Developed within the warring states of feudal Japan, ninjitsu is a study involving many martial and survivalist techniques. From concealment and espionage, to unarmed combat and sword techniques, ninjitsu practitioners excelled in many of the combat methods utilized in assassination. While contemporary ninjitsu schools have eschewed a number of the core 18 arts originally taught, such as "Sui-ren" water training or "Boryaku" military strategy and tactics, many of the traditional strikes, blocks, stances and other self-defense techniques still remain in modern dojos.
Break Falls and Rolling
Traditionally included in the "Intonjutsu" art of evasion and escape, the break fall is among the most basic ninjitsu self-defense methods taught to beginning students. Also referred to as rolling or tumbling, this technique involves careful study as to the center of gravity of your and your opponent. When engaged in a joint lock or other grappling technique wherein the ninjitsu practitioner can intuit no way to overpower their opponent, dropping to the ground while rolling to the right or left side at a 45-degree angle can both free the combatant and offset your opponent. When pushed to the ground, tumbling can be used to protect parts of the body by bending into the ground at an angle, causing the body to roll across the floor in a "break fall". Ninjitsu practitioners will frequently practice their rolling and tumbling abilities in order to both escape being locked into an unwanted position and quickly return to their feet.
Blocks and Evasion
Perhaps the most common ninjitsu self-defense technique practiced is that of evading and dodging your opponent through a series of quickly-timed steps. Falling under the art of Taijutsu, or "unarmed combat," basic evasion techniques begin with the disappearing step---a method of stepping at a 45-degree angle to the outside of your opponent as they move to attack, effectively clearing their blow and placing you in a good position to flank your opponent. Practice the technique by having a sparring partner strike at you with their right hand as you carefully step outside their punch at a 45-degree angle to your opponent's right side---your opponent is now in a compromised position for you to strike or engage in joint locks as you see fit.
Another form of evasion involves the dodging block---an uncommon element in other martial art schools that generally teach practitioners to block a blow head-on with full force. The philosophy of "Seishinteki Kyoyo", or spiritual visualization, practiced in ninjitsu encourages practitioners to approach blocking in a more fluid, water-like way. Practice blocking your opponent's strike while stepping to the side at a 45-degree angle as you focus on distributing your opponent's force through your entire body.
Strikes and Punches
Serious students of ninjitsu will gradually learn a series of pressure points associated to different locations and functions of the body. Beginning practitioners are typically not taught the various pressure points of the body until they have mastered the basic striking techniques and hand-configurations that make of the foundations of ninjitsu training. Strikes in ninjitsu are typically designed to gain leverage during a fight, allowing the combatant to set up a joint lock, immobilization technique or throw. Similar to the philosophy behind evading blocks, strikes in ninjitsu avoid using brute force for effectiveness---preferring instead to manipulate natural body mechanics and "pain points" to subdue attackers. Practice the basic punch by pivoting your hip as you thrust your fist forward, aiming at your opponent's solar plexus or nose with the first two knuckles on your hand. Basic chops can be practiced by raising the hand above your head until it points directly behind you and bringing the "ridge hand" or bottom of your pinky finger and wrist on your opponent's neck as if it were a sword.
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