MSI Press Blog

  The following is a precerpt (book excerpt prior to publication) from  Grandma's Ninja Training Diary  (Leaver & Renz). Of Spiders, Stairs, and Ninja Instincts Last week, I learned an important lesson about physics... and pride. I'd just lugged 40+ pounds of groceries up 17 stairs, both hands full, feeling like the domestic Hercules. As I approached the door, I spotted an intruder: a spider crawling just above waist height. My options? Put down the bags and squish it like a sensible person… or attempt a ninja-style door kick with one leg while gripping two unevenly weighted grocery sacks. I chose violence. I got the bug. But physics got me. When my foot hit the door, the force reverberated like a bad plot twist. I staggered backward, bags swinging, and slammed my wrist into the railing. I didn’t fall. I recalibrated mid-collapse, channeling every ounce of aging grace and stubborn dignity. The wrist puffed up. I thought: “It’s broken. I’m doomed.” My doctor, on th...

Let me tell you about the time I sprained my arm. Not from training. Not from battle. From lifting a seven-piece sofa with one arm while rescuing a trapped cat with the other. Yes, really. A small bone slipped out of place. My doctor, wisely, sent me to a physical therapist. And not just any therapist—a kindred spirit. He gently discouraged me from future one-handed furniture feats, but he never mocked the mission. He understood: sometimes a ninja must act. And then came the moment that sealed our alliance. His office was perfectly structured for a pre-therapy workout. I’d run up the sidewalk, parkour over a low obstacle (which turned out to be his car ), and land with both feet in front of the doorway. Then I’d stroll in like nothing happened. He saw me do this. He didn’t flinch. He didn’t scold. He didn’t say, “That’s dangerous.” He said: “You’re definitely ninja material.” 🧠 Ninja Wisdom: The World Is Your Dojo Recovery isn’t just about healing—it’s about reclaiming your power. ...

  Ninja work requires strength, especially upper body strength. That is obvious to any who watch Ninja Warrior games, and I concentrated on upper body strength at every session with my trainer. But there is something else. When I began my ninja training, my bone tests showed mild osteoporosis, not atypical for my age. After a couple of years of strength training as part of my "ninja training, my bone density tested normal. The strength training added to the density of my leg and upper body bones. Walking took care of the spine. I used to think that walking was boring, and that walking was simple. You just put one step in front of the other over and over again, and soon you are striding along, losing weight and gaining health. Then, I learned about High-Intensity Interval Training , varying speed over time. My cup of tea. I could mis things up on an outdoor walk and distract myself from boredom by playing with the controls on the treadmill at the gym: fast, slow, almost-running, st...

  Entry: On Finding a Gym When You Live in Small Town America Ninjas are supposed to disappear into the shadows. What they don’t mention is how hard it is to find a decent gym when you already live there. Training off the beaten path isn't just inconvenient — it's isolating. There were no ninja-specific trainers out here. No ninja gyms, either. Just regular workout spaces with fluorescent lighting and motivational posters that felt about as stealthy as a bullhorn. But I got lucky. I found Brittany. She gave me everything I needed — creativity, strength-building strategies, functional movement tailored to what I was preparing for. She took the ordinary equipment at our local Anytime Fitness and used it like a true ninja would: resourcefully, precisely, bravely. Later, I discovered a rock climbing gym in Santa Cruz that offered new challenges. Upper body strength, yes — absolutely vital. But the vibe there was all about wilderness treks and rugged outdoor life. I wasn’t tryi...