Ninjutsu Self Defense Techniques

Ninjutsu was developed by Ninja in feudal Japan.

Ninjutsu is an ancient Japanese martial art that was developed by an order of black-clad assassins in feudal Japan. Ninja were masters of poisoning, assassination, stealth and the use of daggers. They preferred to avoid fighting by striking and then shrinking back into the darkness. However, when cornered, ninja could fight viciously. Most Ninjutsu self-defense techniques involve evading danger and then quickly launching a counterattack.

Evasion

Much like Italian soccer, Ninjutsu relies on the counterattack. In Ninjutsu fights are avoided at all costs. However, when there is no other choice, Ninjutsu practitioners will allow the other fighter to be the aggressor while they block, duck, back away from and otherwise evade all attacks. But when the opening comes, the Ninjutsu fighter will strike.

Aim for Soft Targets

Ninja liked to end fights quickly and to extricate themselves from the situation. The neck, solar plexus and groin are all excellent places to land a well-timed, precise and decisive blow. In Ninjutsu it is always preferable to strike your opponent when they are off-balance from having thrown a blow of their own.

Join Locks

Ninjutsu also employs joint locks, similar to those found in Indonesian Silat. Locking an opponent's arm or leg at its full extension can cause it great pain and make it easy to deliver a blow intended to break it.

Kicks

Rarely would a Ninja ever have delivered a volley of kicks like the kind you see in a Kung Fu film. In Ninjutsu kicks are delivered precisely and decisively. When an opening is seen to strike the groin, knee, rib or organs, the kick should be an almost automatic reaction. Kicks in Ninjutsu should generally be delivered with enough force to end the fight instantly. Kicks are also sometimes employed merely to keep an opponent away where a Ninja wants him to be.

References

• Knowledge Galaxy: Ninjutsu Techniques