The essence of all Martial Arts and military strategies is self protection and the prevention of danger. Ninjutsu epitomizes the fullest concept of self-protection through martial training in that the Ninja art deals with the protection of not only the physical body, but the mind and spirit as well.

THE ESSENCE OF NINJUTSU

-Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi, Soke, 34th Grandmaster

I believe that Ninpo, the higher order of Ninjutsu, should be offered to the world as a guiding influence for all martial artists. The physical and spiritual survival methods eventually immortalized by Japan’s ninjas were, in fact, one of the sources of Japanese martial arts.

Without complete and total training in all aspects of the combative arts, today’s martial artist cannot hope to progress any further than mere proficiency in the limited set of muscular skills that make up his or her training system. Personal enlightenment can only come about through total immersion in the martial traditions as a way of living.

By experiencing the confrontation of danger, the transcendence of fear, injury, or death, and a working knowledge of personal powers and limitations, the practitioner of Ninjutsu can gain the strength and invincibility that permit enjoyment of the flowers moving in the wind, appreciation of the love of others, and contentment with the presence of peace in society.

The attainment of this enlightenment is characterized by the development of jihi no kokoro, or “benevolent heart”. Born of the insight attained from repeated exposure to the very brink between life and death, Ninpo’s (the life philosophy of the ninja) benevolent heart is the key to finding harmony and understanding in the realms of the spiritual and natural material worlds.

.