This is a look at our annual Valentine's Day course material at LOTSWild and Riverside MA in western NC. We cover level one of our curriculum for Hojojutsu, or tactical ties knots restraints and flexible tools of the ninja! This fun to learn material helps us be flexible, learn to adapt, improvise with things around us, and have self defense items everywhere we go - our clothing! Other than martial artists others who will find this information useful are hikers and backpackers, adventurers, historians, or folks stuck at home during the pandemic. Safety is paramount and students must begin with an understanding of boundaries, consent, and learn about types of materials appropriate for training. At no time in ANYof this study are there recommendations for ties or holds left on a person's neck. Hojojutsu must be studied in clear mind, clean body, and without the influence of any drugs or alcohol.

Hojojutsu was the original handcuffing method of police in ancient Japan long before steel tools were used. Restraining is a thing practiced by people around the world which highlights the other side of this coin - escape. By practicing and learning safely with a partner you will build an understanding of how to get away from anyone seeking to hold you against your will. As a practitioner you will have non-violent ways of keeping someone still until help or law enforcement arrives, or be able to get away without causing someone serious harm while you get to safety.

In the modern day this is a fun practice that also expands any martial arts curriculum. It is part of any authentic Ninjutsu school, however, and personal instruction should always be sought when possible.

This class is one of many offered on site at Land of the Sky Wilderness School; we have a campground for in person stays throughout the year. Regular weekly classes are held in town at Riverside Martial Arts.

Your instructor Spencer has a 5th Dan in Taijutsu / Ninjutsu in addition to a life long pursuit of practical, hard earned skill sets related to the outdoors and martial arts. He's an author, co-hosted 59 episodes of a worldwide TV show for Discovery, and directs Land of the Sky Wilderness School in western NC. He has traveled the world from the far East to Europe teaching flexible tools, ties, survival, self defense and music. Find him and say hi on his social media outlets.

Visit LOTSWild for more information - especially our ongoing classes and updates available online covering survival, gardening, tech and gadgets, martial arts, health and fitness and more at Patreon.