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MARTIAL ARTS

EXPLORER
NINJUTSU
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HISTORY

Ninjutsu is more than 1000 years old and the name Ninja means stealers-in. Very little is known about the early days of the Ninja due to the strict code of secrecy they abided by, but they are thought to have been a group of mercenaries and bandits who formed up in the mountainous regions of Kyoto and Iga. There art is thought to have been based on a great Chinese military text called The Art of War written by a general named Sun Tzu.
The Ninja began training at a very young age, almost as soon as they could walk. There training consisted of unarmed combat, escape and evasion, camouflage and weapon skills, but they were also taught how to push their body and minds over the limit of most normal humans. First aid , herbalism, Psychology, espionage and some say telepathy and clairvoyance were all part of the Ninjas training which made them feared even by the mighty Samurai.
The Ninja recognized their swords which were shorter and straighter than the Samurai's as just a tool of the trade unlike the Samurai who regarded their swords as sacred. Probably the best known Ninja weapon is the throwing star (shuriken), Which were kept in an inside pouch of the Ninja's uniform in groups of seven, as this spiritually denoted power

Depending on the mission the ninja was on depended on what tools of his trade he would carry. To the left is just a few tools the ninja might take with him, throwing stars would be kept in the inside pouch ready for action as the throwing knife and spikes would be kept in a pouch strapped to either the forearm or leg . 4 point caltrops (tetsubishi) might be carried, when thrown on the ground one point will always stick up, ideal for perhaps cavalry. Foot spikes and hand claws would be used in conjunction with each other for climbing trees or up wooden huts .

and a grappling hook for walls or to gain access into somewhere that the foot spikes and hand claw were ineffective. Poisons and disguises might have been carried for a particular mission, the ninja was a very versatile and flexible assassin who was greatly feared

KUJI-IN

Kuji-In is a set of hand signs that the ninja use to give themselves strength, both spiritualy and mentally. There are 81 hand signs that are used for a majority of diffrent things from bringing strength to the mind and body of the ninja to help heal themselves and others, there is one hand sign called jin that increases the telepathic powers of the ninja and retsu that stuns the attacker with a shout. These hand signs would take the ninja a life time to study and master.

 

A LETTER OF INTEREST FROM A TRUE NINJA, "Ed Green" This was a answer to a question on the Question and answer page

Ninjustu is an all encompassing term for nine different schools that are taught within this art. Ninpo ninjustu is practiced and taught legally in Japan as a martial art. It's origins are from the Samaurai arts in it's true combat form. There are actually two different schools, and some other perverted American versions. However, there is only one that is considered to be real as is proven by it's age and origin and that is the Bujinkan. The Bujinkan is headed by Soke Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi 34th grandmaster (Soke; term meaning founding Grandmaster) at the hombu in Japan, 636 Noda, Noda-shi, Chiba-ken, 278-8691. Bujinkan(ninpo ninjutsu) is also offered for training here in the United States. There is probably a Bujinkan Dojo near you and you don't even know it.
Here is a link if you wish to learn more. http://www.taijutsu.com/soke.htm I hope this has been informative to you AND the people that care for this website.

By the way, there is no 'most popular weapon' in Ninjutsu as we are asked to
learn all weapons with equal skill as one never knows what he may encounter on
the battlefield. However, I would probably be more inclined to say that the
sword(katana) is the more widely used as a basic combat field weapon. (Ed Green)

 

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