How to Be Like Samurai Jack

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Name: Samurai Jack

Game(s): Samurai Jack: The Shadow of Aku

Skills/Attributes:

• Master of many, many weapons.
• Able to quickly adapt to and learn new fighting styles.
• Adept at using the environment to his advantage.
• Extremely agile.
• Durable.
• Deceptively strong.
• Incredibly determined.

Overview:

Though he’s not exactly a video game character (though he does have one game,) Jack is just way too much of a badass to pass up, plus I’m super stoked for his upcoming return on Cartoon Network!  Worth noting, by the way, that Jack isn’t actually his real name, but as we never actually learn his real name in the show, I’m going to keep using it anyway.

Jack is, clearly, a classic Weapons Master, in the fighter archetype.  In his quest to strike down the evil Aku, he’s trained since his childhood in many, many styles of martial arts, as well as learning a whole bunch of other useful skills.  He’s the epitome of “martial artist,” and I would say is capable of giving almost any other character from any body of fiction a run for their money on that front (yes, even including the likes of Batman.)

He’s a powerful, righteous protagonist in a super cool setting, and I can’t wait to unpack him and see what we can do to become more like the legendary samurai!

In The Samurai Jack Workout we’re going to lay out a program designed to give us the body of a samurai warrior. Now, Jack isn’t jacked, necessarily.  He’s obviously got a well developed physique and solid muscle definition, but he’s a lean, mean, robot-fightin’ machine.   At the same time, he’s deceptively strong for his size, able to cut through metal and throw men much larger than himself.  We’re going to build a strong, lean physique with an emphasis on speed and muscular endurance.

In Becoming the Super Samurai we’re going to take a look at Jack’s broad skill set, and the training he underwent to acquire it.  Though obviously his combat skills are without equal (with a few rare exceptions, he’s more than just an incredibly talented warrior.  We’re going to talk about those other skills he’s developed, as well as the overall concept of achieving mastery.

In A Samurai’s Quest, we’re going to talk about the things that drive Jack.  His honor, his family, his friends, and a dogged pursuit of justice are all motivators.  Above all, he desires to return to the past, to be with his loved ones again, and to strike down the Demon Aku, once and for all.  Motivation and determination are powerful things, and we’re going to discuss how you can harness your own inner motivation, to build your own quest.

It’s been a little while, but I’m happy to be getting back into the thick of things with our friend Jack, here.  He’s always been a favorite hero of mine, and this should be a fun breakdown!

I’ll see you again on Monday, with The Samurai Jack Workout!  Until then, as always, remember to live boldly, change the world, and continue to be awesome.

Dan “DaRatmastah” Wallace