What defines a Ninja? Those that join the Quiet Ninja. membership? Those that hide in plain site, walk in silence, and leave no footprints
The word Ninja - it should be said - is not a reference to a garbed and gloved sword wielding assassin at all, but instead a simple acronym. N I N J A
Letters that represent broad ideas - Moon shots. To be aimed at, rather than ticked off in a to-do list. They are guidelines rather than fixed principles. To be tasted, experimented with and adapted to suit the needs of where you are and what you are doing.
N - is for no-titles
Ninjas leave behind names and ranks, belts and gradings, certificates and tattooed forearms. Neither Sifu, nor sensei, not master nor professor etc. Ninjas learn from the past but are not enslaved to it. Worship is not part of their vocabulary. Respect yes. But more importantly is the offer of mutual support and the recognition that we are all walking the same path.
I - is for irreverent.
Play, don't study. You will see this written a lot. It nudges Ninjas to relax, and by so doing, Ninjas open to all possibilities of change and adaptation. Ninjas do not study, as this entails pursing and worrying about being right, and then getting into a tangle and a bit of a mess. Best just laugh (at ourselves, and at others with interesting haircuts and coloured training attire).
N - is for no-uniform.
Ninjas always practice in clothes they wear during their normal waking hours. Otherwise we run the risk of thinking we need to change into a special garment in the nearest phone booth - in order to use our new Tai Chi superpowers.
Uniform-ity here also encourages us not to pursue the same goal as everyone else. There are no single answers, no one-blueprint for all. No shoe that fits every foot. As we learn, as we walk our paths, the way opens before us, unveiling its direction and surface as we stroll lightly upon it. Each person will discover their own route. Beware the one-size-fits-all philosophy
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J - is for Just be yourself
Ninjas choose to learn in different ways. We start by "copying" when learning something new. Until the mechanics become familiar (but not set in stone). We copy until we begin to day-dream. Then, we bring ourselves back to Earth and begin to breathe life into the move in our own way. We copy to learn, but improvise to understand.
A - is for affordable, approachable (and maybe, a little bit of anarchism)
I don't like labels. I avoid them when I can. I am not an anarchist, nor for that matter am I a Taoist, though I am both fascinated and intrigued by both philosophies. Not just me either, there are plenty that have seen an overlap between the tao and the organisational principles within the philosophy of anarchism. Why is this?
Although many people find they resonate with the poetic nature of taoism, its elusive applicability to life leaves a vagueness and a difficulty in pinning its lessons down to a 21st century setting. To that end, you may find - should you be brave enough to dip your toes into the field - some curious and interesting analogies with theoretical anarchism: engagement and wisdom sourced from the ground level (rather than handed down by those above) a refreshing absence, therefore, of gurus, self-appointed leaders and unequal power structures. Cultural and social principles aimed at encouraging critical thinking etc. All curious and food for thought.
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