Scene of the Week: How to Become a Teenage Ninja

The heyday of direct to video movies wasn’t just a bastion for action movies. Self-help and instructional videos found their way to VHS and just like the action movies I never heard of during that time I keep coming across new videos. One that I really wish I saw in 1990 is How to Become a Teenage Ninja starring Bryan Genesse.

This 30 plus minute instructional movie not only features Genesse as the ninja master teaching four lucky ass teenagers how to become a ninja but anyone who watches can learn. Teenage may be in the title but anyone can take something from the movie. It goes over the importance of stretching, teaches punches, blocks and kicks while emphasizing the three fundamental rules to be a ninja, courage, self-control and strength. There is even a story with a twist ending… and I am still waiting for the pay off to the ‘To Be Continued.’ If you ignore the icky fact that Genesse uses magical electricity ninja powers to trap kids in a cave and to change their clothes you will get a lot out of it. I’ve been training daily since I first watched and next time we meet you will be talking to a mother fuckin’ ninja!