Customer Reviews

Ninjutsu: The Art of Invisibility (Tuttle Library of Martial Arts)

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

 

 

I ran a feudal Japan newsletter for ten years, and in that time I read many books on ninja. This book is one of the more basic on the topic, covering the general history of the ninja and the rumors about their feats. It does not go into any real detail about what the ninja did, how they did it, or provide documentation for further research into specifics.

First, the basics. Trained spies have been used in Japan for at least 1,500 years, with clans of spies training their acolytes in the remote hills. Various rulers used these spies for legitimate as well as less savory reasons. In a culture which celebrated honor and bushido - the way of the warrior - the ninja were looked down on as dogs and vermin. Still, they had their uses, and were paid well for their work.

Ninja were trained from childhood to have exceptional balance, jumping ability, stamina for long runs, and great body strength. They practiced close listening, to judge how many people were in a room by minute rustles and the sound of exhales. The book goes on to explain a variety of techniques ninja would use to overcome various obstacles they might encounter.

I am less sure about the "ninja costume" laid out. I cannot imagine that all ninja clans collaborated to buy standard ninja costumes from the Ninja Costume Store. I imagine that for a given case the ninja would research the local dress and find something to blend in but that also had secret pockets for his tools and a color to blend in with whatever he was most likely to be near. Yes, it might be a dark outfit for night work - but it could easily be light grey if the task was to go along grey walls. It might be something resembling a monk's robe if for example the ninja was going into a monastery, so that from afar he would be taken for a random monk.

That is how it goes with the book. Some sections seem quite rational and reasonable - but others seem a bit iffy. Since nothing is ever quoted with a source, and there is no bibliography in the back to see where this information came from - you're left with the impression that these are all stories handed down from current martial arts contacts of the author. I have no doubt that these sources really believe the stories they have shared! And I imagine that a portion of them are true. However, a portion is going to be legend or tales mis-remembered or mis-said over the years.

If anything, this means we are reading a list of "What current members of ninja-style fighting groups believe about their traditions" which is interesting. However, for more factual, historical information, I'd go with one of the many other books on this topic.

I thought that this book was definitely worth reading. Though the author never does cite any sources, he seems to be farely well read and understands the various concepts involved in the older martial styles that collectively formed "ninjutsu." I agree that he doesn't have any step-by-step guides: "Just do THIS three times a day for only ONE YEAR and you too can be an invincible ninja!" None of that at all. But it is hardly fare to give the book a bad rating because of that. The author's intention was never to teach someone to become a ninja. It was to inform. I actually found this book much more informative than any of Mr. Hayes' books, which are by and large step-by-step. This book includes dozens of historical accounts of ninja accomplishments, as well as chapters on training, weapons, tricks of the trade, lifestyle, superstition, etc. If you are looking for a book ABOUT the ninja, then this one, along with Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi's Ninja: History and Tradition, are the two best. If you are looking for a do-it-yourself book, then grab Stephen K. Hayes 5 volume set....

Ninja were born and trained in families devoted to the study and practice of ninjutsu as their profession. Secrecy was the foundation upon which all successful ninja defended. Rigid security measures began at the very root of all ninja organizations.

In Ninjutsu The Art of Invisibility, Donn Draeger reveals the secrets and history of the ninja.

In their training the ninja became extremely physically fit. The ninja could cover extremely long distances in a very short time, or walk in absolute silence using ten special walking techniques revealed by Donn Draeger. The ninja trained hard to become a competent woodsman, to have the ability to live off the land.

The ninja developed skills with medicines that made him his own doctor. He could allay and cure the effects of insect bites, poisons, internal disorders and general ailments.

Donn Draeger reveals many of the tools and weapons of the ninja such as the ninja-sword and the shuriken.

Beyond this most people of the day believed the ninja to be sorcerers and magicians with power and mastery over the forces of nature. The occult powers of the ninja were spoken of in quiet whispers... and this gave the ninja even greater power over his enemies.

We read of the ninja's ability to become invisible, and Donn Draeger gives us the ten rules of a ninja's invisibility.

Finally we are presented with stories of ninja missions in fact and in legend.

In Ninjutsu The Art of Invisibility, Donn Draeger has given us a well-written overview of ninjutsu. For the reader who wants an easy-to-read introduction to ninjutsu, this book is highly recommended.

I gave it 4 stars just becasue donn was such a hoss and died pursueing what he loved m/a....you should look up the circumstances of his death ...wow!
If anyone knew anything about nina it would have half to of been him..he had a long and huge martial arts record..the one thing that bothered me was the jabs at hatsumi...they were not rivals...not sure if they were typos or what...

if only drager were still around...maybe the koryu snobs wouldnt be as bad since it was him who broke them in..

great book...so so much mystery in history...were samurai ninja ? or were ninja samurai? or were the bandits and warrior monk ninja?????

there is so much fake information in the past scattered about with the real...so someone who has NO budo background and tried to write about the shinobi FAILS.

This little book cannnot compare to the late Draeger's other excellent text books on the Japanese martial arts. Nevertheless, if you are seeking some very basic information on the art of Ninjutsu, this book can be of some value. It covers a brief history of the art, the training and basic skills required of the Ninja, operating techniques, tools and weapons of the Ninja. Though it is not completely accurate in some areas, for the most part, the information is valid and interesting.

In conclusion, this is a book for anyone interested in learning something about Ninjutsu.

Rating: 4 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Monadnock Defensive Tactics (MDTS) System).

I totally regret buying this book.

There are no references to any historical works, nor any martial arts references either. It tells the story of the ninja clans and and the super-ninjas of the more fictious kind.
The only worth is the pages in the end that tells a few of the histocal ninja legends. But even these are better written by others.

If you are interested in historical ninja - S. Turnbulls book Ninja is a much better choice. If you are looking for the Martial arts aspect, I suggest any book by Grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi or his students.

Some of the tools he has connected to the historical ninja is very modern fiction picked from comic books.

This book doesn't have much of anything that the person with the most basic knowledge of a ninja would not know. It tells a lot of WHAT a ninja did and not HOW. For example, you get comments such as (paraphrased) "Ninjas had a special way of stepping that allowed them to move silently," but that is all; you are not told how this technique was accomplished. You are also briefly told about other techniques or devices that without a graph or illustration are impossible to comprehend. Not well organized or written with a lot of typos. You are also not told what are the sources of the author's information. If anyone knows of a decent book witten about ninja techniques, let me know.

This book is filled with the most interesting aspects of ninjutsu. It answers the questions most people have on the art and it is written brilliantly.

This book is a nice read, but some parts were incorrect. First of all, there was no ninja costume in Japan's history. No black hood, no black suit or anything. Why would a ninja wanna wear such costumes that says, "hey everyone, I'm a ninja."? Next is the ninja sword. There is no ninja sword in history too. Why? Because it's a giveaway.

Nevertheless, this book was fun and I completed it in one day.

If you look for "Ninjitsu in 7 easy lessons", look in your yellow pages, I am sure there will be someone happy to help you.