OK, so I'm looking for some serious input from some of my "dojo-mates" who read this site.
As you know, next week will be the Spring Black Belt test. For the past several black belt test cycles, I have been saying that the advanced class ought to get our act together and plan a demo for the next test.
I think the time has come.
So the input I'd like first is you ideas for a demo. I'm willing to accept some humorous ideas in addition to some more traditional ones. But I want a brainstorming session first.
Just to throw a few ideas out there: we could do a live demo or a video. We could do a skit with a storyline, or simply demonstrate some techniques not usually seen outside our class. We could do traditional techniques, for example battlefield weapons, or secret weapons; or we could do modern applications, such as knife technique, or gun disarms. We can dress up in the silly outfits, or wear samurai costume, or BDUs and black fatigues.
But we need some ideas first. Then we'll worry about the logistics and practicality and time and who partcipates. So I'd like to see some suggestions filling the comments section of this posting. I'll take suggestions for a few weeks, and then we'll move onto the next logical step.
Everyone cool with that?
30 comments:
jrf,
My thoughts exactly. I'm thinking maybe... Traditional costume, duel black vs white with all the Togakure tricks thrown in and maybe even some non-traditional movie stuff for kicks and showmanship. A nice weapons demo. Including smoke clouds. Trouble is two things. Finding the devices and our teacher letting us use pyro in the test veniue. I'm with you bro. Let's get it done.
I'm in.
Perhaps a demo in street clothes, suits, nothing that looks suspicious, comes from the audience, not from the stage...
Now we're talking. Keep going with the ideas...
nlf, I haven't forgotten about the other project either. I'll have to get you a copy of what (little) progress I've made. I also mentioned something to BH, and he thought a Wiki would speed up the project, and he might be able to set up the Wiki.
Check out the wikipedia to see how the format works.
A few more concrete ideas:
a. A ninja recruitment video.
b. A video detailing the career options for people trained as ninja.
c. a demonstration of sword cutting (potentially messy).
d. a rescue of Shidoshi KST from the clutches of an evil, rival school (wait, I think that's been done)
e. Spear and Naginata technique.
I like the smoke clouds idea, but I don't know how to get it done.
Instead of swords, bo, etc use broom, shovel, other household implements.
Or do the technique in a mirror. Uke/tori on one side of a "mirror" in dojo garb, and traditional weapons. Other side of "mirror" in street clothes identical technique, tools from home, garage, office. both done at same time. One side does technique right, the other left. It would show practicality of what is learned in the dojo. We can see it and apply it but the audience will now be able to see applications.
Just a thought.
I think the movie concept would better suit our needs. Traditional attire is a must. Young Instructor, SB, has been making movies for a while now and may be the best source for recording technology. For the plot, we need to pay homage to some of the great movies that have warped,,, I mean shaped, our mentalities.
trad/modern mirror... I like that.
I was thinking about a short story where a ninja has to sneak into a castle to steal something back and has to confront a couple of guards and the evil lord.
I shall think on this some more...
Do not copy any of my movies. And I do not think "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" will work either.
Shinobi.Wind - Do you mean traditional as in hakama? Or movie traditional?
for a ton of other skits and skit ideas, try video.google.com enter ninja and click on search. Many are stupid, some are funny.
nfl,
I was thinking movie traditional. Tabi, mask etc. I am thinking that between all of us, we can come up with all the appropriate props.
I picture several of us comming from the shadows to attack the antagonost or protagonost, based on whether we are suppose to win or loose.
Please put a mask on shinobi.wind!
No body wants to see that face!!!
Some more thoughts:
"Confessions of Modern Ninja" a documentary interview of several of us asking "Why did you start in martial arts?" I'm sure each of us has a funny story and a serious story, and in between we could each demonstrate a favorite technique or tool.
Lone Wolf and Cub -- Based on a Japanese comic book and movie series, the notorious Baby Cart Assassin takes on the rival Yagyu and their ninja cronies. Actually this might be better next year when my daughter would be old enough to take direction and act as the "Cub." There are a ton of cool gags and stunts we could steal from the source material. But we'd need to build a baby cart...
More later.
I'd really prefer no one use the Anonymous tag for this thread. As it grows, if we get more than one Anonymous, it will be hard to keep track of who's who. Please use initials, or a consistent temporary nickname so we can at least keep track of the players involved.
Just a request. But realistically, I know it will be ignored...
We'll only ignore you because we know it bothers you, High Scribe jrf.
Here are a few more ideas:
We could dramatize famous martial arts legends. You know, some of the stories I've recounted on this very website. Such as the story of Yagyu Jubei's bokken duel that turned to live steel, or Bokuden tricking the young blowhard out of a fight, or Musashi and Kojiro. There are a few others that come to mind too.
Who, but a few in our class that may have read any of these tales and would know their significance?
All the more reason to dramatize a few.
We would be under a time limit of 3-5 minutes 7 at most. The demos are for transitions. If it can be done well in that short of a time frame, let's do it.
As far as the plot, it should be either a spoof on the indoctrination of a new student or a 'gathering' of our classmates ala "Uncomon Valor" or "Blues Brothers".
Kind of like our hero, DDW, returns from 3 years away, and needs to find all of us for some noble cause.
I think a tribute to Hattori Hanzo would be lost on most of the audience.
How about a skit featuring the old versus the young?
The youngsters could do all the really cool, gymnastic stuff, and the old guys could lead them into some elaborate ninja trap.
Video of our class doing our (usually) annual sword cutting class in the summer. We simply film everyone cutting the targets (2-liter bottles, milk jugs, wet newspaper, etc.) with the assortment of swords, knives, and othe rcutting tools. Then we edit it down to 3 1/2 minutes of spectacular highlights and set it to 'Anvil of Crom.' (Otherwise known as the Conan theme) There could be a very brief intro showing swords on a traditional stand with a simple voice over saying something along the lines of "It has been said that the Japanese sword is the most perfect cutting instrument ever devised by man." The title of the video could be "Honed to Perfection" and that could also be used as the theme for the Black Belt test.
I like this one so much, I think we should make the film anyway, even if it is only a back-up plan.
For the cutting demo, I have 2 post erected in my back yard and a place to hang a third target
Holy fu**ing sh*t!!! What a bunch of nerds. Do your parents know that you are on the computer? I was looking for a decent LARP site and I found you losers. Finally the heat is off of us. Damn, I can't wait to tell the DM this.
ps- I bet you tools don't even know any real girls. Like we do. Me and my buddies are spying on my sister and her friends who are having a Mary Kay party as I type this. Eat you hearts out. LATER FREAKS!!!!
O
K
Now that we've gotten that out of our system...
Ghost of Tasha Yar:
A spirtual being of a marginal character who did it with an android.
Interesting...
NOT
Wish I could play a part in your movie. Sounds fun.
I would like to see holy mother eph in the movie, but how do we get her to our secret ninja training camp?
I made a unilateral decision and offered the test cutting video suggestion to the great, high poobah of our dojo. He had some reservations about it, but is considering the possibility.
I'll bullet point the other ideas soon and we'll take a vote.
HME, if you want to join us, you'll need to catch a plane to Tibet, wrap yourself in humble, yet strikingly cool wool clothing, and climb a mountain to our secret monastery. Just knock on our front door. A group of tough looking, heavily armed mercenaries will greet you. Then our resident Frenchie with an Irish accent will introduce you to our mysterious master, a Japanese man with an Arabic name. We'll a very progressive, multicultural group of ninja.
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