BBC News: Japanese ninjas headed for extinction

[bushido_man96]

I don't think it will affect that, actually. Ninjutsu is considered legitimate my many people - it's a Japanese art with some history, and there are a couple practitioners who teach what they remember of it. It is not considered legitimate by others. I haven't seen any shift whatsoever between those groups in a long time, and having the lineage come apart isn't going to affect any of that. If people keep their ego in their pockets and downshift their claims to grandeur into a bunch of equal high level sub-lines, it might even help because the claims will be faintly more humble.

I think the main issue is that there are already some out there that claim to have learned the Ninjitsu art, and are somewhat suspect in their attitudes, claims, challenges, etc, and those are the things that stick out in many people's minds.

But, I will say, if someone can't be designated and heir, doesn't mean that they can't attempt to keep the art alive, or at least what they do know of the art, alive in some way of their own, and still keep Ninjitsu in the MA realm in that way.

Interesting article. Seeing what will happen after the deaths of the heads of the groups will be interesting. Even if someone takes up the reigns, the struggle for legitimacy that ninjitsu has had will not be made any easier by a bunch of splinter organizations.

I agree with you, tg. Its these guys that you don't hear much about that could really keep the illegitimacy that others spout clear for the rest of us.

[Harkon72]

Ninjutsu has started and stopped a few times here in North Wales, it doesn't seem to survive. There was a camp in Snowdonia, but their origins were less than credible. No competition, no real syllabus left them high and dry. There is a group near Wrexham, but this is 80 miles from us.

[JusticeZero]

I think the main issue is that there are already some out there that claim to have learned the Ninjitsu art, and are somewhat suspect in their attitudes, claims, challenges, etc, and those are the things that stick out in many people's minds.

This is true - but there are no shortage of "Karate", "Gongfu", "BJJ", "MMA", etc. teachers who are equally qualified.

An agreement of "There is no longer a single top person, and we have been told in no uncertain terms that if someone claims to be the top person, that they are not it - we agree to splinter peacefully into a number of loosely affiliated schools" would work fine.

[Himokiri Karate]

Ninjutsu has started and stopped a few times here in North Wales, it doesn't seem to survive. There was a camp in Snowdonia, but their origins were less than credible. No competition, no real syllabus left them high and dry. There is a group near Wrexham, but this is 80 miles from us.

Ninjutsu has competions?

[MasterPain]

Ninjutsu has started and stopped a few times here in North Wales, it doesn't seem to survive. There was a camp in Snowdonia, but their origins were less than credible. No competition, no real syllabus left them high and dry. There is a group near Wrexham, but this is 80 miles from us.

Ninjutsu has competions?

Ever see Gymkata?

[JusticeZero]

Ninjutsu doesn't do competitions, basically ever. Their training is pretty much the pinnacle of "Uhm... we don't train for competitions..". Their kata are two movements long at max, and they spend a lot of time working on weapons techniques that would fit in with military combatives and on various other side skills.

[Zaine]

I spent some time contemplating this and there is room for speculation that the ninja, as they were in their "prime," still by much exist. I remember taking a Bujinkan class and hearing that ninja trained in such a way that any weapon around them would be accessible for use. This is all to say, who's to say that they didn't upgrade the tools of the trade with the times. Instead of swords they use guns. Perhaps we just simply call them assassins instead of ninjas. It seems to me that in a world as hi-tech as ours it wouldn't be too terribly hard to eliminate information about this, especially if one is as crafty as a ninja.

Again, this is just some fun speculation. Had a couple days to let my mind wonder on the fact.

[JusticeZero]

There has been that discussion, but the summary of it was basically that there are a lot of people similar to the ninja around, but that they aren't in lineage.

[bushido_man96]

I spent some time contemplating this and there is room for speculation that the ninja, as they were in their "prime," still by much exist. I remember taking a Bujinkan class and hearing that ninja trained in such a way that any weapon around them would be accessible for use. This is all to say, who's to say that they didn't upgrade the tools of the trade with the times. Instead of swords they use guns. Perhaps we just simply call them assassins instead of ninjas. It seems to me that in a world as hi-tech as ours it wouldn't be too terribly hard to eliminate information about this, especially if one is as crafty as a ninja.

Again, this is just some fun speculation. Had a couple days to let my mind wonder on the fact.

There has been that discussion, but the summary of it was basically that there are a lot of people similar to the ninja around, but that they aren't in lineage.

I think Zaine has a good point. Modern espionage is different than when the Ninja were in demand. Training has changed, and the tools have changed mainly because they technology has gotten better. Nowadays you would be looking at circumventing electronic security systems including sensors and cameras, and things like that. So, the game has changed, and the old Ninja schools, although I'm sure they still have some valuable skills to teach, aren't as necessary as they once were.

And, like JZ mentioned, the lineage thing. It basically makes it "official" that there will be no more of the traditional Ninja. You might be able to refer to some spys as "modern day Ninja," but they won't be what many would call the "real thing."

[barrypardue]

wow interesting!