Mission Tactics:
Looking at the mission plan you can determine which tactics may need to be employed if you were to be called upon for mission assistance.
You can see the start of the mission, designated by an X.
Moving south:
Handsprings: Front/
Front hand spring:
Running forward the body is angled at the ground as in diving into a shallow pool. This will give you the force necessary to propel the body over an out. When the legs have moved over and past the upper body, the arms are straightened and the legs kicked out. Experiment with alternating feet forward during the initial dive. The key to landing any technique is in concentrating on the following technique. If the mind is off the tactic at hand it is more easily performed. For instance: When performing the front handspring concentrate more so on the front roll that will follow upon landing the tactic.
Aruki: Stealth walking, sweeping and turning steps/
The only way to become more proficient at aruki is to do it. (But that is the purpose of missions no?) Typically the pinky toe is placed first in most walking or running applications (but sometimes the big toe depending on angle). Either way it is always a good idea to place the smallest amount of surface area first to prevent unwanted noise. The rest of the toes and foot are then lowered in a rolling motion to the terrain. This can be practiced simply by walking down a flight of stairs. The natural way to walk down stairs is basically the motion involved in shinobi aruki. All steps evolve from this one basic principle. Notice when you walk down a flight of steps the pinky toe touches first. The rest of the foot is rolled in to position as to prevent too much weight on the ankle at once. This same type of walking is taught in theater and dance. Same principal in stealth walking. We simply call coin it 'the Shinobi Step'.
The turning step is to ensure that there are no adversaries about that may be aware of your position. In turning the back foot should never twist while in complete contact with the ground. Adjust the rear foot so the toe or ball of the foot is all that is twisting while you turn. The less contact you have with the surface, the less friction. The less noise. Turn as you move.
To perform the sweeping step, the front foot is used to clear high standing weeds or shrubs away before placing the foot for advancement. Also, the weeds or grass can be pushed onto their side and used to step on for a cushion across shallow streams or to impede noise on rough terrain. Use the outside of the leg and foot to sweep away brush while balancing on the back leg. Notice balance is determined by placement of your head and buttocks above the feet. Experiment to find your safe zones in balance.
Climbing: Shinobi/
The Shinobi Climb is the single most basic and most important climbing technique you will utilize while in the field. Not all trees have abundant footholds, branches, and vines to help our Genin access higher elevations when establishing position or concealment. Sometime the trunk of a tree is completely barren.
These cases sometimes require a scaling technique we call the Shinobi Climb. Utilized in South America, The Bahamas, and other Island territories to retrieve coconuts at times, the natives would use the soles of their feet and the resistance and pressure of their shoulders by grasping the backside of the tree trunk. Much like a monkey climbs a tree, Genin should grab the back of the trunk (no larger than 2 feet in diameter) with both hands at equal distance about shoulder height. Place the sole of the foot between chest and the trunk like performing a stamp kick and apply pressure with the leg away from the trunk. The other foot moves into position above the first utilizing the pressure the hands are keeping toward the trunk and the feet are applying away. It takes practice! Remember the main rule on scaling any type of object: Always have three points of contact with the surface at any given time! This means move a foot and then move a hand. Never both at once. Experiment! We don’t want to be bear-hugging trees out there!