ninjutsu

Ninjutsu is a traditional Japanese martial art associated with the ninja, emphasizing covert operations, stealth, and survival in hostile environments. Historically developed in feudal Japan, it is linked to shinobi from Iga and Koga who operated as spies, scouts, and saboteurs during the 15th to 17th centuries. Ninjutsu encompasses methods for intelligence gathering, infiltration, disguise, escape, and deception, as well as unarmed and weapon-based combat.

Practice covers a broad set of skills, including taijutsu (unarmed fighting), weapon work with tools such as shuriken, tanto, and kusarigama, and techniques of camouflage, stealth, evasion, and reconnaissance. Training often stresses adaptability and problem-solving under pressure, with instruction historically transmitted within specific ryuha (schools) and kept private. In the modern era, ninjutsu is taught by several organizations and lineages, including Togakure-ryu, Gyokko-ryu, and Koto-ryu, as well as contemporary groups such as Bujinkan, Genbukan, and Jinenkan. Public accounts vary in detail, and some claims about historical continuity are debated.

Etymology and scope: ninjutsu (忍術) combines nin meaning stealth or endurance and jutsu meaning art or technique, commonly translated as the art of stealth. While popular culture often exaggerates ninja abilities, scholarly discussions typically view ninjutsu as a historical repertoire of clandestine skills, martial techniques, and survival practices that evolved within specific social and military contexts.