The secrets of the Ninja's breath control method "breathe in" "breathe out" The secret of the Ninja breath control method is just to "breathe in, breathe out, breathe out, breathe in, breathe in, breathe out" repetitively, fast and rhythmically. This breath control method can be used in sports as it meets the theories of modern sport sciences and also as it uplifts concentration. If you are an athlete, you should give it a chance.
Hiding yourself by using a spell The Ninjas hid themselves from enemies by using a special spell. Before reciting the spell, cover your mouth and nose with your arm, and make sure that your breath is in a regular condition. Then, recite the spell "On-a-ni-chi-ma-ri-shi-e-i-so-wa-ka." It is said that by doing this, nobody will notice your existence. The meaning of this spell is now unknown though the words are assumed to come from an ancient Indian language.
SHINOBI ARUKI "Ninja methods for walking" Shinobi Aruki refers to the ninja's ability to move stealthfully. According to the 17th century encyclopedia of ninjutsu, called the Bansenshukai ["10,000 rivers flowing into the sea"], there are our ways of Aruki: ￠
Walking with boards tied on the feet to travel over marshlands.
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Walking using a secret gait to enter the adversary's territory.
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Walking in a silent manner to tread upon wooden floors.
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Walking while using a scabbard to test one's way.
These methods are described in detail in the texts but are a bit difficult to interpret due to the fact that they are written in a poetic style. The Soninki, another reference text on ninjutsu, refers to 10 methods for walking. These ten are called to as Ashinami Jukka Jo: ￠
Nuki Ashi silent steps by lifting the heel upward in a peeling fashion.
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Suri Ashi silent walking with a short, gliding step.
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Shime Ashi silent walking by setting the heel down first.
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Tobi Ashi walking by doing a small jump with one's toes.
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Kata Ashi leaping using only one foot.
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Ô Ashi walking with a long stride.
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Ko Ashi walking with a short stride.
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Kizami Ashi walking with a stride only one foot in length.
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Wari Ashi walking with the feet pointing in opposite directions.
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Tsune no Ashi normal walking.
One of the most well known methods for training in walking methods is called Ukimi no Jutsu. Many traditional martial artists today continue the training of wearing wooden or iron geta [thonged sandals] and walking on ice. This training teaches one to move from one's hara, or the "belly". It is easy to see the importance of this type of training when we speak in terms of Taijutsu applications. After all, two of the most important lessons for a beginner [and an advanced student, too] are those of moving from one's hara and striking from the centerline, or spine. The most well known of all of the ninja''s walking methods is called Yoko Aruki, "sideways walking" [also called Kani Aruki or "crab walking"]. Not only was this used for stealth and infiltration but it was also used in many of the practitioner's Taijutsu applications.
"Gokui no Ji" Gokui no ji" is the name given to this page. The "gokui" are "the secrets of an art, the secret principles or the mysteries". "Ji" are "poems". Some kanji presented here, have a special meaning or principle to it that we try to explain or translate. Most of them have a deeper meaning that is not easy to explain(, take the "nin" character for example). We hope, however, you will enjoy them. The kanji on the left read: "Chihayafuru kami no oshie wa tokoshie ni tadashiki kokoro mio mamoruran" It translates that "if one has a pure heart, the gods will grant a happy life". This poem is recited in class by Soke and other Japanese teachers before saying the "Shikin Haramitsu Daikomyo". The kanji on the right read: "Shikin Haramitsu Daikomyo" It generally translates that "we seek to behold the 'great light' or enlightenment". When provided with a more detailed translation I will correct the one here. About kanji; we use two ways of reading these characters. 1. on-yomi; from chinese origins, (many times combined with other onyomi reading characters). 80% of professional writting in on-yomi ex. NIN, NIN-JA 2. kun-yomi; from japanese origins, (mostly combined with other kunyomi reading characters)80% of casual conversation in kun-yomi ex. shinobu, shinobi-komu
Takamatsu's Essay
"The essence of all martial arts and military strategies is self protection and the prevention of danger. Ninjutsu epitomizes the fullest concept of self-protection through martial training in that the ninja art deals with the protection of not only the physical body, but the mind and spirit as well. The way of the ninja is the way of enduring, surviving, and prevailing over all that would destroy one. More than merely delivering strikes and slashes, and deeper in significance than the simple outwitting of an enemy; ninjutsu is the way of attaining that which we need while making the world a better place. The skill of the ninja is the art winning." "In the beginning study of any combative martial art, proper motivation is crucial. Without the proper frame of mind, continuous exposure to fighting techniques can lead to ruin instead of selfdevelopment. But this fact is not different from any other beneficial practice in life carried to extremes. Medical science is dedicated to the betterment of health and the relief of suffering, and yet the misuse of drugs and the exultation of the physician's skills can lead people to a state where an individual's health is no longer within his or her personal control. A nutritious wellbalanced diet works to keep a person alive, vital, and healthy, but grossly overeating, overdrinking, or taking in too many chemicals is a sure way to poison the body. Governments are established to oversee the harmonious inter working of all parts of society, but when the rulers become greedy, hungry for power, or lacking in wisdom, the country is subjected to needless wars, disorder, or civil and economic chaos. A religion, when based on faith developed through experience, a broad and questing mind, and an unflagging pursuit of universal understanding, is of inspiration and comfort to people. Once a religion loses its original focus, however, it becomes a deadly thing with which to deceive, control, and tax the people through the manipulation of their beliefs and fears. It is the same with the martial arts. The skills of selfprotection, which should provide a feeling of inner peace and security for the martial artist, so often develop, without a balance in the personality and lead the lesser martial artist into warped realms of unceasing conflict and competition which eventually consume him." "If an expert in the fighting arts sincerely pursues the essence of ninjutsu, devoid of the influence of the ego's desires, the student will progressively come to realize the ultimate secret for becoming invincible - the attainment of the 'mind and eyes of god'. The combatant who, would win must be in harmony with the scheme of totality, and must be guided by an intuitive knowledge of the playing out of fate. In tune with the providence of heaven and the impartial justice of nature, and following a clear and pure heart full of trust in the inevitable, the ninja captures the insight that will guide him successfully into battle when he must conquer and conceal himself protectively from hostility when he must acquiesce. The vast universe, beautiful in its coldly impersonal totality, contains all that we call good and bad, all the answers for all the paradoxes we see around us. By opening his eyes and his mind, the ninja can responsively follow the subtle seasons and reasons of heaven, changing just as change is necessary, adapting always, so that in the end there is no such thing as surprise for the ninja." Toshitsugu Takamatsu 33rd Soke (grandmaster of Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu)
Togakure Ryu (The Hidden Door School)
￠ “Violence is to be avoided, and Ninpo is Bujutsu" ￠
"Sword to be peaceful, and protect family, country and nature"
History of Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu Mount Hei-zan is where the Enryakuji (headquarters) of Tendai monastery is sited. So-o was a monk at this place, but left to live for three years in a cave as an ascetic. It was after a dream that he formed the Tendai Shugendo sect of Buddhism. These monks today still exist and some are still engaged in the Kaihogyo (the proper name for the thing which everyone is refering to as Shugendo). And it was within this sect in a small village called Togakure (now Togakushi) in the prefecture of Nagano (close to the Nagano/Gunma-ken border) in Jyoshinsetsu National Park in approximately 1165 Daisuke Nishina was born, a Samurai. It is within the Tendai sect that 750 years later the 33rd Soke of the Ryu is supposed to become "an Abbot", on Mount Hiei-zan. Daisuke was on the losing side of a battle in the 1180s and was forced to flee into Iga. Here he was found by Kain Doshi (possible known as Kagakure Doshi). He adopted Doshi's warrior teachings to his own Shugendo and the beginnings of Togakure Ryu where formed. Togakure Ryu never had a official founding as some martial arts, just Daisuke and Shima who was also alive at the same time and worked with Daisuke. Goro Togakure is recognized as being the person who officially formed the family of Togakure into the Ninjutsu system that we learn today. Of the first 8 generations, 5 had the name of Togakure, as with most martial traditions it possibly passed from father to son. It is said that it continued in this way until the 1600s (?). When the immediate family died out, the chief branch of the clan Toda took over leadership. The 33rd Soke Takamatsu, was the last member of the Toda line. It was interesting to note that the 11, 12 and 13th Soke of the Ryu are named after the main town of Iga, Ueno. It was the tradition in those days to be named after the town or village that one came from. The 2nd Soke of the Ryu, Shima Kosanta Minamoto no Kanesada, was a Samurai retainer having the rank of Kosho, for one of the most powerful Samurai generals Kiso Yoshinaka, who was a general in the Minamoto army. The Minamoto where in time (1185) to become the first hereditary Shoguns. When he was 16, Shima fought against the Tiara family, the rivals of the Minamoto family. That battle took place at Awazu, Yoshinaka was on the losing side. It is thought that Shima was wounded in the battle, and fled to one of the nearby mountainous areas near to the battle site. Shima only did this at the request of Yoshinaka. Kagakure Doshi, a Ninja of the Hakuun Ryu found Shima and together they fled to Iga. Kagakure was also one of the teachers of Daisuke Togakure, who later on took Shima into his care. The Hakuun Ryu of Ninjutsu was founded by Garyu Doji, but was later completed by Hakuun Doji who later gave the Ryu its name. 32nd Soke of Togakure Ryu, Shinryuken Masamitsu Toda was also a master in the Bikenshin Ryu and was the sword instructor for the Tokugawa Shogunate in the mid 19th century.
Soke of Togakure Ryu
Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu/Ninpo Happo Bikenjutsu (Hidden Door School) Denkei ￠ So-o ￠ Ikai ￠ Hogenbo ￠ Sakabe Tendo ￠ Hachiryu Nyodo (Tennei Era 1110) ￠ Kimon Hyobei (Ninpei Era 1151) རར Enno Gyoja ￠ Gakumon Gyoja
￠ Tzumo Kaja Yoshiteru (before 1185) ￠ Garyu Doji ￠ Hakuun Doji ￠ (Kain) Kagakure Doshi 1. Togakure Daisuke (aka Nishina) (Oho Era 1161-1162) 2. Shima Kosanta Minamoto no Kanesada (1180) 3. Togakure Goro (1200) 4. Togakure Kosanta 5. Koga Kisanta 6. Kaneko Tomoharu 7. Togakure Ryuho 8. Togakure Gakuun 9. Kido Koseki 10. Iga Tenryu 11. Ueno Rihei 12. Ueno Senri 13. Ueno Manjiro 14. Iizuka Saburo 15. Sawada Goro 16. Ozaru Ippei 17. Kimata Hachiro 18. Kataoka Heizaemon 19. Mori Ugenta 20. Toda Gogei 21. Kobe Seiun 22. Momochi Kobei 23. Tobari Tenzen 24. Toda Seiryu Nobutsuna (Kwanyei Era 1624-1644) 25. Toda Fudo Nobuchika (Manji Era 1658-1681) 26. Toda Kangoro Nobuyasu (Tenna Era 1681-1704) 27. Toda Eisaburo Nobumasa (Hoyei Era 1704-1711) 28. Toda Shinbei Masachika (Shotoku Era 1711-1736) 29. Toda Shingoro Masayoshi (Gembun Era 1736-1764) 30. Toda Daigoro Chikahide (Meiwa Era 1764-1804) 31. Toda Daisaburo Chikashige (Bunkwa Era 1804) 32. Toda Shinryuken Masamitsu (B. 1824 - D. 1909) 33. Takamatsu Toshitsugu Uoh (B. 1887 - D. 1972) 34. Hatsumi Masaaki (Yoshiaki) (B. 1931 – Present)
Happo Bikenjutsu 1. Taijutsu, Hichojutsu, Nawa-waza.
2. Karate, Koppojutsu, Jutaijutsu. 3. Sojutsu, Naginatajutsu. 4. Bojutsu, Jojutsu, Hanbojutsu. 5. Senban nage, Ken Nagejutsu, Shurikenjutsu. 6. Kajutsu, Suijutsu. 7. Chikujo, Gunryaku Heiho. 8. Onshinjutsu, Moku-ka-to-kin-sui Goton Juppojutsu. 9. Kenpo, Kodachi, Juttejutsu, Tessenjutsu.
The 18 forms of Togakure Bujutsu 1.Taijutsu - Unarmed Combat 2.Kenpo / Ninja Ken - Swordsmanship 3.Bojutsu - Staff fighting 4.Shurikenjutsu - Blade throwing 5.Kusarigama - Sickle and chain 6.Yari - Spear 7.Naginata - Halberd 8.Bajutsu - Horsemanship 9.Suiren - Swimming 10.Kayakujutsu - Gunpowder 11.Bo Ryaku - Strategies 12.Choho - Espionage 13.Shinobi Iri - Infiltration 14.Intonjutsu - Lying low 15.Hensojutsu - Disguise 16.Tenmon - Meteorology 17.Chimon - Geography 18.Seishin Teki Kyoyo + Kyojitsu Tenkan Ho - Spiritual refinement + Philosophy
Diet There is no formal diet, but general guidelines. Your diet should not be so restrictive that if you had to eat a hamburger, it would not make you sick. When we consider evolution, our genetic code has not caught up with our present lifestyles. Thus, our body is still designed for the "cave man" style diet in many ways. Try to eat unprocessed foods in their natural state if possible. Brown rice in peaceful times (for health) and white rice in times of war (for energy). Freeze dried tofu was used by Takeda Shingen to give his soldiers lightweight combat rations. As for ninja food (ninja shoku), there were at least four "field rations" that were designed to be light weight and not requiring fire to prepare for eating. These were known as: hyorogan, kika atsugan, enmeigan, and suikatsugan. Kika atsugan took three years to prepare! Here is the recipe for hyorogan: 100 g wheat powder 100 g rice cake powder (mochi) 33 g garlic powder Simmer in honey and sake until it thickens to a goo. Form the goo into small balls and let them dry.
