About rick (me)
It's 1969. I come back from school to find my mother in tears. She tells me that my father had an accident. I later discovered and investigated that the so-called accident was a political assassination plot because my father was running for high office. I grew up without a father, raised by my nanny and my mother to later hit the streets, and thank God one day I found my way training in a ninja dojo in Japan. My father was the Dean of the Faculty of Architecture (National Autonomous University of Mexico, rated 93 in the best universities in the world), a top-grade Harvard University graduate. My mother came from Basque and Swedish parents who had met in Los Angeles, where my grandma was a nurse; she had emigrated from Sweden when she was 18 years old. I am a North American with an international background, have lived in five countries, and speak 4 languages. At 8, I was too shy, weak, and affected by other things, so my mother decided to enroll me in Judo in order to help me overcome my shyness and lack of character. Until I was 22, I was in and out of many dojos and martial arts academies. When I was 12, I was sent to a military academy in Texas. I lasted there only 2 years, since I was induced into drugs by a family member. My life was a roller coaster until I quit drugs at 22 (I was living in Spain by then). I then began to train martial arts in a serious and constant way. From 22 to 24, I did Taekwondo, and at 25, I became very interested in Ninjutsu. My first real contact with Ninjutsu was in a seminar with Bo F. Munthe (first European student of Hatsumi Masaaki). I had been training at a local dojo that did several martial arts and had a Ninjutsu lesson, and they organized that weekend seminar. I am part Swedish, and my natural abilities for combat brought me close to Professor Munthe, so I started translating his seminars in Spain and went to train and study with him in Sweden also. In 1988 (my second trip to Japan) I met Ninja Grand Master Hatsumi Masaaki 34th Soke of Togakure Ryuu Ninpo. To my complete surprise, I was awarded (by him) a 3rd Dan and a junior instructor license to teach (Shidoshi-ho). I refused the grade because I felt that I didn't deserve it. He took an interest, and we had a talk. Just by looking into his eyes I knew he was the martial arts master I had been looking for all my life. He told me that when I got to be 60, I would be like him (I was 27 at the time). I will never be “like him,” but my life has become very special due to Ninpo. I returned to Japan many times (some 20 learning and trips in all, each from a few days to a whole month). In 1991, I took my 5th Dan test - Sakki test and in 2008 was awarded the Shihan grade (10th Dan). It is important to mention that Hatsumi Sensei's grades are not like modern martial or other martial art's grades. In 2010 was awarded the 10+5 Dan, the next morning I felt strange and my life somewhat changed at that moment; Ninpo and Budo can do strange and wonderful things to people. In 2011 was in a 1 month training trip to Japan when one Friday, after having lunch, was walking back to the guesthouse to get ready to go to Sensei's Friday lesson when the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami hit us. I was some 40 Km. away from Tokyo and some 80 Km. away from Fukushima nuclear plant, which had a radiation accident (there is a whole chapter ahead on my experience in that event). After living that experience I fell in Love with Japan and it's people,I wanted to get a better knowledge and grip of Japan. As a systems engineer, I developed a GNU Open Source full relational database engine, a development GUI, and several invoicing suites. These apps worked for many years, many hours a day, in very demanding circumstances. I am now retired, but I do regret that my developments sit there when they could be now helping small businesses. I have reached and surpassed my limit in professional IT. In 2011, I moved to Japan, where I spent almost 4 years studying (deep diving) into Kobudo and recovering from stress after I had to close my company after so much effort. In 2012, I was granted permission to open a Ninja Kids Dojo lesson in Japan. I first started in a Kindergarten on Sundays. As a way to help sustain my life as an advanced student in Japan I was teaching English at an English School in Saitama. There, with the full support of the school owners I started teaching Ninja Kids Dojo in English at public civic centers. After the system’s success I became a teacher at a prefecture Budokan. In 2016 Hatsumi Sensei awarded me with the Jyu-shyuu-shihan (outstanding senior instructor) award. I had to return to Spain in 2015 amid several health issues that needed surgery. From 2015 till 2020 returned to Japan a few times. I use the term Hard Right to define my general political stance and posture. It is not extreme, it is solid—a real and not a fake stance on what Right and conservative values represent. My values and stances on evil, degeneracy, and crime are the same as 30 years ago. I don't fluctuate on important things. I am an alcoholic with 28 years of recovery and 100% sobriety. I lived in hell for many years. If I went back to booze, I'd probably die and my life would be destroyed, so I hold on to martial arts, religion, and my values because my life depends on them in different ways. I am non-corruptible, don't bend under pressure, and don't need public approval. I live an honest, simple, and clean life, sharing my knowledge and experience with students and the public on selected sites and media.
Why I Wrote this BookI wrote this book because I’ve enjoyed doing it. Besides, this helped me keep record in the process of assimilating and better understanding this wonderful Martial Art. Also, this work may be of use and help to other people, whether they practice martial arts or not. My knowledge of ninja and Ninjutsu (Ninpo) is based on Hatsumi Masaaki’s teachings. I studied as a direct student with him was his translator for 12 years. From 1988 until 2018, I spent a few years in Japan, made many short and mid-stay trips there to learn and train. Besides my mother and father, he has been the most important and meaningful person in my life. I want to share my own experience and way of looking at things in the hope that it helps someone, or at least makes him or her reflect and think about certain essential things in life that are sometimes so hard to come across in these challenging times. I have developed several sub-systems from Ninpō, which can be of interest and help to groups of the modern population: women’s personal protection, police personal protection, and my Ninja Kids Dojo systems that complement child education. Also, I consider it quite sad that so much light, beauty, and knowledge flow in a real Ninpō (or real martial arts lesson) while only a small group of people get to listen, feel, and learn it. My wish is to take this (the way I understand it and the best way I can) to the public. It is very important to understand that I’m not selling a product or trying to make the whole world practice and learn my martial art; we are all different and have all types of needs and tastes. Hatsumi Sensei, like the top shihan in Japan, insist on teaching the basics, which are the backbone of any martial art. This text is based on the Ten Chi Jin Ryaku no Maki which I translated (initially, later re-edited) from English to Spanish. I do not engage in conflicting internal affairs of Bujinkan, gossip or politics – my time is precious. I make use of every second of my life and will not spend any time on irrelevant, unnecessary, or useless matters.
Who is this Book for?For the homeschool parents and instructors who have chosen to learn and use my system in their children’s and students study areas. For my students past, present and future. For Ninpo and Ninjutsu enthusiasts, Budo and Bujutsu enthusiasts. For all martial arts enthusiasts, also for anyone that wants to have have a look into a traditional martial art as well as for those doing research. There are people who know me or may be interested in someone like mine’s perspective and experience as well as the martial art itself. This book is also for them. In mind, also are instructors not only of Bujinkan Martial Arts but also of any martial art who wants to start a Ninja Kids Dojo using my system as an initial or absolute guide. This book together with my weekly online lessons can be used to learn Ninpo Kobujutsu at home. Nothing can substitue the feel, experience and warmth of a dojo but many people for whatever reason can’t go to a dojo for whatever reason or circumstances. In loving memory of: my father, my mother and okasan. |
