Weapons
| A book dealing with
ninjutsu wouldn't be complete without at least some
mention of the myriad's of weapons that they
incorporated in their pursuit of martial excellence.
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| Training (fighting)
with weapons is much more different than training
empty handed (taijutsu). Ones distance, judgment,
precision and sense of timing are just a few of the
more critical factors which must be carefully assessed
so as not to hurt your opponent. Concentrating fully
upon the moment and not letting ones mind wander while
one has a weapon in hand is very important. Not taking
the training experience seriously, one could end up
maiming themselves or their opponent for life.
Training with weapons demands that both combatants be
mature enough to respect the potential of the weapons
they hold and that horseplay will not be tolerated for
even an instance. The saying, "It's all fun and
games until someone loses an eye", vividly comes
to life when facing an equally armed opponent.
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As well as
continuing our ancient martial traditions weapons work
hones our taijutsu (empty hand)
techniques to a fine edge. Once someone trains with
weapons for a while they see that their taijutsu
has improved considerably. This is because of the
seriousness taken on by the artist for weapons
sparring.
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| Following are a list
of some of the more commonly used weapons of the
ancient ninja. Some may appear to be in the wrong
column but are grouped according to their major uses.
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Flexible
Weapons
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Kyoketsu Shoge
|
hooked knife with
weighted rope |
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Kusari Gama
|
sickle with weighted
chain |
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Kaginawa
|
grappling hook with
rope |
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Kusari Fundo
|
weighted chain |
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Nawa
|
rope |
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Stick Weapons
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Bo
|
staff |
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Hanbo
|
cane (half staff) |
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Yari
|
spear |
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Nyo Ibo
|
heavy war club |
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Jutte
|
truncheon |
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Tessen
|
folding fan |
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Naginata
|
halberd |
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Bladed Weapons
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Shinobi Gatana
|
ninja sword |
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Tanto
|
knife |
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Yari
|
spear |
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Naginata
|
halberd |
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Shaken &
Shuriken
|
throwing blades |
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Specialty
Weapons
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Toami
|
net |
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Yumi/Ya
|
bow & arrows |
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Tetsubushi
|
caltrops |
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Metsubushi
|
blinders (smokes, etc.) |
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Shuko/Ashiko
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hand & foot claws |
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Fukiya
|
blow gun |
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Tanegashima/Teppo
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firearms/cannons |
Shinken
Gata
(Unarmed
against an armed opponent)
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| In a street
confrontation chances are that the would be attacker
will be armed. Seeing how most of us carry no visible
weapons we are prompted to use the best one in any
situation, our minds.
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| When training against
someone with a weapon it should be the same as
training against an unarmed opponent. First and
foremost we must control the degree of fear within
ourselves. When attacked by an aggressor with a weapon
the chances of getting cut or injured are greatly
increased, this depending on skill levels of both the
defender and attacker. Seeing your favorite action
hero liquidate an entire enemy army in a popular movie
and then simply walk away is great (great only for the
hollywood investors). Don't believe that you'll come
away unscathed, even great masters are injured during
battle. Takamatsu Sensei of the Togakure Ryu once had
a fight against a master of the Musashi ryu. The
jujutsu master trapped and broke Takamatsu Sensei's
arm. He ignoring the pain, threw his opponent and
knocked him out thereby winning the contest.
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| When training against
an armed adversary keep in mind that the weapon is not
an extension of your (their) body. The weapon itself
can't hurt you and feels no pain, so hitting it might
not have any effect upon the situation (it's the same
when people blame alcohol as being evil. Alone it
bothers no one. Properly administered it can be useful
as a medicine, abused and it's effects can be deadly),
the attacker could simply release the weapon and punch
or kick you to defeat. When your opponent comes at you
seek a safe area inside the attack and strike his hand
or wrist causing him to release the weapon from it's
evil purpose and allowing it to be used by someone for
a good cause.
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Everyday
Weapons
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| People often ask
martial artists what the most versatile weapon to use
is. Among the myrids of answers I've heard, not once
did someone say that their mind was the best weapon
they possessed.
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| By having a well
trained mind one is never at a loss for a weapon if
ever in need of one. Hairbrushes, telephones, credit
cards, paper, books, jewelry, umbrellas, the list
could go on indefinitely. What? You ask yourself did
he write down paper. Suprisingly paper has many combat
uses which most people take for granted, one being
used as a medium for information such as hate
messages, false information, etc. or as a burning
medium to start a fire. This all depending upon the
ingenuity of the human mind. It is because of this
adaptability that the ninja where able to utilize
farming tools as formidable weapons against trained
warriors when all weapons were banned in ancient
Japan. |
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