Ninpo
Ninpo
Ninpo is a comprehensive martial art system comprising a group of related ancient Japanese martial arts. The word "ninpo" is made from two kanji characters. The first character, "nin," can be translated as patience, stealth, or endurance. The second character stands for the concept of ?law? or ?dharma? in the Buddhist sense. It can be translated as ?the way? too. Widely used related term Ninjutsu is a compound of ?nin? and ?jutsu? meaning art
Traditional Japanese martial arts can be grouped into eighteen martial skills or bugei juhappan used by the ordinary warrior (or bushi) and eighteen unconventional martial skills or ninja juhakkei used by the special warriors. It is the second type that comes under Ninpo. However both bugei juhappan and ninja juhakkei have lot of similarities. In fact the main difference between them may be in how the practitioners of the relevant art used them rather than in the arts themselves. Eighteen ninja juhakkei displines are; spiritual refinement (Seishin-teki kyoyo), unarmed combat (Taijutsu), sword fighting (Ninja ken), staff fighting (Bojutsu), blade throwing (Shurikenjutsu), spear fighting (Sojutsu), naginata fighting (Naginatajutsu), chain and sickle fighting (Kusarigamajutsu), use of fire and explosives (Kayakujutsu), disguises and impersonation (Hensojutsu), stealth and break in methods (Shinobi-iri), horsemanship (Bajutsu), water training (Sui-ren), military strategy (Boryaku), espionage (Choho), escapes and concealment (Intonjutsu), meteorology (Tenmon), geography (Chi-mon ).
Given the type of skills practiced, and the missions on which the Japanese warlords may have used such special warriors, it is easy to understand why practitioners of Ninjutsu known as Ninjas have acquired a reputation as stealthy assassins and people who engage in various nefarious activities. This negative impression was enhanced by the fact that people who practiced Ninjutsu came not from the Japanese Samurai elites but from lower levels of that class, common people, or outcasts. Misrepresentations in modern popular films have only contributed to spreading of this misunderstanding to wider world. However Ninjutsu practitioners themselves see it as an art of enduring the hardships of life.
History Ninjutsu is considered to be an art originating in Japan with some influence from China. According to legend it was created by a Japanese clan that lost a battle and fled to mountains. This however may just be a myth. Anyway there is evidence to show that it has developed into a full martial art system at least nine hundred years ago.
Most modern schools teaching Ninjutsu differ as to what the correct curriculum should be as well as about the training methods to be used. Most of the schools in fact teach an amalgam of some Ninjutsu disciplines and other martial arts. For instance espionage techniques are usually not taught because of both their non usability in modern world and their tendency to attract negative publicity.
Several schools in Israel, United States, and Europe, with verified linage to Japanese schools also teach adapted versions of Ninjutsu. However there are others whose origins cannot be traced to Japanese schools but claim to teach Ninjutsu. While art can be correct students may have to keep in mind their unverified origins.