How to Become a Ninja
Speed, skill, and stealth are the three things that make the ninja such a formidable force of fear in feudal Japan. Ninja are now part of history and legend, but they have passed on their skill and knowledge to generations. If you want to learn the way of the ninja, here are some ways to help you master the unique arts of these legendary Japanese spies and warriors.
Learn Martial Arts
Like samurai, the ninja specialized and relied on martial arts to slay or incapacitate their opponents quickly and efficiently. Mastering hand-to-hand combat is very important if you want to become the ninja of movies, folklore, or legends and epics.
ninjaNinjitsu, or “the way of the ninja,” is a complete system of fighting and martial arts that the ninja use to disable their enemies. Here are some martial arts you should master:
Jiu-jitsu is a form of grappling that focuses on keeping the opponent on the ground, and performing compression holds or choke holds that can incapacitate, injure, or even kill the opponent. Jiu-jitsu is all about using the energy and force of an opponent against the attack.
Karate is a form of striking that uses momentum and force to injure the opponent. Karate is an offensive skill set of strikes like kicks and punches.
Weaponry like daggers, swords, shuriken, kunai, and even farm weapons can be used by ninja to attack their enemies. Skill and proficiency with various weapons are important to ninja, who need to injure their opponents as quickly and efficiently as possible. Some ninja may even use poison or smoke bombs as weapons.
Master the Art of Stealth
“Silent but deadly” is a good way to describe the ways of the ninja. The key to stealth is to move fast enough not to be seen or detected by the enemy. A ninja’s outfit is designed to provide the ninja with the speed and weight necessary for him or her to maximize dexterity and skill. Always remember to move in the shadows, and don’t make any unnecessary movements that will give your location or your activities away.
Physical and Mental Training
The best way to learn how to become a ninja is to go to a dojo or a training school that teaches ninjitsu or other martial arts. Becoming a ninja is not a three-week correspondence course, though; ninja take a lifetime of commitment and training to perfect their skill and craft. A ninja’s training is never complete, because there is always a new, more efficient way to maim or injure the enemy.
While there’s no more need to slay samurai or sabotage the strategies of the stronger shogun, ninja skills can still be helpful in self-defense. With these tips, you can walk the way of the ninja and go for the silent kill… as long as you don’t take it too seriously.