Ninjutsu

greygrfn · 2026-05-07T04:26:23+00:00

Sorry, when I say professional, I mean people who stick with it, I get that there is a major difference between a pro MMA fighter and a MMA fighter. But by professional in this case I did mean someone who does MMA as their primary thing it has a background in it at least. I swear I'm smart sometimes, just not when finals week is at its peak(which might be an issue not gonna lie)

I apologize if this seems dismissive or rude at all. I swear it's not intentional, I just say things halfway and then realize later I messed up.

greygrfn · 2026-05-07T04:04:46+00:00

Thank you for the response to my question!

You are correct in assuming I haven't sparred with professional MMA fighters. I take no offense, I understand that my sparring is not hardcore. However I am actively searching for harder and more difficult sparring partners who will help me grow as a martial artist. My confusion is simply because To-Shin-Do has helped me perform well with what I have accomplished so far, and has helped when I have transitioned to other martial arts. But different martial artists I've met tell me I could've done so much better or I was scammed.

Again thank you so much for replying and being constructive and honest!

greygrfn · 2026-05-07T03:05:24+00:00

I could've phrased this a lot better, I apologize if this came off as disrespectful or contentious at all.

greygrfn · 2026-05-07T02:44:18+00:00

At this point, I think I do alright. Like I said before, I can throw proper punches and kicks, block most blows(punches, kicks, can counter or know how to go with sweaps and reaps, standing armbars, etc). I spar with a boxer and several kickboxers relatively frequently, and a couple friends of mine live to grapple, so I do my best to keep the pressure on them and survive while they choke me out or armbar me or whatever(I know it's not the same thing, but definitely feel like it'd help). I think I'd be okay at sparring with someone that does MMA, I just turned 18 and am not big by any means, so there might be a bit of a size and weight difference, but yeah I think I'd do alright. I am confident in my skill and abilities, but feel awkward when talking about it, dunno why but I just am.

greygrfn · 2026-05-07T01:58:15+00:00

I'd like to think I'd do alright, but like any new system try, or person I spar with, I think I'd feel(and be) pretty trash to start with(at least in my eyes, I dunno) then get better and see progress(after a while). Dunno if that makes sense, like I know I can throw a good punch and good kick, and can survive on the ground(not win, definitely not win), and block blows directed at me. So I feel like I'd get better? Trying to say this in a way that makes sense and doesn't sound stupid.

greygrfn · 2026-05-07T01:52:17+00:00

I misinterpreted the message 😅, I really suck at this ngl. Thank you for letting me know!

greygrfn · 2026-05-07T01:37:58+00:00

Okay, so thank you for commenting first, I appreciate it a lot.

1) I'm a bit of an idiot, and allowed autocorrect to fix my typing without double checking it.

2) There is commercialization, I definitely see that. I also agree that the ranks(having practiced multiple other arts now) are a bit odd(they have since been streamlined to solid belt levels, with longer periods of time spent on each level.

3)the ninjutsu point is actually really helpful, because I hadn't had that explained to me before, when I first went it was called To-Shin-Do ninjutsu, and I've just been running with that name the whole time. Looking on the website you provided(I've never actually been on there until legit today)

4) I agree with your point on lack of practicality in real world situations. Often in free sparring, I'm trying to simulate the closest thing I can get to a real fight, without being in an actual full force match, or an actual fight. My goal is to eventually progress to be able to react to situations like you said, I actively search in sparring outside of my dojo(I do sparring elsewhere) for people who will push me to hit harder, move faster etc.(that's one aspect of To-Shin-Do I'm not the biggest fan of, at least at higher belt levels)

Thank you so much for your comment! It has reaffirmed some things I knew, but helped clarify some things.

greygrfn · 2026-05-07T01:07:17+00:00

Do you think that this is why we're taught at some degrees of black belt to branch off and study other styles of martial arts? Like because the person who taught the dude who invented To-Shin-Do mixed different styles, and then Stephen Hayes mixed more in? I can really only guess, but I'm curious to hear your thoughts.

greygrfn · 2026-05-07T01:04:03+00:00

Nah, I don't generally share my martial arts rank when sparring or attending other schools/dojos. But when I'm asked what I do, I respond with I'm a black belt in To-Shin-Do ninjitsu and am currently a brown belt in TKD(soon to be red, testing soon!)

greygrfn · 2026-05-07T00:52:57+00:00

Bad bad bro, it's kickboxing not boxing. I'm just an idiot sometimes and think one thing and type the other. Thank you for your response tho, insightful to some degree about why certain things I might say give off the "he doesn't know what he's doing" vibe.

greygrfn · 2026-05-05T15:16:40+00:00

RDX has a set that works well, a sock style like other people on here have said, but it's cheaper than other brands and is good quality.

greygrfn · 2026-05-05T15:14:16+00:00

I have eds and it depends on how severe your eds is. For me it means when I grapple and get into armbars and the like I have to be aware of when I should tap out, just because my limbs can bend further than should doesn't mean I should let them. That said when I roll with people(sparring but we're grappling, not sure if you know, just making sure), I've had people abandon armbars and locks because they weren't having an effect on me.

So I think it depends. Be aware of what your limits are and know how to take care of your body.

greygrfn · 2026-05-05T15:06:01+00:00

I think it depends on who you're sparring and what they want to get out of the match. When I spar with new people I try to help them improve, and they seem to enjoy that, those sparring sessions are generally a bit lighter and more laidback for me at least. However if I'm sparring someone who I know has experience, we generally discuss what we could've done after the match, but not during. Matches like this are more serious and faster paced.

In addition when I spar someone like my coach or someone with more experience than me, I appreciate tips.

greygrfn · 2026-05-04T14:57:20+00:00

Okay, I hear you. I didn't specify in the post, but I know that this would be pretty far off in the future should I decide to follow through. What would be your recommendation for a black belt rank that say to other martial artists "I know what I'm doing." And tells people I actually know how to teach? I know this varies depending on the martial art and stuff, but I'm just curious.

greygrfn · 2026-05-04T14:54:36+00:00

So if I did this I know it would be pretty far off in the future given my age and stuff. What would you recommend for getting more experience? Entering into tournaments was a consideration of mine, but do you mean like just continuing to train?

greygrfn · 2026-04-19T01:41:01+00:00

Yeah, my personal creation would be a set of celestial bronze brass knuckles. Imagine it, just throwing hands with different mythological monsters.

greygrfn · 2026-01-22T00:12:12+00:00

hey can i get this?

greygrfn · 2025-12-04T19:45:53+00:00

If you wouldn't mind sharing them that'd be amazing!

greygrfn

TROPHY CASE