Copyright 2002 Times Publishing Company
St. Petersburg Times
July 19, 2002 Friday
SECTION: HERNANDO TIMES; Pg. 4
LENGTH: 676 words
HEADLINE: Ninja still gets kicks
BYLINE: FRANK PASTOR
BODY:
Tom Dampman has been practicing the art of self-defense 30-plus years.
BROOKSVILLE - At age 10, Tom Dampman was a Ninja. At least he thought he was.
He read Karate books. He climbed trees with grappling hooks. He did dive rolls over fences. Thirty-eight years later, Dampman is doing those things - as a Ninja-in-training.
Trained by the Japanese master, Masaki Hatsumi, Dampman, 48, of Brooksville, has spent the past 17 years practicing the art of Ninjutsu and the past 15 teaching it.
"I teach so I can train," Dampman said. "So I can continue learning."
At 5-feet-11, 175 pounds, Dampman is not big, nor especially strong or quick. But by using body weight, timing, angles and distance he can subdue any foe.
Like most of his students, Dampman, a former construction worker, was drawn to Ninjutsu because he wanted to defend himself.
He spent 10 years in Karate, earning a fourth-degree black belt, and trained in Aikido, Jujutsu, Judo and Tai Chi. But nothing was as effective as Ninjutsu, particularly in close combat situations.
"On the street, anything goes," Dampman said. "There are no rules here."
Dampman first saw Hatsumi at a seminar. He marveled at the master's moves and how no one could approximate them. For 17 years, Dampman has made annual trips to Japan to train under him.
Ninjutsu isn't about competition. It's about survival. It's been that way since the 11th Century, when the Ninjas developed a system of skills to protect their families from the Samurai.
But don't mistake Ninjutsu - which means "one who perseveres or endures through combat situations" - for the month-long self-defense course taught at the local mall. It is a lifelong pursuit with the ultimate goal of reaching enlightment. Some say it takes 80 years to become a Ninja.
Dampman doesn't demonstrate techniques; he teaches body movement. Since every situation requires a different response, rehearsed moves are of little use during an attack.
Dampman's chief task is to teach his students to sense and avoid danger. Some things are common sense, like avoiding ATM machines at night, crossing the street in front of a car or bars at 3 a.m.
Should danger occur, he wants his students prepared for any situation. So they are taught grappling, use of firearms, swords and bows and arrows, and outdoor survival skills.
Ninjutsu is more violent than other forms of self-defense. Students are shown how to gauge eyes, pop eardrums, tear muscle or break bones - anything they might need to defend themselves. against an attacker.
"All of the stuff we do, we have one goal in mind," Dampman said. "And that's to either maim or kill."
Dampman doesn't teach children, and precautions are taken to keep students safe, he said. They learn how to fall and absorb blows.
"Nobody gets hurt because They first learn how not to get hurt," Dampman said.
Jack Moye, 40, of Brooksville has been training with Dampman for six years. A Post Office worker, he started with the hopes of increasing his flexibility.
"I'm much more relaxed and confident," Moye said. "I can walk anywhere, and I'm not going to get hurt."
Moye said Ninjutsu might have saved his life. He and a friend were driving through Tampa late one night when a van pulled alongside their car.
Moye sensed something was wrong and told his friend to run the red light. As the van's side door slid open, revealing several men with guns, Moye and his friend sped to safety.
"I had a feeling we had to get out of there," he said.
Dampman's daughter, Jennifer, 16, has been training for about 10 years. A friend once asked her if Ninjutsu was like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
"Do they rip throats out?" she replied.
So far, Dampman has been able to avoid danger. But he worries how much latitude the law will allow should he be forced to defend himself.
"How far am I going to go in this situation and am I going to end up in jail?" he said.
Moye had an answer.
"I'd rather be tried by 12 than carried by six."
For information on Ninjutsu, call Tom Dampman, (352) 754-5280.
St. Petersburg Times
July 19, 2002 Friday
SECTION: HERNANDO TIMES; Pg. 4
LENGTH: 676 words
HEADLINE: Ninja still gets kicks
BYLINE: FRANK PASTOR
BODY:
Tom Dampman has been practicing the art of self-defense 30-plus years.
BROOKSVILLE - At age 10, Tom Dampman was a Ninja. At least he thought he was.
He read Karate books. He climbed trees with grappling hooks. He did dive rolls over fences. Thirty-eight years later, Dampman is doing those things - as a Ninja-in-training.
Trained by the Japanese master, Masaki Hatsumi, Dampman, 48, of Brooksville, has spent the past 17 years practicing the art of Ninjutsu and the past 15 teaching it.
"I teach so I can train," Dampman said. "So I can continue learning."
At 5-feet-11, 175 pounds, Dampman is not big, nor especially strong or quick. But by using body weight, timing, angles and distance he can subdue any foe.
Like most of his students, Dampman, a former construction worker, was drawn to Ninjutsu because he wanted to defend himself.
He spent 10 years in Karate, earning a fourth-degree black belt, and trained in Aikido, Jujutsu, Judo and Tai Chi. But nothing was as effective as Ninjutsu, particularly in close combat situations.
"On the street, anything goes," Dampman said. "There are no rules here."
Dampman first saw Hatsumi at a seminar. He marveled at the master's moves and how no one could approximate them. For 17 years, Dampman has made annual trips to Japan to train under him.
Ninjutsu isn't about competition. It's about survival. It's been that way since the 11th Century, when the Ninjas developed a system of skills to protect their families from the Samurai.
But don't mistake Ninjutsu - which means "one who perseveres or endures through combat situations" - for the month-long self-defense course taught at the local mall. It is a lifelong pursuit with the ultimate goal of reaching enlightment. Some say it takes 80 years to become a Ninja.
Dampman doesn't demonstrate techniques; he teaches body movement. Since every situation requires a different response, rehearsed moves are of little use during an attack.
Dampman's chief task is to teach his students to sense and avoid danger. Some things are common sense, like avoiding ATM machines at night, crossing the street in front of a car or bars at 3 a.m.
Should danger occur, he wants his students prepared for any situation. So they are taught grappling, use of firearms, swords and bows and arrows, and outdoor survival skills.
Ninjutsu is more violent than other forms of self-defense. Students are shown how to gauge eyes, pop eardrums, tear muscle or break bones - anything they might need to defend themselves. against an attacker.
"All of the stuff we do, we have one goal in mind," Dampman said. "And that's to either maim or kill."
Dampman doesn't teach children, and precautions are taken to keep students safe, he said. They learn how to fall and absorb blows.
"Nobody gets hurt because They first learn how not to get hurt," Dampman said.
Jack Moye, 40, of Brooksville has been training with Dampman for six years. A Post Office worker, he started with the hopes of increasing his flexibility.
"I'm much more relaxed and confident," Moye said. "I can walk anywhere, and I'm not going to get hurt."
Moye said Ninjutsu might have saved his life. He and a friend were driving through Tampa late one night when a van pulled alongside their car.
Moye sensed something was wrong and told his friend to run the red light. As the van's side door slid open, revealing several men with guns, Moye and his friend sped to safety.
"I had a feeling we had to get out of there," he said.
Dampman's daughter, Jennifer, 16, has been training for about 10 years. A friend once asked her if Ninjutsu was like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
"Do they rip throats out?" she replied.
So far, Dampman has been able to avoid danger. But he worries how much latitude the law will allow should he be forced to defend himself.
"How far am I going to go in this situation and am I going to end up in jail?" he said.
Moye had an answer.
"I'd rather be tried by 12 than carried by six."
For information on Ninjutsu, call Tom Dampman, (352) 754-5280.