I always thought it bizarre growing up that kids wanted to be fire fighters or police men. In that day there was no 9/11 tragedy to give glory to these humble souls. In my mind it was all risk with no payoff. Why bother? What I wanted more than anything was to be a ninja. But, like so many childhood dreams it never materialized. I don't know why exactly. Perhaps my parents never heard my subtle sighing as we passed the karate dojos around town. Either that, or they knew they'd be out 50 bucks the first time I was hit in the face while sparring.
What was it about the Ninja that was so appealing. The black pajamas? Cool weapons? Or the thought I might on day get my own video game? I never wanted to be a reptile but I always longed to have T-U-R-T-L-E Power.
I think mine was the ninja generation. We had double dragon, ninja gaiden, shenobi, TMNT, Dark Wing Duck. Maybe Drake Mallard wasn't a ninja in the classical sense but he had the cool hat. If it hadn't been for dinosaur mania and pokemon we might still live in a ninja world.
It is great when one of our friends gets to live out our dream. Sometimes it's hard when someone close to you is doing what you always wanted to do, but only when there was a legitimate possibility you could have fulfilled the dream yourself. My ninja hopes were always fantasy in the truest sense. No only am I without training, my body was not made for anything more dexterously demanding than yo-yoing. No so my friend Brian. He is only 15, just a kid, and he just made Nidan this week. In his brand of ninja styles that makes him a full Sensei able to train others in their ninja skills. I know a real ninja. It's true, he is technically not a ninja, a stealthy assassin trained for silent kills and covert operations, but what other word fits? Popular culture has filled up this word with supreme power, discipline, training and control; all words that describe Brian.
Congratulations Ninja Brian.