Getting training question?

Question

Is it safe to asume that a 9th Dan Ninjutsu instructor will give me better training than a lower ranked instructor?
Im looking for somewhere to train, I want to take it seriously and I want the best I can get, but I don't know what to look for, any tips?
There are some sessions held in high schools after school hours and so on, but I asume I would be better off going to a dojo, fair call??

Answer 1

Is always great to have a serious attitude like yours but should go step by step, there are a long way for you to learn.Basically,a nine Dan instructor has more training experience and knowledge but a lower rank and younger instructor might have some up dated techniques,movements ,information,skills for you ,it's all depends on the instructor him/her own personality.
When you train longer,deeper and higher ,you might need some adjustment or another pump up,under the permission from your instructor,you can learn something more or difference style to improve your own need.

Answer 2

It is mostly safe to assume that the 9th Dan instructor is more qualified than the lower ranked instructor as a martial artist. But that certainly does not mean that s/he is a better instructor.
I suggest you to find a dojo with an instructor at least 3. Dan. Observe the classes at different dojos.

-Does the instructor teach the same thing to the whole class or is s/he seems responsive to different needs of the students? (Not every technique is appropriate for every body type)

-What is the instructors attitude towards students? Does s/he shout at students without a logical reason? (It is more beneficial to be trained by an instructer who is a bit tough and authoritive, yet respectful. It is a personal choice though, choose an instructor you can get along well.)

-Does the instructor just show/tell the techniques. Or does s/he watch the students carefully and correct each students mistakes? (The more s/he corrects the mistakes the better.)

Those are the things you should go for at the beginning. As you get more advanced (after 5-6 years training) you can consider finding an instructor with a higher rank.

Answer 3

If there's a school, I reccommend going with the school, but if you can't afford the classes at the dojo, you can take the ones offered at the high school often for free or for a far lower price.

while the 9th dan instructor will be more experienced than someone with a lower rank, but it's more in how the instructor teaches. either way you will learn something no matter the rank, and you can move to another teacher if you want to progress further (with your current instructors permission, just to give them the respect for teaching you).

I'm a red belt in Tang Soo Do but I still teach the younger ranks, so that the head instructor can teach the higher ranks more effectively.

Answer 4

It is almost a given that a 9th Dan Ninjutsu instructor will NOT give YOU better training. No offense. He is much like a professor of doctoral students. There are many who probably want his time, and get it.

if he has a school, then his lower ranking Dan grades can probably remember better what it was like to be a beginner. And help teach you with what they remember.

And then you would also have access to the high ranking sensei (instructor) from time to time and through Seminars.

go see the schools in your area. think about why you want to train. see who you think you can learn from best and that will meet your goals/wishes.

over the years my goals have changed. I wanted "bad-ass" self-defense and the best martial artist in the area for that was an aikidoist. He taught for a living police, medical and military and ran his dojo.

Now I like the art and its self-discipline side.

enjoy

Answer 5

Sound like a fraud to me. Ninjutsu is a dead art. The nearest you can get is bujikan but it's more of a samurai art than anything else. However there's no 9th Dan in USA I believe.

Plus many many people who claim to be a Ninjutsu instructor are former criminalist that can't get any approve from assoicate or simply have poor training and work ethnic to earn right to teach. So they open their own gym and claim to teach that style.

You should google Frank Dux and Ashida Kim and see what I mean. They both claim to be a Ninjutsu instructor but are known as a fraud.

So I would steer clear of that style and find other gym.

Answer 6

9th Dan in Ninjutsu? Yeah right!
Ninjutsu is the art of stealth and assassination. It died hundreds of years ago.
I would not trust his credentials. You should trace his lineage. Be very weary of this guy and what he teaches. It sounds like he is selling you a dream. I bet he wants you to sign a contract.

Instead of looking for a sexy style like the art of the ninja why not try visiting several schools in your area. Judge them based on price, attitudes, gut feeling, students appearance and behavior. there are many older questions on Yahoo that are all about finding a school, read them. After finding a good school, do not be too upset if it is a less sexy style like karate.

In the mean time start taking the free classes at school, they are free and they will give you a feel for a martial art work-out.

I am sorry if I have offended any ninja out there, but I feel that the true art of ninjitsu never left Japan.

Answer 7

First find out if he is a fraud... to find that out, you must see how he teaches, your instincts will come naturally then make your decision...

Training with a 9th Dan can be good, but is he experience? Sometimes a lower ranking instructor can have more "real fight" experience. Plus you must also see how he teaches, do you like his lesson plans? do you like how he teahces things?

Answer 8

Don't be so picky... starting with the basics is not that bad... then move on... once you get to know the field?