Most travel itineraries offer beautiful scenery and adventurous experiences but learning a deadly skill during one of these action-focused warrior trips will separate the men from the boys on tour.
Most of us (all of us if we’re honest) have daydreamed about being the ultimate warrior at some stage in our lives. It might have been a ninja jumping walls in a single bound and silently dispatching sworn enemies in the name of eternal honour; it might have been as a less awkward manifestation of Daniel La Russo (it was the crane kick, right?); or it might have been something a little more Van Damme-esque. Whatever it was, the real world got in the way and very few of us ever reached our deadly potential.
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That is until now. These five unique vacation ideas not only include foreign travel to the world’s farthest-flung corners but the chance to come back a lethal weapon, and even if you don’t make Master status, think of the bonding opportunities!
Learn the Ninja Arts
The original covert agents of feudal Japan, ninjas were known for their deadly martial art skills, their specialised weaponry, and their ability to evade detection. The 10-day Japan Ninja Trip by Black Tomato offers a unique insight into the training and traditions of these deadly assassins, as well as a chance to hone your skills in the sumo ring.
Begin with a visit to a sumo stable in Tokyo, where you’ll meet professional wrestlers and learn the fundamentals of this timeless sport. You’ll then have a chance to tap into your inner ninja with martial art lessons at a Tokyo karate dojo, taught by a Japanese sensei versed in or shinobi or the dark ninja arts. Here, you’ll master a variety of ninja weapons, including throwing stars and blowguns, and learn ninja techniques like stealthy steps and the ‘inner eye’.
From here, you’ll delve into the present with a bullet train journey west to Kyoto, where you’ll visit the imperial-era capital’s most iconic attractions with a private guide, before working on your cover as a humble ramen chef with a noodle masterclass, because kicking ass and taking names is hungry work.
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Bows & Arrows in the Himalayas
Take on a Bhutan Adventure Trip with Nature Expeditions International, which offers customised trips to the Himalayan kingdom, where archery remains the national sport.
At the beginning of the eight-day adventure, you’ll visit the archery fields of Thimphu, Bhutan’s pint-sized capital, to watch the timeless art of Dzongkha, traditional Bhutanese archery. Once you’ve soaked in the inspiration of the experts, who can hit a bull’s eye from 150 meters away while opponents sing and dance in front of the target in a tongue-in-cheek challenge called kha shed.
Later, you’ll have a chance to learn Bhutanese archery from a local master before visiting the famous Chimi Lhakhang fertility temple for an appropriate blessing. Before you leave Bhutan, you can finish your own path to enlightenment by hiking to the Tiger’s Nest mountaintop monastery, with its staggering views of the Himalayas.
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Muay Thai, Your Thai
Hone body and mind with a two-week Muay Thai Training Camp in Chiang Mai. In addition to being a fantastic workout, Muay Thai in an ancient and deadly martial art that’s revered across Thailand. You’ll hit the ring twice a day for intensive training sessions with a seasoned kickboxing vet and even have the chance to watch local fighters slug it out at professional fights in the city. You’ll not only come home ripped but ready to rumble.
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A Kung Fu Foray
Chinese kung fu may have given birth to Hong Kong Fuey and the Rush Hour films but it also has a long and esteemed heritage across Asia. At Tianmeng Kung Fu Academy, masters teach authentic Shaolin Kung Fu during month-long Kung Fu Holidays in Shandong, China, home of the world-famous Shaolin monks.
The training you’ll receive here, in the kung fu heartland, focuses on both external and internal development, with emphasis placed on the balance between yin and yang in martial arts. Daily practice includes a wide range of kung fu styles, including Qi Gong or Tai Chi; Shaolin Quan; Wing Chun; and Sanda, in addition to kung fu theory and power training sections.
Delve into the ideology behind different fighting forms and styles, with options to try your hands at acupuncture, Chinese traditional medicine, and Mandarin.
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Time to Grapple
Rooted in Japanese judo but better known for its modern-day South American style, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a modern-day martial art that focuses on grappling and ground fighting.
With an emphasis on the body mental and physical health, the eight-day sessions at Brazil’s Florianopolis Island BJJ Camp are taught by experienced professional instructors who use intense private or group training classes to teach effective grappling and ground-fighting techniques that allow smaller and weaker fighters the chance to overcome and defeat larger adversaries through leverage, joint-holds, and chokeholds. There’s no better way to earn a round of caipirinhas.
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