# A few misconceptions about real-life Ninjas, cleared up **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 20, 2004, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-misconceptions-about-real-life-ninjas-cleared-up/235467 "2004-03-20T22:43:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-misconceptions-about-real-life-ninjas-cleared-up/235467/61 "2004-03-21T20:56:24Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > …and smothered in Secret Sauce. Jesus. THAT was funny. Hey, **NinjaChick** , when are you gonna be legal? ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-misconceptions-about-real-life-ninjas-cleared-up/235467/62 "2004-03-21T20:57:28Z")
_idly wonders if **NinjaChick** has the Kung Fu Grip_ Ease up, you guys. She’s probably sick of dealing with morons. If you have a hobby, you’ve dealt with em. 1. Yes, I play video games 2. Because it’s fun 3. No, I don’t need to go outside, because there are bears outside. 4. I haven’t actually shot anyone yet, but damn if I’m not tempted sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-misconceptions-about-real-life-ninjas-cleared-up/235467/63 "2004-03-21T21:28:11Z")
> [@Really Not All That Bright](#): > > Hey, **NinjaChick** , when are you gonna be legal? August. Most important thing: I’ll be able to vote in November. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![lucwarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@lucwarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lucwarm)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-misconceptions-about-real-life-ninjas-cleared-up/235467/64 "2004-03-21T21:34:17Z")
> [@NinjaChick](#): > > I don’t want everyone to know. Err, what was your user name again? ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-misconceptions-about-real-life-ninjas-cleared-up/235467/65 "2004-03-21T21:41:36Z")
My question is this: why do you refer to yourself as a “ninja,” when you do not study ninjutsu? Or do you? And if you do not, and you’re going to use the word as shorthand for any sort of study of martial art, why can’t we? I mean, it’s pretty common use to shorten hapkido, kuk sool won, aikido, capoeira, thai kickboxing, savate, or any one of the hundreds of other disciplines to “karate.” Why not? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-misconceptions-about-real-life-ninjas-cleared-up/235467/66 "2004-03-21T21:42:53Z")
Just to jump on the bandwagon, so to speak: Answers to annoying questions people ask me about why I read so much 1. Yes, I like to read. No, I don’t think it’s boring. Yes, I happen to read very quickly. That’s why I have a different book every day for the majority of the year. No, I probably haven’t read your favorite author. I mainly stick to F&SF, and I don’t know a lot of people IRL who do. Yes, you may see the book I’m reading now. If I’m reading it as you ask me these questions, don’t pull it out of my hands and look at it. That’s really rude and annoying. And no, I don’t read a lot because I have no life. Thank you, and good night. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-misconceptions-about-real-life-ninjas-cleared-up/235467/67 "2004-03-21T21:51:07Z")
I thought ninjas were defined by their use of ninjitsu and living by the code of Nin Po. With my limited knowledge of the martial arts, I don’t claim that one is better than another. But, I fail to see how a practicioner of Tae Kwan Doe can claim to be a ninja. Re Fencing There are plenty of SCAdians and the like on the SDMB. A MPSIMS thread would probably draw alot of posts. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-misconceptions-about-real-life-ninjas-cleared-up/235467/68 "2004-03-21T21:54:46Z")
Maritial arts are poorly understood. Since this is your hobby and something you get esteem from, take it upon yourself to educate, not edu-hate. A person who asks you those stupid questions may be just trying to make you laugh or smile rather than get a genuine response. So don’t take yourself or your hobby too seriously (even if it really is a big deal to you). Few people–including myself–know the difference between karate or TKD or tai chi or judo. It’s not purposeful ignorance. I’ve never been exposed to that kind of stuff before. If you don’t know something, you don’t know if your questions are dumb or not. Chances are if you’re an expert, most questions from the neophyte will seem pretty stupid. Frankly, some of the ones on your list sound pretty reasonable to me. So have patience and remember we all have to field “dumb” questions every once in awhile. It’s just one of the burdens of knowing stuff. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-misconceptions-about-real-life-ninjas-cleared-up/235467/69 "2004-03-21T22:24:17Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Few people–including myself–know the difference between karate or TKD or tai chi or judo. IIRC Karate was developed when one of the emperors passed a law forbidding folks from carrying weapons. TKD- I have no clue. Tai Chi was developed by monks (Buddhist monks? Shaolin monks? Idunno) as both a meditative excercise (when the moves are performed slowly) and a means of defense (when speeded up). Judo is simply what Mom uses to make bagels or challah. ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-misconceptions-about-real-life-ninjas-cleared-up/235467/70 "2004-03-21T23:39:55Z")
> [@NinjaChick](#): > > . Okay. I don’t particularly want a debate of Japanese v. Chinese v. Korean etc martial arts. Nor do I want to get into the ‘TKD has been bastardized, etc’ debate. [Whoosh!](http://www.sinanju.com/) ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-misconceptions-about-real-life-ninjas-cleared-up/235467/71 "2004-03-22T00:29:36Z")
D’oh. Now that I’ve completely and totally gotten Wooshed, a few points. To those saying I’m being bitchy/snobbish/etc: Yes. I am, and I freely admit it. Here’s how I see it. TKD is one of my great passions. It’s also something that ‘mainstream culture’ has a very bizarre exposure to: it’s this cool thing in all the movies, but no one knows anything about the real art (this applies to MAs in general). It’s like this vaguely-defined ‘thing’ that everyone is fascinated by. Unfortunately, very few people take the time to find anything out about it before deciding that “Kung Fu Rokz!”. I am surrounded pretty much all day by teenage guys. Most of them seem to secretly think that they are awesome, highly-talented fighters; they also seem to think that women cannot fight under any circumstances, and if it should come up in conversation that I am a martial artist, it seems to cause them psychological pain. It also tends to cause them to quote Mr. Miyagi, which is an entirely seperate rant, by the way. Martial arts are just that - an _art_. Many people (myself included) who practice them take them very seriously. I hate most action movies for what they reduce these arts to. If I see something in a movie that I find intriguing, I either file it in my mind as “stuff I want to know more about but don’t have time to read about, so I’ll forget”, or, I go and learn about them. Many people seem to do some odd combination of that when they see a martial arts movie: they assume that since they’ve watched the Power Rangers or whatnot, or saw _Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon_, they know something about real martial arts. Then, they ask stupid questions. A lot of them, really, are unforgivable. We’ve established I’m a black belt, why do you want me to hit you? (I actually get that question a lot, for some reason.) My main problem, really, is people treat it as an amusement, not something to take seriously. If I find out someone is, say, an amateur pilot, and we’re chatting about it, I’m not going to ask rediculous questions like, “Have you ever flown an SR-71?” “Have you ever broken the sound barrier?” etc. I’ll do my best to ask intelligent questions. And the thing about refering to it as karate: That’s really just a personal quibble. I tolerate my parents calling it that, and therefore, occassionally do it myself. Last time I tried to explain a martial arts concept (the difference between the two main types of TKD) to my parents, it took me about an hour and a half to get them anywhere in the discussion, so I see it as a lost cause. Really, I have no excuse for my catty-ness over that issue. But if I point out to someone “No, it’s not kung-fu, it’s tae kwon do, they’re two completely different things,” then I think my bitchiness is _utterly_ justified. Also - obligatory history lesson. The ‘pre-TKD’ art of Taekyon was started long long ago in Korea. When the Japanese invaded in the early 1900’s, Japanese MAs basically took over in Korea. When Korea was liberated, and the ‘de-Japan-ification’ started, TKD evolved out of what was left of Taekyon, which had been greatly altered (obviously, with a Japanese twist on the style). [Good, very very short blurb on it.](http://www.tkd.net/tkdnetwork/history.html)['Nother, more detailed article.](http://home.att.net/~taekwondo.junkie/TKDHistory.html) ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-misconceptions-about-real-life-ninjas-cleared-up/235467/72 "2004-03-22T00:36:53Z")
askeptics brain:“don’t do it man” askeptics dumb ass:“But damn it is tempting” askeptics brain:“Just repeat 17, 17 times, it’ll pass, let it go…” askeptics dumb ass:“17, 17, 17, 17…” ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-misconceptions-about-real-life-ninjas-cleared-up/235467/73 "2004-03-22T02:49:37Z")
Interestingly, you didn’t hit a single one of the typical annoying questions/comments. > [@](#): > > 1. How often to partners have sex with eachother? Depends. My husband and I have separate partners, and we don’t sleep with them. (At least, I don’t, and he better not! 😃 ) > [@](#): > > 1. Is it true that you can’t do “new steps” like in _Strictly Ballroom_? It depends on what category you dance in. The lower levels have a restricted syllabus, so you are constrained to a relatively small number of steps. In championship, you just are supposed to “maintain the character of the dance.” (Also, lifts are forbidden for safety reasons, except in categories where there is only one couple on the floor at a time). > [@](#): > > 1. Do female dancers wear an extra pair of panties for modesty? Do they ever go “commando”? Many ballgowns have built-in dance trunks. Going commando is expressly forbidden by the rules governing international amateur competition, and I’ve never heard of a pro doing it, either. The pros do wear thongs sometimes, though, which are forbidden to amateurs. > [@](#): > > 1. What percentage of male dancers are gay? I don’t know, but I’d guess around 10-20%. Many are not “out” - it’s only been a decade or so since it was widely believed that partners had to be married to win at Blackpool (the most prestigious competition in the world). Sammy and Shirley Stopford were married despite the fact that Sammy is gay, because of this prejudice. (They are divorced now, and both doing quite well with different dance partners. Sammy won Blackpool some years ago with Barbara McColl, after he had come out). The annoying questions and comments? [ul] [li] Oh, I watch that on PBS every year! (Then you’ve probably noticed that it hasn’t been filmed for the last two years, right?)[/li][li] Do you have one of those big ballgowns with the feathers? (Yes, although feathers are passe at the moment).[/li][li] Do you dance the tango? (Not annoying in itself - the answer is yes - but always seems to be accompanied by miming a terrible dance position, and then turning around and dancing in backwards dance position, while singing off-key).[/li][li] Telling others that I am a “professional” ballroom dancer. In fact, competitive ballroom has historically maintained very strong distinctions between amateurs and pros (although this is currently in flux), and I am strictly an amateur competitor.[/li][li] Do you have to practice a lot? (Have you ever heard of a competitive sport where you didn’t?)[/li][li] Why don’t you dance with your husband? (Because we found that we could maintain a dance partnership or a marriage, but not both, and we both thought the marriage was more important. It’s like running a small business with your spouse - some couples thrive on it, but a lot don’t).[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-misconceptions-about-real-life-ninjas-cleared-up/235467/74 "2004-03-22T03:09:17Z")
> [@](#): > > Iterestingly, you didn’t hit a single one of the typical annoying questions/comments. Your husband would not be TNugent, would he? > [@](#): > > I don’t know, but I’d guess around 10-20%. Many are not “out” - it’s only been a decade or so since it was widely believed that partners had to be married to win at Blackpool (the most prestigious competition in the world). It can’t be THE MOST PRESTIGIOUSCOMPETITION IN THE WORLD, since I do not live in a cave, I have even heard of the Iditarod, but never the comp. you mention. > [@](#): > > The annoying questions and comments? Well all I would say if you told me any of this stuff is “Oh, Thats nice.” Oh, thats nice. Sheesh …whoosh… ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-misconceptions-about-real-life-ninjas-cleared-up/235467/75 "2004-03-22T03:32:03Z")
> [@askeptic](#): > > Your husband would not be TNugent, would he? On this board, or elsewhere? I don’t think he usually uses that username, but his first name does start with T. > [@](#): > > It can’t be THE MOST PRESTIGIOUSCOMPETITION IN THE WORLD, since I do not live in a cave, I have even heard of the Iditarod, but never the comp. you mention. OK, the most prestigious ballroom competition. Sheesh. (And I knew you were probably joking, but I actually thought some of your questions were interesting. Silly me.) ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-misconceptions-about-real-life-ninjas-cleared-up/235467/76 "2004-03-22T03:56:31Z")
Sorry ENugent, I was just offering a friendly teasing. I have only been around SDMB at I keep forgetting that we are not all friends yet. I hope to be a friend someday though. The TNugent was a lame reference on my part to Ted Nugent, the muscician. And no I do not think your silly. I was forced to take Ballroom dance as a youngster, but kept stepping on too many toes. Not much has changed… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![APOC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@APOC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/APOC)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-misconceptions-about-real-life-ninjas-cleared-up/235467/77 "2004-03-22T14:23:49Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > My question is this: why do you refer to yourself as a “ninja,” when you do not study ninjutsu? and also > [@DocCathode](#): > > But, I fail to see how a practicioner of Tae Kwan Doe can claim to be a ninja. First thing that occured to me too was why a practioner of TKD would refer to themselves as a Ninja. I practise TKD & on occasion get to train in a Ninjitsu dojo alongside people why can ligitimatly say that they study Ninjitsu although I have never heard any of them refer to themselves as a ninja. That is perhaps becasue they understand the meaning of the word. Personally I see all arts as less an ass kicking intimidation thing than a wonderfully effective way to boost confidence , self reliance , patience , fitness , stamina & attitude. Looks like the NinjaChick could do with all that (possible exception of fitness , you dont fall into a first dan ) and a bit more Humility to boot. Famous guy once refered to his art as the “art of fighting without fighting” and yeah I know he wasn’t a TKD or Ninjitsu styler …bite me , it still applies in my mind to all art forms practised by level headed individuals who take a bit more from the training than ammo for lame , not even pithy , comebacks to legitimate and understandable questions. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-misconceptions-about-real-life-ninjas-cleared-up/235467/78 "2004-03-22T19:38:29Z")
> [@APOC](#): > > First thing that occured to me too was why a practioner of TKD would refer to themselves as a Ninja. Gosh, you don’t suppose that maybe she was trying to make a joke, do you? What is it with you martial arts types, anyway? Do you need to not have a sense of humor before you start, or do they just beat it out of you in training? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-misconceptions-about-real-life-ninjas-cleared-up/235467/79 "2004-03-22T20:25:46Z")
“Black belt, seven years, five years”–hmmmm? So. **NinjaChick** …when do you reach Super Saiyan? 😃 DBZ joke, people! ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-misconceptions-about-real-life-ninjas-cleared-up/235467/80 "2004-03-22T22:02:12Z")
**Bosda** ’s in trouble now. She’s gonna start yelling and powering up, then throw a ball of fire at you… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-misconceptions-about-real-life-ninjas-cleared-up/235467.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-misconceptions-about-real-life-ninjas-cleared-up/235467.md?page=5)