The Ninja: Ancient Shadow Warriors of Japan

212 Pages·2013·165.94 MB·English

by  Kacem Zoughari

Ninja
The
Ancient Shadow Warriors of Japan
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Ninja
The
Ancient Shadow Warriors of Japan
Dr. Kacem Zoughari
TUTTLE PUBLISHING
Tokyo • Rutland, Vermont • Singapore
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Please note that the publisher and author of this instructional book are NOT RESPONSIBLE in any manner whatsoever for any
injury that may result from practicing the techniques and/or following the instructions given within. Martial arts training can be
dangerous—both to you and to others—if not practiced safely. If you’re in doubt as to how to proceed or whether your practice is
safe, consult with a trained martial arts teacher before beginning. Since the physical activities described herein may be too strenuous
in nature for some readers, it is also essential that a physician be consulted prior to training.
Published by Tuttle Publishing, an imprint of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd., with editorial offices at 364 Innovation Drive, North Clar-
endon, Vermont 05759 U.S.A. and at 61 Tai Seng Avenue #02-12, Singapore 534167.
Copyright © 2010 Kacem Zoughari
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission from the
publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Zoughari, Kacem.
The ninja : ancient shadow warriors of Japan / Dr. Kacem Zoughari. -- 1st ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
1. Ninjutsu. 2. Martial arts--Japan. I. Title.
GV1114.73.Z68 2009
796.80952--dc22
2009032926
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Contents
Foreword .................................................................................................................. 6
Introduction ............................................................................................................ 7
Chapter 1 What Is Ninjutsu? ................................................................................................... 9
Chapter 2 The Public Record of Ninjutsu ............................................................................. 28
Chapter 3 The Private History of Ninjutsu ........................................................................... 68
Chapter 4 The Essence of Ninjutsu ........................................................................................ 89
Chapter 5 Autobiography of a Ninja Master ......................................................................... 105
Chapter 6 The Secret Text of Ninjutsu .................................................................................. 119
Chapter 7 Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 129
Appendix A History and Definition of Jūjutsu ......................................................................... 131
Appendix B History of Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu......................................................................... 133
Appendix C Timeline of Japanese Martial Arts ....................................................................... 138
Appendix D Alternative Names for Ninja ................................................................................. 141
Appendix E The Aiki-kai Foundation ....................................................................................... 146
Appendix F Densho and Makimono of Ninjutsu ..................................................................... 150
Appendix G Historical Chronology of the Ninja ..................................................................... 153
Notes ......................................................................................................................... 162
Bibliography ............................................................................................................. 190
Acknowledgments .................................................................................................. 192
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Foreword
It is with the greatest honor that I write a foreword for this book. Dr. Zoughari’s visionary work connects
old ways with the new, breathing life and new meaning into an often controversial subject in a way that
benefits all who will read these pages.
In all honesty, I was unsure what to offer in prelude that affords justice to the significance of this work.
This book will prove to be a beacon, allowing us to pass into a new territory of times long past. It will
lead the reader into a deeper understanding and serve as a bridge to a new perspective on the ancient
art of ninjutsu.
Perhaps it’s simplest to say that ninjutsu is a timeless and elusive art that is infinitely valuable to all
who come to know its form.
Christopher Davy
December 2009
Shihan Christopher Davy holds a tenth degree black belt under Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi Soke of Noda City, Japan.
He has traveled to Japan many times to train and research the Bujinkan arts. He has been training in martial arts
for over thirty-three years and is Shidoshi at the Bujinkan Yume Dojo in Lost River, West Virginia.
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Introduction
For as long as I can remember, the image of the ninja from movies and books fascinated me by the way
they could disappear, use improvised weapons, and execute incredible techniques. I didn’t understand
that this image was rooted in a very profound and logical way of using the body for the art of survival.
After many years of research and encounters with many masters, I realized that ninjutsu goes beyond the
form and the fixed methods of sport or other classical martial arts. Ninjutsu is something that is alive and
ever changing. This is why ninjutsu is different; it’s always evolving and adapting to the environment. The
knowledge and wisdom of using the body is complex and subtle at the same time. It is complex because
each technique that makes up the art is born from the blood of many warriors. It’s subtle and very deep
because the defense of life is based on time, wisdom, and knowledge. The art of the using the body in
ninjutsu must be unpredictable and is, thus, difficult to see and to grasp. The only thing I can say is that
to master this way of using the body asks us not to be ambitious but to be patient. In other words, to
understand the value of what it really means to be patient is to understand the value of the moment. To
control ego and master the subtleties of body mechanics without extensive forethought or great physical
strength demands time and a singular state of mind. The heart of this, again, is patience.
I didn’t initially set out to write a book on ninjutsu, even though I had already written many articles
on ninjutsu, bujutsu, and koryū in general. However, thanks to the “miracle of various meetings” with
English-speaking partners requesting training, I decided to develop an English book on ninjutu.
Through my international travel to conferences and seminars, I became aware that the majority of
ninjutsu practitioners, other marital arts practitioners, and members of academia were confused about
the true nature of the art. They only knew bits and pieces of information—generally, what they’d gleaned
from the Internet.
This book is a new level of research into the art of ninjutsu. This new approach is not lightly under-
taken. It was not quickly translated or compiled from various current works on the subject. It is not about
delving into a study of various esoteric works based entirely in the classical Japanese language, called
kanbun. Rather, this book is the fruit of more than 10 years of study, practice and research on different
bujutsu, koryū and, more particularly, ninjutsu.
This approach was developed during my studies at the National Institute of the Eastern Languages
and Civilizations in Paris (INALCO). Thus, because of my academic experience and training, particularly
in Japanese studies, I undertook a serious and precise research study, far from any “parochialism.”
If my studies and choice of material drew me closer to Master Hatsumi Masaaki, it is because his
knowledge of the subject matter is so highly regarded, and also because I initially avoided following the
pack of so-called experts in the field. Master Hatsumi Masaaki remains one of the only masters to have
had an authentic contact with the one of the last true ninja, Takamatsu Toshitsuga. This unique relation-
ship was one-to-one, a master with a disciple, which continues still today through Sōke Hatsumi.
Thus, this isn’t an attempt to extol the glory of Master Hatsumi, or of the Bujinkan, but rather it is
a study of ninjutsu seen through the eyes of a practitioner, and the practitioner is Master Takamatsu
Toshitsuga.
I don’t seek to enter into a critical debate with the other organizations created by alumni of Mas-
ter Hatsumi Masaaki nor with the keen defenders of koryū and other budō. Although I can prove the
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8 INTRODUCTION
conclusions of my research to anyone who wants to see it, the goal remains to provide an alternative,
honest, and serious reading of historical ninjutsu and its practice.
I have divided this book in several parts. Each chapter deals with a different aspect of ninjustsu, in-
cluding relevant studies of the history, philosophy, and wisdom. In each of these aspects, I have presented
different authors, historians, chronicles, and scrolls in order to impart a wider and deeper understanding.
I didn’t focus on translating the quoted passages word for word, but rather I tried to impart a clear sense
of the writer’s main concept, which (as you’ll see) was always based upon how to survive, how to hide,
how to move subtly, how to be more effective, and so forth. I worked to preserve the original essence of
all the translations. In order to do this, I had to include the historical explanation of classical Kobujutsu
schools for completeness. I’ve also included appendices that deal with other aspects of ninjutsu (ninja
names, chronologies, and the like) in order to give adequate background information for those of you
who wish to take your research of ninjutsu beyond this book. I took care to add the kanji for each term,
title, scroll, and so forth, in order to be as precise as possible.
I hope this book will enlighten you and build your interest in the various aspects of ninjutsu and how
it relates to the history of Japan. If this work can help you to practice and study more deeply (no matter
the art) and allow you to view the world with a broader perspective and one without preconception, then
I have achieved my goal in writing this book.
The love of training requires a particular gift: the gift of one’s devotion. This dedication is based on
single-minded focus. All the major martial art practices have in common requiring ongoing dedication.
This gift allows one to transcend and to overcome the prejudices and other insignificant aspects of our
ego, detriments that keep our eyes closed at a time when they should be open.
But the wise know that the eyes alone are not sufficient.
Kacem Zoughari
December 2009
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