Here is a video of what modern Urban Ninjas are capable of.

Now you may be wondering among many things "who are these people and how can they do that." Well let us start off with the first question. Urban ninjas are actually participants in a sport called "Free Running" they themselves are called "Free runners"

The idea behind free running is to utilize an urban environment as a sort of gymnasium. But instead of trampolines and bouncy floors you have walls and buildings. Free runners use what we see around us every day to express freedom (hence "free" runners) and beauty (not the first thing to come to mind when you think of a concrete city.)

The way pro free runners perform their sport is by conditioning their bodies into peak physical condition and training on specific moves that can be used in an urban environment. Some of the main moves of a free runner include:

• Jumping - one of the most basic moves, a simple jump is used to move aerially from one structure to another.
• Landing - at the end of a jump you have to land, if the jump was a smaller one impact can be absorbed by bending the knees but if it was a larger jump, say off a one story building it would also have to involve a roll to lessen the impact of hitting the ground.
• Leap frog/vault - involves placing your hands on the top of an obstacle and leaping over it with your feet.
• Wall run and variations - a wall run is when you run at a wall and use the momentum of your forward motion and a well and push of one of your legs to propel yourself upwards. There are many variations, a wall run could be used to get atop a wall higher than you could normally jump to or you could push off the wall into a spin or even into a 360° backflip.

And many more, this is just a sampling of the hundreds of moves and variations there are.

As for who invented this extreme sport, it all began with the French physical activity of parkour or L'art de déplacement, know in English as The art of movement, which was created by David Belle and a group of his friends. The basic idea of parkour is to move from one location to another as efficiently as possible. Whether it be climbing over rocks rather than going around them or scalling a concrete wall instead of using the door down the block, parkour teaches us how to overcome the obstacles we encounter in our lives.

Sébastien Foucan and a group of his friends took the art of parkour and altered it into the sport of free running. Now instead of just getting from one place to another like in parkour, the goal was to perform incredible acrobatics and push the boundries of what the human body can do and do it all in a way that express freedom and beauty.

Free running first appeared on film in the 1996 movie, Taxi, and has since appeared in dozens of films, television shows, and even novels. It is even taught to Royal Marines so that they'll have an upper hand in street to street combat. It's a growing albeit difficult sport and can be performed almost anywhere there is concrete or a wall, so go out there and give it a try, just remember always run with a buddy and be sure you know the move before you try anything too crazy.

I'll leave you now with my favorite professionally shot free running scene, from the movie Casino Royal.

Prepare you self Laui, for now Sifu will share with you the most mysterious secret of Kung-Fu, so secret that to know it you must become Chinese. Are you ready, Laui? Are you ready to become Chinese? Good; now you are all Chinese and can learn the ultimate Kung-Fu Death Strike. Ultimate Kung-Fu Death Strike is psychic and invisible; it cannot be stopped by any means. Because you are all Chinese, Sifu will now perform the ultimate ultimate Kung-Fu Death Strike.

Capoeira

At some point in this video, Sifu will tell you Dim-Mak Death Joke. It is the funniest joke in Kung-Fu. You will not know when Sifu tell; it is that clever. But you will think about it. Sifu punch line, him so subtle, it will take you two days to get it. When Dim-Mak Death Joke strike, the proverbial Ninja Penny will drop, piercing you brain with mysterious psychological chimp. Ninjas monkeys rampage around you brain, destroying cerebral cortex. You will laugh until you go crazy and die while you family disown you. It will be as if you brain were tickling you to death, while you are kick you self in the balls for not getting it earlier. You sides will split and you will choke on you tongue. You heart will explode and you will piss you self from Sifu's Kung-Fu funniness, but before you die you will be compel to tell the joke to a friend… who will not find it funny! The knowledge that he is doom will make you laugh ever harder. It will take hours and days for you to die, uttering the punch line! You only hope to survive is to rush you self to hospital at once Laui, and be voluntarily lobotomised before the deadly Dim-Mak Death Joke can strike.

The world shall hear from me again...

Welcome to the ways of the ninja. This is the time to choose the ways of your ninja ego good, bad, or are you the one who is just looking for power. This is the hardest part of your training which you might think is easy. Choosing your destiny might seem easy but believe me it was hard for me, Naruto, Sasuke, and all the other ninja warriors. You see the way you choose your ninja way is to follow your soul and it will guide you to where you need to be. Like for example I spent hours of thinking of what I wanted my destiny to be so I sat down and meditated and I chose my destiny not to be good but to gain all power so I could be the most powerful warrior in my school. Note don't think about what u want your destiny to be in front of your parents or u will find your self grounded.

When you finish deciding what u wants your destiny to be u then take the time to decide what jujitsu will be. This will be easy if u think about it. You will have to find out what you are good at like for example tai jujitsu is for people who are fast with their hands and legs and is experienced with fighting, ninjujitsu is for people who like who like to do magic and that doesn't really like to be hit or use their hands very often. Genjujitsu is used for people who like to do magic also and like to double team their opponents and torment their opponents like for example making your opponents suffer like treating to break some1s body parts by physical contact. Now the last 1 is bloodline limit. This is the most dangerous jujitsu for and1 to use. This jujitsu is used for people who use drugs or are very skilled at all kinds of fighting. I would recommend this fighting style to fighters of bad tempers. Now lesson 2 will come when this Lesson is read by all people who want to become a ninja warrior. Good luck with choosing your destinies see you later on lesson 2.

WHAT HAVE WE COVER?

So far, Sifu talk about basics of what are nerve points, what nerve points can do and how it is all science and medical fact, not mumbo jumbo or strange Oriental religion. Today, Sifu discuss specifics of nerve striking in more detail, and maybe also explore more subtle applications of technique.

STRIKING

Basically speak, all strikes are nerve strikes because that is how you body work; pain is register by the nerves and transmit to the brain. It not necessary to strike hard and fast; faster you hit, harder to aim; harder you hit, usually more tension and less control. Make powerful hit is not about be tense and angry; powerful hit is about technique and flow. Obviously, it about Chi too. In fact it mostly about Chi; most things in Martial Arts are. When you strike, use you chi, focus on accuracy over power and consider the effect of you attack. It all very well bash man in teeth, knock him back on him heels, but if him bigger than you, him might not go down. Better perhaps to hit the side of him jaw, turn him head and throw off him balance, ready for you follow up attack. What if you need human shield? Poke man hard in eye make him retreat, but put you thumb in eye socket gently will leave time for to get grip on enemy face; now him is going nowhere! So think about what you want to achieve Laui; maybe hit man gently now allow you hit him damn hard a second later, right in the balls and the face.

CHI, JING AND ELECTRICITY

Okay, Sifu is not bullshit you at all; chi is energy release by human action of breathing. That is what it is; most ancient source say chi mean breath, some say chi mean the blood; basically, chi is energy release as oxygen from breath entering flow of blood stream. Chi is Chinese word for complex scientific idea understood already by Laui everywhere. To ‘use you chi’ is mean to deliberately regulate energy output of you breathing; to have strong chi is to maximize energy release of you breath, to use it more efficiently.

What then is Jing? Jing is less known Chinese word, mean kinetic force, physical power. Basically, it is shock wave generate on impact of fist with opponent. A weapon may be say to ‘carry more Jing’; this mean that weapon can be swung harder and faster before it break. A pool cue has only small Jing, while an iron bar has lots. A big, tense man has very small Jing; a relaxed, fast man has more. There is all science and maths tied up with velocity multiply by mass of object equal kinetic force, but that not really important for basic idea; jing is scientifically measurable force that is easy to explain in Chinese but damn long in you Laui talk.

All Laui know what is electricity, so Sifu simply remind you that nerves use micro-pulse of electricity to carry pain signals from you bruises to you brain; there is electricity in all Laui, only very small. To hit man well is to use Jing; to breathe and focus when you hit is to use chi; striking with Jing and Chi together generate twice as much force behind hit. Attack nerves using Jing and Chi is to attack opponent three ways at once; this is why nerve points so good to know, because knowledge allow you to hit three times for price of one. Have novice Laui martial artist ever wonder why be hit gently by black belt so much more painful than be hit hard by beginner? It is because black belt is attack with multiple weapons in a single strike. To explain using Oriental metaphor is easy; there are many energies present in the body, Laui, and all can be brought to bear in a single technique.

BE SUBTLE

It is worthwhile for all Laui to know why them have nerves to begin with: Nerves are for you sense of touch, Laui. When you feel pain, you pull away and flinch automatically. Sometimes, it is better to not hurt you opponent right away. How if you touch your raised fists to his, lean on him like a boxer, that he become used to you presence and weight; now if you break contact to throw punch, he will know; he will feel it with his sense of touch. So lean one hand on him guard and keep the other back; now he is aware of you touch and contact. Gently, when timing is right, swap contact of you hands, so that you left hand is no longer on him guard; instead, you are lean on him with you right hand. Do gently, and opponent will not notice, even if him see. Him will not react, because to him sense of touch, to awareness of him nerves, nothing has change. Do well, and you can explain move to opponent, explain him exactly what you do, and still it will work; sense of touch, actual feel, overrides evidence of eyes and ears every time. Now you can loop you left hand over opponent guard and punch him right in the face. Key to this move is to be gentle and to use you footwork; all technique begin in the footwork, Laui. And in the Chi.

This trick also work in reverse; rather than try to block incoming punch by eye, simply lean on you opponent guard with gentle pressure of you hands or wrists; now when him punch, you always know and you hands are already there, following his every move. This technique sometime call ‘Mishimi’ in Japanese martial arts, common call ‘sticking hands’ in west, but this too is about nerves, Laui, about use you own sense of touch to discover opponent vulnerable spot, such as him balls and face, without you get hit in turn.

KILLING HANDS

It is very easy teach man to kill with him bare hands; lethality is not in speed or power, but in knowledge and intent. To win a fight, any fight, you must understand that you opponent intent you serious harm; to defend you self, you must be prepare to kill him. It that simple Laui; if you not willing to risk injure you opponent, him will kick you ass all over the street. Only way to win is to resolve that opponent is going to hospital on the end of you fist, and then do you best to send him there toot-sweet. Once you have violent resolve, it is very likely you opponent will be seriously harmed and maybe killed in the fight about to ensue.

That is his problem, Laui; him have take him life in him own hands when him have dare to attack you. Only this attitude will win, Laui; any thing less and you are the one who will be eating the floor. Second part of win fight is knowledge; if you know how to punch, and where, you have advantage over untrained person and know-nothing mugger who rely on surprise and force of numbers.

If you have knowledge of human anatomy, the way human body fit together, you can target you strikes to vulnerable points, apply pressure where it will do the most damage, and beat you opponent to within an inch of him life very efficiently. Simple example; human skull is very tough, heavily armored. There is not much point in batter away at skull with you fists; punch to the face generally only lethal if opponent fall down and crack him skull on the floor. Knowing this, you can tailor you attack so that enemy face bounce off pavement like basketball.

Alternatively, human neck all full of muscle; it no good try to crush muscle for to choke enemy out. Better instead to apply pressure to soft flesh of trachea and Adam’s apple; here is enemy windpipe and nerves leading to brain, which is what you are trying to get at when applying choke-hold. More complex method of striking nerves only come from long practice and study, but basic understanding begins with basic human anatomy and realistic understanding of what you do.

Many Laui confuse by question; pressure point is location on human body highly vulnerable to pain-compliance and other technique. What most Laui mean by ‘pressure point’ is ‘nerve strike’, which is Martial Arts method of attacking nerves and nervous system of human body. Term ‘Pressure Point’ is misleading top layman; Sifu will explain...

All Nerve Points are pressure points, but not all pressure points are nerves; sides of knees and elbows are pressure points, tip of nose, eyeball, filtrum (that is middle of top lip), finger joint, kneecap, floating rib, these are all pressure points. These places on body are sensitive and vulnerable to attack from punch or kick, strike with object or any other impact. Hitting these sensitive place magnify force and effectiveness of attack; knife-hand to jaw do very little against strong man, but knife-hand to filtrum, just beneath nose, can knock him flat, maybe unconscious or even dead. Finger tips do very little to ribcage, but even squeezing pressure of fingers on floating ribs can cause pain in opponent organs; thumb in eye agonizing for opponent, potentially blind or even kill him.

Nerve Points are relate to human nervous system; much more complicate than pressure points. Nerves are like little wires run all through human body, from tip of finger and toe to base of skull. Nerves are like roads carry information all around the body. Prick you finger, nerves send signal like motorbike courier to brain, tell you to flinch and say ‘ow’; when you pick up object or snap fingers, do anything at all, nerves carry message like taxi driver from brain to hand or foot.

Human spine is like motor-way (that is what UK Laui call ‘freeway’); spine is like multi-lane road carry trucks and commuters very fast. All nerves connect at some point to the spine; this is way injury to spine can leave Laui paralyze, prevent information travel via damaged nerves.

NERVES - THE BASICS

Nerve Points are place on human body where little wire-like nerve is accessible to physical attack. Take a look at you hand right now; look at first knuckle of thumb and knuckle of index finger. Between these two knuckle, in fleshy flexible part of thumb, is nerve point. Take you thumb and index finger of other hand and feel for nerve; it will feel like sensitive strand among muscles and tendons. Press down and in towards wrist, feel the pain; it not hurt much, but this is only example. Grip on that part offhand will immobilize fingers in fight; strike there will cause hand to relax and go numb. Explore you own forearm from this nerve point; all nerves run from origin point (in this case base of thumb) all the way to spine. Nerve we are examine now is one of three in arm; attempt to trace course of nerves in arm up to shoulder. You will know when you find them, because they are sensitive to squash with thumb or finger.

Now, pinch nerves in fight not what it all about. Nerves are always there, so understanding of nerves and anatomy of arm make wrist lock more painful and effective; strikes to nerve points cause numbness and spasms. Buy good book on Dim-Mak, acupuncture, or massage; all these have diagram of nerves. Study and experiment to discover paths of nerves in human body. Simply to know will help you Martial Arts understanding; all forms and kata contain nerve strikes which you will discover when you apply new study to old technique.

DIM-MAK

Dim-Mak is Kung-Fu style deal exclusive with nerves. Once student understand what and where nerves are, it become possible make combination strikes like in computer game. You see Laui, you spine consist of many interchange points, like on- and off- ramp on freeway. Where one nerve enter spine, another nerve leave; pain-traffic from nerves in hand will pass normal traffic in nerves from heart and parts of body that use same interchange on freeway/spine. Nerve already discuss, nerve in hand and arm, connect to spine at same interchange as nerves from heart.

Why this important? Because road traffic analogy still goes on; each nerve can take only certain charge of pain, or certain amount of traffic; excessive signals from nerves can overload interchange point and generate feedback elsewhere in body. Striking multiple nerve points increases traffic; enough traffic to heart-nerve interchange will cause feedback to opponent heart, cause it to skip a beat or stop altogether. Same principle apply to al organs; there is master in China who specialize in striking ‘nausea points’; these are only nerve points that connect to spine at same level as bowels and stomach. Simply put, nerve strikes to right spots on lower body can cause opponent butt to pucker or even cut loose with contents of him intestines.

KYUSHUJUTSU

Kyushu-jutsu is Japanese style of nerve-point striking; it is known to many style, but most popular and practise specifically by Ninja. In words of one Ninja Sifu know, “Kyushu-Jutsu is the art of poking your opponent into submission.”

Kyushu-jutsu strikes very painful, make man think him badly injure when really just hurting; Ninja use nerve strikes make opponent flinch, be distracted and afraid. Ninja also use Kyushu-jutsu knowledge to increase pain of joint-lock, increase opponent compliance and whimpering.

EXPLODING THE MYTHS

Biggest myth about nerve points is that they do not exist at all; Sifu have heard this from Martial Artist who should know better. Just because you do not know or understand something does not mean it is wrong or imaginary, Laui; Martial Arts theory of nerve points accord both with Chinese and conventional Western medicine. Nerve-strike combinations from Dim-Mak have been test in Western labs by scientists and martial artists together; them have test on rats using electrode to replicate pain signal along nerve, them have test on martial artists and volunteers; if there are no nerve points, then all doctors in whole world since beginning of history are totally wrong about way human body work.

Second myth is that there is ‘death point’ like on TV: make no mistake Laui, there are Dim-Mak strikes can make man dead just like in Kill Bill, but there is no special strike kill a man in one touch leaving no bruise. If there was, people would occasionally find it by accident and drop dead; it not make sense for human body to evolve off-switch like robot.

There are pressure points (not nerve points) where man can die instantly if hit hard enough. This is common sense; it not necessary cut a man head off to kill him; a needle inserted in one of dozen spots on throat is fatal; precise crushing blow to windpipe is potential one-hit kill, but it is not nerve point! Some vertebrae on spine are deadly pressure points, but you must strike hard and very precise; hard enough to break bone and precise to hit specific right vertebrae. All this is common sense and Sifu is not tell you anything you could not work out for you self; myths surrounding Nerve and pressure points are all pretty dumb.

All Laui need understand is that nerve points are base on science and there is no magic or trick involve; with sufficient knowledge and training, Laui can make these techniques work and make opponent literally shit his pants.

Concept of Chi originate with Yoga in India. Language of ancient India called "Sanskrit"; in this ancient language, word for life energy and breath is "prana". Ancient Yogi Gorak Nath send him disciples all over world, especially to China and places like that. On long travels, ancient travelling Yogi meet early Kung-Fu masters and other Martial Artists. For learn defend themselves and discover Martial Arts Secrets, ancient Yogis share teachings of Gorak Nath. This knowledge Sifu find in ancient Yogic scroll call "Hathapradipika", which is available translate into English. Hathapradipika say Chi or Prana only one of eight energy make up human body and everything that exist. Pa-Gua Chang, Tai Chi and other Kung Fu also teach eight energy system. Other evidence also support origins of Martial Arts in ancient India; meditations practise by Ninja in Japan even today are in Sanskrit, using same words and language as ancient Yogi. It matter of common sense say Yogi walk through China reach Japan, while comparison any text Yogic and Martial Art philosophy reveal common heritage of idea and development. Only difference is that Yogi is pacifist, him never fight at all, while Martial Artist will pass-a-fist on him enemy when decide is best thing to do.

Martial Artist develop him Chi like muscle with breathing technique. Different style have many different technique to make many different Chi. Easy way make small Chi is technique call "Waving Hands Like Clouds". This Tai Chi trick; first "Stand Like Tree", with feet hip wide apart and back straight, bum tuck in, shoulders back but relax. Relax complete, no tension at all. Lift arms up in front, arm straight but not lock, palms facing toward you chest. Breathe out slow, breathe in slow, relax breath and not tense arms. Begin make circle slow with hands, one hand then the other, medium circle with whole arm. Originate movement in waist and hips, allow body slightly sway like tree in gentle wind. Focus on hands and sense of feel and touch; slowly become aware that hands can sense each other as they pass in the air, even without touch. Slowly, this feeling grow until hands feel surround with bubble like magnetic field. This technique help flow of Chi, as well as relax from stress of modern world. Some student have trouble feel Chi this way. Sifu answer to student who complain is; “If it not work, then you do it wrong! Relax more, be more slow!” Stupid Laui expect become Kung-Fu master overnight, like Power Ranger or something.

Many powers attribute to Chi, from make man strong and fast without muscles, all the way to make ancient master immune to knife and sword. Chi use keep man healthy, keep him fit; if man is ill, Chinese medicine investigate flow of Chi to find what is wrong. Some things Sifu hear about Chi amazing, cannot be true; other things him have seen and learned for himself are still amazing, but Sifu know them to be true. Sifu once meet Ninja with power to burn enemy by touch of fingers; Sifu meet Aikido master who stop man still like statue by gentle touch. Sifu meet young man who claim see Chi like heat-haze in air around fist and hand. Sifu meet old man one time in China, old, old man, who turn 1,000 back flip every morning and say chi keep him young. Sifu meet many strange master with many strange power; Chi is real experience to Martial Artist. Diligent practice by all student will eventually reveal Chi; every style have it own secrets of inner energy. What Sifu have explain today only small part of deep philosophical discussion of what is Chi; today not discuss how Chi move or different shape of Chi, transfer from one body to another or how to dissipate enemy Chi. As Sifu always say, history is key to unlock future. That right, Laui; wise hunter study him prey, learn what him do. Stupid hunter make stuff up in him own head and go hungry all winter.

Join Sifu soon to elucidate ancient Mystery of Kung Fu.

The World Shall Hear From Me Again!

Today, Sifu explain what is secret style of Hojojutsu. Hojojutsu invented by Ninjas and used by Japanese Police long ago. Hojojutsu weapon style, all about use rope and karate belt, long chain or shoelace, even rubber band to tie up opponent without hurt him too bad. Once him all tie up, then it different story. Hojojutsu good style learn a bit about, just in case you got nothing in fight except mobile phone charger with long lead, or maybe you fight with pair of ladies tights; when you got only ladies tights to fight with, Hojojutsu the style you need to know. Hojojutsu good when other guy have long weapon like sword or pool cue; wrap up him sword and tie close to him throat; him no more trouble after that. Hojojutsu also good when you have weapon, but other guy better and faster than you; tie long string or chain to hilt of your sword or whatever you got, then you got double-sneaky style opponent never seen before and him not know how to defeat.

Hojojutsu fun style if you girlfriend kinda kinky, let you tie her to bed in cat's cradle of clever Kung-Fu rope trick so she can't escape no matter how much she wriggle. Sifu hear some of you Laui all depraved and into that kind of thing, but him suppose it take all sorts to make a world. Perhaps people should be more open minded and then there less need for secret Kung-Fu fighting methods and we all live in peace and harmony?

Ask Sifu what you want to know; him teach you anything, at least a little bit, just enough so you can go away and study more by yourself, then come back and join Sifu Dansac again to elucidate ancient mystery of Kung Fu !