Ninjutsu, or 'the art of concealment', is a Japanese martial art developed by mountain dwellers in the former provinces of Iga (present-day Mie) and Koka (in Shiga) from their knowledge of hunting and fighting techniques. Ninjitsu is a common misspelling. 'Jitsu' means 'truth' and in this context has little to do with the subject. Ninjutsu was developed as a response to the samurai , the nearly all-powerful warrior class in Japan who were answerable only to their lord, the shogun. Practitioners of ninjutsu were called ninjas. However, most ninja were themselves samurai.
Origin of Ninjutsu
Ninjutsu originated somewhere between the 12th and 15th centuries . Special Ninjutsu techniques are concealment, evasion, setting false trails and gathering information. Also practiced were disguises, escapes, camouflage, medicines and poisons, explosives and weapons, especially archery, sword fighting and skill with the shuriken (also known as throwing star). The techniques were practiced in secret. Only three secret manuscripts from the 16th and 17th centuries have survived: the Shoninki, Bansenshukai and Ninpiden.
Ninjutsu nowadays
Ninjutsu is nowadays also practiced as a defense and combat sport. There are several variations of this depending on the club. One is based more on karate, the other on jiu-jitsu. Of course, a number of skills are no longer taught (think of explosives, poisons, etc.). The length of the training also varies from club to club and country to country. Of course, being accountable to only one gentleman is no longer an option these days and training in secret seems like something from another dimension. However, some clubs still maintain a kind of code of honor and certain techniques are only revealed to advanced students.
Ninjutsu is best known for the numerous roles of ninjas in movies. Usually they play the bad guys, with exceptions of course. The so-called Ninja Turtles were also fervent practitioners of this Japanese Martial art.
