Swords

Originally posted by Muaddib
Now this is an awesome topic!!!

The Ninjato sword is of less quality than a katana, and originally Ninjas used at first farmer's tools as weapons, which is the origin of most martial art weapons for those who could not afford a sword.

Ninjutsu, or Ninjitsu as it is also known, started as the Martial Art of the peasants, a way for them to defend themselves against the samurai and robbers. Althou at first it was known as Nonuse, meaning "the art of stealth." It was a martial art that was taugh from generation to generation and only to other family members. It was a resistance movement in its humble beginnings. The practitioners of Ninjutsu became known as Ninja much later.

When some of the wealthy landowners saw the effectiveness of Ninjutsu, they decided to contract these people for infiltration and spionage purposes. Later on it was used for sabotage, and assasinations. This is when Ninjutsu took the bad name of the Art of the assassin, and this is how most people know about this Art.
[edit on 8-6-2004 by Muaddib]

Not accurate, sir.
Thus is the hollywood mall ninja myth.
Ninja or Shinobi means " stealth".
Ninja were the hired thugs and hitmen of the wealthy.
They didnt have uniforms, or a set "style" of martial art.
That came much later and was only based on the legend.

"Ninjas" would be the unseen lowly worker, the maid, the errand boy. They coulkd easily slip into a palace, and kill someone without being noticed.

Their skill in assassination became legend, and they were said to move like invisible ghosts.

They used whatever sword, saw, rake or stick was handy, and didnt carry one when traveling lest they be discovered.

They were the most cunning killers history has ever known, because even today myths are taught as facts.

They did not wear snazzy black suits or anything that would identify them as anything other than a random person.
They were raised into the life, with killing the family business.

Each family or clan had their own unique techniques and improvised weapons, and they rarely if even spoke of it outside the family.

Usually a worker or servant and his family would "handle matters for the wealthy landlord".

The romanticism of the ninja is a western idea.

There was no set " Style" or martial art, no "club" or social caste like Samurai, and no set tradition other than killing for hire.