Mysterious Ninjutsu: The Ultimate Martial Art for Self-Defense
Updated: Sep 16, 2022
In this article, we'll take a look at: What is Ninjutsu? What is Shuriken? What are the historical foundations of Ninjutsu? Who are Shinobi Fighters? Do Ninjutsu fighters participate in mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions? What is the source of the misconception about Ninjutsu? Why is there no competition in this method?
What is Ninjutsu?
Quite often, the Ninjutsu method suffers from the obvious influence of Western cinema in distorting historical facts about the true purpose of the method. The word ninja evokes in most of us associations with men who are dressed in black, have a clear purpose to attack, jump from roof to roof, throw ninja stars (Shuriken), run with swords, and can disappear using amazing tricks in a cloud of smoke ... The true purpose of the method can be explained through the book by Sun Tzu "The Art of War", who lived in 1752-1818, when according to the book, to achieve a great victory over the enemy, the strategy of information gathering and intelligence is of great importance. This element of successful war management was a kind of compass for the functioning of the ninja and the determination of the activity of the Shinobi fighters (Ninjutsu). They infiltrated the ranks of the enemy, collected information, and passed it on to decision-makers to build a strategy for battle or control war.
What is Shuriken?
Shuriken is an ancient Japanese throwing weapon. The Japanese believed that by putting various signs on Shuriken, they attract mysterious and powerful forces to their side. The shuriken was a secondary weapon, the Katana sword was considered the main weapon. The art of using the Shuriken, known as Shuriken-zutsu, has been taught as a minor skill in many prominent schools. To date, there have been many studies on the history of its origin, but this remains a mystery. This is partly since this art was kept secret. Modern shurikens are made of stainless steel. In many countries around the world, possession of shurikens is illegal. The ancient Shurikens are poorly preserved for our time, as they were made of low-quality metal and were often used as disposable weapons.
What are the historical foundations of Ninjutsu?
The basic elements of Ninjutsu were developed and documented by a group of samurai from the Iga and Koga provinces in Japan. These areas are considered the birthplace of modern Ninjutsu. In these places, you can still feel the presence of the ninja and see their true nature. Ninjutsu was created as a mixture of guerrilla warfare techniques and skills. The traditional method includes camouflaging, escaping, using a bow, and extensive knowledge of medicine, explosives, and toxins. Ninjutsu was created under the influence of Japanese warriors, who are called "Ninja" in the West. Warriors, belonging to different groups, specialized in espionage, combat, and philosophical skills. In the southwest of Honshu, the central island of Japan, lie the mountainous provinces of Iga and Koga. The inhabitants of these districts organized themselves into communes and zealously defended their territory from neighboring feudal lords. Rural samurai day after day trained young peasants in guerrilla warfare. The mountainous terrain allowed the people of Iga and Koga to rely on guerrilla methods such as ambushes, surprise raids, and stealth behind enemy lines.
Who are Shinobi Fighters?
Shinobi were highly skilled spies and scouts, mercenaries, and participants in guerrilla warfare and field reconnaissance. According to ancient testimonies, candidates for Shinobi must have had several important qualities, such as high intelligence, excellent memory, and the ability to "speak fluently”. Since they were secretive and anonymous, no one, including their family members, knew about their belonging to this elite group. Shinobi experts did not seek recognition as practitioners of other combat methods. They did not have the goal of becoming famous, opening a school, and spreading their abilities and skills. They also did not compete. According to historical records, Shinobi-Jitsu (Ninjutsu) appears to be a respectable martial art that has many methodologies for protecting and managing covert warfare. In ancient literature, there is evidence of the exploitation of the military qualities of the Shinobi people, in which they are presented as figures worthy of respect, appreciation, and civil imitation. Shinobi originated in the 5th and 6th centuries BC, although the term Ninja was first documented