When I was a kid, in the mid to late 80's there was a ninja boom here in the U.S. You had everything from ninja perfume, to the ninja motorcycle, ad nauseam. And I loved it! I used to love to watch samurai and ninja movies and TV programs. The first ninja TV show I ever watched was THE MASTER, which used to come on every friday on NBC. That was in 1984, I remember. Then there was Storm Shadow from GI JOE, and the many ninja movies starring SHO KOSUGI. Then, a little later, there was THE SHADOW WARRIORS, & THE YAGYU CONSPIRACY, both starring the great SONNY CHIBA, and HIROYUKI SANADA, who also starred in many ninja movies.
Anyway, because of this, when I first started to get interested in Martial Arts, I didn't take ninjutsu as a martial art that seriously. It was only around a few years ago, after the ninja craze died down, that I stated looking more into the historical ninjas and their combat methods. And, I definetly like what I see.
So, what is ninjutsu?
Ninjutsu, also called ninpō, is the martial art, strategy, and tactics of unconventional warfare and guerrilla warfare as well as the art of espionage purportedly practiced by the shinobi (commonly known outside of Japan as ninja). Other than that, I don't know any more than anybody else about it. But I found this great ninjutsu documentary on You Tube, posted by one Anthony Cummings. who has spent a very long time researching the ninja and ninjutsu. So, I'll let the documentary, which I posted below in all it's parts, tell you guys what ninjutsu is about.
NINJA DOCUMENTARY 2011 - PART 1 OF 4
NINJUTSU DOCUMENTARY 2011 - PART 2 OF 4
NINJUTSU DOCUMENTARY 2011 - PART 3
NINJUTSU DOCUMENTARY 2011 PART 4 OF 4
For more information about Anthony Cummings and his research, check out his website, www.natori.co.uk Since I have not studied or trained in ninjutsu (yet), I'm definetely not qualified to explain any of it's practices. So, I posted links to various videos about different MODERN SCHOOLS OF NINJUTSU, And I'll let those videos explain their methods.
There are many other schools than the ones I listed here. Anyway, here are a few schools listed below:
THE BUJINKAN
The Bujinkan is arguably, the largest modern ninjutsu organization in the world. It is based in Japan and headed by Masaaki Hatsumi. It is best known for its association with ninjutsu. The system taught by this organization, called Bujinkan Budō Taijutsu, consists of nine separate ryūha, or schools.
The schools are:
Togakure-ryū Ninpō Taijutsu Gyokko ryū Kosshi jutsu Kuki Shinden Ryū Happō Bikenjutsu Koto Ryū Koppō jutsu Shinden Fudo Ryū Dakentai jutsu Takagi Yoshin Ryū Jūtai jutsu Gikan Ryū Koppō jutsu Gyokushin-ryū Ryū Ninpō Kumogakure Ryū Ninpō In the first 3 videos, Jeff Christian, head instructor of Muzosa Bujinkan in New York, gives an explanation of what Budo Taijustu is, then Soke Hatsumi demonstrates some techniques from the 9 schools of the Bujinkan, and the last video is about Soke Hatsumi's Teacher, Toshitsugu Takamatsu.
MUZOSA BUDO TAIJUTSU ON INSIDE MARTIAL ARTS
THE ESSENCE OF THE NINE SCHOOLS OF BUJINKAN NINPO TAIJUTSU
TAKAMATSU TOSHITSUGU BY SOKE MASAAKI HATSUMI
This last video, is an episode of a show called human weapon, where 2 martial artists, Jason Chambers and Bill Duff, travel around the world and learn different aspects of a certain martial art, then they test out what they learned in a fight with a master of that martial art.
HUMAN WEAPON - NINJUTSU
For more information about the Bujinkan, check out the websites below: THE BUJINKAN DOJO OF SOKE MASAAKI HATSUMI
THE WARRIOR INFORMATION NETWORK
THE GENBUKAN
The Genbukan was founded in 1984 by Shoto Tanemura. Tanemura studied under Toshshitsugo and Masaki Hatsumi. (Tanemura left Hatsumi's tutelage after a disagreement). The Genbukan organization includes over 100 dojos in approximately 30 countries and 20 states in the USA. The organization, Genbukan Ninpo Bugei has 36 divisions called "ninja sanjurokkei". The schools teach taijutsu, bikenjutsu and keishinteki kyoyo as well as bō jutsu, yumi, naginata, yari, jutte, kusari-gama, and shuriken. The Kokusai Jujutsu Renmei (international organization) also teaches traditional Japanese Jujutsu techniques. and self-defense techniques such as goshinjutsu, 'koryu karate' and 'chugoku kenpo'.
The 2 videos below were part of a documentary called "WAY OF THE WARRIOR", which featured different japanese martial arts.
This segment features Shoto Tanemura, and the Genbukan school of ninjutsu. WAY OF THE WARRIOR GENBUKAN NINPO BUGEI PART 1
WAY OF THE WARRIOR GENBUKAN NINPO BUGEI PART 2
For more information about the Genbukan, check out the website below:
GENBUBAN/KJJR INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
RONALD DUNCAN'S WAY OF THE WINDS SYSTEM
Professor Ronald Duncan is often acknowleged as the Father of American Ninjutsu. He teaches his own style called The "Way of the Winds System".
The 2 videos below, Professor Ronald Duncan is interviewed by George Strickland from the Martial Art World about his school. MASTER RONALD DUNCAN NINJITSU EXPERT 1989
MASTER RONALD DUNCAN NINJITSU EXPERT 1989 PART 2
MASTER RONALD DUNCAN ARROW CATCHING
If you want to know more about Professor Ronald Duncan, or his school of ninjutsu, check out his website below:
WAY OF THE WINDS - MARTIAL ART SYSTEM
Now there's a lot of argument between which ninjutsu school is "real" or "fake", or whatever... Personally, I think that If your teacher can move well, can fight well, has a solid understanding of the concepts and principles of the art, and can teach you and your fellow students all of the above, then who the fuck cares if it's "Real" or not?
Anyway, to close, I now give you this: A video of An Shu Stephen K. Hayes, one of the pioneers of ninjutsu in America, talking about, well... I'll let the video description below the video tell you all about that.
Video Description taken from You Tube:
Uploaded by TEDxTalks on Jul 1, 2011
An-shu Stephen Kinryu-Jien Hayes, founder of To-Shin Do Kasumi-An Ninja Martial Arts has spent his entire adult life in the pursuit of perfection through the study of the Asian martial arts and spiritual traditions, living and traveling throughout North America, Japan, Europe, the Arctic, China, Tibet, Nepal, and India.
Stephen has been described as one of the five brightest stars in the martial arts; a legend, by Black Belt Magazine Yearbook 1998, one of the ten most influential living martial artists in the world, by Black Belt Magazine March 2006, and a legend in the martial arts, by Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee, father of Taekwondo in America. He has demonstrated self-protection combat skills to military and law-enforcement groups including the U.S. Air Force Academy, the FBI Academy, the American Society for Law Enforcement Training, and members of Britain's elite SAS. He has worked on special assignments with the United States Department of State Dignitary Security Services, and under contract with the United States Defense Intelligence Agency.
Dedicated to promoting the benefits of Life Mastery Through Martial Arts, he travels the world as teacher, seminar leader, and lecturer, inspiring others by translating his extensive background in martial arts and meditation into practical lessons for handling the pressures, uncertainties, and stresses of life. Many students, readers, and seminar participants have reported that his teachings have brought them deep encouragement and empowerment, and inspired them to achieve new levels of success in their personal and professional lives.
His presentation at TEDxBloomington started our conference day with a provocative explanation of what "ninja" really means, followed by a cautionary tale of what might happen when you read fiction in junior high study hall. His experiences as bodyguard for the Dalai Lama resonated strongly with the Bloomington audience.
Http://stephenkhayes.com
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