true assassin, a theory.

China has no ninjas. Although all Japanese martial arts are based from Chinese martial arts, so there is an indirect relationship. um chinese star.

I've trained in Ninjutsu for 7 years and reached the grade of 1st Dan. My school is the Kokoro Dojo, which train in both Bujinkan and To-Shin-Do Ninjutsu. I've been lucky enough to be able to train with both Grandmaster Massaki hatsumi and An Shu Stephen hayes in my lifetime (something I will never , ever forget). I found this thread by chance and I find it amazing how alot of people still stereotype Ninjas based on what they may see in movies, etc. So I thought I'd share what I know from my experience of training in the Ninja arts.

Here is pretty much, but not limited to, a list of what weapons Ninjas used and continue to train with today.

Tanto (Dagger)
Gusari-Kama (Chain and Sickle)
Wazikashi (Short Katana)
Katana (Normal Katana)
Dai-Katana (Large Katana, mainly used for war)
Naginata (Halberd)
Ashiko (Foot claws, used for combat and climbing)
Shuko (Hand claws used for combat and climbing)
Tessen (Iron War fan used for attacking pressure points)
Chigiriki (A style of Morning Star)
Fukiya (Blowgun)
Hanbo (Short staff the same size as a walking stick)
Hoko (A type of spear. Also the name of a Defensive Stance)
Jutte (A type of Halberd)
Kakute (Poisoned rings worn by Kunoichi)
Kama (Sickles, normally used in pairs)
Neko-Te (Iron fingernails normally used by Kunoichi)
Kyoketsu-Shogei (Chain with a Knife on one end and a ring on the other)
Manriki-Gusari (Chain with weights attached to each end)
Shuriken (The traditional "Ninja Star")
Yari (A type of spear)
Kunai (Utility knife also used as a thrown dagger)
Tetsu-Bishi (Caltrops)
Bow (Long and Short. Should know what this one is)
Sai (Daggers with forked handguards used for disarming enemies)

Alot of Ninjutsu techniques tend to come from a large variety of Martial Arts. Dakken-Taijutsu consists of elements of Chinese Kickboxing and Judo, while other aspects of it combine muscle and bone destruction together to devastating effect. Most of what you learn in unarmed combat can be applied with a weapon quite easily and the sheer variety of techniques and ways to apply them allow for a unique style of martial art that allows the Ninja to apply the technique in a way that suits them.

Although stereotyped as Assassins, Ninjas were far from it. To be honest they very rarely killed anyone because in doing so they had failed their mission (unless, on the rare occasion, their mission was to assassinate). They were more manipulators of war (using politics and shifting the weight in favour of their hidden masters), not participants in it, so to speak. That doesn't mean they never fought, but that their purpose was more to remain unseen, and undetected throughout their whole mission in order to succeed in their goal.

A better way to think of Ninjas is as spies, rather than Assassins, as that's more the characteristics of their role. A good modern day pictation of a Ninja can be seen in the game Splinter Cell, with the player playing the part of Sam Fisher, he even does the forward roll properly.



Any questions? Feel free to ask, I'll be more than happy to awnser. I believe the technical term for one such post as this is "epic win."

/win Awesome. Confused though...

- I was under the distinct impression that real ninjas were not proficient with katanas, what with these swords being linked to the samurai class
- I always thought 'Shuko' and 'Neko-Te' (cat claws) were the same weapons
- no mention of the Jitte anywhere. I suppose it's a bit redundant, what with the Sai being listed, but I couldn't help but notice.
- Also thought the Wakizashi was not used, in favour of the Ninja-To, which basically is the same length, but with a straight blade instead of the war blade's curve.

Ehm... Hi Yah!?

Awesome. Confused though...

- I was under the distinct impression that real ninjas were not proficient with katanas, what with these swords being linked to the samurai class
- I always thought 'Shuko' and 'Neko-Te' (cat claws) were the same weapons
- no mention of the Jitte anywhere. I suppose it's a bit redundant, what with the Sai being listed, but I couldn't help but notice.
- Also thought the Wakizashi was not used, in favour of the Ninja-To, which basically is the same length, but with a straight blade instead of the war blade's curve.

Ehm... Hi Yah!? Based on my understanding,

1&4- ninja were proficient in many weapons, katanas being important as they might frequently encounter them, and wakizashis wouldn't instanly reveal them as a ninja

2- Shuko are blades worn on the hands for tree climbing, sword catching, face pwning, ect. and Neko-Te being those things Vega from Street fighter has or something to that effect

but Mr. Ninja can prolly answer better