The discipline of ninjutsu likely emerged from the hilly areas around the Japanese cities of Kyotu and Nara in the 8th century A.D. The people of this area were poor, so they developed a branch of martial arts that used invisibility and surprise to defend themselves against the well-financed armies of wealthier enemies.
Invisibility
Ninjas often dressed in black to remain hidden in shadows and at night. Soft-soled shoes allowed them to move rapidly but quietly. Ninjas were spies and assassins, so scaling walls was often necessary. Grappling hooks and ropes allowed them to infiltrate castles unnoticed. To traverse buildings quickly, ninjas used a special, crab-like walk to navigate small passages and openings.
Disguise
When invisibility was not an option, ninjas would don a disguise to infiltrate enemy territory. The ninja might dress as a wandering ascetic, a merchant, an entertainer or a peasant. With the right camouflage, the ninja could move at will throughout an enemy's territory.
Versatility
Ninja clothing had numerous pockets, allowing ninjas to carry small weapons, tools, poisons and blinding powders. During a fight, ninjas would use these to disable an opponent quickly. For example, a ninja might secret blinding powder in the bottom of a scabbard. At the start of a fight, the ninja drew the sword and flung the powder into an opponent's face, allowing the ninja to move in for a quick kill.
Awareness
Ninjas maintained a heightened awareness of their environment, allowing them to leverage any possible advantage toward their cause. The positioning of the roots on a radish might tell a ninja which way was north. How sleeping enemies snored indicated whether they would wake easily. Through careful observation of the sun, moon, wind, weather, tide, flora and fauna, ninjas maximized the likelihood of a successful mission.
Modern Revival
Today's ninjutsu classes focus on more conventional martial techniques, such as punches, kicks, grappling, ground fighting, disarming an assailant and other close-combat skills. Instructors also teach elements of the ancient ninjutsu techniques of mind relaxation, invisibility, awareness of surroundings and surprise.
Member Comments