The Art of the Ninja(Shinobi)

Medieval Japan had no less than 18 martial arts called bugei or bujutsu. In addition to the more well-known ones that are still practiced today, such as judo, jujutsu and kendo, there were also those related to horse riding and swimming. One of the 18 martial arts was the ninja art, or ninjutsu, which was developed during the Edo Period (1603-1868). However, as military special forces, ninjas emerged from the 15th century and Warring States Period (aka Sengoku Jidai, 1467) when the internal conflicts surrounding Japan required reconnaissance, intelligence, and espionage to determine exactly by whom and by whom they might be launched in the near future. It had been in operation since -1568.

 At that time, a ninja had two main roles: as an assassin and as a spy, gathering intelligence on enemy movements and plans. For both of their missions, they disguised and learned the art of deception. The true identity of successful ninjas has, of course, been kept secret to ensure their own safety and continued usefulness in future operations. Ninjas were also used as forward lookouts and to make as much disturbance as possible behind enemy lines, often during commando raids at night.

Alongside organized ninja groups, there were many freelance ninjas who offered their services to the highest bidder during the unsettled times of the 15th and 16th centuries. Cunning leaders sometimes used ninjas to infiltrate enemy ninja groups. Random passwords were used to make sure ninjas in a group were sure who was who. Every time a ninja heard the code, he had to stand, thus revealing whoever was still sitting.

The earliest approach to ninja training was taken by certain families of samurai warriors who passed their skills from father or master (sensei) to son. These families became famous ninja families, explaining why certain regions had long traditions of producing expert warriors. A future ninja would learn from childhood to ride horses, swim and use all kinds of weapons. From the 15th century onwards, ninjas were trained in special camps that could encompass entire villages. Some schools became famous, especially the Iga and Koga schools. All training was done orally so that written records did not fall into the wrong hands, as leaders did not want their opponents to copy their tactics.

Educational process

A ninja was trained to be physically fit and athletic; Jumping from height and crossing ditches and other obstacles was a particularly useful skill and is probably the origin of legends involving flying ninjas. Additionally, they were trained to work in acrobat-like teams so that they could use each other to climb higher. Ninjas could also throw hooks with precision, scale ropes and folding ladders up and down, and break into confined spaces to less skilled workers. Ninjas could dig spy holes using folding saws and slotting tools. They could block pursuers by throwing iron spikes, which they called Makibishi. Ninjas are given the skills to disguise themselves in various terrains, survive outside the country, read topography and maps, understand the signs of weather changes, use explosives, securely bind prisoners, mix poisons, destroy a building with fire, and escape when things don't go well on a mission. and useful skills such as the medical arts were taught.

A ninja's main weapon was his katana or sword, perhaps slightly shorter and less curved weapons than those used by other warriors, as a ninja could find himself in a confined space such as a narrow castle corridor. In order not to restrict their movements, ninjas carried their swords diagonally on their backs, not on their belts. The slime (tsuba) was useful because if one put the sword against a wall, it could be used as a stepping stone, and by passing the foot through the customary cord of the scabbard, the sword could be lifted and not left behind.

Besides being adept at wielding the more common weapons of Japanese warfare (sword, spear, pike, and bow), ninjas had their own and highly specialized weapons. Throwing knives were a common weapon in medieval Japan and ranged from daggers to curved blades, but it is the multi-bladed steel throwing star or shuriken most commonly associated with the ninja. The typical shuriken was 20 cm in diameter and had at least four points, making them light weapons that did not impede movement. There were even ninja schools specializing in star throwing in the Sendai, Aizu, and Mito districts.

While no medieval text actually describes a ninja's clothing in detail, A.D. The most common depiction in Japanese art from the early 19th century is to have all the clothes covered in black. This color seems to be the most obvious choice since most of their work is done at night. It is also a Japanese performing arts tradition for a character to wear black to show the audience that he is invisible. However, ninjas sometimes wore chainmail or bodyguards made of metal plates sewn onto cloth, and sometimes camouflaged themselves as they needed to blend into their surroundings, disguised as beggars, monks, or traveling musicians, and even dressed up as their enemies when necessary. The classic ninja outfit consists of trousers, leggings, jacket, belt, bandana and a face cover made of soft material that does not impede movement and has no dangling parts that can be caught on anything. Soft shoes (of course) were worn, more like socks with the big toe separated from the rest of the toes and a reinforced sole; Simple knotted rope sandals (waraji) could be worn over these to provide a better grip for climbing.