The Ninja!

The shinobi, the stealer-in, the shadow warriors! The hired assassins of feudal Japan who were bred to be killers in their secretive clans hidden in the hills and mountains. They were the ninja - the scourge of the samurai, skilled in a huge variety of martial arts that went under the umbrella title of ninjutsu, masters of deception, manipulators of superstition and possessing an incredible general knowledge on being stealthy! Today schools all over the world profess to be teaching the ancient art of ninjutsu. We hear of the korean ninja, the Sulsa or the Lin Kiu, the original ninja of China. It is all quite exciting stuff.

That idea was the one that got me into martial arts in the firs place. Years later and some serious questions need to be asked. Who really were the ninja? Did they really exist in the way martial arts historians often depict them, as organized clans of assassins bred to kill? Is the art being taught today a legitimate system that can claim lineage from feudal Japan? Beyond the Turtles, GI Joe, Mortal Kombat, Michael Dudikoff and David Bradley, and the whole '80s ninjamania business the following makes for disturbing reading:

http://www.bullshido.com/articles/ashida-kim-3.html
http://www.bullshido.com/articles/frank-dux-3.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninjutsu
http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/10712
http://www.chinatownconnection.com/misconception-ninja.htm

for those that don't already, check out www.askaninja.com
Pretty much all Ninja related questions are answered!

Yes, that is a great site!

No need for Ninja now, as we got the SAS and special forces.

Yes even on here we have our very own SAS Bob Spour

Fantastic.

Den.

Yep, you guys got the SAS (pure class!). And we have the Irish Rangers - which are pretty cool too.

Can't say I'm too impressed with the Ninjitsu hand to hand combat methods if I'm being honest. Nice outfits though...

A confirmation in last issue's MAI by a Ninjutsu instructor from the Hatsumi lineage that Ninjutsu contains NO sparring. Did anyone see an attempt at it in the episode of Human Weapon when a 15th Dan "Ninja" tried it on the show's MMA presenter?

Ninjutsu pressure testing (second one is the MMA guy):

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=oKtShl2LUdg

Okay, this doesn't prove anything about the art's authenticity although the testing does seem a little contrived. Having said this I interviewed a long time doorman from Ireland who has practiced Bujikan Ninjutsu for ages, is a fan of Geoff Thompson's and claims his art's validity at the same time as disapproving of the likes of Ashida Kim.

The big problem I have is outlined in some of these links - all the historical work done for Ninjutsu doesn't appear to have been done by pure historians, but by modern day "ninja" who obviously have a confirmation bias.

Perhaps Jamie as an author and historian yourself you have a ninja history book in the pipeline?

A historian, unbiased to the art and with a dash of scepticism, I am sure that would be a dynamite book, but could you handle the assassination attempts from all the practicing ninja's youre liable to pi** off!

Regards,

Den.

I don't know about a ninja history book. That would be a massive undertaking. However, I will definitely cover the topic in my "Bullshitsu" book.

As for the assassination attempts... Please tell me that Bullshido.com is still okay

Jamie Clubb wrote:

That would be a massive undertaking. However, I will definitely cover the topic in my "Bullshitsu" book.

Sounds cool!

Will be, but there is so much to research and write!