Interview with Martial Artist Hardee Hakutoshi Merritt

[@TheNinjaEveryDay]

I really appreciate the opportunity to chat with you and look forward to everyone’s reactions!

[@thedojomartialarts]

My pleasure, my friend!

[@jedironin380]

I truly enjoyed this interview with both of you! So many great memories coming back related to everything you talked about here... When Anshu Hayes introduced the ToShinDo system, and we did the week-long seminar going through the whole book (which I still have!), I did a LOT of stretching every night and every morning to recover and that helped immensely. I also remember our ground-fighting classes at the Quest Center with John Paloquin. My training partner Rodney asked him a question, so we both got "volunteered" to practice that one for the whole class! LOL We had 30-something steps of ground fighting for our Black Belt test, and I remember learning the first five or so, wondering how I was ever going to learn the WHOLE thing for my test?! Good times! Looking forward to Part 2, thank you again!

[@noelaxton4941]

Absolutely loved that statement about;"I stopped seeing the differences and started seeing the synergies". Yes! I've trained in Ninjutsu under Robert Gusset back in late 80s into the 90s, Kali and Wing Chun. It becomes the subtle transitions of the subtleties of each and how the intertwine. Love this conversation. Thank you so much for this.

[@thedojomartialarts]

Thank you, Noel!

[@zachparade2791]

Can’t wait for part 2! Excellent conversation about lots of the topics many of us in the ninja community are interested in. 👍👍

[@thedojomartialarts]

Coming soon!

[@kevinhouse1960]

Great interview. Look forward to part 2.

[@AndrewMitchell-li5kb]

I remember the old days pretending to be ninja, all from Stephen K Hayes and Soke Hatsumi images in magazines. My mate and I used to fire arrows at each other across my back yard in Australia. It was a proper bow and arrow too. Can't believe we didn't kill each other. Awesome times.

[@thedojomartialarts]

The best of times...

[@victorsimpson4487]

Great interview, Mr Norcross with Mr Merritt. Cheers from Ottawa.

[@TheNinjaEveryDay]

Cheers!

[@thedojomartialarts]

Thanks for watching!

[@Outsider666]

awesome to see mr. Hardee on here. I had the chance to meet him at a conference (NENC) last year and was happy to see he was just as personable in reality as he appears on here.

[@thedojomartialarts]

He sure is.

[@SparrowShimada9522]

In Thundercats, they had a samurai character, Hachiman, challenge Lion-O. They also had a ninja in that episode.

[@warrennass24]

Hey guys, even though I come from different traditions. I love both of your channels and I truly believe we are chasing the same thing. Great interview so far, and cannot wait for part two 41 one years old myself, I also grew up with the ThunderCats, Masters of the Universe, Ninja turtles but never connected the turtles to the ninja, but the infamous ninja suits I knew of. I also remember Voltron, Samurai Pizza Cats, which it and the ThunderCats were pretty much the only animai available to me at the time until Dragon Ball Z came along as ninja scroll was for adult viewing only. I saw GI-JOE the animated movie with Don Johnson as one of the voices, it was made in 1996. One figurine I had was Night Creeper. Of course who wasn't motivated by the Karate Kid, but I was also inspired by Steven Seagal and Chuck Norris.Fist eighties Ninja films I saw, The Octagon, Bloodsport. Wakiyama Tomisboro and 2003 Zatoichi re-make. Keep up the good in bringing like minded people together with common goals.

[@TheNinjaEveryDay]

Thannks for watching!

[@thedojomartialarts]

Thank you, as always, Warren!

[@SparrowShimada9522]

I remember the show, "The Toys That Made Us". In the cartoon, Snake Eyes originally wasnt a ninja. He was classified as a "commando". It was in the comics where he was retconned as a ninja. I think they were influenced by the "American Ninja" movie in the character development.

[@vexedalgides3091]

This is really good insights from both of you. Looking forward to part 2!

[@thedojomartialarts]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@christopherpadilla715]

The collaboration I never knew I needed!! Excellent content!!

[@thedojomartialarts]

Thank you!

[@klauspascal8165]

Thank you for sharing ....

[@klauspascal8165]

Hmmm .... if I may share of my experiences .... I was quite shocked of the politics found in Bujinakan, Genbukan and To-Shin-Do. But I would like to recommend Aiki-Jujutsu. Only one time practiced in the City of Bonn .... actually the teacher with a doctor-title called this Style Aikibudo (Nagare-Mizo-Ryu). But another funny story .... when my Judo-teacher had his marriage .... there was an Aikido teacher there on this day .... I was still a teenager or allmost a teenager .... and she threw me with a kind of .... what is it called in Ninpou. Omote Gyaku .... Called different in Aikido. And I was very happy my teacher "Dirk Herzig" teached us correct "Ukemi". I was throws through the Air and landed very safe. Good old memories .... she was an adult .... I was not even a teenager .... but very imperessed. She learned from Asai Sensei. I will never forget .... LG K.

[@klauspascal8165]

Btw. Sensei Asaii S. learned from O Sensei Ueshiba (sp?) .... and strange enough I was told from my Japanese language teachers ..... sitting in a japanese resataurant herr in Cologne ..... there would be also another teacher who learned from Aikido founder Ueshiba Sensei ..... much older than Asai Sensei ..... I really apologize .... this was almost or even an invitation .... I never trained with them .... although I really adore O Sensei Ueshiba. I really made a mistake .... didnt take a chance. But my Japanese teahers dont lie. Some of them said .... "you are always teelling the truth." And my japanese girl-friend called me a sincere person .... I dont like unsincere persons at alll .... just a thoght. But I apologize not to take the chance to train under a real personal Student of O Sensei Moriei Ueshiba .... to say the truth .....one of my favorite teachers would be Steven Seagal (I loved his film "on Deadly Ground" quite a ttime ago.But one of my dearest styles is "Yoshinkan Aikido" .... I cnt jesist .... close too perfect .... Sorry for bubbling.4

[@klauspascal8165]

If I talk way too much BS again ....pls .... just delete this posts. But Budo and Japanese culture was / were perhaps my greatest passions..... Hmm. I would even like to write more ..... but I feel tired. Take care dear ones ..... and good night. LG K. PS: This is the worst time of my life ....