Customer Reviews

Tiger Scroll Of The Koga Kinja

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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Passed down through the centuries from father to son, Master to disciple, the Tiger scroll transmitted the secret instructions of one of Japan's most infamous and deadly Ninja clans. The book covers such areas as carrying secret messages, sabotage, and assassination. It also gives you back ground information on how they trained, executed their missions, and lived their lives. The result is a cleverly blended and transmitted text that will give readers of interest in the Martial Arts a greater understanding for the lifestyle they love.

Tiger Scroll of the Koga Ninja is a fairly short book, just 81 pages of text along with some drawings. After a brief introduction the book is broken down into five chapters:
>> Ninja, The Man
>> Training
>> Weapons
>> Equipment
>> Method

In the first chapter `Jay Sensei' tells us that spying was the most important work carried out be the ninja, followed by reconnaissance, sabotage and assassination. We are then given a list of what `Jay Sensei' believes to be ninja qualifications, rules, and a description of the three ranks of ninjas: jonin, chunin, genin.

In chapter two - training - we learn of physical training techniques used by the ninja such as running with a straw hat placed against one's chest, and running fast enough so that only the wind against the straw hat kept it firmly against the ninja's chest and kept it from falling to the ground.

Chapter three - weapons - begins with a discussion of the ninja sword, and of course contains a discussion of the shuriken (which is always associated with the ninja). Also mentioned are blowguns, hand claws, and the kusari (chain). There is no real instruction in the techniques of using these other weapons, just a short discussion of each weapon along with drawings of the weapons.

The fourth chapter - equipment - discusses various items ranging from the ninja's hood, to rafts, to water spiders, rope ladders and climbing ropes.

The final chapter - method - teaches how to tell time by looking at a cat's eyes. We learn how the ninja found nourishment on a long journey, and how he hid from or escaped from his enemies.

This is not a `bad book,' nor is it poorly written - it is just very basic in its discussion of the ninja. Tiger Scroll of the Koga Ninja would be a fun book for a child interested in the ninja, but offers little for the serious student or practitioner of ninjutsu.

This book is supposedly a translated version of the ancient text the tiger scroll. I'm not sure if its true or not but i don't really care the book is great and has drawings that will help you understand what is being described. It discusses training, weapons, missions, tactics and so on. This book and the tactics in it are based on one clan's tactics the Koga ninja clan. One of the most famous and most deadly clans to ever exist in the history of feudal japan. The only problem with the book i think is that its too short, other than that i would recommend this book.

The Koga lineage died out with the last known and documented grandmaster (Fujita Seiko) in 1966 in a car accident with his 3 known students. So anyone claiming to have, hold, been taught Koga Ryu techniques is either an unknown who studied under Grandmaster Seiko prior to his death, or a bald-faced liar who is using a combination of other martial arts training and attempting to pass it off as Koga Ryu techniques. Based on what I saw in the book, I am more inclined to accept the latter of these premises. Caveat Emptor, let the buyer beware.


*UPDATE* Just as an update, Fujita Seiko died not in a car accident but from liver disease in 1966. He made the direct and confirmed statement numerous times that he did not have a successor to the Wada Ha Koga Ryu Lineage and would allow the school to die with him. He even left his scrolls and various items used by the Wada Ha Ryu that he inherited to the Ninja Museum in Iga Ueno. This alone should give any knowledgeable person who knows anything about the passing or not passing of knowledge in Japanese Martial traditions that he did NOT pass on Sokeship from the Wada Ha Ruy to any of his students. Again, this book is a nice read, but based on a lie and should NOT be interpreted as fact.

There is some good information in this book, however not much of it is reel secret stuff. Most of the information in this book you can find in other books on Ninjutsu. There are a few nuances that are Koga related but most are general ninja knowledge. The good thing about the book is that what is covered isn't some of the mystical nonsense covered in other books, it is short, general and to the point.

first off very interesting read i will give it that...now supposedely from my uk sources the author took this info from all kinds of sources and him self was has nothing to do with ninjutsu...the information presented is mostly a collage from various sources HOWEVER the author did put it together well and most the info listed is true he just wasnt striaght about the source and the information listed here is from a few different ninja clan both koga and iga...dont believe? try to find the author and his school in the uk.....or ask some notable m/as from there he admitted this info awhile back publicly..."supposedly"

other than that good read well put together if he would have been been moretruthful would have added more creditablity to the book still good book up to you to research whats what but most is real but not all from koga...or koka seems to be the trend now

i have found most of the info true jay sensei needs to come forth and attone for this info...like i said most of it being true where did he get it? wasnt from the bujinkan as suggested before..

The title says it all. Little things like the ninjas wore dark brown instead of black like most people think is the reason you buy books like this.

This book is supposedly a translated version of the ancient text the tiger scroll. I'm not sure if its true or not but i don't really care the book is great and has drawings that will help you understand what is being described. It discusses training, weapons, missions, tactics and so on. This book and the tactics in it are based on one clan's tactics the Koga ninja clan. One of the most famous and most deadly clans to ever exist in the history of feudal japan. The only problem with the book i think is that its too short, other than that i would recommend this book.

As a woman who has trained as a Koga ninja, I highly recommend this book. It was referred to me by my jonin, and is a great tool for learning about some of the techniques the Koga ninja used/use. I wish this book was larger, rather than a pretty thin paperback, but the information it does have is very valuable to anyone wanting a starter in learning ninjitsu, or anyone just wanting to learn about the Koga ninja.