(spiritual refinement)
The Togakure ninja worked at developing a deep and accurate knowledge of himself, his personal
power, his strengths and weaknesses, and his influence on the playing out of life. The ninja had to be
very clear about his intentions, his commitments, and his personal motivations in life. Personality
traits could often mean the difference between life and death in his line of work. Exercises in mental
endurance, ways of looking at things, and proper perspective when evaluating things, were taught
to the ninja along with his physical skills. By evolving into a mystic’s understanding of the universal
process, the historical Togakure ryu ninja became a warrior philosopher. His engagements in combat
were then motivated by love or reverence, and not by the mere thrill of violent danger or need for
money.
(unarmed combat)
Skills of daken-taijutsu or striking, kicking, and blocking; jutaijutsu or grappling, choking and
escaping the holds of others, and taihenjutsu or silent movement, rolling, leaping and tumbling
assisted the Togakure ninja in life-threatening, defensive situations.
(ninja sword)
The ninja’s sword was considered to be his primary
fighting tool. Two distinct sword skills were required of the ninja. “Fast draw” techniques centered
around drawing the sword and cutting as a simultaneous defensive or attacking action. “Fencing”
skills used the drawn sword in technique clashes with armed attackers.
(stick and staff fighting)
The Japanese stick fighting art, practiced by samurai and peasants alike, was also a strong skill of the
ninja. Togakure ninja were taught to use the bo long staff (six feet) and hanbo “half-staff” cane
(three feet), as well as sticks and clubs of varying lengths. Specially constructed shinobi-zue or
ninja canes were designed to look like normal walking sticks, but concealed blades, chains, or darts
that could be used against an enemy.
(throwing blades)
Throwing blades were carried in concealed pockets and used as harassing weapons. The Togakure
ryu used a special four-pointed throwing star called a senban shuriken, which was constructed
from a thin steel plate. The blade was thrown with a flat spinning motion and hit its target with a
sawing effect. Bo shuriken or straight shaft darts and spikes were also constructed for throwing.
(spear fighting)
Togakure ryu ninja agents were taught to use standard Japanese spears and lances as middle-range
fighting weapons. Spears and lances were used for stabbing and piercing attacks, and rarely ever
thrown in normal combat. The Togakure ryu also used a unique spear weapon called a kama-yari,
or “sickle lance”, which consisted of a spear blade with a hook at the base. The total length of the
weapon was over nine feet. The lance point could be used to lunge and stab, and the hook point
could be used to snag and pull the opponent or his weapon.
(halberd fighting)
Virtually a short sword blade mounted on a long handle, the Japanese halberd was used for cutting and
slashing attacks against adversaries at medium range. Togakure ryu ninja warriors were also proficient
with the bisen-to, a huge heavy-bladed version of the naginata halberd. Based on a Chinese war tool, the
broad-bladed weapon was heavy enough to knock down attackers, smash through armour, and ground
the horses of mounted samurai.
(chain and sickle weapon)
The Japanese chain and sickle weapon was adopted into the arsenal of the Togakure ryu ninja. A chain,
six to nine feet in length and weighted at one end, was attached to the handle of the traditional grain cutting tool. The chain could be used to block or ensare the enemy’s weapon, and the blade then used to finish off the attacker. The kyoketsu-shoge, a weapon similar to the chain and sickle, was favoured by the Togakure ryu. The weapon consisted of a straight hand-held dagger blade with a secondary blade hooking out from the hilt, attached to a fifteen foot resilient cord usually made from women’s or horse’s hair. A large steel ring was attached to the free end of the cord.
(fire and explosives)
Ninja were experts in the effective placement, timing, and rigging of explosive devices for demolition and distraction. In later years, the use of black powders and other explosives was supplemented with knowledge of firearms and their strategic applications.
(disguise and impersonation)
Essential to the ninja’s espionage work was his ability to assume false identities and move undetected
through his area of operation. More than merely putting on a costume, ninjutsu’s disguise system
involved thoroughly impersonating the character adopted. Personality traits, areas of knowledge,
and body dynamics of the identity assumed were ingrained in the ninja’s way of thinking and reacting.
He or she literally became the new personality. Whether taking the role of a monk, craftsman, or
wandering entertainer.
(stealth and entering methods)
The ninja’s techniques of silent movement, breaking in and entering, and gaining access to inaccessible
areas became legends in feudal Japan. Togakure ryu ninja learned special walking and running
methods for covering long distances, passing over floors silently, and for staying in the shadows
while moving, in order to facilitate entry and escape.
(horsemanship)
Togakure ryu ninja were taught to be proficient on horseback, both in riding and mounted combat
skills.
(water training)
Stealth swimming, silent movement through water, methods of using special boats and floats to
cross over water, and underwater combat techniques were taught to Togakure ryu ninja.
(strategy)
Unconventional tactics of deception and battle, political plots, and advantageous timing for use of
current events were used by Togakure ryu ninja. By employing or influencing seemingly outside
forces to bring the enemy around to doing, what the ninja wanted him to do, ninja were able to work
their will without drawing undue attention to themselves.
(espionage)
Methods of successful espionage were perfected. This included ways of locating and recruiting
spies and served as a guide for using espionage agents most effectively.
(escape and concealment)
Ninja were experienced masters in the ways of using nature to cover their exit, allowing them to“disappear” at will. The goton-po five elements of escape were based on a working familiarity with
the creative use of earth, water, fire, metal, and wood aspects of nature and the environment.
(meteorology)
Forecasting and taking advantage of weather and seasonal phenomena was an important part of any
battle consideration. Ninja were trained to observe all the subtle signals from the environment in
order to predict weather conditions.
(geography)
Knowing and successfully using the features of the terrain were crucial skills in the historical art of
ninjutsu.
