Togakure Ryu Complete

7/27/2019 Togakure Ryu Complete

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Using the power of hasso perform rapid cuts to theopponent to eventually wear him down and then perform killing strikes.


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This technique is used when you are hurt and is a lastresort to throw the sword at the attacker if needed.


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The throw can be underhand or over handed.

Then use shuriken to finish off the opponent.


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The throw can be under-hand or over-hand.


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Then use shuriken to finish off the opponent.


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Standing in Seigan no kamae while opponent is inDaijodan no kamae.

Opponent attacks.

Step to the side (45 degree) or go down on one kneewhile leaning to one side.

Use a Hasso Gyaku type cut to hit the opponentsstomach and up into the opponents rib cage.


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Then use a Tsuki to attack the opponent opened flank.


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You can also attack the neck of the opponent with theTsuki.


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This technique is used to attack the weakest opponent inthe group but making the opponents believe that you are attacking the strongest, or theleader and then escaping.


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This technique is for using metsubushi on the opponent.

When the opponent attacks, instantly use the metsubushito blind the opponent.


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Once again, right when the opponent attacks use themetsubushi.


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Then attack from a safe area.


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This is used when you are drawing the shinobi-bikenfrom behind the back.


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When fast drawing a shinobi-biken the blade is about afoot shorter than a normal katana but the saya is the same length of a normal katana.

This gives the opponent the false feeling that it will takeyou just as long to draw your sword. When in actuality the time is much shorter, givingyou the advantage.

Attack the opponents Kote (wrist, forearm) to end theconfrontation.


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When the opponent attacks step inside his attack anddraw the sword and let the opponent cut himself on the blade.


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Then use the sword to control the opponent.


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This time use the right hand instead of the left whendrawing the sword to cut the opponent.


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Just walk into the attacker here, using the tsuka as aweapon.


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Then use the tsuka (and the sword and saya) to hold theopponent in place.


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Sage-0 Sono ichi is using the Sageo on the saya as aweapon and also used as a major distraction to your opponent. Here a metsubushi egg istied to the Sageo to distract the opponent so the sword can be used to finish off theopponent.


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Sageo Sono Ni is for using the saya as a weapon or adistraction for an opponent. In this case two opponents, one in front and one in back.

After dispatching the first opponent in front, the othercomes to attack.


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Throw the saya at the opponent and then close thedistance and strike the opponent.


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Sometimes a leap is used to cover more distance toattack the opponent.


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Using the sword to throw the opponent while cuttinghim.


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After Tsuki the opponent, use your body to throw him.


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Here you hold the blade and use you body to control theopponent and throw him down.


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ONGYO JUTSU

Disappearing Techniques

A. Goton Santon no Ho (The 30 methods)

The highest set of techniques in Ninpo are the ways of concealing and disappearancecalled Onshin Tongyo no Jutsu or Ongyo Jutsu. If you can do these techniques you canmake the impossible the possible. Their essence is the Goton no Ho which has elementsof wood, fire, earth, metal and water. These 5 escape techniques are called the OmoteGoton no Ho and the Ura Goton no Ho. The Ura Goton no Ho are the following using aperson, bird, animal, Insect and fish. Together the Omote and the Ura are called Jutton.

Tenton is the collective name given to the following ten ways of disappearing:1. Sun.2. Moon.3. A star.4. A cloud.5. Fog.6. Thunder.7. Lighting.8. Wind.9. Rain.10. Snow.

Chiton:1. Wood.2. Grass.3. Fire.4. Smoke.5. Earth.6. House.7. Metal.8. Stone.9. Water.10. Boiling water.

Jinton:1. Males.2. Females.3. Old people.4. Infants.5. Nobility.6. Poor


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7. Birds.8. Animals.9. Insects10. Fish.

B. Omote Goton no Ho Ten Earth methods of disappearing

1.Mokuton Disappearing using wood and or grass. Using the shadows of trees or grassduring both the day and the night. A distraction such as the use of a piece of string tomove the bush so that the enemy turned his back or placing of ones clothing on a tree todistract the enemy, allowed one to leave the scene unseen. Of course these techniqueswere not only used for disappearing but also for attacking. Climbing a tree with Shukoand Sokko is one example of Mokuton. Other ways of climbing a tree included usingtools such as Ipponsugi, Kyoketsu shoge and Kaginawa. Throwing water chestnutcaltrops and waxing the wooden floor of a corridor are all part of Mokuton.

2.Katon - The way of disappearing using fire, for example, by gathering dry leaves andsetting them on a fire to distract the enemy and escaping. Light a small explosive with aportable lighter and throw it to distract. A small explosive can be thrown into a fireplaceor a small portable fireplace with the escape being made while everyone is recoveringfrom the shock.

The Uchitake, Onibi, Hiya, Higurumaken, Hifukidake, Ozutsu, Kakaezutsu, Sodezutsu,Nageteppo, Uzumebi and the Kaengusari are all tools of Katon.

In the past fire was both feared and respected by everyone as if it were a God andtherefore the use of Katon was most effective form of escape. Before one can use Katonit is vital to learn about climatic conditions and ground conditions especially when itcomes to using the wind. Otherwise it can be very dangerous. There are the physicalapplications of Katon but there are also the psychological aspects to it. For examplemaking the enemy so furious that his face becomes red making him unable to judgethings correctly. His body also becomes tense and rigid leaving him unable to useTaijutsu properly. Sometimes his anger may become so great that he runs the risk of having a cerebral hemorrhage or an ulcer, which could eventually kill him. Anotherexample is fabricating a scandal about the enemy so that his honor is tarnished puttinghim in a very unpleasant position.

This is also a part of Katon, the following will show why.

If the enemy is imagined to be a pillow and a small piece of red-hot coal is placed in thecenter (the fabrication of the scandal) the pillow begins to smoke (the scandal). Thissmoke is seen and smelt by everyone around and slowly the whole pillow catches firedestroying it (the enemy) completely. The Ninja also used natural fires to their ownadvantage. Once a Ninjas home often had many calabashes filled with water mainly forextinguishing fires. However some of these were filled with flammable liquid or poison


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water so that in an enemy entered while the house was on fire it could be used againsthim.

3.Doton is the way of using earth to disappear. This includes throwing stones or sand atthe enemy, digging a hole with a trowel (Kunai), hiding in a man made rock, setting a

trap so that the unsuspecting enemy falls into it and using the dirt to change theappearance of the face. The soil is the parent of everything that is born on it. We too areborn on the soil and die on the soil. The seasons change depending on the angle betweenthe earth and the sun. Between Heaven and humanity is the earth. So earth is the mostvital part of everything. If there were no earth there would be no plants and so no woodand consequently no fire.

The Japanese expression Doron-Doron when referring to a Ninja is used to indicate anactual appearance or disappearance of the Ninja. It comes from theatrical dramas such asKabuki.

The appearance or disappearance of a ghost is indicated by the sound of drums, which isimitated verbally by Doron-Doron. This is the poplar idea but from the Ninjas point of view the words Doron and Doron are the same. Doton in Ninpo means the way todisappear Doron in Kabuki means the time of a disappearance. So from Doton comes allother techniques.

Even the Ninjas costume has a close relationship with Doton; its red black color makes iteasy to disappear into the darkness and the earth. Before the Second World War, theJapanese Imperial Army wore dark brown uniforms and now the armed forces or Europeand the United States use a mixture of dark brown and green for most everythingincluding tanks.

These are the colors of the earth and wood. The Octopus and the Squid are also veryskillful at using black ink to perform a vanishing act. Even the skunk uses smell to itsadvantage.

The phrase As silent as a forest as steadfast as a mountain is also about Doton.

4.Kinton is the way of using metal tools to produce reflections or noise. These are gooddiversionary actions. Using a blade or mirror to reflect the sun into the enemies eyes as aform of Metsubushi or for signaling, suddenly throwing a small flame from a portablehand heater to startle the enemy. Reflecting moonlight into the eyes with the sword,banging on a gong, bell or drum or shouting to startle an enemy is all part of Kinton.Even throwing a stone into a pond making the enemys mind focus in that direction sothat you can enter from a different direction is a part of this.

The following is a famous Haiku: An old temple pond, a frog jumping, the noise of thewater from this I can understand perfectly well that Basho was a secret Ninja.


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The psychological Aspects are as follows; if an enemy wants money, giving it to him canopen many doors. The Japanese word for money and gold is Kin, hence Kinton. So whenlarge quantities of money are involved everything is possible. If a person wants money,status and honor the Ninja can already control him. Money has a direct influence onstatus, the honor and also women. So if one wishes to be a true Ninja, one must be very

careful not to be blinded by gold.

I am not saying however that one should think about it. We are presently in a period inwhich we need to have the following five powers well balanced: Spiritual power,Physical power, Technical power, Wisdom power and momentary or economic power. Atrue Ninja never drowns in the sea of gold, yet knows how to produce it well.

A Ninja is also very skillful at using the Golden Spheres. Bed techniques are used by theNinja as a background technique, while the Kunoichi uses them as foregroundtechniques.

In Gyokko Ryu Ninpo, using a pair of iron balls to make the fingers strong and agile wasa basic everyday technique. Sometimes they were used as a weapon. If a person is skillfulwith these balls he is also skillful at manipulating the enemy as if he were a ball.

Matahari was therefore very skillful at using Kinton.

5.Suiton Is the way of disappearing using water. Floating on it, swimming over orunder it, using special boats and rafts, using water spider (Mizugumo) or water pistols(Mizuteppo) or even cutting through the banks of a river to flood a village are all part of Suiton.

If a person likes alcohol, giving him an excessive amount is also part of thins. If a personhas a great weakness for woman, drowning him with them is also a part. This also holdsfor material things, a Ninja must be very skillful in using money, alcohol, women and anymaterial thing. He must be able to determine whether the drinks offered to him have beenpoisoned.

Using the five senses as well as the sixth sense is the only way of doing these things, butbe certain tools may also be used. Gold placed in a drink laced with poison changes color.

A coral bead put near poison breaks up. A Ninja never allows himself to drown inanything whether it be women or alcohol, he must swim freely and easily.

The next section I would like to talk about is Ongyo-Jutsu. This is special disappearingtechniques and they are of the highest level of strategy the ninja has in its arsenal. To beable to conceal yourself in the face of danger and survive from your enemies attack iscalled Onshin Tongyo (Tonko) Jutsu.

One of the methods studied was the Ten Chi Jin Santon no Ho. Together created 30 waysto blend and disappear.


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The first set of ten is called Tenton and it uses the heavens: using the sun, moon, a star, acloud, the fog, thunder, lightning, wind, rain, and snow.

The next set is called Chiton and it uses the elements of the earth. Using wood, grass,

fire, smoke, earth, house, metal, stone, water, and boiling water.

The third and final set is Jinton; this is the use of living objects. Using males, females, oldpeople, infants, the nobility, the poor, birds, animals, insects, and fish.

You must study and be aware of all 30 opportunities. To even master only one will giveyou incredible ability to escape.

Here are two examples from each section.

Tenton: As the clouds move across the sky shadows will drift, images on the ground will

move and you must move with them. From the shifting of the clouds the light in thenight sky will darken and give you opportunity to move freely, but you must also use thelight of the moon or sun to see your enemies movements as well.

Chiton: The trees make good resting places to sleep, see over distances, once you areabove ten feet the average eye will not see you. You must blend and adapt to the formand shape of the tree, move with the wind and allow the branches to move freely, climbwhen the wind blows be still when it does not. Everyone is afraid of fire. Fire will makeeverything run away, and attract attention. In the night the bright flames will destroyvision and give you the time you need to escape.

Jinton: Old people attract very little attention and can move freely because they are nomajor threat. They are also a great source for local information. If a flock of birdssuddenly fly's away this could mean people are close to you and this will give you thedirection and distance from your location. Remember this can also work against you. Atnight, use the insects for the same reasons. The ten chi jin is a very good way to start yourshinobi training but you must spend as much time getting familiar with each one of thethirty skills to be able to use and predict your outcome.

The next section is known as the ten earth methods of disappearing. Called the Omoteand Ura Goton no Ho.

The first in this section is Mokuton no Jutsu. This is the strategy of hiding oneself in thebushes or behind trees, and then either attacking or escaping, using wood elementtechniques as concealment.

Some of the principles behind Mokuton no Jutsu is:

Using the contrast between sunshine and the shade created by brush or grasslands.Wearing branches, leaves, and grasses on the body as natural camouflage. Waxing


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wooden floors, and using string tied to branches to capture the enemies attention tomislead them. Also to attack from the trees was part of this section.

Katon No Jutsu is the second method. This is done by using fire to disappear. By creating

natural fires from the combustion of various substances, including powders, grasses, oils,small explosives, one way the ninja made black powder was the combination of paulownia wood ash and sulfur. Fire is very powerful, and can be used many ways. Oneway is to set the grasses on fire around your enemy to lead them into a trap. Using fire asa shock method to frighten the enemy and make them choose rash decisions. To throwfire directly on the enemy or into a fire place or stove would stop people in their tracksand the only thought was to put the fire out. This is when you would attack. When youuse fire are careful of the weather conditions such as rain and wind. You can also makesomeone be on fire without flame. You make them incredibly mad, and the term red-hotis used this will put smoke in the mind and they will have a difficult time seeingcorrectly.

Doton Jutsu is the third method. This is using earth element techniques. By using theterrain and its features as a tactical advantage, you can make attacks from uneven terrain;throw mud and stones instead of shurikens. The ninja would often throw stones in theopposite direction to cover the movement and true direction. Digging holes to hide orsurvive in a fire, or to dig tunnels to escape. The use of the earth was used to build trapsfrom trees to mountains. Boulders sent down a mountain, large trees rolling down hill todestroy many opponents in seconds this is Doton Jutsu. Any way to use the earth and itsfeatures fit into this topic.

Kinton no Jutsu is the forth method. This is the use of metal elements. The use of polished blades or hand held mirrors to reflect the light of the sun into the eyes to blindwas used to attack and or escape. Metal tools used to make noise or cast reflection aregood diversionary techniques. Even ponds and lakes can be used to make illusions. Tothrow a stone into the water to distract the attention or to skip a rock along the water tomake it look you have been this way, are part of kinton jutsu.

Suiton no jutsu is the last of the omote section. This is the use of water. Floating on it,swimming in it, or the use of special boats. To destroy a dam to flood an entire village,using the tides to your advantage. Water cannons or pistols to shoot poison onto yourenemy. The skill of underwater combat, and holding your breath. The use of a bamboosnorkel. The snorkel should be 1 1/2 foot long, and you should stay under for no morethen 12 hours. Underwater combat should be from very close distances quick tight strikesand the attack should be from below attacking up. Water is very effective when you needto cover your tracks.


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The next section is called the Ura Goton no Ho.

The first one is called Jinton no Jutsu. This is using one or more people to disappear.

This is acting and has many levels to study.

Danton - masculine characteristics.Joton - Feminine Characteristics.Roton - Traits of elderly people.Yoton - traits of the young or infant.Kiton - mannerisms of the aristocracy.Senton - mannerisms of the poor or lower class.

The use of make up and Henso-jutsu are very important here.

Kinton no Jutsu is the next section. This is the use of birds to disappear. There are four

classes of animals the ninja must study.Kinton - the study of birds and flying animals.

There are two methods to studying animals. The first is to domesticate animals to dodeeds for you humans could not do as well. Or you should study animals to learn thingsabout nature.

For example, fish are impossible to domesticate but you can study how they moveunderwater and become a better swimmer because of it. In the past homing pigeonswhere used to communicate. Chickens were used to make noise, falcons were used tohunt food for you, and ducks were used around water to create attention and cover yourmovement.

Juton no Jutsu is the way to use animals to escape. The study of all animals that maystand in your way, like guard dogs. There are ways to deal with this. One way is to feedthe dog over time, if need be you may then poison the dog easily. Placing a dog in heat of the opposite sex near the dog will keep their attention. Letting a cat out in front of thedog, then disappear and the dog will chase the cat. A small bowl of antifreeze will takecare of most dogs. Letting go of a small rat will cause panic and attention. You must alsoknow the weak points of many animals such as a cows and horses nose; a cat is the back of the neck, pigs front feet. And all animals including humans have a fear of fire.

Chuton no Jutsu is the method of using disliked animals. Snakes and toads, and spiders.

This is done to surprise your enemy, and take their mind off of you and onto a littlecreature. Let a bat loose in someone's home and they will run and scream in fear, apoisonous spider in someone's bed, all have the same effect. Use this aspect to makemotion and distraction, this will give you the location of everyone, and their mental stateis on edge but consumed. Remember as you create motion your shinobi skills must be


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good and you must be ready to fight or escape if seen. Use this to leave false information,or to find information.

Gyoton no Jutsu is the method of using fish or aquatic animals. If you dress as afisherman, you can hide a tanto in the fish and secret messages as well without causing

attention to yourself. The poisons of some fish are deadly and easy to get. You must learnhow to move in the water and use all forms of water; ice, fog, rain, snow, boats, rafts,scuba gear, and sea navigation.

Here are five more principles that are secret. These have no name are Kuden. Usuallynever written down, and only passed from teacher to student by word of mouth.

Nitton no Jutsu is the use of the sun. When fighting you should keep the sun to your back and the sun in the eyes of the enemy. If you are forced into the sun you must have amirror or a polished blade to use the sun against him. Use the sun to drop down as youattack from above. Use the sun's reflection off of water to blind and or escape.

Getton no Jutsu is the use of the moon. Use the moon to cover your movements. Timingis very important and you may only have a few chances in the sky. As the moon lights upthe sky use this to see. When the moon is covered by clouds use this to move.

Seiton no Jutsu is the use of Astronomy. This information is used for Navigation. Wellknown stars like the Big Dipper and the North Star, Venus, and Jupiter can determinedirection. Use these landmarks for attacking and rally points for all escapes.

Unton no Jutsu is the use of the clouds. You should always use cloudy or inclimateweather to your advantage. Clouds cast shadows and can conceal your movement andeffect light. You need to study the wind and the land to predict the movement of light.Clouds are very important to study.

Muton no Jutsu is the use of fog. Fog is unlike clouds and has a life spanned anddetermined path. Fog prevents people from seeing clearly, and changes the appearance of objects. Temperature and climate has a lot to do with the lifespan of fog. The study of Tenmon and Chimon will help you with this list.


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GOTON NO JUTSU TECHNIQUES

SUI TON NO JUTSU

KAKU SHU KOSHIKI EIHO

Tachi OyogiNuki TeAori Hira NoshiHo Baku Oyogi

Doku MizuGi Hen Kaku Ran No HoMizu GumoSui Chu ki

KIN TON NO JUTSU

Kodama No HoHikari No Ho (Aizu)Hikari No HoIn Yo No Ho

MOKUTON NO JUTSU

Gi So No HoUzura Gakure No HoMetsubushi No Ho

Gi Hen Mokuton No HoTo Bo Kugihon No Ho

DO TON NO JUTSU

Metsubushi No HoMogura No HoRak-ka No HoIn Ton No Ho

Do Ton No Jutsu (Seki Tori)

Seki To No JutsuKA TON NO JUTSUHi Zeme No HoNet-to Zeme No HoEn Maku Kaku Ran No HoOni Bi No HoSoku To Ki No Ho


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1

GOTON NO JUTSU

Methods of fighting, concealment, infiltration and escape using the five elements of Water, Metal, Wood, Earth and Fire.

SUI TON NO JUTSU (WATER)Using water to escape, deceive, infiltrate and attack.

KAKU SHU KOSHIKI EIHO-Swimming methods to move quickly, silently and with weapons.

Tachi Oyogi-Using one arm for balance and swimming and the other arm for holding weapons. Thelegs push out or use a circular motion for movement.

Right leg moves in circular motion.

Left leg moves in a pushing motion.

One hand holds the weapon and the other paddlesand pushes down.

Nuki Te-


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2

Using a breaststroke type style, frog kick technique while arms used to crawl. Theweapon is either on the back or in the mouth. The legs use the frog kick technique tocause movement.

Aori Hira Noshi-This technique was a favorite of the Togakure ryu. It is used for quick silent swimming.The front arm performs quick strokes below your body; the rear arm makes large strokesalong the line of the body. The rear leg kicks water with the top of the foot (instep), thefront leg kicks water with the sole of the foot like the breaststroke. Both legs movetogether in a scissor type action.


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5

Gi Hen Kaku Ran No Ho-This technique is a method of evasion. When pursued by the enemy, throw a big rock,large stone or tree branch into the water to make the enemy think that you jumped intothe water and then hide in the opposite direction to escape.


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6

Mizu Gumo (floatation device/water spider)-One of the many floatation devices used, can be made with a truck inner tube weavedwith rope and leather. Place legs through and sit in the middle.Paddle is made of a large bamboo tube; with bamboo strips on one end that fan out forthe paddle and the other end has a weighted chain at the end. Also used is the Kama yarito push off the shore and the hook on to trees and land. Use the legs like a swimming birdto keep balance in the water.


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7

Sui Chu ki-1. Using a bamboo tube to breathe underwater2. Horn for signaling and distraction3. A weapon as a last resort

To stay underwater use one hand to hold onto reeds and shore material. The other handholds the breathing tube and your nose. Breathe slowly and deeply. For insect protectionhave a fine mesh over the tubes breathing hole.


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8

KIN TON NO JUTSU (METAL, SOUND AND LIGHT)

Using the metal, sound and light from metallic objects to attack, infiltrate or escape.

Kodama No Ho-Using sounds by hitting metal objects to distract the enemy. Also to be used to escape,infiltrate, attack (attacks are made swiftly) or signaling.

Hikari No Ho (Aizu)-


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To reflect light with a mirror as a signal by prearranged code. Some mirrors can be madefrom metal to be used as a weapon (hand held or thrown as a shuriken).For signaling- you can alter the angle or use your hand to cover the mirror when it isreflecting light to signal.

Hikari No Ho (metsubushi)-A method of using reflected light from a sword or a mirror toward the enemy to blindhim and then strike him down.


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10

In Yo No Ho-This is the art of taking advantage of the light and shade to attack an enemy (whether indaytime or night time).

Night example- Hiding in the darkness as an enemy passes through a brightly lit area(the enemies eyes will not have adjusted to the darkness quick enough). The shadow thatthe light causes can be used to hide in and attack the enemy suddenly.

Day example- Hiding in the shadow of a large tree on a bright sunny day and attackingthe opponent as he passes the area.


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11

MOKUTON NO JUTSU (WOOD) Using trees and vegetation for escape, infiltrating, or creating confusion to make anattack.

Gi So No Ho-The technique of using the local plant life to conceal yourself within the surroundings.

A. Break up the line of the shoulders (this makes you harder to see by the enemy).B. Use a cord wrapped around your chest and back to harness the branches and

vegetation. Cords can be used around the midsection and legs to increase thecamouflage.

C. Use the local foliage for the best concealment.D. Cover the line of the shoulders and most of the face.E. Using an outer mesh shirt and pants will work great, or use the modern day

special operations ghille suit.


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Gi Hen Mokuton No Ho-Using a Kamayari to distract an enemy by shaking nearby tree branches or bushes tomake the enemy think that is where your location is. Shake the branches vigorously thenescape quickly. This technique is to draw the enemy away. This technique can also beused with string or twine to move the branches.


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To Bo Kugihon No Ho-This is a technique of using wood or branches to strike and attack the enemy, causingdistraction for escape, or infiltration.

DO TON NO JUTSU (EARTH)Using the ground surface or soil to escape, infiltrate or attack.

Metsubushi No Ho-Using dirt, gravel, or stones to blind the enemy.

A. Use tabi or shoes to kick dirt into the opponents eyesB. Grab a handful and throw into the opponents eyes.

Note- After throwing the metsubushi, escape or attack. Make sure of the earth type andwind direction before using this technique.


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15

Mogura No Ho-The technique of hiding underground, in a pit or hole and attacking the enemy swiftlywith a spear or sword when the enemy passes by overhead. (This technique can be usedto attack an enemy in the attic of your house or those walking over a bridge.)


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16

Rak-ka No Ho-This is a technique of luring the enemy into a pit and then attacking (using a spear, yari,kamayari, sword or a ranged weapon). Make sure to use give and take to lure the enemyinto the pit. (The pit can be lined with stakes with poison or water with snakes, etc).


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17

In Ton No Ho-A technique of hiding in a hole or hollow (tree trunk or tunnel, or such) after cuttingdown an enemy. (Note- make sure that you hide your tracks or have a distraction set up, aprevious set of tracks away from your location, a piece of clothing to lead the enemiesaway in the opposite direction.


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18

Do Ton No Jutsu (Seki Tori)Using snow and ice for escape, infiltration or attack.

Seki To No Jutsu-Using a small snow hut or hole to lay in wait for attack or escape. Using large icicles asdaggers to attack with leaving no visible or traceable weapon. Icicles can be poisoned bycoating the ice with a fine mist (water soluble poisons or non soluble) or actively coatingit.


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19

KA TON NO JUTSU (FIRE)Using fire, smoke, heat and boiling water for escape, infiltration or attack.

Hi Zeme No Ho-Technique of drawing an enemy into a trap and surround the enemy with fire then cut theenemy down one by as they try to break through to escape. Timing and the direction of

the wind are very important.Note- to escape fire circle traps-A. Cut the grass down by cutting from the base of the grass, the earth or sod.B. Dig into the earth and cover yourself with dirt to hide from the enemy and flames.


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20

Net-to Zeme No Ho-Technique of throwing boiling water into the enemys eyes from an unexpected direction.When the opponent flinches you can attack or escape. Make the use of the best locationand make the attack by surprise.


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21

En Maku Kaku Ran No Ho-Technique of using water on fire to cause a smoke screen. Using smoke creation devicesto distract the enemy.


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The Ninja Exploding Smoke BombIt took me years of searching to be able to find a smoke bomb that when struck on theground would cause a flash of light and a cloud of smoke. There are a thousand reasonswhy these are useful and fun, but the most common reason people search for this, is theninja aspect of it. Ninjas used the dirtiest of tactics to realize their desires, includingmisdirection and camouflage. When a ninja was in a bad situation, he would through aball to the ground, distracting his enemy with a flash of light and a cloud of smoke,allowing him to escape. There used to be items available called Torpedo that wouldcause a great cloud of smoke to emit when struck, now these are next to impossible tofind, and rather dangerous to manufacture. The following is a wonderful alternative thatcan be made far more safely, although care must still be taken.

Materials:3/4-inch metal ball (Steel or chrome preferably)Scotch tape

Course sand paperOne roll of paper cap gun gaps4 by 4 square of magicians flash paper1-teaspoon white or silver flash powder

Magicians flash paper and the flash powder can be found at most magic shops, eitheronline or locally. I used to get mine from http://www.skylighter.com/ until I learned howto make it myself. This is a different kind of flash powder than the kind you often readabout on the Internet. It does not have a loud bang.

Only the paper caps for toy guns can be found at almost any toyshop, and often at placesincluding Wal-Mart.

The 3/4 metal ball could very well be a large marble or ball bearing or other such item.Chrome seems to be the optimal weight in my experience, but other materials haveworked well! I order mine off the Internet for about $0.50 each. Ive also seen them atfarm supplies stores, eBay and lots of other places.

Preparation:Take a piece of some course sand paper, and rub it against your metal ball until itbecomes rough. Feel free to ding it up all you wish.

Take your roll of caps, and, with the explosive part out (paper side in), wrap the entireball, so that as much of the surface of the ball is covered as possible. Often one will use alittle over half a roll of caps in this process, although this varies with the size of the roll.


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Take a small piece of tape, and secure the caps to the ball. I always tryto avoid putting tape over on of the cap heads. The tighter you can wrap the caps on tothe ball, the more efficient your smoke bomb will be.

Now, place the cap-covered ball in the center of your 4 by 4 sheet of flash paper, androll the paper into a tube. Fasten the paper in this position with a small piece of tape. Itshould now look like a paper tube with a ball in the center.

With this completed, you are ready to add the powder. This is the time to prepare it. If you are using white flash powder from a magicians shop, you will need to mix the twobottles together now.Take 1/2 of a teaspoon of the white or silver flash powder (or the same amount of colored flash powder if you wish to use one of those recipes) and pour it into one side of the tube.Nicely fold the paper down and tape it shut.

Although it can be twisted shut, this is more dangerous as if too much pressure is applied,it could detonate in your hand. Not good.

Now add 1/2 pf a teaspoon to the other side and repeat the process of folding and taping.Place your completed ninja smoke bomb in a safe place.

Use:To fire, simply throw the ball to the ground on a hard surface. The weight of the ball willcause the cap to explode, thus triggering the flash powder and igniting the flash paper.The result is a flash of fire and a cloud of smoke.

Warning:As with all pyrotechnics, if proper care is not taken, serious injury could result. Neverthrow directly at another person, and always take great care with the finished product. Asharp bump could cause ignition. Although safer than any other method Ive yet


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discovered, I still take as much care with these as I would with any other pyrotechnicdevice. NEVER PUT IN POCKETS OR BACKPACK, ETC. Be responsible and safe.

Trouble shooting:Do not fear if your first attempt isnt a huge success. There may be a few variables you

need to check out. Once you get them down, you will have them work every time. Here isa list of things to try.

Ball size and weight:A ball that is too small or too light may not have enough force to light the cap.

Number of caps:If you use too many caps, they can hinder lighting process by taking some shock out of the impact. Try using just enough to cover the ball and slowly work up from there. Lesscaps is better, although if you dont have enough, when thrown, nothing will happen.

Amount of powder:Yes, the most common problem. We all want to put lots of powder in to get more smoke.The bad part is that too much powder will dampen the impact and it will be a dud. Tryusing a bit less than teaspoon in each side, and working up.


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TOGAKURE RYU

SHINOBI STEALTH WALKING

Shinobi-Ashi- Stealth StepWithout making a sound, begin by placing your fourth toe on the ground and

immediately following up with the middle toe, and then lastly the heel.If using tabi use the tips of the toes then gradually and lastly place the heel down.

Uki-Ashi- Small Step (also known as Ko Ashi)You walk only on the tips of the toes, your heel never touches the floor. Great for a quick sneak attack.

Inu-Aruki- Dog WalkingThis method is used to creep and crawl through low places on all fours, like a dog. Dropdown to your hands and knees, and then alternately place your hands firmly on theground and move forward or backward as needed.

Kitsune-Aruki- Fox WalkingThis is a method of walking on all fours. This is a fox like noiseless scamper on only thetoes and the fingertips.

Yoko-Aruki- Sideways WalkingFirst press your back firmly against the wall. Then, facing the direction you want to go in,open your arms and legs out as wide as you can. Cross your far leg and arm over yourforward ones and repeat, sliding along like a crab. This allows you to travel further withfewer steps.

The Yoko aruki movement is as an actual walking method used to quickly move throughnarrow spaces. By turning the body parallel to the plane of motion (sideways) thepractitioner can maintain sight in a wide field both in front of ones body and behind. Thefootwork is frequently combined with a swinging arm motion to assist in maintainingbalance as well as feeling for obstructions.

Shin-So-Toh-Ho-Aruki-The most silent method of walking, you place the balls of your feet on the back of yourhands and, bent over in that position, walk forward and backward on your hands.

Nuki Ashi- 'Sweeping Step.'

This technique permits the ninja to cross wooden planks or straw matting undetected bygiving him complete control of his body weight. From a low crouching position, thebalance and then the body weight are slowly shifted to the forward leg until it supportsthe entire body. The rear leg is then pulled forward and in toward the supporting leg. Theankles barely brush each other as the moving leg goes forward and out with the toespointing slightly inward. With the weight on the stationary leg, the outside edge of themoving foot can be used as a feeler to probe lightly for any obstacles that might be in the


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way. The foot is then eased to the floor, outer edge first. The weight is gently shifted tothis foot, and can be withdrawn quickly if any creaking of the floor is noticed. Thisgroping foot then becomes the new support foot as the ninja continues forward. With hishands moving lightly like tentacles, the ninja takes on the appearance an octopus feelinghis way across the ocean floor.

Ryohebi Serpent Moving crawling along the ground on all four limbs, keeping low tothe ground and having one leg always stretched out and the other leg tucked in so you canspring up to attack or move very quickly.

Karasu-Aruki Crow Walking (side running) taking side steps with the feet withoutcrossing the feet over like Yoko Aruki

O-Ashi Great Step (similar to Yoko-Aruki, but taller steps. This is used to cross fieldsor bodies of water silently). Using Yoko-Aruki but using very tall steps with the tips of the toes touching the ground first then the heel.


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Guidelines for Stealth Walking

1. Maintain balance control by allowing your body weight to sink and be carried by

deeply flexed knees.

2. Remember to breathe along with your movement. Unconsciously holding your breathcan unknowingly produce unneeded muscle tension, and could result in gasping releaseof breathe if you are startled or accidentally unbalanced.

3. Stay alert to the entire scene. Do not become so engrossed in watching your feet thatyou do not notice other people an element entering the surroundings.

4. Use all joints for movement, emphasizing fluidity through the engagement of theankles, knees, and hips for stepping. Avoid the lazy and dangerous habit of stiffening

knees and swinging the entire leg from the hip.

5. Maintain your weight and balance on your grounded leg while you move the other leginto position to bear the weight. When absolute silence is a must, avoid distributing yourweight over both legs at the same time.

6. If practical, allow your hands to float lightly in front of and beside your torso, one armhigher and one arm lower, to detect possible obstructions before your committed bodyweight encounters them.

7. Pause and hold your position if you feel that you have accidentally caused too much

noise. Listen for signs that you were heard, such as the movement of others or theimmediate silencing of background noise following your slip. Sink a little lower on yourknees to physically relax that could normally jump into your body with alarm. Take adeep breathe and release it slowly to further relax. Continue your pause for as long as youfeel is necessary to regain composure and allow possible listeners to decide they did nothear anything after all.

8. Be as patient as possible. If speed of travel is not important, take as much time as youcan. Impatience and the resultant hasty movement that it encourages are the greatestdangers to the person who must move silently without detection.

9. Keep your movement appropriate to your surroundings. Do not go to greater lengthsthan necessary to conceal your movement, while at the same being aware of what othersentering the area may see if they cannot hear. Total silence may not be needed whenmoving through wooded or densely populated areas where scattered noise is a naturalpart of the environment. Also be aware that low profile crawling or sliding may be theonly way to move silently without being seen in some locations.


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- Understanding distance with the Bo ShurikenSECTION II4. Defenses Against Strikes and Kicks5. Defenses Against Grabbing Attacks6. Defenses Against Other Weapons

7. Defending Against Someone Throwing a Shuriken at YOU!

Chapter 1Introduction to World of the Ninja Star!This may not come as a huge surprise to you, but the number one request that Iget through my classes, seminars, and through my web site is for informationabout the study of weapons. And no other weapon, except perhaps the sword,inspires more mystery and curiosity than the shuriken or Ninja star.This book is a basic training manual designed to lead you into the foundationalskills for developing mastery with the "throwing star." It is one of many books,currently available, and yet to come, where I will be sharing my thirty-plus yearsof study, training and experience so that you can master these skills andincrease your own level of understanding, proficiency, and of course, safety.In the following pages and chapters, I'll be discussing not only how to use thisweapon in different situations and against a wide variety of attacks, but alsotopics like;

A history of the shuriken and its development.Myths and realities about the ninja star weapon.The proper steps for training if you really want to master this powerful weapon.

The different types of shuriken.More.


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Chapter 2Power in the Palm of Your Hand!The weapon, commonly called a "ninja star" is properly called a shuriken (pronounced "shoo-ree-kehn") in the Japanese language. As a weapon, it is notlimited to the Ninja Warriors of the tiny island nation, however.

The history of the throwing star can probably be traced back to the time whenman first picked up a rock or stick and threw it at his enemy or an animalattacker. Once he realized that items like this from his natural surroundings couldbe used as weapons, it wasn't long in the grand scheme of things before he wascreating his own, 'improved,' versions of rocks and sticks - weapons with muchgreater capacity to do damage.

A Lesson From HistoryAtop Togakure mountain (present-day Togakushi), in the ranges northwest ofNagano, Japan, there is a museum dedicated to the Ninja warriors of old. Everyyear I take students to Japan for training with my senior teachers and thegrandmaster of our art.

As a part of this trip, students are also lead on tours and day-trips to places, likeTogakushi, that are significant to the history of our martial lineages.


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In this little museum, students can see examples of:Some of the earliest shuriken prototypes.

Inevitably, they're always surprised to see that, contrary to the heavy,cumbersome, and overly ornate designs being sold as "martial toys" throughcatalogues and in supply houses today, many of the original shuriken of our Ninjaancestors were nothing more than chiseled stones or sharpen sticks tied tocreate star-like patterns.

Dispelling the MythsThis sudden realization brings home the lesson that, for the most part, shurikenwere NOT killing weapons. It's not to say that they could not knock someone outor puncture the flesh. But, the materials themselves, and the technology forcreating them, were not advanced enough to produce the same items that are

being sold today with the weight and surgical sharpness to cause greaterdamage.

Students suddenly realize that many of the myths and legends were just that -myths. However, we know that myths and legends usually have their basis infact. And the same is true about these weapons. In fact, it was in the ninja's bestinterest to allow myths and stories to persist, especially if they would cause theirenemies to fear them even more.

One story about the ninja star that is probably the most commonly talked abouttoday, is that ninja operatives dipped their throwing stars in poison.

Now, before I say anything about whether or not that's true, let's take a walkdown "common-sense" street, shall we? Let me ask you a couple of questions.


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First, how would the ninja carry such a weapon? If the pointed tips of the weaponwere dipped in a lethal, fast-acting poison, how would the ninja avoid beingaccidentally poked by his or her own weapon? I mean, after all, the shinobioperative was required to climb, roll, bend, and crawl to get to their objective.

What was the likelihood that they wouldn't inadvertently jab themselves throughtheir clothing?

Hmmm.... perhaps they could carry them in tough-skinned, leather pouches.Perhaps. But then... how would they be able to draw and throw the weapon at asecond's warning, should they have to? And speaking of drawing the weaponunder pressure...... What if they accidentally pricked a finger during the draw? See what I mean?The reality of the situation is more likely linked to the fact that......There was no cure for tetanus, or lockjaw, in the ancient world of the East orWest. All it took was a little rust, and you now had a weapon that could deliver a

much greater killing potential. But, fast acting? Hardly. After all, few things are asfast acting in our own modern world as the myths attributed to the poisoned ninjastar.

Other MythsThere are countless myths about the ninja, his skills, and weapons. Some of theother ones that I routinely encounter from intelligent, and well-meaningindividuals, and even martial arts teachers, include:

The shuriken was a killing weapon. Uh, no. Outside of an accidental cutacross a shallow artery causing a deeper than usual cut, the typical star, thrown

from a distance, does not have enough weight, momentum, or depth-potential topenetrate the body deeply enough to reach the life-sustaining organs.Even the idea that the point of the star could "penetrate the gateway to the brain"

the eye - and kill, is bull. The accuracy, timing (for the blade to meet the eyesocket of a "moving" adversary), and design of the weapon just do not allow forthis to happen.


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hold corners and such in place. The spike was driven through the hole in thecenter and then pounded at an angle across the plate to hold it in place. If amistake was made, with or without the plate, another one could be used to prythe nail-spike up and then slipped over the shank to pull it out of the wood.I know. Not as glamorous as the image of a black-clad ninja stalking around the

country-side, but neither is the sight of a country-side littered with the bodies ofstupid ninja who would have believed they could do what the creators of thesemyths suggest!

Common Uses of the Ninja Star

The truth is that the shuriken was a hand-held or thrown weapon used primarilyfor distracting, confusing, and unbalancing an adversary. And, in a time wheresuperstitions about gods and demons were common, as well as a rigid code fordoing any "thing" was in place, unconventional tactics born of unconventionalthinking was perfect for tipping the advantage in the Ninja's favor.

As a throwing tool, the shuriken could have been used to cut a sentry from adistance. From a hiding place near a gate the ninja wished to enter, the bladecould be thrown in such a way as to create a cut before spinning off anddisappearing. The guard, believing that he was being attacked by an invisibleswordsman and not wanting to take any chances, would run off to get help,leaving the area unattended.

The weapon could also be tossed or thrown from within a defensive situation in away and with the timing that would conceal it. The assailant, being cut or hit byan unseen weapon, is suddenly confused and open to a follow-up attack. Inaddition, the weapon could be used as a delivery device for carrying messagesor burning compounds for setting fires - something that was a constant threat in aculture where wood and paper were the primary building materials!

While we're at it, we should probably also get over the idea that the shuriken wassomething that was limited to just a ninja weapon. Sorry, just isnt so.


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There were many Samurai lineages throughout history, and individual warriorsthemselves, who employed the use of thrown blades as well. But, just as withany of the tactics, skills, and tools associated with the ninja... it's not so muchabout this or that being a Ninja "thing," as much as it is in the way the Ninjaemployed it . To be a Ninja is to think, outside-the-box of conventional thought,

understanding, and wisdom. It is a realm that, when actualized, allows thepractitioner a tremendous sense of freedom to operate and produce results in away that seems to be almost magical to everyone around them.

It is true that, since the lineages of Ninjutsu are older, and stem from an ageeven before the time of the people we have come to know as Samurai, that theynot only used the shuriken first, but developed it to a much higher degree thananyone else. This is true of the shuriken as much as it is of any other principle orconcept in their arsenal.

And this brings me to, what I believe to be, the greatest myth of all . This myth iseven stated right there in the name that most people give to the weapon:"throwing star."

In truth, the last thing that a good combatant wants to do in a violent situation isto throw away his weapon. This is just as true for weapons like the spear andknives, as it is for shuriken.And therein lies one of the weapon's greatest strengths...

To be concealed in the hand during punching and grabbing, and then brought into play at the perfect time to inflict greater damage to an opponent during defensive action!


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Of course the ninja had methods for throwing this powerful little weapon. But,they also had methods for throwing a staff, sword, and many others, too. Thatdoesn't mean that was their primary or favored tactic, though.

Going Beyond the Form

One of the major principles involved in mastering the shuriken is to go beyondthe form. In the art of Ninjutsu, all weapons can be categorized under fivegeneral classifications.

The ninja prefer to focus on principles and concepts over set-in-stone "forms."So, instead of trying to learn and list a whole set of similar weapons like longsword, short sword, ninja-to , knife, etc...

...We say "bladed." And so it goes with the remaining four classifications:Stick

Flexible Projectile, and...Combination

Understand?So, which category does the shuriken belong to?Careful. This could get tricky. Remember how I said the ninja learns to thinkoutside the box? Well, here's a good example of that in action.

While some would classify the shuriken as a "bladed" weapon, because it is a flatblade, at least in its hira "flat" or shaken 'wheel' form, others would say that it's

a projectile weapon because its thrown. But...is it limited to either of these?I would submit that it might even appear to be a combination weapon, as it hasmultiple purposes or characteristics combining more than one of the otherclasses. But is it this either?It's not a combination weapon in the sense that a yari ("spear") or naginata ("halberd") is. Each of these is a bladed weapon attached to a stick or staff. Andit's not like the kyoketsu-shoge (pronounced 'kyoh-ketsoo-show-gay') or kusari- gama ('koo-sah-reegah-mah') "chain & sickle" weapon.

See. It depends on how you view it. And with the right perspective, the shuriken

is at the same time, part of any of these classifications, and yet free of beinglimited by any of them as well. Truly a Ninja's weapon!Do you see where I'm going with this? If you do, then you already see that this isnot just another book about...Martial artsNinja, or...Weapons


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It's a whole lot more. And, if you look closely at the lessons being conveyed, you just might find the hidden key to living and thinking like a Ninja, each and everyday of your life - in everything you do!

In upcoming chapters, we'll take a look at, not only the different types of throwing

methods, but also at some of the ways that the ninja-magician can use theshuriken as a hand-held weapon to confuse, damage, and defeat his enemy.You'll find techniques and tactics against punches, kicks, grabs, and weaponattacks that will definitely help you to break free from the limited thinking causedby these and other myths.

But for now, let's start our training by laying a proper foundation for defending likea master warrior...

Chapter 3

Mastering the Basics of the Ninja's ShurikenBefore we get started into the physical training and skills with the shurikenweapon, it's important that we get a handle on just exactly what a shuriken is. Wetalked a little bit about this in the previous chapter, especially when we dispelledsome of the myths surrounding this mysterious little piece of ninja hardware.The word shuriken is made up of three syllables, and when written using Sino-Japanese kanji characters, we see that it isbroken down into:

SHU = "hand"RI = "hidden", and...KEN = "blade"Which gives us the meaning of a 'bladeconcealed in/by the hand.' But, knowing what wedo about the earliest forms of this weapon, we also know that this name probablycame later in history - with the concept of a "blade." And, you'll notice that,nowhere in the name are the words or concepts of "star," or "throwing."There is, however, a very similar word, shiriken (pronounced, shee-ree-ken)that developed as a method for throwing a knife or short sword. In this case, thekanji for ri (ree) is that of flipped or reversed, etc. In this case the sword wasflipped or held in reverse fashion with the hand on the blade and the butt-end

pointing at the enemy. The weapon was then thrown at the adversary for a kill.Ill be making mention several times throughout the book, about the tendency ofsome to superimpose their own assumptions about what something means. Tomany English speakers, whose ears are not tuned to Japanese pronunciationand linguistics, shuriken and shiriken can sound identical. In some cases, itsmerely poor research by one teacher that gets passed along as the gospel forall future followers to believe in.


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This kind of thing, if extended globally, can be seen in many of the lessons andideas passed down from our Japanese warrior ancestors. Modern-day martialartists have long been mistranslating many concepts out of a basic ignorance ofhow the Japanese saw a particular thing in the days, years, and centuries beforethe landing of Admiral Perry and the introduction of Western things into the tiny

island-nation.Let me just finish by adding that, the shuriken are not the only things beingmisunderstood and re-translated with someones ideas. We can begin with thebasics themselves. And, when something as simple as the word koshi, usuallytranslated as hip in the modern context, is encountered in a historical techniquedescription on a scroll, can be end up being very different when seen through theeyes of a 14th or 16 th century writer, you start to understand just how big of aproblem we could be facing.That being said, lets move on to...

Types of Shuriken

Contrary to popular belief, there are actually several types, or forms of shuriken.Whenever I point this out, many of my students readily jump to the conclusionthat Im talking about how many points the "stars" have. When, in fact, I'm nottalking about that at all.What I mean is that there are two basic types of shuriken. If we can drop theconcept or notion the weapon being a "star" at all for the moment, and rememberthat the definition of the word "shuriken' doesn't translate to "star" anywherewithin it, we can make progress. That's because the star-shaped weapon that ismost familiar to both martial artists and non-practitioner's alike is only one form ofthe weapon - regardless of the number of points. After all, a "star" is a star.

The two types of shuriken are the;Hira-shuriken (aka Shaken ) - flat, wheel blade, and the...


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Bo-shuriken - "stick" or spike

Each type had many names associated with them. The names were either...

Lineage-specific , as with the number of points on a hira-shuriken

Based on the object the weapon was made from (i.e. kugi-gata nail-form,hari-gata needle-form, etc., or...

Based on the actual object that was thrown (i.e. kunai-gata utility-tool-form,kankyuto-gata piercing-tool (for leatherwork and armor-making) form, etc.

As the last class points out, the idea was to learn the concept so that you coulduse whatever was at hand. Other items that were thrown were things like thekogai ornamental hair pin used by Japanese ladies, and hashi chopsticks.Though there were different forms and lineage-specific details for using theseweapons, like all true budo tactics, there are common principles and conceptsthat are universal for each type of shuriken - wheel or star shaped, or the stickof leaf form.

Let's briefly take a look at each major type.

The Hira-Shuriken

This version of the weapon is indeed the star-like pattern you're probably mostfamiliar with. Also called a shaken or "wheel-blade", this form was usuallyconstructed from very thin plates of iron with a various number of pointsaccording to the ryu-ha or school.Within the Togakure Ninja school that I have been taught, there are typicallythree and four pointed versions, although there can be more.The point (so-to-speak) of having fewer tips was precisely to allow the Ninja tohold the weapon in special ways to give that added something to punches and


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hand techniques when fighting at close-quarters. The 4-pointed version is calleda "senban" shuriken in the Togakure school. And, as I pointed out above, theword senban means "washer" in Japanese, and points directly to the disguiseand impersonation skills of the ninja. Of course, in their original form, the hira- shuriken of yesterday look very different from the pretty little toy "stars" being

peddled in martial arts supply stores here is the West.

The Bo ShurikenThis version of the shuriken weapon, unlike the "star" or "wheel" form, is oftenoverlooked by most, as it doesn't fit the conventional throwing-star model. In fact,theyre often considered by many to be more in the category of throwing knivesthan shuriken. This, of course, is not the case.Bo shuriken are, just as the name implies, straight, stick-like, spikes. They canhave either one or both ends ground to a point. And, while most of thoseavailable today possess a round shank, it's more likely that the models of ancienttimes were more square and slab-like. Since they would have been cut from thick

plates of heated metal, and the lathe technology for metalworking was notprevalent, it's far more likely that this is true.Bo shuriken also have several methods for throwing, depending on whether ornot the Ninja wanted the spike to fly straight into its target, or turn end-over-endto get there.But, with either the throw, the grip was the same, using a unique positioning ofthe fingers that form a channel that the bar can slide through and maintain itsintended trajectory.

Modern equivalentsAgain, we want to get out of the limited thinking that cages the minds of the

average person if we're to master the skills and what it means to be a Ninja. Justas with our shinobi ancestors, the law frowns on the use and even possession ofthese weapons in many places around the world. No matter though. Because,

just as authorities never outlaw pens, umbrellas, brooms, and closet dowel rodsfor hanging our clothes and therefore they will never take 'stick" weapons awayfrom us (even if they outlaw every martial arts weapon in the book!). The samegoes for such items as ashtrays, saucers, cell phones, and other itemsresembling the model of the hira-shuirken, they can never take away all of thethings around us that can be employed like a shuriken without radically changinglife as we know it.

Get the idea?Just as learning how to use the Kubotan: self-defense keychain allows you toemploy the same tactics, skills, and techniques with a pen, ruler, or other small,hand-held item, learning to use the shuriken literally multiplies what you have at-hand to use in your own defense - a hundred-fold, if not more!!!


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Im always telling my students: Go to Lowes or any hardware store. Walk in, go to the garden and other tool sections, and look at all the way cool martial arts weapons!

The point here is that, if youre going to get past the usual mindset that limitsmost martial artists and potential warriors, youre going to have to see beyondthe names, conventional titles, and specific forms of things.But hey...that's what training is for!

You're not going to learn things like that sitting on your duff behind a computerscreen...just reading about how it's done!

Holding the Weapon for Maximum Effect!

Basic GripsAs a means of getting you started, I've selected a few of the most common gripsthat I teach my students when presenting this material. Once you becomeproficient in these (please note that I didn't say... "After you learn these" ), thenyou can start adding more or experimenting with some of your own ideas. But, becareful with the "I made it up myself" routine. Unless you have the experience ofusing this, or any skill, under duress, when a blood-thirsty attacker is putting thepressure on you, you can't be sure if your home made technique is going to workor not. And learning that it really doesn't in a life-or-death situation is not my ideaof a good time.

Holding the Hira-Shuriken for hand-held DefenseWhen holding the standard, 4-point shuriken for hand-to-hand combat (it's notrecommended to try to hold a star with more than four points), it's important tomake sure that the weapon you're using is either not sharpened at all, or is onlysharpened at the tips.

That brings up another myth about the throwing star. And that is that it has to besharpened from tip to center along the blades.


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Maybe it looks more lethal that way, I don't know. But again, theres a problemwith this. First, the entire bladed section isn't going to touch the target andtherefore doesn't need to be sharpened. The shuriken that I have made for mystudents are from an original pattern. These shuriken are so thin that they cutextremely well and don't have to be sharpened at all!

The other, more critical problem is that...If your star is sharpened too much, youcan't hold it for hand-to-hand combat and therefore seriously limit its uses. Inother words, you HAVE to violate the first principle of combat and force yourselfto...throw your weapon away!

Now... how smart is that? Would a real ninja box themselves in like this?No. Of course not!Take a look at the picture of the hira-shuriken gripped for hand-held usage.Notice the finger placement? This is very important as this position allows for themost flexibility, strength, and adaptability when using the weapon in-close.

From this grip, we can...

...Punch directly into a target...


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...Execute a clubbing, parrying, counterstrike to an incoming limb...

...Employ hooking, trapping strikes and cuts to hidden targets...

...Hook onto soft, exposed parts of the assailant's body or clothing (like a claw)with the bottom point,


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And...We can also flip the weapon over from hand-held...

1 2...To throwing position...3

4...And back again...


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1 2...To hand-held position...

3 4... In one quick, deft motion!

5


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Practice the maneuver until you can do it with your eyes closed - while moving and without cramping your hand or dropping the weapon!There you go. One grip...5 or more uses...just to get you started!

Holding the Bo-Shuriken for Hand-to-Hand CombatDue to it's simple shape, the bo-shuriken's use is pretty self-explanatory. Take alook at the pictures to see the fore and reverse grips for the weapon. For those ofyou who have properly trained with a knife, the answer is "yes," the thumbbelongs along the shaft of the weapon. Unlike the knife, with a much larger griparea, using the thumb as shown here weakens the grip. Not so with the bo-shuriken. Its slim design requires some reinforcement to increase leverage andstrength during pressure point and stabbing attacks with the weapon.

(Fore Grip)The reverse grip is easy to hide when the arms are hanging naturally at yoursides. In addition to stabbing, this position makes it possible to hook, grab, andcontrol parts of the assailants body while other weapons or tactics are beingused.

(Reverse Grip)

Holding the Hira Shuriken for Throwing


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Again, the hira, or star-wheel version of the shuriken, has two basic grips - eachgrip matching an intended throwing method. In keeping with the Ninja's principleof naturalness" and doing that which will produce the results we want in theeasiest way possible, we want to hold the shuriken star so that our grip andextending arm will naturally produce a throw that will do what we want.The two most common intentions when throwing a star-shuriken is to either:1. Stick it in something , or...2. Have it cut the target and spin away .I know that, for most, the idea of getting a throwing star to stick into its intendedtarget really gets their blood pumping. Watching my students get frustratedbecause their shuriken hit the exact spot on a target but failed to stick, is acommon occurrence in the dojo ("training hall"). But, let me ask you......What would happen to a ninja in 16th century Japan who threw a star at aSamurai dressed in wooden or at the very least, thick material-based armor?Nothing would be more surprising than to have your assailant pull the weaponfrom his armor (or body), and throw it BACK AT YOU! And besides, against a Samurai in full armor, the only exposed places to targetwould be the slight opening between the top of the men "face plate" and the frontrim or visor of the kabuto "helmet.," the hands, and the feet (remember, it was asandal-based society).

To get an idea about the size of these targets, look at these rectangle blocks.Andeven at a distance of 3 to 6 feet, these targets, especially when moving,can be VERY difficult to hit.We'll talk more about the difference between throwing at a stationary target andactually trying to hit a moving adversary in the heat of a fight in the next sectionon throwing the shuriken.For now though, just like I teach in my combat handgun courses, it's important tounderstand the effect that our grip and posture has on keeping a weapon ontarget when we're under pressure.Take a look at the two grips pictured next.


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Holding the Bo-Shuriken for ThrowingUnlike the usual grip used by most knife throwers, the grip used for launching thebo-shuriken is unique. The hand is formed in a way that uses the fingers tocreate a channel that the weapon sits in. The channel also acts as a guide, much

like the barrel of a gun, to give greater control as the spike leaves the hand on it'sway to the target.Even though it has, like the star, two throwing methods, the grip for the bo-shuriken doesn't change.The basic grip for the spike-like bo-shuriken

(Point forward)

(Point backward)

In Conclusion...Remember that what I'm presenting here is one way to do these things. I believeit is the right way, not just because it's what my teachers taught me,but...because Ive tried other methods and found that they were not in alignmentwith the Ninja's principle of naturalness. In other words, after trying manydifferent ways, these methods allow me to produce the results I want with theleast amount of energy, power, and wear-and-tear!


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However...If you find that another method works for you and you can produce thesame results with the same or less effort, then by all means...USE IT!

Just make sure you're being honest with yourself and not just selecting a methodbecause it's what you learned first, it's fancy, or it's a favorite.

That being said, and now that we've looked at how to hold the weapon, let'smove on to...

Throwing PosturesJust as important as your grip, is the posture from which you use to launch theshuriken. And while a master practitioner should be able to throw from just aboutany position he or she finds herself, we have to begin somewhere, don't we.The following pictures show the basic bladed stance for launching the hira-shuriken using both a horizontal "Frisbee-like" throw, and an overhand "baseball-like" throw.

Please note that I used the terms " Frisbee " and " baseball " to give you areference point that you're familiar with, NOT as a description of how to actuallythrow the weapon.For Vertical, Overhand Throwing

For Horizontal Throwing


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Understanding distance with the Bo-ShurikenOne of the important principles that you'll need to understand for effectively usingthe bo-shuriken is that of distance. Because the spike doesn't have the benefit ofmultiple blades that radiate out from center, like the "star" weapon, you'll need tobe able to calculate the rotation of the weapon to insure that the point meets thetarget at the right time.As a side note, remember that you're throwing a piece of metal at someone in theheat of a fight. Can you imagine being hit in the face, or anywhere on your body,out of nowhere...with a piece of metal?!

The point is, even if you don't make the weapon stick into the target, rememberthe important thing...you HIT the target with a solid object! And, unless yourefighting the Terminator, he WILL respond!

As a means for practicing to get to know the flight dynamics of the bo-shuriken, agood rule of thumb is that the weapon will make a half-turn about every three feetit travels to the target. This is assuming, of course, that you're using the throwingmethod I describe here.

Throwing for Accuracy and PowerThe key to throwing the Ninja star or spike with precision and enough power todo the job, lies in the Ninja's use of the body in motion. The ninja's Taijutsu "bodyart" of relaxed, flowing, movements that gets the body weight fully behind theweapon is the key. Regardless of whether we're delivering a punch, kick, cuttingwith a sword, or throwing the shuriken, the principle is the same.

If you're unfamiliar with Taijutsu, or the ninja's unarmed fighting style, thefollowing description may help. But, remember that nothing beats actualexperience with a master teacher.


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Look at these pictures to get an idea of the flow inherent in the movement oflaunching the throwing star weapon at

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Togakure Ryu Complete