Can someone please indicate me some good ninja books?

Question

Ninja books of all sort of things:

- Mind training;

- Body training;

- Weapon using;

- Techniques;

- Everything to learn how to become a ninja

Answer 1

The only way to truly become a ninja is find a good school that teaches it and study there.

Edit for Sifu carr- With respect sir "the book of five rings" is not a take off of the "art of war" written by Tsun Tzu. It waas written by a Samurai in Japan, and while they both are startegy guides, they are completly and totally seperate.

Also Shotokan karate was not even thought of until well after the Samurai ceased to be and the Ninja's were gone. Shotokan karate was developed by an Okinawin named Funikoshi to teach the Japanese, as Karate itself originated in Okinawa. I would point out more misconceptions you have but I simply do not have the time. I would think someone that has studied as long as you supposidly have would have a better grasp of things such as this, especially if in your words "I studied it for 6 years when I was a young man". If this were the case, I would at least expect you to know the origins of Shotokan, and how old it is.

Answer 2

Hi there

Depends on what kind of training your looking for? If you want the TV pop culture image of the ninja then there's a thousand and one children's books that have been published. I call them children's books because that's exactly what they are!

As for the authentic genuine books then there are a few but unless you are already training in taijutsu all you will get from them is a kata list with some nice photos that wont mean a great deal.

But here's my recommended reading list once you start training.

Basic History Books worth getting.

1. Invisible Assassins by Andrew Adams.  

2. History and Tradition by Hatsumi.

Ryu ha kata books and techniques.

1.The Way of the Ninja by hatsumi

2.Unarmed Fighting Techniques of the samurai by hatsumi

3. Advanced Stick Fighting by hatsumi

4. Japanese Sword Fighting: Secrets of the Samurai by hatsumi.

5. Stick fighting by hatsumi.

Philosophy books

1. Understand, good, play by hatsumi/Cole

2. Essence of Ninjutsu by hatsumi.

There are other well established grandmasters that have published books such as Tanemura and Manaka  but these can only to be purchased direct from them and in some cases only available to students.

Dont waste your time and money buying anything  else unless it's got hatsumi, manaka or tanamura's name on it. Stephen hayes may have been a big name at one time but his books are complete garbage.

Stick to the above list and you wont go far wrong otherwise you will end up buying the silly made up stuff. Failing that ask an instructor what books they recommend. But most shidoshi's have written their own kata books based on their own training.

All the above can be purchased from amazon but like i said dont expect to get much from them unless you train.

These books are not for the black mask boys i'm afraid!

Best wishes

idai

Answer 3

Go with idais answer. I would also add "The Ninja and Their Secret Fighting Art" by Stephen K Hayes.

Once again, well done idai.   :-)

Answer 4

there is only 1 basic LAW for ninjutsu.....if it isnt Bujinkan, Genbukan, Jinenkan, or To Shin Do....it's most likely fake as h*ll!!!!

the best ninjutsu books...you only need one name

Stephen K. Hayes. http://www.skhquest.com

there are certainly others...but his are easy to read and very informative and detailed. explaining everything from simple exercies, self defense techniques, to meditation and weapons.

you cannot...i repeat can NOT become a ninja...they do not exist.

you can practice ninjutsu/ budo taijutsu/ninpo ...but you will never be a real ninja.

sifu carr...i'm very inclined to agree with katana here. and ninjas is not a word. ninja, like deer, kata...etc does not need an s to be plural.

Answer 5

Read the "Book of Five Rings" - this book is a take off of the famous book - "The Art of War" written over 4,000 years ago by a great Chinese warlord. Ninjas are assassins of the Japanese brand - having studied Budo. Read that stuff too - "The Art of Budo."  The actual hand to hand martial art originally studied by the ninjas is called Shotokan karate. It is very hard hitting in the fact that they constantly tourture the body in hard blows and hard blocks and kicks. It doesn't take long before one realizes that they are damaging their bodies. I studied it for 6 years when I was a young man. I am now 56 and have been studying Chinese martial arts since 1973. You may wish to consider something along those lines before you beat you hands up so bad that it becomes extrememly hard to even write your name - legibly

     Also, true ninjas practice the art of invisibility. Nowadays, it seems everybody knows about Ninjas!!!!  How invisible is that? Heck, they even have ninja magazines. The last true ninja, according to the family tree kept - supposedly died in the 1950's. There's a white guy - old now - up in New York I met once that keeps the art alive. Supposedly a true descendant of the line. Shop around more, TV makes the ninjas look like a cool thing to be - the samurai were dedicated warring soldiers of fortune that had ninjitsu (ninja practices) as part of their arsenal. There whole purpose was to protect the Emperor and his wishes. All martial arts are cool and have wonderful history. Whatever you study, remember that the guy you are about to study with is not going to hurt you if you ask him these 3 things - and you should ask him.

                   1. Who is your teacher?

                    2. Is he alive?

                   3. Can I call him?

    Don't be afraid just because his is a "master" or "grandmaster".  He is also a business man, he will not hurt you. He wants you to join - he wants your money. Ask the questions - if any problems at all with them (like, "My teacher died some time ago") then pass on him. Or go on line to see the family tree.  So many "chop suey" guys out there. That means left overs - or, not real.

Answer 6

This may be off topic, but since other people talked about these books:

"The Book of Five Rings" was written by Japanese swordmaster Miyamoto Musashi, around 1645.

"The Art of War" was written by Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu, who lived in the 2nd century B.C.  It's considered a "Chinese classic" and a masterpiece on military strategy, so it's possible Musashi may have studied it.

("Sifu" Carr, I think you're talking out of your butt.)