NinjaKids SF is a noncompetitive class in Bujinkan budo taijutsu which focuses on how to stay safe: in every day activities, in sports, and in emergency situations where the child may be grabbed or attacked. Basics of striking and kicking are taught, simple swordplay, as well as Japanese vocabulary relevant to a solid foundation in Bujinkan.

Much of training takes the form of games. There are no tournaments or trophies, as often, when ego is involved, children may get hurt. The underlying philosophy is to not get in any fights at all, but to avoid and escape all dangerous situations and stay in control of physical and emotional space. If a child is forced into a fight, the goal is to stay calm and end the situation by whatever means the severity of the attack requires. This is a complex philosophy which the children seem to grasp better than most adults do!

Each hour class includes training on these aspects of Being Safe:

• Body Safe - Kamae, hand-eye coordination, etc
• Falling Safe - Ukemi, rolling, balance, breathing, etc.
• Defending Safe - Taijustu, striking and kicking, basic defense techniques
• Knowing Safe - Storytime, vocabulary, living values

Uniforms and Belts

Black Japanese do-gi (training uniforms) and an appropriate colored belt are worn in our training. If you already have a white training uniform, there is no need to buy a new one until you wish to or the old one wears out. Sweats or shorts are acceptable for the first few classes. For shoes, kids can wear traditional tabi, ballet slippers, socks or barefeet.

Promotions happen often to keep children excited and learning. Blue is a "Junior Black Belt" and the next step is a Green belt (8th queue) in an adult class. San Francisco kid belt ranks are as follows:

• White
• Yellow
  • 1 stripe
  • 2 stripes
• Orange
  • 1 stripe
  • 2 stripes
• Purple
  • 1 stripe
  • 2 stripes
• Red
  • 1 stripe
  • 2 stripes
• Blue

Bowing

Training begins with all members kneeling in seiza facing the front wall of the dojo. The instructor intones the following motto:" SHI-KIN HARA-MITSU DAI-KO-MYO" (This phrase cannot be translated directly into English. One interpretation is: "A moment of true interaction between mind and spirit may lead to Enlightenment." There are many others.)

All clap twice, bow once, clap once, and bow again. The teachers turns to face the class, and students and teachers bow to each other at the same time and say:" O-NE-GAI-SHI-MAS" (Please assist me). When class is over, bowing is repeated, but after "SHI-KIN HARA-MITSU DAI-KO-MYO", we say "DO-MO A-RI-GA-TO GO-ZAI-MAS" (Thank you very much) to end.

BuYu Guidelines for Children

• Keep it safe, but challenging with the perception of danger.
• Keep it simple and demanding of body and mind.
• Keep it moving with a focused direction.
• Keep it fun and entertaining with lessons.
• Nudge them beyond their perceived limits.
• Have structure with spontaneity.
• Keep going!
• Have fun!
• Go play!