| Of all of the stock characters that are commonly | | | | If you are serious about becoming a ninja, the first |
| seen in popular movies, books, and comics, ninjas are | | | | thing that you need to do is find a good martial arts |
| certainly some of our most beloved martial arts | | | | school and enroll in it. No matter how dedicated you |
| characters, and, for many people, their only exposure | | | | are, you will progress much slower in your training on |
| to the martial arts. Much of the mystique and | | | | your own than if you are studying under someone |
| popularity of the ninja comes from over-exaggerated | | | | who knows their stuff and has devoted a large part |
| depictions that have little to do with reality, but there | | | | of their life to the martial arts. Now, the specific |
| is a grain of truth behind the ninja legend, and it is | | | | martial art related to the ninja is known as ninjutsu, |
| possible to train yourself to become extraordinarily | | | | but unless you are very lucky, you probably do not |
| skilled in the ninja arts. This can be done through the | | | | live near a school that offers ninjutsu. No worries; |
| ancient martial art of ninjutsu. | | | | nearly any martial art that you take up will help you in |
| The historical ninja were Japanese assassins, scouts, | | | | a study of ninjutsu, and the basic kicks and strikes of |
| and spies that used a unique form of martial arts that | | | | ninjutsu are similar to those encountered in most |
| was built on deception and guerrilla warfare. Aside | | | | other external martial arts. |
| from the martial arts techniques that normally come | | | | Once you are enrolled in a good school, try and |
| to mind when we think of the ninja, ninja were also | | | | research to find out as much as you can about the |
| trained in deception, disguise, explosives, stealth, | | | | historical ninja and their ways. Seek out exercises |
| espionage, and concealment. While one can use | | | | that develop balance and agility, and work on your |
| martial arts training to further all of these studies, this | | | | gymnastic abilities as well. Much of ninjutsu is a fusion |
| article will focus mainly on how to develop the armed | | | | of martial arts and gymnastics. Develop your body |
| and unarmed combat skills that made the ninja so | | | | and your physical and mental abilities in every |
| fearsome that today, six hundred years later, they | | | | direction, and you will be ready for the demanding |
| are still remembered with awe. | | | | techniques of ninjutsu. |