Book Description
In feudal Japan, ninja warriors were credited with supernatural powers of invisibility and ways of learning any secret. They also were feared for their skill in espionage and assassination. Behind these legends is the reality of an ancient, sophisticated, highly systematic martial art: ninjutsu. Perhaps the least understood martial art of Japan, ninjutsu emphasizes naturalness of movement, responsiveness to one's adversary, and total practicality. Women as well as men were trained in this obscure deadly art. As its form crystallized, practitioners established an organized system for maintaining absolute secrecy. Now, all aspects of ninjutsu are revealed in this remarkable book written by the first American trained as a ninja.
Customer Reviews:
Great First Book.......2007-05-04
This is a good introduction the the Ninja's Taijutsu and AnShu's first experience.
Great book from the first Weatern Master of Ninjutsu.......2006-11-05
A must-have book to any martial arts student or researcher.
Hayes own Experience and Introduction to Ninpo as an Art.......2006-05-02
This was the first book on ninpo I read as a youth. Thankfully, I believe it did a lot to innoculate me against much of the...other stuff out there claiming to be "ninjutsu". Author Stephen K. Hayes actually was proficient in Karate (3rd dan), running a dojo in Atlanta, Georgia before hanging up everything and flying off to Japan to find Masaaki Hatsumi, a Ninja historian and one of the few holders of a legitimate titles of proficiency in traditional Japanese martial arts associated with the ninja of Old Japan.
In Noda City, Hayes meets Master Teacher Hatsumi, and the two discuss martial arts. At one point Hayes is discussing the intricacies of a particular kata (form), when Hatsumi shows an exact imitation of it. For the first time Hayes is struck by the stiffness of the movements.
During their initial meeting, in a discussion concerning the varied physical aspects of Taijutsu in Ninpo, Hatsumi describes making use of striking as well as locking techniques, when Hayes interjects, "Like karate and Judo combined". Hayes ruminates on how his original assumptions probably appeared to Hatsumi a lot like "...comparing ninjutsu to wine tasting and insect collecting" (page 40). What sets this book apart from others is the personal tone, the recounting of actual experiences and situations Hayes encountered. He does his darndest to paint a true picture and keep grandstanding and ego out of the picture.
This is not an repetitive pedantic self help book (thankfully!). Hayes telling of his various encounters in ninjutsu training, with the Grandmaster and other teachers and students in Japan, and Japanese culture--new and old, are the best teaching tools.
Hayes went on to return to the United States and pioneer the legitimate teaching of Ninjutsu. Whether you practice martial arts or not, this book is an eye opening experience, a real education.
Great history, philosophy, stories and photos........2005-11-19
This is one of the first books that I read about ninjutsu back in the day as a teenager and it still is fun to pull off the shelf and skip around. It recounts Hayes's first encounter with Hatsumi, his finding himself being one of the few non-Japanese to study the art before the big ninja boom of the 80s when everything got so stupid in the public's eye, the brutality of early training under Hatsumi, some recollections of unconventional training and a few demonstrations of techniques. There are also many great photos from the old school, which you may find as interesting as I do.
I would highly recommend Hatsumi's "Secrets form the Grandmaster" recently re-issued, "Essence of Ninjutsu", as well as a highly illustrated, if also slightly inaccurate text by Lewis on the subject entitled "Ninja".
Below you will read many reviews that tear the book up for not being clear, not teaching enough, etc. Fine. But how much can a person learn about movement from a book unless they already know how to move? Same goes for fighting. So dismiss those reviews as not understanding the point of the text. Then of course there is the person who suggests the Ashida Kim books are the real deal and that the techniques of Hatsumi and Hayes are "too weak". Well, anyone can do bad Japanese karate in a black uniform with a mask while holding exotic weapons and call it ninjutsu, but that is not the case with the legitimate instruction of the Bujinkan. If soft equals weak, then that's enough said. But for those with eyes to see and ears to hear, the truth is evident. Moreover, I would suspect that those who have ever trained with Hayes or Hatsumi in person would not say such things, at least the pain in their body would tell them they are lying!
Full perspective on Ninja.......2003-12-23
With sensitivity, Hayes gives readers a clear
explanation of Ninja history, society, weaponry,
and spiritual practice. I appreciated his detailed
explanation of the mental training of ninjutsu.
Highly recommended.
Book Description
A Ninja was someone whose very existence expressed the spirit of Budo. He would protect himself with techniques not of assassination but rather of sensation and an acute awareness of his natural surroundings. He would avoid unnecessary conflict, and even if armed with a blade, would find a way
to win without staining it. These are the true techniques of Ninjutsu, and the art in which Ninja persistently trained.
Ninja exercised endurance throughout their secretive lives in order to protect their families, their clans, and their country. Their harsh training endowed them with a tough but pliant spirit, and martial skills suitable for coping with any situation, together with a sense of awareness that had
universal application.
Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi, Ph. D, is the most famous Ninja grandmaster in the world today. In this book, he explains the essence, truth, and wisdom of Ninjutsu, an art of a thousand forms and innumerable variations. Through perceptive observations and many detailed pictures, the author reveals the hidden
reality behind this mysterious and fascinating martial art. The Way of the Ninja will help widen readers' perceptions and deepen their understanding of two essential principles. One is that Ninjutsu is the very backbone of the martial arts; the other, that Ninjutsu reveals their true spiritual
significance.
Customer Reviews:
Best book about Ninjutsu on the market.......2007-08-16
Masaaki Hatsumi is without a doubt the most advanced master of Ninjutsu alive.
This book tries to give you a better understanding of the ideas behind this art (it cannot be called sport).
It doesn`t teach you real techniques, but no book could ever do that, but will help you to seperate the movie-nonsense from reality and hopefully encourages you to start practicing this wonderful art yourself, as I am doing for years now.
Great Book.......2007-07-23
I've been a practioner in the Bujinkan since 1992. If you study this art then you will understand the movements that you see shown. You'll be able to make the leap and know what is actually going in the pictures. As far as philosphy goes, its the Boss's art. The Boss has been dealing with the negative Hollywood Image for years and this book explains his opinion and his knowledge on the subject of Ninjutsu. No one knows this subject better than him. If you want to believe Hollywood, Turnbell, and all the rest, then go ahead. Or believe what the Boss is talking about. Its really your choice.
Another great Kodansha publication!.......2007-02-17
Incredibly crisp photos, tons of information about ninpo taijutsu, impressive jacket, everything you could want. Kodansha publications might cost a little more, but I think they're worth every cent. If you have an interest in ninpo, jujutsu, taijutsu or koryu arts in general, be sure to pick this up.
An Absolute Must!.......2006-10-14
If you are a practioner in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu then you absolutely must own this book. Among some of the topics covered are the kihon happo, myths, and more.
Good book..........2006-06-08
There are three reasons to read this book:
- The Philosophy
- The History
- The Techniques
In terms of the first two, this is a great book. There are a lot of great insights into budo, aspects of shinobi, and even in being. The history, along with images of the equipment worn and used and their explanations are probably the best I've found in any book.
Now, that said, and where this book lacks, is in the techniques. Don't misunderstand, the techniques themselves are fantastic... That is, if you learn them from a qualified instructor. If not, you won't be able to make out the moves at all. Images are often blurry and very often are out of order.
All in all, this is a great book on the teachings of the Bujinkan. While I can't personally vouch for the truth in relation to the classical ninja, I am personally willing to accept that, seeing as how Dr. Hatsumi is Soke of Togakure-ryu and eight other systems, he has authority behind his words.
For the record, I study ninjutsu under a Bujinkan certified instructor, so that may colour my opinions a bit.
Book Description
More than 1,000 years ago, the people of Iga, the mountainous region of Japan, were forced to rise up against their merciless Samurai oppressors. Out of this struggle, nine traditions of the ninja arts grew. The ninjas' strength enabled the mind to believe it was the master of its fate. This power is known as ninjitsu.
In his groundbreaking books Knights of Darkness and Mind Manipulation, Dr. Haha Lung has shown the ultimate power of controlling the mind of your enemy. In The Nine Halls of Death he reveals the mystical power of overcoming your opponent's body through the Japanese art of ninjitsu. Dr. Lung reveals the secret to mastering all nine "halls" (training areas) of the ninja; from unarmed combat and combat with various weapons to the mental crafts of stealth and spying.
Dr. Lung guides you through such invaluable ninjitsu techniques as:
- The art of disguise; physical and mental discipline
- The Seventh Hall; the art of Espionage
- Mastering self and others through hand yoga (kuji-kiri) and upsetting balance (in-yo-jutsu)
- The art of mysticism (which include memory enhancement, visualization, and even self-hypnosis).
By unlocking the ancient secrets of the masters, the modern fighter will learn to unleash the warrior within and discover the magical point where physical mastery melds with mental clarity.
Customer Reviews:
Those two stars are for the reviews.......2003-04-22
I don't plan on buying this book, while I have looked through it at a Borders some time back. However, it should be said that, while the arguments against aren't entirely disuasive, the supporting argumens aren't at all persuasive! Katas are a time honored tradition FOR A REASON; they build muscle memory in coherent patterns that both lead to understanding of how patterns go together and are sometimes useful unmodified in the progress of a real fight. Second, no fighting system that centers around "Nut Crunching" is comprehensive enough to be of any use against a streetwise fighter. Look elsewhere; I certainly will.
go read a stephen k hayes book instead.......2003-01-12
You would be better off reading stephen K hayes 5 book series on the ninja. I got this as a gift when I was in jr. high and even then i knew i had read better. Admittedly there is nothing in the diagrams wrong enough to get you killed but i think the whole "off the highway" concept can only be shown in motion. Otherwise your balance will fail you. And no vigilate stuff this book refers to either.
Suckered in Again.......2002-12-28
This book provides little help in navigating the mean streets of any cities. Why the author took it upon himself to draw the pictures himself is beyond me. This book is cartoony, and pretty much a waste of money. I regret having bought this book, but what can you do? Instead of buying this, get something on a tangible martial art (not karate or tae kwon do), enter that class, and then work on it. But don't buy this book. Please, don't buy this book.
A very complete book on self-defense.......2002-09-23
Most martial arts today focus on forms(katas etc.), respect and teaching good sportsmanship. All of which are nowhere to be found when someone has to fight for real! This book teaches there's no such thing as "dirty fighting" when your life is in danger. It also teaches versatility and how to use your mind as the greatest of tools. It suggests relaxation, visualisation and meditation exercises which is one of the best aspect of the book. A panicked mind will get you killed where a trained and relaxed mind will easily find the attacker's weaknesses and exploit them. Ninjas have a cheesy reputation because of bad movies but they were very down-to-earth and quick to adapt. Their fighting style reflects this. This is a very good book except for the "burning down the local crackhouse" parts. BUY IT!
Nut Cracker.......2001-12-08
Wow, this book is great. One thing, this book is all about people getting hit in the private area! They show the steps of elbowing the "private parts", kneeing the "private parts", kicking the "private parts", and biting the "private parts." This book is awesome! Everyone should get it, it is the ancient way of fighting. [ The Ancient Art Of Street Ninja ]
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!
Book Description
Fun, accessible introduction to the world of the ninja. Ninjutsu is an arsenal of martial arts moves--and also a set of methods for surviving in the wild, accupressure, meditation, diet and exercise. Japan's legendary spies spring to life in hundreds of full color photographs of a Ninja's home with all its tricks and traps; Ninja codes and secret languages; ingenious weapons and gadgets; techniques for stealth, fighting dirty, and making getaways; Ninja navigation.
Customer Reviews:
A Book of Ninja Photos - Yet A Photo Can Speak A Thousand Words.......2005-11-27
At first glance Secrets of the Ninja appears to be just an interesting picture book. And... it certainly is that, every page is filled with professional color photographs depicting some aspect of ninjutsu.
Although the photographs are all captioned, there is only a limited amount of actual text in the book. But, it has been said that a picture can be worth a thousand words, and in the case of Secrets of the Ninja that turns out to be the case.
The photograph series show many things, from how to write in the ninja's secret alphabet, to techniques for fighting with a length of rope, to how to make a compass using a candle and a sewing needle. We even find a recipe for `ninja tofu'.
Secrets of the Ninja reveals no great secrets, but it is still a well-done, though very basic reference to the training, tools, and techniques of the ninja.
This is a great book for children that have an interest in the martial arts and ninjutsu, and not too bad for adults with like interests.
This book is Great!.......2004-03-19
This really is a great book, for the begginer. It is loaded with information on weapons, the history of the ninja(I'm not sure how accurate it is, I'm not an expert.), and the life style of the ninja. This book is great but teaches little technique and kind of has a childish tone, that might just be me, but it is still awesome. if you want to learn some more technique then I suggest; Stephen Hayes, Ashida Kim, And
Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi. If you want the most basic information, and basic technique, then get this book. I gurantee you will read it over, and over again. Lot's of fun, and very informative.
Ninja Trickery.......2004-02-13
Secrets of the Ninja is a wonderful (but a bit thin) book about the techniques of the ninja, the mysterious subclass of the samurai. This book is a delightful read, but talks more about the techniques the ninja used than what they actully were. With interesting information about how ninja told time, ninja exercises, tools, ninja moves and more, this book is for the slightly interested American, not a person who already knows tons of information about ninjutsu. Falling into the first catagory, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It will keep you laughing till the end, but has only 90 or so pages, so dont expect that much. Most of this book was pictures, which many people probably like. All in all, this book was very interesting and not at all dense. I cant really say whether it is worth your money or not, because it really depends on the person.
Average customer rating:
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Ninja: The True Story of Japan's Secret Warrior Cult
Stephen Turnbull
Manufacturer: Caxton Editions
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1840674326 |
Customer Reviews:
An illustrated history of the fascinating Ninja.......2004-10-12
There are a few things everyone knows about Ninjas. They wear black costumes. They are sneaky, almost able to be invisible. They uses an arsenal of strange and interesting weapons. But is any of that the truth?
While not everything I would want it to be, Steven Turnbull has done an admirable job bringing together the known historical facts and the wild fictional fantasies of the Japanese warrior known as the Ninja. "Ninja: The True Story of Japan's Secret Warrior Cult" is very small, 150 pages, many of which are stuffed with illustrations, leaving not much room for a thorough exploration of the Ninja mysteries. The format is almost "coffee table" style, being a larger sized format. Although it doesn't leave as much room for text as one would wish, the book has a stunning collection of old Ninja-related Japanese artwork, from full-color reproductions of Ukiyo-e woodblock prints to small black and white pornographic scenes of ninjas produced in cheap books of the time.
The meat of the work is found in the first eight chapters, detailing the history of what we have come to know as Ninja, although at the time known primarily as Shinobi. Pure history is obviously Turnbull's specialty, as he details the rise of the use of stealth skills in combat in Japan, primarily in terms of castle-breaking, where Shinobi would scale the walls of an enemy castle at night and set first to it from the inside, forcing the panicked population to retreat from the burning structure and into the swords of the Samurai waiting outside. He shows the establishment of Ninja clans at Iga and Ueno, who would rent out their military services, a shockingly dishonorable practice at the time, and engage in activities thought unsuitable for Samurai. This is followed by the eventual destruction of these Ninja clans by the Tokugawa armies, and the dispersion of their skills into general Japanese armies.
The book's main weakness lies in the ability to interpret these historical facts in light of the modern view of the Ninja. Turnbull shows the development of the stereotypical black Ninja costume in the illustrations, but doesn't comment on whether the Iga or Ueno Ninja clans ever actually employed this outfit. There is some attempt at rationalizing the "Hollywood" version of the Ninja with the historical, but all in all the book merely skims over this fascinating area, remaining basically a Ninja-history book with a few token attempts at acknowledging the present. I would really like to see the evolution of the Ninja from the dishonorable castle-breaker to the black-clad superhero of today. How did it happen? Is there any truth at all to the modern image of the Ninja? These kinds of questions go largely unanswered.
As a straight history book with a top-class collection of old Ninja artwork, "Ninja: The True Story of Japan's Secret Warrior Cult" succeeds. However, when looking for some historical analysis, or unique insight on the part of the author towards the Ninja, then the book is not satisfying. While not much has been accurately written on the Ninja, this is definitely not a definitive text. But it is better than much of what is out there.
The Historical Ninja.......2002-12-29
For the first time, westerners are able to read a detailed history of the various groups of Japanese fighters, spies, and assassins collectivly known as ninja. Turnbull is a detailed historian, known for many works on Japanese warfare. THis book is no exception to his high standard of quality.
Drawing on personal research and a familiarity with the primary sources, Turnbull weaves an exciting tale.
Great illustrations. I was, however, suprised that he didn't make more of Hastumi Masaaki. I understnad that Hatsumi is not albe to produce written documentation for all of his nine ryu, but it seemed odd that his is only mentioned in passing a few times. Nonetheless, Hatsumi does write the forward, so I shouldnt read into things.
Turnbull's "Samurai Warrior" is aslo outstanding with some of the best art I have ever seen!
Very Informative: Pure History and Ground for Analysis.......2001-09-20
For the time being, this is the only book on the historical examination of ninja and their place in Japanese history, their origin, development and roles. Readers will find out in which province ninjutsu originated (starting with as far back in history as ninja's Chinese ancestors), analysis of the term "ninja" and its synonims, how ninjutsu developed including analysis of it as art and as social phenomena (clans and loyalties), famous revolts of ninja in the province of Iga and cruel campaign of Nobunaga against ninja.
A reader should keep in mind one very important thing - this subject is very difficult study because of lack of historical reference. However, Dr. Turnbull does an amazing job of analysis of all variety of Japanese language sources including legends and historical transcripts. I have had the feeling that having done this, the author gives this as it is (more or less so) to the reader, so the reader has to complete the analysis. While this type of presentation of the material may present problem to some readers, I was flattered by the thought that this book was mostly oriented towards thinking/analysing reader.
A flipside of such approach is that the author consdiers many forms of open military (like, for example, trained sharpshooters of Shimazu clan left behind retreating troops to take out enemy generals) and "dark side" (spies and assasins) actions and puts them together labelling all as "ninja". However, this approach also pays letting a sophisticated reader to "sort out" for himself.
I highly recommend this book for anybody interested in Japanese military history and history of special units and techniques.
Truth is stranger than fiction.......2001-07-07
Any book that claims to be "The True Story" has to be taken with a certain amount of sketimism but skeptics beware, there is an awful lot of documentation in this book. The moderen legends regarding the ninja are steeped in historical evidence dating back hundreds of years. Super powers have been attributed to the ninja for at least three centuries. The book begins with an excellent and concise introduction of the authors intent. Much information was gathered for this book and extensive research was compiled by Turnbull. Whereas the samurai is a known part of the history of Japan the ninja is schrouded in mysticim, espionage, guerrilla warfare, assassinations and even magic. The ninja was involved in the covert actions of the military and the the most powerful families who vowed for power. Turnbull begins with the ninja in historical terms, including it's roots from the Chinese language and continues with concrete examples of the exploits of some of the most legendary ninjutsu or those possessing ninja knowledge and skills. Miltary historical information is given throughout and there are pictures and illustrations but what is missing is the fine illustrations of James Field who he has teamed up with before. I think Fields illustrations would have made the book better, more visually exciting and less dry. Turnbull gives scholarly detail to his writing to let the reader decide for himself whether it is truth or fiction. An example of this is how a well documented story relates when a great daimyo or warlord was assassinated while using the toilet. Accounts vary but the ninja version states that an assassin or ninja concealed himself in the sewage pit and thrust a sword at the critical moment up the daimyo's anus. Ouch!! Turnbull gives various detailed accounts of this same incident and it seems he did die while using the toilet but some accounts say he later dies by some other complications from using the toilet. There is even an acount of a ninja assassination by an "angry ghost". The reader is left to decipher fact from fiction but nonetheless it is a fascinating read. Recommended for all interested in Japanese military history or stories and anecdotes about ninjas.
Reads too much like a government history book.......1999-09-04
An excellent book for factual research, but it is written dryly
Book Description
Michelangelo gets a cat for his birthday! But Splinter will not let him keep it. The Turtles decide to keep it anyway, and when Splinter finds out their secret, they find that he has a secret as well.
Customer Reviews:
cute.......2007-09-11
The story was cute. I bought this book for my nephew, and when he starts to read he will love being able to read about his favoirte turtles over and over again.
Product Description
Choose from 29 possible endings in this 144 page book with 35 black and white illustrations! Perfect for both boys and girls. Ages: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Manufacturer: Marlon Creations
Customer Reviews:
Ends too quick.......2005-08-10
This book ends far too quickly. The first time we read it, we didn't even get three choices before it was over. We went back and took a different turn only to find the same thing. No matter which way you went, the ending came too quick. The story would be good if the author wasn't in a rush to type 'THE END" over and over.
I must say it was pretty good.......2001-03-01
Yeah. I just checked this out at my local library and i must say it was exciting and action packed. I think i remember you vist you friend or the other way around and ninjas try to kidnap u and all that good stuff.
Average customer rating:
- FAKE NINJA GARBAGE
- Secret Guide to Making Ninja Weapons
- INCREDIBLE READ: Everyone into self-defense should buy this!
- Ninjutsu -- the Art of the Silent Way
- A pretty good read
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Secret Guide to Making Ninja Weapons (B-102)
Yamashiro Toshitora
Manufacturer: Butokukai
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 9994291319 |
Customer Reviews:
FAKE NINJA GARBAGE.......2005-03-06
This book is disgustingly bad and a good way to get yourself killed or arrested. This book was written during the ninja boom of the 80's by a karatedoka(note his use of the word "koga" people from the region of Shiga which is the modern name for that area use a different pronunciation, the "koga" spelling is used by people who know nothing about the area or its inhabitants) donning a fake Japenese name and black pajamas to jump on the band wagon. Not only is 99% of the info in this book inaccurate, but making weapons is a very specific skill that takes decades of training. This book exists for geographically disadvataged or lazy children who don't want to find a real ninja related school(bujinkan, genbukan,jinenkan) to live out fantasies. Save your money don't buy this book and maybe save up for a real martial arts class
Secret Guide to Making Ninja Weapons.......2003-02-01
This book is very great!!! I gave ths book to one of my students as a Birthday present. We both together tried some things out!!! We made several different very effective weapons.
Quite a bit of shuriken, nunchaku, yari, tetsubishi, and ninja-to. They do work out very effective!!! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who needs weapons to practice or whatever, and cannot afford ones in magazines. Also, I do agree that these weapons if made correctly, are of much better
quality than the manufactured. This book gives you step-by-step
directions, how to measure the weapon correctly, temper and heat the blades, also what kind of material to use. Both Traditional and some modernized versions. It has everything from the Ninja-To, Tanto, Shuriken, Yari, Nunchaku, Tetsubishi,
Kusari-gama, Kusari-fundo, Kyoketsu-shoge, etc.
Also, some more exotic examples of some of these weapons.
Again, I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in making ninja weapons as a career, or if you need a fast way to get practice equipment, or collect them, etc.
I hope you all will like this book as we have!!! Good Luck!!!
INCREDIBLE READ: Everyone into self-defense should buy this!.......2001-11-25
First of all I have made many of the weapons in this book and they indeed are effective. Shurikens "throwing-stars", blowguns, darts, and caltrops, just to name a few. His knowledge on the subject is oustanding. If you are interested in making traditional, yet inexpensive weapons this is the book. It gives tips on which metals to use, how to temper the metals and how to sharpen and care for your weapons. I have a lot of praise for this book, and with good reason. I hope this has been of good use to the readers of this review. Buy it you will not be disapointed!
Ninjutsu -- the Art of the Silent Way.......2001-04-23
The tidbits of history that accompany most of the weapon instructions and in the Forward are educational and interesting.
The Samurai were the wealthy warriors of feudal Japan. Throughout the history of the world, we see the powerful subjugating the weak. To combat this, the Koga Ninja, who were the poor farmers and could be put to death for owning any kind of weaponry, became the black clad secretive, silent Ninja. These warriors learned to create weapons from whatever material was available -- wherever they were; often hiding them in many different stashes around the farms.
Their weapons had to be inexpensive, easy to make, and disposable if the need arose. This is one of the most important factors in the weapon designs from the Koga Ninja. Why? "Concern for losing a weapon might cause one to hesitate, and at that moment of hesitation might cost the Ninja his or her life." (Toshitora Yamashiro, Forward to "Secret Guide to Making Ninja Weapons.")
All weapons are extremely dangerous. The black and white photographs of Ninjas holding the weapons, and of these lethal tools, show how to carry, defend, or attack with them. These weapons have the ability to maim or kill the Ninja warrior who is practicing if they are used incorrectly.
It is imperative for a Ninjutsu to study under a master. Do not take the patterns and create weapons that you do not have the skills or knowledge to use. The Master teaches how to use each weapon, and the concentration, dedication, and spiritual growth required for a true Ninja.
I cannot stress the need for training enough.
.... The photographs of Ninja, information about the various weapons, the metallurgy, searching junkyards for components, and the patterns and directions to make them are the details that add veracity to fiction, fantasy, and history books; they allow the reader to suspend disbelief and trust the writer.
Why would a warrior choose a To or Tanto instead of a Yari?
The To, approximately thirty-six inches long, is a sword. It is the weapon that no Koga Ninja would be without; this means if a Ninja had to abandon the To in the process of completing a mission and escape, it would be the first weapon that was created when he or she had found safety.
The Tanto is the assassin's dagger. This sharp blade was designed to penetrate armor and is often painted for camouflage, as are many of the other weapons. Directions include how to make a scabbard for the To and Tanto. The Yari is a spear that is used as a thrusting weapon. The spearhaft is generally five feet long, but can be as long as twenty feet, which would require both strength and skill to manipulate. In movies we see martial arts experts grabbing poles for defensive/aggressive maneuvers -- this is a lot more deadly.
The next weapons are of the Kusari class. Though they all begin with a length of chain, the Kusari Fundo (Manrikgusari) is the simplest weapon to make. The Kusari Gama requires a sickle while the Shoge adds a spiked blade. The Nunchaku adds two metal rods and uses a shorter chain.
Blow guns, Tetsu-Bishi (flat four pointed star) and Shuriken (several star weapons the fit together like a puzzle to form a deadly ball) are described in detail. These are often shown in movies. The perfect Ninja throws the Tetsu-Bishi with the ease that most of us think about when skipping stones across a lake -- though I've only achieved that feat a few times.
I will never make a weapon. I do not practice Ninjutsu, but the heroes and heroines in my stories, particularly the S/F trilogy I am writing, do. Writing with detailed information is imperative. Research is what turns good writing into great stories.
This book is not one that I would ever willingly give up. It is five stars and more -- depending on the writer, the genre, and scenes.
Victoria Tarrani
A pretty good read.......2000-03-24
This book shows you how to make ninja weapons from easily obtainable sources (hardware store). It shows you how to make kama, shuriken, swords and knives all from easy to find sources. I think some of this authors other books are pretty good as well.
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- Predator-Prey Dynamics: The Role of Olfaction
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- Science in Seconds for Kids: Over 100 Experiments You Can Do in Ten Minutes or Less
- Shattered Consensus: The True State of Global Warming
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- History: Fiction or Science
- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass
- Polymers Near Surfaces: Conformation Properties and Relation to Critical Phenomena
- The Gold Swan : A Novel
- The Bulldozer in the Countryside: Suburban Sprawl and the Rise of American Environmentalism
- A Thousand Splendid Suns
- Waldorf Parenting Handbook
- Significant Others: Creativity & Intimate Partnership
- Spanish Cities of the Golden Age: The Views of Anton van den Wyngaerde
- Dinky Dau Love, War, and the Corps: A Vietnam War Memoir
The Mystic Arts of the Ninja
Ninjutsu
The Grandmaster's Book of Ninja Training
Ninja Volume 2: Warrior Ways of Enlightenment (Ninja)
The Way of the Ninja: Secret Techniques
