Sometimes people debate regarding who’s real ninja and who isn’t. Or they might be debating that some martial arts club teaches real ninjutsu and some other doesn’t. Well this can be the case with not just ninjutsu but also other martial arts clubs too.
It’s a perfectly valid question, no doubt, but there is some clarification needed to understand the concept of real and fake martial art (or any other art for that matter).
What is meant by real Ninja?
Ok so coming to the point. What is meant by real ninja?
The definition might differ for people based on what they consider ninjutsu to be.
If someone considers it a “game” or “ring sport” with a set of techniques to follow, then anyone who doesn’t know the same techniques might not be real for them.
However, if someone considers ninjutsu a mindset, more than just a ring sport, their definition might differ.
The difference lies in their view of the term ninjutsu and ninja (or shinobi, or other related ones).
Let me give you few examples:
- The English taught in schools these days is the same one that was taught in schools when the language first formed? So the English these days is “fake”? right?
- The gymnastics, when started being taught in initial days, when so ever, was it the same as the one being taught today? So the gymnastics all around the world these days is “fake”…? right?
- Military training in any country of the world, is it the same this year as it was years ago when that military academy was formed? Not at all! They evolved! So these days military trainings in all military academies are “fake”…? right?
And the list goes on.
New comers or kids who don’t understand the true meaning of art, especially martial arts, are unable to grasp the idea that martial arts flows around the mindset and not the techniques mainly. It focuses around the “final product” a person becomes, and not that can he count in numbers in Japanese or chinese or not.
The origin of Ninjutsu
Well lets not get into the debate of how ninjutsu began. Whatever the circumstances were, whoever initiated it, the sole purpose was:
- Survival
- Espionage
- Being powerful enough to manage enemy multiple times in strength
- Spying
- Manipulating
- and so on (sorry, it didn’t include “fighting in ring” as a sport”)
Ninjutsu was NOT formed for:
- Learning 27 specific kicks (or whatever number you have)
- Punching in specific way
- Using specific weapons only
E.g., those days ninjas would gather the samurai swords whenever they can and then use it too! So they became fake ninjas? not using their original “ninja” swords?
Evolution began the very first day
Ninjutsu started as a practical art form. So it evolved from the very first day. Anything that was useful, was integrated, anything that wasn’t, was discarded.
So if you have the book from 500 years ago, that might have changed the very next day it was written too.
Why is there a debate of fake and real ninjutsu then?
The debate is mainly in kids (and elders with kids mindset) who assume that ninjutsu is like their Need For Speed game.
They would debate that the “real” game was released for play station, while the other versions, xbox and pc etc., are all fake.
It’s hard for them to understand the difference between a ring sport, game, and a real life war art. It’s not their mistake, as they’re too young and immature to grasp that idea.
But ANCIENT arts are GREAT!
No kids, they’re not. It’s like saying, ancient music was great! Because you never heard it!
Or like saying, ancient gymnastics was better!
Dude they didn’t even have AK47. How would they even learn how to use it or defend themselves from it?
Todays warfare and fights are based on firearms ALOT! And they didn’t even include any guns in their trainings! Seriously!
So cut this weird debate out. If you’re looking for “authentic” ring sport or game, like most naruto fans, then yeah search for ancient one. However if you’re aiming for an effective martial arts, then aim for the mindset and “final product”.
So we shouldn’t debate at all?
Well, that’s not my point. We should research well and as hard as possible before getting ourselves into anything, be it martial arts class or a piano class. But We should focus more on the essence of what we’re learning.
And we should definitely check these for the best master we can find:
- His main art and skill and whom did he learn them from
- What other skills he learnt, and from whom
- Did he practice with the master personally, or on DVDs
- His best students, did those students learn mainly from him only?
But before that, ask yourself, do you really know what you’re going for? Learning a set of techniques for ring sport? or Ninjutsu?