Ninja and Ninjutsu
The Japanese characters that form the word “ninja”
mean “one who endures.” An alternative reading is “the
art of invisibility.” In some times and places, ninja were
also known as shinobi.
Ninjutsu
(occasionally spelled Ninjitsu) is a term for
the entire collection of arts practiced by ninja.
Among
other things, these include disguise, climbing, evasion,
spying, and armed and unarmed combat. Taijutsu (see
right) describes a particular set of combat skills.
Ninja Weapons
Few of the weapons popularly associated with ninja
were uniquely “ninja weapons.” For instance, Tokugawaera
police used the metsubushi (a kind of blowpipe) to
distract suspects; samurai carried the kusarigama and
shuriken as backup weapons; and the tonfa, sai, and nunchaku
belonged to the Okinawan art of Kobujutsu
(p. 178). Ninja generally favored the weapons of the
samurai. This isn’t surprising – these weapons were
readily available and would make it easier to blend in
while disguised, and the ninja would be schooled in their
use, because many (perhaps most or all) ninja were in
fact members of samurai clans.
Ninja might have used more hidden and combination
weapons than most people, though, as backup weapons or
surprise tactics. An “unarmed” spy could conceal several
deadly (or at least distracting) secrets! The poisoned
weapons frequently suggested for ninja are unlikely, however
– such things tend to be as dangerous to the user as
to the victim. Like modern assassins, ninja probably knew
that food was the best vehicle for poison.
Ninja Characters
Every ninja ought to know Taijutsu (see above). A historical
ninja will practice one or more Japanese weapon
styles as well; e.g., Kenjutsu (pp. 173-175), Kusarijutsu
(p. 179), Kusarigamajutsu (p. 180), or Shurikenjutsu
(pp. 195-197). Cinematic ninja should further add
Kobujutsu (p. 178) – to use so-called “ninja weapons”
from Okinawa! For suitable ninja templates, see Assassin
(pp. 31-32) and Spy (p. 38).
Realistic ninja should equip themselves as described
above. Cinematic ones might wear a “ninja suit” (the infamous
hooded black outfit, which isn’t historical; see The
Ninja, p. 13) or other martial-arts costume. Some might
include firearms in their arsenal – especially comic-book
super-ninja.
Ninja vs. Ninjas
In Martial Arts, we follow accepted English usage and
use “ninja” for both the singular and the plural. However,
many people prefer “ninjas” for the plural – and this seems
somehow more appropriate for a cinematic game. When
playing fast and loose with equipment and fighting styles,
why fret over the English word for a Japanese concept?
The true master of deception knows there’s power in
names and wants people to get such things wrong!
