditate for a few seconds. While they do this, you put your prearranged cards on top of the deck they shuffled. Tell them to open their eyes. Draw the top card off the deck. It’s the Ace of Cubs. Tell them what is and what it means. Cut out horoscopes ahead of time from the newspaper and paste them on the cards so you read them, or, say general statements that people want to be true, so say, “You’re a happy person, and that reflects in your life and relationships. You have a need for others to like you.And you will go out of your way to help other people.” Draw a 2nd card. It’s the moon. “You have an outward confidence about yourself. But inwardly, you are also sensitive. You don’t let too many people see that side of you. Only those close to you, like a family member. There have been changes. Money could have been a part of that. Your hard work and efforts will bear fruit next year.” Draw another card. “You have some trust issues with people you thought you could trust, like bad relationships, but ultimately, you couldn’t. You trusted a [boyfriend/girlfriend/wife/husband] who affected you very negatively. You have to let go. You need to release the negativity and become positive. If you do, you’ll experience life in a happier, healthier, more enlightened way. If you don’t, you will be alone.” as you place down the next card of an individual, dark figure. Thank them, blow out the candle.
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Baseline: First establish a person’s baseline.
First contact: Focus on the first 3-5 seconds after you confront them.
Indirect answers: A guilty person will not directly answer you. Instead, they will mention wonderful things they have done (volunteer, eagle scout, helped the homeless, etc.). They will also avoid answering the question straight out. “Did you eat my lunch in the fridge?” “Why would I eat your lunch? I didn’t even know there was anyone’s lunch in there.” Redirect back and try to get a solid yes or no. This will be the truth.
Religion: They mention religion. They might use religious language too, such as, “I swear on a stack of Bibles”, or “Honest to God...”
The chair: Put the person in a chair with wheels to see what questions make them squeamish.
Body language: Watch the feet. Guilty people point to where they want to go. People freeze. Their arms will not move. They don’t want to attract attention!!! Freezing might only last a few seconds too, such as being silent, even to a simple question, then appearing to be in shock. Headshake: if words come first, then the head shake, they are lying. Or, if they say “no” but their head shakes “yes”.
Personal space: - They won’t touch you and won’t want you touching them (or spouses).
Eyes: If they stare too hard at you. Unless they are shy, they will avoid eye contact. Eyes going to the corner (right upper, if they are right handed, left upper, if they are left handed). This is because your logical side is opposite your handedness, and your creativity is the same side as your handedness. If they put their palms on their face, forehead, or neck, they are subconsciously trying to hide from you.
Overreactions: Watch for extreme overreaction (honest people aren’t easily offended or annoyed). Normal emotions only last up to 10 seconds, so if you ask a question and they stay with their emotional state beyond 10 seconds, it’s a sure sign. The person might become hostile too.
Recommended punishment: “What should happen to the person who stole the money?” Ask them what the punishment should be. The guilty party will go easy on the “crime”.
Voice: If their voice begins to differ from normal (baseline), like their verbal style, tone, speed, volume, content, this would indicate something’s up. After an interrogation, look for signs of relief as this could indicate that they feel their deception has worked. Make a liar retell his story or ask about things out of sequence. This will force him to think very hard to keep things in order.
Face: If their reactions on their face are asymmetrical, it’s a sign of lying. Normally, facial activity are pretty symmetrical. A half smile (on 1 side of your face) is a sign of contempt. When someone scrunches their face into the middle, it’s a sign of disgust (except in the case when a woman does it with a smile, then it’s flirting). This could show up as wrinkles around the eyes too.
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Chunking is when you group a bunch of information into related groups to make it easier to remember. Try this. Look at the following word for only five seconds, then chunk it in a way that will help you remember it. Ready? Go: eubqelqrauu. Now look away. Don’t look back. Write the whole thing down from memory. Now you can look. Did you get the random letters correct? What does it spell? Try another one: terrupereenn. Look away, then right it down.
Statistics: The average adult spends 16 hours per year looking for keys because they can’t remember where they put them. *Readers’ Digest.
There are three very different kinds of memory—visual, verbal, and kinesthetic.
Pegging, or Tagging is a method by which we connect another image or word to the item to be remembered. We could use letters, images, or songs. Remember the order of operations in math? Bomdas (or Bedmas). Using letters, we have Brackets, Operations, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction (or Brackets, Exponents, Division, Multiplication, Addition, Subtraction).
We could use images. When you put your keys on the table, think of a truck plowing through your wall into the room with the table. Now you won’t forget that!
We could use a song. Using the tune of Yankee Doodle, or something else, sing: “I put my keys on the table in my kitchen. If a truck should run amok that wouldn't be very bitchin’.” We need them to be unique, perhaps disturbing, rhyming, and active.
If you are memorizing a tray full of objects such as a coin, a pin, dice, and a toy, you could peg each object to another object with the same first letter, but they run together to form as sentence, such as: a Copper Playful Dog Towel (coin-pin-dice-toy).
Reading Retention: If you need/want to retain more of a book you are reading, there are some tricks to help. First skim through the chapter really fast reading headings, bold print, summaries, and pre-read questions if you have them to know what you’re looking out for. Highlight important text. Mark notes in the margins or in a notebook. Understand what you’re reading instead of memorizing it. Make an outline. Many books will start with the main points (or end on it), then go into more detail after.
Remembering words can be made easier if you understand the etymology of a word, what prefixes mean, the roots, and what suffixes mean. For difficult words, use sound alike, but strange sentences. Platypus could be, “Pat, he pushed the animal off the cliff.” You could also use a crazy picture. For “endocrine”, you could think of a picture of a motorcycle doing an endo (balancing on his front tire), and an onlooker cringing.
Items get stored in short term memory first, then put into long term while you sleep with a process called memory consolidation. Your brain filters out unimportant information, so make your associations unusual! Science has shown that if you play sounds related to what you want to remember while you sleep, you will significantly increase the ability to transfer those specific short term memories to long term memories.
The mnemonic alphabet is used to remember numbers. At first, it may seem daunting, but it’s truly amazing. Here it is:
1 = T, D |
6 = J, soft G, CH, SH |
2 = N |
7 = K, hard C, Hard G, Q |
3 = M |
8 = F, V, PH |
4 = R |
9 = P, B |
5 = L |
0 = Z, soft C, S |
This method was developed by Harry Lorayne. The reasoning, if it helps, is because T has a single down stroke and D sounds like it. N has 2 down strokes. M has 3 down strokes. 4 is dominated by the R sound. 50 is L in Roman numerals, and if you hold up five fingers, your index finger and thumb form an L. 6 is similar to a backward J, and the other letters are formed the same way with the tongue. 7 looks like two sevens, with one upside down and one backwards. 8 is similar to a cursive lowercase f, and the other letters are formed the same way with the tongue. 9 looks like a P in a mirror, and B is formed the same way with the mouth. 0 starts with Z and the other letters are formed the same way with the mouth. Now you just add vowels in between where you see fit to have the letters form words and sentences. You could add extra consonants if required, but keep them lowercase to tell them apart.
This phone number would then be 227-9984 = NNKPBFR = NoN KeeP BeFoRe.
There is an alternate method, if you find that one not good enough for you. It is called the Peg Word System and uses words associated with the letters in the previous method:
1. Tie |
6. Shoe |
2. Noah |
7. Cow |
3. Ma |
8. Ivy |
4. Rye |
9. Bee |
5. Law |
10. Toes |
You can, of course, change the words, if you see fit, and if you need to, you can add words that go much higher in number, say, up to 100, if you wish.
There is also a rhyming peg word system:
1. Gun |
6. Trick |
2. Shoe |
7. Heaven |
3. Tree |
8. Bait |
4. Door |
9. Wine |
5. Hive |
10. Pen |
You can even create your own.
Try the rhyming peg word system now. Have a buddy name 10 random objects and attach them to a number using the rhyming word for the number. Write them down, even. So 1 could be gun, and if box was the random item to remember, associate the gun and the box, maybe the gun is in the box all covered in blood. The stranger, the better. Once you get to ten, turn the paper over and have your friends call out the numbers 1 to 10 in random order and you should remember the rhyme word, then the strange association to the object to be remembered! In time and with practice, increase the number of objects.
Names. How to remember someone’s name? Think like a caricaturist. Repeat their names while looking directly at them and exaggerate some feature of their face that already stands out. Alternately, you can rhyme their name with something. Tommy Talker. Jim Nasium. Justin Case. Ben Dover. Clara Clear. Denise Demise. Or you can create a scenario or picture around their name. Michael now become my childhood idol, Michael Jackson. Or Greg becomes a bird pecking a worm out of the ground, like Gregory Peck. You could also take someone’s name and associate the first and last name with someone famous. Such as taking the name John Turner and thinking of him with John Lennon and Tina Turner.
The human race is just forgetful, so nothing beats writing it down. Don’t wait. Don’t say you will right it down later because you will also forget to write down what you were supposed to remember.
Boredom and learning are opposite sides of the same coin. If you’re bored, you won’t learn, and if you’re learning, you aren’t bored.
People with photographic memory are so good, they can even identify people who are wearing disguises. Photographic memory is not a skill you are born with. It is learned and everyone can learn it.
How can we benefit from memorization skills? Remembering a car or person that is following you. Remembering critical information or survival skills that could save your life.
Memory Palace technique, 6 steps. 1. Picture your childhood home or another home that you know like the back of your hand. 2. Start at the front door and walk a path through your house that leads to every room and eventually back to your front door again. 3. Identify the details you want to remember. 4. The idea is to place the details you need to remember along that route through your house in order, at different spots. 5. Add something unusual to make it stand out, like a strange colour or texture. 6. Re-walk the path and stop at each item’s location.
False Memory happens to most of us where we remember things that didn’t happen and that wasn’t true. When trying to remember a group of words that are related, your memory will insert more related words.
During the day, if I notice something in the house that needs to be repaired, I’ll snap a picture of it with my phone, even if I am merely walking by the problem. My photos back up to my computer and as I sort them, I see it and remember it and then write it down on the “to do” list. I take pictures when I am out and about the same way to remember things. At night, you should keep a notebook and pen beside your bed if you get inspiration for something and need to remember it. If you must, when you think of something you need to remember, throw something toward your door. When you wake and see it, you will remember why you threw it and what it was supposed to remind you of.
Try to teach a process you have tried to remember. Teaching will increase your ability to remember it by a factor of 4, even if you just mock teach yourself out loud with nobody present.
Remembering people’s faces. Unless someone has a disfiguration or is extremely ugly, we tend to categorize people’s faces as normal.
Technology has negatively impacted our ability to be alert, aware, remember, and look for sign. We have GPSs now, and fish finders, and weather stations, radio reports, spell checkers, contact book for phone numbers, etc.
Most people don’t remember faces because they are fixated on the weapon or danger of an attacker. The fight or flight response will rob your brain of blood.
We need to be concerned with things in order of importance based on how easy they can be changed:
1. Things that cannot be changed. (race, sex, age, head shape, face bones)
2. Things that can be changed only with time, effort, or expense. (sex, fat, hair growth)
3. Things that can be changed easily and cheaply. (hair removal/colour/style, clothes,
4. Things that can be thrown away completely. (bandages, jewellery, glasses/hats, scarves/bandanas, weapons, briefcases)
5. Disguises
The nine most common head shapes are narrow oval, oval, moon, heart, triangular, bullet, egg, squared, and rectangular.
Note the differences between men and women, as posing as the opposite sex is common:
A – The male has a cleft chin; the female does not.
B – The male has a deep recess in the jaw; the female does not.
C – The male has a double brow with a depression between them; the female does not.
Sometimes, these are not always visible, and are hard to distinguish in certain races.
Watch hairline shapes:
Other things to try to identify are the filtrum (the lines and space under the nose), the zygotic arch (top of cheek bones), eye details (such as distance, colour, bags, lids, etc), lip shape, nose shape, and ears (such as tight, floppy, or cauliflower), neck size, and skin texture (to help identify lines of work).
Remember to try to ignore distracters and look past them. Distracters could be hats, glasses, scarves, high collars, anything that covers the true head and face details.
Hairstyles can make someone appear shorter or taller than they really are. Beards can hide facial details or defects.
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]]>Welcome to another edition of Divine Warrior Ninjutsu podcast. I am Dai-Shihan Jason Steeves. This is December 2020. What a year, so far. Today, we’ll be talking to Anthony Metivier who is a memory expert. Since we’ve been— at least to my students, talking about memory this month. I think the ability to memorize things in Ninjutsu is very important. It can help you to memorize passwords, codes, people’s faces, crime scenes, just anything possible that you can think of. Why would you not want to be able to memorize things quickly. So, without further ado. We’re going to get to it with Anthony Metivier and hopefully you can gain some inside information that could help you out in your Ninjutsu journey. Here we go! So, tell us about yourself. Who are you and how did you get interested with memory techniques?
Well, I’m someone who is actually trying to eliminate myself, so to speak. So I’ve got this long memory term project, where I’m using memory techniques to see if there is such a thing as the ego and can we get rid of it? And so, that all starts with having learned memory techniques in the first place and practicing them with meditation over the years. And so, because I had several years of success in helping people use memory techniques for language learning. When I started to learn about certain memory or meditation techniques that involve using Sanskrit to more or less neutralize thinking then I knew that the game was on because it turns out there’s a whole tradition memorizing lots of Sanskrit that is specifically designed to counteract the mind or neutralize thought. So, I’m no one. So far so good, I mean I still have a sense of self but it is greatly reduced. Which is something that I never thought was possible.
That’s fine because we just studied meditation just before coming to memorization.
Oh well.
I had no idea that there will be a connection but that’s interesting.
Yeah, I wrote a whole book about it called “The Victorious Mind” which is really going to be sort of part one of a longer meditation, so to speak on the connection between memory and meditation. I think that it’s probably for a lot people the key that can really improve their meditation practice and for people who are struggling with memory techniques, meditation is the key that can really improve their ability to use the memory techniques because some of people are so frightened they can’t pay attention for long enough to even learn a memory system. Let alone, start to execute it.
That’s right, yeah. Well that’s interesting. I’d never really realized the correlations. Your book that you just mentioned “The Victorious Minds” is that out now?
Yeah, yeah. It’s been out since May 2020.
Oh yeah, okay. Good, I actually might look in to that myself. I’m really getting in to the memorization. I see a lot of practice for and I’m like I need to sit down and devote some time to study this and to learn it and figure it out so, yes! Any material I can get my hands on usually. So, “The Victorious Mind” you’re talking about on my reading list for sure. So, how many different memory methods are there? Let’s go with that.
That’s a good question. I think that if we we’re to boil it down to a simple answer, it would be that there’s just one and it’s the technique you’re using in order to accomplish a goal. Now, to make that a little bit more complicated, what I would encourage a lot people to just understand from the get-go is that memory is spatial in nature. There is something about memory that is spatial and that means that anything that you think about is spatial even if it’s just in relation to time. So, we’re thinking about it now or we’re calling it to memory now and that will take place in a space and it’s taking place in space in your brain cells. So, the technique that maximizes the most is called the memory palace. Although, you might hear it called roman room, journey method or apartments with compartments, like there is many, many ways that people talk about it but what they are referring to is taking some sort of spot in a room or a long street that is in your mind and then weaving it together with an association and something you don’t know. So, if it was a name like Jason, I would be thinking instantly, you know like, Jack in a Box restaurant and Jason Newsted from Metallica. Because now I’m taking a space association and a pop culture association and I’ve now linked them to you and that is out in the world but where is the world? The world is in my brain. Right? In the brain cells. There’s actually dendritic spines on the neurons and so. Here you go that’s a more complicated answer but it’s weaving together everything exterior in an interior way in that moment and it is just that one technique and some people would do this purely associatively. They won’t think they are using space but they technically are and all our people then forget but is you place things in your memory palaces like Jack in a Box restaurant then you have a place to refer to revisit that information. Which then means that you have the opportunity to repeat it. Which then means you can get it into long term memory. So, then we can go on and list many, many other variations on this theme and whether that can’t frustrate a lot of learners is they’ll hear about the Dominic system, they’ll hear about the Ben system, they’ll hear about the shadow, they’ll hear about pegs. There’s peg list, peg words, alphabet list and then there’s the major system and just goes on and on and on and on and on but I believe that for most people, I release as I like to teach it. We start with space because every other thing is going to harness the spatial nature of information, one way or another.
You mentioned memory palaces which I’m familiar with but then I heard you briefly mentioned walking down the street, that’s a type of memory palace so that’s new. I haven’t heard of that one. So, would you be using golems along the street the same way as using the memory palace?
It would depend on how you said it up. So, this where a lot of people use the term the journey method. The journey sounds something like you would do outside. Although when Dominic O’brien teaches the journey method he will talk about rooms and outdoor locations but the reality is that what matters is not what you’re using. What matters is how you strategized the journey so that you’re not really drawing upon much if any mental energy. So, one of the easiest ways to make a journey is take a room and use the four corners. Now, that’s not much space to use but at least it’s no brainer, you don’t have to think about it. You’re not giving yourself a huge cognitive load and it just go from corner one to two to three to four and you have to decide from which corner, right? And so to optimize it, pick the corner that is, can lead you to the exit. As supposed to starting to the entrance or exit, this can lead you to a dead end self towards the exit so then you can add more and then you’re journeying through America. So, you’re doing it in you’re mind but it is all too abstract for people I always recommend that they draw it out by hand so that it could help you see what you are doing and strategize it because otherwise, it’s not really a memory palace if you have to memorized it, right? It’s the decision parameters that removed having to think about what the journey is it’s just like corner made of wall, the next corner, the next wall etcetera now you got four places but eight places in a room because you have corner, wall, corner, wall , corner, wall, corner, wall. If you really want, you can use the floor and the ceiling and then you got ten and that is classically called the bond cube, which is just a kind of arrangement that the bond, formalize. So again, it’s the same thing but a new name. So, there’s potentially infinite numbers of memory techniques and that’s why I said there’s only one which is the one that you use. So, if you school and train yourself then that’s effectively all that matters since you build your own system.
So yes, we talked a few times about the memory palace and I know, I basically understand what this is but if someone who is listening or doesn’t know quite what this is, could you maybe really quickly in a nutshell explain how that works.
Yeah, I apologize, I am so into it that I—
That’s okay.
I forget, so to speak. It is a mental recreation of a location but ideally it’s not that you’re spending energy on creating it. It’s just that you spend the energy on strategizing it. So if we say, I want to memorize ten words and we want to use memory palace then we’re just going to think what’s the best possible location to use and says the room that you’re in now and I’m just going to look in that room and I’m going to make a mental recreation in my mind of that room and I’m going to then use it to place associations. So, a memory palace is a mental recreation in which we place associations that help us remember information we don’t know and you could think of an analogy like a canvas is a blank space that a painter uses to use paint on to represent images and in this case we’re using the canvas of a room or an outside walk that we like to use paint and so again like Jason Newsted would be my paint to help remember your name and the Jack in a Box restaurant would be the canvas and so if you think about Mona Lisa something instantly comes to mind. Why? Because somebody created a little memory palace there which is a canvas that has a portrait of a woman. So, that’s it. Even if you don’t see it in your mind, you still have that sort of reference. So, that’s essentially what we’re doing. It’s placing things in our mind based on real locations or imaginary ones and then suiting them up or placing things in them strategically so we can remember what it is the we want and you can memorize pretty much anything. So, I could sit here for the next half an hour and recite a hundred lines of Sanskrit and some it them is here (Sanskrit). There’s Chet from the hardy boys. There’s my friend Tam, I actually know a guy named Tam, for (Sanskrit). Maha is a cement company I don’t know if you know that company. (Sanskrit). Homer Simpsons he goes “doe!” all the time “doe” and a shammy, so he is saying that while he is washing a car and that’s how I memorize that Sanskrit. It’s just hanging right there, right now.
I can almost see it actually. I can imagine it as you’re saying it so, yeah and Jason Newsted is a great analogy too because I love Metallica myself so.
Yeah, yeah. He is a pretty memorable guy that’s for sure. That’s part of the strategy, right? Because you pick things that are already memorable. You already had remembered them so you’re reducing all the work, right? Now, some people may say I’m not creative, I’m not imaginative and all that certain stuff and in the reality is nobody is in the beginning. I was very rusty and if I take off time and I don’t practice, I’ll get rusty again. Just like any bike chain in the world. So, the beauty of this is to treat like a martial art of the mind. Show up and make sure that you’re well-oiled so that you can execute the moves when you needed to and that’s the beautiful thing about it but anything that comes in to useful fade when you don’t come to use it. So, everybody’s worried. Oh that guy he just thinks a lot and Jason Newsted comes to mind faster. Whatever, It’s not true, it’s just a practice but everybody has more pop culture junk in there head than necessary and the way we do it is actually to not even really think about the pop junk, the pop culture stuff first but just think about the letter, right? Everyone has the alphabet in their head it’s free you know? A B C D E F G H I J oh J! right? Okay, who else has J? Well, you know and if you really think about it, you could probably think. Yeah, I do have an Uncle John or you know whatever and you could think about their house and you could just get out a piece of paper write out lots of J’s, Jughead from Archie comics and Felicity Jones. I don’t even know who that is but somehow she’s in movies these days and you know what there’s endless names that we just have access to and that’s how you do it and you just practice it, it will feel rusty in the beginning and it may feel rusty again if you take a pause but you can just build up to it and you can get faster and faster and I’m not particularly fast. I’m just you know practice into a sufficient degree that I can use it.
So, if taking of what you are just talking about back then, if you’re a…say like a government agent and your job was to maybe if you didn’t have a notepad with you or something and you have a very brief amount of time and you have to study a crime scene or maybe someone’s face because you only saw them for a second. How would you memorize those type of things?
Well’ I believe agents are taught some of these techniques.
I think so.
When it comes to faces, that’s a little bit different so, if I wanted to have a much more clearer idea of what your face was later, I would pay very, very close attention to the nose and to the eyes. The reason why is they say in a lot of neuro-scientific studies is that the brain actually tracks the shape quite closely and this shape so they teach a lot just focusing on those things and you can’t even think about like numbers. So, the nose has seven in it and just kind of like the painting with a brush over those things in those shapes and I can help get you a better sense of a face also, for details. If you go from top to bottom and you force yourself to think about four things not a hundred things but just four things so mustache, blue shirt, I can’t see the rest of you but we’ll just go with like black ear buds and there was white marking so those are four details, right? And if you treat the body as this kind of memory palace, right? And you think very specifically, okay so there’s mustache and the blue shirt and the white and the black ear buds and you think of them where they are relative to this shapes that you are already focused on, you’re going to remember them a lot better. Actually, I had a situation. A friend of mine before the lockdown, it was almost a year ago now, In December he came visited me in Brisbane and one night we went out the building, we were getting in an uber and there was this drunk guy in front of our building, basically hassling some young women for cigarettes or whatever. He had an empty cigarette box and he was just being strange so I called the police and I was in the uber we’re driving away, and I was telling the police, we’re driving away but the guy he had widows peak, his hair is brown and I don’t remember now what all the other details but I’ve told them about his shirt, I’ve named the cigarette package, and what his shoes were like and everybody in the van was looking at me like, what the heck? You remembered all that stuff? And the police was like, how did you remember all of this? And I was like, well I do memory training but I just bidded deliberate things to look at four details about this guy and those are the ones that I picked and the police were like, thank you, we’ll come by and I’m sure they had an easier time finding him. He wouldn’t be hard to find anyway because he is being boisterous and destructive but you know that’s how those people do that. That’s part of the training as far as I understand and I was a stored detective for quite some time and that’s where I picked up some of these techniques because you do have to report to the police and you have to be a little bit more specific and then, he was a guy.
Yes, I think I was reading something about when it comes to people, everybody is average. So, when the police says, what did he looked like? Well, He is average height, average build, average this, average that and that doesn’t help them one bit then a very specific information that most people totally missing.
Yeah, yeah and instantly that four details exercise is just a great brain exercise, it’s a great habit to get in to a couple times a day and to start to get some you know it’s going to be very modest memory games but what you do is you make appointed effort. Say, you’re going for your morning coffee and you pick one person you notice four details, two to three hour later just bring to mind, what those details were and it’s called passive memory training.
Now, we just store those from the memory palace or maybe not bother?
Well, if you want to make it active then you would use some sort of memory palace techniques which is going more for gold but for people who just want to get started and don’t want to you know put up a bunch of stress on it, not that there is but you know. It feels like these days you got to have like endless overwhelm caveats for everything but if you have a person in your family who is starting to show signs of Alzheimer’s or dementia and you’re looking for something for them to do and you don’t want to throw away like memory training at them just the four details exercise has been shown in studies to help get back some basic abilities and it is called passive memory close to active, more active would be, alright I saw this person, there’s four details and I’m going to project them into a wall you know something that helps me remember the color blue or I’m going to place in his body you know I’m just thinking of some song, blue, blue, blue, blue, blue whatever I can’t remember what the song was and that’s a weird thing about memory, you often remember what your associations are but you remember bit enough that it works but in any case you would make a deliberate effort to turn the body into space and in the case of the handle like a mustache like yours, I might think of Hulk Hogan for example because it sort of a similar shape or whatever.
I actually took mine from James Hetfield from Metallica but I like Hulk Hogan too growing up.
Well, that’s an issue there and I pointed that out because that is part of what this technique is, right? I might want to remember the detail like oh, Jason corrected me, it wasn’t a Hulk Hogan mustache, it was a Hetfield mustache, right? And then I clearly mentioned to H so now we’ve got more tools. We’ve got Hetfield, we got Hogan you know and on and on and on and the more you play these games in your mind, the stronger you get at association.
So, now that if you’ve memorized something, how long can you anticipate to sustain your memory? Like, Is it for life? Once it get in there permanently?
Well, life is a long time. I think the better way to answer that question is, what is the strategy, what is the need, what is the goal and then you use the techniques in order to create that goal. For example, I do for the lockdowns anyway, I do a lot of public presentations and I memorize all the names of the people. Now, technically I only need to know those names for a demonstration and if I don’t follow up with certain techniques then I won’t remember them after the presentation. So, while I’m memorizing the names, then I go on a recital of the names and everybody was like, wow! That’s one level of strategy but what I really like and what really blows people’s minds and I saw a guy not too long ago named Simon, who I met at a meeting and I, “Hey, Is your name Simon?” and he was like “Yeah, who are you?” and I said “Do you remember two years ago, we met at a meeting” and he is like [stuttering] “I’m the memory guy” and he is like, “Oh! Wow your stuff really works ” but the thing is I didn’t just do the meetings technique, I later, for a couple of days, I revisited all of those names sequentially and I used certain patterns and the patterns get into a long term memory but there is no guarantee that I’m going to remember Simon fifty years from now. Although, if every couple months or once a year, I go through those patterns then I greatly increase the chances that I will remember it, year after a year after a year. So, one kind of handy thing is just keep business cards so that you can review them later but you don’t review them by looking at your business cards. You review them by writing the names down. So, because I teach this and I do really care about people and want to be able to do this. Every so often I go through my memory journal and I’ll just write down the names from all the presentation that I’ve give in and then I’ll go and look at the business cards and give myself a score and so far I’ve lived in Brisbane for four years and my score is 99.9% and I forgot one name and it was actually while I was explaining this and I was just like, why can’t I remember this one person’s name? And then I have to go, that’s a great exercise, in and out of itself and then you reflect and you “Oh right, Katrina, that’s what it was” then you think, well obviously hurricane Katrina is not strong enough in the association so what else am I going to put in there in anything about you know Kate from a certain Shakespeare play but no, that’s too abstract then you go on and on and on and on but anyway to repeat the direction of the answer to the question. What is the goal and then you build the strategy and for language learning it would be different, It would look different than names for the rest of your life. There, we can talk about that but it really just a pint but there’s nothing forever and I don’t think there’s anything for life but I think you’d get close to it for life and then we’d just be having the strategy to do it.
I see then, you revisit them once in a while. To oil the chain to use a metaphor.
Like, for another example I have a word now a hundred versus a Sanskrit. I recite them everyday. I’ve been reciting them everyday for a couple of years but I have a feeling that if I stopped and it might be an interesting experiment, I’m not willing to do it but it’d be interesting to like let a year go by and see what my accuracy would be after a year because several years of recitation if we’ll have forgotten. You know speaking of Metallica, there’s lots of funny videos on the internet, where they forget the lyrics of their own song you know and inserting some other random stuff.
I think I’ve seen those videos.
They played thousands of concerts. I mean, I saw some crazy numbers, I didn’t memorized what the number was but it was something like that they played enter sandman, you know a hundred thousand times or something like this and there’s still lovely mistakes from the lyrics from time to time.
Yep, wow.
We go through progression towards literally perfectionism and perfectionist aren’t even good at perfection so take what you can get. It’s a martial art right? You’re going to get a smack once in a while. It’s just the way that it goes.
Yep, yep. So, not that I anticipated this happening to me but is it possible to lock a memory away so that under coercion in some way maybe hypnosis or truth serum. Can someone get it out of you?
I believe there are people who have died under the rest but I don’t know their secrets and it could be any number of explanations that have allowed them to keep that under the rest and I don’t know, we would want to explore all those explanations but you can imagine that the brain, I mean people think that they exist, they think that they have a solid stable identity and personality and all that certain stuff but everything that’s happening to you and yourself sense of awareness is the production of positive and negative ions flowing through synapses and all kind of other brain processes so if you’re being water boarded or all this. I think the last thing you’re thinking about is you know, what special technique am I going to use to protect the secret. Whatever happens in those situations that allows those people to keep their secrets and others not? I don’t know, it is an interesting question but.
Maybe it falls outside of the scope of this.
Yeah and we’d almost want a specific example to really think it through and just ask a person you just maybe successfully done it, what happened? And I bet their answer would surprise us. It wouldn’t necessarily be what we think and you know we do have a kind of a case study in a way. Giordano Bruno, who wrote many of the books in the 1500’s that we still refer to until this day to improve our memory practice. He was burned at the stake and he was in under serious duress and if you read his interrogation because those guys documented everything. You can read, how he answered questions and so forth. It might give you a different perspective on the nature of the question and maybe potential answer because in a way, he did kept his secrets and he basically told them when they sentenced him to death, he said “ You fear the outcome more than I do” So, you know that was his last row in a way and I’m not sure they understood what he meant but I certainly do, or I feel I do.
Yep, so I know we talked about a few...related to this next question but what are some practical reasons for enhancing your memories like I know seminars and stuff but I think maybe what I’m asking is maybe as a professional rather than secret agent, what benefits could you use to apply it to your job. I guess your career.
Well, the practical benefit. Is it really career? I think it’s the quality of life. So for example, for whatever reason people aren’t future oriented but wouldn’t you want to be your best possible self as grandpa or grandma? Totally capable of enjoying the present moment with your grandchildren and imparting to them the wisdom of your ages, your age rather, whatever, your era with clarity, with precision and in a way that made an impact so that you know they’re enjoying you and you’re enjoying them. That’s the ultimate practical thing then professionally, it’s the same thing, wouldn’t you want to be totally present with each and every customers, every employee, every potential partners with your business and totally focused on them, being able to track the details and everything so that you can execute efficiently later and effectively, I mean the practical benefits are massive and they will help fend off dementia and Alzheimer’s just by practicing it and you’ll have a great career that exceeds what, to use that word from before, the average person would have, right? And yeah it just like every possible advantage comes from this. Both in the short median and for long term and of course, if you’re a student then you’re going to perform better on exams and that’s going to translate on your career as well. So, daily practice, I recommend for everybody.
Yep, I’m interested in learning Japanese myself and I think a lot of people listening are too just because of the nature but I noticed on one of your videos too that you were talking about “ta” the hiragana for “ta” and I’ve learned hiragana too but I kind of just use the same method like what those look like and it helps me to remind myself what it is but as far as other words in kanji and I have a hard time learning the vocabulary of the Japanese so I noticed on your website, you mentioned applying this to language learning so, how can I use this for Japanese?
Well, it’s very fun and so easy. I mean I abandoned Japanese because I met somebody and then I wound up going, well, actually I went to China and then I met somebody and then I got into Chinese, I was invited to teach memory in China and so I’m more familiar with the hanzi but it’s sort of the same in some sense so when we think about characters what we’re thinking about is really characters, we’re thinking about sound, we’re thinking about meaning and we may be thinking about.. I don’t know the extent to which tonality place in Japanese, I don’t think it’s as inflicted as Chinese but there may be some tonal things like pronunciation and why not and then we’ve got to think also about the fact that this is going to be combined somehow because here you’ve got hiragana, katakana and kanji in your case and that’ll be multiple readings sometimes of these different displays, so that’s going to be a challenge and so where do you start? Well, I would start by learning memory techniques first and foremost and then you’re going to want to as you mentioned, you’re going to want to think, can I use imagery to help with something like “ta” or “ka” whatever it is, right? And then you get dire critical marks, what are you going to do with that? Right? Well, you’re going to need to say, am I in with the memory techniques or not? And then if you are, you learn that everything that exists in space can be related to in an associative way in space so if you’re just with the hiragana then you know, build a memory palace that’s a bit bigger than you need because there are dire critical marks etcetera and you don’t know if everything’s going to fit so I would go for sixty stations or so in one memory palace not what we were talking about before although you can certainly start with just a four, just the first four hiragana for example and you then start and you know you’re going to think, well, how am I going to do this and in my case I’m thinking about one guy that I can follow all the way through and I thought of Ezra Pound why did Ezra Pound had some, spend some time with Japanese studies and so he just sort of came in to mind and so now, following him, I see him with you know, “A” so he’s kind of making like an “ A” sound and you got to figure out why he’s doing that, he’s going to make an “E” sound so why is he doing that and I remember seeing eels jumping out of his mouth and you know “U” why is he doing an “U” well, he got this cane and he is leaning over in the cane that actually looks like that, right? If memory serves then we go on and we’ve got the “Ka” right? So, what’s it doing? Now, as your pound is wearing a superman suit because “Ka” is Kal-El, right? I hope this is right, I haven’t done the hiragana for a long time but I think there’s a “Ka” and it kind of looks like this and then there’s a little thing like this and so is Kal-el, superman’s name I think or his Dad was Kal-el, whatever.
His Dad was Jor-El.
Jor-El yeah, yeah okay good. Memory works so superman banding these things while the bees are attacking him which is kind of like this rail that he’s banding with the bees is kind of like this “Ka” hiragana character, right? And you just follow and you get to “Ta” now, Ezra Pound has machine guns, right? Like TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA on and on and on, “Mu” or “Ma” and all this stuff, right? Okay, so now we’ve got dire critical marks to add, right? So, we can take the “Ka” so how are we going to change it because I think dire critical changes makes it into a “Ga” sound if memory serves. So now, who is one of superman’s enemies that starts with G, right? And then maybe you don’t find somebody, right? But then you could think, oh well I don’t know, Gad or Gal is her name who played wonder woman something like that, Gal.
Gal Gadot or something.
Yeah, Gal Gadot, I was stretching for her last name there but that could be a pathway. Anyway, now that’s pretty simple stuff for hiragana, now you’re going to get to this like really wild characters, right? Well, there is the same thing but it’s just a little bit more elaborate and one thing that people can do is read Hisek and get some general idea from him but the thing that Hisek is missing is a couple of things, he’s not teaching you about the association, he’s not teaching you like, how would you use the alphabet like I’ve been doing to just dig in to all kinds of potential associations that you could make and there is no memory palace and there’s not really any kind of recall strategy so you can get in to a long term memory, so I still think his work is really valuable and great but I think you’ll benefit by adding these things that we’re talking to and no matter how elaborate that character is it’s going to be built from other characters and it may have clues. Now, I refer here more to what I know of Chinese than Japanese now but there will be sometimes a sound component in a character and that will sometimes be a meaning component and there may be just some other sort of other formal component that can give you clues and so when you learn how to even just see those components you’re going to start to develop pattern recognition, oh this character must’ve something to do with X, right? And then you might even be own your educated guesses about how it should sound. It’s not bulletproof but it’s just a certain strategy and then you can think, well maybe if I organized some of these characters in a memory palace, I can make it very efficient and effective reading figure who I follow around and get more mileage out of it. So the price to pay there is that every person has their own language learning journey and so you have to figure out which characters you’re going to learn, when you’re going to learn based on your interests, what you’re trying to achieve but there is a way and these memory techniques can help.
So, that relates to the characters, I’m not so bad but I have difficulty really with vocabulary. It’s important. I learned a bunch of words but the next day I forget them so, how would you tackle like Japanese vocabulary as opposed to the characters?
Okay well, if you are just doing oral learning which is not a bad idea at the beginning like some people recommend up to two years just with romaji or transliterated spelling or pin yin as it’s called in Chinese. It’s sort of the same process minus the characters or minus the hiragana so I mentioned you know “Ka” right? Well maybe it’s not a word but what if it was a word, I don’t know, do you have any Japanese word in mind? Like muzukashikunai or something.
Well, “Ka” is fire so it can be fire.
Oh okay, I was just thinking I think it is muzukashikunai or muzukashkunai which I think can also be in Japanese pronounced as muzukashii janai. Anyway, I don’t know Japanese but from what I understand muzukashikanai is something like it’s not difficult, right? So, it’s got that “Ka” thing there maybe it’s got relationship to the fire, I don’t know and I don’t know if I’m saying that correctly I just learned that from one of my students who is learning Japanese and it’s just like, I’ve never forgotten it because I’ve created imagery for it and I hope I’m getting there somewhere but I remember telling it to somebody, no, no it’s muzukashii janai. Anyway, I don’t know maybe that’s a regional thing or a use thing, a grammar thing but if we were to say it’s not that difficult and it is muzukashikunai, now we just got more, we need more imagery and so, same corner actually it was that corner which you can’t see represented on your screen and there’s also Sanskrit in that corner so that answers that question, can you memorize vocabulary with this, absolutely but there I have something like Cow, Moo and Johnny Cash and I had another Cow witch is a little bit confusing because in German, kuh is cow so I had like cow, Johnny Cash, cow then muzukashikunai, oh I think had a Chinese cow there too, because niunai is Chinese for milk. Anyway, to the extent that I remember that correctly, it works and you may notice that there are…I wouldn’t call them pitfalls but there can be points of confusion where like okay so you got two cows and three languages in the same place and then you know sometimes it’ll come back and you’ll just, you’ll puzzle yourself but if you do the actual work and you get it in to launch a memory through the re-visitation, the imagery actually goes away and as you’ve seen today I can’t even remember sometimes, what these associations were and it doesn’t really matter as long as you have that core material and you know, later today I’ll go and ask my student, what was it again? What was muzukashikunai? And he’ll say yeah or nay. It does work very, very effectively and that’s how you would do it and now, how do I remember that it means, it’s not difficult and there Johnny Cash has to be doing something and what he is doing, I don’t remember what it was but if I had to do it again, he’s having a very easy time milking those cows and it would be at a zoo, I remember a “Zu” and it might be that zoo station from U2 so, now Bono who is the epitome of ease and relaxation, you know maybe having a difficult time with these image and he’s learning how to milk cows much easier from Johnny Cash, you know who maybe was not so cool and relaxed all the time or so legend tells. Does that help make it clear?
Yes, yes I think so. I know sometimes that there are a…like a championships where people race to timer to memorize things or a deck of cards. I was interested to know if the timer would introduce an element of stress that would be problematic.
It does, I competed with Dave Farrow in the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto and we don’t only have timers but there were cameras on us documenting the competition and this was the first time I ever competed and that added levels of distractions that I had never anticipated because not only had I ever competed but I never even practiced to compete but I still did have as well and he got two Guinness world records for cards so, I mean it is only half as well but it’s still is a testament to what’s possible but yeah that’s stress and I would recommend that people would give it a go but one way to do it without a timer is to memorize it with a metronome, right?
Really?
Because, you do want to I mean if you want the skill to scale because you know, when I first memorized that muzukashikunai thing, you know it was just within seconds and part of that comes from practicing doing it fast to come up with an imagery and it’s got that kind of bullet time feeling so when I competed with Dave Farrow, we have two minutes and in that two minutes it feels like eternity and you are slowing down time and yeah I mean I didn’t even begin to think about practice, I had done some card practice in café’s and I would put on heavy metal and I would practice and I would practice on trains and you know add these levels add distractions and that does help and also when you are memorizing rooms of names, people aren't necessarily paying attention to you while you’re doing it. I’ve done it in bars where there’s music on and while I practice with music playing just so that I can deal with distractions but yeah, it adds stress but you also as in a martial art you just need strategies for being able to relax yourself and calm down and just practice under duration in a same way I imagine you would do in a dojo, add obstacles in order, so that when the vile situation comes heaven forbid in martial arts context, you’ll have strategy for dealing with obstacles.
What do you call someone who memorizes for a living?
A mnemonist.
A mnemonist, starting with “M” mnemonic?
Yeah, M-N-E-M-O-N-I-S-T mnemonist.
Mnemonist. Really? Interesting. I’d have to write that down.
Yes and in some sense what I teach would be called mnestic memory so, mnestic memory means the memory that refers to all kinds of memories or you know mnestic memory is the mother law, the governing memory of memories.
So, I was reading in some of the memory books. Some people were saying that people can be born with an ability of photographic memory other people say no, they are not born with it, you have to develop it and I’m just curious. What’s your opinion on that.
Well, my opinion doesn’t matter, I’d much rather look at what the science says and what people say because if we just use critical thinking well for example, what uses photographic memory anyway? Taking a photograph is visual so you know how do you take a photographic memory of a box sonata, how do you take a photographic memory of the greatest meal you ever tasted or the smells and aromas of grandma’s you know special dish? It’s just a weird word, I don’t know why people choose it, It’s just ridiculous, It’s such a limited idea for a memory so I recommend all people to forget photographic memory. The thing that is being referred to really is eidetic memory and people had the idea that children have this really rich absorbent creative memory. That may be, but I don’t think it necessarily has to do with children. When we are in noble situations which children are all the time because everything’s new to kids. We have more norepinephrine it’s called in the brain norepinephrine, at least that’s what science said studies shows that norepinephrine creates more memory so you might have heard something that’s called the airport effect which is when you go and you visited a new city or a new part of the world, you really remember that airport and that trip in the taxi through the center of the city and walking in the airport or sorry, the hotel and you just have this rich memory of arrival. Well that’s because your norepinephrine is just jacked to the top levels because it’s a new noble situation so is that photographic memory? The eidetic memory? I don’t know, these are scientists they come up with words to describe phenomenon but is anybody born with some special memory thing? Yeah, there are some people once in a while but I don’t think that there’s any evidences of anything even remotely like this and if you look at studies of what’s called superior autobiographical memory and this is where you have stories of people who remembered the exact date and they can tell what was opera in you know February of 1992 you know all this certain stuff, if you look at the actual studies of those people, what you find is, yes there may be some advantage there but they also seem to have some sort of OCD which is that they repeat stuff and they tend to have journals and this is not an isolated thing. There’s been studied into this. So, superior autobiographical memory seems to have superior autobiographical memory plus some sort of obsession and that makes much more sense especially when you look at memory competitors people like myself who just loves memory techniques for everything under the sun. It’s that we are not obsessed of anything compulsive in a way by nature but we kind of adapt those behaviors because we say look we can use this memory palace and if we just make a decision to go through it five, six, seven, eight times or whatever, we’re going to remember this stuff for much, much longer and so we impose that kind of OCD upon ourselves but in a very healthy way because I hope because you can also let it go, you can allow yourself to make mistakes from time to time if you meet the guy Simon or whatever and you don’t beat yourself up for it you know that’s your thing because, when you see and there’s a famous case you’ll praise, she does beat herself up a lot and I encourage people to look in to that case if who are interested with this topic but it’s also not for me to say whether photographic memory exists or not, I would just encourage you to use critical thinking. Is that word really makes sense for anything related to memory and are people really good at self-reporting their own experiences? Not really and what did scientists do? Well, scientists makes up a lot of words then they do studies based on those words and some of them aren’t even very good at looking at memory history or history in any scientific field so then they make up some new words when there are already were words but they just want to wear of those words but then they defend it to the death because of the way the public and the parish works at the scientific community and by the way, I’m not anti-science but I’m just pointing out a reality, I’m very scientific but there is problems in science that we need to address so when people comes across these ideas of photographic memory and so forth, just understand that nobody even knows where consciousness is in the brain and there are just a lot of words that people use for memory and I would go back, how many memory techniques are there? The one that you use is how many there are. So, you know if you want to have a better memory, work on it and you can have far better memory than a photograph, much, much more rich and detailed than something that ancient technology these days.
It’s funny because it wasn’t too long ago, myself and my friend are talking about what’s the best martial art and they’ll have the same answer and said the one that you’re studying right now, that’s a good answer. So, yeah absolutely. If you are prone to forgetting say, if I’m in a middle of a task and someone interrupts me and I look over at them and come back and can’t remember what I was doing is there something that could help me with that situation? Do you understand what I mean?
Yeah, yeah, so, there’s other examples like you go, you leave your office to get some scissors from the kitchen, that kind of thing, right? They share a common characteristic which is that new information entered that sort of knocked out the other information, new stimuli. So, the number one thing to do is called the fist and so if you’re talking to somebody like they said like they’d give you a job or a task to do or you want to remember a point to bring up in conversation later, you imagine that thing in your hand then you make a fist and you don’t let go of that fist until that you’ve executed, you want to go and get some scissors in the next room, you make a fist and you say “Scissors” and you need to walk through that door because temperature is going to change, the sound quality is going to change, a person my come and be like heyyy or a dog or whatever things are going to change that can just knock that thought out of your head faster than you know, you could even figure and that’s the technique, it’s called the fist and it works in conversations, as well as it does to going to get scissors from the next room.
That’s interesting, I’ll have to try that, I never thought of that.
It doesn’t have to be a fist, I don’t know, I mean you could carry a tack in your shoe or something but the point is that old image you sometimes see, a string tied around your finger.
I was just thinking of that.
It’s not an old fairy tale it actually helps and why? Back to what I had said before, there’s only one memory technique, it’s the one that you use right now but it’s always spatial, right? So, you’re putting something, somewhere and you’re doing something that helps you retreat it later from somewhere, not just retreat it from nowhere but from a specific place.
Yep, so if you’re left handed versus right handed. Do you store memories differently?
I don’t know but I’m sort of dual handed so.
Yeah, me too.
I’d have to split test with a variety of people. I’m not sure how to run search studies. I’m very are interested to do those studies but from what I understand if there is any advantage for left or right or dual or ambidextrous people they still would have to learn techniques and use them so, I’m not a big fan of someone has an advantage because x really what that means is someone so has executed the strategy same way everyone else had to and if they had an advantage, so what? You know, that doesn’t stop you from…I mean there are maybe some things like height or basketball or whatever but even then there’s people they want to play basketball, they find a way no matter what height they are so just, you know, get in there, and you know this is an interesting thing you don’t even have to do the RA-RA-RA just get in there. There’s actually an exercise that you can do which is just analyze yourself, do you have a bias for taking action and a bias for finding every reasons why you can’t participate in some way, in whatever it is you want to do or do you have a bias for finding every reasons why you can’t do something. If you do that self-analysis you can change your life, right? Because you don’t have to be naturally inclined to be the solution, got it? But you can train yourself to, you can notice that you know oh I’m just sitting here figuring out all the reasons why I can’t when I have all the evidence in the world that all kinds of people do and can, right? And yeah, so left hand, right hand, I don’t think it matters at the end of the day.
And these memory techniques would work on children too?
They are known to work for children, I think around age 6 is where really simple things come in and around age 10 they can really go quite well with the memory palace technique but I’m not an expert in the age group at all and I’m just giving those ages just based on the things that I’ve seen and very few and far cases, on my podcast I’ve interviewed some 10 years old and I did try to interview a 6 years old once but, although his father said there were some great things happening, I wasn’t able to reproduce it or explain it very well so that’s where I’m getting those ranges from and 10 years olds in my experience they seem to be—well, you could, you just saw my podcast episodes but you can see some of these contest shows where they have kids around ages of 10 and 12 who really seem to be soaring with it but I haven’t seen much younger than that in terms of the memory palace technique.
And you kind of touched on briefly earlier there but I just wanted to make sure I understood so if you memorized things is it possible for you to confuse them or maybe say that, you mentioned Sanskrit, do you ever accidentally start a verse and then accidentally go to a separate verse in a Sanskrit and match them together?
Yeah, that can happen but it typically happens on the learning phase. In the memory world we sometimes call the worm holing where you’d like be going through a memory palace and you somehow skip to a different part because you know you have sarva, sarvatra you know and all kinds of things that are variations and it kind of caused that to happen but that’s, it’s pretty rare and isolated, you usually know that it’s happening and correction is quite easy. The thing is when it’s happening, it’s usually a sign of more things are working than not working. I mean it’s just a miraculous thing, right? You can actually portal from verse forty to verse seventy just like that, I mean that’s more of a good thing than a bad thing.
Yep, so if you, I don’t know if you consider your brain more like a computer but how much memory can you hold or you could say there’s a limit?
David Eagleman who is a neuroscientist says that we have a zettabyte and a zettabyte is apparently something comparable to 10% of the information in the world.
Wow.
I don’t know how that they measure all the information in the world but there’s no chance that any of us would ran out of anytime soon. Not only that but the thing that we need to understand is that that’s just one neuroscientist and that’s in the story of your brain by the way by David Eagleman, The brain, it’s called the story of you is the actual title. The thing that I would point out is that’s memory in your brain but then there’s memory in other brains, right? So, you know I don’t own the alphabet, the alphabet is something we share and so if I want to access some specialist memory of the alphabet when I can go you know figure out what’s in the brain of some alphabetical specialist or I can just ask you Jason, can you remember when you learned the alphabet? And you could tell me a story or not by your gesture but you know what I mean I could ask you about martial arts. Your memory is just loaded with stuff and because of the nature of symbols and language, I could understand a great deal from you just by tapping in to your memories. So, we have more than a zettabyte we have potentially all the possible information on tap at any moment and all the more so the internet. So, yeah I think memory is the truly unlimited thing in the world, I think memory is what we are actually in many ways not just information but everything we know how to do is all procedural memory, opening the drawer, everything. It’s just we are memory and the quality of our experience has everything to do with the quality of our memory.
If we play something in our sleep like say a poem or maybe a long poem, do you think that type of memorization works? Like would you, if you play it every night over and over again, like would you attain it?
There’s some studies that some of that has an effect if you’re learning a language for example, I haven’t read some studies the have to do with poetry and retention but I don’t quite know how these studies, I don’t know how they’re testing that, that the brain is perceiving this content because many other studies show that if you’re not consciously attending to something, you’re not learning it, you’re not engaging from it or whatever and you can look at even some of the old studies about subliminal messages and so forth, they’re very clear that if you don’t have a conscious perception of something then there’s not really any evidence that it’s affecting you. So, if are you conscious of things well some people report that they are, they do some lucid dream experiments with lights go on and then that helps trigger them which suggests unawareness of external links, I had lucid dream experiences I also had sleep paralysis experiences and I had something else which I believe is called in Sanskrit, nirvikalpi Samadhi which is this kind of neither lucid dreaming nor sleep paralysis, you’re just aware that you’re playing there and you know you’re asleep but you’re not dreaming or anything like that and that’s kind of wild, I wish I knew how to switch that on, on demand because that’s quite blissful but we’ll get there.
Yep, definitely.
But in any case if I were to switch on a poem if I were to switch on a poem, I don’t think it would give such any special advantage unless I was consciously attending to its rehearsal and I imagine that, that would be true, others but ultimately I don’t know.
Yep, yep.
I’d rather get the sleep.
Yep, yeah me too.
Because you can do memory techniques when you’re awake which is just great.
From myself, say I, I don’t like stark silence, I do like the background noise anyway so I tend to play things in the background but that’s just me. You mentioned earlier, I just want touch up on this before we wrap up. Dementia and Alzheimer’s, heard you bring it up a few times what kind of impact does that have on the elderly horse trying to get in to that like would you say some preventative measures for getting to that?
There’s positive, I mean there’s no hard and fast, yes absolutely, this going to save you because there is some genetic forms of it so, there’s different ways to think about the problem but I think of it a lot because my mother had early on-set dementia and we manage to turn this around which thank goodness because it was the most terrifying thing I ever saw. I mean she was starting fall down, hurt herself badly to the point of you know, breaking her face up when she fell on the road, she couldn’t tell me from my brother really, really bad situation but fortunately totally turned around so there’s some every reason to believe that you know, you want to get some good brain training going for yourself and mitigate it in advance if you can or do something while it’s happening, if you can, if you have the wherewithal and the support, do it but as I always tell people, you know, don’t rest anything on this or that technique or this or that I still have it because they can happen anyway and so probably the best strategy, this may sound a bit cynical but I think it’s not wrong and I think it’s good-hearted, it’s meant in a good way and it’s just be the best possible person that you can now so that if you’ve become a pest to your family later then they have every reason to tolerate it and treat you with best possible care later because you did your best to be that best possible person and that’s a good policy anyway. So, you know take it or leave it but that’s what I always tell people, nobody gets any promises besides you could have dementia like problems or Alzheimer’s like problems. Just walking down the street and some moron throws a rock at you or a rock or you know something falls off from a building or whatever like, we can wind up on that situation for multiple reasons or have problems like that just out of the blue so always live with your best possible self, period.
Yeah, that’s right.
Because the real torture does begin and unfortunately I’ve seen this because I work for East Care, Community Care East York in Toronto and I saw all kinds of people who were abandoned by their families or treated very poorly by their families and you could see anger and resentment and I’ve heard people say that so and so never took care of me and that by now, burned with this all that certain stuff and that means that, that person is in even more suffering because they don’t have anybody who cares for them and people do take revenge later in those situations. So, the threat is real so be the best possible you immediately and practice it daily.
Is there something that you think I should’ve asked you that I haven’t asked you already or maybe you want to put any last words of your own to our listeners?
No, I think this was great and id there are any last words, let this be the beginning and not the end because you know, if you’re not tired of listening to me, there’s hundreds of hours of recordings on my youtube and my podcasts and yadda yadda yadda.
So if somebody wanted to contact you or listen to your material, where can they go?
Well it’s all that magneticmemorymethod.com and I would just encourage you to make memory a priority, not every teacher is going to gel with you but just find something so you can get this to make sense so that you can practice it and one of my highest ambitions is to be like a university where you know, it’s about the content that’s out there more than this or that content so that people have range, choice. If this teaching isn’t right then, well try that one, you know? So, guest professors’ welcome and we do that on the podcast as well so.
And the podcast is on your website also?
Yeah, yeah, there’s a button there that helps people get hooked up to the podcast. Yeah, we have a lot of fan and it’s a very 21st century decentralized community and I studied martial art myself Systema or Systiema.
Oh yeah.
I sort of run things like those classes where the teacher is the student and the student is the teacher, no belts, no back pain or anything like that it’s just here we go let’s learn together that kind of space.
That’s awesome, that’s great. Well I’m very much taking for taking time out of your day to talk to us and maybe, who knows? Maybe in the future continue to follow up to these or something.
Yeah, my pleasures, reach out, it was fun, I appreciate it.
Thank you very so much. And that wraps up another podcast. Divine Warrior Ninjutsu podcast episode number 21. If you have any information that you’d like to submit to us or if you have ideas for show content or submissions of any kind or you just want to learn more a little bit about us, you can contact us at divinewarriorninjutsu.com. Again I’m the host Dai-Shihan Jason Steeves, thank you for joining us, until next time. Go away.
[To hear the audio of this podcast, go to our podcast page, or click HERE. To see the video, go to our YouTube page, or click HERE.]
]]>We will discuss the various methods for gaining access to locked areas, legitimately, not for nefarious purposes.
Building door locks
Anatomy of a lock:
1. Bump Key: This method uses a bump key that resembles a regular key but the bumps are all uniform. You insert the key into the lock, pull it back out one click, then apply gentle tension in the turning direction and strike the end of the key with you hand or an object. The strike causes all the pins to jump up simultaneously, and the rotational tension will cause them to get stuck on the shear line on the way back down. If you don’t get it the first time, try again. Experiment with different tensions, objects, and directions. It tends to work best on a deadbolt. The bump key type must fit the lock or it won’t work. Kwikset locks (the most common type for homes) have 5 pins, for example, so the bump key must have been cut onto the same type of key.
2. Shimming: This method is simply finding something in your environment, or having pre-made shims on you to stick between the door latch and the frame. This will only work on spring loaded latches that will move in without a key when you close the door while it’s locked.
3. Picking (raking): This method uses a few tools, primarily, the torsion wrench and the S rake. Most kits come with other tools to manipulate the pins in stubborn locks or if you want to practice getting better, but the basic method is great. The tools also usually come in a compact wallet size, which are more difficult to use because of their flimsiness, and a slightly larger and robust version. The tension wrench applies gentle turning pressure, which will hold the pins at the shear line when you “rake” the S rake (the one that snakes up and down) against the pins. In and out, over and over, perhaps lifting on the S rake enough to press against the pins, until they all stick on the shear line and the tumbler rotates. Voila! Sometimes the pins can get stuck too high above the shear line, or won’t stick at all. In this case, remove all tools and start over. Calmness and concentration are key (no pun intended). If you start getting frustrated, it will become more difficult. Deadbolts are easier. Cheap locks too, like filing cabinets or padlocks.
4. Picking (gun): This method is similar, except it uses a device that looks like a pistol grip with tools attached to do the raking. They can come in a manually triggered or motorized versions. With this tool, you still need to use a torsion wrench, but the trigger mechanism has to be pulled over and over quickly, which, if you notice the angle on the rake, must hit all the pins simultaneously and they stick at the shear line. If it fails after a time, release everything and start over to reset the pins and tumbler.
5. Clay Impression: Wood’s Metal is a metal that melts at 70°C. The idea is that you make an impression of a key in oil-based modelling clay, then use a syringe (without a needle) to squirt the liquid Wood’s Metal into the 2-sided mould. Then you reveal the key and use it to open the lock. (bullet making ladle, butane lighter, very small silicone ice cub tray)
6. Elastic & tape: The chain across the door is normally called a “chain door guard”. This method uses an elastic band wrapped around the chain and loop tape around the elastic, and you then reach through the door crack and stick the tape onto the door, with the elastic and the chain inside the loop of the elastic, at the far end of the locking bracket. Next, when you close the door again and the chain gets slack, the elastic pulls the end of the chain to the open slot and falls out, allowing you to easily open the door all the way.
7. Photograph: Yes, you can open a door lock, or just about any lock, with a photograph...sort of. So you need a photo of a key that will open a target lock. By measuring a blank of a similar key (of which KwikSet locks on houses make-up 98% of all houses), you can cut a blank with a file against the tracing/photo of the actual key. You can cut with a key machine from the tracing also. You could even photograph the impression the key makes on your skin if you press it in for a shape. You could then enter the photograph in AutoCAD and overlay it with a 3D blank key, then 3D print the key.
Handcuffs
Anatomy of handcuffs:
8. The key: Is that obvious? You do have a universal handcuff key in your EDC gear (Every Day carry), right?
9. Bobby pin: 75% of the world’s police forces use the Smith and Wesson Model #100 handcuff. And if they don’t, this method will probably still work. Break a bobby pin into a single tine, then bent it just a bit at the end so it resembles a little 45 degree hook (same thing for a paper clip). In a pinch, you can use your teeth, but if you like your teeth, don’t practice this way. Use pliers, or you could stick the straight bobby pin into the key hole and end it down flat against the metal of the cuffs. This will usually conveniently bent a little 45 degree hook at the end. Now place the hook into the bottom of the key hole and scoop toward the center of the cuffs. It should open right up. Should your handcuffs be double locked (a method police use if you are an asshole), you will need to place the bobby pin into the bottom of the keyhole facing away from the center this time, and carefully (and usually painfully) shimmy the bobby pin all the way around the pin in the center of the handcuff until the hook has made an arc almost 3/4 of the way around until you press the double lock’s release lever, then you can shimmy the key back to the bottom and flip it around to do the regular method too. This will take some practice. Practice without looking also since the cuffs could be behind your back. (see through cuff)
10. Hair Barrette: Break the hair barrette in such a way that you get a thin tine small enough to fit into the gears of the clasp. Slide it into the clasp and make sure it’s as far in as it will go and not caught up on a gear tooth making you think it’s all the way in. Next, folds it against the clasp a bit so you don’t cut yourself. It also needs to move in unison when you press the clasp in 1 or 2 clicks. You may only get one chance at this since it will get very tight on your wrist. Now, without letting the shim move back out, pull out on the clamp. It should slide over your shim and open right up. This method will not work if the cuffs are double locked.
Police cruiser gun locks
11. Magnet: Both AR-15 and shotguns stored in police cruisers are locked in devices that can be overcome with a strong magnet. You simply hold it against the back of the lock and run it up a bit and they will open. The AR-15 lock in particular looks allot like handcuffs and they can also be shimmed open at the teeth the same was a handcuffs. In an emergency post-apocalyptic scenario, you might need quick access to a firearm this way.
Padlocks
12. Wrenches: While you may have seen videos of people using 2 wrenches to pry and break a padlock open, real life testing would indicate this does not work as it appears. However; a student of mine accidentally discovered that prying the latch open vertically does indeed work. Place one wrench against the top of the latch, prying against another wrench or object down against the body of the lock. It will break the small latching hook within the body of the lock.
13. Bic pen: In slightly older style bike locks, pop machines, or other devices that use a tubular lock, they can be defeated by using a Bic pen tube. Simply remove the ink cartridge and force the empty pen tube over the center pin of the tubular lock that is approximately the same size. As you do this, give it anti-clockwise turning pressure. The pins will make permanent impressions in the plastic and once it opens, that pen tube will always work on that lock. Newer styles that have tried to correct this defect can be overcome with tubular picks that are designed exactly for these style of locks.
14. Individual Number Combination style: This can be opened with a thin metal piece of a hair barrette. Once you break the hair barrette as required, you insert the band to the upper right of the third wheel quite far in, then you press and scoop up (reference the numbers being read right side up), and press on the latch in and out until it falls open.
15. Warded locks: Warded locks have a keyhole that resembles wafers stacked on top of one another that spin. The key fits into the whole such that is passes through the middle of each wafer, usually five. It is opened with only specific wafers turning to the right while the rest must not. This is the combination. A warded pick set contains five different combinations of wafer style keys spaced at different intervals. The idea is that one of these five will always open a warded lock. You start with the first one and push it all the way in so it tries the lowest set of wafers. If it fails, you pull back to leave the lowest wafer untouched and try again, and so on. By doing this, you try every possible combination and it will eventually open.
16. Trailer locks: A trailer lock is a lock with a bolt across the top and sort of looks like a deadbolt, sometimes called a monoblock padlock. These can be defeated by inserting a very sharp pick along the top of the key way and scooping down to retract another bolt that runs vertically to the horizontal one.
17. Dimple locks: Dimple locks are basically a lock similar to Kwikset house style locks but the pins are side loaded and the key has dimples on the side to control the pin depth. This can be picked with a torsion wrench again, and a pick called a flag, that looks like a thin pole with a tiny metal flag on the end that is used to press in each pin one at a time. It could take a few rounds at the pins to be successful.
18. Shims: These are slivers of thin metal shaped like a T that you can shim down the insides of the lock latches, both sides, and they wedge between the latch and the ball-bearings and open. The can be made by cutting aluminum pop cans, but you can buy hardened steel ones that will endure much better.
Car door locks
19. Slim Jim: Every car after 1992 or so has barriers in place to prevent a Slim Jim from reaching the car’s door locking mechanism. You also run the risk of unplugging wires or being electrocuted. The design of the Slim Jim is basically a long thin tool you slide behind the weather stripping of a car window to hook in both directions so you could push or pull. To further complicate this, every make and model are designed differently internally so you would basically need to know exactly what that car looks like inside the door to be successful.
20. Jiggler Keys: These are keys, much like a bump key, that fit any car door, usually prior to the year 2000. They are keyed on both sides, and you just insert it and jiggle them up and down with gentle turning pressure. They are very hit and miss.
Real Estate
21. Brinks real estate key lock box: This is a lock box on the doorknob of a house that is for sale, and the keys are inside this lock box so real estate agents can get into the house to show it to prospective buyers. They usually have a combination opening, but more modern ones also have a call-to-open mechanism that you can open with a cell phone. In any event, the tumbler combination can be opened with a hair barrette which you can fashion a hook onto the end. You insert the “tool” between the dials, grab a bar behind the dial and pull it toward you, then rotate the dials one at a time and the correct combination will be felt with a gentle easing of the dial turn, thus granting you access to the actual keys within.
22. Straitjacket: There are some you can buy that are trick jackets designed for easy escape. We are not talking about those. We are talking about the real deal here. So there are a few things to keep in mind. If possible, expand your chest as much as possible when the jacket is applied. Also, as your arms are put inside the sleeves, try to secretly grab as much of the inside of the sleeve as you can roll into your fists. If you cannot do these, it could still work, but these would make things much easier. Next, breath out deeply and hug yourself tightly. Slip your arm strap that's below the other arm strap over the tip of the elbow. Next, slip it over that same shoulder. Next, look down tightly into the opposite elbow hole, much like you are escaping a choke-hold, then slip that arm strap over your head. Next, finagle that arm to a straight position (sometimes it may get caught up on the buckles on your back). Next, hook the canvas between your arms around one knee and pull to buy you even more space on one arm so you can slip it out of the sleeve. Now you can pull out your other arm and release the latch in your crotch. Now slip the whole thing up over your head. You’re out.
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But I also listen to them when they tell me something that doesn't really relate to our lesson. I am interested in knowing them. I am interested in learning about what their skills are and fears, dreams and desires. It helps me to modify or make small changes to the standard curriculum that would best suit them personally. If someone tells me they are afraid of heights, then I will probably work that in somewhere, somehow, to help them overcome it.
I also have a couple degrees in counseling, so I find that helps and I can apply those techniques to assist when needed. In many cases, I find I will usually go beyond what might be required of me, to help them achieve their goals, even something small like lending them something, or compensating them for something they lent me.
I'm not trying to sound like I'm bragging. If you are a student of mine and you are reading this, I want you to know that I am here for you. If you called me in the middle of the night with a serious problem, there is a pretty good chance that I will get up and listen. If it's serious, I will probably come see you. If you need a place to stay, within reason, I will probably give you my couche. Just don't abuse it like some have (you know who you are). :) If you ask for my assistance and I can't, just know that there must be something more pressing asking for my time (you know who you are too). Don't be offended if I can't, but 95% of the time, I can.
We are all on this crazy boat ride together. Don't rock it. Help each other bail out the water. Stop people that want to jump out. Love.
]]>I love that it takes me around the world. I love travel and this is a great excuse to get out to those places, and if you get some training in, it's a tax write-off too. I love the people I have met overseas and in Japan. I love that it contributes to my health, while my old age does not. Haha. But I would be in terrible shape if I didn't at least force myself to march on.
I love that it has made me keenly aware of my surroundings and the world in general. Life is hard. But with some things that are going on in the world today, I might be caught completely off guard.
I love that Ninjutsu forces me to learn a wide variety of skills. And that I have interesting things to pass onto my kids. Gardening is cool, prepping, communication skills other than mouth to mouth, scouting, tracking, plant identification, winter survival, how to start a fire literally from scratch, with no firestarter of any kind, and so on. This is an amazing "hobby".
I love the friends I have made in the form of students. Sure, some of them have turned out to be fools and have disappointed me, but many have become good friends I would die for.
I love that I have learned so much about history.
I love that I have moderately learned a new language (Japanese, in case you were wondering). I'm not great, but I can get around in Japan with it and carry on a decent conversation with the Japanese Shihans.
I love that it has made me a (sort of) public figure, and made me to become a leader, in the sense that I am not afraid to speak in front of a group. When I was younger, I swore I wouldn't never do public speaking. Who'd a thunk it? It has helped me to find my place as a productive contributor to the world.
It has helped me to share my faith and not be afraid to do so. Not everyone cares about what I have to say, but I don't say too much, and I don't care if they don't want to listen. At least I have obeyed my moral conscience and given them a chance to hear it.
Lastly, while I am not invincible, I am comfortable and at peace with my family's safety and I have done my best to provide a loving and educational environment for them to grow while being protected from those that wish to do them harm.
]]>As far as a job, there are a few things that interested me that I might be doing. I was interested in being a fiction writer, an RCMP, the military (which I actually did for a while), a pilot, a musician, and a lawyer.
As far as hobbies go, other than martial arts, I was interested in playing music, model trains, football, archery, go-karts, sports cars, Superman, investing, computers, coding, electronics, Star Trek, audio recording, Christianity, and RC cars.
I am heavily proactive in my adult life. I prepare for financial disaster, martial law, catastrophes, break-ins, break-downs, you name it. I will admit that this is mentally taxing at times, and I wish I could take a break, but the emergency will arise when you take a break. So there is no rest. But I could see myself being just like everybody else, a sheeple, going with the flow, working a menial job with no purpose, questioning nothing, being a nobody, unprepared for just about everything, oblivious to anything that I might need to know about.
I know I would be a coward. I would be afraid of conflict. I would be too skinny with no interest in muscle growth or strength training. I would be an ultimate nerd/geek. I would wear pants that were just a little too short at the ankle. Haha. I might be way too far into computers.
On the other hand, perhaps I would be a serial killer. Haha. Ninjutsu offers alot in the way of mental fortitude and self-discipline for those who want it. Like Vulcans from Star Trek, emotionless and under control. I am pretty thick skinned now and I bet I would be easily hurt if I wasn't.
I guess the bottom line is, I would be a softer version of who I am now, and I probably would not be friends with that person if I met him. :D
]]>Know the context for better accuracy. Anticipate what comes next and this will help allot. Use your experience to fill in missed words. Substitute similar sounding words to make a sentence make sense. Body language and facial expressions will help identify the topic. Words that look the same on the lips (but are not necessarily spelled similar) are called Homophenes.
Individual words are hard, so try to get the context to help you lip read. Sometimes, words can be made out better from the side or a different angle. Decide what’s best for you. Remember that accents from different countries will change things up a bit. Remember that how it’s spelled is not important in lip reading, but rather how the sounds appear on the lips. Practice in a mirror or with friends, or even with a camera.
It can take as much as 2 years to get really good at lip reading with continual practice. Always try to practice and feel the sound so it can be differentiated from other similar sounds. Remember that these sounds can appear at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of words.
Other things should be considered such as the angle of the view of the mouth, lighting, standing in front of a bright window, accents, talking speed, fingers over the mouth, people shouting over noise.
Set up a scenario, perhaps at a distance, maybe even using binoculars, that you could encounter where you would need to gather intelligence on the enemy. You can vary the details.
This is all you need to know. Now, in order to get better, practice often. Practice variations.
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]]>The world is changing. Fast! Let's not beat around the bush. If you were in martial arts and you aren't now, what the hell are you doing?
"I'm doing blank, man. It's a new hobby." Ok, but you aren't in high school anymore. 1 Corinthians 13:11 says, "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things." On a scale of 1 to 10, how talented are you? Most people will never make it unless they are at the top, a 10. What is your talent level when you were born? If you were naturally a 5, with learned skill, you might be able to increase to a 6, maybe a 7. If you were born will a talent at 2, with training, you might be a 3 or 4. You will never make it to 10 if you can't blank very damn good already. My point? Time to put away childish things. The NWO or the Muslim extremists come, or that midnight murderer comes, you can't do a little dance to make them leave. This is survival now. The world is different. It's coming. If you choose your hobby over the protection of your family and property, something is wrong.
"I have anxiety and can't bring myself to come to class." I get that. I suffer from anxiety too, many do. But you have to choose your battles. You have to master it, or it will master you. We are a friendly, and very fun bunch. We laugh continually and the atmosphere is great. We are not Cobra Kai mouthpieces here with strict discipline. Time is running out for that excuse. Get your unprotected, vulnerable butt out of your car sitting in the parking lot and come in. Half the battle is getting there. Most of the things we worry about never happen. Get to class. When the day the corrupt government comes to take your life, liberty, and freedom, your anxiety will experience a whole new level, unless you master it. Get to class.
"But I am in [bad club] and don't want to leave it." Great, but [bad club] is bad news and not the kind of person we want these skills to get to. But if you are willing to put away these stupid allegiances, you can train and have a better life. It's one or the other, bro. They won't save you when the day comes that the tax man is coming for your tax evasion. No, they won't.
"I owe money to the dojo so I don't/can't come back." Big deal. It's just money, man. Yes you still have to pay it, but not right away. Get in the groove of things and deal with the primary issue, protection. We can talk about the money thing later and make it easy. I still enjoyed you as a person and friend. Money doesn't change that.
"I am seriously jealous of your accomplishments." Yeah, that happens. I can't help it. But technically, that is a problem with yourself, not with me. It hasn't gone to my head and it hasn't changed what's import with interpersonal relationships. Just get to class. Are you going to sacrifice your family's safety over your jealousy?
"I am mad that you wouldn't lend me money." Yeah, well, boo. You wanted to buy [bad thing] with it. If I don't approve of that from a spiritual standpoint, do you really think I am doing to break my convictions just because you are my friend? Get over it. I'll lend money to my friends, but not if you are going to do something stupid with it. I still love you as a brother, I just won't facilitate your bad habits, ever. When I was a teen and was invited to parties, I was secretly pouring alcohol down the sink because I couldn't stand watching my friends destroy themselves. I'll do what you hate, even if its the best thing for you.
"I heard bad things about you...by a rival of yours." Well consider the source. Haha. Of course a poor spirited rival of mine will try to discredit me. I've heard everything about me. I honestly don't care anymore. You should have enough brains in your head to know the truth. I usually get something in email evil everyday. Guess what I do? Delete. Or I see in Facebook, "Hey you stu..." That's all I need to see. I never, ever read it. It goes straight to trash. But this is really about you. If you base your feeling and decisions on something you read or heard, what can I say. Haha. Thats some foolishness right there. And most people won't ask me outright if something is true or not because they don't have the guts, then when they try, they actually hear themselves and realize how stupid the question even sounds. But you know what? It's ok. I am still willing to call you friend and you are allowed to come to class. So come.
"I was butthurt about your stance on [hot topic]." Sounds like a personal problem. But I already know. The hand of forgiveness is open to you always. Are you man enough?
"I have a boyfriend/girlfriend now." Ok, so (s)he is going to defend you? Forever? Always? I have serious doubts about the logic behind this. I strongly suggest you learn to defend yourself. Relying on the police, or something else, and not yourself, if a bad strategy. Now get to class.
"I really want Krav Maga." Well Ninjutsu is better, quite frankly. And I stand by that. Krav Maga is really just a militarized (as far as time, not effectiveness) downgrade of Ninjutsu anyway. Coincidentally, we have a Krav Maga certified trainer with us now.
"Your rank is not earned." Well, I beg to differ. That rival I mentioned earlier seems to think it was just handed to me, or something. What he doesn't know is, I still had to test for the ranks, they didn't happen all at once like he thinks (yes I did the Godan test, in front of 200 people), and I have 34 years experience in the same style. What's more, I paid for it in blood, sweat, and tears, sacrificed, journeyed overseas, studied (book wise), and kept an open mind. I was able to detect bullshit from predecessors and cut it away like a cancer, and I studied under multiple teachers throughout my life (not 1 like him). I don't kiss ass like he does, I don't swallow everything I'm fed, and I understand that Taijutsu is NOT Ninjutsu. It is a tiny, tiny piece of the overall puzzle. I got it, you didn't, end of story. I am a university graduate, and you are a high school dropout. I served my country in the military. You collect artifacts from the army surplus store. I've been to Japan 11 times, and you were there once, for less than a week! And failed the Godan test 3 times. And the only reason you are suddenly pushing for your own ranks is because of jealousy and a sense of personal superiority, pushed by our former teacher (whom I now outrank, btw), whom stole everything he knows and branded it as his own. You send students into the MMA ring, they always lose, you won't go in yourself... I could go on forever. The guy I'm talking about never stops trash talking me to people. ALL of it lies. He has guys convinced that I lied to them about stuff, then when I ask what it was, they shut up. He even accused my certificates of not being signed by Hatsumi. But in most cases these days, Hatsumi never signs the certificates anymore. Everyone knows that Furuta Sensei does it most of the time, and now Niigata does it. But I guess that's what happens when I can access people in Japan on a moments notice, order certificates myself, fill them in myself, stamp them also, and you can't. Hatsumi said the "spirits" told him to do it. And, it was recommended by three 15th Dans formally, on paper, without my asking for it. God blesses me all the time. I am His faithful servant and He rewards me. It could be you, but you are stubborn. Damn, this is fun! So, you know, your desire for ranks is flattering, but changes nothing. And if any of you out there are tired of his bs, or want to ask me about the truth for a change, you are most welcome. I tell my students not to compete with anyone except themselves. Be better today than you were yesterday. Only the small mind will try to level themselves to someone else.
"I'm working too much." Well we all need a break. Most people on their death beds regret working so much. But working won't save you when your life is faced with peril. Please make time for the important things.
"I'm injured." I hear this one a lot. Injuries don't go away when you need to act. The goal is to work with the injury, or around the injury, but not to stop training. You have a bad back? I get it. Don't roll. Learn a new way to evade. Figure out what you can do. Bad knees, don't rely on that for structure. Work with it, not against it.
"I called the cops on you for something the other day." I know you did. I'm not stupid. I know you did it. But I forgive you and pretend it didn't happen. Just like some of those things you wrote online. Even though I know it was you and you said it was someone else, it's ok. I forgive you.
"I can't afford it." You're in luck! We have free training days all the time. We have alternative payment methods too, like work share or other programs. If it's so bad and you want it bad enough, talk to me. We can figure something out.
"I want something stronger, more painful." Well Ninjutsu can be pretty strong and painful. The problem is, you need to build up to it and then you get it in the upper ranks. And by upper, I mean blackelt, which is really just the beginning ranks. The good stuff starts there. Trust me, bro, you can't handle it at the white belt level. Just learn the technique and build skill, speed, power, accuracy, and form. Then you can get beaten all you want, then take away the form, take away the muscle, take away the technique, and take away the showiness. You'll see.
"You wouldn't help me move." Well my business is more important. If I need to be in Boston to teach an event that will earn $14K, or help you move, guess which one I'll pick? It was last minute and I never know for sure when they will come up. Besides, I'm your teacher first, your friend second. If there is ever a conflict of interest, teacher wins.
"I just don't like you." Well, before you tried to buy a rank from me, you liked me pretty well. It was only after you wanted me to provide a certificate for one of your own students because you couldn't, and I refused, that you turned sour puss. If you want a certificate from me, you will do it the same way as everyone else, exactly. I don't sell ranks. And your attitude shows me I made a good decision. Nagato and Hatsumi have both said to me to rank people based on various things, including their heart. They have also said that a certificate is not a completion of a rank, but permission to begin the next.
"Im offended about [person/thing]." Well, being offended by someone in class happens in every area of life. It's part of personal development. I have worked with people or trained with people for years that I hate, and they never knew it. Why? Because I was there to get something and if I removed myself because of them, then they win and I am the one actually missing out. If you are offended by something, you can refrain from doing it in class, sure, but everything is designed for growth.
If you dislike something and you stop training permanently because of it, how foolish is that? You are going to punish yourself by refusing training and failing to acquire life saving skill? You aren't hurting me. You are hurting yourself and your family.
Short story: When I was a kid, I got a call from my first teacher's teacher (to be) and told me he had a guy that just moved to my (nearby) city (which was a 30 minute drive away). And coincidentally, there was a guy in my town that was going too and that I should call him for a drive. He gave me his name and I almost died. It was my childhood bully that beat me up often. I could have said right there, "screw this" and my life would have been totally different. But I swallowed my pride and called him and asked him for a drive (he was considerably older than me). I knew that I wanted Ninjutsu and nothing was going to stop me, not even weird twists of fate. I trained with him for years under the same teacher, then teacher's teacher and I hated every minute of him being there. But he never knew it. I hid it well and he is still a bully to this day, but now dangerous. But his growth was naturally stunted, as I said earlier, God smiled on me and my devotion because God was 1st in everything I pursued. This other guy, not so much. Now I don't even think of him (except for this blog), and I am reaping rewards I could only have dreamed of.
So, while this has been fun, therapeutic, vague and personal, entertaining, fictional (maybe), it is supposed to shake the heads of people who are stepping away from training for reasons that I feel are, not good enough. And It's sort of similar to a previous blog, but should be different enough that you understand what I'm trying to say. Get back to class.
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I started in 32 Service Battalion which was eventually disbanded. It was basically a supply operation. It was replaced with 4th Air Defence Regiment, which was a surface-to-air missile system mounted on an M113A armoured personnel carrier.
I was asked to teach my entire unit Ninjutsu, but at the time, I was not comfortable doing so, so I said no.
The Canadian Military has a self-defence system called Defendo, but it's absolutely terrible.
I was twice awarded a gold medal for the Warrior Program, which is a measure of physical fitness as well as combat skills such as firearms accuracy.
When I got out of the military, my skills were rounded out that would have never otherwise have been done. I was exposed to the world. I saw death up close. I saw politics at its worst. It jaded me a little bit. The kid I used to be had died, and I miss him. It had made me thick skinned, angry, relentless, stand-your-ground-ish, resolute. I am sometimes far too aggressive with people, and I know that.
I rounded out skills later with some training with the CIA, which was extremely valuable. When I was released from the military, I signed a declaration of secrecy, and here I am.
The takeaway to this is that I think it's important for modern practitioners of Ninjutsu to have real world combat experience. If not in the military, then beating people up (just kidding). But if you lead an early life plagued by bullies, that doesn't hurt. I have known people in our style that have never been hit by another human being in their entire life. How strange.
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Do you have issues with pain, or phobias, or another habit you would like to break or establish? The ninja of Japan used something called Kuji-In, or Nine Syllable Seals. But today, we also have something very similar called, as they are known in the Psychology world, “anchors” or part of “reframing”.
Anchoring removes the gap between intention and result. It speeds up the process, or in some cases, produces the result that would not be achieved otherwise. It is a tool that directly works with your brain/consciousness to bypass blocks. It reframes your thinking so you feel what you want instead of wishing you could feel.
Meditation, even imagination, make use of the pineal gland in your brain. It is known as your third eye, or your mind's eye. It is made up of receptors that are sensitive to light much like your eyes and is responsible for making melatonin when there is no light. Melatonin makes you sleepy. This overall procedure is known as your circadian rhythm and sets your daily biological clock. It is also not protected by the blood-brain barrier, which means anything in our blood is being passed to the pineal gland. It is said to be the seat of our soul and is the center of thought and emotions.
Fluoride in water or other sources calcifies the pineal gland, essentially turning it to stone, which severely compromises its abilities in matters such as kuji or meditation. It is also responsible for such diseases as Alzheimer's, Bipolar, Circadian Dysregulation, hormonal imbalances, low melatonin, Insomnia, lower back pain, Parkinson's Disease, Schizophrenia, Sleep disorders, and Stroke. (*Fluoride Literally Turns the Pineal Gland to Stone, Research Suggests, ©2011-2017 Waking Media, Inc.) Drugs used to treat depression or Bipolar are often to blame also. Prozac is 30% fluoride. This means many antidepressants are meant to poison the pineal gland where Bipolar stems to disassociate or dehumanize them from the "dark" state and not to actually create a state of health.
The first step to fix this is to remove further sources of fluoride from our lives. Some more common sources are Teflon, foods and drinks made with fluoride treated municipal water, tap water, infant formula, drugs that contain it, and toothpaste (consider natural alternatives).
To undue pineal calcification, taking magnesium and phytate seem to work, and there may be more methods.
How to anchor: An anchor is attaching a psychological meaning to something else other than what it currently is in order to achieve a faster, permanent result. This is done by way of reframing. Reframing is a process where you exchange a negative result with a positive one through a mental exercise and repetition so that the anchor itself becomes immediate and does not require reframing any longer.
An example would be Jane has a smoking problem. She cannot quit because she fails every time she tries due to her habit. Mentally, she puts her bad thoughts about smoking into a tiny rocket and fires it into the sun where it's destroyed. Her smoking debt is in the tiny rocket. Her bad taste of cigarettes are there too. Her thought of lung disease. Her thought of chains keeping her to smoke...all those thoughts are there. They are destroyed by the sun and she is left with the opposite of all those. She need not spend her money on cigarettes. She need not ever taste the bitterness again. Her thought of lung disease has been replaced with healing. Her chains to her habit are broken and she has no desire to smoke again. This is one method of reframing and doing this repetitiously will move her rather quickly toward her goal. Anchoring is holding her fingers in a certain position every time she feels or sees the positive effects of the reframing. Over time, when the urge to smoke comes, she holds her fingers in the same position and her mind quickly takes her to the good end feeling, eventually skipping the intermediate step of reframing.
You are always anchoring everyday. You are usually not aware of it. Anything that happens consistently in your environment while in a certain state will become anchored in your neurological pathways of your brain.
When you were a child, if your parents argued all the time, but you noticed that your father was happiest when he was outside washing his yellow Corvette, then as an adult, every time you saw a yellow Corvette, it would immediately bring a sense of happiness to you, perhaps especially in regards to your father.
Pavlov's Dog experiment is the same thing. If you don't know the story of Pavlov and his dog, look it up.
When we deal with anchors, they can literally be anything: a touch, our finger positions, a sound, a smell, a song, a taste of a certain food...anything.
Another way to create an anchor is to bring yourself to a specific state or feeling that you want to anchor and perform your trigger. Repeat this often and the higher the intensity of that state, the longer the anchor will last. Do this over and over.
Be sure to use a unique anchor that probably won't be used much because if you use something too generic that you will use often for other things, you will dilute the anchor and it will self-correct.
If you already have a negative anchor established and you want to stop it, we use a process called "collapsing an anchor". To do this you need to create a series of new positive and intense feelings on a single anchor. This is called stacking an anchor. Take your time to do it right. Then you need to trigger both your negative anchor and your new stacked positive anchor simultaneously. This creates a paradox in the brain and the strongest anchor wins out and collapses the lesser negative anchor. It may feel strange at first.
Program your anchors often and soon. Better often and soon than infrequently and not enough. Every time you watch a commercial, watch how they anchor a positive emotion to an unrelated product so you feel that way when you see it. Always anchor and then later trigger that anchor exactly the same way. If you program the anchor forcefully and later try to trigger it softly, it probably won't work.
Swoosh Pattern: There are a few ways of doing this. You can picture your negative self on a television screen in your mind and then shrink it to one corner while you enlarge from a different corner a new screen with your positive self and wanted result showing. Make it exciting, very positive, and say out loud when you change it, "Swoosh!" and maybe even use hand gestures to move the screen back and forth from corner to corner so that you engage your physiological self and your verbal self to make it more real. Do this faster and faster about 25 times a day for 10 days or so. If you notice the habit or negative version reoccurring, simply repeat the swoosh 25 more times to help reinforce it.
A 2nd similar swoosh pattern is to picture in your mind the negative version of what you want to change as if on a television screen, then picture the positive self or habbit on another television screen behind the first one, then imagine pulling back the good one behind it as if on a slingshot, and it's getting smaller and smaller as it gets farther and farther away, and the elastic tension is building up as it wants to snap back, then let go and picture the new screen flying forward and smashing through the old one. Be excited ands very happy about this new positive screen. Use verbal "swoosh!" sounds and maybe even gesture your hands and you pull the good picture back in the slingshot and let it go to smash through the old picture screen. Do this over and over and faster and faster about 25 times per day for 10 days or so, and likewise, repeat if the old unwanted behaviour returns.
There is another method that closely echos Anchoring. It is a modern invention based on an ancient one. It is called Emotional Freedom Technique, or EFT. It is sometimes called tapping, for brevity. It employs tapping on the end of certain meridians (nerve endings) as they appear in Chinese acupressure or acupuncture, and speaking affirmations. This will elicit a very quick and effective result. The drawback is that it is time consuming and often temporary. This method is not an anchor, so it seeks to achieve and end result by another means, nor does it program anchors, but, it could be used to help you program anchors. Let’s say you have a stomach ache. You use tapping to make it go away, a sort of reframing method, then once you feel good, you anchor that feeling with a specific gesture or finger press. Then once properly anchored, that same gesture/pressure alone will do the trick.
Tapping itself is a process as such: You focus on your physical or mental ailment and rate it in pain or discomfort between 1 and 10. Then you take a deep breath and begin continually tapping with 1 hand on the outer ridge of your other hand (where the shuto strikes) for about 10 seconds. Then the cycle starts with next tapping the side of your eye between your temple and eye socket for the same amount of time. Next tap your eyebrow. Next tap under your eye . Next tap under your nose, then in the crease between your lower lip and your chin, then just under your collar bone, then on your side where your bra strap would be, then the top of your head. Now repeat through a 2nd time (or more), but now repeat out loud affirmations like, “I release this pain”, “I am in touch with my body”, “I feel great now”...just about anything. When you are finished, rate your pain again and see if it has reduced. You can keep going until you reach the desired level.
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"Q. When should someone be promoted to black belt?
A. Everyone is different. There is no set time. When Hatsumi says something, you say, "Yes Sir!" If he says something is white when it's really black or black when it's really white, you say, "Yes Sir!" In the old days, it was much easier to be promoted. There were no coloured belts at all. You got a black belt on your first day. I (Nagato) was the fastest person to get to 5th Dan ever. In Japan, it is customary to give black belts early to encourage people. You should err on the early side as opposed to too strict. It's ok if someone refuses a rank. I have approached people to promote them and they said no, which is ok, but generally you should say yes and accept it with gratitude. People with a good heart should be promoted faster, good people in the Bujinkan. People with a bad heart should not be promoted, but really, they should not be allowed to train. A guy came to Japan as a 1st or 2nd Dan and was promoted to 6th Dan (though he had to go through 4th and 5th, since that is a major stopping point). He had been kicked out of training by his instructor back in the US, and that instructor ended up murdering his own wife (unrelated to this guy). Try to promote and reward people of good heart first, and try to promote a little bit early."
]]>Things to stock for surviving 30 days and beyond
1. Water, both stored and filters for more.
How much water do you need to store? The average adult needs 4 litres per day, and a child needs 5.5 litres per day. So 1 adult would need 120 litres for a month, and 1 child would need 165 litres for a month.
The average water filter will handle 1,000 litres.
There are 2 kinds of contaminants in water you need to consider: dirt, and germs
Storage jugs of water can be stored indefinitely as long as they were never opened and you didn’t seal them yourself. A vacuum and sterility are required for this to work. If you store your own water in jugs yourself, you must sterilize the container, vacuum seal it, and protect it from heat and light, but it will eventually grow bacteria and be undrinkable. Remember, properly stored water never expires.
Remember that some water jugs are designed to biodegrade, so long term storage will leak out eventually. Also, regular plastic is made of fossil fuels so they can leak chemicals into your water. Also, do not store plastic jugs of water on cement. Plastic jugs will leach up chemicals that have been spilled on the cement in the past and put it in your water.
Those water bladders that you can buy to put in your tub for emergencies will do you no good after the fact. Once an emergency has been declared, you need to have water already. Besides, it will do you no good if the water that comes out of your faucet is brown. Stock up now.
Urban areas are more dangerous. If you plan to visit a nearby river or lake, remember that thousands of other people may have the same idea, and water will be more contaminated because of it and industries. Consider harvesting rainwater and digging your own well. But start stockpiling water.
Practice this exercise: You could also cut open a pop bottle with slats along the side, then bend the slats out, much like a fan, to gather rain water so it funnels into the bottle. You can use a lighter to warm the bends of the slats so they go where you want better.
2. Food.
Someone once asked me, how much food should I store? I answered, saying, “How long do you want to live?”
Freeze dried survival food will survive 25+ years. You can vacuum seal your own food, or use a food dehydrator, or a freeze dryer, or any combination and the food should last a good many years. Even regular canned food should last a very long time.
Also, never tell anyone that you store things like this, let alone where.
But eating this for 30 days straight may lead to boredom, so include some comfort food that will last, taste good, provide missing nutrients, and could be used for bartering. Try:
i. hard candy
ii. Tabasco sauce to make bland foods taste better.
iii. Instant coffee, for maintain routine like before a collapse, bartering, or for...coffee.
iv. Powdered hot chocolate, for heat, for endorphins.
v. Coconut oil, for healthy fats that run your brain for clarity, and it stores for 25 years or so as is.
If there is a problem last minute and you need more food, the best place to go is an ethnic food store. Know where these are in advance. Less people know or think about these.
Don’t tell people. Don’t tell your friends. Your friends will think you’re crazy now...until it happens and they need your help. They will come to you and it will be difficult to say no, then they will eat you away, starting with the tastiest stuff, not the shortest lasting stock. If you are in this dangerous possible situation, maybe you should think of having a decoy stash to give them, while keeping your best stuff for your own family.
If you find (or bring) canned food, but no can opener, there are several ways you can open it.
Practice this exercise: 1) Using the mouth of a spoon, you can puncture the edge of the lid and work it around until it is completely removed. It can be hard on your hands, but the right grip will solve that. This is the easiest method. 2) Find a flat rock or a brick and rub the flat part of the whole top of the can vigorously on the rock. It will wear the seam down and since cans are made with a rolled edge, it will eventually pop off. 3) Bend the can at the middle and work back and forth until metal fatigue causes the can to break apart into two complete halves. This is the hardest method.
Practice this exercise: But wait...you forgot a spoon to eat your food with. Not to worry. If you happen to have a pop/soda bottle handy and a knife, you can cut out a spoon using the bevel near the bottom as the mouth of the spoon. Use a lighter to quickly melt the edges so you don’t get sharp edges in your mouth.
Practice this exercise: Make a tripod to boil water over a campfire. You will need 3 sticks about 4 feel long, 1 stick 8 feet long, and 1 more stick about 3 feet long with a hook at the end, paracord, and a knife. Tie the three stick at 4 feet long together at one end and open like a tripod next to your fire. Carve the end of your 8 foot long stick to a flat tip and lay it on your tripod with one end on the ground and the flat tipped end directly over the fire. Carve the last stick with several notches to hang off the long stick for different heights and the hooked part at the bottom to put your kettle on to boil.
3. Weapons.
You should have firearms. A combination of handguns and something like an AR-15 is best. But you should also have a common ammo that could be used in more than a single gun. How much ammo? Lots of it.
You need our normal shinobi weapons too. Bladed weapons never run out of ammo.
4. A source of light.
It doesn’t have to be bright. In fact, sometimes less bright is better so it doesn’t draw attention. Red light is good for seeing maps without drawing attention. Stock up on batteries, or else have a wind up version.
5. A stove.
Something to cook your food on. It can be a propane stove, or it can be a fire pit outside.
6. A first aid kit. The doctor is not in. Include your medications (that you have been stockpiling, right?), glasses, contacts (this could be a problem), and anything else you need.
7. Money.
Remember this is just for 30 days. All twenty dollar bills because if you need to buy smaller items, you won’t be able to break a fifty. For over thirty days, start thinking about precious metals such as gold and silver. They can be broken off or melted easily. Gold and silver is real money that paper money only represents anyway. Don’t store money in the bedroom. That’s the first place criminals will look. Use a waterproof safe, or a hidden safe, inside a box in the attic, bolted to the floor.
8. Electricity.
Have a generator. Have a small external phone charger. This little one should always be with you when you leave the house. Prior catastrophes have shown stores with a generator charging people outrageous prices to charge their phones. When I was in the military in a disaster, I saw people hoarding and running their generators inside the house while they sat huddled in a corner with a shotgun. Generator thieves were everywhere. And did you know that in recent years, there have been 124% more power outages because of aging infrastructure?
Practice this exercise: In a pinch, you can charge your cell phone by attaching the base of your car charger to the positive terminal of a 9 volt battery (the smaller terminal, often marked on the side of the battery with a +), and use a metal object like a paperclip or a key to attach the other terminal to the side of the car charger and tape it all together.
You should consider using landscaping solar powered lights around your driveway and pathways. These will save you a lot of headache and can double as battery chargers too! Get a 1,000,000 candlepower handheld spotlight. It is so bright, it will definitely deter thieves since they cannot see to defend themselves. And consider solar lanterns to use in your house. They are bright enough to see and read with and move around your house. They are brighter than candles and much safer. But you don’t want to glow at night during an extended outage. Have thick black plastic sheeting on hand to cover your windows so your family can move around in peace and keep out the prying eyes of looters, “victims”, hungry people, and others.
9. Sleeping bag.
If you don’t need to leave the house, that’s one thing. But if you do, you need a sleeping bag. For every member of your family that’s coming with you. In a pinch, you can make your own bed out there, or you can get a Bivvy bag. They are like an emergency blanket, but modified, and rolls up to the size of a can of food. Good for cold weather too! (See our store for all these at divinewarriorninjutsu.com)
10. Fire starter
You should have a lighter. You should have waterproof matches. You should have flint, and paracord.
Practice this exercise: Can you start a fire with a sandwich bag? Yes! All you have to do is put water in it (or even urine) and twist it into a ball shape the size of a tennis ball and focus the sun’s rays through the makeshift magnifying glass onto your tinder.
Practice this exercise: Use a bow drill to make a fire. To make a bow drill, you will need to find a supple branch, a cord (you could make cord from scratch), a cap of wood, another dry branch for the spindle, and as bottom plate of wood. You will need to cut a notch with your knife along the edge of the wooden base plate, as cononical as possible with an even smaller outlet for embers to come out as you drill. The cone shape should allow the spindle to rest in it well. Put your tinder against the outlet on your baseplate. Notch the cap so it will hold the spindle. Attach the cordage to the supple branch tightly, then wrap the cordage around the spindle once (this will not be easy) near the center. Place the cap atop the spindle and begin moving the bow drill as quickly and smoothly as possible until it chares the wooded baseplate and passes an ember out through the opening into your tinder. It will smoke, but contrary to what you have seen on television, just spinning a branch on wood will not start fire directly. The above method will work, but is very difficult. You could have several people helping to switch off with, or even make a larger bow drill for 2 people (1 at either end) to sit down and pull back and forth. Once your ember is smoking inside your tinder, blow gently to get it to ignite. Obviously, be ready for your next step of lighting your “camp fire”.
But, what if you have no rope or string? Then you must make cordage from scratch. You want to select natural fibres that are both long and strong. Some good choices that come to mind are stinging nettle (which stops stinging if you submerge it in water), willow bark, spruce tree roots, cat tail, milk weed, or just about anything in your geographic area.
Practice this exercise: To make cordage, you need to know 2 things: How to twist it, and how to splice it. First, prepare the material by hitting the material with a rock against another rock to separate the fingers and make it stringy (expect in the case of material that is very flexible to begin with). To twist it, take a single piece of your material and fold it over so one end is not even with the other end, about half way is good. Starting at the folded end, secure it with your left thumb and forefinger. Begin to twist the top string with your right hand thumb and forefinger away from you, then grab the lower string with your forefinger and middle finger on your right hand. Twist both strands together by letting go with your left hand and rotating your right hand back toward you so the bottom strand is now on top. Re-secure with your left hand. Repeat.
When one strand has almost run out, you will need to splice a second string onto it. To do this, line up your new string with the short string so that it meets where your left hand is holding it and grab it with your left hand fingers as you have been doing. Continue to twist until it integrates with what you have been doing. When you get it as long as you want it, make a standard square knot and pass the end back down through before you tighten it so you end up with a loop like the other end. If you doubt it’s strength, you can always make another one the same length and then twist them both together the same way.
If you get tired part way through, simply bend both ends back toward the beginning and law it down. Each strand wants to twist against the other so it will stay together.
Practice these exercises: You can also start a fire with a 9v battery and steel wool by touching them together. You can use 4 or more 9v batteries attached in series and attached with wire to the lead on one wire and aluminum foil on the other wire, then touch the graphite lead to the aluminium to spark it with tissue paper there to catch the spark. You can do the same thing with a car battery and jumper cables (with or without aluminum foil).
Practice this exercise: Open the end of an incandescent lightbulb and use water inside and shake it to remove the white coating, then discard it. Fill it with water and cap the end (like with a balloon). Focus the sunlight through the bulb onto your paper. Black coloured tinder always absorbs sunlight the fastest so start there.
Practice this exercise: Place saran wrap into a bowl and fill it with water. Gather the corners of the saran wrap together and twist, forming a sphere filled with water. Use this to magnify the sun’s rays onto your dark tinder and start your fire.
Practice this exercise: Cover an old picture frame with a layer of saran wrap and rest it atop 2 cinder blocks. Poor hot water on it so the saran wrap sags in the middle, then you have a magnifying lens. Move your tinder into the focal point of the rays and wait.
Practice this exercise: Find a bulbous shaped bottle and fill it with water, then you can magnify the sun’s rays the same way.
Practice this exercise: Different ways to burn a fire: Upside down fire, Swedish torch, Swedish torch with a chainsaw, Swedish torch with smaller logs tied together, Swedish torch/rocket stove, all night fire/stove top (see video).
Practice this exercise: Make waterproof matches by dipping wooden matchsticks into wax. The wax will protect your match from water and will come off easily when you strike it.
11. Keep an emergency radio in your bug out bag that will work after the power grid goes down. A solar or wind up is a great choice. This will keep you updated on emergency situations and the location of emergency shelters, food, and other provisions. Fibre optic systems work differently than wired systems so they will probably be the first to be back up again. Keep that in mind.
12. A whistle.
13. Clothing. Dry and warm. Rain gear. Winter gear.
14. Waterproof map of the local area, copies of IDs, passport, location of hospitals, police, emergency services (especially if you are traveling and not in your hometown).
15. Small tools, shovel, screwdriver set, saw, multi-tool, knife.
Practice this exercise: Didn’t pack a whistle? A plastic wrapper from a candy will work just as well. Hold one edge open tight and blow against the edge while holding it against your lip.
Making a shelter. Choose a spot out of the wind and with no rocks, or with the possibility of dead tree limbs or other items falling on it. Try to face the opening downwind and able to make a fire very close to your opening so it catches the heat. Choose a spot near drinking water, but not too close. A river could flood, but it will also cover the sounds of intruders. Also set up your shelter near possible food sources for fishing, and snaring game. Animals always use the same path everyday so you can spot their traveling routes. How you build a shelter will depend on your regional available material, but try to make it dry and warm and waterproof. Try to make a bed that is raised and does not sit directly on the ground. This will help keep you dry and safe from predators.
Have you thought about what would happen during an emp attack? What does emp mean? It stands for electromagnetic pulse. This can come is several forms, such as a tiny emp grenade, but the most feared one is when a nuclear device goes off. Generally, if a nuclear missile exploded in the atmosphere, it will simultaneously let off a pulse of energy that would first destroy all electronic devices because any possible nuclear blast or radiation fallout. It could reach up to two thousand kilometres or more, depending on the size of the yield. This means that the power grid would go offline and it could take a decade to restore it. All electronic devices would stop working. If a device is powered off and unplugged, there is a chance it would be okay, but without a power grid, it wouldn’t much matter unless you did the same with a generator. This means no computers or internet, no Wifi, no cell service or landline service, no banks, no grocery stores, no travel of any kind that relied on power, no gas pumps (though they can be manually pumped in an emergency), no fuel deliveries, no food deliveries, no anything related to electricity.
Are you ready? Money in the bank would be lost and worthless. The vaults won’t open so your safety deposit boxes are out too. Money as we know it is simply a promissory note that represents real money anyway. What is real money? It’s held by the government in a central vault in the form of precious metals like silver and gold. If you are handling your finances properly (you are, right?), you should be saving ten percent of your income right off the top before bills. 30% should go to a cash emergency fund of twenty dollar bills, and 70% split equally among mutual funds and precious metals. The precious metals, like gold, are soft metals so they can be broken off in bits or melted for easy exchange of goods and services in the event paper money is useless. Keep it all in a safe at home.
You will eventually need to hunt your own food. Hunting big game and small game are two different scenarios, with different approaches, and different levels of difficulty. You will be much better off going after small game, and don’t be afraid to broaden your horizons. Food is food. Rabbit, porcupine, fox, snake, turtle, squirrel, chipmunk, racoon... Some basic rules are, if you didn’t kill it, don’t eat it. You never know why an animal died if you happen across one. We are thinking diseases here. And if you did kill it, look for rabies. Using a rifle is the best way. Squirrels gather at the base of trees while rabbits prefer the open field. Small game is most active in the morning and early evening. Foliage is their natural cover. Hunting with a rifle is time consuming though. Trapping is much less time consuming. Set as many traps as possible and a small percentage will yield fruit (so to speak). Paths used by small game can be easily spotted so just set up along those. If you are near water, just about any fish you can catch will be perfectly nutritious. Focus on anything you get. Smaller fish are smaller, but they are more abundant. It’s easy to improvise fishing gear, but it doesn’t hurt to add small items like fishing rods, line, & hooks. Making a spear for fishing or hunting is very easy. Just remember to pack your knife. People can go a long time without food in survival and you will need less too. Remember the rule of 4s. 4 minutes without air, 4 days without water, and 40 days without food. Allocate your energy wisely. Sitting and fishing takes less energy than running after an animal.
Practice this exercise: You can make a lure for fishing by cutting one inches off your paracord, then pulling the inner strings one inch out of the end, then cut the back one inch of the outer sheath off. Bait your hook with it and melt the top end all together with a lighter. Now fray the bottom outer sheath and inner strings so it looks like a tail.
Survival myths: Sucking out snake venom from a bite will help or even stop the poison. False. This could get venom in your mouth or infect the bite wound. You should keep the bite lower than your heart to slow the progression of poison and seek medical aide as soon as possible.
If a bear approaches, play dead. True and false. This might work against a brown bear or a grizzly bear. Try walking away carefully and slowly and don’t fall down. If necessary, lay face down and cover the back of your neck. If a black bear approaches, run or fight. Pepper spray is a great option.
Food is the number one priority if you are lost in the wilderness. False. Food is third on the list of priorities since you can live 40 days without food. Water is first. Shelter is second.
Moss only grown on the north side of a tree. False. Moss favours moist and dark conditions. In the northern hemisphere, this is usually north, but in a forest, if a tree is shaded on another side by other trees, it can grow anywhere.
If a shark attacks, punch it in the nose. True and false. Punching underwater is very difficult, but a punch anywhere will deter a shark. Gouging at the eyes and gills may be a better solution.
Awareness: In a disaster, especially in a city, you will need heightened awareness to be ready for problems from other people. Always watch for people following you anywhere, especially back home. Watch for strange cars parked nearby, noises, smells, and new items near your home from human interaction. Have your escape route planned and ready. Have weapons stashed and on your person. Awareness, readiness, security, and planning all go hand in hand.
Self-defence. For some, this might sound like a no-brainer. But many people still put it off or rely on a firearm for defence. A firearm is fine, but they have many shortcomings. Take a self-defence course. Do your research on what to take. There are basically two types of martial arts: sports and reality. You will want a reality based combat system like Ninjutsu to survive both man and nature.
Know your weapons. If you insist on using a firearm, learn how to use it safely and accurately. Mistakes will be very costly and happen every day around the world. Martial arts weapons (like blades) also require safety and skill, but have advantages over firearms that you would likely learn about in a course.
Medical. Know basic first aid and have basic medical (or extensive) supplies on hand. If you are in a city, the hospitals will be overrun. You will be the doctor in many situations, you will find.
Do-it-yourself. In a survival or disaster situation, you won’t be able to call the utility company, or an electrician, or plumber, or carpenter, or mechanic... It’s easy to call them now, but consider learning the basics. You will need to do it yourself once the kaka hits the rotating blades. We tend to throw everything away these days and buy brand new stuff. Your first instinct should be to reduce, reuse, and recycle so try fixing it. Or watch someone do it. Or take an online course. They abound or try YouTube, though they are less organized and may be wrong.
Time. There are multiple ways to tell time in the wilderness. One way is to measure the distance between the horizon and the sun using your fingers stacked, using both hands, if necessary. Each finger width is about fifteen minutes. If there is a sun out today, practice this exercise.
Direction. How to make a compass. Using a small piece of metal, or a sewing needle, rub your knife on the needle in the same direction one hundred times. Now carefully place the needle onto a small container of water so the surface tension holds the needle on top of the water. You could also use a small round piece of paper or tissue to help keep it afloat. One end of the needle will point north while the other end will point south. Use contextual clues in your environment to determine which is which. Don’t get too close to the “compass” or near electronic devices or other metal objects as this will skew all compasses from magnetic north.
Latrine. Put your toilet paper inside of a coffee can. Cut out a slot for the paper to come through and put holes in the top and bottom of the can, then run rope through it so you can hang it near the latrine area. This will keep it dry and clean.
How to cut rope if you don’t have a knife. Practice this exercise. Tie two knots a few inches apart at the section of rope you want to cut, then step on each side of the knots and use another section of the rope to saw through the rope. The friction will burn through and the knots prevent fraying.
You can temporarily waterproof shoes & boots that are leaking by rubbing Chapstick on the seams, then using a lighter to melt it so the oils penetrate the seam. You can do the same thing with a leaky zipper on a jacket, but maybe don’t melt it that time. You can also use Chapstick as a candle by removing the lip balm from it’s container and placing it in a non-flammable container or aluminum foil, then laying in a cotton wick from a torn piece of cloth. This can be used for warmth, light, or to light another fire.
You can purify water directly in a cistern. Add 1 tablespoon of powdered alum for every sixteen to twenty gallons of water. Wait a few hours for it to do it’s work, then, voila! You have pure water.
If you suspect a gas leak, an easy way to confirm your suspicion is to apply a soapy solution to the area and see if it bubbles. If so, you can fix it right away and ease your mind.
You can make a quick measurement in the wilderness if you have coins in your pocket. A Canadian penny is 18.87mm, a nickel is 21.27mm, a dime is 17.77mm, a quarter is 23.91mm, a loonie is 26.55mm, and a twonie is 27.99mm.
You can see some of these on our YouTube channel HERE.
All our complete courses can be found HERE.
]]>Japanese vowels are like English vowels, but their sounds are consistent and never change like they do in English. A, I, U, E, O, in that order.
A as in Karate, Atago.
I as in kimono, sushi.
U as in sushi, Suzuki.
E as in metsubushi, men.
O as in Ohayo, onna.
Long vowels and consonants are pronounced the same as short ones but are held for double time and are written in Romaji (English based sound of Japanese characters) with diacritics over them such as ā, ī, ū, ē, ō. You might see them written like this if a book printer is lazy: aa, ii, uu, ee, oo, but the sound is the same.
Ā as in obāsan.
Ī as in chīzu.
Ū as in pūru.
Ē as in sēnta.
Ō as in kōkō.
When vowels are placed together, they are separate and distinct sounds and are not blended together like they can be in English.
Samurai. The last 2 vowels are pronounced as an A and an I independently.
Geisha. The E and I are pronounced independently of each other also.
Consonants are pronounced the same as in English with a couple small exceptions. F is pronounced much lighter where your teeth don’t actually touch your lip. Try it with Fuji San and tōfu. R is a combination of the sounds of R, D, and L. Many would argue this, but in my opinion, the closest approximation sound is like a rolling R, but only a single roll, if that makes sense.
Japanese has three alphabets. Kanji are similar to Egyptian hieroglyphics where they represent ideas and not sounds, and there are approximately 50,000 of these. The interesting thing about these is that they are the same alphabet as Chinese and can be understood by the Chinese as well. It can also be read backward and will still make sense. The second alphabet is hiragana. These are characters that represent a sound, and usually make up one consonant and a vowel together. There are 46 hiragana, or 71 if you include diacritics. The 3rd alphabet is called Katakana. These represent the same sounds as in Hiragana but are used exclusively for foreign imported words.
In Japan, the last name comes first. The first name is not always included, and depends on the situation. Finally, keep in mind that Japanese people usually don't shake hands.
When it comes to learning Japanese (or any skill), putting your goal down on paper increases your chances of success by 90%. How do you stay motivated and productive enough that you’re still improving yourself months later? Learning goals fail because they’re unspecific and unmeasurable. Is your goal measurable? They’re unrealistic. There is no action plan. If you have a specific and realistic goal, but you’re still not on the path to success, the problem is that (Japanese) learners will fail even with specific, realistic goals unless they can answer the following questions: When will you study? How long will you study for every day? Where do you plan to study? How will you study? What is your study schedule? Remember that with setting goals, you need deadlines and you need to break them up into specific and realistic action steps. Break up your goal into a month-to-month plan and ask yourself what you want to get done by the 1st of a specific month? 100 new words in 2 month's time is very doable. One hundred words can be learned even in a single month. Divide it over 4 weeks, which is 25 words a week, and then again daily which is 5-6 words a day. Start small with monthly goals, and write those monthly goals down. After you’re done your first month, reward yourself. Psychological studies have long proven that getting rewards for achieving goals (called positive reinforcement) is the key to creating lasting habits. In this case, it’s the habit of Japanese learning. Next, analyze your month. Was it too easy or too hard? Adjust it for your next goal.
It's said that Japanese pronunciation is one of the simplest parts of the language. Despite everything, it takes some training. Consider stress in English for a moment. Try saying the words "investigate" and "entrance" out loud. When you say these words out loud, you stress certain syllables. In "investigate," the stress is on the "ves" syllable. In "entrance," the stress is on the "en" syllable. It's probably something that just comes naturally that you've never noticed, but because English pronunciation emphasizes certain syllables, English is known as a stress language. Japanese doesn't have stress! It's a stress-free language! In Japanese, each syllable is held the same length of time and given equal stress. Keep this in mind when pronouncing Japanese. Let's look at a word in Japanese and compare how it is pronounced in both Japanese and English. Let's take the word sayonara, the word meaning "goodbye". English pronunciation: [ sa-yo-NA-ra ] Note how the third syllable is stressed. Japanese pronunciation: [sa-yo-na-ra ]. In Japanese, each syllable receives the same amount of stress. This might sound like a lot to consider, but remember that learning good pronunciation is one of the easiest parts of learning Japanese.
Greetings
おはよう, Ohayō, Good morning
ございます, gozaimasu, phrase used to add the politeness to the expression
こんにちは, Kon'nichiwa, hello/good day (daytime greeting)
ね,ne, right?
さようなら, sayōnara, goodbye
また, mata, again
Sample Sentences
皆さん、こんにちは。 Mina-san, kon'nichiwa. Hello, everybody.
じゃ、また。Ja, mata. See you later.
Now you will learn how to greet someone when you arrive and when you part.
おはようございます。(Ohayō gozaimasu.) Good morning.
こんにちは。(Kon'nichi wa.) Good day.
またね!(Mat a ne!) See you! Informal.
さようなら。(Sayōnara.) Goodbye.
Cultural Insight
When you leave your workplace, you would never say sayonara. Instead, you usually say お疲れ様でした (Otsukaresamadeshita), which means "thank you for working together."
Here's the informal way to say "Thank you" in Japanese. ありがとう。(arigatō)
Let's see the formal way to say "Thank you very much." どうもありがとうございます。(Dōmo arigatō gozaimasu.)
The following is another formal way to say "Thank you very much." 本当にありがとうございます。(Hontō ni arigatō gozaimasu.)
Finally is a formal way to say "Thanks for everything." いろいろありがとうございます。(Iroiro arigatō gozaimasu.)
In Japanese, we often say dōmo, instead of "thank you." However, it's the most casual way of saying “thank you” and sometimes it even sounds very rude. So you have to be careful when you use it.
Asking How Someone Is
Here's the way to ask "How are you?" in Japanese. It literally means “Are you Fine?” 元気ですか。(Genki desu ka.)
First is a word meaning "fine." 元気 (genki)
Next is the word meaning "are." です(desu)
Last is the question particle. か(ka)
Now, pretend you’re talking to your friend. Here's the informal way to ask
"How are you?" 元気?(Genki?)
This one word expression literally means "fine."
Here's an answer that means "I'm fine. Thank you." or literally "Yes, I'm fine." はい、元気です。(Hai, genki desu.)
First is a word meaning "yes." はい (hai)
Next is the word meaning "fine." 元気(genki)
Last is the word meaning "am." です(desu)
Here's a response meaning "not so well" or literally “no, not so well.” いいえ、あまり。(Iie, amari.)
First is a word meaning "no." いいえ(iie)
Next is the word meaning "not very." あまり(amari)
Cultural Insight
To reply to the greeting "How are you?" in Japanese, people sometimes say お蔭様で (Okagesama de), especially in a formal situation. It's almost the same as "I'm fine. Thank you." in English. Okagesama de means something like "thanks to you.”
Sample Sentences
私はお酒があまり好きじゃない。Watashi wa osake ga amari suki janai. I don't really like alcohol.
オッケイです。Okkei desu. It's okay.
いいえ、ちがいます。Iie, chigaimasu. No, that's wrong.
A.「お元気ですか。」 O-genki desu ka. How are you?
B.「はい、すごく元気です。」 Hai, sugoku genki desu. I'm great!
Apologizing
すみません (sumimasen) excuse me, sorry
どうもすみませ ん。(Dōmo sumimasen,) Excuse me. / I'm sorry. (Very polite)
ごめんなさい。 (Gomen'nasai.) I'm sorry. (Less polite)
When saying すみません (sumimasen) or ごめんなさい (gomen'nasai), Japanese people often bow. When you lightly say "Excuse me," you just bow by lowering your head a little bit. However, when you deeply apologize to someone, you should bend your head very low.
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