Customer Reviews

Ninjutsu: History and Tradition

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I had the rare priviledge (for westerners anyway) of training with Haatsumi senei about a year ago, and had a great time, but my distance from his dojo and the class schedule have made regular trips to his dojo more than a little difficult. I do plan on training with him again when possible and appreciate the opportunity to do so. An opportunity some westerners would give anything to have considering the man's reputation as a living legend.

Regardless, this book was one of the first exposures I had to this particular fighting style, one I considered more mythical than practical until I joined a dojo and began training. It isn't as comprehensive as I would have liked on the historical elements, but considering the secrecy surrounding the art (one that many of the more "hokey" instructors like to capitalize on) it's easy to see why. What the book does offer is very useful for the beginning student, and is a great companion when working with an instructor. Without and instructor this book is little more than a novelty.

The book catalogues the many weapons of the ninja and gives many facts on the tactics used to imploy and construct such weapons. It also outlines the basic stances and some of the basic moves, but in that regard it is very light, rightfully so. Listing the names of the techniques is one thing, but you just can't learn from a book so there's no use trying. Of course, I never got the impression the book was attempting to teach the moves so I wasn't disappointed in that regard.

It's important to note that Haatsumi-sensei refers to his art as Taijutsu these days and has strayed from calling his art ninjutsu or ninpo. I've heard a variety of reasons for this, but the one I'm most apt to believe revolves around the negative stereotypes of the ninja, often thought of as an assassin or terrorist. Haatsumi sensei's open relationship with the west, and this book which was one of his earliest attempts, has attempted to dispel many of these incorrect assumptions and stereotypes (although ninja did perform assassinations on occasion, it was far from their primary function) but many of them linger. Taijutsu is a simpler term that simply means martial body skills. It incorporates and includes the ninpo arts, but it also envelopes them into a much larger group.

So, if you've just begun studying the art (and I should point out that I'm still a beginnner myself) I think you'll find this book very informative. It's not going to teach you everything you ever wanted to know about the art, but it will give you a good foundation to build on. To really become a student, you're going to need a teacher.

This book was written in 1980 and, at the time, it was one of the only sources of reliable information about Ninjutsu. It was written mainly to combat the myths surrounding Ninjas (caused by their portrayal in popular media), but also to stem the claims made by several 'movie Ninjas' that they were actually masters of the art. The book is a declaration, and illustration of proof, that Masaaki Hatsumi is the ONLY surviving Grandmaster of Ninjutsu. At the time of writing Dr Hatsumi's organisation was known as 'Togakure ryu Ninpo Taijutsu'. This book reflects this by focusing upon only one ryu (school) of Ninjutsu- Togakure ryu (whereas there are actually 9 ryu in Dr Hatsumi's current organization- Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu). This doesn't detract from the value or relevancy of this book when studying Ninjutsu's history ... but does make it a simplified and incomplete story. You will need to look elsewhere for a history of the other ryu. This book is NOT a how-to manual for a Ninjutsu student. Although it does contain some invaluable insights about the essence of Ninjutsu, the book has no techniques and little advice on how to improve your form. As suggested by the book's title, it is a reference source about Ninjutsu's history (and over half the book is dedicated to the weapons used by the Ninja). If you want to learn the martial art of Ninjutsu this book will not, nor does it claim to, substitute for tuition by a Bujinkan dojo's instructor (just as you can't learn to drive by reading a history of the automobile, you can't learn the art of Ninjutsu by reading this book). A lot has changed in the world of Ninjutsu since 1980 and other good, reliable sources of information about Ninjutsu (much of it also written by Dr Hatsumi) now exist. This book is accordingly not as valuable as it once was. However, if you know little about Ninjas (other than their incredible mythology) and would like to know the truth, or are looking for an encyclopedia of Ninjutsu weaponry then this is the book for you.

Considered as the Ninpo Bible, this book gives a complete general information about Ninpo by the Grandmaster. It covers almost all of the things you need to know anout Ninpo in brief explanation such as the brief history, stances (kamae), striking (dakentaijutsu), body conditioning (junan taiso), Ninja weapons (ningu), female ninja (kunoichi), special training, etc. I'd say it is a must for Ninpo students and is excellent as an introduction for beginners, I really recommend it. (It is the first Ninpo book I bought)

Actually I'd also say that all of Hatsumi Sensei's books are worth buying, they will give you the real and true understanding about "What actually Ninpo is" through many different perspectives. My recommendation, try Stephen Hayes's books (esp. 5 series Ninja) for another awesome Ninpo author after Hatsumi Sensei. Other book/authors you might want to try are Andrew Adams's "Ninja: The Invisible Assasins" or Stephen Turnbull's "Ninja : The True Story of Japan's Secret Warrior Cult" (out of print) for the history of the old time Ninja. If you got a chance, get Robert Bussey's book Ninjutsu: Basic Skill and Techniques" which is out of print, you'll see some awesome techniques of Mr Bussey back while he was still in Ninpo.

This should be considered as the intro text for student of Ninjutsu. This book gives a complete general information about Ninjutsu by the Grandmaster himself. It covers almost everything you need to know about Ninjutsu. Including a brief history, techniques, body conditioning, weapons and more. This text is an excellent introduction for beginners, and should be in every library.

Hatusmi is Soke of Togakure. There are other Families that fall under the name "Ninja".

Hatusmi is good. Hatusmi is authentic. Hatusmi is not the last ninja. He is not the last master of "the types of covert warfare".

Also,Ninjutsu was not formed by Togakure. Ninjutsu was formed by Emporer Fushi (Fu-hsi) and was even employed by the Yellow Emporer.

When Hatusmi says "Beginning of Ninjutsu was Daisuke Togakure" he is meaning that is the begining of TOGAKURE ninjutsu.

This book is good to read to learn about Togakure Ninjutsu before it was modernized into Ninpo.

For those serious in Ninjutsu, three very old and very authentic books exist. Good luck finding them however, and if you cannot read ancient Japanese, they will be worthless to you. One of them is the Bansenshukai, the others you will learn about when you become serious enough.

Those who are deep into the tradition know the Bansenshukai and other two by heart, and can walk on water (you know what I mean if you are deep enough).

So..This book is good for beginners and a good reference book,but remember it is written by Togakure's Soke's position.

I gave it 4 stars because it was good, but I took a star away because unless it contained view points from all schools, it could not be labeled "The Best"...

It is quite true that no martial art can be taught by a book without a teacher, but this book is essential to anyone practicing Ninjutsu. This book by soke Dr.Hatsumi Masaaki describes the basic positions & techniques with black and white photographs and sketches, but most important it has historical information with rich photographical overage for every aspect of ninjutsu (arms, instruments etc). This book is is pure ninjutsu essence and tradition.

I bought this book a long time ago when I first started learning Ninjutsu.

This is essential for anyone studying Ninjutsu, as it has (like the title says) history. Besides the history, it has other information on stances, weapons, and practices of Ninjutsu. There are also many pictures and drawings to help you along.

Like I said, if you are planning on taking Ninjutsu, if you are learning Ninjutsu now, or if you simply want to know the truth about where Ninjutsu came from (starting with the first Ninja), then this book is for you.

And you will never find a more credible source.

This book is great, i totally recomend it for the practicing Ninja or studier of japanese martial arts, it covers a wide range of ninjitsu wepons, with real pictures, and demonstrations on how to use them from the grandmaster himself, it covers taijitsu basics, with thourough explinations on each move, as a practiicing ninja i recomend it to others

A lot of this book was ghost written by Stephen K. Hayes or someone whose writing style mimics that of Mr. Hayes. One only need to compare the wording of Stephen K. Hayes' own books with this one to see the strong similarities. As a result, a lot of the information is the ghost writer's own interpretation of Hatsumi-sensei's art and must be considered as incorrect as I've yet to see or hear Soke use such interpretations.

There are a quite of lot of interesting photographs of training in the 'old days' as well as many shots of weapons and tools. Hatsumi-sensei's preface is well worth reading but as for the rest of the written text (such as it is) I would posit that the majority of it is an amalgamation of phrases by Hatsumi-sensei and theorisations by the ghost writer.

There are many examples of differences in writing styles - surely a clear indication of the ghost writer's work - and one doesn't need proficiency in the Japanese language nor even experience in how Hatsumi-sensei presents himself to be able to recognise such differences. Needless to say though, such proficiency and experience with Soke (especially experience) will go a long way towards sorting out fact from fiction.

If I'm to recommend this book, I would so from the point of research. By this I mean, purchase the book and compare it to Hatsumi-sensei's other works. What can be learnt through the differences ought to be well worth the price paid.

How fortunate we are to have Hatsumi Sensei and his unsurpassed understanding of these ancient family-based arts and traditions.

A bit of irony. The book's Acknowledgement highlights Steven K. Hayes, Hatsumi's first non Japanese student. On pages 234 and 235 Tanemura Sensei and Manaka Sensei are depicted in photographs, eyes closed, avoiding Soke's sword in response to feeling his intention to strike. The irony is that all three, top students of Bujinkan, have since distanced themselves from Hatsumi Sensei and formulated their own small schools of taijutsu: Quest, Genbukan and Jinenkan.