What type of martial arts do ninjas do?

Question

What type of martial arts do ninjas do?

Answer 1

don't listen to any one of those answers. there is no such thing as real ninja today....period. ninjas, is in correct btw, ninja can be used plurally. most languages other than english do not add the s to pluralize something as we do.

no self respecting "ninja" lol...would ever spell his art ninjitsu. it is spelled and most importantly pronouncded ninjutsu.

and it doesnt contain "kung fu" ...there was a definite influence from china. but it does not incorporate any kung fu systems known today.

there are only a few organizations teaching authentic, unadaltered ninjutsu (also called ninpo, when used in its highest order...as a system of life guidance..not just fighting) ..and it is NOT an assassins art...there were a few that used it for this, but it does not accurately describe the ninja's role in feudal japan.

the art was born out of necessity, pure and simple. a means of protecting ones family and self under any circumstances. it is a blend of martial arts, but many other things as well. such things as shugendo...which is intentionally placing yourself in hellish uncomfortable situations to overcome fear. it is more spiritual, and practitioners often lived in the mountains full time.

the art goes back as far as the 1100's ...it is 34 generations old..very old. with influences from china, and tibet, and even very ancient korea according to one ryu (style).

there are 9 styles or "ryu-ha" which mean (clan styles..ie family styles) and ironically...only 3 of them are "ninjutsu/ninpo" the rest come from samurai traditions. infact some ninja were banished samurai. ninpo was also a way to liberate yourself from the strict warrior traditions of 'bushido' where often a soldier lost a fight and survived...he'd kill himself to retain his 'honor' ..called hara kiri (belly cutting)

samurai were the police..the army..the warrior class. ninja was mostly made up of peasants and farmers who were constantly raided by warlords during a very hecktic time in japanese history where civil war was almost constant.

they have 9 styles to draw from, but only a few are actually taught in depth ..even by the most legit factions. ..so you could honestly say there is all but no such thing as "ninjutsu" anymore....even the Bujinkan (house of the divine warrior i think it translates to) which is the source for all other legit groups bar none...doesn't teach the full art, largely because it is a HUGE art...and much of it is no longer needed.

who needs to pick berries and gather herbs these days? who would actually practice it? ..the closest thing we have today to ninja...are army rangers, navy seals, recon marines, delta force, and other special operations military units.

they teach and practice all sorts of weapons (some you would never think of) and many many empty hand systems as well.

to make a long story shorter ...if it is not:

Bujinkan, Genbukan, Jinenkan (which all stem from Bujinkan anyway)...it is likely fake and some made up style to capitolize on the ninja craze. there are some groups who teach these arts that were affiliated with the above org's but have since broken off...but are relatively few and far between.

if you see someone teaching "koga ryu" leave immediately. if you see "Ashida Kim" on anything...throw it away and leave immediately.

another faction that branched off of the Bujinkan is called To Shin Do....the skills taught are authentic. and was created by the first american allowed to teach ninjutsu (Stephen K. Hayes). but it is updated to fit more modern circumstances and self defense needs. but, they also teach the more traditional versions as well if requested. their schools are called quest centers. His books are plentiful and have been on the market constantly since he wrote them. most of them are on ninjutsu rather than the updated To Shin Do. and they remain in my opinon the absolute best books on the art anywhere, save for Soke Masaaki Hatsumi's possibly.

if you really want an idea of how the ninja trained, and what they were all about, including a very detailed history, as well as physical martial arts...you would do well to get his books. www.skhquest.com is his website.

samurai pledged unyeilding loyalty to his lord, and to bushido. if he lost a fight and lived, he disembowelled himself while someone else may or may not have cut off his head. often times if the lord was killed...all of his soldiers would have to die too by their own hand...thus his whole clan  would be wiped out. samurai fought for what they called "honor" which by today's standards is often seen as very egotistical...and it was. everyone had their place and they stayed there...or else.

the ninja fought because they had to. they fought for self preseravtion....for themselves, not for a lord.

i hope that helps. even today after 34 generations (even in japan) there is much misinformation about ninjutsu. infact even in japan alot of people still consider the art disgraceful because they do...and did not follow the code of Bushido as the samurai did.

Answer 2

Ninjitsu

Answer 3

Hi there

Simply put the unarmed fighting methods are termed ninpo taijutsu. Look the rest up on wikipedia starting with bujinkan.

Just look at all these silly answers.

If you want to speak to people in the know try kutaki no mura.

Forget yahoo answers!

Best wishes

idai

Answer 4

Kempo_ju and Idai have your best answers. Thanks for helping with a true answer guys. Take care.

Answer 5

I'm smelling a lot of the aforementioned bullshido right here, actually. Firstly, there was no martial art named 'ninjutsu.' For that matter, the word ninjutsu/ninja are modern terms coined to describe something that wasn't organized itself to warrant a proper term at the time of its existence. 'Ninja' is a retrospective descriptor.

There was no such thing as secret clans living in the mountains, feuding with each other. There was no special, hidden martial art that they originated/trained in. By and large, the truth behind the 'ninja' mythos was nothing more than a byproduct of Japan's then rigid social structure. At the time of the samurai, there were four distinctive social classes, one of which everyone had to fit into. The bushi (warrior) social class were the samurai, and for the most part, the only permitted to formally train as martial artists with the intent of working for a daimyo.

The 'ninja' were simply peasants (any non-bushi) who found means of learning the traditional samurai martial arts. This is why there is no 'ninjutsu' martial art; because the closest there ever was was simply a different application of the skills utilized by the fully traditional samurai. The only true difference came in the adaptation of such things as farming implements to be used as weapons by the 'ninja.'

So realistically, you just had peasants not bound by the bushido, working for the same daimyo (illegally... hence the much exaggerated mythology of secrecy) as the samurai, using a bastardization of the same martial arts in their own way.

Not nearly as glamorous as all of the 'ninja' answering this question would have you believe.

Answer 6

None. There are no real ninjas.

There are some people who learn ninjitsu, who claim to be ninjas. But ninjas went out when feudal Japan went out.

Answer 7

ninjitsu.  But it is an assassin art.

Answer 8

They do Tae bo and Krav Maga....har har har

Answer 9

ninjitsu - it consists of

1. art of camouflaging

2. cover and concealment

3. poison

4. tunneling

5. rope techniques

6. scaling walls

7. dart throwing

8. some forms of kung fu (depending on school) and weapon handling techniques

9. art of disguising

10. assasination (i.e climb up a rooftop at night , make a hole on the roof drop a string directly on top of the sleeping victim's mouth and pour a drop of poison on the string.)

11. breathing techniques

12. water fighting techniques

13. toe fighting techniques (i.e holding/ juggling weapons with your toe/legs )

depending on the school and where you are, you might get to learn some or most of this courses

Answer 10

*Sigh*

Sorry "Ninjas" . . . Ninjutsu/Ninjitsu/Quest/Bujinkan/etc.  

According to the common claims of such schools they teach a culmination of 18 "Ninja" arts that employ techniques of stealth and espionage utilizing specialized tools and weapons for their trade.  In addition to this they train in 18 Samurai arts involving martial skills and weaponary along with a certain amount of etiquitte, culture and philosophy to ensure that the "Ninja" may enter and blend naturally to accomplish their assignments.  Now, for the painful part.  If studied Historically, Ninjas never were.  I know, I know, it's because they were so secret and so good at what they did . . .  Have you never paid attention to how overly ceremonious Japan is in recording EVERYTHING!    Yet, not ever once any mention of Ninja?  Sure great warriors, legendary even, but not mentioned as Ninja.  In fact all of the "Great Ninjas of History" are typically just legend or are in fact Samurai serving their lords as best they could with no actual historical evidence or proof of them being Ninja or training in Ninjutsu.

While most Ninja schools do employ a variety and ecclectic mixture of martial arts styles into their curriculum, none of it is the ancient art of the Ninja!  Ninjas did not even exist until the mid to late 1800's and that was in Kabuki Theatre, kinda by accident.  Traditional Kabuki theatre used stagehands dressed in all black (head to toe) for scene changes during the plays.  The audience learned to ignore those dressed in black and focus on the rest of the show.  When one group wanted to portray a ghost for part of the show it was decided to try and use one of the stagehands to move the props.  It was received with wonder and delight.  The idea stuck and eventually grew into mystical spirits often used for paranormal or covert acts within the plays.

From there it gets really odd.  After the World Wars Japan was suddenly open to the rest of the world.  Many saw new opportunities, and some of those who saw this were absolutely brilliant.  What better way to entice the world than to offer "mystical secrets" never before available to anyone but those lucky enough to be born into them?  Talk about a marketing strategy!  Pure genius!  This is one of the many reasons nobody, and I mean nobody is ever allowed to view the Densho.  

This does not mean the Ninja schools of today don't have anything useful to offer.  Many do.  Many don't.  Just like all martial arts styles.

The typical schools/ryu trained in Ninja arts:

1. Seishin Teki Kyoyo (Spiritual Refinement)

2. Tai Jutsu (Unarmed Combat)

3. Ninja Ken (Ninja Sword)

4. Bo-Jutsu (Stick and Staff Fighting)

5. Shuriken-Jutsu (Throwing Blades)

6. Yari-Jutsu (Spear Fighting)

7. Naginata-Jutsu (Halberd Fighting)

8. Kusari-Gama (Chain and Sickle Weapon)

9. Kayaku-Jutsu (Fire and Explosives)

10. Henso-Jutsu (Disguise and Impersonation)

11. Shinobi-Iri (Stealth and Entering Methods)

12. Ba-Jutsu (Horsemanship)

13. Sui-Ren (Water Training)

14. Bo-Ryaku (Strategy)

15. Cho Ho (Espionage)

16. Inton-Jutsu (Escape and Concealment)

17. Ten-Mon (Meteorology)

18. Chi-Mon (Geography)

and the Samurai arts:

1. Kenjutsu (Swordmanship)

2. Battojutsu (Sword Drawing)

3. Sojutsu (Spear Fighting)

4. Naginatajutsu (Naginata Fighting)

5. Kyujutsu (Archery)

6. Kyuba (Mounted Archery)

7. Suijutsu, specifically To-suijutsu (Swimming)

8. Bōjutsu (Stick Fighting)

9. Nagamono (Polearm Fighting)

10. Torimono Dougu (Arresting Weapons) Weapons used by Japan's Feudal Police to contain or arrest someone without harming them.

11. Kakushi Buki Jutsu (Hidden Weapons) Small, easily-concealed, hand-held weaponry used for emergency self-protection, such as brass knuckles etc.

12. Jujutsu (Unarmed Combat)

13. Shurikenjutsu (Blade Throwing)

14. Hojutsu (Musketry)

15. Jouhou Kaishuu (Information Gathering)

16. Chikujou (Fortifications)

17. Angou (Signaling)

18. Jinei/Heihou (Strategy and Tactics)

Answer 11

Lol you can take the art but you can never be a real Ninja, the era of the Ninja is over.

Answer 12

From what I've seen, I think most of them do bullshido...

Answer 13

Nah you guys mean:

1. Jujitsu

2. Iaido

3. Tanto-jutsu

3. Chinese nun chucks

4. Some tree climbing

5. Ashida Kim and his 1960's Acid trip writings

6. Maybe some Kyudo

7. At home Chemistry Kit ( for poison powders - very illegal I might add )

8. A blow dart gun ( that you never really ever use )

9. A black ninja uniform ( cause it looks really cool at night time? )

10. A utility belt because bat man had one

11. Chinese throwing Stars

12. A collapsable naginata

Basically just a mixed martial arts art form from the sounds of it....and a load of Ashida Kim's bullshido obviously.  Although I will give credit to that Ninjitsu academy in Ohio for it's practical ninjitsu system.  Who the h**l would take pride in being a face covering cowardly hitman though in all honesty?  Especially since we're talking about actual history and never mind volumes one and two.  I mean real history and how the Japanese regarded the Ninja as cowards.

My street chucks beat your ninja skills any day. check out http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseac... and scroll down to street techniques ( chucks ) for some real skills my little teenage mutant ninja turtle friends.

Answer 14

we do ninjitsu