Anyone knows anything about Ninjitsu?

Question

Interested in Ninjitsu but not popular in SG.
Does anyone know this graceful art in depth?

Answer 1

Ninjutsu (忍術) is a collection of techniques originally practiced for espionage purposes. It includes methods of gathering information, non-detection, avoidance, and misdirection techniques. Ninjutsu can also involve training in disguise, escape, concealment, archery, medicine, and explosives.

Practitioners of ninjutsu have been seen as assassins for hire, and have been associated in the public imagination with other activities which are considered criminal by modern standards. Even though it was influenced by Chinese spying techniques and the strategic principles of Sun Tzu, ninjutsu is believed by its adherents to be of Japanese origin. One version is that the basis of ninjutsu was taught to a Japanese household who fled to the mountains after losing a battle. There they mixed with a varied lot of people including the descendants of refugees who had fled China. Later, the skills were developed over 300 years to create ninjutsu.

Although the popular view is that ninjutsu is the art of secrecy or stealth, actual practitioners consider it to mean the art of enduring - enduring all of life's hardships. The character nin carries both these meanings, and others.

In the modern world the word ninjutsu usually refers to a certain system (Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu) of self defense, and its offshoots. It is true that ninjutsu has a long and myth-filled history, but today almost anyone is allowed to practice modern ninjutsu. As one makes progress in ninjutsu the system gets more sophisticated, and one might realize that the system contains more than fighting skills. To avoid misunderstandings, "ninjutsu" should just refer to a specific branch of Japanese martial arts, unless it is being used in a historical sense.

18 Ninjutsu Skills (Ninja Juhakkei)
The eighteen disciplines were first stated in the scrolls of Togakure-ryū, and they became definitive for all Ninjutsu schools, providing a complete training of the warrior in various fighting arts and complementary disciplines.

However, Ninja Juhakkei was often studied along with Bugei Juhappan (the 18 Samurai fighting art skills). Though some of them are the same, the techniques of each discipline were used with different approaches by both Samurai and Ninja.

The 18 disciplines are:

Seishin-teki kyōyō (spiritual refinement)
Taijutsu (unarmed combat)
Kyudo (archery)
Ninja ken (sword fighting)
Bōjutsu (stick and staff fighting)
Shurikenjutsu (throwing blades)
Sōjutsu (spear fighting)
Naginatajutsu (naginata fighting)
Kusarigamajutsu (chain weapons)
Kayakujutsu (fire and explosives)
Hensōjutsu (disguise and impersonation)
Shinobi-iri (Stealth and Infiltration methods)
Bajutsu (Horsemanship)
Sui-ren (Training in Water)
Bōryaku (Military Strategy)
Chōhō (Espionage)
Intonjutsu (Escaping and Concealment)
Tenmon (Meteorology)
Chi-mon (Geography)

Schools of ninjutsu
The Bujinkan Dōjō headed by Masaaki Hatsumi is one of three organizations generally accepted as teaching ninjutsu by the Bujinkan's members (under the name Budo Taijutsu). Hatsumi's Bujinkan Dōjō consists of nine separate schools of allegedly traditional Japanese martial arts, only three of which contain ninjutsu teachings. Hatsumi learned a variety of martial arts, including ninjutsu, from Toshitsugu Takamatsu.

There are two other organizations teaching ninjutsu. These are the Genbukan headed by Shoto Tanemura, who left the Bujinkan in 1984, and the Jinenkan headed by Fumio Manaka, who left later. Both had achieved Menkyo Kaiden before leaving due to differences of opinion with regards to the teaching style.

Other extant traditional martial arts such as the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shintō-ryū contain some aspects of ninjutsu in their curriculum, but are not ninjutsu schools per se.

The espionage techniques of ninjutsu are rarely focused on in recent times, since they serve little purpose to the bulk of modern populations, and tend to attract negative publicity and students with unrealistic expectations.

Verified origins
Palestine was one of the first places where Bujinkan ninjutsu was practiced outside Japan, with Doron Navon(Isreali) pioneering it there in 1974. The AKBAN organization uses the Bujinkan curriculum the way it was used when Doron Navon, the first foreign Bujinkan shihan, practiced under Hatsumi sensei.

Stephen K. Hayes studied under Masaaki Hatsumi but teaches an Americanized system, To-Shin Do, in his Quest Centers. Stephen Hayes is no longer a member of the Bujinkan.

Glenn Morris studied under Masaaki Hatsumi but founded the Hoshin Roshi Ryu.

Chadwick Minge trained under Shoto Tanemura but founded the "Yamato Dojo" ("Studio City Martial Arts") based in California.

Brian McCarthy initially trained under Masaaki Hatsumi before leaving to found his own organization (the Bujinkan Brian Dōjō), based in Ireland. Brian McCarthy is no longer a member of the Bujinkan.

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Ancient Ninjitsu is no different from the covet operations being used today by the US Navy SEALS, Marine Force Recon, Army Rangers, Green Berets, British SAS, etc.

The weapons and technology maybe more advanced today but the objectives are still the same which are:

1) Stealth
2) Infiltration
3) Intelligence gathering
4) Counter-terrorism
5) Assassination or termination of targets

Hope this helps.

Peace.

Answer 2

I myself am a practitioner of Bujinkan Ninjutsu, and i must say the popular view of the ninja is completely opposite to the way we train. This art is just that, an art, it is not about getting fitter, nor is it about learning to fight. Sure these things will happen during training but it is an art of movement. And as movement is in everything, it becomes an art of life. And contrary to belief we are taught it with the purpose of preserving life, not taking it.

But if you intend to start this art, please make sure you go to a reputable dojo. Unfortunately there are those who will try to teach you what you want, or what you think you know about ninjutsu, instead of what actually is. There are plenty of reputable dojos out there, run by people trained directly by the grand master Hatsumi-sensei, or by some of the most senior practitioners in the world.

All i can say is, if you are interested in an art that will change your life, go for it.

Answer 3

Brian Mccarthy Ninjutsu

Answer 4

Ninjuts is the art of balance, you mgiht say. Ninjutsu is the best art for balance. In Ninjutsu everything is all about footwork. Students of the art has to move naturally, in the rhythm of the body. There are grappling and strikes in the art also. There are 8 basic techniques called: Kihon Happo. Kihon Happo form the basics of attacks used in Ninjutsu. From thatthere are a millions of combination in combat. Baiscally, Ninjutsu is the art of balance, and also has grapling, strikes, and kicking.

Answer 5

Ninjitsu is a dead art. Beware, anyone that is teaching it is most likely after your money and will not really offer you much in return.
Think about it logically, ninja were a secret order of shadow warriors who did tasks so shameful that they had to cover their faces. Who in America has learned this secret art legitimately?
Why would a secret society show a foreigner their entire system?
I think Hollywood has disillusioned everyone on ninjitsu.
Sorry to burst your bubble.

Answer 6

while there are plenty of schools offering the practice and training in the art of ninjutsu it should be borne in mind that there are no true ninja in the western world today-this is not to say the art isn't still practised in its truest form in the deepest parts of japan-it may be-but not exposed to the western world. the last true ninja (seiko fujita) died in the mid-sixties and any teacher of the ninja way that says he is ninja is either a liar or has been badly mis-informed-there are world authorities and exponents of the ninja way-sensei hatsumi and sensei nawa to name but two-but these gentlemen are not true ninja-a fact to which they would be the first to agree. if you acheive a dan-grade in ninjutsu you merely hold a dan in ninja way-you are not a ninja yourself.

Answer 7

Ninjutsu (忍術) is a collection of techniques originally practiced for espionage purposes. It includes methods of gathering information, non-detection, avoidance, and misdirection techniques. Ninjutsu can also involve training in disguise, escape, concealment, archery, medicine, and explosives.

Continue reading here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninjutsu

Fascinating stuff!

Answer 8

It's actually a outdated spy/espionage/assassin technique more than anything else. Anyone who claim to be teaching that art is a fraud.

Answer 9

Yeah, but if I told you, I'd have to kill you(with throwing stars).

Answer 10

not in depth.