Ninjutsu

The ninjutsu (忍術 , ''ninjutsu''^?), also known as shinobi-jutsu, and as ninpō (忍法, ''ninpō''^?), is the Japanese martial art of espionage and guerilla warfare.

This martial art is based on groups of techniques and tactics (classically considered 20, mentioned below) that have supposedly been used by ninjas for centuries. The first data on the use of ninjas on the battlefield date from the V century, which gives us a idea of the antiquity of this style of fighting, which was complemented by the learning of many useful skills for espionage, such as characterization or falsification of documents, as well as certain esoteric practices derived from Mikkyo, Japanese esoteric Buddhism.

With the arrival of Oda Nobunaga, the ninja were persecuted in an attempt to stop their growing influence and power. Although this caused some ninja clans to spread throughout Japan having to flee from Iga. Already in the 17th century, they were used for the last time in a massive way in the Christian revolt of Kyushu in 1637. In the middle and end of the Edo period, the decline in the use of shinobi begins, given the long period of peace established by the family Tokugawa. Between the 17th and 19th centuries, the use of ninja mercenaries was legally prohibited, causing them to be used clandestinely and on a small scale.

In the 20th century, Japan used ninjutsu as a way of training its elite troops.^{[citation needed]} However, they were regular troops with special training, without being able to consider them true ninjas. The last real record on the use of ninja by the Japanese government dates from the Second World War (1939-1945).

The internationalization of Ninjutsu comes from the hands of master Masaaki Hatsumi, heir to nine ancient Japanese martial traditions (Ryu), including three of ninja origin, and six of samurai origin. Within his organization, the so-called Bujinkan.

In the USA at the beginning of the 80s, master Kim Ashida and master Harunaka Hoshino of the Ninja Empire Harunaka Hoshino actively participate in the development and dissemination of the art at the same time as Bujinkan Ninjutsu with Stephen Hayes. Master Frank Dux belonging to the American Koga ryu Ninjutsu (current Dux ryu) was one of the most active instructors in making this martial art known. It was the actor and martial artist Jean Claude Van Damme who starred in the film in 1980 that recounts the participation of the ninja Frank Dux in some martial arts championships.

Martial art

Currently, ninjutsu is limited to the use of blows, joint dislocations, throws, knockdowns and the use of traditional weapons; seeking to train the individual, in a similar way to the set of modern traditional martial arts or current gendai budo (such as Judo, Aikido, karate-Do, Kendo, etc.) Although at the highest levels of this discipline they are performed very exclusive seminars in Japan about its psychological and esoteric aspects, the use of poisons and explosives.

Actually, ancient ninjutsu cannot be considered just another traditional martial art; in the classic sense of the term, since the disciplines that the ninja had to know went far beyond fighting techniques or combat with and without weapons. As has already been said, the practice of Ninpo Mikkyo, or esoteric practices, and Kuji-kiri (nine-syllable cut, mystical positions with the fingers that channel energy), which legendarily provided the ninja with amazing powers, were studied. obligatory for the ninja clans, who preferred tactics of terror and espionage, much more subtle than the classic bujutsu or martial art of the samurai.

However, it is a frequent historical error to consider the combat techniques of the ninja and the samurai warrior conceptually separated, since the former are an evolution or adaptation of the latter (according to certain authors). Perhaps because of the film industry and erroneous documentaries, the ninja tends to be considered the enemy of the samurai, when reality points to a possible symbiosis that would place them in closer communion. Let us note that many ninja leaders were also renowned samurai, who hid their clandestine status as indicated by tradition; and even many ninja served as spies, and informants to different feudal clans; serving on rare occasions as assassins.

Coinage of the term Shinobi or ninja

Some say it was Prince Shotoku Taishi who appointed shinobi a great intelligence-gathering strategist. Shi means doer, No which is an expert and Bi which is read as information and from there the term seems to have been derived. ^{[citation required]}

The 20 disciplines of ninjutsu (ninja no bugei ju happan)

Classical ninja training contemplates, at least historically, the learning of twenty disciplines:

1. Taijutsu: Body handling; movements, displacement and disarmed combat.
2. Kenjutsu: sable fencing, including ninjato or shinobigatana.
3. Bojutsu: fighting techniques with batons of different types or sizes.
4. Hanbojutsu: art of fighting with a staff.
5. Shurikenjutsu: launch, manipulation and combat with cutting elements.
6. Kusarijutsu: chain management, used to use the Kusarigama, a Japanese hoz with chain and counterweight at the end or the Kusarifundo, an extremely long chain.
7. Sôjutsu: spear handling.
8. Naginatajutsu: use of Naginata, sort of alabard in the form of a curved sword with a very long asta.
9. Bajutsu: horse riding, fighting and riding techniques.
10. Kuji Kiri: esoteric positions of hands, which were said to give the ninja superhuman skills.
11. Suijutsu: swimming, fighting, fighting and water techniques.
12. Kayakujutsu: manufacture and use of gunpowders and explosives.
13. Bo Ryaku/Kyojutsu Tenkan Ho: strategy of deception by exchanging the true and the false.
14. Cho Ho: espionage.
15. Shinobi Iri: concealment and camouflage (in all types of outdoor and indoor climates and environments).
16. Inton Jutsu: infiltration.
17. Henso Jutsu: characterization, interpretation and costumes.
18. Ten Mon: meteorology.
19. Chi Mon: geography.
20. Sixhin Teki Kyoyo: spiritual development.

In contrast, the eighteen skills of the samurai bujutsu were as follows:

1. Taijutsu: Fight without weapons.
2. Kenjutsu or Kendo: Use of the Kathana or sable of bamboo (shinai).
3. Iai Nuki or Battojutsu: unravel and cut with the sword.
4. Kusarijutsu: Chain fighting, we return to the example of the Kusarigama.
5. Bojutsu: battle with canes.
6. Yarijutsu: Battle with Lanza
7. Naginatajutsu: use of Naginata, sort of alabard in the form of a curved sword with a very long asta. It is rather for the wives of the samurai, for it is not common for them to use it.
8. Kyokuten: combat in extreme environments.
9. Suitonjutsu: swimming, water concealment methods and use rationed water.
10. Bajutsu: techniques for horse riding and fighting.
11. Hanbojutsu: art of fighting with a staff.
12. Yajutsu: archery techniques.
13. Yoroi Kumi-Uchi: combat using armor.
14. Hojojutsu: string techniques, it could be said that they are binding techniques.
15. Juttejutsu: combat using Jutte.
16. Saiminjutsu: illusions (illusionisms and prestidigitation).
17. Shurikenjutsu: Shuriken launch techniques, is not common for a samurai.
18. Sixhin Teki Kyoyo: spiritual development.

As you can see, ninja skills are a refinement, or if you want a specialization, of understanding the samurai art of warfare. This brings us closer to an interrelation between the ninja and the samurai, which, far from being similar to the one presented in the cinematography, perhaps points towards an osmosis, both at the level of knowledge, tactics and strategy, and even of human beings. Not surprisingly, famous samurai were at the same time prominent ninjas from famous clans, and vice versa. Even several ancient schools of clearly noble tradition, that is, samurai, included ninjutsu within their program, both regarding technique and the aforementioned tactics and strategy.^{[citation required]}

The Ninja Art would be complemented with other knowledge typical of modern field agents, such as first aid, orientation, very particular knowledge of food, techniques for walking and moving in silence or transporting the wounded, the use of hidden or camouflaged weapons (the so-called Kakushi Buki, and ultimately everything that was useful for their work).

Ninja outfit (shinobi gi or shinobi shuzoku)

The various schools of Nin Jutsu that exist today mostly use a black or dark blue keikogi. Despite popular belief, the traditional black hooded outfit of the ninja of folklore is just a popular concept, derived from the clothing worn by kabuki stagehands, to blend in with the dark colored background. The utility of such clothing to remain inconspicuous was syncretically assimilated as part of the ninja's attire in Japanese folklore.

Styles

Among the best-known schools or «Ryu» (it is believed that in Japan there are a few more reserved only for Japanese) worldwide are Bujinkan by Maasaki Hatsumi (by far the most widespread), Genbukan by Shoto Tanemura and Jinenkan by Manaka Usui, among others. In Japan, the teacher Jinichi Kawakami is recognized as the official representative and heir of the Iga and Koga schools.^{[citation required]}