True Path of the Ninja

True Path of the Ninja

Author: Antony Cummins

Publisher: Tuttle Publishing

Published: 2011-07-12

Total Pages: 192

ISBN-13: 1462900895

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True Path of the Ninja is the first authoritative translation in English of the Shoninki—the famous 17th century ninjutsu manual. Authors Antony Cummins and Yoshie Minami worked closely with Dr. Nakashima Atsumi, author of the most comprehensive modern Japanese version of the Shoninki, thus making this English translation the closest to the original scrolls. The information and insights found in this translation are invaluable for understanding the skills, techniques and mentality of the historical shinobi. Whether it involved tips for surviving in the wild, advice on intelligence-gathering techniques, or methods for creating chaos in the enemy camp, this ninja book unveils secrets long lost. Along with its practical applications, this book is an important guide to the mental discipline that ninjas must have to ensure success in accomplishing their mission. True Path of the Ninja covers the following topics: What a ninja is and what equipment he needs The skills of infiltration and information gathering How to distrupt and distract the enemy How to be mentally prepared to carry out ninja missions In addition to the translation of the Shoninki, this book also includes the first written record of the oral tradition "Defense Against a Ninja" taught by Otake Risuke, the revered sensei of the legendary Katori Shinto Ryu school of swordsmanship. Sensei reveals for the first time these ancient and traditional teachings on how the samurai can protect himself from the cunning wiles of a ninja. About this new edition: This second edition contains a new introduction by the translator, and has been thoroughly updated to reflect developments that shed new light on the original Japanese text.


Book Synopsis True Path of the Ninja by : Antony Cummins

Download or read book True Path of the Ninja written by Antony Cummins and published by Tuttle Publishing. This book was released on 2011-07-12 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: True Path of the Ninja is the first authoritative translation in English of the Shoninki—the famous 17th century ninjutsu manual. Authors Antony Cummins and Yoshie Minami worked closely with Dr. Nakashima Atsumi, author of the most comprehensive modern Japanese version of the Shoninki, thus making this English translation the closest to the original scrolls. The information and insights found in this translation are invaluable for understanding the skills, techniques and mentality of the historical shinobi. Whether it involved tips for surviving in the wild, advice on intelligence-gathering techniques, or methods for creating chaos in the enemy camp, this ninja book unveils secrets long lost. Along with its practical applications, this book is an important guide to the mental discipline that ninjas must have to ensure success in accomplishing their mission. True Path of the Ninja covers the following topics: What a ninja is and what equipment he needs The skills of infiltration and information gathering How to distrupt and distract the enemy How to be mentally prepared to carry out ninja missions In addition to the translation of the Shoninki, this book also includes the first written record of the oral tradition "Defense Against a Ninja" taught by Otake Risuke, the revered sensei of the legendary Katori Shinto Ryu school of swordsmanship. Sensei reveals for the first time these ancient and traditional teachings on how the samurai can protect himself from the cunning wiles of a ninja. About this new edition: This second edition contains a new introduction by the translator, and has been thoroughly updated to reflect developments that shed new light on the original Japanese text.


In Search of the Ninja

In Search of the Ninja

Author: Antony Cummins

Publisher: The History Press

Published: 2012-02-29

Total Pages: 264

ISBN-13: 0752483552

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Lost in modern myth, false history and general misinterpretation, the Ninja have been misrepresented for many years. More recently, a desire for a more historical view of the ninja has become a popular theme in the history/martial arts community and Antony Cummins is the primary driving force behind that movement. In Search of the Ninja is based upon the Historical Ninjutsu Research Team's translations of the major ninja manuals and consists of genuinely new material. Little historical research has been done on the Ninja of Japan. Here for the first time the connection of the famous Hattori family warriors with the Ninja is explained. The Samurai versus Ninja myth is dispelled. The realities of Ninja skills are analysed. How did a Ninja work underwater when mining castle walls? How can a bird be used to set fire to the enemy's camp? The book explores newly discovered connections to ancient Chinese manuals, lost skills and the 'hidden' Zen philosophy that the Ninja followed. In Search of the Ninja is the first and only historical look at the shinobi of ancient Japan.


Book Synopsis In Search of the Ninja by : Antony Cummins

Download or read book In Search of the Ninja written by Antony Cummins and published by The History Press. This book was released on 2012-02-29 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Lost in modern myth, false history and general misinterpretation, the Ninja have been misrepresented for many years. More recently, a desire for a more historical view of the ninja has become a popular theme in the history/martial arts community and Antony Cummins is the primary driving force behind that movement. In Search of the Ninja is based upon the Historical Ninjutsu Research Team's translations of the major ninja manuals and consists of genuinely new material. Little historical research has been done on the Ninja of Japan. Here for the first time the connection of the famous Hattori family warriors with the Ninja is explained. The Samurai versus Ninja myth is dispelled. The realities of Ninja skills are analysed. How did a Ninja work underwater when mining castle walls? How can a bird be used to set fire to the enemy's camp? The book explores newly discovered connections to ancient Chinese manuals, lost skills and the 'hidden' Zen philosophy that the Ninja followed. In Search of the Ninja is the first and only historical look at the shinobi of ancient Japan.


The Book of Ninja

The Book of Ninja

Author: Antony Cummins

Publisher: Watkins Media Limited

Published: 2013-10-03

Total Pages: 503

ISBN-13: 1780286317

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The first complete translation of the ultimate Ninja manual—a comprehensive guide to the arts of the ninja, including espionage, warfare, assassination, and more In 1676, a ninja named Fujibayashi collected and combined information from the ninja clans of Iga—regarded to be the homeland of the ninja—and compiled it into an authoritative book. Known as The Bansenhukai, Fujibayashi's book has now been translated into English by the Historical Ninjutsu Research Team and is widely considered to be the ‘bible’ of ninjutsu, the arts of the ninja. The Book of Ninja begins with an in-depth introduction to the history of Fujibayashi's scripture. The teachings themselves, appealingly rendered in this translation, then take us into the secrets of guerrilla warfare and espionage. We learn how to become the ultimate spy, whether through a network of spies or by hiding in plain sight. Through the stealth and concealment tactics of night-time infiltration, through weapon and tool building skills, and through mission planning, we can learn much both about warfare and about adopting the right mindset for tackling our own inner and outer enemies. Adding to the mix for the spycraft lover, there are sections on capturing criminals, performing night raids, making secret codes and signs, and even techniques for predicting the weather, and using an esoteric Buddhist system of divination. An exciting and engaging tome of lost knowledge, The Book of Ninja is the final say in the world of the ninja and the ultimate classic for samurai and ninja enthusiasts alike.


Book Synopsis The Book of Ninja by : Antony Cummins

Download or read book The Book of Ninja written by Antony Cummins and published by Watkins Media Limited. This book was released on 2013-10-03 with total page 503 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The first complete translation of the ultimate Ninja manual—a comprehensive guide to the arts of the ninja, including espionage, warfare, assassination, and more In 1676, a ninja named Fujibayashi collected and combined information from the ninja clans of Iga—regarded to be the homeland of the ninja—and compiled it into an authoritative book. Known as The Bansenhukai, Fujibayashi's book has now been translated into English by the Historical Ninjutsu Research Team and is widely considered to be the ‘bible’ of ninjutsu, the arts of the ninja. The Book of Ninja begins with an in-depth introduction to the history of Fujibayashi's scripture. The teachings themselves, appealingly rendered in this translation, then take us into the secrets of guerrilla warfare and espionage. We learn how to become the ultimate spy, whether through a network of spies or by hiding in plain sight. Through the stealth and concealment tactics of night-time infiltration, through weapon and tool building skills, and through mission planning, we can learn much both about warfare and about adopting the right mindset for tackling our own inner and outer enemies. Adding to the mix for the spycraft lover, there are sections on capturing criminals, performing night raids, making secret codes and signs, and even techniques for predicting the weather, and using an esoteric Buddhist system of divination. An exciting and engaging tome of lost knowledge, The Book of Ninja is the final say in the world of the ninja and the ultimate classic for samurai and ninja enthusiasts alike.


Ninja

Ninja

Author: John Man

Publisher: Random House

Published: 2012-07-19

Total Pages: 386

ISBN-13: 1446487660

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The Ninjas today are the stuff of myth and legend in comics, film and electronic games. But once they were real, the medieval equivalent of the SAS: spies, saboteurs, assassins. In their secrecy, under-cover skills and determination to survive, they were the opposite of the overt, self destructive samurai. Could they fly? Make themselves invisible? Of course not.It was just that their skills gave them a magical aura. As a result, martial artists and story-tellers have turned them into fantasy creatures, from James Bond to Mutant Turtles. In Ninja John Man goes in search of the truth. In a journey to the heartland of the ninjas, he takes us from their origins over 1,000 years ago, through their heyday in the civil wars that ended with Japan’s unification in 1600. But that was not the end of the ninja ethos. That re-emerged in World War Two as a little-known counterpart to Japanese militarism. Ninja ways live on in the real ‘last of the ninjas’, Hiroo Onoda, who held out in the Philippine jungle for 30 years.


Book Synopsis Ninja by : John Man

Download or read book Ninja written by John Man and published by Random House. This book was released on 2012-07-19 with total page 386 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Ninjas today are the stuff of myth and legend in comics, film and electronic games. But once they were real, the medieval equivalent of the SAS: spies, saboteurs, assassins. In their secrecy, under-cover skills and determination to survive, they were the opposite of the overt, self destructive samurai. Could they fly? Make themselves invisible? Of course not.It was just that their skills gave them a magical aura. As a result, martial artists and story-tellers have turned them into fantasy creatures, from James Bond to Mutant Turtles. In Ninja John Man goes in search of the truth. In a journey to the heartland of the ninjas, he takes us from their origins over 1,000 years ago, through their heyday in the civil wars that ended with Japan’s unification in 1600. But that was not the end of the ninja ethos. That re-emerged in World War Two as a little-known counterpart to Japanese militarism. Ninja ways live on in the real ‘last of the ninjas’, Hiroo Onoda, who held out in the Philippine jungle for 30 years.


The True Path of the Ninja

The True Path of the Ninja

Author: Masazumi Natori

Publisher:

Published: 2010

Total Pages: 191

ISBN-13:

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Book Synopsis The True Path of the Ninja by : Masazumi Natori

Download or read book The True Path of the Ninja written by Masazumi Natori and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 191 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:


Shoninki: The Secret Teachings of the Ninja

Shoninki: The Secret Teachings of the Ninja

Author: Master Natori Masazumi

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2010-08-13

Total Pages: 160

ISBN-13: 1594776679

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The classic text on the mystical traditions of the ninja now decoded in English • The path of the ninja as an authentic spiritual discipline • Details the art of concealment and espionage, including methods of disguise, survival techniques, and face reading • A ninja response to the Samurai Bushido and the way to mind-body harmony Experts in disguise, infiltration, espionage, and counterintelligence, the ninja had spiritual values and magical traditions that distinguished them from the soldierlike samurai. Their art of ninjutsu, invisible as well as indispensable, was transmitted in secret schools and relied on only a few books, which were written in code. The Shoninki, one of the most important of these coded manuals, was written in 1681 by Master Ninja Natori Masazumi. Presenting all facets of the art of concealment, espionage, and physical prowess, including methods of disguise and survival techniques, this source text also contains teachings on spiritual meditations, psychic powers, the art of face reading, controlling the emotions, and magic spells. Revealing the connection between the ninja and the yamabushi--warrior monks who were endowed with supernatural powers--this classic text confirms the path of the ninja as an authentic spiritual discipline, one of self-realization and detachment and the way to mind-body harmony.


Book Synopsis Shoninki: The Secret Teachings of the Ninja by : Master Natori Masazumi

Download or read book Shoninki: The Secret Teachings of the Ninja written by Master Natori Masazumi and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2010-08-13 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The classic text on the mystical traditions of the ninja now decoded in English • The path of the ninja as an authentic spiritual discipline • Details the art of concealment and espionage, including methods of disguise, survival techniques, and face reading • A ninja response to the Samurai Bushido and the way to mind-body harmony Experts in disguise, infiltration, espionage, and counterintelligence, the ninja had spiritual values and magical traditions that distinguished them from the soldierlike samurai. Their art of ninjutsu, invisible as well as indispensable, was transmitted in secret schools and relied on only a few books, which were written in code. The Shoninki, one of the most important of these coded manuals, was written in 1681 by Master Ninja Natori Masazumi. Presenting all facets of the art of concealment, espionage, and physical prowess, including methods of disguise and survival techniques, this source text also contains teachings on spiritual meditations, psychic powers, the art of face reading, controlling the emotions, and magic spells. Revealing the connection between the ninja and the yamabushi--warrior monks who were endowed with supernatural powers--this classic text confirms the path of the ninja as an authentic spiritual discipline, one of self-realization and detachment and the way to mind-body harmony.


The Ninpiden - True Ninja Traditions

The Ninpiden - True Ninja Traditions

Author: Antony Cummins

Publisher:

Published: 2011-02-03

Total Pages: 144

ISBN-13: 9781604818307

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True Ninja Traditions is a collection of three of the most profound historical works on ninjutsu to have come out of Japan. They have been brought together here for the first time to an English speaking audience and contain some of the greatest ninja secrets to have ever been written down. These works are: The three Shinobi Scrolls of the Gunpo Jiyoshu samurai manual, written in or before 1612, a document approved by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first great shogun of Japan, The Yoshimori Hyakushu or the Shinobi-uta which consists of 100 ninja poems that have been attributed to the 12th century tactician, Yoshimori and are considered to be the oldest teachings on ninjutsu to exist and finally the Ninpiden or Secret Ninja Transmission by Hattori Hanzo & Others in which the main body of the work is dated to 1560 and is considered to be one of the three great ninja manuals. Together these sort after scrolls will take you into the world of medieval Japan and divulge the shinobi secrets of espionage, ninja battlefield tactics and much more.


Book Synopsis The Ninpiden - True Ninja Traditions by : Antony Cummins

Download or read book The Ninpiden - True Ninja Traditions written by Antony Cummins and published by . This book was released on 2011-02-03 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: True Ninja Traditions is a collection of three of the most profound historical works on ninjutsu to have come out of Japan. They have been brought together here for the first time to an English speaking audience and contain some of the greatest ninja secrets to have ever been written down. These works are: The three Shinobi Scrolls of the Gunpo Jiyoshu samurai manual, written in or before 1612, a document approved by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first great shogun of Japan, The Yoshimori Hyakushu or the Shinobi-uta which consists of 100 ninja poems that have been attributed to the 12th century tactician, Yoshimori and are considered to be the oldest teachings on ninjutsu to exist and finally the Ninpiden or Secret Ninja Transmission by Hattori Hanzo & Others in which the main body of the work is dated to 1560 and is considered to be one of the three great ninja manuals. Together these sort after scrolls will take you into the world of medieval Japan and divulge the shinobi secrets of espionage, ninja battlefield tactics and much more.


Ninja Skills

Ninja Skills

Author: Antony Cummins

Publisher: Watkins

Published: 2018-03-15

Total Pages: 248

ISBN-13: 1786781530

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This is the first book ever to present the authentic ninja techniques in a highly accessible, illustrated 'how to' format. The shadowy figure of the ninja _ expert commando, secret agent, maverick who operates outside social norms _ continues to exert fascination in the West, yet much of what is presented as ninja fact today is distorted or wrong. Drawing on the scrolls created by historical Japanese ninjas (or shinobi, as they were then known), this book offers the real ninja teachings in 150 easy-to-follow, illustrated lessons designed to draw contemporary students of ninja straight into the world of these skilled spy-commandos. The truth about the ninja is so much more complex and intriguing than the Hollywood clich_s we know today. We may think, for example, of a ninja as being always garbed in black and fighting with 'throwing stars' but in fact, a ninja had clothes in different colours to serve as disguises for different times of day, and their arsenal of weaponry could include anything from poison, poison gas, pepper spray and fire-creating tools to swords, spears and knives (but no throwing stars). The 150 lessons in this book cover all the basics of ninja warcraft, including clever ideas for infiltrating an enemy compound (from wearing 'silent sandals' to faking passes and passwords), tactics for hiding and retreat (in the racoon dog retreat, a ninja will crouch low and halt, allowing the pursuer to collide with him at speed, whereupon the agent kills his enemy), and ways of crossing marshes and water (for example, with special shoes made of boards, or using a foldaway floating seat). The description is made all the more vivid by step-by-step photographs of the fighting techniques, diagrams outlining military tactics and beautiful samples of Japanese calligraphy.


Book Synopsis Ninja Skills by : Antony Cummins

Download or read book Ninja Skills written by Antony Cummins and published by Watkins. This book was released on 2018-03-15 with total page 248 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is the first book ever to present the authentic ninja techniques in a highly accessible, illustrated 'how to' format. The shadowy figure of the ninja _ expert commando, secret agent, maverick who operates outside social norms _ continues to exert fascination in the West, yet much of what is presented as ninja fact today is distorted or wrong. Drawing on the scrolls created by historical Japanese ninjas (or shinobi, as they were then known), this book offers the real ninja teachings in 150 easy-to-follow, illustrated lessons designed to draw contemporary students of ninja straight into the world of these skilled spy-commandos. The truth about the ninja is so much more complex and intriguing than the Hollywood clich_s we know today. We may think, for example, of a ninja as being always garbed in black and fighting with 'throwing stars' but in fact, a ninja had clothes in different colours to serve as disguises for different times of day, and their arsenal of weaponry could include anything from poison, poison gas, pepper spray and fire-creating tools to swords, spears and knives (but no throwing stars). The 150 lessons in this book cover all the basics of ninja warcraft, including clever ideas for infiltrating an enemy compound (from wearing 'silent sandals' to faking passes and passwords), tactics for hiding and retreat (in the racoon dog retreat, a ninja will crouch low and halt, allowing the pursuer to collide with him at speed, whereupon the agent kills his enemy), and ways of crossing marshes and water (for example, with special shoes made of boards, or using a foldaway floating seat). The description is made all the more vivid by step-by-step photographs of the fighting techniques, diagrams outlining military tactics and beautiful samples of Japanese calligraphy.


Ninja and Their Secret Fighting Art

Ninja and Their Secret Fighting Art

Author: Stephen K. Hayes

Publisher: Tuttle Publishing

Published: 2011-12-20

Total Pages: 160

ISBN-13: 1462901832

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Look past the legends and learn about the REAL ninjas of feudal Japan with this entertaining, illustrated ninjutsu guide. Ninjutsu, the least understood of the Japanese martial arts, is an ancient fighting style emphasizing natural movement, responsiveness to adversaries, and absolute practicality. In feudal Japan, ninja were feared for their skill in espionage and, particularly, assassination. Masters of weaponry, stealth, and martial techniques, ninja were credited with supernatural powers because of the near-invincibility of their unique and deadly art. In The Ninja and Their Secret Fighting Art, Black Belt Hall of Fame member, Stephen K. Hayes, reveals the secrets that lead to the perception of the ninja as warriors of almost sorcerous skill—the art of invisibility, special tools and weapons, and psychological training enabling the ninja to gain advantage in any situation. Chapters include: Perspective—Origin; Organization; Training; At the Height of Power; The Decline; Ninjutsu in the Modern World Search for the Ninja Unarmed Combat—The Ninja Fists; Fighting Postures; Other Factors Weaponry—Chains and Cords; Sticks and Staffs; Canes with Concealed Weapons; The Ninja Sword; Throwing Blades The Way of Invisibility—Sense Deception; Phantom Steps; Reconnaissance; Blending with the Night; Attacking the Eyes; The Art of Disguise Shadow Warriors—Espionage; Commando Tactics The Realm of the Spirit—Psychological Warfare; The Force of the Killer; The Great Harmony


Book Synopsis Ninja and Their Secret Fighting Art by : Stephen K. Hayes

Download or read book Ninja and Their Secret Fighting Art written by Stephen K. Hayes and published by Tuttle Publishing. This book was released on 2011-12-20 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Look past the legends and learn about the REAL ninjas of feudal Japan with this entertaining, illustrated ninjutsu guide. Ninjutsu, the least understood of the Japanese martial arts, is an ancient fighting style emphasizing natural movement, responsiveness to adversaries, and absolute practicality. In feudal Japan, ninja were feared for their skill in espionage and, particularly, assassination. Masters of weaponry, stealth, and martial techniques, ninja were credited with supernatural powers because of the near-invincibility of their unique and deadly art. In The Ninja and Their Secret Fighting Art, Black Belt Hall of Fame member, Stephen K. Hayes, reveals the secrets that lead to the perception of the ninja as warriors of almost sorcerous skill—the art of invisibility, special tools and weapons, and psychological training enabling the ninja to gain advantage in any situation. Chapters include: Perspective—Origin; Organization; Training; At the Height of Power; The Decline; Ninjutsu in the Modern World Search for the Ninja Unarmed Combat—The Ninja Fists; Fighting Postures; Other Factors Weaponry—Chains and Cords; Sticks and Staffs; Canes with Concealed Weapons; The Ninja Sword; Throwing Blades The Way of Invisibility—Sense Deception; Phantom Steps; Reconnaissance; Blending with the Night; Attacking the Eyes; The Art of Disguise Shadow Warriors—Espionage; Commando Tactics The Realm of the Spirit—Psychological Warfare; The Force of the Killer; The Great Harmony


The Secret Traditions of the Shinobi

The Secret Traditions of the Shinobi

Author: Antony Cummins

Publisher: North Atlantic Books

Published: 2012-11-27

Total Pages: 217

ISBN-13: 1583944354

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This illuminating study of martial arts techniques, philosophies, and lifestyles demystifies one of the most misunderstood figures in Japanese history—the ninja. A landmark collection of shinobi texts featuring 70 illustrations and 100 poems representing some of the oldest ninjutsu writings in the world The shinobi, or ninja, is one of the most widely recognized figures in the world of espionage—and also one of the most misrepresented. What do we really know about the historical shinobi, his tactics, and his role in medieval Japanese society? In The Secret Traditions of the Shinobi, these questions—and many more—are answered. Translated into English for the very first time, this widely sought-after collection of historical documents brings to light the secret practices, techniques, philosophies, and lifestyles of the shinobi. Included are: • the Shinobi Hiden, or “Secret Ninja Tradition”, a documentation of techniques commonly attributed to one of the best-known ninja masters, Hattori Hanzo; • the Koka Ryu Ninjutsu Densho, a small but important work from the Edo period that reveals the realm of ninja magic and spells; • the three shinobi scrolls of the Gunpo Jiyoshu, a manual enthusiastically promoted by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Tokugawa shogun of Japan; • 100 poems written between the 12th and 15th centuries—making them the oldest collection of written ninjutsu information in the world • 70 historical black-and-white illustrations depicting ninja tools and weapons. The Secret Traditions of the Shinobi will enthrall martial artists eager to learn the real skills of the shinobi, as well as anyone interested in this exciting period of Japanese history and espionage.


Book Synopsis The Secret Traditions of the Shinobi by : Antony Cummins

Download or read book The Secret Traditions of the Shinobi written by Antony Cummins and published by North Atlantic Books. This book was released on 2012-11-27 with total page 217 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This illuminating study of martial arts techniques, philosophies, and lifestyles demystifies one of the most misunderstood figures in Japanese history—the ninja. A landmark collection of shinobi texts featuring 70 illustrations and 100 poems representing some of the oldest ninjutsu writings in the world The shinobi, or ninja, is one of the most widely recognized figures in the world of espionage—and also one of the most misrepresented. What do we really know about the historical shinobi, his tactics, and his role in medieval Japanese society? In The Secret Traditions of the Shinobi, these questions—and many more—are answered. Translated into English for the very first time, this widely sought-after collection of historical documents brings to light the secret practices, techniques, philosophies, and lifestyles of the shinobi. Included are: • the Shinobi Hiden, or “Secret Ninja Tradition”, a documentation of techniques commonly attributed to one of the best-known ninja masters, Hattori Hanzo; • the Koka Ryu Ninjutsu Densho, a small but important work from the Edo period that reveals the realm of ninja magic and spells; • the three shinobi scrolls of the Gunpo Jiyoshu, a manual enthusiastically promoted by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Tokugawa shogun of Japan; • 100 poems written between the 12th and 15th centuries—making them the oldest collection of written ninjutsu information in the world • 70 historical black-and-white illustrations depicting ninja tools and weapons. The Secret Traditions of the Shinobi will enthrall martial artists eager to learn the real skills of the shinobi, as well as anyone interested in this exciting period of Japanese history and espionage.