In stressful times like these, sometimes doing something out of the ordinary is the best solution. Picking up an instrument or learning a new language, for example, are skills that we can easily learn in a classroom or through a personal instructor.
But not all lessons are created equally. For the more curious person who’s looking for an alternative to basic knitting or learning piano, there are some alternatives—some really wacky alternatives.
Ninja School
The mystique of the ninja has been analyzed and glorified throughout popular culture for decades, from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill series. But in this day and age outside of Japan, where can one acquire such skills?
Warrior Quest International is the answer. Based in Denver, Colorado, Founder Mark Steven Grove has culled together a core group of instructors with decades of experience in the modern warrior tradition of the Kurai Kotori Ryu (Clan of the Dark Lone Bird), which includes the ability to use a variety of weapons in combat such as the short staff, knife, short chain, and throwing spikes.
But while Warrior Quest provides a plethora of information on everything from the origin of the female ninja to information pertaining to certain types of poisons a ninja might use, you shouldn’t expect to turn into a killing machine.
“We get a lot of people in like that … we love to have them come in and see what it’s all about, a lot of times they’re surprised by how much of the ninja discipline we practice and sometimes they’re disappointed. I mean, we don’t go around trying to kill people or anything like that,” said Sara Salazar.
Salazar is a seven-year “Jiki Deshi,” or personal student of Grove’s. “There isn’t enough I can say about Warrior Quest. Mark is a wonderful teacher and there truly is something for everyone who comes through our doors.”
Kissing School
You think you’ve got the necessary skills to deliver a kiss that kills? Do you make your partner’s knees buckle with your perfect pucker?
Maybe you do, but most likely you don’t, according to Holistic Psychotherapist Cherie Byrd. Turns out kissing is the kind of skill that can be crafted under the proper guidance and instruction.
