Remigiusz Borda - The Illustrated Ninja Handbook: Hidden Techniques of Ninjutsu

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:
Micha Zimowski
Krzysztof Rogala
Sawomir Kaczmarek
Artur Tulatycki
Micha liwka

This book was created
with the approval of and by arrangement
with Soke Masaaki Hatsumi.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Published by Tuttle Publishing, an imprint of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.

www.tuttlepublishing.com

Copyright 2013 Marian Winiecki

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher.

ISBN: 978-1-4629-1426-5 (ebook)

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Foreword

The significant growth around the world of the popularity of bujinkan was characteristic for the last few years of the 20th century. new training centers appeared, one after the other. it is hard for me to remain objective when trying to assess the reasons for this increased interest in this mysterious martial art as well as young peoples enthusiasm in seeking bujinkan dojos. i can only sketch a picture of my love for this difficult art, which now fulfills my life.

More than any other image, a legendary figure wearing black clothes personalizes a young persons dreams of the invincible warrior. ninjutsu, saturated with numerous legends and secrets, with roots in the distant history of japan, still speaks to and creates a legend of warriors possessing superhuman spiritual and physical powers. those stories, like a magical magnet, attract young people and encourage them to enter the open doors of our schools. As never before in the history of ninjutsu, thanks to Soke Dr. Masaki Hatsumi, we have access to this great legacy for the first time. Teaching by qualified Shihan is passed to students all over the world in undistorted form; they are based on the original Dencho. the modern ninjutsu pioneers, who later became teachers, have acquired this knowledge over the past three decades with persistence by studying under Soke Hatsumis guidance, or under one of the Shihan, either in japan or at seminars known as teikei organized in every corner of the world, during which Hatsumi Sensei personally teaches classes. the system created by bujinkan, when combined with perseverance and determination, enables student to achieve masterful skills in ninjutsu. taking into account the fact that, in contrast with medieval japan, we live in a less martial world and we usually live longer, there is plenty of time to practice diligently, and thus achieve higher levels of skill. to do so, one must, as my teacher says, overcome the lazy dog inside in order to follow the path of the warrior without distraction. it is true that Ninjutsu slowly fills the heart of people who regularly practice this art, transforming their body and spirit. Thanks to qualified teachers, the metaphor of transformation can be explored during almost every workout. this is also mirrored in the name of the style taught in our school: togakure ryu, which means School of the Hidden Doors (gates). For those who follow this path and practice the style, the doors (gates) to deeper knowledge open a little bit wider with time. For ordinary mortals, full knowledge will always remain unattainable. just as it was centuries ago, today this secret knowledge is still closely guarded from the gaze of the unauthorized. thus, to open the hidden door one must first overcome the challenges presented by the heavily armed warriors. images of guards and their legendary power are still very popular. the guards to the hidden doors are as follows: laziness and lack of perseverance, fear, lack of self-confidence, stupidity, lack of charity, lack of respect, and lack of humility. the great truth of a nearly thousand-year-old tradition is still valid. today, in the 21st century, if one wants to know the secrets of ninjutsu, one has to overcome all these human weaknesses. the old shinobi used knowledge of human weaknesses on the battlefield in order to defeat the enemy or to extract from the enemy the necessary strategic information.

Although ninjutsu is not a sport, it allows the practitioner to attain great physical fitness and to develop effective self-defense skills. but above all else, it contributes the deeper development of a practitioners self-awareness. in todays wasteful exploration of nature, in times of warfare and social inequality, i can clearly see bright new tasks for the students of ninjutsu and other martial arts as well. these tasks are as clear as crystal: through the understanding of nature and self-awareness, one might discover latent power in humans, the source of good and justice, achieving the essence of the Heart, kokoro no katachi.

Remigiusz Borda

You should know that perseverance alone is barely a streak of airy smoke.

You should know that the human path is justice.

Forget the heart full of hatred, greed, feelings of pride,
and the desire to always be the best (with respect to yourself).

You should understand grief and anger as laws of nature,
and try to achieve enlightenment through your indestructible heart.

Never leave the path of loyalty and respect;
follow the path of reason and the sword (Bunbu).

These five dojo rules were written in the new year of Meiji 23 (1890) by Toda Shinyaken Masumitsu.
They were passed from Takamatsu Toshitsugu to Hatsumi Masaaki Byakuryu
on Many Promising Day of March, Showa 23 (1958).
The essence of Shinshin Shigan can be understood through the Kyu and Dan ranks