Ninjutsu: The Art of the Shadow Warrior.
Many people have heard of the art of "Ninjutsu" or the practitioners of that art, the "Ninja" but few understand it's history and the art itself away from the Hollywood image of an assassin dressed from head to foot in black, carrying a sword on their back, climbing a castle wall and throwing smoke bombs.
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The art that we today call "Ninjutsu" was founded upon the teachings passed down by Generals, Tacticians, Mystics, Healers and Warriors that were fleeing war torn Tang Dynasty China (618-907). They and their families sought sanctuary in the mountain regions of Japan such as Iga, Koga and Nagano. From these mountain ranges many different traditions of Ninjutsu evolved and flourished as a means of personal self protection of the body, mind and spirit. One of these traditions (Ryu Ha) was that of the famous "Togakure Ryu" or Concealed Door School.
Daisuke Nishina was a Samurai retainer of Minamoto no Yoshinaka, from Nagano, a General who captured Kyoto in 1182. However, as soon as he had done this, the General was then attacked and defeated by his cousin, Yoshitsune. Daisuke Nishina was badly wounded by this attack, cold, hungry and being pursued by his enemies he made his way back to his home of Togakure Village situated high up in the Nagano mountain range. Here he was rescued by a a mystic called Kain Doshi. Together they fled to the Mountains of Iga to hide and avoid capture. Once healed Nishina devoted himself to the teachings of Kain Doshi who taught him a variety of martial arts. Changing his name to Togakure, Daisuke founded the school of Togakure Ryu. Thirty four generations later we in our school study these deep and mysterious teachings of the Togakure Ryu passed on to us from teachers in Japan and form the curriculum that all students in our academy study.
Head Teacher of the Warrior Quest Academy outside one of the shrines on Togakure Mountain. Birthplace of the Ninja.
In the Warrior Quest Academy as student you will study and master the following skills which are derived from the densho (Secret Books) and makimoni (Scrolls) that have been passed down for generations from teacher to student.
Some of these skills are...
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1) Taijutsu: Unarmed Combat incorporating strikes, throws, arm locks, chokes, escapes, knife and stick defence etc.
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2) Bojutsu: Staff combat from 3 foot sticks to 6 foot staves
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3) Kenjutsu : Sword combat: or use of the Samurai and Ninja Sword and other bladed weapons as wellas defences from them called Muto Dori)
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4) Tonpo: Escape and Evasion which is something the ninja excelled in, and is just as important today to escape danger from a would be attacker or impending danger.
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5) Kiajutsu: Strengthening the spirit to gain confidence, courage, perseverance, endurance and determination.
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6) Kuji Goshin Ho: A method of quieting and centering the mind to bring oneself into harmony with oneself and ones surroundings and to accomplish the task ahead.
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7) Kyomon: Practical education into the histories, strategies and philosophies of the Ninja.
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8) Intonjutsu: The art of silent movement and invisibility.
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Some of these methods may seem a little strange by today's martial arts standards where the sports arts of today are just composed of kicking and throwing. Traditionally however warriors, both Ninja and Samurai alike would study a wide range of skills to be proficient and survive in a dangerous world. Therefore if one was studying the art of the Ninja these are just some of the skills one would study to become a Shinobi (Ninja) Warrior. In fact if one really serious about the protection of yourself and your family these skills are as relavent as they have always been.