Читать книгу The Ninja Defense. A Modern Master's Approach to Universal Dangers (Downloadable Media Included) онлайн

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A To-Shin Do belt rank promotion is an invitation to enter the next phase of personal challenge.

Chapter One

HONEST AND RELIABLE PREPARATION FOR REAL THREATS

I still remember the first time I was threatened with stupid pointless violence. I was in kindergarten, walking down a school hallway in line with classmates in 1954. The boy walking next to me, a complete stranger, turned to me and said, “I bet I can lick you.”

I was perplexed by the boy’s odd comment. “Lick me”? His words made no sense, but I nonetheless felt an ominous ugliness. At home I was used to affection, intelligence, and courtesy, so I could not immediately identify the violence implied by his words. Still, I sensed that something creepy was going on. I had never been assaulted by anyone, but down in my bones I somehow knew the boy did not have friendship in mind.

I was five years old and knew nothing of territorial imperative or a need to assert my manly image. I did not know how or why to act tough. In confused innocence I replied, “Yeah. I bet.”