The ninja's self defense method is characterized by having more options than the opponent. This article focuses on the Ninja's use the "water-element" as a strategy. The "water" mode is a part of a system of "elements" called the Godai, or "5 elements" from the Ninja's ninpo-mikkyo, esoteric mind-science. Not the "official" way to teach Ninjutsu, and often disputed by those who do not understand it's origins or usefulness, understanding this coded way of looking at the Ninja's self defense system is an excellent means for helping the serious student to master the techniques, strategies, and tactics of the art in the shortest time possible.
One useful approach to training students in Ninjutsu is to look at the lessons from a strategic viewpoint - rather than trying to simply teach a boat-load of techniques, complete with kata names, etc. This method approaches the training from a scientific, results-oriented, problem-solving perspective - which, ironically, fits in perfectly with the subject, direction, and theme of this article!
In this lesson, I'm going to explore what is called the "water-mode" of response. This elemental "mode" is one of the five strategic, self defense approaches which reflect the Godai (pronounced "GO-Die"), 5 elemental classification system described above.
As a model of how energy manifests in the world, the "Water" element symbolically represents things in a flexible, adaptive, or fluid state, or having the qualities of "flowing," "timing," and "rhythm."
Just as with the other elements, things are "water-like" due to their nature - not because a philosopher or other "guru" said so.
The best example of the "water-element" in nature is the ocean. Vast, open, and rhythmic, the ocean has a quiet sense of power - as-well-as the ability to change in response to the weather or anything else that touches it. The power of the ocean can be seen in the wave, as it pulls back away from the shore line, rolls over itself as it gathers more water, before crashing back with an unstoppable force that moves or pounds anything in it's path!
Within our bodies, the water element is represented by our blood and other body fluids. Mentally, it is reflected in the flow of our moment-to-moment thoughts. And, emotionally and spiritually, our "water-like nature" shows up as our ability to adapt and "go with the flow" of things.
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