Day of The Ninja

A Holiday we at Three Ninjas can finally get 100% behind. Day of the Ninja… (It helps if you say it in the tone of voice used on the title sequence of old 60s/70s B movies)

What is Day of the Ninja? Well I’m glad you ask, and let me answer by pointing you at the information from Wikipedia.

From Wikipedia

In 2003, the creators of Ninja Burger declared that December 5 would be celebrated as Day of the Ninja. On this day, people are encouraged to dress as ninja, engage in ninja-related activities, and spread information on ninja online. December 5 was originally chosen because December 5, 2003 marked the release of Tom Cruise’s film The Last Samurai (which featured a scene where samurai battled ninja). Since then the focus has shifted towards the more familiar Pirates versus Ninjas conflict, and the day has served as a virtual counterpoint to International Talk Like a Pirate Day.

The first year’s events were small, but in 2004 the holiday gained international support from a group of French performers, who staged elaborate ninja poses in front of famous landmarks (such as the Eiffel Tower). This led to increased press coverage from, among other things, the French Disney magazine Picsou. The holiday drew support from the popular Ask a Ninja website in 2006; a podcast on November 30 of that year discussed an alternative explanation for the holiday’s origin, set 1400 years ago. The release of the Ask a Ninja DVD was timed to coincide with that year’s Day of the Ninja (Dec. 5, 2006), and helped garner additional press coverage. The DVD release party itself was heavily covered by the “blogosphere”, with numerous references to the Day of the Ninja. Perhaps not coincidentally, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest was also released on DVD on December 5, 2006; the Ask a Ninja website had already added to the Pirates vs Ninjas meme when “the Ninja” gave a blistering review of the film in an earlier podcast.

2007 saw official acknowledgment from the press including NPR’s Morning Edition,as well as a coordinated ninja-themed video game announcement from EA and the official release of the Pirates Vs. Ninjas Dodgeball website. G4 Network’s Attack of the Show also celebrated 2007’s Day of the Ninja by replacing usual host Kevin with the “Ask a Ninja” Ninja, and the network also ran a Ninja Warrior marathon, with many more episodes than usual throughout the day. The Day of the Ninja is one of only two days of the year that players can get the “Arr…” badge in Saints Row II; it is one of the badges required for Kingpin.

Ninja Burger’s Day of the Ninja website features a Day of the Ninja PSA that was created by Fulltimeninjas.com.

Another site, ninjaday.org, has independently declared December 5 as International Creep Like a Ninja Day. Other possible names include Die Like a Pirate Day, Stalk Like a Ninja Day, Sneak Like a Ninja Day, Move Like a Ninja Day,or simply Ninja Day. According to the official website, this site and others of its kind are unrelated to Ninja Burger or the original Day of the Ninja website, although their efforts are supported.

Butterfly Tai Chi – Feel healthier & Calmer in 20 mins aday

DVD CoverI got back to the Ninja Temple last night to find an envelope waiting for me containing a copy of “Butterfly Tai Chi“. I had been wanting to watch this since I first saw the clips/info about it when it was being filmed. I should point out I have a slight background in BaGua, and have been interested in the concept of TaiChi for a while now.  Since I have been meaning to get into it for a while, I was interested in the Butterfly TaiChi with its advertised “Take just twenty minutes out of your day to practice the seven simple elegant movements of Butterfly Tai Chi you will feel healthier happier and more energised“. Twenty minutes a day? I can find time for that, especially it it does not require much floor space.

I watched the DVD last night, It comes in three parts 1)A Warm-up, 2)The Basic Set, & 3) Advanced set. The techniques are simple to follow, and the instructor explains the moves well including any health benefits. Unlike some other DVD’s I have seen in this area the moves were explained simply for people without any previous training, and instructions were given on how to adapt the moves while you are learning, and that its better to get the feeling right than exactly mimic the instructor on the screen. Overall the feeling from watching the DVD was almost like having a one on one session with a trainer in a friendly atmosphere than a more technical manual of what you should be doing.

I did not try out the moves (err something to do with beer in the temple fridge) but I am looking forward to planning to set aside some time to start following the system. And I’ll post a practitioners review after I’ve spent a while trying the moves.

For those interested in more information on Butterfly Tai Chi, you can visit the website at http://butterflytaichi.co.uk/

This weapon is your life.

Well today I have discovered one of my greatest wishes has almost come true. Someone has built a working lightsaber.

OK, I realise its not a real lightsaber as in the weapon of the Jedi and all that, But it will set fire and burn flesh and objects. Its portable & hand held. So I think its heading in the right direction. And I want one.

I want one.. Give me one NOW!!!!!!

Some Technobable! (more…)

Attack of the Deadly Dancers

This weekend I had a meeting with a representative of a local troupe of Belly Dancers (OI! get your mind out the gutter, I was not booking them for a private showing!) I was there in the guise of a possible “consultant“.belly-dancer

Now I can imagine lots of good consultant roles in relationship to belly dancing, for example :- Checking things shimmy as they are supposed to, Making sure the costumes do not cover too much up, and a load of other sexist stuff I could come up with but will resist, (Which considering the consultant request is a wise choice).

The consultant role they wanted from me was that of “Escrima Instructor.” Yes teaching them Filipino Martial Art Stick Fighting. This was not due to my first thought of keeping the viewers back, or dealing with any amorous fans.  NO! they are considering incorporating it into their dance routine.  Apparently there is a school of belly dance that uses sticks as part of the show, and these girls decided if they were going to do that then they should do it somewhat special.

So as a conscientious kind of instructor, If I agree to teach these girls escrima then i really need to know roughly what kind of styles they need to learn. So I believe some research is needed. For this reason I may be slow replying to people for the next week or so as I force myself to watch hours of videos of scantily clad women shimmy and dance. Its a hard life but someone has to do it!

Demos & Dogs

Well Saturday went differently from planned.

I was supposed to be taking part of a Martial Arts demo at a school fete on Saturday afternoon, but alas it was called off at short notice, so I found myself at a loose end…

But luckily as phoned to let me know the good/bad news he mentioned that he was off with to take Jeff for a walk over the hills, and invited me along..

So a good afternoon was had, Its been years since i went for a walk through the countryside, I’d forgotten how much I used to enjoy it, ok, my legs moaned at me the following day for using them more than I normally do, but it was worth it. Nice walk, nice countryside, nice weather, Nice pint or two later.. And most importantly Jeff…

Welsh Weather

Got to love the welsh weather.

Just finished training in chester where its hot and dry, jump into the car to drive home, and as soon as i got to the “welcome to wales” sign.. Torrential Rain!!

Only in wales :0)