Ninjutsu is an ancient Japanese martial art practiced by Shinobi 忍び or what some in America call Ninja 忍者. Of all personas in the martial arts world, I’ve always identified most with Shinobi. They didn’t dress or fight like anyone else and the fact that they would assume any role in society to complete a mission made them invisible. Enlightenment was not the goal of the Shinobi as it was in other arts.
The Ninja’s greatest asset was his own body and mind, seemingly impervious in any atmosphere. These warriors practice a style called Ninjutsu or Ninpo. The singular goal of the Shinobi was to complete the mission by any means necessary. The image of the mysterious figure dressed in all black came from the Genroku era (1688-1704), where military chronicles called gunki-mono were painted, including the shinobi, though Ninjutsu was around long before this first depiction.
In this blog I will share the information that I’ve found through training in this style after absorbing many other arts over the years then beginning anew with Ninjutsu.
Ninjutsu, like many martial arts, is one branch from a deeply rooted tree in ancient Buddhist religious philosophy and practice. The movement was preceded by the word which resonates when the movement is pure. Just as there are many movements, there are many supporting ninja philosophy that allow the practitioner to transcend the physical, mental and […]
If Ninjutsu had a mascot, it would definitely be the crow. In Ninja culture one representation of the crow is a mythical Japanese creature called the Tengu. The crow is also a symbol of strength, they never forget a face, can be trained for war, and have been known to eat humans. Mythological Crow In Asian culture, […]
Gikan Ryū is a Japanese martial art and one of the 9 Schools of the Bujinkan utilizing Koppō Jutsu (bone-breaking techniques). Like many of the ryū of 5 centuries ago, information is incomplete, missing and encrypted. There is however, enough historical information and current affirmation to trust it’s validity. History of Gikan Ryū 流鑑義 Gikan […]
Hemp has probably been around since the beginning of time. It’s more than sustainable and for a plant with a rapid growth rate, hemp can be transformed into food, health and beauty products, paper, textiles, concrete for housing, auto parts, livestock feed and the list is too great to complete in this post. We recently […]
Most Japanese people see cannabis as a subculture of Japan but they’re wrong. For thousands of years cannabis has been at the very heart of Japanese culture
There are two stories which explain the tale of Koi Tsukami in Japanese kabuki theater. The details differ slightly but the story endings are the same. Please enjoy this masterpiece of Japanese folklore complete with a video presentation of the show which includes famous Japanese kabuki actor Ishikawa Somegoro performing this Kabuki Spectacle at the […]
The complex movement of armed and unarmed budō taijutsu require both hypermobility and hyperflexion. In the beginning stages, it seems like the more force one uses, the farther away they are from performing the technique correctly. Have you ever heard your instructor say that the technique can be done using no force at all? But removing […]
Japanese kyūsho are specific areas or pressure points on the human body that send pain and other signals to the brain when stimulated in a certain way. Martial artists long ago mastered and integrated this knowledge with style and form, transmitting it’s secrets through the lineages of Japanese martial arts. Martial artists in the know […]
Gyokko Ryū Kosshijutsu (玉虎流骨指術), is another of the 9 Schools of the Bujinkan. It is one of the nine ryū (schools) taught to the current grandmaster of Togakure Ryū, Masaaki Hatsumi by Takamatsu Toshitsugu. It is one of the oldest documented forms of martial arts in Japan and forms the backbone for all Japanese styles. It’s specialty […]
Kukishin Ryū (九鬼神流) or Kukishinden Ryû is a Japanese martial arts system translated as the nine demons school. It is one of the nine ryū (schools) taught to current grandmaster of Togakure Ryū, Masaaki Hatsumi by Takamatsu Toshitsugu. Upon closer inspection of the name ku (nine), ki (oni or demon, older translations meaning Oni-gami (holy spirit)), […]
Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that promotes healthy flow of energy as well as healing. The name of the art is composed of a two syllable Japanese word meaning Rei (Universal) and Ki (life force). The first syllable can also be translated as “the Higher Power.” Life Force Energy Flow […]
Fudō Myō-ō 不動明王, as he is known in Japanese culture, is a Hindu deity from the Mahayana school of Buddhism. The Myō-ō are a group of war-gods that represent the power to overcome passions. They were originally a Hindu deity group integrated into Esoteric Buddhism (Mikkyo), in Japan. Five Great Kings The Godai Myō-ō (五大明王), or the Five Great Kings are a group […]
