Please answer this if you know it. For you jokers out there- your funny but I want strait answers this time.
Hi there
Saldy i agree the internet is a bad place for ninjutsu or any martial art for that matter. The internet is a useful tool for finding clubs etc but thats about it. Like all arts its better to find a club and start training before you start buying books, dvds etc. Otherwise how do you know what to buy and whats ledgit?
As for books and dvds only buy Hatsumi (Bujinkan), Manaka (Jinenkan) and Tanemura (genbukan) stuff and give the rest a miss.
Freebee wise forget it. Plus youtube is cack!
Books that are worth a look.
Unarmed Fighting Techniques of the Samurai ( A school kata book)
The Way of the Ninja: Secret Techniques (a School kata book)
Japanese Sword Fighting: Secrets of the Samurai (Kuki sword kata)
Advanced Stick Fighting (kuki bo and jo)
Stick Fighting: Techniques of Self-Defense (kuki hanbo)
Ninjutsu: History and Tradition ( A basic history book)
Understand? Good. Play!–Words of Consequence (philosophy)
All the above contain proper school stuff!
As for DVDS
Any of the quest series that hatsumi puts out and Jinenkan stuff is very good along with tanemura's dvds. Theres a lot out there so ask an instructor which to get first. I would recommend getting the kobudo no kihon dvd by hatsumi as a good starting point.
Forget about getting anyone elses stuff for the time being until you at least know what you are looking for. Stephen Hayes stuff is just silly.
Again without prior knowledge the books and dvds wont give you the answers! You need to be actively training in order to get anything from them. Theres no such thing as A,B,C when it comes to learning a martial art!
If in doubt find a club, start training and ask your shidoshi what they recommend.
Before i forget the best online newsletters/mag site is
http://www.bujinmag.com/index2.htm
but you have to subscribe inorder to receive any news letters.
Theres some real crap out there regarding this art. And some rather silly people to go along with it!
Its essential to find a registered club and train with the right people that that follow the school kata and train in good honest taijutsu!
Thats the way it should be.
If youre expecting to find black masks, throwing stars etc then you will be very disapointed! That's best left for the turtles!
If youre new to taijutsu i would also recommend getting the shinobi winds dvd. It will give you a good idea of what practitioners of this art are doing.
I did promise myself i wouldnt answer anymore ninja questions on yahoo answers but a friend of mine emailed this question to me. Better make this my last one then?
Best wishes
idai
