NINJUTSU  

Ninjutsu has a very long, and sometimes dark history that is quite fascinating. It is often difficult for even the most studied Japanese historians to decipher factual ninja stories from fiction. It developed in 15th century as a collection of fundamental survivalist techniques by small groups from the Iga, Shiga, and Koka Provinces of Japan, as a highly illegal counter culture to the ruling elite.

 

The ninja clans used their developing skills to ensure their survival in a time of violent political turmoil. For this reason the origins of the art are shrouded in mystery. Throughout history the 'shinobi' , as they were called, have been seen as assassins for hire, and associated with espionage activities and guerrilla warfare.

 

It took over three hundred years to evolve the skills and techniques associated with ninjitsu. As it slowly transformed it became known as the "art of stealth', since most of the skills prepared a practitioner for a journey into espionage. Training usually emphasizes spying skills, stealthy movements, the use of camouflage, fighting with weapons, unarmed fighting, escape tactics, misdirection, disguise and impersonation, archery, medical treatments, and the use of gunpowder.

 

Japan's elite social classes began to recognize that the skills relating to espionage and assassination could be highly useful to warring factions. However, because such activities were seen as "dishonorable", Japanese rulers hired others to secretly do it for them. These people were called - "hinin" or those who existed below, or "non-humans".

 

 

Over the course of the last century, the need for ninjutsu training has declined, which is due in large part to the changing of times and technology. Most techniques serve little or no purpose in populated locations. Instructional facilities often deal with poor publicity and students who wish to train for unrealistic reasons. There are very few schools in modern day Japan. The first school to open outside of Japan was in Israel in 1974. There are a few training centers in the United States, but the practitioners are taught Americanized versions of ninjitsu that differs from the original Japanese teachings.

 

Today the main focus of ninjutsu deals with the techniques relevant to armed and unarmed combat. According to practitioners there are eighteen disciplines definitive for all ninjutsu schools, providing a complete training of the warrior in various fighting arts and complementary disciplines. Those disciplines are: spiritual refinement, unarmed combat, sword, stick or staff, suriken, spear, naginata, kusarigama, explosives, disguise, stealth, horsemanship, water training, military strategy, espionage, escape and concealment, meteorology, and geography.