2014 Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival: Anime, Teriyaki, and… Ninjas?

Members of the Orlando Ninjutsu Center and Ninja Delaware

They say you shouldn’t be able to see a Ninja, but at the 2014 Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia practitioners of art of Ninpo from Bansen Dojo and Orlando Ninjutsu Center were strutting their flips and tricks in the open sunshine, to the “Ooooh’s” and “Aaaah’s” of an amazed crowd.

Sensei Alejandro Costales from ONC performing an arm-lock

The Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia welcomes thousands of visitors and local martial arts groups yearly to witness and participate in the festivities (or Ohanami, as they’re more traditionally known) that mark the spell-binding budding of the cherry blossoms and the beginning of the Japanese spring season. 

“We were honored to be a part of it,” said Ninpo Instructor Alejandro Costales of the Orando Ninjutsu Center, “Japanese culture and traditions are at the heart of what we do and we couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day to share our art.” The group began with a demonstration of basic rolls, flips, blocking and striking, and followed with much more showy stuff.

"Chain-sickle" technique

The crowd cheered and gasped in excitement as one Ninja swung a metal ring from a rope disarming an opponent bearing a wooden sword. Children giggled and wowed at the high-speed heart-pounding match between two equally talented jujutsu opponents as another Ninja evaded terrifyingly accurate sword strikes. But the highlight of the 30 minute Martial Arts demonstration was when the MC and Renshi of the Bansen Dojo stepped down from the microphone and took the grassy stage…

…You’re not supposed to believe everything you see in Martial Arts movies… Everyone knows most of that stuff is hype, strings and camera effects. But as the Sensei stood weaponless before two Ninpo practitioners with raised swords and suddenly shot blinding powder in both of their faces, disappearing and reappearing behind them… Well, let’s just say, the kids went nuts. “It’s actually baby powder,” he explained later, “We like to keep it around on long training days.”


  
The group, with more than 5 locations over the east coast including Newark, Delaware, Casselberry, FL, Tampa, FL, St.Augustine, FL, Maryland, DE, and more, it welcomes new students and visitors on a weekly basis and enjoys sharing the Ninpo traditions with members of the community. In fact, as it turns out, just like with the mysterious Ninjas we love from the movies, there is more to Ninpo than meets the eye! It’s not all punches and disappearing acts. The core of Ninpo fosters the values of peace, selflessness, and contributing in a positive way to one’s community.

Members of ONC and BD take silly poses for photos

“We learn martial arts so we don’t have to use them,” explains Sensei Costales, “Our training is about discipline and inner peace.”

… And if you get to throw baby powder in someone’s face and hear the kid’s gasp in amazement… Well, that has its perks too!

Covered in baby powder

To learn more about Ninpo Ninjutsu, Jujutsu contact the Bansen Dojo and Orlando Ninjutsu Center! Better yet, pop on in and pay them a visit… If you can find them, that is!
















by Stephanie L. Onofri