Ancient Secret Ninja Techniques

[MasterPain]

Ancient Secret Ninja Techniques are what I like to call useful stuff so simple nobody bothers to train it, or useful stuff that gets ignored because of rulesets or whatever other reasons. I'll give a couple examples.

The Shove

Basically, trying to push someone as far away from you as possible. Useful for escape, weapon deployment, or even to stop an opponent's forward momentum. Not of as much value in competitive fighting, so many people don't practice it or think of it a a martial technique.

Front kick to the shin

Something a child would do, but it hurts. Especially by someone in boots or hard soled shoes. We mostly train barefoot, so it doesn't seem as effective. Along the same line are punches to the arms. They don't hurt much with gloves on, but are awful bareknuckle.

Anyone know some others?

[bushido_man96]

When I used to work wrist grab releases in my younger days, I'd show someone "wrist grab release defense #1," and then punch them in the face. Technique #2 was...punch them in the face.

It was always fun when someone would grab my wrist and ask, "how would you get out of it," only to see a fist stop in front of their nose.

[Dobbersky]

When I used to work wrist grab releases in my younger days, I'd show someone "wrist grab release defense #1," and then punch them in the face. Technique #2 was...punch them in the face.

It was always fun when someone would grab my wrist and ask, "how would you get out of it," only to see a fist stop in front of their nose.

THE only place I have ever been grabbed by the wrist is in the Dojo/Dojang/Kwan!!! I know in my Tang Soo Do days there was 18 Wrist grips to learn and XX self defence combinations but nothing at all on the Hyungs (Kata) that we practiced. But i know that this was indeed a belt factory as it is still today BB in around 2.5 years is not correct when I got students of 6years who still not reached BB yet!!!

I love the way various techniques work within the Dojo, against other training partners in the same styel but put it against someone from another style and it tends not to work. I know this from a few of the Ippon Kumite's from Wado Ryu, I tried it against a Tang Soo Do 2nd Dan and I failed to "pull off" the technique correctly.

I'm not saying that the techniques are bad and the styles are not good far from it, it needs to be tested against varying locations and situations.

When it comes to Ninjitsu, yes an excellent art with proven history with origins within the depths of China as opposed to the dark side of the Samurai! I just get visions of "Frank" Dux Ryu Ninjitsu.

Ninjutsu is practical; if a tactic is effective, then it is acceptable.

The Eight Methods taught in many ryu were: Body skills, Kara (Kode) Te, Spear fighting, Staff fighting, Blade-throwing, use of fire and water, fortification and strategy, and concealment.

Many ninja weapons were modified from farm sickles, saws for wood cutting, pruning shears, etc. If discovered, these items would not give away a ninja's identity.

Among the ninja were expert poisoners. Poison was added to food, or applied to a dart or blade.

Some ninja disguised themselves as flute-playing mystics. The sturdy flute could be used as a club or blow-dart tube.

A full List is:

Ninjutsu Houses

Seishin Teki Kyoyo (spiritual refinement - meditation)

- Seiza No Kamae

Taijutsu (unarmed fight)

- Ichimonji No Kamae

- Hicho No Kamae

Kenjutsu (sword fighting)

Bojutsu (short stick and staff fighting)

Shurikenjutsu (blade throwing)

Sojutsu (spear fighting)

Naginatajutsu (naginata fighting)

Kusarigamajutsu (chain and sickle weapon)

Kayakujutsu (pyrotechnics and explosives)

Hensojutsu (disguise - impersonation)

Shinobi Iri (stealth and entering methods)

Bajutsu (horse riding)

Sui Ren (water skills - swimming etc.)

Boryaku (military strategy)

Choho (espionage)

Intonjutsu (escaping and concealment)

Tenmon (meteorology)

Chi Mon (geography

[MasterPain]

Um, I know Master Tanaka was his shidoshi, and he mastered the Dim Mak (breaking the bottom brick) and somehow learned a gymnastic style of kickboxing from a guy who does some kind of Aikido, then won a secret tournament of death matches while AWOL, but I'm not sure what Frank Dux is doing here. I was looking for cheap tricks and such.

Another good one is the can-opener neck crank to get a chance to get your base back in the guard.

Stepping on the foot of a retreating boxer.

As far as wrist grabs, I've transferred the defenses and wristlocks into ground fighting and Greco style clinch. While lower percentage than other things, I've found a lot of uses for them in live sparring. Only in the dojo for me as well, although other than competing, no one has ever sucessfully punched me outside of the dojo either.

Brian, our school's grab defenses all include at least one strike. I did use a kotegaeshi on someone who grabbed my collar when I was a teenager, the guy was a lot bigger than me, so I negotiated aggressively until he was convinced I was not the easy victim he wanted. A wristlock was the best response at that time. People can yell low percentage all they want to, but it saved me from a fistfight/ wrestling match with someone who might have hurt me. The main part of training should be spent on high percentage technique, but don't discount everything else as useless. Stephan Kesting says the same thing here.

[sojobo]

Good topic Masterpain.

I don't think they are cheap techniques btw, but I agree that they are not widely practiced in gendai dojo (particularly Karate dojo).

They are all however techniques that are practiced regularly in koryu groups, and I wouldn't class them as "Ninja" techniques (I know you were joking with that btw).

In fact they are meat and two veg techniques as it were, in most clasical budo schools - as they are in most "Self Protection" systems as ultimatley they share the same goals.

But then again - if you look closely enough in Wado-ryu kata for example, you will find many of these techniques - and they are not that hidden.

You mention for example "stepping on the foot of a retreating attacker”…. Well... that's exactly what the foot movement in the last move of Pinan Yondan is isn’t it?

These moves / methods are all there - you just need a good instructor to enlighten you.

@Bushidoman – in many if not most cases throws and sweeps are best facilitated by Kuzushi – Kuzushi means to off balance, stun, shock (physically and mentally). This is often achieved though “atemi” or striking – which is what you are describing here I think.

One of my favourites is an open (back) hand finger flick to the eyes / bridge of nose . Not only does it have the “bop in the snot box” effect, but also means the fingernails cause damage to the lens of the eye (meaning your attacker will close his eyes and effectively become blinded) whilst you do whatever you need to after.

I’ve got a bag load more but tbh – it’s not always the greatest of ideas sharing these types of things over the internet.

Sojobo

Edited January 31, 2012 by sojobo

[evergrey]

I've had my wrist grabbed. I think the fact that I am female probably had something to do with that, to be honest.

Secret scary ninja technique #1:

Stomp on their kneecap with the side of your boot, and then push down, scraping along their shin.

Secret scary ninja technique #2:

Punch them in the throat. If they go down, jump on their knee. Run.

[Martial Walrus]

Using the finger tips to strike and gouge? My master was demonstrating self defense techniques and asked me to grab his wrist. He completely ignored where I had grabbed him and hit me with a spear hand to the solar plexus. Another time, he dug his fingers into the space between the throat and the collar bone. The windpipe and larynx are also good targets for this.

What about bitting? If someone were to take me to the ground, I would bite them like a rabid pomeranian.

[MasterPain]

What about bitting? If someone were to take me to the ground, I would bite them like a rabid pomeranian.

Paul Vunak says that there are specific positions and ways to effectively bite, and that a person should have the equivalent skill of a BJJ blue belt in ground fighting before they ever bother to study it. I'm not saying biting is useless, humans are omnivores with good incisors, but like eye gouging, it's not a magic bullet.

[Martial Walrus]

What about bitting? If someone were to take me to the ground, I would bite them like a rabid pomeranian.

Paul Vunak says that there are specific positions and ways to effectively bite, and that a person should have the equivalent skill of a BJJ blue belt in ground fighting before they ever bother to study it. I'm not saying biting is useless, humans are omnivores with good incisors, but like eye gouging, it's not a magic bullet.

Good point. Bitting would simply be my natural reaction since I have very little training in ground fighting. That, and hitting them wherever possible with whatever body part I have free to hit them with.

[DWx]

What about bitting? If someone were to take me to the ground, I would bite them like a rabid pomeranian.

Don't bite people. Don't know where they've been or what they've got. Could end up with something a whole lot worse than rabies

In answer to the OP, I'd include stuff like stomps, kicking the knees, raking a (stiletto) heel down someone's shin, clapping someone round the side of the head (burst eardrums hurt) etc.