by Ameet Studio
EVERYWHERE
“LISTEN TO YOUR HEART BUT
BE GUIDED BY REASON.”
Over the years, my study of Spinjitzu has taught me never
to underestimate anyone as a potential enemy. Here are some
great examples of this.
The evil Nindroids,
constructed by tech
genius Cyrus Borg to
serve the Overlord,
can appear mindless
and not much of a
threat. However, they
are tougher and more
agile than humans. Yet
Nindroids are unable
to gain strength from
friendship, and they
are incapable of making
sacrifices, which is
where some of the
Spinjitzu Masters’
greatest strengths lie.
Even the Nindroid proved
surprisingly tough . . . especially
when teased about his size!
A Skulkin named Krazi is another
surprising enemy. With his
jester’s hat and foolish behavior,
he might not seem dangerous.
But Spinjitzu teaches us that
unpredictable enemies are the
most difficult to fight, and Krazi
is certainly unpredictable.
Spinjitzu’s strength also comes
from the mind — and reason
always defeats madness! Great
for overcoming an unpredictable
enemy like this one!
Knowing your enemies’ strengths and
weaknesses, regardless of their size, is the
key to finding a way to defeat them.
Monkey Wretch, the chief mechanic for Nadakhan’s
pirate crew, doesn’t really look menacing, but a
Spinjitzu Master should never judge by appearances.
Monkey Wretch’s strength is not the same as a warrior’s, but
as a brilliant engineer he has built many dangerous machines.
INNER STRENGTH
“FEAR CAN HOLD YOU BACK OR PUSH YOU FORWARD.”
Spinjitzu shows us that, more than any Nindroid,
Serpentine, or Overlord, fear is a ninja’s greatest enemy
because it holds us back from true greatness. I have taught
my students that in order to become real masters they should
start believing in themselves, face up to their fears, and
trust what their heart is saying.
I spend much of the
ninjas’ training time
dealing with fear.
Often, I will surprise
them with what
scares them most.
Some are making
great progress,
but Jay still has a
tendency to scream
and run to his room.
He will learn — these
things take time.
COMMON FEARS:
1. Flying
2. Speaking in front
of an audience
3. Heights
4. Clowns
5. The dark
6. Failing
7. Spiders
8. Flowers
9. Oatmeal for
breakfast
10. Dogs
11. Dentists (especially
ones dressed as
clowns)
12. Snakes
If ninja can face and understand
their fears, those fears are less
likely to interfere with the ninja
accomplishing their goal. Remember
to center yourself when
confronted with what scares
you most. Nobody is free
from fear. Even I fear I
will fail others, my father
in particular. He may no
longer be with me, but I still
do not want to disappoint him.
A NINJA’S APPEARANCE
“YOUR ENEMY MAY JUDGE YOU ON YOUR APPEARANCE,
BUT YOU MUST ALSO SHOW THEM WHERE THE REAL
STRENGTH LIES — INSIDE OF YOU.”
To best practice Spinjitzu, a ninja’s typical
clothing, or gi, should be simple, functional, and
allow maximum movement. A hood lets the ninja
see, but does not reveal the ninja’s identity.
Boot soles are padded so the ninja may move
silently. And the gi’s three belts make sure a
ninja’s pants don’t fall down during a fight.
(Embarrassment can be a powerful weapon
in the hands of an enemy!)
A Spinjitzu ninja always
fights fair!
During training, ninja
wear special helmets, chest
protectors, and other padding
so they don’t get injured.
These outfits emphasize a ninja’s
abilities in battle: the tenacity
of Ice, the spontaneity of Fire,
the speed of Lightning, and the
strength of the Earth.
When fighting,
Cole keeps his
wallet under
his shoulder
plate.
The rocks that orbit Cole when he
is doing a Spinjitzu tornado never
seem to block his vision.
The ninja occasionally wear armored
suits for combat involving heavy
weapons. These suits have
reinforced shoulder plating,
sheaths for weapons, and masks
that cover only the lower part
of the face.
When not in uniform, the ninja
dress as typical young people.
That way, they don’t draw
attention to themselves. And they
also seem to find it comfortable.
HIDING IN
PLAIN SIGHT
“MAKE YOUR ENEMY SEE WHAT YOU WANT HIM TO SEE.”
Ninja must not only be good fighters, they must also be clever.
Many missions call for speed, stealth, and disguise. Camouflage
is an art within the art of Spinjitzu.
I’m proud of my students, who have practiced Spinjitzu’s art of
disguise in many different ways. When Nadakhan’s crew took over the
Misfortune’s Keep, the ninja boarded it disguised as pirates . . .
My students have also improvised disguises using materials they had at
hand. They once cobbled together disguises as Stone Warriors to sneak
into Lord Garmadon’s camp when he was still on Dark Island.
Obviously, this was before they
perfected the art of disguise.
Nya has proven quite skilled at all manners
of disguise. She posed as a Kabuki
performer to blend in with Master
Chen’s entourage. She also
designed and built the DB X
and equipped it with software
that allowed it to change its
appearance so the ninja
could travel unnoticed.
TO WARM THE SOUL
“EVERY CUP OF TEA IS LIKE A JOURNEY IN ONE’S MIND.”
When our world is in peril, a true Master of Spinjitzu takes no rest
and fights until the agents of Darkness are pushed back. However,
there are moments when one needs to stop, relax, regain strength, and
reflect upon the world through meditation.
My preferred method
of relaxation is making
and drinking tea.
Tea making is an art, just like
Spinjitzu. It requires concentration
and patience. The temperature
of the water is important, and
the timing and technique used
to steep the leaves and
extract
the flavor is crucial.
I was amazed to
discover how much
I had learned about
rotation from stirring
my tea . . .
There are enough different
kinds of tea to satisfy the
most sublime tastes. Some
even have magical qualities.
There is the tea that can
speed up the aging process,
and the tea that helps one
forget certain events (highly
desirable, but rarely
available). When made
properly, some teas allow
you to transport yourself
across enormous distances
and even between realms
(a comfortable method of
traveling for a Spinjitzu
Master, I must admit). These
all can be bought in Mystake’s
tea shop.
Mystake’s tea shop
I have often dreamed of opening my own tea shop. I look forward
to making my own blends and showing customers the delights and
benefits of tea.
I’ve been told about a type of tea that helps its
drinkers grow a mustache and beard. Who would
need such tea?
EVERYONE HAS
POTENTIAL
“THE ONLY CONSTANT IS CHANGE.”
Spinjitzu teaches us to recognize potential even in our enemies.
Someone who is our adversary today might become our friend
tomorrow. Life has proven many times that everyone deserves
a second chance.
Here are some examples:
When we met Lloyd, he was our enemy. Initially he allied with the
Serpentine, but when he discovered their evil nature, he joined the
ninja and me. He even sacrificed his youth to become the Green Ninja.
Lloyd’s father, Garmadon, experienced several changes of heart. Initially, he was pure
of spirit and a devoted student of Spinjitzu. But after the Great Devourer bit him, his
spirit was poisoned, and he slowly became evil. Later, when his son was in peril, Garmadon
returned to the side of good and gave his life to save the realm of Ninjago.
Another example is my first Spinjitzu
student, Morro. I suspected he might be
the Green Ninja, but when we learned
he was not, Morro couldn’t accept it.
He wanted to prove that I was wrong, so
he left the temple and became my fierce
enemy. Nevertheless, in the fullness of
time, we discovered he wasn’t entirely
evil. He returned on the Day of the
Departed to help the ninja and me.
Nothing remains the same forever. Change is a part of everything. A student of
Spinjitzu must be open to change, and flexible enough to deal with it.
AIRJITZU
“SPINJITZU IS A TREE FROM WHICH MANY BRANCHES GROW.”
All new martial
arts can be traced
back to Spinjitzu.
The one created
by Master Yang
is a perfect
example. Yang was
a keen student
of Spinjitzu. Who
trained him, I
don’t know. But,
like me, he was
also extremely
interested in
the possibilities
and powers of
Spinjitzu. He
carefully studied
it and developed
his own movement
called Airjitzu.
Yang wrote
the secrets of
the martial arts
discipline of Airjitzu on
this ancient parchment.
The scroll now resides in
the Library of Domu.
Jay insists on calling
Airjitzu “Cyclon–Do.”
Users of Airjitzu create elemental tornados that
allow them to fly for short periods of time.
Important: To maintain an
Airjitzu tornado, keep legs
tucked during flight.
Important:
Be aware
of weather
conditions before
forming a
tornado!
Although many of his deeds were not glorious, Master Young
will always be remembered and highly esteemed for developing
Airjitzu. I am confident that there are other martial art
forms related to Spinjitzu. As a student of Spinjitzu, I
must continue documenting my father’s work.
MUSCLE IN MIND
“YOU MUST TURN THEIR GREATEST STRENGTHS
INTO THEIR GREATEST WEAKNESSES.”
Spinjitzu teaches us that what may seem to be a
weakness can be turned into a strength. Cole’s
story, after he had become a ghost, is the perfect
illustration of this teaching.
Cole found himself trapped inside Yang’s Haunted Temple, the old
Temple of Airjitzu, at sunrise. As the legends foretold, he was
transformed into a ghost. He became depressed, believing that as
a ghost, he could no longer be a part of the ninja team.
Cole: Normal
Cole: Ghost
Nya suggested that rather than dwell on what he could not do, Cole should
find other ways to help. Cole learned that he could possess materials
and objects and even pass through walls. These abilities proved crucial in
defeating both Morro and Nadakhan.
Even a small impediment can be used
to one’s advantage. Once I got the
hiccups during a fight, and I used
it to deceive my opponent. I faked
an extra hiccup while
sneakily delivering an
unexpected blow!
Fumbling speech in a time of crisis can also add to the time it takes
to convey information . . . and help gain precious time before
reinforcements arrive.
When he returned to his human
form, Cole unlocked a new elemental
power — the Earth Punch — that
he is now struggling to harness.
Never forget: A weakness is only a weakness
if you let it make you weak.
DIFFERENT WARRIORS,
DIFFERENT WAYS
“MANY ROADS MAY LEAD TO THE SAME DESTINATION.”
Simple and light
The samurai and the ninja are very
different. The former rely on
their extraordinary weapon
skills; the latter derive
strength from their
bodies and minds.
Great warriors never
miss an opportunity to
learn and develop their
skills. The samurai
and the ninja can
learn from each
other. Spinjitzu
encourages an
endless quest
for inspiration.
Quiet and easy to clean
Flexible
and stylish
Helmet — elaborate,
but makes vision
difficult
Armor — protective,
but restricts
movement
Although the heavy
armor never affected
Nya’s performance, I’m
happy she has passed on
her Samurai X legacy
to someone else . . .
Samurai Sword —
dangerous, but
requires time
and space to use
For a long time, Nya fought alongside the ninja as t
he mysterious
Samurai X. She managed that role very well because she is an
inventive engineer. It is difficult for her to follow the path of
the Master of Water without the mechanized armor she had as
Samurai X, but I am certain she will find her inner strength
and confidence and become an excellent Spinjitzu ninja.
ONE ART, MANY MASTERS
“SPINJITZU REFLECTS OUR QUALITIES AND PASSIONS. OUR
DIFFERENCES ARE SHOWN IN HOW WE MASTER SPINJITZU.”
My father was full of secrets. He never told me whom he had
trained before Garmadon and me. Over the years, I have trained
a select few, but somehow others across Ninjago Island have
learned Spinjitzu as well.
Note for the future: Assemble a
list of all known Spinjitzu masters.
Who are allies and who are enemies?
My brother was
a great Spinjitzu
master. Could he
have taught Spinjitzu
to others before
he was banished to
the Underworld?
I trained Misako
before she married
Garmadon, and we
grew close during
that time.
Nadakhan was a powerful,
evil djinn with the ability
to grant wishes. His
henchman, Doubloon, once
studied Spinjitzu, but that
was long before he became
a thief. Caught stealing
from the Misfortune’s
Keep, Nadakhan made him
into a mute, two-faced
pirate.
Word to the wise: Never, EVER
steal from a djinn.
Once Doubloon became
Nadakhan’s thug, he
used Spinjitzu tornadoes
in combat. That made
me incredibly sad.
Spinjitzu is not for
pirates and thieves.
LEARNING FROM
MISTAKES
“DO NOT WISH, ACT. ONLY THIS WAY
YOU CAN INFLUENCE THE PRESENT.”
It is important to dream and have ambitions, but
wishful thinking can lead to disaster. Our recent
clash with a wish-granting djinn proved that I
have not spent enough time
teaching my students the
dangers of wishful
thinking. This mistake
turned out to be a
hard lesson for the
ninja and me . . .
Nya and Delara looked
almost exactly alike.
