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.
The dojo is humid with the sweat and strength of students and teachers, diligently repeating drills over and over again to perfection. Their faces glow with the determination of masters hundreds of years gone. The art is passed down generation to generation through words, weapons and warrior spirit. Each student follows their own path to […]
Anyone practicing Ninjutsu or any other traditional Japanese martial art has probably heard the word Kamae (構え). In Ninjutsu, Kamae are the stances used in combat, martial practice, and daily life. It’s a Japanese term used in other martial arts and traditional theater that roughly translates as “posture” or “base”. Kamae is to be differentiated from […]
The term “ki” refers to the invisible “life force” within one’s own body and encompasses the energy of the universe. When its power is harnessed it can be used for healing, protection or generating force, all of which are important skills to have across most martial art disciplines, but are imperative to a shinobi. “Ki” […]
In a more ancient time, shinobi followed a strict diet to maintain a slim physique to carry out missions of espionage and many other tasks. These things would be difficult if you were a very large person. Shinobi camouflaged themselves in the enemy’s presence for days or even weeks while they gathered information or performed […]
The endless amount of skills and techniques in the Bujinkan curriculum undoubtedly demand an exhorbinant amount of time to learn and retain, but to really master the art a student must also meet the taxing physical responsibilities of the movements and mindset.
As practitioners of Ninjutsu, we all want to be able to disappear. When I first saw The Matrix, I was astounded to see the characters in the movie move in ways that seemed unnatural. I knew it was a movie, but I couldn’t help but wonder, is it possible to really move the body in ways that were superhuman.
