A Ninja was someone whose very existence expressed the spirit of Budo. He would protect himself with techniques not of assassination but rather of sensation and an acute awareness of his natural surroundings. He would avoid unnecessary conflict, and even if armed with a blade, would find a way to win without staining it. These are the true techniques of Ninjutsu, and the art in which Ninja persistently trained.
Ninja exercised endurance throughout their secretive lives in order to protect their families, their clans, and their country. Their harsh training endowed them with a tough but pliant spirit, and martial skills suitable for coping with any situation, together with a sense of awareness that had universal application.
Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi, Ph. D, is the most famous Ninja grandmaster in the world today. In this book, he explains the essence, truth, and wisdom of Ninjutsu, an art of a thousand forms and innumerable variations. Through perceptive observations and many detailed pictures, the author reveals the hidden reality behind this mysterious and fascinating martial art. The Way of the Ninja will help widen readers' perceptions and deepen their understanding of two essential principles. One is that Ninjutsu is the very backbone of the martial arts; the other, that Ninjutsu reveals their true spiritual significance.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Great philosophy and history, not much detail of techniques:
This book is a great introduction to the ninja way of life and thinking. However, as others have said, many of the pictures are blurry, and the sequences of techniques aren't described in significant enough detail. I still found the book a good read, but I really don't consider any of the techniques worth trying to learn, since they are just not explained in enough detail. In any technique, there are various requirements of body structure that must be upheld for the technique to be done properly, and if no... more info
The Way of the Ninja: Secret Techniques:
I read this book in two days after receiving it from Amazon.com! I enjoy the many Taijustu (Body Skills) pictures displayed. In addition, what I found unique about this book is the fact that the authors inserted the concept of Kyojutsu (Truth appearing a Falsehood) visually. For example, some of the pictures were blurry to symbolize a change in the body movement relationship with the opponent. Lastly, this book created a complete picture of the many oral teachings available on the subject of Budo/Ninpo... more info
Involvement is the only way:
For those expecting lists of techniques and a 'one-two-three' approach to martial arts, this book will no doubt appear as a disappointment. This is not surprising as I would suggest that this book is directed at those who want to, and are able to, see the larger picture in the martial arts. Suffice as to say, without a thorough immersion in the principles that Hatsumi-sensei teaches (an immersion based on CONTINUAL and DIRECT practice with Soke himself), then a lot of what is presented in this book,... more info
Best book about Ninjutsu on the market:
Masaaki Hatsumi is without a doubt the most advanced master of Ninjutsu alive.
This book tries to give you a better understanding of the ideas behind this art (it cannot be called sport).
It doesn`t teach you real techniques, but no book could ever do that, but will help you to seperate the movie-nonsense from reality and hopefully encourages you to start practicing this wonderful art yourself, as I am doing for years now.
