Ninjutsu is a Japanese martial art that does not have a sporting or competitive nature, since it is a set of combat techniques that were formerly used in military confrontation.
It is characterized by a wide range of skills: striking techniques with the hands, handling of clubs, spears and darts, use of explosives and poisons, knowledge of meteorology and geography, espionage strategies and camouflage methods. Those who developed the art of ninjutsu were the famous ninja warriors.
While the samurai behaved according to a strict code of honor or bushido, the ninjas were experts in dirty warfare.
In the Middle Ages the so-called warlords or Daimyo maintained constant territorial disputes. In this context, the most valued elite warriors were the samurai, who were characterized by their prowess in combat and by their strict code of honor that prevented them from any type of foul play. In the popular classes another totally different type of warrior emerged, the ninjas. For a ninja there are no moral rules that must be respected, but the important thing is to defeat the enemy at any cost.
In addition to their skills in ninjutsu, they know how to infiltrate the ranks of the enemy, how to manipulate information, and how to camouflage themselves.
It could be said that they are warriors and spies at the same time. In the ninja ranks there were also female warriors and they were known as kunoichis. His training focused on the knowledge of espionage techniques and the preparation of poisons, since it was understood that seduction and feminine beauty combined with some knowledge could be lethal weapons for war.
Between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries, the Japanese authorities stopped using ninjas as highly skilled soldiers and ninjutsu became a clandestine and secret activity. However, during World War II this martial art was recovered and was used for the training of elite troops. In the western world ninja warriors became known in the 1960s and eventually became fictional characters for the Hollywood industry.
In Japan there are schools of ninjutsu and they are known by the name of Bujinkan
Ancient ninjutsu techniques employed by ninjas have been adapted to times of peace. In the Japanese Bujinkan schools, the martial art of ninjutsu is understood as a physical and mental training aimed at self-protection and self-control.
In Bujinkan schools, other traditional Japanese martial arts are also practiced, such as judo, kendo and some modalities related to military techniques for combat. However, there are no conventional competitions between practitioners. The founder of the Bujinkan schools is Grand Master Masaaki Hatsumi, a deep connoisseur of the true history of the ninjas.
Photos: Fotolia - Guilherme Yukio / Steinar
