Ninjutsu – Discover everything about the Art of the Ninjas

Ninjutsu [忍術] is a Japanese art practiced by Ninjas, popularly known in animes like Naruto. Did you know that this art really existed? Are there still practitioners of the Ninja art?

In this article, we will see absolutely everything about Ninjutsu, its origin, curiosities, weapons used, not to mention the differences between real Ninjutsu and the animes. To facilitate your navigation, we will leave a summary below:

What is Ninjutsu?

Ninjutsu is an art used by Ninjas for espionage, sabotage, assassination, and other purposes. This art requires a lot of wisdom in various other martial arts, discipline, good management, and discretion.

The word Ninjutsu [忍術] comes from the ideogram [忍] which means resistance, patience, and self-restraint along with the ideogram [術] which means art, techniques, skills, means, and tricks. Ninja [忍者] is the person trained in Ninjutsu.

The ninjutsu can also be called ninpo [忍法] which literally means ninja arts. Where the ideogram [法] means method, law, rule, principle, model, and system. Ninjas have a code of conduct called Ninpoh Ikkan.

The fundamentals of ninjutsu

Ninjutsu is a martial art aimed at bringing the body, mind, and spirit together, thus developing the human being and putting them in harmony with nature, overcoming their flaws and improving their abilities.

Ninjas developed a fighting technique or a martial science full of strategies capable of facing all kinds of hand-to-hand combat or with weapons, whether on the ground, at a distance, using firearms, or causing twists on the opponent.

The Ninja also needs to learn the art of disguise, manipulation of the human body, know the vital points and strategies for self-defense, self-sufficiency in fighting, and psychological manipulation of the enemy.

Many ninjas need spiritual refinement, using breathing techniques, meditation, and control of vital and mental energy. They also need to overcome their emotional and mental vulnerabilities.

Many Ninjas practice diving, mountaineering, survival, target shooting, and others. This martial art is so famous in the world that even the FBI, S.W.A.T, and many other soldiers know how to use ninjutsu.

Ninja virtues, rules, secrets, and norms

The practitioner of ninjutsu needs to correctly copy all the techniques of their master, only then starting new techniques achieving maximum perfection and performing all techniques automatically without thinking. These stages are divided into 3 and called su, ha, and ri.

Ninjas have rules that consist of never looking down on an opponent, nor underestimating their abilities and not being afraid to confront them due to their reputation. They should also never hesitate to take action.

A ninja should never question their lack of preparation, much less be afraid. They should never fear the enemy nor act with a lack of confidence. They should never be afraid of the physical appearance or strength of the enemy.

Ninjas follow 7 virtues which are:

• GI – Just decision, attitude, and truth;
• YU – Bravery and heroic impulse;
• JIN – Love for the universe and benevolence for humanity;
• REI – Balanced and fair behavior;
• MAKOTO – Total sincerity;
• MERYO – Honor and Glory;
• CHUGI – Loyalty and devotion;

Ninjas have rules that can even be engraved in a Dojo. See some below:

• Do not demonstrate or say anything in the face of danger;
• Forget your ego, be patient, and do not fear death;
• Maintain an indomitable spirit in the face of strong enemies;
• Serve and protect the master as if they were your parents;
• Addictions dissipate your proficiency;
• Destroy the enemy’s power, but spare their life;
• Do not teach others without the master’s permission;
• Forget all sorrows, resentments, angers, and hates;
• Be worthy and do not stray from your path of good;
• Do not let ambition and lust take over your soul;
• Concentrate all your time and mind on the practice of Budo Taijutsu;
• We must accept sorrows, hates, or penuries as a blessing from mother nature;

Ninjas also have 8 fighting secrets called “Ninja no Hachimon“.

1. NINJA NO KIAI – The explosive expression of spirit and internal energy;
2. NINJA NO TAIJUTSU – The study and practice of body techniques;
3. NINJA NO KENPO – Study of sword techniques;
4. NINJA NO SOOJUTSU – Study of methods using spears and sharp objects;
5. NINJA NO SHURIKEN – The art of throwing darts, knives, and star-shaped throwing weapons;
6. NINJA NO KAJUTSU – The art of using fire as an ally;
7. NINJA NO UGEI – The art of deceiving and tricking the opponent;
8. NINJA NO KYOMON – The study of religions, medicine, philosophy, meditation, history, mathematics, chemistry, physics, and psychology;

History and origin of Ninjutsu

Ninjutsu dates back over 900 years, in a historical context where the Samurai dominated Japan. It was born when Tibetan monks spread across various countries in Asia to practice terrorism, espionage, and resistance against invasions by the Manchus in China.

During the Chin dynasty, temples were destroyed and the monks took refuge in other countries like Japan. These monks gave rise to several martial arts, and one of them was Ninjutsu.

The monks had contacts with ronins, who were samurai without masters who no longer followed the code of conduct. Over the years, those who became ninjas began to work as mercenaries.

Even the Japanese government began to use ninjas as spies until the end of World War II. Nowadays, the art is used for self-defense or by the army of some countries, due to its agility in disarming and its techniques in attack, defense, and immobilization.

Since its beginnings, ninjutsu was naturally practiced by children, young people, old people, and women. In the West, ninjutsu was brought by men Doron Navon and Stephen Hayes around 1970.

Weapons Used in Ninjutsu

In Ninjutsu, there are several types of weapons that can be used in battles with opponents. Many of these weapons are household tools like brooms, umbrellas, screwdrivers, pliers, and even a sheet.

In Ninjutsu, it does not matter which tool is used in battle, but rather who will be the winner of the fight, whether fair or not, what matters is to win against the opponent. Ninjas are capable of using anything in battle to achieve victory.

Many weapons that we will present below are associated with Ninjas, but do not mean they are exclusive weapons of Ninjas; some are used by Samurai or utilized in other fighting styles, not to mention those that were merely tools of peasants.

• Boken – Wooden saber for training;
• Bō – Long staff of 1.8 meters;
• Fukiya – Blowgun;
• Fukumi Bari – Small throwing needles, blown with the mouth;
• Hanbō – Short staff of 90 centimeters;
• Jitte – Used to fight against swords;
• Kaginawa – Rope with a cross hook, used to climb houses and walls;
• Kama yari – Long staff with a sickle;
• Kama – Small sickle, initially used for harvesting grains;
• Kemuridama – Black smoke bomb, explosive or blinding;
• Kodachi – Small saber similar to wakizashi, but without guard, slightly larger handle and more curved;
• Kunai – Utensil similar to a gardening spade or sharp trowel;
• Kusari-fundo – Chain with two weights at the ends;
• Kusarigama – A Kama with a chain and a metal weight;
• Kyoketsu Shoge – Similar to kusarigama, chain and metal hook;
• Musubinawa – Rope with a single hook, used for climbing;
• Naginata – Staff with a halberd blade;
• Orthos – Staff with blade tips;
• Shaken – Throwing dart;
• Shikomi Zue – Wooden staff with a concealed saber;
• Shinobi Kumade – Rope used for climbing, using a claw-shaped hook;
• Shinobi Zue – Staff with a concealed chain;
• Shinobigatana – curved saber;
• Shuriken – Throwing star;
• Tanbō – Two small wooden sticks, for attack and defense;
• Tanto – Japanese knife;
• Te yari – Small spear with a hook;
• Tessen – Metal fan usually used by women;
• Tetsubishi – Pyramid-shaped spikes, used in chases;
• Wakizashi – Curved saber, similar to katana, but its blade is shorter;
• Yari – Spear approximately 2 meters long;
• Yumi ya – Kyudo – Bow and arrow (Art of throwing);

Naruto’s Ninjutsu vs. Real Life

The famous anime Naruto tries to well represent the Ninjas and their art called Ninjutsu. Throughout the anime, we have several references to the powers used by the character that are called jutsu [術]. The word jutsu literally means art.

The ninjas in the Naruto anime have absolutely nothing to do with the real-life Ninjutsu. In the anime, ninjas are portrayed as humans with divine powers instead of a stealthy person who kills opponents.

Real ninjas kill people all the time. No one discovers because they are good at it. They are known for leaving inexplicable corpses everywhere discreetly, not blowing up mountains and making craters.

Ninjas need to wear clothes that can help them blend in with the environment, something that does not happen in the Naruto anime which uses bright, strong, and flashy colors instead of discreet black. Naruto’s outfit only serves to show his location.

The anime presents some Ninja weapons like Kunai, Shuriken, and some swords. However, in the anime, these weapons are just decorations and are rarely used with a powerful purpose, since they have supernatural powers.

What sense does it make for Naruto characters to use shuriken and other countless weapons if they always miss? A good ninja must possess the ability to kill, play dead, assassinate, take down, and dismember until their end.

The characters in Naruto rarely kill anyone; they exist quite a bit before killing. Only once in a while does a villain commit some murder to give the impression that they are evil.

Ninja Disciplines – Jūhakkei

Ninjutsu is a set of various disciplines and arts that ninjas study called juhakkei. Below we will briefly list these arts. I hope you enjoyed this article. If you did, share it!

• Bajutsu (Horse Riding);
• Bōjutsu (Art of the Long Staff);
• Bōryaku (Military Strategy);
• Chi-mon (Geography);
• Chōhō (Espionage);
• Hensōjutsu (Art of Disguises and Camouflage);
• Intonjutsu (Art of Evasion);
• Kayakujutsu (Art of Explosives and Pyrotechnics);
• Kenjutsu (Art of the Sword);
• Kusarigamajutsu (Fighting with Sickle and Chain);
• Naginatajutsu (Fighting with the Naginata);
• Seishin Teki Kyoko|Seishin-teki kyōyō (Spiritual Refinement);
• Shinobi-iri (Hiding);
• Shurikenjutsu (Throwing Shurikens);
• Sui-ren (Water Training);
• Sōjutsu (Art of the Spear);
• Taijutsu (Unarmed Combat);
• Tenmon (Meteorology);

How to Learn Ninjutsu

On May 15, 1645, eighteen Luso-Brazilian leaders signed a commitment to fight against Dutch domination in northeastern Brazil. The movement integrated forces led by blacks, indigenous people, and native Portuguese who employed guerrilla warfare – ninja-style warfare – to confront Dutch material superiority.

What is not explained is that, since 1543, Portugal traded with Japan, buying products and Japanese slaves and selling them in its main colonies, such as Brazil. It is speculated that the Portuguese had contact with the Ninja Art during this period and that it introduced into the Brazilian roots a “ninja spirit,” a determination to “never give up.”

This course aims to clarify the historical roots of the Ninja Art and teach a quick and effective method for you to recognize an authentic Ninjutsu dojo authorized by the Japanese Empire, without you running the risk of losing money, getting hurt, or being deceived by the many “Fake-jutsu” spread across Brazil.