Chimon – The Overlooked Skill That Could Save Your Life Today By Sensei Liam Musiak

When people think of martial arts, they usually picture striking, kata, sparring, or weapons training. But the martial systems of old went far beyond fighting. The Bugei Jūhappan – the recognised 18 skills of the ninja – represent a complete warrior curriculum. These disciplines included combat methods, survival strategies, environmental awareness, disguise, and even psychological tactics.

Out of these 18 skills, I have personally developed knowledge, experience, and teaching application in 11 disciplines. One of the most important – and perhaps the most overlooked – is Chimon, the study and application of Geography and Terrain Use.

What is Chimon?

Chimon was the ability to understand and exploit geography and terrain for survival. For the warriors of history, this meant navigating mountains, rivers, forests, and villages while turning the land itself into an advantage. Terrain could be used to escape, to hide, to ambush, or to survive hostile conditions.

But this wasn’t limited to wilderness. Chimon also applied to urban environments of the time – castle towns, narrow alleyways, and markets. It was about seeing the environment tactically, not passively. And although centuries have passed, the principle remains just as relevant today.

Rural Terrain – Nature as Ally

In its classical sense, Chimon meant mastering natural environments. A forest wasn’t just wood and leaves – it was cover. A hill wasn’t just scenery – it was high ground for visibility. Rivers could guide movement, while valleys could conceal it.

Even today, this mindset has value. Imagine being lost in the countryside. Knowing how to use a ridge for sightlines, where water is most likely to flow, or how to use dense foliage to mask your movement could mean survival. In a conflict scenario, moving uphill to gain advantage, or using uneven terrain to trip a pursuer, shows how timeless these principles are.

Nature has never stopped being a weapon or a shield. Chimon simply trains us to see it that way.

Urban Terrain – The Modern Battlefield

Most modern self-defence confrontations happen in urban areas, not forests. This is why I teach Chimon as directly relevant to everyday life.

Think of a car park at night. To most, it’s just rows of vehicles. To someone trained in Chimon, it’s cover, concealment, and barriers. By placing yourself with a car at your side, you restrict an attacker’s ability to flank you. A stairwell? It’s not just stairs – it’s a funnel. If you know how to position yourself, you control the angle. Even something as ordinary as a doorway can be used as a choke point, allowing one person to hold off many.

Attackers already understand this instinctively – they choose dark alleys, blind corners, and isolated spots. Chimon flips the script. It teaches you to spot those dangers before they trap you, and to use the environment itself as part of your defence.

Awareness Before Violence

Perhaps the most powerful part of Chimon is that it prevents violence before it starts. It forces you to live actively, not passively.

For example, when you walk into a restaurant, do you clock the exits? In a car park, do you note the lighting, shadows, and CCTV? If you sense someone following you, do you know which route keeps you visible and which corners trap you?

Most people never consider these questions. Chimon makes them instinctive. This awareness can mean you avoid the fight altogether – which is the highest level of self-defence.

Training Chimon in Modern Life

You don’t need mountains or castles to train this discipline. You can develop it in your everyday life. Here are drills I use with my students:

1. Exit Mapping Drill – Every time you enter a new building, identify every exit quickly and quietly. Over time, it becomes habit.

2. Car Park Awareness Drill – As you walk to your car, scan for blind spots, cover points, and escape paths. Ask: “If someone rushed me now, where’s my safest move?”

3. Crowd Flow Drill – In busy spaces, watch the flow of people. Where are the choke points? Where are the escape routes?

4. Urban Cover Drill – In your town, identify objects that could be used tactically: bins, cars, benches, lampposts, walls. Mentally rehearse how you’d position yourself if attacked.

5. Silent Observation Drill – Spend five minutes observing others. Who looks aware? Who looks distracted? Who exposes themselves unnecessarily? This sharpens your ability to read behaviour through terrain.

   
   

Why I Chose Chimon

Out of the Bugei Jūhappan, this is one of the 11 skills I’ve chosen to focus on because of its direct application to modern life. While some dismiss Chimon as outdated, I see it as timeless. Every time you step outside, you are in terrain that shapes your safety. Ignoring it leaves you vulnerable. Reading it makes you stronger.

As a martial artist and criminologist, I see every day how offenders exploit terrain – whether it’s a dark alley, a quiet stairwell, or a blind corner. Chimon levels the playing field. It gives you the same awareness, but for defence, not attack.

Conclusion – The Modern Warrior’s Mindset

Chimon is not about fighting harder. It’s about thinking smarter. It’s about letting the world around you become part of your defence. It reminds us that self-defence doesn’t start with fists – it starts with awareness.

In the Bugei Jūhappan, this was one of the 18 warrior skills. Today, it remains one of my core 11. And I believe it is one of the most practical survival tools anyone can learn.

Train your awareness. Use the ground you walk on. Make every environment your dojo. Because in real-world self-defence, the terrain is always part of the fight.