A ninja's arsenal, like their tools in general, was usually hidden from view and consisted of items that were as common as possible to avoid detection. Items like rope, knives and shuriken may have been used. In many cases these ninja weapons of a ninja were designed to be used in conjunction with other weapons to create situations where one strike could dispose of an opponent or overthrow a military force. The original Japanese meaning for the word for "ninja" actually translates as "to sneak up on someone". This implies that stealth would not only be an integral part of a ninja's training but also their active mobility around an area. Ninja Arsenal: Minimal and Adaptable. A ninja's arsenal was designed to be both minimal and adaptable. Minimal because it was assumed that a ninja would not be carrying any large items with him in the field, and adaptable because the ninja was supposed to be able to react quickly in a given situation. A ball of string, rope or rope coiled into a noose might have been used to strangle an opponent, while other tools like small knives could be used to disarm an enemy soldier. Small shuriken blades were often carried on all ninja missions as a means of defense or signaling devices in case they were captured or separated from their party. · Throwing Stars (Shuriken) Throwing Stars are an interesting blade that has many uses. They can be used for throwing or cutting. They are usually one solid piece of metal folded in half for strength and then shaped into a star by bending the points outwards. The tips of stars can be forged to create a point, or they may come with a point ready to throw. One such type of star is called the "Shuriken". A good throw is quick, smooth, and usually underhanded. It is important to practice throwing a variety of items. To begin, hold the star in your throwing hand, with your arm straight and out to one side. Tuck your thumb in and make sure that the points are facing away from you. When throwing an overhand star you may need to tuck two or three fingers under the star for better grip and accuracy. When ready to throw, bring it behind your head and then whip it forward as if snapping your fingers. Try not to give too much of a wrist action when throwing as this could cause the star to curve instead of going straight towards its target; try snapping your wrist only once at the very end of throw. · Katana There is a variety of different types of swords, but one popular option is the katana. The katana originated in Japan as a variant of the farming sword. Its curved blade gave it an advantage over other ninja weapons and armor with its ability to quickly decapitate an opponent (especially in one strike), while at the same time being more practical for cutting plants, brush, and trees, which made it ideal for tasks such as clearing fields and woodlands. The name "Katana" can be translated to mean "the way of the warrior," which further defines this type of sword. Through constant use, eventually these swords became highly polished despite not having been constructed primarily with that type in mind. · Kunai Japanese ninjas had a peculiar fascination with knives. They were deadly, they were stealthy, and they required no real training to use. It's not surprising that ninjas would be drawn to the kunai: the three-pronged throwing blades that can pierce through flesh like butter and usually caused fatal injury when thrown correctly. The word "kunai" as we know it today is actually a shortened form of the word "kunaisou." The actual root word for this is kunaiji; which means "three pronged needle." Apparently, these ninja weapons have existed since at least 1603 when ninja master Kishin Shinobi used them during the Shimabara Rebellion in Japan. · Nunchucks Nunchucks are a martial arts weapon that had been primarily utilized by members of the Japanese police force before being introduced to the general public via Bruce Lee's martial arts film "The Way of the Dragon". They consist of two sticks connected at one end by a rope, cord, or chain. One stick is held with two hands while the other stick is swung in various patterns. The nunchuck can be used as an impact weapon in much the same manner as other striking weapons such as knuckles, karate chops and punches. Nunchucks are primarily made from hardwoods or metal tubing, but can also have foam grips for protecting the hand. · Naginata The Naginata is a Japanese polearm that was originally used by the samurai. It consisted of a straight wooden pole approximately 2.5 meters long with a curved blade at each end and relatively small in size (between 0.9 to 1 meter). The naginata was traditionally made of bamboo or hardwood; however, it can also be constructed with metal or plastic due to recent innovations in its design. The Naginata is usually used as either an offensive or defensive ninja weapons, but some martial arts styles use it primarily as a training tool for developing balance and flexibility skills, such as taijiquan or Kahil Gibran dance-inspired movements such as those found in bayadère dancing. The popularity of Ninjas never wanes! Ninjas are always on the rise in popularity, but one thing that they were always pretty good at was making weapons. These weapons can be used to attack an enemy or fend off attacks from a crowd, so they are very important in a Ninja's arsenal. There are many types of ninja weapons, some more well-known than others, but all of them are important in the art of Ninjutsu. The first type of weapon that comes to mind when thinking about ninja weapons is probably the shuriken. Most martial arts that teach throwing techniques usually incorporate this kind of weapon into their training, simply because it is useful and effective. There are also a lot of weapons that you wouldn't expect ninjas to have, like blowguns. However, they were a very popular choice for a few reasons: they're easy to use without being too conspicuous and can be quiet enough so that ninja won't have to worry about alerting anyone who might be nearby.
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