by Devon McNeely
Here are 15 interesting facts about Ninjutsu and its Practitioners the Ninja:
1. With ‘Jutsu’ meaning skills or techniques, The word Ninjutsu is used to describe the collected skills and training of the Ninja. Another word for this would be Ninpo.
2. A better name for the Martial Arts aspects of Ninjutsu would be Budo Taijutsu.
3. Ninja were highly trained mercenaries used for missions that required stealth such as spycraft or assassinations.
4. Other Skills composing Ninjutsu include Kenjutsu (sword techniques), shurikenjutsu (thrown blade skills), Hensojutsu (Disguises and impersonations), Bajutsu (Horsemanship), Seishin teki kyoyo (spiritual refinement), and many others.
5. Female ninja were called Kunoichi. they were trained in all the traditional ninja skills but also learned the specific skills needed to pass as a female servant or as a geisha. Seduction tactics were also used especially to get information.
6. Ninja were trained with many various weapons including swords (often a shorted straight single-bladed sword), Shuriken (throwing knives and stars), various ‘peasant’ weapons (sticks, staves, kama), grappling hooks, and Shuko (climbing claws) among many others.
7. There are many rumors and stories about mysterious skills used by ninja. Many tales of ninja magic were actually spread by the ninja clans themselves to promote superstitions and fear.
8. Some supernatural powers attributed to ninja were the abilities to fly, to read minds, to transform into animals, to disappear in a cloud of smoke or into the shadows themselves, and to even walk on water. Some of these are based on real ninja techniques though exaggerated.
9. Though ninja are often portrayed wearing all black they more often were dressed as normal people in order to blend into the crowd.
10. Historically those born into a ninja clan were then trained throughout their entire lives.
11. The most famous ninja clans were the Iga and the Koga clans. Both clans had members working for powerful feudal lords.
12. Due to their secretive nature, it is difficult to determine the legitimacy of modern ninjutsu styles as either authentic ninja teachings or modern recreations. This is further hindered by numerous false ninjutsu styles both in Japan and worldwide.
13. The largest Ninjutsu organization is the Bujinkan formed by Masaaki Hatsumi.
14. The Bujinkan teaches a style called Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu which is a collection of 9 styles, 3 descended from the ninja and 6 descended from samurai traditions.
15. Jinichi Kawakami is the only Ninja Grandmaster officially recognized by the Japanese government and is referred to as the last ninja as he has publicly refused to pass his teaching to a successor.