KOGA RYU NINJUTSU BLOG

Wiki martial arts.org gives mention to Way of the Wind and Prof. Ronald Duncan.

2011-03-18T16:29:00.000-07:00

Wiki martial arts.org sites Black Belt Magazine's recognition of Professor Ronald Duncan as the first to teach Ninjutsu in the untied states. Wiki martial arts goes on to give mention to Way of the Wind system as oldest ninjutsu school in Western hemisphere.

http://wikimartialarts.org/index.php/Ninjutsu

"The way of the Wind martial Arts school, under the direction of Ronald Duncan, teaches Koga Ryu ninjutsu of the Wada Ha tradition. The School is also known for their aikijutsu and practical applications of weapons including knife throwing, firearms and fighting. According to Black belt magazine, 50th year anniversary 2010, page 47, Ronald Duncan was teaching ninjutsu in New York back in 1963. This fact makes the Way of the Wind, the oldest ninjutsu school in the western hemisphere."

NINJA WEAPONS AND TOOLS HISTORICAL WEAPONS OF THE NINJA

2011-01-14T18:32:00.000-08:00

By Antony Cummins

Author of "True Path of the Ninja"

www.natori.co.uk

The ninja of Japan have become mired with the brush of misunderstanding and their story is being rewritten by the continuation of misnomers. Antony Cummins, a postgraduate in the area of history and archaeology has formed the Historical Ninjutsu Research Team with the aim of translating and understanding the ninja or shinobi in their correct historical context. Therefore, here you will find the historical truth behind some of the most advanced tools and weapons of medieval Japan, items established and propagated by the ninja themselves.

While there are many ninja manuals in existence, only a few hold authority without question and out of these, three hold the title as being the core manuals left to us from the shinobi (original reading of ninja) of the past. These are the Bansenshukai, the Ninpiden and the Shoninki. Together these manuals deliver the message that the historical ninja were not shuriken throwing men leaping from tree to tree and disregarding the laws of physics, instead it tells us of an elite corps of professionals that conducted espionage and hard line guerrilla warfare, where torture, infiltration, demolitions and pre-emptive strikes where the order of the day. At the head of this military branch were the innovative weapons and tools that helped the ninja ‘cause hell’ among the enemy ranks.

The misnomers

The first thing one should set in concrete when considering the ninja is, those objects you believe to be ninja weapon are in fact not. This mistake comes in two guises. Firstly, the error that shuriken (throwing stars), chain weapons, sickles, blowpipes and hidden canes where created and used solely by the ninja. All of these weapons are not and never have been attributed to the ninja from a historical point of view. All of the above are well documented samurai weapons that were used within many of the martial schools of Japan and their history and genealogy can be easily traced through the history of conflict in Japan. For an extensive look at these weapons and their subcategories see Classical Weaponry of Japan by Serge Mol from Kodansha Publishing. Secondly, ninjutsu or the art of the ninja is not a martial art and ninja weapons are not considered to objects of hand to hand fighting. It is a common mistake to see the ninja and the samurai as separate classes, however, in the Sengoku or Warring Period in Japan the concept of a rigid hierarchy was not established, and while the aristocracy and warrior elite did exist, social mobility was not restricted. This was also the height of the ninja and their golden years. Therefore, many of the ninja were in fact samurai, with the skills of the ninja and were at least considered to be part of the warrior cast. In short, one should consider the ninja as a warrior/samurai whose job was to do perform the arts of the ninja, no matter if he was a foot soldier or high ranking samurai, he was still a ninja.

HONESTY IN NINJUTSU

2011-01-08T15:15:00.001-08:00

I get a bunch of questions from readers of the blog like "What do I think of this ninjutsu instructor or that Instructor." I do nt really want to voice my opinion of specific people.

Modern ninjutsu today is what it is. Are there those that are more legitimate than others? Sure there is, that is true of all martial arts. There are good instructors and bad instructors legitimate instructors and fraudelent ones. Like there are good lawyers and not so good lawyers, or mechanics, painters, etc, etc.

Basically as an instructor it boils down to are you a good instructor or not. Your work ethic should define you, not who taught you. As an instructor I have had my share of awesome students, good students and mediocre students. So being a good instructor doesn't necessarily mean that all of your students will be good. If such was the case the would have been no shortage of Bruce Lees in Hollywood. His top student could ve step right in and did what he did and then his and then his. Some of Lees student did well and I am sure there are some who did not do anything.

My problem with some instructors is that instead of letting their teaching define them they tend to want to exaggerate the truth making themselves out to be more than what they are. In other words they may feel that their backgrounds may fall short or that maybe the competition against other schools and instructors is to stiff. Who knows what the reasons are.

So they add a little flavor to their backgrounds. It isnt good enough to be a 2nd dan or a 4th dan in ninjutsu. It is nt enough to simply be the head of thier own school, they have to pass them selves off as a master or someone who thier instructor had left them head of the ryu. These embellishments are simply not needed. Again an instructor's own ability speaks for itself or doesnt. I as a martial artists see no need to make exaggerated statements yet there are those that do and do it well unfortunately.

So does it matter that you only got a 4th degree black belt in the Bujinkan, To Shin Do or whatever style one trains in and for whatever reason you cant advance any further. No, it doesnt matter. Some begin their own schools and this is great, nothing wrong with a 2nd or 4th dan starting their own school or even a first dan for that matter. The problem arises when they are teaching, say bujinkan techniques, and calling it another form of ninjutsu and then claiming that this system was left solely to them and the stories go on and on.

Honesty is always the best policy those that feel the need to embellish their backgrounds obviously feel inadequate in some way. It doesnt matter if as an ninjutsu instructor your a product of the ninja boom or if you got your training in a dojo under a grand master or from a homestudy course and only went so far. Be honest about it gaining your black belt is an accomplishment. Dont embellish, you only damage your character. One untrue statement about your back ground begets another and then another. However you got it, simply represent yourself as such, don't mislead others into believing your something that your not. You not only do your students an injustice but you do yourself an injustice as well.

So, be honest, teach and pass on authentic information with integrity to the best of your ability and continue to seek out genuine information.

The Historical Ninja

2011-01-07T04:42:00.000-08:00

For my self and others we have this modern highly romanticized image of the ninja, thanks to movies and TV. The mystique and super human fighting and stealth abilities make for great imagery in the movie industry. However I find that the historical accounts though they paint a somewhat different picture are just as interesting and captivating.

We are often told about the lack of credible information about ninja. But in fact the situation is not so desperate. Nowadays we have by hand several dozens of ninja treatises the most famous of which are “Bansenshukai”, “Ninpiden” and “Shoninki”, which all were published in Japan several time each. We have a detailed account of Oda invasion to Iga province in “Iranki” with parallel fragments in “Shinchokoki”. We have dozens of reports of shoguns’s o-niwaban and other documents. We have lot of genealogies of many ninja clans - the Hattori, the Fujibayashi, the Momochi and others. And finally hundreds of passages from many gunki-monogatari - “Taiheiki”, “Hojo godaiki”, “Kanhasshu-roku”, “Matsuo-gunki”, “Intoku Taiheiki”, “Taikoki” and many others.

If you would study Japanese historical texts, classical literary texts, real ninjutsu treatises, and works of leading modern researchers of ninjutsu history - Yamaguchi Masayuki, Okuse Heishichiro, Nava Yumio and others - we will find a different image of ninja and ninjutsu. Here I want to quote from a 18th century book "Buke myomokusho" or “Titles of samurai’s families”:

“Shinobi-no mono execute different espionage work. Therefore they also are named kanja or choja. Their service is to secretly penetrate to other provinces and find out the real situation in enemy camps, or by mixing with enemy to find out his weak points. Additionally in enemy camps they set fires, and as assassins, they kill people. These shinobi are used in many cases. They are also named mono-kiki, shinobi-metsuke. If from the first time their duties are not fixed, there are no tasks which they are not given.

As shinobi usually common people, “light-legs” (ashigaru), police guards (doshin), rappa, seppa and others are used. Near Kyoto in Iga province and in Koga [district of province] Omi there were many jizamurai, after Onin years (1467-1477) they organized their own bands (to) and fought during the day and during the night, they also stole and robbed. Many of them became masters in theirs art of espionage (kancho-no jutsu), after this feudal lords (daimyo) of all clans began to hire such jizamurai. The usual practice was to hire them as spies (shinobi). And they were named Iga-mono - Men from Iga - and Koga-mono - Men from Koga” (translation from old japanese from: Koji ruien. Tokyo, 1969, v. 43, p.346).

According to a story in the Iran-Ki, when Oda Nobunaga quieted Iga and stopped to rest at Aekuni Shrine in Ichinomiya during one of his inspection visits, an Iga ninja by the name of Kai Kido whose real name was Yazaemon Kido along with two other ninjas, Moku Harada of Otowa village and Indai Hangan of Indai village were sent to assassinate him. Kido may have been the ninja with the most skill with a firearm.

As Lord Nobunaga rested in the shrine, the ninja got close, aimed thier guns and fired. Nobunaga known for his luck as well as his skill moved just in time. Nobunaga's people gave chase but the ninja disappeared into the mountains.

Looking to the New Year

2010-12-31T18:50:00.000-08:00

Here I am on New Year's eve feeling a bit reflective on the last year. I was going to write a year in review article of sorts but I got to thinking it would probably be more meaningful to look to the future and brighter things to come.

Most of you have already noticed that the blog has a new look. I am starting the year off right with an upcoming Ninjutsu seminar on Saturday the 22nd of January, as well as a ninjutsu program at the Dunigan Family YMCA in Evansville, Indiana.

So, despite of some the things I have to deal with in recent months (knotheads ripping of my blog and the losers I had to threaten with legal litigation for doing so) as all can see I am moving full steam ahead.

A few of the new year's projects are already under way and I am excited about 2011. Several people have offered their support over the years such as O'sensei Ronald Duncan and I want to take this oppotunity to thank him for it.

There will be some articles by me coming out in some upcoming issues of Shinobi No Mono magazine. I want to thank Christa Jacobson for that. I cannot thank Doryan Algarra enough for letting me use his ninja graphic.

Lastly, but definitely not least my students they train and study and read my blog and of course it is with their help that I move forward into 2011.

My students and I have been moving forward this past year and there have been those who have offered certain things in the past, things that quite frankly I did not ask for but the were offered and then they were not delivered. This was a humiliating let down to not only myself but my students as well. I am sure that this person meant well but he simply did not follow thru with what he said he was going to do. I wish them no ill will, I instead wish them safe journey and I sincerely hope they find in life whatever they search for. Our paths have simply come to be different ones.

The future is indeed bright with the program growing and more exposure being given to my blog as well as the continued support of those who I have mentioned earlier. I want to wish every one a Happy New Year and may 2011 bring success and happiness to you all.

Ninjutsu Seminar

2010-12-31T06:13:00.000-08:00

NINJUTSU SEMINAR !!!!!!!
Location: Dunigan family YMCA express bldg. Next to White Castle. Evansville, IN.
Date and Time: Jan. 22, 2011 starts at 9:00 am till 3:30 PM there will be a break for lunch.

Excellent training for Law enforcement personell

Ninjutsu in Evansville, In.

2010-12-30T17:39:00.000-08:00

LEARN THE ART OF THE NINJA

AN ANCIENT ART FOR THE

21ST CENTURY

The ninja or shinobi were an ancient group of secretive warriors who specialized espionage and sabotage and Guerrilla warfare. Their martial art is still practiced today in the form of ninjutsu. Ninjutsu is a highly focused form of martial arts, which concentrates on so-called hidden techniques. A multi faceted art encompassing the break falling, throws and joint locking techniques as well as the striking techniques.

From your very first lesson, you will learn techniques you can use right away. The versatility of ninjutsu offers a complete self-protection curriculum teaching students of ALL AGES the best ways to protect self and others in today’s world. People train in ninjutsu primarily for self defense and physical fitness.

Be Cool! Go to Ninja School !!!

ages 7 to adult

Come & learn

Fun Acrobatic jumps and rolls.

Punches and Kicks.

Self Defence.

Escapes, Throws & Grapples.

Adult and children’s program beginning FEB. 22, 2011 at the Dunigan Family YMCA in Evansville, In. Tuesday and Thursday evening beginning at 6:15 PM in the YMCA Express Bldg next to White Castle.

Black Belt Magazine 50th Anniversary Issue recognizes Prof. Ronald Duncan

2010-12-14T14:05:00.000-08:00

In the latest issue of Black belt Magazine, January 2011 issue, Black belt commemorates thier 50 years of publication in a 5 part series of articles in which they list the highlights from the martial arts world during Black Belt's first half century.

Part 1 of a 5 covering their 50 year run starts off with a look back to the sixties. In 1964, listed as one of the highlights of the sixties Black Belt gives mention to none other than Prof. Ronald Duncan, and specifically mentioned that in 1964 "Ronald Duncan, 27, was teaching ninjutsu in N.Y."

Born in Panama. Professor Ronald Duncan began training in boxing at the age of seven. Since Professor Ronald Duncan grew up in an area where many of the elite military forces of that country were training in jungle warfare, he learned at an early age to read the signs of nature for directions in and out of the jungle. It was the beginning of a long and very involved career in many aspects of the martial arts.

Ronald Duncan went on to serve in the United States Marine Corp where he was a member of the USMC Judo team and earned one of his earliest black belt rankings. Professor Duncan went on to earn a black belt in several other disciplines such as Hakko Ryu Jujitsu, Dai-nippon Jujitsu Ryu, Sosuishi Ryu, Kin Dai Gakko Ryu, Aikido, Aiki-Jujitsu, Kempo, Kobujitsu (weaponry), and Shinobino-jitsu (popularly known as Ninjitsu). His teachers were all legendary men; Charlie Neal, Ernie Cates, Tatsuo Uzaki, and Don Draeger.

Evolving into such a versatile practitioner of the martial arts, Professor Ronald Duncan became the first non-oriental to be publically recognized in "Official Karate" magazine as a master of martial arts weaponry. For many years to come, Professor Duncan would thrill audiences around the world with spectacular demonstrations that would include vast assortments of traditional and non traditional weapons. Ronald Duncan was also the first to be shown catching live arrows with his bare hands on nationally televised programs such as "Thrill Seekers", and "Wide World of Sports".

Ronald Duncan has taught Special Troops, Navy S.E.A.L. Teams, law enforcement agencies, and various government agencies in foreign countries. He is also a certified expert in firearms, and competition shooting. Having such knowledge in firearms, Professor Duncan is quite proficient in combative and gun disarming tactics. Since the establishment of his Way of the Winds™ System, schools internationally are affiliated with him. He has taught in Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Panama, England and South Africa. He has also been involved with the blind, physically handicapped, and homeless inner-city youth.

Ronald Duncan is a recipient of numerous Hall of Fame awards and honors including the Professional Karate Federation in 1977, Turtull Hall of Fame in 1981, Marine Martial Arts Federation Hall of Fame Charter Life Member in 1997, Martial Arts Masters, Pioneers & Legends Hall of Fame 1997, Tribute to the Greatest Masters of the Twentieth Century Hall of Fame (sponsored by Wesley Snipes) in 1998, and The World Head of Family Sokeship Council Hall of Fame 1999, and AFMA Hall of Fame 2000.

Prof. Duncan was the first to practice and teach Ninjutsu in the states beginning in the 60’s before the ninja craze hit America in the 80's and 90's. Today, Professor Ronald Duncan is often acknowleged as the ”Father of American Ninjutsu” . There was a time when Ninjutsu was not being practiced publicly in this country but Ronald Duncan was one of a few individuals who dared to seek out and study the arts of the ninja. Since then, other ninjutsu practitioners and schools have emerged.

Were Ninja Martial artists?

2010-12-10T08:23:00.000-08:00

by Barron Shepherd
Artwork by Doryan Algarra

There is a plethora of information slowly but surely emerging from Japan presently. There are those who have come from Japan to make presentations concerning the Shinobi (Ninja) such as Jinichi Kawakami seminar last year. There are those who have practiced and studied the warrior arts of the Samurai. There are those who practice Koryu, the ancient systems of Japanese fighting methods and lastly there have been translations of ancient manuals, scrolls and texts. This is an exciting time for those who are training, studying, teaching and still have questions concerning ancient Japanese fighting arts.

So what is the difference between the Shinobi and the Samurai? Quite simply the Samurai practiced methods of physical combat on the battlefield and one on one up front confrontation. While the Shinobi trained in entirely different areas of warfare such as stealth, espionage and infiltration techniques. Part of the shinobi’s job was not to fight but to simply gather information and get the information back to his retainer, not be confrontational or even judgemental. Even though both had a different skill set both were considered "bushi" (warriors).

So is Ninjutsu a martial art or a Koryu?

According to The Bansenshukai (Translated the 'Sea of Myriad Rivers Merging', a multi-volume secret written transmission (densho) of Iga and Koga Ninjutsu), compiled by Fujibayashi Yasutake (also, Yasuyoshi) of Iga in the fourth year of En'o (1676). Within the Bansenshukai, Fujibayashi states that a shinobi, outside of ninjutsu, would do well to train in kenjutsu and miltiary combat arts. Fujibayashi conceptually distinguishes Ninjutsu and combat arts as two separate entities.

Another example of this can be found in the Ninpiden, and it says that a shinobi should learn specific martial arts so when they hide amoung the bushi (warriors) the shinobi can talk about Bugei (martial arts). So quite possibly a part of ninjutsu was to learn the SAMURAI arts!

As a more modern example, I will refer to the taihenjutsu or body evasion techniques taught within the bujinkan ninjutsu system. The footwork in the ninjutsu body evasion techniques are the same to those used in different Kenjutsu schools for evading a sword cut. So the footwork (which will be covered later in another part) very well may not be a shinobi technique but rather found in the samurai arts. But, again this is not say the ninja didn’t add a few tricks of their own to these techniques and systems.

Taking the recordings such as the Bansenshukai and Ninpoden into account, as well as the comments made by Kawkami sensei at his seminar in 2009, I do not consider ninjutsu to be either a Koryu or a martial art in the traditional sense. I believe ninjutsu to be something entirely different . This is not to say that there were nt some Samurai who were shinobi and trained as shinobi and shinobi who trained and learned the fighting methods of the warrior class. There are indeed documented cases of this. The legendary Hatori Hanzo was an example a warrior who was both Samurai and Shinobi. I think it would be safe to say that while the shinobi had his skills in stealth, evasion, infiltration and espionage, the Shinobi did indeed look to the samurai for certain fighting skills such as Kenjutsu, tantojutsu and others.

GENDAI KAGE RYU KUMI UCHI KENDEN

2010-12-07T07:51:00.001-08:00

by Barron Shepherd

Photgraphy by John Hendricks

Special thanks to 10th Dan Douglas Dwyer

KUMI UCHI KENDEN (Sword Grappling)

Kumi uchi kenden or sword grappling, is a system by which the sword is used for various grappling techniques. The sword which does not neccesarily have to be unsheathed can be used in the most diverse ways, combining tactics otherwised used by other weapons such as the bo (wooden staff) or yari (spear). It can be a very effective system with a plethora of tactics.

Defending against an opponent that grabs your katana step 1

I attempt to grab the tsuka with my right hand to gain control of Sensei Douglas Dwyer's (in the white gi) katana. Sensei Dwyer places his right hand on top of my right hand to prevent me from drawing his sword.

Step 2

While controlling my right hand with his right hand, his left hand moves the tsuka upward moving in a clockwise motion and he brings the tsuka to rest high on my wrist.

Step 3

Sensei Dwyer then apllies downward pressure applying a lock on my wrist with the tsuka forcing me to drop to the ground. With the lock applied he can then draw his sword to execute a cut.

GENDAI KAGE RYU ™ (Modern Shadow School) is not an art, nor is it a style,
but it is the name by which I call my school or dojo of traditional Japanese martial arts. However, the Gendai Kage Ryu Dojo maintains traditional principles and techniques of historically accurate Japanese warrior arts.

*Please note: Sensei Douglas Dwyer is a 10th degree Black belt in Shorei Goju .
Presently, at 71 years of age Douglas Dwyer continues to remain active training and teaching Karate, in Chicago, to the ones he considers his students. Sensei Dwyer is NOT affiliated with any group or organization.

The Gendai Kage Ryu, this site and the contents, found herein are copyrighted, and may not be duplicated for use of any kind without express permission from Barron Shepherd.

Ninja Artwork

2010-12-06T22:46:00.000-08:00

I have been seeing some cool ninja artwork like this one while surfing the web. I emailed Ken and asked permission to post his depiction of a ninja on my site.

"Black Shinobi" by Kenneth Loh
To see more of Kenneth's art work go to

*scabrouspencil

THE UGLY TRUTH: An article on copyright infringement

2010-12-02T21:03:00.000-08:00

by Barron Shepherd
artwork by Doryan Algarra

As of the past 6 months there have been several people who have posted articles, copied information from this blog and posted it on their sites. In several instances I have had to ask these people to remove my copyrighted content. Most have consented others had to be threatened with litgation before consenting.

There was even an incident last year with some "squirrel" on youtube who posted on his youtube account that I misquoted a person I interviewed last year.I in turn had to threaten legal litigation to get him to remove it. To his credit though, he did in fact remove his false and misleading comment.

Speaking of misqouting and misleading statements, a somewhat known martial artist has dropped my name more than once misrepresenting my research. Grossly taking certain information out of context and has misqouted me and my research to a certain spanish monthly martial arts newsletter. This individual is actually dumb enough to think that he is flying under the radar, so to speak.

Recently, yet another person had "borrowed" articles from my site and posted them on his site, simply taking the information from my site as if it belonged to him. Un beknownst to me he had been doing this for approximately a year. When confronted the response I got was an attitude of that he and his colleage were somehow doing me a favor, by infringing on my copyrights. Go figure. I guess they really thought alot of themselves.

I started legal litigation against him. A notice to cease and desist was drawn up and sent as well as a Notification of Copyright infringement. The content was removed. But for violators even if they do remove the content it does'nt mean they are free from legal litigation.

In all honesty, and according to law, I have the legal right to not only protect my name and my works but also the integrity of those works to insure they are not taken out of context and used to purposely mislead the public.

The ugly truth is that some people "borrow", steal, or think they are entitled to the work herein this blog. They think because something that is nt registered or marked registered as a copyright it is free to use and do with what they will. Nothing could be further from the truth.

What is a copyrighted work?

When most think of "copyright" they usually think of a registered copyright where the rights-holder gets their ownership and legal standing officially recognized, but every work created is granted an implied copyright.

Basically, you gain the copyright to anything you create, whether you uphold that copyright or not. Every photo you take, word you write, drawing you do, etc, is copyrighted.

Direct linking to a site's files (articles, images, video, etc.) is also a violation of copyright. (You can protect your site from anyone who is directly linking to it or any of the articles, pictures etc.)

If you use someone's intellectual property and even credit them for thier work on your site, it still could be copyright infringement. (So even if they use my work and credit me for my work it still could be a copyright violation.)

So what can you do if someone is willfully infringing on your copyrighted works?

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) grants owners of copyrighted material who have published that material on the Internet special protections, enabling copyright owners to have violators' websites quickly removed from the Web.

Under 17 U.S.C. Section 101 et seq. those who violate the DMCA could be liable for statutory damages as high as 150,000 as set forth in section 504(c)(2) therein.

Please keep in mind that this is only a brief synopsis only covering a couple of points with copyrighted works on the internet.

In simplest terms

DON'T "BORROW" OR LINK TO SOMEONE ELSE'S INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY WITH OUT THEIR PERMISSION!!!

To the readers of my blog. I would like to thank you, it was the readers who found my works posted elsewhere and then contacted me. So if it was nt for you guys I would nt know who was infringing on my work. Thank you very much.

I have and will continue to seek these individuals out and protect my copyrighted works.

VIOLATORS BEWARE

NEW YEAR, NEW LOOK, NEW NINJA

2010-12-01T08:02:00.001-08:00

Ninja artwork by Doryan Algarra

The New year is almost upon us and I am rededicating myself to my little blog. Some exciting things are forth coming and I have remained in the shadows so to speak for quite some time. It is now time to roll up my sleeves and get back to work.

I have some what started the process with the previous entry and just as of last night I came across the artwork that you all now see at the header and pictured to the left. I would like to take this time to thank Doryan Algarra for his permission to use his ninja graphic. (Yes, you must get permission to use other peoples work or it is copyright infringement)

Doryan's ninja graphic has a "Samurai Jack" feel to it.
Yes, "Samurai Jack" was a guilty pleasure of mine. Hey, I am a man in his forties I am allowed to have the occasional guilty pleasure.

For those who dont know Samurai Jack was an animated television series created by Genndy Tartakovsky it aired on Cartoon Network from 2001 until 2004. It is noted for its highly detailed, outline-free, masking-based animation, as well as for its cinematic style and pacing.

So thank you again to Doryan for this uber cool ninja. For those interested you can see more of Doryan's work at suedeheadcomic.com He is also the co founder of ForstRank.com.

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

2010-11-29T20:34:00.000-08:00

Article by Barron Shepherd
Artwork by Doryan Algarra

The attention my blog has gotten has been such a surprise in so many ways. There have been more than 50,000 views from more than 160 different countries, which by the way is mind blowing to me. Alot of the responses and feed back have been good, while others not so much. This blog has garnered attention from the more legit practitioners of the art as wells as the not so legit.

The blog was intended simply to put forth information in a non biased manner. This is sometimes difficult to do. To put it simply, it was meant to educate. However, their have been those who have basically taken the information from this blog out of context and making very broad speculation to fabricate their own personal histories and lineages.

The conundrum has always been for me to not openly criticize a particular group or even a person. This has become increasingly difficult as more of these unscrupulous individuals continue not to just mislead others by using my work on this blog but to also drop my name when felt that it would behoove them to do so.

So presently, as well as in the past, entries from this blog have ended up on other websites as well as other blogs it even almost made it's way into a book. In all of these cases permission was'nt given to use it or they attempted to pass the work off as their own or they blatantly took the information from this blog out of context using it to fabricate their own stories. Some have even blatantly committed copyright infringement.

I have contacted most of these people, some removed their entries willingly, some did not, some I even had to threaten legal litigation to get them to remove it. The latter simply didnt realize to what extent I was willing to go and found out the hard way.

The effect this has had on me is that, all this does in essence is yet prove to me that there is an outcry within the ninjutsu community for authentic and accurate information. I have sat back purposely for while in attempting to steer this vessel so to speak in the correct direction, a direction of moral and historical integrity.

This is an excellent and exciting time for the art of ninjutsu. Last year there was the Jinichi Kawakami seminar this year we will see english translations of ancient ninjutsu scrolls. An oppurtunity for those to seperate fact from fiction, truth from fantasy. For those of us who are interested in the authetic histories of the ninja the authentic historical ninja is just as interesting, if not more, than the highly romanticized version. There is no better a time for the true version of the ninja than right now. My only hope is that this information is used in the light of which it is intended and not misused.

There you have it, the good, the bad and the ugly of it, though not necessarily in that order

Interview Part 2

2010-11-26T21:33:00.000-08:00

Q. You have been pretty forth coming with everything what is next?

A. Well, I am taking my time right now and deciding on which direction to go.
I just want to be more careful at this point and put out the most authentic information I can. Which is really what I have always tried to do.

There is alot of information forthcoming about ninjutsu right now. Some translated Ninjutsu manuals such as the SHONINKI. Actually I think there are a couple or may be three translations. It is really an exciting time.

Q. Do you think there will be another chance to possibly get Kawakami back to the U.S.?

A. I hope so, there has been talk in the past of possibly having Kawakami come back, sometime in the future. But possibly to a different location and of course if we can get Kawakami to do this. Things would have to be set in motion and hopefully Kawakami will be interested.

Q. What has been your favorite articles to write?

A. That is easy, most of my favorite articles are on history. I am an avid history buff anything from the Ninja to Miyamoto Musashi to the old west. I just like history. The History Channel is my favorite channel. I am concerned with facts and authenticity. Legends and myths are good but I find the facts just as interesting if not more.

This love of authentic history spills over into my martial arts. For example, the Jujutsu techniques I teach are the old school techniques. Some would call them Koryu techniques. I am sort of a collector of them. The same with my kenjutsu and Tanto jutsu curriculum.

I call my dojo Gendai Kage Ryu (Modern Shadow school). Please Keep in mind that
the term GENDAI KAGE RYU is not an art, nor is it a style, but it is the name of my school which teaches these traditional Japanese techniques.

Q. Thank you so much for this oppurtunity and for sharing your blog with the world.

*This website and GENDAI KAGE RYU as well as the information found herein is copyrighted and Trademarked . The contents may not be duplicated for use of any kind without express permission

Interview

2010-09-19T00:01:00.000-07:00

I was interviewed about the Koga blog from the guy who does another blog dedicated to Jinichi Kawakami. He sent me a copy of the first part so here it is.

Q: Could you tell us why you started the blog?

A: Well, I really had no agenda at first other than to just get correct information out there about Ninjutsu.

Q: Could you elaborate a bit on that?

A: I basically got tired of reading the same old made up dribble from so called authentic Ninjutsu practitioners. I have always been one to seek out aunthentic knowledge of the arts I have been involved in.

Q: I understand you trained with the Bujinkan?

A: Yes I did for years as a matter of fact.

Q: How would you describe your time with them?

A: At first I really enjoyed it but later I did nt. I was somewhat let down by the actions and conversations of the so called high ranking instructors. On one occasion I had over heard a conversation by the seminar host and the person giving the seminar regarding seminar attendees and how some people who paid their hard earned money for these seminars were referred to as coconut shrimp.

Meaning that the only contribution some seminar attendees would ever make to the Bujinkan was that their seminar fee covered the costs of a platter of cocnut shrimp for the seminar instructor. Basically all they were good for was covering the expenses of meals when they ate out. I really thought that comment was very in appropriate and insulting.

Q: You alluded to fraudulent Ninjutsu practitioners?

A: I have a problem with what I call fantasy martial artists. This are people with made up backgrounds and historys. I wont name names but these people know who they are. I wont bring any attention to them in any form other than to say they are compulsive liars and conmen.

They see no harm in what they do and constantly attempt to bring attention to themselves so they can feed their egos. Their histories are so far fetched it is ludicrous. They try to impress others by boasting of martial arts, military, Government and law enforcement experience that they don’t really have. In most cases their actual training is very slight not even attaining the rank of black belt. Braggers looking for a photo op. It is a very unfortunate trait that is really prevalent in Ninjutsu.

Q: You have had some interesting responses to your blog.

A: Like anything else there have been high points and of course low points. My biggest problem was that after covering the Jinichi Kawakami seminar some wanted me to do stories on them right after.

Q: I want to ask about the Kawakami seminar?

A: I wanted to cover it and get the word out about it. I am convinced of Kawakami’s legitimacy more than anyone’s. The ones who were wanting to find out for themselves went.

A lot of so called Ninjutsu practitioners did nt bother to show up but really run their mouths about it afterwards. The ones who were critical of it were nt even there and have no clue as to what their talking about.

Q: Now you were warned by the Bujinkan about Kawakami were nt you.

A: Yes, I was. Back in 2006 an email went out thru the Bujinkan about Kawakmi basically discrediting him. This was another one of those instances that I spoke of earlier that really put a damper on my training with the Bujinkan.

Q: What was the highlight of the blog?

A: The Kawakami seminar was definitely up there for several reasons. I was in pretty constant touch with Dayn Derose who had some valuable insights on hosting the seminar that he shared with me. Dayn had visited Kawakami in Japan earlier before the seminar and was kind enough to share that experience.

Also my interview with Meik Skoss was definitely a high point. He was very candid and basically helped with putting the article of his interview together. He shared his knowledge of how certain things Kawakami said made sense. There was constant contact and input from O’Sensei Ron Duncan and he and I as well as Dayn still have a repoire.

Part two will be coming soon.

Martial arts Training Scam

2010-09-13T13:31:00.001-07:00

Just to let you everyone know to beware of the following individuals who recently contacted me via email for training.

The following e-mail that is being sent to various martial arts schools. The scam involves agreeing to a price for the training, having the school cash a fake cashiers check or charging a credit card for more than the agreed amount, and asking to wire the difference to a third party -- a classic "419" scam.

Here is a copy of the email I received:

Hello,

My name is Arvel Thurman. I want to book training services for a group of six who shall be on vacation to your country for 8weeks.We want an intensive training sessions with you. Their stay will last from Sept to November,2010.They are all beginners and six in number.What can you offer? Can I know your qualification and service rate? This program coincides with our vacation timetable and it is designed towards improving the mental and physical fitness by challenging ourselves beyond our capabilities. Our aim is to improve our confidence, gain self defense skills, increase fitness and enjoy new challenges.

Do you have a training facility where you conduct classes? if not,we can arrange one for it.

I would love to know the possibility of working with you during this period.Kindly get back to me with your proposals so that we can make booking asap.

Best regards.

Arvel Thurman

BCSSA,Egerton Training Ground,

Mereheath Lane,

Knutsford,

Cheshire, WA16 6SL,Uk

A search on the name "Arvel Thurman" will bring up many pointers and other variations regarding this scam.

Please be careful with these kinds of scams, guys!

Notes from the Jinichi Kawakami Seminar

2010-04-30T16:55:00.000-07:00

6/26/09
I am sharing some notes taken at the Jinichi Kawakami seminar last year by a nearby college student who attended the seminar. I hope everyone enjoys them as I did.

Intro of People by Dayn Derose: In order from Left to Right (Right to Left)

Meik Skoss (co-publisher of Koryu Books), Dr. Jeremy Sather (Univ. PA Head of Tokugawa Era and East Language Cultures [ELC]), Master Jinichi Kawakami (Head [Soke?] of Koka Banken Shinobiden), Mr. Master Sensei Yoshida Kiyamoto, Diane Skoss (Koryu Books), Prof. Mark (Drew Anthropology [Head?]), and Dr. Faravar (of Gichin Ryu)

Host: Dayn De Rose

After Introducing everyone (by Dayn), we were presented with a film to watch, with the translator translating dialogue to make the language barrier nonexistent. (Clips from this 1988 film can be found on youtube, the following is a description of the entire film in detail.)

The1988 film started by showing Body training (hitting chest with a board/bamboo)
It’s been 30 years since he started body training (at about 16 years of age?). He is known as the “Iron Man of Wakasa.” (Scene changes to mountainous landscape with a river) On the Kitagawa River is the small town of Kaminagacho. (Scene changes to Kawakami’s house) Here we see Jinichi Kawakami’s house, it’s been 20 years since (he’s been eating his diet [or living there]?). His breakfast consists of tofu & fried bean curd. He controls his food intake. He says he would eat fish but I rarely eat meat, the blood gets dull. (Scene changes to his father) His father is saying his son is very gentle in (many ways? in his manners?) he always has been.

At 6am, he wakes up and he leaves home at 7am and he goes to work. He trains even when driving, he trains his fists/knuckles by hitting an iron ball in his lap in the driver’s seat (between his legs). [Keep in mind this was in 1988] He works for an Electric Manufacturer in Suraga City. He’s an engineer, making electrical circuits for car parts (Scene shows him working an exposed open computer screen and programming parts for an automobile). The only time he shows that he is a ninja is during lunch. (scene shows him sitting down eating a hyourogan ball) He eats one Hyurogan ball (a Koka family recipe) for lunch. If you take just one, it can fill you up for the rest of the day. (Scene changes to him at his house, possibly at night, making the Hyourogan balls) The recipe is a trade secret, but some of the ingredients include Umaboshi (Umeboshi?) which is pickled plum, as well as Koi fish blood, and other things. It has to dry for 2-3 days and it keeps him awake because of the smell.

(scene changes to him training at night in a room) From 1-3am, he does Fist Training on an Iron Ball. He does this 500 times in one night. He’s been doing this since he was 15 years old, so for 22 years. The next scene shows him concentrating on a candle after conditioning his fists/hands. Also, it is done as a form of meditation (by candle?). So, he is doing mental focus training. The time he does this at has a special meaning (1am-3am), because meditating at this time brings you closer to get to (understanding?) the most ambiguous idea.

Every Sunday he goes to the temple to teach students from highschool. He has 100 students. (Scene Change) A Teacher in Highschool, who is the moderator of the club that Jinichi Kawakami created in highschool, talks about some of the things that the students do. One of these is carrying wood from mountains (down to the temple). (Scene changes to) The Okasa Gateway open to tourists and is home to a festival/celebration called Mizu Okuni (Water Ceremony) that occurs every March 2nd and holds a very important meaning and plays a very special part to the people of the surrounding area. The ceremony itself is said to have been held 1000 years ago. After that in Koka, Shinobi developed in the surrounding area into 53 ryu Branches.

(Scene change to Jinichi Kawakami) The first time he (Jinichi Kawakami) started was when he was 6 years old he met this old man. He was playing on this road. The old man looked like a monk. He drew a circle on the ground and taught how to throw a coin(s). He also was selling medicines. So this old man started teaching Jinichi Kawakami. He started teaching him even without the family’s knowledge. Now in ninjutsu, there were over 100 scrolls which were written/carried down to preserve the art. You had to know how to read them. Understanding the meaning of what was written down was passed by word of mouth, which was handed down by Banke (family).

It contains a lot of arts, such as explosives and medicines, and Higurashi (to kill everybody in room). Also, making someone sick and drying them up to death. Exactly what to do is a trade secret but it works. It is a science. There’s also no such thing as a single skill or discipline or art that comprises “oh this is ninjutsu.” It’s a living art with many things to learn. There isn’t one ninjutsu, there are many (to learn). Some of the kinds of clothes that ninja wore are karasan (a type of pants) and Sanju (top). This costume came from farming activities.

The scene changes to the outside, with students complaining how cold it is, entering a complex where the school is. Some of the places where Jinichi operates outside of are Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. They are having an entrance ceremony, these people are recognized as students as of this day. Jinichi Kawakami has a dream (idea) that once among the ninja families, were a tight-knit Family bonding and he wants to carry that on today.

Next, the scene changes to an Interview between Jinichi Kawakami and a news broadcaster. She asks him questions like what is ninjutsu made of, does hyorogan really work? He says yes it really does work. He goes on to say that back then he had only 100 students from Highschool, and now more college students and businessmen are starting to join. He holds classes in Koka City. The next question he asks him is what kinds of techniques are present in ninjutsu, for example bujutsu? He responds that bujutsu is just one small part. She asks is just one better? He says that it should be that all are important. He then goes to show her some of the things, such as tools and both concealed and visible weapons from the Edo period which include both straight-spiked and star-shaped shuriken, hairpins with concealed pins (for stabbing) (for women?), and also tekki (rings with small protruding spikes, usually one or more, on one side) used for scratching the (enemy’s) face.

He also then goes on to show some texts, like the Kimura family scroll, which show the Family tree, Koka-protected secrets, as well as Hidensho-secret arts that were recorded, such as medicines. He is studying all these books right now (some of them show things like the turtle). He says the goal (of the ninja) is to keep peace. It ends with the newsbroadcaster saying, “This is Koka Ninja, Jinichi Kawakami.”

After the film, the group took a short 5 minute break Before we started with the questions Mr. Kiyamoto wanted to say a few words on behalf of both himself and Master Jinichi Kawakami and he said: “I am very glad for this opportunity to present at Drew University. We thank you. We thank Dayn, we thank the people at Drew University, (those at the panel,) and all who made this possible. (We are very happy to be here)”

More notes on the seminar to come.

Self defense with Ronald Duncan: Magazine and Newspaper

2010-04-28T18:47:00.000-07:00

Professor Ronald Duncan, the "Father of American Ninjitsu", demonstrates self defense with everyday objects. Click on the links below for a couple of clips from Professor Ronald Duncan's DVD "HODA KOROSU - THE ART OF IMPROVISED WEAPONRY":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mc-p22QPA3k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhGoCIznXSA

Here is a tribute to Prof. Duncan highlighting the techniques shown in the DVD. There are some great improvisational techniques utilizing common every day objects that one may be carrying.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frqvdFIbNG8

New Interview

2010-02-03T07:55:00.000-08:00

I have nt posted any articles in a while and for that I do apologize, but just to let all of the readers know, I was part of an interview of sorts last week. The interview was conducted by Shawn at http://jinichikawakami.blogspot.com/ via telephone and email. Shawn had contacted me and asked for permission to post the Kawakami Seminar articles on his blog last year.

Shawn did ask some great questions and some tough ones. He also asked some questions concerning my article, KOGA RYU NINJUTSU: EDITORIAL and the reasons behind it. As soon as he posts it, I will link to it.

Samurai Mind Training for Modern American Warriors

2009-09-07T20:12:00.000-07:00

By BONNIE ROCHMAN Bonnie Rochman – Mon Sep 7, 6:20 am ET

TIME

Not long ago at Fort Bragg, N.C., the country's largest military base, seven soldiers sat in a semi-circle, lights dimmed, eyes closed, two fingertips lightly pressed beneath their belly buttons to activate their "core." Electronic music thumped as the soldiers tried to silence their thoughts, the key to Warrior Mind Training, a form of meditation slowly making inroads on military bases across the country. "This is mental push-ups," Sarah Ernst told the weekly class she leads for soldiers at Fort Bragg. "There's a certain burn. It's a workout."

Think military and you think macho, not meditation, but that's about to change now that the Army intends to train its 1.1 million soldiers in the art of mental toughness. The Defense Department hopes that giving soldiers tools to fend off mental stress will toughen its troops at war and at home. It's the first time mental combat is being mandated on a large scale, but a few thousand soldiers who have participated in a voluntary program called Warrior Mind Training have already gotten a taste of how strengthening the mind is way different - dare we say harder? - than pounding out the push-ups. (See pictures of ninja warriors.)

Warrior Mind Training is the brainchild of Ernst and two friends, who were teaching meditation and mind-training in California. In 2005, a Marine attended a class in San Diego and suggested expanding onto military bases. Ernst and her colleagues researched the military mindset, consulting with veterans who had practiced meditation on the battlefield and back home. She also delved into the science behind mind training to analyze how meditation tactics could help treat - and maybe even help prevent - post-traumatic stress disorder.

Rooted in the ancient Samurai code of self-discipline, Warrior Mind Training draws on the image of the mythic Japanese fighter, an elite swordsman who honed his battle skills along with his mental precision. The premise? Razor-sharp attention plus razor-sharp marksmanship equals fearsome warrior. (Read about the samurai film version of King Lear by Akira Kurosawa.)

The Samurai image was selected after careful deliberation; it was certifiably anti-sissy. "We took a long time to decide how we were going to package this," says Ernst, who moved to North Carolina in 2006 and teaches classes at Fort Bragg as well as Camp Lejeune, a Marine base near the coast. "There are a lot of ways you could describe the benefits of doing mind training and meditation. Maybe from a civilian approach we would emphasize cultivating happiness or peace. But that's not generally what a young soldier is interested in. They want to become the best warrior they can be." (Read a story on the health benefits of meditation.)

The benefits of Warrior Mind Training, students have told instructors, are impressive: better aim on the shooting range, higher test scores, enhanced ability to handle combat stress and slip back into life at home. No comprehensive studies have been done, though a poll of 25 participants showed 70% said they felt better able to handle stressful situations and 65% had improved self-control.

The results were intriguing enough that Warrior Mind Training has been selected to participate in a University of Pittsburgh study on sleep disruption and fatigue in service members that will kick off early next year.

For now, success is measured anecdotally.

On patrol in Iraq two years ago, John Way would notice his mind straying. "Maybe I should be watching some guy over there and instead I'm thinking, 'I'm hungry. Where's my next Twinkie?'"

With privacy at a premium, he'd often retreat to a Port-A-Potty to practice the focusing skills he'd learned from Ernst at Fort Bragg. "To have a way to shut all this off is invaluable," says Way.

The importance of the mind-body connection is being acknowledged at the highest levels of the military. The West Point-based Army Center for Enhanced Performance (ACEP), which draws on performance psychology to teach soldiers how to build confidence, set goals and channel their energy, has expanded to nine army bases in the past three years since the Army's chief-of-staff praised the program.

"The Army has always believed if we just train 'em harder, the mental toughness will come," says Lorene Petta, a psychologist at Fort Bragg who works for ACEP. "A lot of times with this population, because they're so rough and tough, they tend to say, 'This is too touchy-feely for me. No thanks.' But we talk about the importance of being a good mental warrior too."

Free to members of the military and their relatives, Warrior Mind Training classes are offered at 11 U.S. military installations and veterans centers across the country; an online option opened up this spring. At Naval Amphibious Base Coronado in California, for example, Warrior Mind instructors prep elite Navy SEALS candidates for Hell Week, when potential newbies are vetted in a 5 Â½-day sleepless trial of physical and mental endurance. (See pictures of the U.S. troops in Iraq.)

Beefing up the brain for combat is one aspect of the training; another is decompression. If one day you're dodging snipers in Iraq and the next you're strolling the aisles at Wal-Mart, Warrior Mind Training techniques can ease the transition.

"It's kind of like a reset button," says Erick Burgos, a military paramedic who takes classes at Coronado. "It's a time-out for you to take a break from the chaos in your life."

If the Army's new mental-toughness initiative, set to kick off in October, is to be successful, it needs buy-in from the people it plans to train. It can be a tough sell. At Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, in N.C., Adam Credle, who teaches military, law enforcement and Coast Guard personnel how to drive boats equipped with machine guns really fast, has encouraged his students to try out the meditative techniques. So far, he's been rebuffed, though he continues to try to persuade them to give the discipline's central exercise a chance. The mental focusing technique is called deep listening and it sounds super-simple but - unless you're accustomed to meditation - it requires exquisite concentration.

To help develop this skill, Warrior Mind, relies upon music. The idea is to listen, really listen, to the wail of the guitar or the staccato tap of the drums instead of letting your mind wander. In athletics, this concept is called being in "the zone."

As with anything, practice makes perfect, which is reassuring for rookies - like me - who find it next to impossible to rein in their thoughts at first. During the course of one five-minute song, I thought repeatedly about whether I'd remembered to lock my car and turn my cell phone to vibrate. And, because I'm a reporter, I thought about what everyone else might be thinking about, which, if they were doing it right, should have been nothing at all.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20090907/us_time/08599192075300

KOGA RYU NINJUTSU: EDITORIAL

2009-08-16T14:30:00.000-07:00

Since the Jinichi kawakami Seminar held in New Jersey this blog has garnered alot of attention. In the past two years I have gone from 1 or 2 page views a month to literally thousands of page views a month. The blog was started because of my interest in Ninjutsu.

The information I have posted on this blog is meant to be educational and informative derived from research, while other articles such as ninja in pop culture or movie reviews and announcements are done as human interest and entertainment. The articles are done in the spirit of neutrality. I make every effort to state fact found through research, not repeat rumor or here say, and present it in a unbiased manner and do my best not to express my opinion hopefully letting the reader come to their own conclusions.

My concern now is that there are those that take certain things in my blog out of context. The majority of my articles in no way suggest a tie either directly or indirectly to another person or group or an article on my blog.

I do think how ever I have a responsibility to insure others of the light in which my articles are done and will endeavor to do so with a highlighted commentary at the beginning of each article. I will even begin doing this on past articles. I honestly do not want others to misinterpret what I am doing for any reason.

Unfortunately there are those who will indeed use this research and use the reports of the Kawakami seminar as well as other information contained in my blog to legitimize or justify what they are doing or indirectly make a connection to these matters. Some websites have completely changed their so called "history" to include information found here to legitimize their made up histories. It is indeed a misuse and a very unfortunate reality.

One such website has gone so far as to completely change their original made up history to now claiming ties to Gingetsu Ito failing to realize their deception is made clear via an internet archive search unveiling the website's original content and conception.

The only defense I have of it is to go back and clarify the manner in which each and every article was done in. Some are historical and speak for themselves others such as my latest article on Ryohei Uchida does indeed have a commentary at the beginning ensuring others that there is no proof of actual links to ninjutsu.

The Kawakami seminar and those responsible for it's presentation, such as Dayn Derose, Katie Takahashi, panelists such as Meik Skoss, who is the Co-Publisher of Koryu Books, his wife Diane Skoss, Marc Boglioli, Professor of Anthropology; Wyatt Evans, Professor of History; Micheal Farivar, psychiatrist and instructor of Geijin Ryu Ninjutsu, Jeremy Sather, Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, also according to Dayn Derose, Prof. Ronald Duncan deserves a special mention as well, have indeed affected Koga ryu ninjutsu in an extremely positive and genuine manner.

The academic manner in which the presentation was done in has indeed opened eyes and there are a few including myself who have taken a step back in their own perspective endeavors and are looking to move forward in a accurate, responsible, constructive and educational direction regarding ninjutsu.

BLACK DRAGON SOCIETY PT. 2 Ryohei Uchida, Judo's ninja leader of the Kokuryu-kai

2009-08-10T12:54:00.000-07:00

Although it is apparent that Ryohei Uchida isnt ninja nor is there any documentation to prove so, it is clear he and Col. Akashi employed ninja like tactics and strategy. Perhaps operating as modern day ninja would operate. Uchida was indeed a highly trained martial artist as well as a spy or operative in service of his government.

It was 1903 and in less than a year Japan and Russia would be at war. Russian intelligence officers would have paid dearly for information that Ryohei Uchida was in Vladivostok, Russia and that Japan's first overseas judo dojo, the Urajio, was in reality a secret headquarters for the spy activities of the Black Dragon Society.

The dojo in Vladivostok was ran by six hand picked men. These men were hand picked by Ryohei Uchida to specifaically cater to young Russian military officers by exposing them to the new japanese art of judo and hopefully gain access onto the miliatry base under the quise of instructing officers in judo.

In all the annals of Japanese history there has been nothing more mysterious and sinister than this secret organization. The Kokuryu-kai flourished as a special headquarters for espionage, sabotage, revolution, intimidation and assassination.

Known to a relative few in Japan, and then only by the innocuous name of the Amur River Society, the Kokuiyu-kai was founded in 1901 by Ryohei Uchida. In the 40 years of its shadowy, cloak-and-dagger existence, the long hand of the Black Dragon Society could be found in wars and revolutions, the assassination of a queen and the abdication of an emperor, the murder of prime ministers, the overthrow of cabinets, the intimidation of statesmen, the annexation of foreign colonies and the operation of extensive overseas spy rings. It even organized and financed Manchurian bandits, Korean fanatics and Filipino revolutionaries.

Uchida was the descendant of a long line of samurai, one of whom had been exiled to an offshore island for his rebellious nature. His father, Ryogoro Uchida, served in the Kuroda clan as a bushi in the late Edo Period, and it was from his father that the young Uchida developed an ambition to see Japan expand into Korea.

Uchida's father Ryogoro, was quite famous in Kyushu for his skill in the martial arts, attaining great proficiency in the Itoryu School of kendo, the Shinto-Muso ryu School of jojutsu and the Kyushin-ryu school of jujitsu. Ryohei Uchida attained repute as a renowned marksman in kyudo at a very early age. He was also a fine sumo wrestler, while his father became his personal coach in kendo and jojutsu. Uchida also began to study judo.

As a youth, Uchida joined the Genyosha nationalist group, and soon became the leading disciple of its founder, Toyama Mitsuru. The Genyosha was active in raising funds and agitating for a more aggressive foreign policy towards the Asian mainland. When the Donghak Rebellion began in Korea in 1894, Uchida went to Korea to help the rebels.

While in Korea Uchida had taken over the tactical operation of the Genyosha and organized a subsidiary group called Tenyuko (God-Gifted Samurai) — 12 handpicked adventurers dedicated to the task of ensuring that Japan would not be robbed of the fruits of its victory over China. The 12 men hand picked by Uchida created a small riot, and in the confusion, dressed as tonghaks, but wearing masks, they successfully entered the Royal house and slew the queen, Empress Myeongseong . The tonghaks, rebellious Koreans, took the blame for the incident.

By 1895 Uchida(second from right; front row) was in Tokyo at Toyogo University studying russian language. He also worked out at the Kodokan and established a special relationship with shihan Jigoro Kano. Ryohei achieved the rank of go-dan, and some years later became master of the Keio University Judo Club. His father not only continued to coach him daily in jojutsu, but also found time to teach Navy men and police in the art of the short stick.

The young Uchida also played a part in organizing the first judo dojo in Kyushu together with Jigoro Kano in 1897. Called "Tenshinkan," it was headed by a colleague of Uchida named Hyozo Chiba who later became the first instructor to visit the U.S. to teach judo. Needless to say, the young volunteers who comprised the membership of the newly organized Dark Ocean Society and later the Black Dragon Society were given a thorough indoctrination in the martial arts as well as in the ultra-nationalistic philosophy of the two societies.

By 1901, Uchida founded the Black Dragon Society and by 1903, Uchida was sneaking around Russia and Manchuria directing his network of spies, mobilizing Manchurian bandits and Chinese guerrillas for the coming struggle against the Russians, Mitsuru Toyama formerly of the Genyosha (Dark Ocean Society) was "persuading" politicians to his way of thinking.

Front row Left to Right: Ryohei Uchida, K. Iizuka, Sakuzo Uchida, Ikkan Miyakawa. Back Row: Isogai, Nagaoka, Jigoro Kano (seated) Yoshitsugu Yamashita (taught Pres. Teddy Rosevelt Judo).

Toyama mapped out the policies, while Uchida directed the operations. Singly, each man was impressive and powerful in his own right, but together they made an unbeatable pair. They sent literally hundreds of their followers to Manchuria and-Siberia as secret agents.

Mitsuru Toyama was just beginning to make good headway when he suddenly locked horns with the stubborn Prince Ito who favored coming to an understanding with Russia. As the nation's leading elder statesman, Prince Ito exerted more influence on governmental policy than any other single man in Japan. Toyama realized that unless the Prince threw his support behind those advocating a war policy, there would be no war and the Black Dragon's cherished crusade of driving Russia out of all territory below the Amur River (dividing Manchuria from Russia) to make way for Japanese expansion would collapse.

One day in the summer of that year, 1903, Toyama and three burly judoka approached Prince Ito at his seaside villa in Oiso, some 50 miles south of Tokyo. By cajoling, flattering and threatening the Prince, Toyama was able to alter the Prince's war policy.

When war with Russia finally came in 1904, the Japanese Imperial Army took the Kokuryu-kai under its wing temporarily as an intelligence organ. Black Dragon agents were even attached to the army in the field as interpreters and guides.

For more on Judo and Jigoro Kano visit: http://barronsjudopage.blogspot.com/

BATTLE OF SEKI GA HARA (1600)

2009-08-10T07:18:00.000-07:00

The battle of Sekigahara is Japan's most notorious, and it was certainly one of the largest (if not the largest) in its recorded history. It was the culmination of the civil war between Tokugawa Ieyasu, daimyo of the Kanto plain and his rival Ishida Mitsunari.

The preliminary moves of the battle of Sekigahara consisted of a spate of attacks and sieges on castles, including the castle of Fushimi to the south-east of Kyoto. Toyotomi Hideyoshi had unified Japan and consolidated his power following the Siege of Odawara in 1590, his ill-fated invasion of Korea significantly weakened the Toyotomi clan's power as well as the loyalists and bureaucrats that continued to serve and support the Toyotomi clan after Hideyoshi's death.

Hideyoshi's and his brother Hidenaga's presence kept the two sides from anything more than quarreling, but when both of them died, the conflicts were exacerbated and developed into open hostilities. Since the Toyotomi clan was known to be descended from peasant stock, neither Hideyoshi nor his heir Hideyori would be recognized or accepted as Shogun.

Later, a supposed conspiracy to assassinate Ieyasu surfaced, and many Toyotomi loyalists were accused of taking part and forced to submit to Ieyasu's authority. However, Uesugi Kagekatsu, one of Hideyoshi's appointed regents, defied Ieyasu by building up his military. When Ieyasu officially condemned him and demanded that he come to Kyoto to explain himself before the emperor, Kagekatsu's chief advisor responded with a counter-condemnation that mocked Ieyasu's abuses and violations of Hideyoshi's rules, in such a way that Ieyasu was infuriated.

Afterwards, Ieyasu summoned the help of various supporters and led them northward to attack the Uesugi clan, which at that moment were besieging Hasedō, but Ishida Mitsunari, grasping the opportunity, rose up in response and created an alliance to challenge Ieyasu's supporters, also seizing various daimyo as hostages in Osaka Castle.

Mitsunari then officially declared war on Ieyasu and lay siege to the Fushimi Castle, garrisoned by Tokugawa retainer Torii Mototada on July 19. Torii’s forces had to defend themselves against the armies in the west long enough for the Tokugawa army to regroup for the fight in Seki Ga Hara in the east.

There were 400 ninjas from Koga Ryu who were called into action and aided with the defense of Fushimi Castle. Some of the ninja were in the castle, while the others terrorized and harrased the enemy outside with different kinds of raids. About 100 of the Koga ninja were killed in the battle.

Afterwards, the western forces captured various Tokugawa outposts in the Kansai region and within a month, the western forces had moved into the Mino Province, where Sekigahara was located.

Back in Edo, Ieyasu received news of the situation in Kansai and decided to deploy his forces. He had some former Toyotomi daimyo engage with the western forces while he split his troops and marched west on the Tōkaidō towards Osaka Castle.

Ieyasu's son Hidetada led another group through Nakasendō. However, Hidetada's forces were bogged down as he attempted to besiege Sanada Masayuki's Ueda Castle. Even though the Tokugawa forces numbered some 38,000, an overwhelming advantage over the Sanada's mere 2,000, they were still unable to capture the strategist's well-defended position. At the same time, 15,000 Toyotomi troops were being held up by 500 troops under Hosokawa Fujitaka at Tanabe Castle in Wakayama Prefecture. Some among the 15,000 troops respected Hosokawa so much they intentionally slowed their pace down. Both these incidents resulted in a large number of Tokugawa and Toyotomi troops not to show up in time at the battlefield of Sekigahara.

Knowing that Ieyasu was heading toward Osaka, Mitsunari decided to abandon his positions and marched to Sekigahara. On September 15, 1600 the two sides started to deploy their forces. Ieyasu's eastern army had 88,888 men, whilst Mitsunari's western army numbered 81,890. There were about 20,000 arquebusers and other forms of hand-held gunners deployed in the battlefield, corresponding to over 10% of all troops present.

Even though the western forces had tremendous tactical advantages, Ieyasu had already contacted many daimyo on the western side, promising them land and leniency after the battle should they switch sides. This led some western commanders holding key positions to hesitate when pressed to send in reinforcements or join the battle that was already in progress.

Mori Hidemoto and Kobayakawa Hideaki were two such daimyo. They were in such positions that if they decided to close in on the eastern forces, they would in fact have Ieyasu surrounded on three sides. Hidemoto, shaken by Ieyasu's promises, also persuaded Kikkawa Hiroie not to take part in the battle.

Even though Kobayakawa had responded to Ieyasu's call, he remained hesitant and neutral. As the battle grew more intense, Ieyasu finally ordered arquebusiers to fire at Kobayakawa's position on Mount Matsuo in order to force Kobayakawa to make his choice. At that point Kobayakawa joined the battle on the eastern side. His forces assaulted Yoshitsugu's position, which quickly fell apart as he was already engaging Todo Takatora's forces. Seeing this as an act of treachery, western generals such as Wakisaka Yasuharu, Ogawa Suketada, Akaza Naoyasu, and Kutsuki Mototsuna immediately switched sides, turning the tide of battle.

The western forces disintegrated afterwards, and the commanders scattered and fled. Some, like Ukita Hideie managed to escape, while others, like Sakon was shot and wounded by a rifle though it's unknown if he died from it, Ōtani Yoshitsugu committed suicide. Mitsunari, Yukinaga and Ekei were some of those who were captured and a few were able to return to their home provinces. Mitsunari himself would be executed.

Ieyasu already had great repect for the Koga ninja since thier attack on Kaminojo in 1562. However the service of the koga ninja at Fushimi far surpassed that of the attack on Kaminojo. About 100 of the Koga ninja had been killed in the battle at Fushimi Castle, and after the successful conclusion of the Sekigahara campaign, Ieyasu held a memorial service commemorating the dead.

According to tradition, the legendary Miyamoto Musashi was present at the battle among the ranks of Ukita Hideie's army. Supposedly, he fought well and escaped the defeat of Hideie's forces unharmed. Whether this is fact or myth is unknown, considering that Musashi would have been around 17 years of age at the time. Several books on Japanese history, martial arts and the biography proceeding a translation of the'Go Rin no Sho' mention Musashi joining the ranks of the Ashikaga army and escaping the hunting down and massacre of the vanquished army. More curious is the fact that he joined Tokugawa in both winter and summer campaigns of 1614 and 1615 when Ieyasu laid siege to Osaka castle where supporters of the Ashikaga family gathered in insurrection, thereby fighting against those he had originally fought for at Sekigahara . According to legend, Musashi had already killed in self defense at 13 and again at 16 defeating Tadashima; he then left home on his 'Warrior pilgrimage' which saw him victorious in scores of contest and which took him to war before he was 17.

Black Dragon Society : Ninja like tactics and strategy

2009-08-09T01:59:00.000-07:00

The Black Dragon started with the most secrecy, and so it remained for a long time. Many prominent citizens were attracted into it -- including some of the army officers connected to intelligence-gathering. But, before long, members were drawn from any ambitious quarter. Thus eventually membership of the Black Dragon society ranged from cabinet ministers and high-ranking army officers to professional secret agents, blackmailers and hired killers. Initially its intelligence information came from Russia and Manchuria but by the end of the 1930s they had been extended to Korea, China, the Philippines, Malaya, Hong Kong, Singapore, India, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Turkey, Morocco, the United States and many countries in the Caribbean and South America"

When the Russo-Japanese War started on February 8, 1904, no army or navy in modern history had been so superbly backed up with such a massive advance intelligence operation as Japans. One of the great features of Japanese strategy and tactics in their war with Russia was the secrecy observed and the false information circulated purposely. This, combined with their own system of intelligence gathering both before that war and during the fighting, enabled Japan to have an remarkable knowledge of their enemy's potential and war aims. This superior intelligence enabled Japan to defeat its enemy with an overwhelming victory.

The role played by the Black Dragon Society in the Russo-Japanese War was undeniably great. Japan had identified Russia to be the main potential threat for Japanese ambitions on the continent. Under Ryohei Uchida, Japan's leading intelligence agent was Colonel Motojiro Akashi, who was known for his poetry and painting -- but was also for his brilliance in espionage. Under Akashi, the spy network soon spread from Stockholm to Paris, Zurich, Geneva, Copenhagen, Rome, Lisbon and London. Besides providing intelligence for Japan, Akashi's mission was to encourage Russian revolutionaries residing in France, Sweden, Germany and Switzerland. As Richard Deacon wrote,

"So successful were these Black Dragon agents that it is believed not a single one of them was either caught or lost"

Long before the Russo-Japanese War started, Japanese agents had already infiltrated into Treaty ports to provide services for each successive junk or trader, carrying for them sacks of rifles and military equipment. Each Japanese agent was said to have cleverly disguised himself as a coolie, working in the docks until they could emerge at the head of their eager associates.

Thus a steady flow of up-to-date information was received from inside Russian-occupied territory from Chinese and Japanese spies. This was how the Japanese learned all about Russian plans for sowing electrically-controlled mines not only in the path of advancing troops, but also in harbors all along the coast. The result was that in the Japanese headquarters was the ever-changing map showing not only the positions of Russian mines, but the actual detonating points as well. Then, under cover of darkness, men would be sent out to de-activate the mines.

The Japanese were also among the first in modern warfare to introduce sabotage as a systemic policy. The work again was done by sending agents behind the lines. The special targets were electrical power stations, searchlights and railways.

Among the most efficient of the Black Dragon agents was a man named Hajime Hamamoto. For four years Hamamoto sent in regular reports to his superiors through a trusted runner, which was then passed on to the Military Intelligence in Japan via an agent in Vladivostock.

More to come.......

SHIMA-BARA NO RAN (1637-1638)

2009-08-06T22:54:00.000-07:00

In the mid-1630s, the peasants of the Shimabara Peninsula and the Amakusa Islands, dissatisfied with overtaxation and suffering from the effects of famine, revolted against their lords. This was specifically in territory ruled by two lords: Matsukura Katsuie of the Shimabara Domain, and Terasawa Katataka of the Karatsu Domain. Though the rebellion is cast by many historians as a religious uprising, this does not address the issues of the discontent from the famine and overtaxation. Those affected also included fishermen, craftsmen and merchants.

As the rebellion spread, it was joined by masterless samurai, called Ronin, (A ronin was a samurai with no lord or master during the feudal period(1185-1868) of Japan. A samurai became masterless from the ruin or fall of his master, or after the loss of his master's favor or privilege.),who once had served families such as the Amakusa and Shiki who had once lived in the area, as well as former Arima and Konishi retainers. As such, the image of a fully "peasant" uprising is also not entirely accurate.

Shimabara was once the domain of the Arima lordly family, which had been Christian; as a result, many locals were also Christian. The Arima were moved out in 1614 and replaced by the Matsukura. The new lord, Matsukura Shigemasa, hoped to advance in the shogunate hierarchy, and so he was involved with various construction projects, including the building and expansion of Edo Castle, as well as a planned invasion of Luzon. He also built a new castle at Shimabara. As a result, he placed a greatly disproportionate tax burden on the people of his new domain, and further angered them by strictly persecuting Christianity. Even the Dutch, who had a trading post nearby and were anti-Catholic, were startled at the excessive degree of repression. These policies were continued by Shigemasa's heir, Katsuie.

The inhabitants of the Amakusa Islands, which had been part of the fief of Konishi Yukinaga, suffered the same sort of presecution at the hands the Terasawa family, which, like the Matsukura, had been moved there. Other masterless samurai (Ronin) in the region included former retainers of Katō Tadahiro and Sassa Narimasa, both of whom had once ruled parts of Higo Province.

The discontented, masterless samurai of the region, as well as the peasants, began to meet in secret and plot an uprising; this broke out in the autumn of 1637, when the local daikan (tax official) Hayashi Hyōzaemon was assassinated. At the same time, others rebelled in the Amakusa Islands. The rebels quickly increased their ranks by forcing all in the areas they took to join in the uprising. A charismatic 16 year-old youth, Amakusa Shirō, was soon chosen as the rebellion's leader.

The rebels laid siege to the Terasawa clan's Tomioka and Hondo castles, but just before the castles were about to fall, armies from the neighboring domains in Kyūshū arrived, and forced them to retreat. The rebels then crossed the Ariake Sea and briefly besieged Matsukura Katsuie's Shimabara Castle, but were again repelled. At this point they gathered on the site of Hara Castle, which had been the castle of the Arima clan before their move to the Nobeoka Domain, but was dismantled. They built up palisades using the wood from the boats they had crossed the water with, and were greatly aided in their preparations by the weapons, ammunition, and provisions they had plundered from the Matsukura clan's storehouses.

The allied armies of the local domains, under the command of the Tokugawa shogunate with Itakura Shigemasa as commander-in-chief, then began their siege of Hara Castle. The swordsman Musashi Miyamoto, (one of the most famous swordsmen throughout the history) was present in the besieging army, in an advisory role to Hosokawa Tadatoshi.

They then requested aid from the Dutch, who first gave them gunpowder, and then cannons. Nicolaes Couckebacker, Opperhoofd of the Dutch trading station on Hirado, provided the gunpowder and cannons, and when the shogunate forces requested that he send a vessel, he personally accompanied the vessel de Ryp to a position offshore, near Hara Castle. The cannons sent previously were mounted in a battery, and an all-out bombardment of the fortress commenced, both from the shore guns as well as from the 20 guns of the de Ryp. These guns fired approximately 426 rounds in the space of 15 days, without great result, and two Dutch lookouts were shot by the rebels. The ship withdrew at the request of the Japanese, following contemptuous messages sent by the rebels to the besieging troops:
"Are there no longer courageous soldiers in the realm to do combat with us, and weren't they ashamed to have called in the assistance of foreigners against our small contingent?"

The rebellion would also mark one of the last times the Koga ninja were active in a battle. Ten ninjas from Koga Ryu were sent by Izumo Kami Nobutsuna to gather information for the Shogun samurais to prepare an attack against the castle.

They were led by Mochizuki Heidayu, 63 years old and Akutagawa Kiyouemon, 60 years old, both veterans from the battle at Sekigahara. The others from Koga were:

Iwane Kanbei, 56 years old
Kamogai Kanuemon, 56 years old
Tomei Gohei, 53 years old
Iwani Kanbei, 45 years old
Natsumi Kakunosuke, 41 years old
Mochizuki Yoemon ,33 years old
Akutagawa Shichirobei, 25 years old
Yamanaka Jutayu, 24 years old.

On January 4, while the rebels were still enjoying their brief "victory," the ten ninja arrived at Hara from Omu Province. Every night for the next two weeks these ninja from Koga secretly entered the castle to gather intelligence and map the castle's defenses. Fifteen days later they sent a detailed report to the shogun in Edo. Tokugawa Iemitsu sent an army of over 10,000 men to lay siege to the rebel stronghold at Hara Castle.

The ninjas from Koga had infiltrated the castle each night without a problem. The 21st of January they stole food from the castle, which did not make it easier for the enemy since they already had very little food. They also managed to get some secret passwords.

Then on January 27th, five Koga ninjas managed to get into the castle disguised as soldiers. They were Mochizuki Yoemon, Arakawa Shichirobei, Natsume Kakano-Suke, Yamanaka Jutayu and Tomo Gohei. The troops outside the castle fired with their rifles, and the enemy in the castle automatically blew out all the torches so they wouldn't draw more fire to them. Later that night, when the guards began to relax, the ninja could easily climb over the walls in the protection of the darkness.

Arakawa got careless and fell down in a hole. He got immediate help from Mochizuki. But because of the noise, the guards lit the torches again, and they was spotted. Mochizuki and Arakawa both ran right through the troops, snatched one of the Christian flags on the way, and got shot at. All five managed to escape, but both Mochizuki and Arakawa got wounded.

In an attempt to take the castle, Itakura Shigemasa was killed. More shogunate troops under Matsudaira Nobutsuna, Itakura's replacement, soon arrived. However, the rebels at Hara Castle resisted the siege for months and caused the shogunate heavy losses. Both sides had a hard time fighting in winter conditions. On February 3, 1638, a rebel raid killed 2,000 warriors from the Hizen Domain. However, despite this minor victory, the rebels slowly ran out of food, ammunition and other provisions.

When the castle was attacked the 24th of February, the Koga ninjas served as an office of connections between the two troops. As a parenthesis, it can be mentioned that Musashi Miyamoto, was one of the plan makers on the Shogun's side.

By April of 1638, there were over 27,000 rebels facing about 125,000 shogunate soldiers. (One source estimates the total size of the rebel force as somewhere between 27,000 and 37,000, a fraction of the size of the force sent by the shogunate.) Desperate rebels mounted an assault against them on April 4 and were forced to withdraw. Captured survivors and the fortress's rumored sole traitor, Yamada Uemonsaku, revealed the fortress was out of food and gunpowder.

On April 12, 1638, troops under the command of the Kuroda clan of Hizen stormed the fortress and captured the outer defenses. The rebels continued to hold out and caused heavy casualties until they were routed on April 15. The Shogunate had lost about 10,000 soldiers.

Afterwards, the shogunate forces beheaded an estimated 37,000 rebels and sympathizers. Masuda Shiro's head was taken to Nagasaki and Hara fortress was destroyed. The Shogunate banned Christianity and the remaining Japanese Christians had to go underground. The Shogunate suspected that western Catholics had been involved in spreading the rebellion and Portuguese traders were driven out of the country.

NINJA ASSASSIN: OPENS NOV. 25TH

2009-08-03T18:06:00.000-07:00

Warner Brothers has released a new image for James McTeigue's upcoming Ninja Assassin movie. The poster was first revealed last week at Comic-Con in San Diego.

The Wachowski brothers (The Matrix) produced the martial-arts opus, which stars South Korean star Rain and takes the well-worn genre and amps it up to a new level of bloody action.

Raizo (Rain) is one of the deadliest assassins in the world. Taken from the streets as a child, he was transformed into a trained killer by the Ozunu Clan, a secret society whose very existence is considered a myth. But haunted by the merciless execution of his friend by the Clan, Raizo breaks free from them...and vanishes. Now he waits, preparing to exact his revenge. In Berlin, Europol agent Mika Coretti (Naomie Harris) has stumbled upon a money trail linking several political murders to an underground network of untraceable assassins from the Far East. Defying the orders of her superior, Ryan Maslow (Ben Miles), Mika digs into top secret agency files to learn the truth behind the murders. Her investigation makes her a target, and the Ozunu Clan sends a team of killers, led by the lethal Takeshi (Rick Yune), to silence her forever. Raizo saves Mika from her attackers, but he knows that the Clan will not rest until they are both eliminated. Now, entangled in a deadly game of cat and mouse through the streets of Europe, Raizo and Mika must trust one another if they hope to survive...and finally bring down the elusive Ozunu Clan.

The official movie trailer looks awesome it is filled with great stunts and CGI effects. Also as a bonus for all you 80's ninja movie fans, you will see some glimpses of Sho Kosugi. You can watch the official movie trailer here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4pEKQ_zUBo

Secrets of the Ninja: Their Training, Tools, and Techniques

2009-07-31T18:08:00.000-07:00

Introduction by Hiromitsu Kuroi

I'd like to think that not only has my work with the Iga Ninja Sect Association, Kurondo, found a wide audience, but it has given me a deeper understanding of the ninja world. But I must admit that much of what I know of ninjutsu, the art of the ninja, has come from meeting Jinichi Kawakami, who's known as the "last ninja." Kawakami is the 21st soke of the Koka Ninja Sect, and even today he follows the practices passed down to him through the many generations. These include a daily five-hour regimen of mental and physical exercises, and a strict ninja diet, which has at its core the soybean curd, tofu. It's with him in mind that I want to teach the world what it really meant to be a ninja.

To do this, I organize ninja shows and workshops for Kurondo, and in the course of my work have toured Singapore, China and Australia. On these travels I have often been asked such questions as, "What dan are ninja?" It seems that outside Japan, the way of the ninja is thought to be a form of martial art, something like karate or judo. But ninja have no dan or level, and there are, unfortunately, no black or brown belts. What I hope to do in this introduction is to illustrate the many facets of the ninja tradition.

Although the actual beginnings of ninjutsu have been lost in time, let's try and begin at the roots. The earliest records we have can be found in the 6th century text, Ninjutsu Hisho Ogi-den, which describes a man known as Otomono Hosori. He is believed to have served the legendary figure Shotoku Taishi, who was said to possess, among other talents, the ability to hear and answer questions simultaneously from ten different people. It is thought that the ninja Otomono Hosori in fact found out the questions beforehand and prepared the answers for his "gifted" master.

The ninja would have to wait almost another 1,000 years before they gained the notoriety that they have today. In the 15th century, Japan was thrown into turbulence when military factions across the country rose up against the emperor, ushering in nearly a century of wars that came to be known as the era of Warring States.

Although the tenets of ninjutsu changed little over the centuries, the ninja's work varied considerably depending on the period. To clearly understand the breadth of these assignments, we must look at the Warring States era. It was then that the practices of ninjutsu became clearly defined, and when the ninja, as a distinct force alongside troops in the field, were most active. Each daimyo, or feudal lord, retained a unit of 40 to 50 ninja, although in some cases the number reached as high as 200. According to the task in hand, the required number of men would be called up and sent out before battle to infiltrate enemy lines, spread false rumors, and establish links with possible turn-coats. When fighting broke out, the ninja took to arson, setting ablaze the enemy's castles and fortifications. If a castle stubbornly resisted this onslaught, they would burrow underneath and then charge in to wreak havoc.

Excerpted from "Secrets of the Ninja: Their Training, Tools, and Techniques" Copyright © 2003. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The Koga ninja influences IT consulting company

2009-07-24T18:10:00.000-07:00

Ronald Lai is a business owner of "Koga IT Consulting" based in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Ronald who recently launched his business website http://www.koga.ca/ a month ago, explains how his life is influenced by the essence of the world of Ninja. "Since I was young, the japanese movies display fights between the Koga Ninjas and their natural rivals, Iga Ninjas, kept me interested in the world of Ninjutsu."

"My sister and I always played a two player digital video game consoles before the age of Gameboy, where one of us will be the Koga Ninja, and the other one will be the Iga Ninja. Throwing paper Shurikens, making our own paper ninja swords, those were our childhood days. I am still a big fan of ninja anime and any video games that have anything to do with Ninja, but it is time for me to move on to bigger things."

Fixing computers has been a long-time hobby for Ronald. He has 12 years experience in the technical support field. As he gained valuable experience in his IT career, he decided to run his own business under the name of Koga. Ronald explained his definition of the word Koga and how he relates it to his company.

"To me, Koga means two things: Ko, in the Kanji word means Top Quality or Top Grade. Ga, in the Kanji word can be divided into two parts, where the first part of the word means "add", and the bottom word means "shell", or in the ancient days, a valuable item."

Koga IT Consulting wants to deliver "Top Quality" IT Support services, and "add -value" to his client's business. "Stealth, quality, and vital support. These are the values of a Koga Ninja that I am borrowing to run my business." says Ronald.

JINICHI KAWAKAMI: THE LAST NINJA

2009-07-21T01:08:00.000-07:00

There seems to a great degree of propaganda that is being spread by certain organizations who shall remain nameless. This propaganda campaign started over two years ago when emails were sent out thru certain organizations denouncing Jinichi Kawakami's legitimacy. This campaign is perpetuated by those who represent themselves as authorities on the subject of ninjutsu. It is evident that there are those within these organizations that do not want the truth to come out. The following are the facts about Jinichi Kawakami.

Kawakami Sensei's lineage is recognized by the governments of Mie (Iga) and Shiga (Koka) prefectures as well as the Iga Ninja Museum. The Mie and Shiga prefectures are where the old Iga and Koga areas are located. All of these entities refer to Jinichi Kawakami as the last real practitioner of ninjutsu.

The Iga Ninja Museum is registered under law as a certified museum by the Mie Prefectural Committee Board of Education. It is the only museum in the world of its kind, the only public ninja museum in Japan that is backed by the government.

The Iga-Ryu Ninja museum's purpose is to study and preserve ancient Japanese documents related to Ninjutsu. Part of the museum is for tourism like an entertainment park complete with shows designed to entertain and attract tourists but the other part is actually a real museum. They have many ancient documents related to authentic Ninjutsu. Again, they state that Jinichi Kawakami is the last inheritor of historically authentic Ninjutsu.

http://iganinja.jp/en/faq/index.html

They also state he is called the "Last living modern Ninja":

http://iganinja.jp/en/exp/learning.html

Banke Shinobinoden (affiliated with Jinichi Kawakami) state that they are the last practitioners of historically authentic Ninjutsu left in the world:
http://www.eonet.ne.jp/~bankeshinobi/
(follow the English link)

The Book on Banke Shinobinoden's website also confirms this:
http://www.eonet.ne.jp/~bankeshinobi/news.html

On the same webpage it shows a link for the government of Shiga Prefecture, Japan. The link shows Banke Shinobinoden doing a seminar for Shiga Prefecture.
http://www.pref.shiga.jp/h/m-doboku/konanIC/ibento.html

There is a troupe of performers at the museum who demonstrate techniques in a show at the museum. (It is a show that is performed by actors for entertainment purposes to attract tourists.) While there are a few techniques used in the show that are authentic it is mostly for entertainment. The troupe is in no way connected to Banke Shinobinoden or Jinichi Kawakami. Banke Shinobinoden is a completely different entity that is connected to the academic and historical side of the museum.
Koga/Koka is not dead as some would have you believe. The Banke Shinobinoden is well-documented in Japan.

Jinichi Kawakami seminar PART 4

2009-07-12T15:03:00.000-07:00

In the video below Kiyomoto Sensei and Kawakami Sensei demonstrate a couple of techniques using the Kanawa or "metal rings" in japanese. The Kanawa was a common house hold item found in ancient japan. A hot cooking pot was placed on the ring.(An early version of a pot holder) Kawakami Sensei explained that the edges were sharpened or had sharp spikes. A house hold impromptu weapon.

Using a kiai Kiyomoto Sensei counters Kawakami Sensei's sword attack with the kanawa.

Koka Ryu Seminar

A kiai is a shout, but its older meaning is to "meet" (-ai) "each other's spiritual energy" (ki-). Each ryu, therefore, had special kiai that signified their own style's use of spiritual energy as expressed in a vocal explosion, or kiai.

There were only specific sounds, such as "ei," "toh," "yah," and so on, that had certain martial meanings in esoteric mikkyo, which were used in koryū .

Kiai, therefore, were like secret mantras to the koryū or special words of power that should not be used lightly. When you did a kiai, you were directly attacking your opponent's spirit with words of power that would literally shock them into defeat. The kiai "yah," for example, pronounced in a certain way, represented the force of a released arrow (in Japanese: ya).

A kiai was supposed to penetrate the person's spirit like an arrow. The other kiai had other meanings and were used for specific movements.

NEW MESSAGE BOARD

2009-07-12T11:12:00.000-07:00

New message board under construction http://kogaryuninjutsu.proboards.com/

New Martial arts film "The Last Ninja" in preproduction

2009-07-07T20:48:00.000-07:00

The latest ninja movie now in the works is THE LAST NINJA from Masterpiece Productions and director Jose Zambrano Cassella. A press release was recently issued along with a synopsis, pre-production teaser trailer and poster art.

With the discipline of a warrior, the stealth of a viper and the blade of the devil, THE LAST NINJA is a powerful, action-packed story spanning generations.

SYNOPSIS

After the murder of his father, Katsumuro, the last descendent of the Samurai, a 10 year old Ken Harumi is taken in by a mysterious stranger who trains him in the ways of the Ninja. As a young man, Ken has now become one of the most dangerous assassins in Japan. With the balance of power in the criminal underworld at stake, Ken finds himself torn between loyalty and a moral choice. His ultimate betrayal of his brotherhood of mercenaries will force him to flee to America under a new identity.

Ken is forced to hide his past for years, but his lifetime of training emerges in a moment of violence. His stunning actions have not gone unnoticed by others and he soon finds himself hunted by those he had once abandoned.

Ninja assassins, under the command of their master Benjiro, uncover Ken’s identity, slicing their way through the new life he has built. With the help of his best friend, Jack Marshall, Ken pursues the attackers in an insane motorcycle race for vengeance. A mysterious woman, Riley, points him toward the mastermind of the attack and supplies him with the tools of the trade; an arsenal of Ninja weapons.

As Ken tracks down the attackers in a breathtaking assault on a fast moving train, he soon discovers the truth behind the vicious attack on his family. In a fight for supremacy and life itself with the top assassins ever assembled, the combat rises for the ultimate battle that reveals the mastermind behind it all, exposes the secrets of a hidden past and an unexpected destiny for The Last Ninja.

http://www.thelastninjamovie.com

Jinichi Kawakami seminar - PART THREE

2009-07-05T22:39:00.000-07:00

With the Panel discussion now over everyone attending was excited about the following morning and looking forward to what was to come. The ninjutsu training that Kawakami Sensei was going to cover over the next two days was going to entail demonstrations of breathing methods, conditioning, walking, running, jumping methods, as well as bujutsu.

Saturday morning started out with an introduction to some body conditioning aimed at strengthening the body to get the body used to being hit. Then they showed how much damage one could take to the throat by taking a wooden stick and thrusting the solid piece of wood very hard into the neck of the other. Kawakami Sensei and Kiyomoto Sensei did not go lightly and used a great amount of force. After this particular demonstration they asked if anyone in the audience would like to try it. No one took them up on their invitation.

Also covered were unarmed bujutsu techniques called yawara. Kawakami Sensei and Kiyomoto demonstrated movement moving forward into the attack while blocking, striking and grappling. Technically yawara is Jujutsu and can be explained as unarmed combat techniques which are among the first to be studied and usually the last to be fully understood and appreciated. All the basic components of a martial art are included in the practice of Yawara, such as balance, momentum and leverage, combined with the variants of timing and strength. Every Yawara technique contains elements that can be developed into very devastating techniques of self-defense.

To the beginner, Yawara teaches the relation between physical movement and mental intention. An action is no longer an isolated process, it involves the whole body. It is a process that has the potential to create both emotional and physical unity with an opponent, a prerequisite for the most efficient conflict management.

Koka Seminar Cont.

Sunday began with a demonstration of different weapon techniques.This short demonstration included sword techniques, and defenses using ring weapons called Kanawa. Kanawa were an early version of a pot holder the edges were sharpened for use as an household impromptu weapon.

Afterward, the attendees were invited to participate in different techniques. Methods of body movement, control, crawling, and walking were taught, with an emphasis of the stealth applications of the techniques. Kiyomoto Sensei was extremely flexible, and demonstrated each of the movements in a silent, cat-like manner.The techniques were taught as being historically accurate, as Ninja practitioners actually performed in the period.

There was a short discussion on the kuji-in, and their ritual applications. Each mudra was taught, with its corresponding mandra, and the significance of these ideas. Besides the historical significance, the philosophy and influence of the kuji-in was discussed.

Kuji-in, meaning “Nine symbolic cuts”, from the outside seems to consist in drawing nine lines in the form of a grid, then drawing a symbol on the grid. In fact, it is the setting in place of nine energy structures, that once activated, can empower a concept represented by the drawn symbol over the grid. It was also explained that not just ninja practiced kuji but most samurai as well.

The kuji were explained to be a way of "self-protection" related to religious acts. All were shown the basic Kuji although it was explained there were an infinite number of kuji that were not shown obviously.

Other topics covered were shuriken, with different methods of throwing, as well as classical weaponry. These weapons consisted of infiltrative devices, farming tools, chain weapons, as well as explosives, based on the technology of the period.

In addition, there were discussions about period assassination techniques with poison, disguises, and methods of communication using the technology of the period. Kawakami Sensei had a wealth of information at his command, regarding a plethora of topics – each relating to the art of Ninjutsu of antiquity.

Pictures were shown of the Ninja Museum in Mie Prefecture, which is the only government sponsored Ninja organization in Japan. This Museum, and its curator, Kawakami Sensei, have been declared by the Japanese Government as the Guardians of the Ninja traditions.

Kawakami Sensei and Kiyomoto Sensei appeared to be people of rare integrity, humility, and very willing to share information. They were very enthusiastic about the material presented, and dedicated to maintaining the authenticity of the historical and cultural traditions.

I would like to thank Renshi Steve Mauner of the Nakano Dojo for his help and contributions with this article.

O' SENSEI RONALD DUNCAN'S CROSS TRAINING SEMINAR

2009-07-02T16:53:00.000-07:00

O'Sensei Ronald Duncan's Cross training Seminar

August 8th and 9th, 2009

Now located at the new Nakano Dojo of Ninjitsu

NINJUTSU - KARATE - JUJUTSU - AIKIDO

KOBUDO - IAI DO - STEALTH TRAINING

KNIFE THROWING & FIGHTING

IMPROVISED WEAPONS & MUCH MORE

For further information contact

Professor Ronald Duncan (516) 410-4334
Shihan Gregory Duncan (201) 386-9029
Renshi Steven Mauner (516) 390-9550

Visit Ronald Duncan's website at:

http://www.wayofthewinds.com/

Jinichi Kawakami Seminar - Part Two

2009-07-02T08:02:00.000-07:00

In an email interview with Mr. Meik Skoss I asked him about his impression of the Jinichi Kawakami seminar. Mr. Skoss participated in the academic panel discussion with Kawakami Sensei on friday, June 26th.

Q. Mr. Skoss, thank you so much for your reply. I understand that you attended the Kawakami seminar and sat in with a panel of experts. It was reported to me that you did think Kawakami was legitimate. I know that ninjutsu isnt considered a koryu and that even some of the biggest ninjutsu organizations have not proven a true lineage. How did Kawakami come off to the panel? Did you indeed find him credible as earlier reports have stated? I understand that
you were not there for the entire event but I would still like to get your comments on the presentation of Koka or Koga ninjutsu.

A. Mssrs. Kawakami and Kiyomoto did impress me and, I believe, Drs. Sather and Farivar, as being very knowledgeable about the history and techniques of Koka-ryu ninjutsu. Unlike a lot of previous encounters with so-called "experts" on ninjutsu, there was no bombast or romantic mythologizing. They were very plain spoken, matter of fact about what their art is and how it was transmitted to the present day.

Q. According to some you were blown away with the Kawakami presentation and found him to be the "real deal" so to speak. If he indeed did impress, then what did he do or say that would attribute to this?

A. It is more accurate to say that I think what Mssrs. Kamakami and Kiyomoto said made sense, given what I know of how many of the traditional Japanese arts -- by which I mean not just martial arts, but performing arts and crafts as well -- have developed and been transmitted to modern times. The words I used was, "it all parses," meaning that what he said is consistent with other things I have heard, read, and seen. What he said makes sense, as opposed, for
example, the stuff that Stephen Hayes, Hatsumi Masaaki and others of that ilk have written.

Most of the people on the panel have no particular background in martial arts, ninjutsu or otherwise. Kawakami and Kiyomoto wanted the setting to be more of an academic one, not a form of entertaining "show and tell" dog-and-pony show, that is what we were intended to provide. The format of prepared questions was not really one that would be found in a Western academic setting, but was decided upon to make Kawakami and Kiyomoto more comfortable, as Japanese generally do not like to participate in the free-ranging discussions that are common in the U.S.

Q. One of the many questions that was put before Kawakami Sensei was if the art was a complete transmission or if they had reconstructed it based on actual historical densho. Kawakami explained it was a transmission. Another question asked was whether ninjutsu was a koryu or not. Kawakami Sensei gave a unique answer, by saying that he did not think so because he believes ninjutsu to be entirely different from koryu bujutsu.

A. Yes, this was an interesting point raised by Mr. Kawakami. I found it a telling one with regard to my being convinced of his legitimacy. As I mentioned before, many other writers have either spurious or unsubstantiated backgrounds, which is why, up until now, I have dismissed their claims to being genuine exponents of traditional arts.

I spoke with a teacher of mine about this. He also studies Katori Shinto-ryu heiho, which has a ninjutsu component in
its curriculum. He told me that what I told him of Kawakami's presentation is very similar to what he has learned in his own training and studies. That is a rather significant datum, I think, because Shinto-ryu is one of the oldest koryu bujutsu, one of the best preserved, and his teacher knows more about Japanese martial culture than most other martial arts exponents or academic specialists.

In conclusion, I think it's best to say that I believe Mssrs. Kawakami and Kiyomoto have a legitimate tradition. Whether or not it is being transmitted in the traditional manner at this time is not something I'm prepared to comment upon without observing the training and discussing it with them at length.

I want to extend my appreciation to Mr. Skoss for his cander, expertise and for taking the time to respond to my questions.

MORE TO COME ON JINICHI KAWAKAMI'S BANKE SHINOBIDEN SEMINAR.......

P.S. Please everyone keep in mind that this article, which will be in several parts, is a work in progress. Corrections, changes and additions are made to insure that no one is misqouted or misrepresented. So check back periodically as I endeavor to work at finalizing the article[s]. A special thank you goes out to everyone who has contributed to the article.

Jinichi Kawakami Seminar - PART ONE

2009-07-01T08:10:00.000-07:00

On the afternoon of Friday, June 26th in New Jersey at Drew University in the Brothers College building, a three day seminar was given by Jinichi Kawakami. The week end started with an academic panel discussion about the history and nature of Japanese Ninjutsu, followed by two days of unique demonstrations and training.

Jinichi Kawakami a Koka Ninpoden Soshike (headmaster of Koka or Koga ryu Ninjutsu)and honorary curator of the Iga Ninja Hakubutsukan (Museum) and Yasushi Kiyomoto stood in front of approximately seventy people and a panel of experts. The panel consisted of Meik Skoss, who is the Co-Publisher of Koryu Books, an instructor in Shinto Muso-ryu jojutsu and a shihan (master instructor) of Toda-ha Buko-ryu naginatajutsu. Also on the panel was his wife Diane Skoss, who has earned a Master of Library Science, an MA in English, and has a go mokuroku [license] in Shinto Muso-ryu jojutsu and an okuden in Toda-ha Buko-ryu naginatajutsu.

Other panelists were Jeremy Sather, Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, University of Pennsylvania; Marc Boglioli, Professor of Anthropology of Drew University; Wyatt Evans, Professor of History from Drew University; and Michel Farivar, psychiatrist and instructor of Geijin Ryu Ninjutsu.

Another in attendance was Professor Ronald Duncan. According to Dayn Derose, Professor Duncan, who is the shihan of the Way of the Winds School and affectionately called O-Sensei by his many students deserves, a special mention due to the fact that without his help this presentation would not have been possible.

Kawakami Sensei's lineage is recognized by the governments of Mie (Iga) and Shiga (Koka) prefectures where the old Iga and Koga areas are located, as well as the Iga Ninja Museum as the last real practitioner of ninjutsu. The Iga Ninja Museum is registered under law as a certified museum by the Mie Prefectural Committee Board of Education. It is the only museum in the world of its kind, the only public ninja museum in Japan that is backed by the government. The prefectural governments' recognition is part of the Japanese system of designating Intangible Cultural Assets and is a designation that is awarded to traditional arts and crafts of many sorts, including martial arts.

In the seminar, Kawakami, with Yasushi Kiyomoto, his senior student and the President of the Ban-ke Ninpoden Kenshujo, and interpreter Katie Takahashi, the Artistic Director of Team Takahashi, were welcomed by Drew University's Athletic Director[,] Jason Fein. After that, all attending were shown a Japanese video presentation of Kawakami Sensei, Kiyomoto Sensei and their associates, which was interpreted by Ms. Takahashi.

After the video presentation, a question and answer session took place. Hit with a barrage of questions from both the panel and the other 70 people in attendance, Kawakami sensei and his senior student Yasushi Kiyomoto patiently and politely answered all questions from the panel of experts and those attending.

One of the many questions that was put before Kawakami Sensei was if the art was a complete transmission or if they had reconstructed it based on actual historical densho. Kawakami sensei explained it was a transmission. Another question asked was whether ninjutsu was a koryu or not. Kawakami Sensei gave a unique answer, by saying that he did not think so because he believes ninjutsu to be entirely different from koryu bujutsu.

Koryu organizations have long discounted claims by ninjutsu practitioners, stating that there are too many gaps in their lineages. The explanations given by Kawakami Sensei apparently impressed Meik Skoss; he believes Kamakami Sensei is authentic, saying "I found Kawakami Sensei's answer a telling one with regard to my being convinced of his legitimacy. Many other writers have either spurious or unsubstantiated backgrounds, which is why, up until now, I have dismissed their claims to being genuine exponents of traditional arts."

According to Dayn Derose, Jeremy Sather from the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at University of Pennsylvania, who studies Shinkendo under Toshishiro Obata, was another on the panel that was convinced of Kawakami’s authenticity.

Dayn went on to say, "Mr. Skoss and Mr. Sather were able to understand a very specific statement Mr. Kawakami made of his lineage(s). It was very persuasive, in the academic sense."

READ MORE OF MR. SKOSS' AND OTHERS REACTION TO THE SEMINAR IN PART TWO....

P.S. Please everyone keep in mind that this article, which will be in several parts, is a work in progress. Corrections, changes and additions are made to insure that no one is misqouted or misrepresented. So check back periodically as I endeavor to work at finalizing the article[s]. A special thank you goes out to everyone who has contributed to the article.

Grand Master Ronald Duncan

2009-05-27T20:32:00.000-07:00

Born in

anama

. Professor Ronald Duncan began training in boxing at the age of seven. Since Professor Ronald Duncan grew up in an area where many of the elite military forces of that country were training in jungle warfare, he learned at an early age to read the signs of nature for directions in and out of the jungle. It was the beginning of a long and very involved career in many aspects of the martial arts.

Ronald Duncan went on to serve in the United States Marine Corp where he was a member of the USMC Judo team and earned one of his earliest black belt rankings. Professor Duncan went on to earn a black belt in several other disciplines such as Hakko Ryu Jujitsu, Dai-nippon Jujitsu Ryu, Sosuishi Ryu, Kin Dai Gakko Ryu, Aikido, Aiki-Jujitsu, Kempo, Kobujitsu (weaponry), and Shinobino-jitsu (popularly known as Ninjitsu). His teachers were all legendary men; Charlie Neal, Ernie Cates, Tatsuo Uzaki, and Don Draeger.

"Ron Duncan was and is a quiet, humble, polite, and extremely hard working martial artist of great ability. He cross- trained constantly. He took advice from everyone and I never heard him criticize anyone. I’m proud of the fact that I was influential in his learning process”.

“Sensei Ron Duncan studied judo, jujitsu and knife with me for 2 years. 1957-1959. He was an excellent martial arts student. He was in the same group of students at my dojo in Jacksonville, NC as Don Nagle, Jim Giles, Don Bohan, Rick Nemura, Bryan "Chick" Burk, Howard George-1960 Greco Roman Wrestling Olympic Champion. Pat Barris (who I taught from age 8-10 when he moved to the West Coast, Barris was twice Pan Am Judo Champion. All became famous in martial arts history. Ron Duncan is a pioneer in ninja history weaponry and tactics. "

- Ernie Cates

Evolving into such a versatile practitioner of the martial arts, it is highly and widely known he was the first to practice and teach Ninjutsu in the states in the 60’s and 70’s before the ninja craze hit America in the 80's and 90's. Students from his school had great success on the tournament circuits of those days and he had already had series of articles published in the martial art magazines of the day. Professor Ronald Duncan became the first non-oriental to be publically recognized in "Official Karate" magazine as a master of martial arts weaponry.

In an article by Official Karate Magazine in August of 1971 the magazine recognizes Sensei Ronald Duncan.

“He is a nidan in the American Karate Federation, a shodan in the American Judo and Ju-Jitsu Federation, a shomokoroku in the Nippon Sosuishiryu Ju-Jitsukai, a godan in the Hakkoryu Ju-Jutsu Federation, and, although he doesn't call himself a Master of Ninjitsu, he's about the only one. Ronald Duncan is a man of many titles, but all deservedly earned and backed up by a multitude of talents; almost as many as the amount of weapons he is master of.”

- Official Karate

For many years to come, Professor Duncan would thrill audiences around the world with spectacular demonstrations that would include vast assortments of traditional and non traditional weapons. Ronald Duncan was also the first to be shown catching live arrows with his bare hands on nationally televised programs such as "Thrill Seekers" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72tbio78jAQ, and ABC’s "Wide World of Sports" where he was acknowledged as the “Father of American Ninjutsu”.

On Black Belt magazine's website http://www.blackbeltmag.com/styles/ninjutsu Black belt credits Ron Duncan for his efforts with Ninjutsu.

"Ninjutsu is the art of Japans ninja warriors. It grew during the nations feudal period (13th to 17th century), when missions of espionage and assassination were often carried out against warlords. In the 1970s and 80s, ninjutsu was popularized in the West by Ronald Duncan, Stephen K. Hayes and Masaaki Hatsumi."

Ronald Duncan has taught Special Troops, Navy S.E.A.L. Teams, law enforcement agencies, and various government agenc ies in foreign countries. Professor Duncan has not neglected modern weaponry. He is also a certified expert in firearms, and competition shooting with over 200 competition shooting awards. Having such knowledge in firearms, Professor Duncan is quite proficient in combative and gun disarming tactics.

Professor Duncan has a 6 volume Aikijujutsu instructional series and a single volume dvd on koga ryu ninjutsu available on dvd. http://espytv.com/aiki.htm

Since the establishment of his Way of the Winds™ System http://www.wayofthewinds.com/ , schools internationally are affiliated with him. He has taught in Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Panama, England and South Africa. He has also been involved with the blind, physically handicapped, and homeless inner-city youth.

Ronald Duncan is a recipient of numerous Hall of Fame awards and honors including the Professional Karate Federation in 1977, Turtull Hall of Fame in 1981, Marine Martial Arts Federation, Hall of Fame Charter Life Member in 1997, Martial Arts Masters, Pioneers & Legends Hall of Fame 1997, Tribute to the Greatest Masters of the Twentieth Century Hall of Fame (sponsored by Wesley Snipes) in 1998, and The World Head of Family Sokeship Council Hall of Fame 1999, and AFMA Hall of Fame 2000.

On Sunday, Januaury 20^th,2007 at 7pm before a capacity crowd a Tribute to Grand Master Ronald Duncan was held. The Madison Square Garden Hall of Fame inductions New York City N. Y. hosted by Grand Master Aaron Banks the creator of The Oriental World of Self Defense shows and World Professional Martial Arts Organization, honored Grand Master Ronald Duncan for introducing Ninjitsu and other Martial Arts to the Western World thru this venue in 1969. The event was attended by some of the world's leading exponents of Martial and fight sciences including world boxing champions honoring Grand Master Ronald Duncan.

On June 13th, 2007 in Brooklyn N.Y. Grand Master Ronald Duncan received a Pioneering award for 50 years teaching the legendary practices of Ninjitsu and various martial arts in America. In November of 2007, Prof. Duncan was inducted to the International Association of Martial Artists Hall of Fame 2007.

"A marine veteran Professor Duncan was one of the First Marines back from oversea’s in the early 1950’s and returned with his skills (Nin-jitsu/Martial Arts) to Camp Lejeune, NC where Don Nagle (Isshinryu Karate), and Ernie Cates (Judo) also had based at the same time. For his great Accomplishments Duncan is inducted to the IAMA Hall of Fame 2007."

-Grand Master Gary Alexander

An upcoming martial art documentary entitled "The search for count Dante" by Floyd Webb http://thesearchforcountdante.com/ will include an interview with Prof. Ronald Duncan. Webb the film maker of the documentary had this to say of his meeting with Sensei Duncan:

"He has 50 years experience and I want to have a picture of how he started his career in the racially charged years of the 1950s. Master Duncan has been a consistent, persistent presence on the martial arts scene. His knowledge of weapons and ninja practices are legend and he remains active as an instructor. I interviewed Master Ronald Duncan while I was out there. For me that was highlight of the trip. He was someone I had always wanted to meet."

Addressing Duncan's critics who seem to frequent the internet Webb commented that "the critics can say what they will about Duncan." Webb then went on, "all I can say is they have no idea of Duncan's skills and experiences. I will leave it at that." http://johnkeehan.blogspot.com/

Dayn Derose of Drew University, who hosted the Jinichi Kawakami Banke Shinobiden seminar on June 26th,27th and 28th of 2009 and had this to say of Prof. Duncan.

"Professor Ronald Duncan who is affectionately called O-Sensei by his many students deserves a special mention due to the fact that without his help this presentation would not have been possible."

Kawakami showing respect and admiration taking O'sensei Duncan's hand referred to him as the Great one.

Jinichi Kawakami real ninja

2009-05-16T17:27:00.000-07:00

There is a museum in Mie, Japan, The Iga-Ryu Ninja Museum. It is registered under law as a certified museum by the Mie Prefectural Committee Board of Education. http://iganinja.jp/2008/02/post-68.html (u must translate the Japanese) It is the only Museum in the world of its kind, the only public Ninja museum in Japan (there are others claiming to be Ninjutsu Museums but they are not backed by the government).

The Iga-Ryu Ninja Museum has ancient Ninja documents and weapons. They have a whole section dedicated to Ninjutsu history and Historians interested in the subject often visit there. The musuem publicly states that while there are many "researchers of Ninjutsu, there is only one heir to Ninjutsu and that is Jinichi Kawakami."

The museum is the only one of its kind. It's saying Jinichi Kawakami is the real-deal and the only Ninjutsu master left. Jinichi Kawakami is also the honorary curator of the museum. This title was given to him as an honor for being the last real practitioner of Ninjutsu. The museum recognized his accomplishments and asked him to be the curator. The Governments of Mie (Iga) and Shiga (Koka) prefectures recognize Kawakami as well. Jinichi Kawakami's teacher, Masazo Ishida, was a member of the Japanese Special Forces.

Jinichi Kawakami Seminar - RESCHEDULED

2009-05-11T21:17:00.000-07:00

Martial Arts Events
Location: Drew University, Madison New Jersey - RESCHEDULED for June 26th, 27th, and 28th. Days and Times: June 26th: Afternoon Lecture and Panel Discussion June 27th: Demonstration and Practice – Morning: 9 AM to 12PM – Afternoon 1PM to 4PM June 28th: Demonstration and Practice – Morning: 9 AM to 12PM – Afternoon 1PM to 4PM

Fees - Discounts are now available. Please see the pre-registration form for more information. (By May 18th); 1 Day: $150.00 US 2 Days: $280.00 US 3 Days: $400.00

South Mountain Martial Arts
91 Main Street, Madison New Jersey 07940-1849 (973) 822-1977 Events

Drew University * RESCHEDULED * for June 26th - 28th, 2009 Seminar: Jinichi Kawakami and Yasushi Kiyomoto Present Ninjutsu of the Koka and Iga Ryu.

What really was/is Ninjutsu? Who were the Ninja really? Were Shinobi ( Ninja ) spies and assassins, Mystic Warriors, samurai, the common-man-hero, or Anti-Samurai? Were they the first Japanese regional democracies? Did they even ever wear those famous black suits ( Shinobi Shozoku )? Was Ninjutsu a bujutsu (Martial Art) at all, in the strict sense?

Sensational aspects aside, Ninja and Ninjutsu are valid parts of the history and culture of Japan. The sensational elements of the modern popularity of the Ninja have become a world-wide, lasting phenomenon. These are Ninjutsu Teachers who are recognized, as is their lineage, by the city governments of both Mie ( Iga ) and Shiga ( Koka , AKA,” Koga ”) in Japan, along with the Iga Ninja Museum.

Who they are may be surprising: Jinichi Kawakami and his student, Yasushi Kiyomoto, chief instructor of the Banke Shinobinoden Kensyujo . Kawakami Sensei is the 21st Soshike ( “Headmaster of the Ban Family lineage” ) of Banke Ninjutsu. He has been named an honorary curator for the Iga-Ryu Ninja Hakubutsukan – the Iga Ninja Museum.

Perhaps even more surprising; Koga Ninjutsu isn’t “ dead ” – Seiko Fujita wasn’t the only 20th Century Koga Shihan, nor was Wada-Ha Koga Ryu the only Koga system to survive. The Ban family lineage is one of the 53 Koka Ninja families.

We wish to invite you to come learn about Ban Family Koka area lineage; attend an academic panel discussion about the history and nature of Japanese Ninjutsu (March 8th), followed by 2 days of unique demonstrations and training. http://www.smma.net/page0015.html

For Registration, Fee Payment, Hotels & Travel Information etc, please contact:
Dayn DeRose c/o Athletic Department, Simon Athletic Forum, Drew University
36 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ, 07940
Phone: 973-906-3503

Musashi's two sword technique (Nito Ken)

2009-04-30T08:04:00.000-07:00

Miyamoto Musashi (c. 1584–June 13, 1645), also known as Shinmen Takezō, Miyamoto Bennosuke, or by his Buddhist name Niten Dōraku, was a Japanese swordsman famed for his duels and distinctive style. Musashi, as he was often simply known, became renowned through stories of his excellent swordsmanship in numerous duels, even from a very young age. Musashi was the founder of the Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū - "two heavens as one" school.

This kenjutsu technique created by Musashi is a two-sword (Nito ken) technique where the swordsman uses both a large sword (like katana), and a "companion sword" (like wakizashi) at the same time. Musashi's father studied Enmei Ryu and from this created another martial art school, Tori Ryu, with it's own style of Nito ken.

Nito Ken was actually established toward the end of the Sengoku period (1467-1568) by Musashi's grandfather, Miyamoto Musashi no kami Yoshimoto. Together with a Shinto preist whose name is unrecorded because he was also a ninja, Yoshimoto formulated the Enmei Ryu martial arts school, the first to include Nito ken techniques.

New ninja movie in post production

2009-04-09T14:34:00.001-07:00

It seems 2009 will be the year of the ninja with yet another movie about the black clad assassins. With the movie "Ninja Assassin" starring Korean singer/actor Rain due out this year, yet another movie is currently in post production.

"Ninja" (2009) will star actor Scott Adkins, who will play a westerner named Casey, studying Ninjutsu in Japan. Adkins character is asked by the Sensei to return to New York to protect the legendary Yoroi Bitsu, an armored chest that contains the weapons of the last Koga Ninja.

Jinichi Kawakami seminar on Koka ryu ninjutsu

2009-03-18T20:14:00.001-07:00

Drew University May 8th - 10th, 2009 Seminar: Jinichi Kawakami and Yasushi Kiyomoto Present Ninjutsu of the Koka Ryu & Iga Ryu What really was/is Ninjutsu? Who were the Ninja - really? Were Shinobi ( Ninja ) spies & assassins; “Mystic Warriors”; “Special Operations” samurai; the common-man-hero-“Anti-Samurai”; even the first Japanese regional democracies? Did they even ever wear those famous black suits ( Shinobi Shozoku )? Even more –was Ninjutsu Bujutsu ( Martial Arts ) at all, in the strict sense?

Sensational aspects aside, Ninja and Ninjutsu are valid parts of the history and culture of Japan. The sensational elements of the modern popularity of the Ninja have become a world-wide, lasting phenomenon. There are Ninjutsu Teachers who are recognized, as is their lineage, by the city governments of both Mie ( Iga ) and Shiga ( Koka , AKA,” Koga ”) in Japan, along with the Iga Ninja Museum. They are coming to visit the United States, at Drew University, in Madison New Jersey, on May 8th, 9th, and 10th.

Who they are may be surprising: Jinichi Kawakami and his student, Yasushi Kiyomoto, chief instructor of the Banke Shinobinoden Kensyujo . Kawakami Sensei is the 21st Soshike ( “Headmaster of the Ban Family lineage” ) Of Banke Ninjutsu. He has been named an honorary curator for the Iga-Ryu Ninja Hakubutsukan – the Iga Ninja Museum. Perhaps more surprising; Koga Ninjutsu isn’t “ dead ” – Seiko Fujita wasn’t the only 20th Century Koga Shihan, nor was Wada-Ha Koga Ryu the only Koga system to survive; The Ban family lineage is one of the 53 Koka Ninja families.

We wish to invite you to come learn about Ban Family Koka area lineage; attend an academic panel discussion about the history and nature of Japanese Ninjutsu (March 8th), followed by 2 days of unique demonstrations and training.

Location: Drew University, Madison New Jersey, May 8th, 9th, and 10th. Days and Times: May 8th: Afternoon Lecture and Panel Discussion May 9th: Demonstration and Practice – Morning: 9 AM to 12PM – Afternoon 1PM to 4PM May 10th: Demonstration and Practice – Morning: 9 AM to 12PM – Afternoon 1PM to 4PM Fees - Discounts are now available. Please see the pre-registration form for more information. (By April 18th); 1 Day: $150.00 US 2 Days: $280.00 US 3 Days: $400.00

Please click HERE for the seminar preregistration form & waiver.
For Registration, Fee Payment, Hotels & Travel Information etc, please contact:

Dayn DeRose c/o Athletic Department, Simon Athletic Forum, Drew University
36 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ, 07940

Phone: 973-906-3503

Let the games begin

2008-09-30T12:13:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I received an email by someone who posted a link to this blog on koga ryu- wikipedia. Which by the way was very nice of them to do so. I would like to take this oppurtunity to say thanks. I guess my little blog on koga ryu ninjutsu was garnering some attention so I thought cool it is good to be recognized for my efforts albeit it was only a LITTLE attention. (Let's keep it in perspective here.) It was only a little attention, it was nt like it made me famous or anything. Then I received another email a week later and I was notified that some one had removed the link and another was put in its place.

I think I need to clarify that first and foremost, I am not in compettion with anyone. I simply put up information found in my research and experience. I am not a head of a organization nor am I vying for memberships in any way shape or form. I am just simply speaking the truth.

Apparently those who want to boost themselves and be the grand mucky muck koga ninja on high on the koga ryu- wikipedia posting want to stifle the truth or at least my blog. They want to pass them selves off as the only authority on the subject and it seems will do so by any means.

I really have to ask myself what kind of person would take the time out of thier lives and remove the link? Is this person that insecure about thier so called lineage or ability? Do they find me a threat in some way? Was this an attempt to pass them selves off as legitimate, throw up a short little description of koga ryu and then use it to promote themselves? Dont get me wrong, if you want to promote yourself then fine, but dont do it at someone esles expense. Talk about dirty politics. HOW PATHETIC.

The information used in my blog is to simply make people think about the overall situation that is koga ryu ninjutsu. I simply post facts and copy portions of articles from different periodicals so all can see the information the way it was printed. Now, I guess there seems to be an organization (or maybe it is a single person) who do not want others to read my blog and come to thier own conclusions on this particular subject. It is definitely an attempt to stifle the attention my blog seems to be drawing.

I had thought long and hard about using my real name on these entries and for a while I used an alias. Now that I have made my name available to those who read my blog it is somehow difficult not to take this situation personally. I am sure I know this person or organization and it is someone who knows me. The legit ninja world is small.

I guess I could ask that person who originally posted on wikipedia to put my link back up on the koga ryu page or I could do it myself. However, I am not going to lower myself to thier level. It is obvious they desire more attention than I. I do however have to question this person's integrity. Are they really out to preserve an art or do they just want notariety?

The Ninjutsu mess

2008-09-25T20:54:00.000-07:00

As a student and observer of Ninjutsu since the late 70’s, I have seen commercialization and prostitution of this art. As I look back so much has been lost. Even today insidiously moronic arguments break out over the internet and range from “I am the one true heir to a particular style of Ninjutsu”, to "no belt ranks are given in nijutsu", or "who may or may not be legitimate",
to even the spelling of the word Ninjutsu. If they spelled it N-I-N-J-I-T-S-U it meant he was a fraud. Disregarding of course most martial arts periodicals spelled it that way back then. Even Jiujutsu was spelled with the letter I in “Jutsu” making it “Jitsu”.

There were nt many black belts back then and therefore obtaining a black belt was very prestigious. We weren’t given certificates; the instructor simply replaced the belt one was wearing with the one you had just earned. It was simple but back then that was all it took. That was the way it was done. Its legitimacy was not questioned.

Ninjutsu offered what no other style at the time offered. Karate and judo were mostly just empty hand techniques at the time so the variety of techniques and weapons which the style of Ninjutsu had within it was very appealing. The beauty of it all was that it was simply Ninjutsu. That was it. It wasn’t we are Koga, or we are Iga, or we are whatever, it was just Ninjutsu. No one cared what region it was from. We were just training in it and it was great.

I remember my instructor’s reaction to articles and books coming out back in the early 80’s which featured certain individuals claiming that they were taught the only legitimate style of Ninjutsu from Japan. It was pure propaganda, a marketing scheme, he said, a way to corner the market on the Ninjutsu craze that was beginning to take shape. He had told us back then that this particular practice of commercialization of Ninjutsu had been going on in Japan for awhile.

Now years later, the mess that is Ninjutsu is at an all time high. It is nt bad enough that legitimacies are called into question but yet again people attempt to boost themselves as the only credible source through any means of media they can. The maketing scheme is played out on the internet on places such as wikipedia and youtube. It is nt enough for these people just to simply know an art or be a black belt instructor in it. There seems to be a need for self reinvention a need to pass them selves as the only source. The one the lineage was solely entrusted to. It is this movie based nonsense that lends a heavy hand to the ninjutsu mess.

Another resurgence of the ninja

2008-09-13T19:58:00.000-07:00

It seems that the retro image of the Ninja from the 80's has made thier way back into the lime light in recent years with block buster movies such as "Batman Begins" which shows a young revenge driven Bruce Wayne being trained by ninjas, "TMNT" a computer animated full length feature, the ninja Snake Eyes will be in the up and coming "G.I. Joe" film, and "Ninja Assassin". The ninja are back with a new look and are more lethal than ever.

Sho Kosugi who played in such movies as "Enter The ninja", "Revenge of the Ninja" and others in the 80's has a role in the film "Ninja Assassin" and is slated to return to his role as a ninja in a film entitled "Return of the Ninja".

Gingetsu Ito

2008-09-13T09:03:00.000-07:00

Written in 1937 "NINJUTSU GOKUI HIDENSYO" (Secrets for modern Ninjutsu) is a very rare book on how to master the secret of Ninjutsu by Mr.Ito Gingetsu, who learned ninjutsu from a Koga ryu Jonin.

Contents
NINDO (The way of NIN)
Modern work methods of Ninjutsu and its actual use.
How to practice of ancient Ninja
Ascetic training for no color
Ascetic training for no shape
Ascetic training for no imprint
Ascetic training for no sounds

Ascetic training for no breath
Ascetic training for no smell
The way to vanish by the trees
The way to vanish by the fire
The way to vanish by the earth
The way to vanish by the metal
The way to vanish by the water

Gingetsu Ito had learned Koga ryu techniques and history over a long period of time from Tanemura Ihachiro who was a jonin in Koga Ryu. The techniques described in this book are very similar to those in the Togakure Ryu from Iga.

Gingetsu Ito would be considered another source for Koga ryu that made it to the twentieth century.

Karl Friday on ninjutsu and Masaaki Hatsumi

2008-09-13T08:58:00.000-07:00

Karl Friday is a Professor of History at the University of Georgia. A renowned expert on the samurai and early Japanese history. He has also spent a number of years living, training, and doing research in Japan. He presently holds the menkyo kaiden license and is a certified shihan in Kashima-Shinryu. Friday has authored four books and appeared on numerous A&E, History, and Discovery Channel programs.

Below he expresses his thoughts on the Bujinkan, Jinekan, and Hatsumi which can be found at
http://www.mardb.com/ninjutsu/ninjutsu-and-koryu-bujutsu.html

We've been accused of unreasonable prejudice against the "popular ninjutsu"-derived arts. To avoid having to repeatedly answer charges of bias, I've assembled a few other independent researchers' thoughts on the matter. Basically, it is our opinion that modern-day ninjutsu and ninjutsu-derived arts are not koryu bujutsu. They are not based on a continuous transmission of technique and culture. Koryu.com covers koryu bujutsu. That doesn't mean that arts we don't cover are not worthwhile. We just don't cover them.

Let me say this again, since it seems "some people" don't understand. We do not cover ninjutsu! The art and those derived from it do not fall into our definition of the koryu bujutsu. Period. If you want to define the koryu differently, that's fine.
Just don't ask us to change our definition, which is based on considerable first-hand experience and decades of research in Japanese source material. Please do not trouble yourself to write us to try and convince us to change our minds. It will not work.

We have made every effort to be as low-key as possible on the issue of "Is ninjutsu koryu?" We do not stress or advertise our position. That's because we sincerely believe that if your training is working for you then it is none of our business. However, if you come to us and ask whether we consider ninjutsu or the Bujinkan-derived arts to be koryu--well, we can only provide our honest opinion.

Please, please, please don't waste your time or ours. We really have seen the material relating to this issue; unless you happen to be a Japanese scholar who delves into ancient makimono, you won't turn up something we haven't seen and considered. onegaishimasu. I really appreciate your consideration!

Again, just because we don't share the same opinion doesn't mean that we are not all doing useful and good training. Yoroshiku Why don't members of the Bujinkan and similar groups demonstrate at major Japanese classical martial arts demonstrations? Not long after E-budo was launched an insightful observer asked on one of the forums why none of the Hatsumi-derived arts ever demonstrated at the major classical martial arts demonstrations. My colleague Ron Beaubien, a martial arts researcher, resident in Japan, posted the following reply (reprinted with his permission):

Maybe I can shed a little light on the subject. I am a member of both the Nihon Kobudo Shinkokai and the Nihon Kobudo Kyokai here in Japan, although I am not speaking officially for either of the two organizations here. It is my understanding that a school must be a member of the respective organization to be able to demonstrate at their embu (although there has been a one time exception in the past for some Chinese martial arts I believe).
A person cannot join either the Nihon Kobudo Shinkokai (the oldest koryu organization) nor the Nihon Kobudo Kyokai as an individual. The entire school joins as a whole. The soke of a koryu school here in Japan wishing to join either of these organizations applies for membership must submit their school's documents (history, lineage, and other important information usually in the form of scrolls) for verification. The documents are independently scrutinized by a panel of experts for accuracy. As a general rule, it seems that any ryuha wanting to join either of the aforementioned organizations, must be able to document their claims to at least prior to the beginning of the Meiji Period (1868).

I also believe that the historical claims of the school wishing to enter are also checked as well in order to be accepted. Now there are a few schools in the Nihon Kobudo Shinkokai and Nihon Kobudo Kyokai that do have for lack of a better word, "ninjutsu" in their respective curriculums (and thus have been verified). Katori Shinto-ryu does have some ninjutsu (can also be read shinobijutsu) teachings and Tatsumi-ryu Hyoho apparently also has some as well (although I am unsure at this time if they are classified under "monomi" in the curriculum or just not labeled at all). These techniques are reserved for high level students of the school and are not demonstrated to the public.

None of the ninjutsu organizations mentioned (Bujinkan, Genyokan, Jinenkan) are members of either organization to the best of my knowledge. However, it seems that Dr. Hatsumi of the Bujinkan did try to become a member of the Nihon Kobudo Shinkokai in the past. Ellis Amdur, who is a well known martial arts research and has spent 13 years in Japan and is the holder of a shihan license in Toda-ha Buko-ryu Naginatajutsu and inkajo in Araki-ryu, had something to say on this topic recently on rec.martial-arts: Dr. Hatsumi was asked many years ago to provide documentation of some of his lineage for admittance to the Kobudo Shinkokai, perhaps the most reliable of the major organizations of traditional Japanese martial arts, and according to Donn Draeger, in a conversation to me, he was not able to provide documentation which proved his lineage to their satisfaction. Thus, there are uncertain areas in Dr. Hatsumi's lineage.

The following is a part of a conversation between a Mr. Vlad Zotta and Dr. Karl Friday on the subject of Dr. Hatsumi and ninjutsu:

Q: Sensei Hatsumi never synthesized espionage techniques into Ninjutsu. Sensei Hatsumi is soke in 9 Ninjutsu schools: TOGAKURE RYU NINJUTSU 34TH SOKE, GYOKKO RYU KOSSHIJUTSU 28TH SOKE, KUKISHINDEN RYU HAPPO HIKENJUTSU 26TH SOKE.

Dr. Friday: These are just 3 out of 9. Problem is that if he is the 34th soke it means logically that there where 33 more sokes before him. If this school were a modern one it means they'd have to switch every almost three years which didn't happen. That might be persuasive logic if there were any documentation to substantiate Hatsumi's claim to 33 predecessors. But there is none--as I noted earlier, no document for the Togakure-ryu that predates the Meiji period (or rather, none that survived the scrutiny of independent experts).

Moreover, the genealogies claimed by Hatsumi (and by his teacher Takamatsu Toshitsugu) are highly suspect. The Katori-Shinto-ryu and the Kashima-Shinryu, two of the oldest classical bugei schools in Japan, are currently in their 20th and 19th generations. The Owari branch of the Yagyu Shinkage-ryu is in its 21st. The Jikishin-kageryu is in its 18th. All of these schools date back to the late 15th or mid 16th century, the very dawn of the organized bugei ryuha phenomenon. How is it that the Togakure-ryu has passed through 34 generations. And why has the Kumogakure-ryu passed though only 14?

The Takamatsu-Hatsumi genealogy for the Shinden Fudo-ryu traces things back 25 generations to the mid 11th century, which is at least 400 years earlier than any historian accepts the existence of any bugei ryuha--and at least two centuries before the scale and organization of warfare in Japan would make espionage activity valuable enough for anyone to seriously consider developing methods for carrying it out. Hatsumi's titles to most of the ryuha he claims to be soke for come from Takamatsu Toshitsugu, who in turn claimed to have inherited them from Toda Masamitsu.

It's worth noting, in this context, that in the third edition of the Bugei ryuha daijiten, Watatani Kiyoshi (who was, BTW, a personal friend of his) stated that Takamatsu had created his "ninpo" ryuha and teachings from "ninja-gokko" ("childhood ninja games")..."

Official Karate Magazine - August, 1971

2008-09-08T16:11:00.000-07:00

In an article by Official Karate Magazine in August of 1971 the magazine recognizes Sensei Ronald Duncan.

“He is a nidan in the American Karate Federation, a shodan in the American Judo and Ju-Jitsu Federation, a shomokoroku in the Nippon Sosuishiryu Ju-Jitsukai, a godan in the Hakkoryu Ju-Jutsu Federation, and, although he doesn't call himself a Master of Ninjitsu, he's about the only one. Ronald Duncan is a man of many titles, but all deservedly earned and backed up by a multitude of talents; almost as many as the amount of weapons he is master of.”

“Born in Panama in 1937, the ever youthful Mr. Duncan has been engaged in one form or another of martial arts and physical contact since the age of seven, with the last 16 or so years concentrated on the various forms of ken po and ju-jutsu. He learned judo and knife-fighting techniques while serving in the Marines in the latter part of the 1950s, studying under senseis Ernie Cates (judo and knife-fighting) and Don Nagle (karate). Mr. Maraki Hara taught him the art of nunchaku and sword techniques as well as classical kenpo and ju-jitsu forms, while Mr. Ozaki introduced him to some rudiments of ju-jitsu.

Ninja antiterrorists squads in North Africa

2008-04-27T18:49:00.000-07:00

Though it is doubtful that this partcular group was indeed trained in Ninja like tactics, they surely did adopt an appearance as well as the name of the ninja as a intimidation tactic. An example of how not only the tactics but a perceived image of the ninja is still to this day used in warfare.

Newsweek June 19,1995-

In Algeria, members of special "Ninja" units, named for the black hoods over their heads, flaunt their power on the streets. They cruise in bulletproof Toyotas, brandishing Kalashnikov assault rifles, searching anyone they deem suspicious. After curfew falls on Algiers at 11:30 each night, the Ninjas reportedly act as death squads. By the interior minister's estimate, the violence has cost at least 12,000 lives since 1992; other sources triple that figure.

And despite the Ninjas' best efforts, the killing goes on. Last week guerrillas reportedly seized the town of Larba, south of Algiers, for several hours. Those few foreigners who live in unprotected houses are still targets: 84 have been killed since 1993, including a French couple in an Algiers suburb last week. Diplomats in Algiers work behind high walls, concertina wire and scores of heavily armed guards. But foreigners say they are no longer concerned about an imminent victory by Islamic revolutionaries. True, for most Algerians, terrorism has become an unwelcome feature of daily life-but daily life goes on. In Egypt, meanwhile, near normalcy has returned. Thou sands of suspected fundamentalists have been jailed, and there has not been a single terrorist attack in Cairo this year. Tourism is reviving. Shoot-outs with fundamentalists are still reported daily but are mainly limited to the sugar-cane fields of Upper Egypt, 150 miles away from Cairo. European governments and the U.S. State Department fret about human-rights abuses; in private, however, officials will admit feeling relief that something has worked.

But repression doesn't get at the root cause of radicalism. Western observers argue that, long term, North Africa won't have stability without economic growth, political stability and a respect for human rights. Moderate opposition parties in both Algiers and Cairo agree. They cite the case of the Shah of Iran, who was repressive - and lost.

In North Africa, those on the ground read history differently. They think the shah could have toughed it out if he'd ignored Washington's second-guessing on human rights. "It was a mistake to persuade the shah to leave," Mubarak told Lally Weymouth last week (box). "[The United States] was thinking Khomeini would be a man to befriend? The first thing he said about the Americans was that they were devils." In Algeria, says an official, former president Chadli Bendjedid watched the fall of Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989 and concluded that brute force alone would not guarantee his regime's survival. But army officers disagreed, deposed Bendjedid and opted instead for the Ninjas. That choice of repression may yet work.

Even Negad el-Barai, of the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights, complain only about the methods, not the objective, of curtailing terrorism. But el- Barai counsels caution. "We can't call it a final victory," he says, pointing out that previous Egyptian regimes crushed Islamic radicals in the 1940s and 1960s. "There is no final victory until we deal with fanaticism and hate." But in the interim, defeating terrorism on the streets will do.

By Christopher Dickey in Cairo

THE NINJA TACTICS OF THE BRITISH SAS

2008-04-24T10:36:00.001-07:00

At 11:30 on 30 April 1980 a six-man terrorist team calling itself the "Democratic Revolutionary Movement for the Liberation of Arabistan" (DRMLA), captured the building in Prince's Gate, South Kensington in central London.

Initially the terrorists' demands were for the autonomy of an oil-rich region in southern Iran known as Khuzestan; later they demanded the release of ninety-one of their comrades, alleged political prisoners of the Iranian government, held in Iranian jails.

Twenty-six hostages were taken (including the Metropolitan Police constable on official protection duty at the main entrance and a visiting BBC radio journalist) when the terrorists first stormed the building, but five were released over the following few days. Police negotiators attempted to mollify the radicals with supplies of food and cigarettes, and on the third day a statement by the terrorists was broadcast on the BBC following threats to kill a hostage.

The terrorist unit's Iraqi handler had promised the group that the Jordanian ambassador would intervene to provide safe passage, but when it became clear this was not going to happen, the situation in the embassy deteriorated.

In the meantime The SAS had been given an order to deploy and were off base prepping to deal with the situation. Part of the original plan was to attack add night which would add to the terrorists confusion. However, the terrorists killed a hostage, press attaché Abbas Lavasani, and threw his body outside.

This marked an escalation of the situation and prompted Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's decision to proceed with the rescue operation. The order to deploy a unit of the Counter Revolutionary Warfare (CRW) wing of the SAS had been given in the first few hours of the siege. When the first hostage was shot, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, David McNee passed a note to the Ministry of Defence, stating this was now a "military operation".

In preparation for storming the building, the landing paths of planes into Heathrow Airport were lowered and The British Gas Co. began noisy drilling in an adjoining street to provide noise cover as the SAS moved into position. Prior to the attack the terrorists and hostages had been observed through fiber-optic probes that had been inserted through the shared wall of an adjoining building. Microphones were used to eavesdrop from the building next door. The raid had been rehearsed in a mock-up of the building in a nearby army barracks in central London.

Peter Taylor of the Guardian wrote:

The SAS soon moved to a building adjacent to the embassy. Operation Nimrod was about to begin. The SAS were ready; they had been training for such an operation for years. Day after day they had practiced their killing drills. Robin Horsfall was one of the counter terrorist team's crack shots. "Police marksmen get 100 rounds a year. We would get 400 in a morning. We could draw a pistol in a darkened room and put two rounds in a man's forehead in a four-inch circle. Bang! Bang!" He said the team had trained so long and hard that there was nothing left to do. "You can only sharpen a knife so much and the knife was already razor sharp."

The assault started at 19:23 hours on May 5, 1980 (a Bank Holiday Monday) twenty-three minutes after the dead hostage had been thrown from the building. As a diversion a detonation of a charge in a stairwell drew the terrorist attention to the rear of the building. Simultaneously, electrical power was cut to the building. Some SAS troopers entered the embassy from the roof, using explosive devices to blow in the window frames. Stun grenades were used to disorient the terrorists during the attack and the SAS troopers were armed with Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine guns and clad in black with hoods over their faces with only their eyes showing.

Five of the six terrorists were killed and nineteen hostages were saved. One of the terrorists was later found to have been shot 27 times. One hostage was killed by a terrorist during the attack.

“Within 11 minutes, the hostages had been rescued - all except one who was shot dead by the gunmen - and five of the six gunmen were killed. Within minutes Police Constable Trevor Lock, who was one of the hostages, was involved in a life or death struggle with Salim. He had finally pulled his gun that was missed by the terrorists and held it to Salim's head.

Suddenly Lock heard a voice shout out his name and yell for him to get out of the way. Lock was amazed that the SAS man knew his name. Tom had burst in through the door and opened up on Salim. Lock looked round at the suddenly lifeless body. "There was a line of bullet holes going diagonally from his eye across his chest. No blood, just the holes." Tom showed no emotion. "There's a very distinct sound when a bullet hits a body. It's like a thud. I've shot deer all my life up in Scotland and you get the same sound when you hit a deer. Salim would have been dead before he hit the floor." Tom later gave Lock his SAS beret”.

Peter Taylor-“The Guardian”

After the assault ended, the last surviving gunman tried to hide as a hostage, but was identified by a real hostage. One SAS soldier was about to take him back into the building presumably to be shot; however, the soldier was prevented when it was pointed out that the world's media were watching.

There was some controversy over the killing of a few of the terrorists, especially Shai and Makki. They were guarding the Iranian hostages, and towards the end of the raid the hostages persuaded the terrorists to surrender. Hostages witnessed them throw down their weapons and sit on the floor with their hands on their heads (weapons being thrown out of a window and a white flag were seen by video cameras outside).

Dadgar, a hostage at the time (confirmed by two other hostages) said (of the SAS):

"They then took the two terrorists, pushed them against the wall and shot them. They wanted to finish their story. That was their job." ...[they might have] "had something in their pockets but certainly had no weapons in their hands at the time."

At a coroner's inquest the SAS were cleared by a jury. One of the soldiers said that he thought Makki was going for a gun, and another said he thought Shai had a grenade and shot him in the back of the neck.

Margaret Thatcher and her husband Denis paid a visit to the SAS at Regent's Park barracks after the incident to thank them. "Tom", one of the SAS soldiers present, said of a later meeting with Denis Thatcher:

"He had a big grin on his face and said, 'You let one of the bastards live.' We failed in that respect."

The Americanization of Ninjutsu

2008-04-23T13:23:00.000-07:00

Even to this day some of the biggest pioneers of Ninjutsu in the U.S. seem to under go and endure criticisms from groups on the internet claiming a pure and singular heritage or from more modern groups or supporters of mixed style competitions.

One of the biggest names in pioneering Ninjutsu in America was Ronald Duncan he along with Stephen Hayes and Robert Bussey were highly sought after and highly regarded by the leading martial art magazines and periodicals of the time. Now, they and the style of Ninjutsu itself come under intense scrutiny.

Ronald Duncan’s story is compelling due to the fact it is highly and widely known he was the first to practice and teach Ninjutsu in the states in the 60’s and 70’s before the ninja craze hit America. Students from his school had great success on the tournament circuits of those days and he had already had series of articles published in the martial art magazines of the day. His competence and legitimacy were not questioned back then. Even today his “Way of the Winds System” and “21st Century Combative Measures” are modified more for the modern day warrior. But, among the twenty something crowd that scours the vast region of the internet he is highly criticized and his experience is foolishly discarded.

The eighties then brought Stephen Hayes and Robert Bussey and the ninja world exploded. Articles and books were written one book in particular was Al Weiss book “Ninja Clan of death” in which he acknowledges both Duncan and Hayes for their time, advice and expertise.

Hayes had traveled to Japan to train with Massaki Hatsumi in Togakure ryu ninjutsu in which it is said to be the only legitimate ninjutsu style. He has also had a successful run with several books and videos helped to bring Ninjutsu up to date, making it more practical for today’s situations.

Duncan and Hayes also share involvement in certain organizations like The World Head Sokeship Council. This is also compelling due to the fact that since most of Duncan’s critics on the internet claim they speak for organizations with ties to Hayes. But yet Hayes himself has not seemed to openly criticize Duncan.

Bussey trained in Japan with Masaaki Hatsumi as Hayes had done, and brought back an openly aggressive and modified form of Ninjutsu. He had also disregarded the shinotist beliefs of the ninja and stuck with his christian beliefs and values. His interpretations of Ninjutsu lead him to have at one time the largest Ninjutsu school in the world.

NINJA MANIA

2008-04-23T11:58:00.000-07:00

During the sixties the ninja had a resurgence in Japan. Many ninja experts were clamoring for work in the film industry and it seems there was some bad blood between the ninja masters and experts. In the 1967 issue of black belt magazine in an article by Andrew Adams, he spoke of this infighting.

“Today’s few remaining masters of the art have been able to supplement their incomes by writing books on ninjitsu and by acting as consultants to the television serials and movie shows that have flourished as part of the ninja craze that has swept Japan the past few years.

In fact, competition for some of the more lucrative jobs has started some of today’s ninjas quarreling with each other, though not quite so violently as they did in the old days. Remarks have been exchanged and jibes hurled questioning the ability and the authenticity of one another. The ugly word “commercialism” has also been heard.”

Commercialism indeed had reared its ugly head, there was a clamor to make money and it was going to be made at any costs. These ninja were vying for the money and fame and fortune. Books, movies and tv shows were flooding the Japanese market.

I find Adam’s article compelling for two reasons, one, he states that there are other ninja masters. Who were these others? Were they other Ninjutsu ryu? The second reason is that he alludes to the competition to make money in the film industry and the discontent among the Ninjutsu masters making the claims of some not being as legitimate as others in an attempt to be at the top of the heap.

1964 brought about Ian Fleming’s novel “You only live twice” the James Bond adventure featured the ninja. Then in 1967 Fleming’s book was turned into a movie and presented the ninja for the first time to the English speaking world in a way that no book could ever do.

By the 80’s ninja mania was present in the U. S. Ninja had become present in movies such as “Shogun” “The last Ninja” “Enter the ninja” and a television series called “The Master” as well as other movies to numerous to mention. Martial arts magazines frequented covers and articles about the ninja. There was an over saturation of Ninjutsu.

Like the Japanese back in the sixties there were Ninjutsu practitioners here in the states clamoring and vying for work and some were doing the same things the Japanese masters had done. It wasn’t enough to be a practitioner of Ninjutsu there seemed to be a need to frequent magazines and write books and legitimacies were again called into question by certain groups attempting to make thier mark. One group from Japan that broke onto the scene claimed to be the only legitimate school of ninjutsu in the world and the only system of ninjutsu to survive in to modern times. It was indeed a great and lucrative marketing ploy to capitallize on the Ninja craze in the U. S. and at the same time disredit the compettion in a bid to be at the top of the heap. Commercialization became rampant and by the nineties the craze had faded.

Banke Shinobinoden group

2008-04-20T19:23:00.000-07:00

Teach Koka and Iga Ninjutsu in Japan. Jinichi Kawakami and his top student Yasushi Kiyomoto claim to be the last practitioners of Ninjutsu. The Iga-Ryu Ninjutsu Museum seems to support this. Jinichi Kawakami is known in Japan as "The last living modern ninja." The Banke Shinobinoden Iga and Koka Ninjutsu family have remained underground for almost 1,000years. Only recently have they opened up part of their teachings to outsiders. Jinichi Kawakami was taught by Masazo Ishida, who before his death was one of the last remaining Ninjutsu practioners alive. Yasushi Kiyomoto and his teacher Jinichi Kawakami have both undergone the brutal training their ancient ancestors of Ninjutsu also endured. Their training has consisted of brutal physical punishment in addition to extreme mental and Spiritual condiitioning.

THE SEVEN SHADOWS OF KOGA

2008-04-19T14:44:00.000-07:00

By PAUL W.L. KWAN
Prepared with the kind help of Dr. Naohiro Ai, Tokyo Kyoiku University, Japan.

IT WAS SNOWING HARD one evening in the fourth year of Genroku (1692). Two horsemen appeared outside a forest several miles from Edo (now Tokyo). One of them was a well-dressed man with a hat and scarf which covered practically all of his face. The other person was dressed like a servant and had a lantern on his saddle.

The well-dressed man took out a whistle and blew twice. Immediately, seven ninja in plain clothing materialized around him. One of them who appeared to be the leader came forward, bowed and said, "Koga Hichi No Kage (The Seven Shadows of Koga) at your service."

"Within three days you must kill Ashigara Yutano who is now at the household of Oribe. Kill anyone else who gets in your way and wipe out the entire Oribe household if necessary," commanded Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu.
.
"It will be done, but how much are you going to pay us?" "Don't worry, you will be paid well," Yanagisawa assured the ninja. "One more thing, This must be done in complete secrecy. None besides your group and myself are supposed to know about it."

"Yes, my lord." The leader turned around and made a small gesture with his hands. One of the ninja made a sudden move and Yanagisawa heard a strange noise next to him. He turned his head and saw his servant slowly fall from the saddle, a four pointed shuriken (throwing-knife) embedded in his throat.

The ninja leader came forward, caught the body, put it on the ground, sprinkled some powder on it, took the candle from the lantern and threw it onto the body. The smell of burnt flesh seeped through Yanagisawa's nostrils.

"He was the ninth person who knew about our plan," was the ninja's laconic explanation. "We will report to you in three days. Please have the money ready, my lord."

With that the ninja faded into the surrounding darkness as quietly and quickly as they had appeared. Yanagisawa started his return trip to Edo. It was still’ snowing, but he could feel sweat dripping down his body. His thoughts wandered back to when he had first started working for the Fifth Shogun (Generalissimo) Tokugawa Tsunayoshi at the age of twenty-two. By the second year of Jokyo (1685) he had already become the Right Assistant to the Shogun, a post of great importance. Only one other person, the Left Assistant Matsudaira Tsunatoya, was in the same rank.

Any other person who had risen to power so quickly would have been satisfied with his post, but not Yanagisawa. He wanted to go one step further, to take the place of the Shogun and along with it the power to rule the whole country.

Shogun Tokugawa did not have a son and had hinted he might adopt Yanagisawa's only son Yoshida as heir. Yanagisawa, of course, was very happy about this and his desire for power became unsuppressible. Yoshida, on the other hand, was not an ambitious man and usually disagreed with things his father did.

A rumor began to circulate in Edo which disturbed Yanagisawa. The previous shogun had purportedly had an affair with a girl at Ashiyara-yama who had subsequently given birth to a son. Now, some years later, the young man was planning to claim his light as heir to the Shogunate. If this person showed up, Tokugawa would undoubtedly pass the Shogunate to him instead of to Yoshida. Yanagisawa could not allow this to happen! Therefore, he forbade anyone to relate the rumor to the shogun and at the same time tried to find out who this person was.
Yanagisawa's spies brought back information that the alleged son of the previous shogun was one Ashigara Yutano who was living in the Oribe household. Oribe Sumumi had once served under the fourth shogun, but was now retired. He had two sons, and all three were excellent swordsmen. Yanagisawa therefore decided that the only way to deal with the problem would be through professional assassins:

The Seven Shadows of Koga

It was still snowing the next morning when Oribe Sumumi sent his two sons, Hayato and Hyoma, to Edo. They were told to inform Matsudaira Tsunatoya of Ashigara's relationship to the Fourth Shogun. Suddenly, seven ninja appeared out of nowhere on the road and surrounded the Oribe brothers. The two were taken by surprise but recovered quickly and unsheathed their swords.

"Who are you?" questioned one of the brothers.
"Koga-jin (Men of Koga, one of the two ninja centers of old Japan)," was the reply.
"What do you want?" snapped the other brother.

"The heads on your necks!" and with that the ninja began their attack. One of them charged with only his hands and feet, but if one looked carefully enough one could see that the ninja was wearing iron arm and shin-guards. In each palm was a metal claw and his boots had sharp edges. A second ninja used a long rope with metal balls at both end’s, while a third swung kusarigama (chained-sickle) which made a piercing noise as the blade ripped through the air. Another ninja stood motionless at the edge of the ring and watched. In each of his hands, between the fingers, were three, four-cornered shuriken. He was the same one who had taken care of the servant the night before. The remaining three ninja used regular katana (swords), holding them in the traditional ninja manner with the handle up, blade down.

Hayato and liyoma fought fiercely, but they were greatly outnumbered. Soon, both of them were wounded in several places and their blood made irregular patterns in the snow. Seeing there was no hope, they decided if they had to die they would at least take some of their assailants with them. Without covering himself,' Hayato charged one ninja 'and both of them received deep cuts in the side. Hayato charged' again, but suddenly changed his direction and leaped upward. In mid-air he did a summersault and came thundering down, sword forward, to the ninja who stood at the edge of the ring. The ninja was taken back by the- unorthodox move and hesitated for a moment. Then, the shuriken left his hands and he began to move back. But it was too late. Hayato's blade caught the ninja just as the shurikens embedded themselves deeply into Hayato's chest. Both fell to the ground.

Hyoma also made a strange move at about the same time. After deflecting the flying gama, he suddenly moved back without looking behind. The empty-handed ninja thought he saw an opening and came up from behind. He grasped Hyoma with both hands, but before he could make another move Hyoma reversed his blade, plunged it through himself and impaled the ninja behind him in the process. Both fell to the ground, pierced by the three-foot blade. The ninja, in great pain, pulled out a small tube, put it in his mouth and bit it. A small explosion was heard and his face was blown to pieces. Ninja of Koga covered their faces throughout their lives and accordingly did not want to be recognized even after death.

After defacing the other ninja in a similar manner the surviving ninja left the battle scene without burying the bodies, without a second look. The discipline of Koga ninja was very strict and they were trained to have little emotion for anyone, even their comrades.

Oribe Sumumi and Ashigara Yutano heard the bad news that afternoon.

"I've killed them," Ashigara cried painfully. “Young master, please do not blame yourself. The Oribes serve under the Tokugawa Shogunate and it is their duty to die for him,” old Oribe said quietly. "I have heard that Yanagisawa was responsible for sending the ninja after my sons."

"This evening we are going to pay him a visit." Ashigara spitted the words one by one through his teeth.

Oribe and Ashigara arrived at the house of Yanagisawa late in the evening. As soon as they walked into tl1e cowtyard they were surrounded by

A Ring of five ninja

"I am Ashigara Yutano. I want to see Yanagisawa," demanded the young man. But there was no response. .
"This is the son of the late Fourth Shogun. Do not block his way," explained the old man. Still no response.

Ashigara took a step forward. Immediately, the ninja attacked the couple without saying a word.
Oribe, once an excellent swordsman, could not fight well any longer. Soon he was caught by the long rope of one ninja and was dispatched to his ancestors by the blade of another.

Now the assassins turned all their weapons on Ashigara. The pressure on him was very great and he began to move slowly toward a row of pillars at the far end of the courtyard. If he could get behind the pillars, the kusarigama and long rope would be practically useless and he would have a much better chance of getting away. Slowly, but gradually, he managed to edge close to the pillars, but received several cuts in the process. One more step to go! But suddenly the rope came from an unexpected angle and caught his sword aim. As he drew his wakisashi (short sword) with his left hand to cut the rope, a sickle left the hand of one of the ninja and came at him whistling through the air ...

"Stop!" someone yelled from behind the pillars. A young man stepped out from the shadow with his hands up in the air. He was directly in front of Ashigara. The ninja with the sickle yanked the chain, desperately trying to retrieve it. But it was too late. The sharp sickle dug into the chest of the newcomer. Blood spread out on his white dress which bore the monsho (crest) of the Yanagisawa family. Slowly he fell to the ground. Everyone in the courtyard stood still.
Ashigara looked down at the body below his feet. "Poor Yoshida," he murmured. "Your father plotted and schemed for so long for the power he holds today. If you had become the shogun he would have been the absolute ruler of the country. But now it is all over for him."

Ashigara bent down, removed the sickle and picked up the lifeless body. He tumed to the ninja and said, "Get out of my way. I am going to show Yanagisawa that all his powers will not bring his only son back to life again." The ninja stared in disbelief as Ashigara walked slowly toward the house, but they did not move...

EDITOR'S NOTE: The lessons of history have not always improved man's shortcomings but have at least paved the way for more understanding of himself.

Our story of old Japan is not so far removed from present day Japan or America in that it deals with one of man's most gripping enemies: ambition for power. It is not difficult to relate the 1920 tactics of the Mafia's kill-far-pay "heavies" to Japan's early ninia, hired assassins who would do anything for money. It is probably a harder task to identify Old Japan's "bushi", his sense of obligation and sacrifice, to the "look-out for-me-first" insecurity of the modern world.
Through the centuries while man's goals may have changed, his uncontrolled desire for the zenith of power has captured his will and made him the servant of his greed. The victim of Yanagisawa's avarice was his own son. Perhaps in future centuries a similar tale will review the martial arts of the 1970's as victim of present-day power play, though not nearly so grand, among money-hungry instructors and promoters.

Article from BLACKBELT MAGAZINE April 1970

The Nakano School

2008-01-29T19:43:00.000-08:00

In 1938 there was a resurgence of interest in the ninja also that same year the Kouhou Kinmuyouin Yosei Shisetsu or "Supporting Services Training Center" was established. One year later it was reorganized to train military school students and renamed the Nakano School .

The sign on the school read Army Correspondence Research Center to make the public believe that the chool was focused on correspondence and not top secret training thatwas actually done there. Disguising the name of the school to maintain it's secrecy of training there was in it self a reflection of ninjutsu tradition of remaining hidden.

The Nakano Gakko or Nakano school ran from 1938 to 1945 in northwestern Tokyo during World War II Japan. It was supported by the Japanese Navy and Japanese Army. A small school, it would teach over 2500 young men over its existence in a variety of subject matters related to counterintelligence and military intelligence and covert operations, such as foreign languages, aikido and other japanese martial arts, as well as unconventional military techniques in general, like guerrilla warfare.