Quote:Brotherhood of ninjas on campus
Joseph Szydlowski
Issue date: 9/17/08 Section: Features

An new student group has slipped onto campus and is enlisting individuals for instruction in the Japanese art of Ninjitsu.

The Brotherhood, a martial arts organization that just emerged on campus this semester, trains Northern Kentucky University students in the style of Ninjitsu, the namesake of the infamous ninjas.

"Ninjitsu is just enhanced martial arts," said Evva Roberson, founder and sensei of the group. "You have to have experience in martial arts already."

The Japanese fighting style was devised and sharpened by the notorious ninjas, a stealthy class known as assassins for hire in feudal Japan. Typically, however, they often infiltrated enemy fortresses as double-agents or covertly ambushed enemy armies.

Though the sly spies vanished long ago, their combat techniques have survived and been brought to NKU by Roberson, who has five years experience in martial arts. She said she taught herself ninjitsu, and wanted to open the style up to the campus community.

After being chartered last April, it has now become an official group and practices in the Multi-Purpose room in the Albright Health Center.

More than a year in the making, naming The Brotherhood alone proved a difficult battle.

"It's been a long process," Roberson said. "It went through so many trial and errors, back and forth through so many names."

Eventually, she said she'd had it with trying to find the perfect name to fit the sleek organization. Instead, Roberson chose The Brotherhood, as it reflects "family, togetherness," a key value of the group.

Those who just beat Ninja Gaiden on the Master Ninja level should hold off before they snatch their shurikens. The Brotherhood requires its members to have some previous experience in martial arts, such as Akito, Tae Kwon Do, Kung Fu or Judo.

"We integrate all the different types of martial arts," she said. "Not tae bo or kickboxing."

However, a vast array of styles exist across Asia, she said, and they share similar underlying skills. A green belt in Tae Kwon Do is about the amount of experience necessary, but the rank itself is not.

"One of the members I recruited this week, he has more knowledge than he lets on," she said. "I was surprised. A white belt … he had the skill up to a blue belt."

Ninja Gaiden gamers should also be wary of their motives. Ninjitsu, like all other martial arts, teaches defense and evasion before confrontation.

"We do want to have members who aren't learning how to use a weapon," she said. "You want to avoid a fight as much as possible."

The Brotherhood is having tryouts from 9-10 p.m., Sept. 17-19 in the Campus Recreation Center on court three, where potential members must prove themselves skilled and knowledgeable enough to merit inclusion.

If inducted, members must meet every day to drill.

"It takes a lot of time and devotion," she said. That training includes using safety training weapons.

"We do mentally prepare you, as far as learning weapons and breathing and using your body as a tool. You have to be ready to use a weapon," Roberson said. Despite a deep history of ninjas using weapons, "that is not the focus of the organization," she added.

Instead, it centers on promoting communication between international students and American ones, as well as environmental concern.

"You use the environmental elements as part of training. It's just good to be consciously aware of your surroundings," she said, adding that students must "be aware that it is an ecosystem supported by different lives, different species."

The Brotherhood charges a $300 membership fee, which covers both the uniform and weapons, though she said that one must know state and local laws to use them.

It will also be making an appearance at "Dancing Around the World" Sept. 27 and is collaborating with Cultural Awareness Week.

Those interested in joining The Brotherhood can visit their web site here or e-mail Roberson at <!-- e --><a href="mailto:brotherhood.norse@gmail.com">brotherhood.norse@gmail.com</a><!-- e -->

Greg Wrote:Disheartening. Especially on the eve of Talk like a Pirate Day.