Product Description

Looking back almost 1,000 years, the mists of Japan's chaotic past shroud the development of a way of life, an ancient struggle waged against fierce feudal lords who ruled the island nation with swords of steel and a code of death before dishonor. The people of the mountainous regions of what is now Iga prefecture wanted to live in peace, but their lords had other plans-so the people learned the martial arts of self-defense and used their meager farm tools as weapons against the samurai blades of their oppressors. Nine traditions of the ninja arts grew out of this seemingly endless struggle, and legends were told of the supernatural abilities of the ninja fighters. The ninja never gained the kind of power that topples tyrants, but they gained a reputation that made tyrants cautious. And they gained the kind of power that makes the spirit endure and the mind the master of its fate. Told in actual stories of past grandmasters and in dojo lectures on techniques-with photographs, drawings, and paintings-the last surviving grandmaster of the ancient art of ninjutsu, Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi, presents Essence of Ninjutsu: The Nine Traditions. In it, he explains why, after more than 900 years, the art of the shadow warriors continues to inspire and serve practitioners from around the world. Dr. Hatsumi's book contains historic ninja scrolls and describes techniques for self-defense, and it debunks tricks that are attributed to the ninja but actually derive more from the circus than the martial arts. Essence of Ninjutsu is a fascinating, authoritative look at the roots of ninjutsu and how it continues to enrich the lives of its practitioners today. Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi is a bone doctor, artist, and writer, as well as the 34th grandmaster of the nine schools of the ninja arts in Japan. He has toured the United States in recent years to help Americans better understand the ninja and their way of life. His articles have appeared in all of the major martial arts magazines.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #117452 in Books
• Published on: 2000-01-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Customer Reviews

Keep coming back for more.
More esoteric than instructional this is a 'must read' for any student and worthwhile for all. Read it once a year and get something different out of it every time.

Essence of Ninjutsu is a colourfully written book and
is an essential introductiion to the spiritual and perhaps more subtle side of the art. Although well presented and relatively lengthy in written content, it is a translation from the Japanese original. I found it must be approached with an open mind. 12 chapters cover various aspects such as the history of the art, ninjutsu in relation to other martial arts, taijutsu, and the spirit of Ninjutsu today as compared with the past. There are many short stories, often hiding clues to the true spirit of the art while they are also a welcome break in the overall structure allowing the reader to reflect more deeply on what they have read. It will be more useful to someone who has started practicing the art first. You should buy this after NInjutsu : History and Tradition.

Now I understand what my instructor is talking about!!
I found this book to be enjoyable and informative. As a student myself I found it to give a marvellous overview of the art as a whole although it does tend to require study rather than idle skimming to get the most benefit but the extra effort is well worth it. This is certainly a book I would recommend to fellow students although not so much to the casual lay person as some prior knowledge of the subject is a great asset before reading this book.