I respect all arts. I have trained in MMA. I do know grappling and submission too. I dont confess to saying ninjutsu is the best. Not at all. But i learned one thing. Never underestimate your opponents. The first rule to combat. Thats where alot people make their mistake. I hope alot people understand this. Its important in anything in life. Not just fighting. Much respect and honor to all.
Ninja were spies, scouts, saboteurs, and assassins. They didn't have any specific gear. They certainly didn't carry around anything that would make someone say "Hey... that guy is a Ninja!" Chances are they carried Wakizashi and/or Tanto. Something they could conceal. And they didn't dress in black Gi with masks on. That also would be a dead give away. They wore street clothes so they could blend in. A modern day "Ninja" wouldn't be wearing a Gi and Mask. They'd be wearing a UPS uniform to gain easy access.
Ninja's were spies, they had to blend in. Using a straight sword is like wearing a T-shirt that reads, "Ninja's R' Us". One can also use a short sword in a regular sheath, it allows deceptively faster draw and the trade off of a shorter blade.
Hey! Not attempting to be disrespectful at all. You have accidentally provided misinformation. The sword known as a Ninjato is fictional and has no history with the Edo period. You are correct that a depiction of such sword often was seen in Japanese theatre and woodblock prints. Historically, the square tsuba (mokko gatta or aori gatta [handguard]) has been used throughout the different eras of Japan and are even used today. The average Shinobi or a person working in that capacity would wear a sword with the respective dimensions for the area(s) they are operating. I would dead wrong if I were to say they didn't use a wakizashi. But they did, paired with their main katana. Also it was custom to wear only a wakizashi or tanto while indoors. The tsuka of a wakizashi is normally long enough to be held with one hand. The alleged real sword of the Shinobi is called a ko-katana or chisa. The blade / nagasa is longer than a wakizashi but shorter than a katana. The tsuka is designed to be held with both hands. Now I'm sure there are swords that have been custom made to specifications of the person that would be considered to be unorthodox, but they are the minority. Again no disrespect intended, I'm just a guy who has researched nihonto as a hobby and a student of Marobashi Shinkage Ryu
The history of the ninja is a mystery to this day. The truth of the swords is that there were straight blade swords made. But they still used wakizashi versions of the katana with a square suba.Some used were curve type of blade too. But shorter, because of a faster draw than a longer katana.
As a modern day, real world tactician, I see several advantages of the straight blade. One in particular really stands out - If I am up close...room to room type of environment, slashes are less effective in general, stabbing movements would be more far more efficient and render that most lethal outcomes. If I'm in an all out battle like the type of battle the Samurai trained for - slashing off a leg takes a soldier out of the fight...so longer swords and slashes would have there place, but for an assassin - it would be a total failure. Stabs ensure maximum penetration into body vitals. So when I see a straight blade about the length of the wakizashi - I see the perfect Assasin tool...Now for the square tsuba argument. If I do get in a battle with an opponent with longer reach, a larger hand guard would be a huge help. It would also assist in bringing more weight near the handle which would help in weapon retention when blocking larger, heavier weapons. I've read both sides of the debate and honestly the shorter straight blade just makes sense given the covert cqb type of work the ninja would have been doing.
Ninja were, ideally, not doing much fighting, period; espionage was their bag. And when they did fight, they would generally be using the same weapons as any other bushi, because there did not tend to be much in the way of specialized ninja martial arts. As for CQB, bushi carried a tanto (some of which had pretty long blades... maybe 12"), which were straight (or nearly straight), and had a point and cross section optimized for stabbing. We are used to thinking of samurai carrying a long katana and a wakizashi, but prior to and in the beginning of the Edo period, a katana and a tanto would have been the most common arrangement; that tanto would be used indoors (possibly in concert with something else, like a tessen), and the long sword would be used outdoors. 👍👍
Sword was a very secondary weapon on japanese battlefields. The main weapon for close combat was the spear. Straight ninjato weren't a thing either, as it would have been selling you were a ninja right away, would require to be smithed so, etc.
A bit of information to expand on this. Ninja wearing black and using straight swords was made fashionable through kabuki theatre. The depiction is believed to be accurate in one particular way. The straight sword would have been used by mountain clans because they would have been made from the earlier, pre iron era Japan age swords called chokutō (mentioned above,) a Korean sword often imported and copied in earlier eras. Normally katana were seen as a status symbol and were usually highly personalized. This made them hard to let go of in a pinch unlike the aging, broken down chokutō left over from a time long past. They would have been easier to get for the mountain peasants and more importantly, easier to let go of because they were so aged and of a basically poor quality compared to modern swords of the time. This was fine because they did not really fight if they could help it. If they carried a sword, it would be unimportant and only used as a last resort. Ninjas were spies and covert operatives, not warriors.
Either way a straight sword is still better for indoor close combat and launching as a spear. I always say the ninjato is the sword ninja would've used if it had been accessible to them.
Interesting video. I agree with you, that the ninja would of most definitely used the wakizashi. But, I do believe the ninjato is a real historical sword, that would of been used by ninja, in spite of the lack of physical evidence. I've come to that conclusion based on the design of it. Part of the reason for it's design, was for climbing walls. The saya is pointed at the bottom, so it can be stuck into the ground for stability. The blade is straight, which is also useful for stability. A curved blade wouldn't provide that. The large square tsuba would have been used by stepping up onto it, well the sword was leaned against the wall. After the shinobi got on top of the wall, he would retrieve the sword with the sageo. The ninjato blade was shorter, so it could be worn on the back, drawn quicker, & used it tighter spaces. Granted, it's not as short as the wakizashi, but it's still short enough to fulfill that function. I think another purpose of the straight blade, was so that it could be used in more of a stabbing motion, than in a slashing motion, within a tighter space. Having said all that, I cannot believe, that somebody would have thought of a sword with that design, well writing a fiction story. It doesn't makes sense to me.
So you came to a conclusion without evidence....didn't ninja have super farts that knocked out their opponents without touching them? I came to this conclusion looking at a ninjas butt hole.... ridiculous assertions...
@@foreignwarren7361 , up until now there exists no evidence whatsoever that proves that the Ninja did not use deadly straight blades. Neither is their any evidence that proves that Ninja were forbidden to use them. Those who came up with these fake, made up rules have spread their own fairy tales and fantasies but have got no proof. Ninja work in silence and by stealth, therefore such evidence will never be found! There is no evidence that Ninja did not use straight blades. There were no video cameras 500 years ago recording Ninja missions at night. However, l believe that Ninja schools of Koga Ryu Grandmaster Jinichi Kawakami and also of Koga Grand master Ronald Duncan are correct and true because their techniques are so perfect and deadly. They use the Ninja-to and teach its deadily techniques. They are true Ninja who were taught by true Ninja who came before them.
@@unknown_amazing_chap4480 lol there is no such things as ninjas that's all Hollywood BS... What you call Ninjas were just Shinobi which were just spies... No black hoods and an army of weapons.
@1101 Moskva lol they did not wear black outfits on a daily basis like in the movies, they would have stuck out like sore thumbs, thats Hollywood bs...they disguised themselves like you say and I knew the rest of your post regarding weapons etc.
There is zero evidence that ninja ever used these swords in the days ninja functioned. They are still awesome and have been associated for so long that they hold the image of the ninja but there is no specific sword ninja used. Technically a ninja would have used whatever sword was common wherever they were. Ninja blended in so if everyone had a curved katana and you walked up with a ninjato you would stand out instantly. Ninja looked like everyone they needed to blend in with and they carried the same weapons. It would have been more common for a ninja to carry a wakizashi than what we now call a ninjato.
Generaly it is true. But in Japan I have seen in a few castles expositions of historical weapons and also very few strait swords with rectangular tsuba, described as Ninja's swords
What is the difference between a (real) samurai and a make-believe one? Is it a kimono? Or a couple of swords tucked behind his belt one can impressively wield with skill and precision? No. A real samurai is someone who has a master and whose orders he fulfils without doubt or question. At least this is what we learn from the samurai code, a book that describes and prescribes what a samurai is and is not to be and that was written well into the more peaceful times. The reality, however, was much more complex, marked not only by valour and honour, but also but not infrequent betrayal and side-swapping. A real ninja is, among other things, someon skilled in making others believe he is not a ninja. This is the most important rule. Besides, a real ninja is someone who is loyal to his clan and whose orders he fulfils without question. Should it have been otherwise, should there have been shinobis plagued by scruples and haunted by moral dilemmas, the days of their clan would been numbered and their traces would have been wiped from the pages of history. This is the most important thing that sets today's ninja wannabes from the real ones. A useful attempt to understand the essence of the ninja art is to try to put them into the social context of their days and time and to analyse this context.
My question is where this research came from. A wakizashi is also a curved blade which is built for slashing yet slashing would not have been practical for close spaces with ninjas. Ninjas werent meant to fight, if they fought they were terrible ninja and meant they had gotten caught and had to defend. And either way they wouldve ran first as their entire purpose was retrieve information and deliver it back which meant they had to survive at all costs. Ningu (ninja weapons) also always had multiple uses yet a wakizashi only has one, to fight, which was previously established as not being the main point of ninja, meanwhile, a ninjato (straight blade) had more practical uses with the saya and tsuba as well as the straight blade for stabbing.
Yes I agree with you but It was normal wakitashi not the one you have there , why do I say this apart from assassination what other jobs did Ninjas do , there most important was to act as spyes no hold on to that thought . What sword could a normal none Samurai person including a Foreigner carry around for self defence as he travels around Japn to protect himself from bandits that's right its the wakitashi so a Ninja acting a travelling tradesman buisneman would not look out of place carring a normal Wakitashi he would draw attention to himself if he carried a straight sword or a Katana but a staff spier or Wakitashi he mite get a look but not stopped
Neither of those swords are real. Please learn your facts. It's not a " scrabbard" it's a Says ( scabbard). 2nd the ninja would have used a wakizashi length sword but in a katana length Saya. That ( hollywood) ninjato is a cheap wall hanger too. Bottom line, please learn your facts before trying to educate. Sending positive vibes and wish you a great day
Old Chinese and Korean mass production swords. Cheap no blacksmith name no problem to just ditch it. Besides spies and saboteurs don't wanna get into fights.
I admire the way the ninja come up with ingenius tools and weapons. Clever.
I respect all arts. I have trained in MMA. I do know grappling and submission too. I dont confess to saying ninjutsu is the best. Not at all. But i learned one thing. Never underestimate your opponents. The first rule to combat. Thats where alot people make their mistake. I hope alot people understand this. Its important in anything in life. Not just fighting. Much respect and honor to all.
Many thanks for the video. Much appreciated.
Ninja were spies, scouts, saboteurs, and assassins. They didn't have any specific gear. They certainly didn't carry around anything that would make someone say "Hey... that guy is a Ninja!" Chances are they carried Wakizashi and/or Tanto. Something they could conceal. And they didn't dress in black Gi with masks on. That also would be a dead give away. They wore street clothes so they could blend in. A modern day "Ninja" wouldn't be wearing a Gi and Mask. They'd be wearing a UPS uniform to gain easy access.
Ninja's were spies, they had to blend in. Using a straight sword is like wearing a T-shirt that reads, "Ninja's R' Us". One can also use a short sword in a regular sheath, it allows deceptively faster draw and the trade off of a shorter blade.
"Shadow Hawk, Your tea's ready"
"Not now mum I'm doing a video"
Hey! Not attempting to be disrespectful at all.
You have accidentally provided misinformation. The sword known as a Ninjato is fictional and has no history with the Edo period. You are correct that a depiction of such sword often was seen in Japanese theatre and woodblock prints.
Historically, the square tsuba (mokko gatta or aori gatta [handguard]) has been used throughout the different eras of Japan and are even used today.
The average Shinobi or a person working in that capacity would wear a sword with the respective dimensions for the area(s) they are operating. I would dead wrong if I were to say they didn't use a wakizashi. But they did, paired with their main katana.
Also it was custom to wear only a wakizashi or tanto while indoors.
The tsuka of a wakizashi is normally long enough to be held with one hand.
The alleged real sword of the Shinobi is called a ko-katana or chisa. The blade / nagasa is longer than a wakizashi but shorter than a katana. The tsuka is designed to be held with both hands.
Now I'm sure there are swords that have been custom made to specifications of the person that would be considered to be unorthodox, but they are the minority. Again no disrespect intended, I'm just a guy who has researched nihonto as a hobby and a student of Marobashi Shinkage Ryu
Very well put. Very educational. You taught me something good. Thank u for sharing.
The history of the ninja is a mystery to this day. The truth of the swords is that there were straight blade swords made. But they still used wakizashi versions of the katana with a square suba.Some used were curve type of blade too. But shorter, because of a faster draw than a longer katana.
As a modern day, real world tactician, I see several advantages of the straight blade. One in particular really stands out - If I am up close...room to room type of environment, slashes are less effective in general, stabbing movements would be more far more efficient and render that most lethal outcomes. If I'm in an all out battle like the type of battle the Samurai trained for - slashing off a leg takes a soldier out of the fight...so longer swords and slashes would have there place, but for an assassin - it would be a total failure. Stabs ensure maximum penetration into body vitals. So when I see a straight blade about the length of the wakizashi - I see the perfect Assasin tool...Now for the square tsuba argument. If I do get in a battle with an opponent with longer reach, a larger hand guard would be a huge help. It would also assist in bringing more weight near the handle which would help in weapon retention when blocking larger, heavier weapons.
I've read both sides of the debate and honestly the shorter straight blade just makes sense given the covert cqb type of work the ninja would have been doing.
Ninja were, ideally, not doing much fighting, period; espionage was their bag. And when they did fight, they would generally be using the same weapons as any other bushi, because there did not tend to be much in the way of specialized ninja martial arts. As for CQB, bushi carried a tanto (some of which had pretty long blades... maybe 12"), which were straight (or nearly straight), and had a point and cross section optimized for stabbing. We are used to thinking of samurai carrying a long katana and a wakizashi, but prior to and in the beginning of the Edo period, a katana and a tanto would have been the most common arrangement; that tanto would be used indoors (possibly in concert with something else, like a tessen), and the long sword would be used outdoors. 👍👍
Sword was a very secondary weapon on japanese battlefields. The main weapon for close combat was the spear. Straight ninjato weren't a thing either, as it would have been selling you were a ninja right away, would require to be smithed so, etc.
Educational indeed. Thank you!
A bit of information to expand on this. Ninja wearing black and using straight swords was made fashionable through kabuki theatre. The depiction is believed to be accurate in one particular way. The straight sword would have been used by mountain clans because they would have been made from the earlier, pre iron era Japan age swords called chokutō (mentioned above,) a Korean sword often imported and copied in earlier eras. Normally katana were seen as a status symbol and were usually highly personalized. This made them hard to let go of in a pinch unlike the aging, broken down chokutō left over from a time long past. They would have been easier to get for the mountain peasants and more importantly, easier to let go of because they were so aged and of a basically poor quality compared to modern swords of the time. This was fine because they did not really fight if they could help it. If they carried a sword, it would be unimportant and only used as a last resort. Ninjas were spies and covert operatives, not warriors.
Either way a straight sword is still better for indoor close combat and launching as a spear. I always say the ninjato is the sword ninja would've used if it had been accessible to them.
True facts my brother ,
Best regards from Kraul 🤘🤘
⚔️⛩️☯️⛩️⚔️
Interesting video. I agree with you, that the ninja would of most definitely used the wakizashi. But, I do believe the ninjato is a real historical sword, that would of been used by ninja, in spite of the lack of physical evidence. I've come to that conclusion based on the design of it. Part of the reason for it's design, was for climbing walls. The saya is pointed at the bottom, so it can be stuck into the ground for stability. The blade is straight, which is also useful for stability. A curved blade wouldn't provide that. The large square tsuba would have been used by stepping up onto it, well the sword was leaned against the wall. After the shinobi got on top of the wall, he would retrieve the sword with the sageo. The ninjato blade was shorter, so it could be worn on the back, drawn quicker, & used it tighter spaces. Granted, it's not as short as the wakizashi, but it's still short enough to fulfill that function. I think another purpose of the straight blade, was so that it could be used in more of a stabbing motion, than in a slashing motion, within a tighter space. Having said all that, I cannot believe, that somebody would have thought of a sword with that design, well writing a fiction story. It doesn't makes sense to me.
So you came to a conclusion without evidence....didn't ninja have super farts that knocked out their opponents without touching them? I came to this conclusion looking at a ninjas butt hole.... ridiculous assertions...
@@foreignwarren7361 , up until now there exists no evidence whatsoever that proves that the Ninja did not use deadly straight blades. Neither is their any evidence that proves that Ninja were forbidden to use them. Those who came up with these fake, made up rules have spread their own fairy tales and fantasies but have got no proof. Ninja work in silence and by stealth, therefore such evidence will never be found! There is no evidence that Ninja did not use straight blades. There were no video cameras 500 years ago recording Ninja missions at night. However, l believe that Ninja schools of Koga Ryu Grandmaster Jinichi Kawakami and also of Koga Grand master Ronald Duncan are correct and true because their techniques are so perfect and deadly. They use the Ninja-to and teach its deadily techniques. They are true Ninja who were taught by true Ninja who came before them.
@@unknown_amazing_chap4480 lol there is no such things as ninjas that's all Hollywood BS... What you call Ninjas were just Shinobi which were just spies... No black hoods and an army of weapons.
@1101 Moskva lol they did not wear black outfits on a daily basis like in the movies, they would have stuck out like sore thumbs, thats Hollywood bs...they disguised themselves like you say and I knew the rest of your post regarding weapons etc.
it makes sense to an efficient and stealth warrior.
There is zero evidence that ninja ever used these swords in the days ninja functioned. They are still awesome and have been associated for so long that they hold the image of the ninja but there is no specific sword ninja used. Technically a ninja would have used whatever sword was common wherever they were. Ninja blended in so if everyone had a curved katana and you walked up with a ninjato you would stand out instantly. Ninja looked like everyone they needed to blend in with and they carried the same weapons. It would have been more common for a ninja to carry a wakizashi than what we now call a ninjato.
Generaly it is true. But in Japan I have seen in a few castles expositions of historical weapons and also very few strait swords with rectangular tsuba, described as Ninja's swords
Thats true, but these swords were still shorter than a standard katana would be. I seen them too on excibitions.
Fascinating 🤨
What is the difference between a (real) samurai and a make-believe one? Is it a kimono? Or a couple of swords tucked behind his belt one can impressively wield with skill and precision? No. A real samurai is someone who has a master and whose orders he fulfils without doubt or question. At least this is what we learn from the samurai code, a book that describes and prescribes what a samurai is and is not to be and that was written well into the more peaceful times. The reality, however, was much more complex, marked not only by valour and honour, but also but not infrequent betrayal and side-swapping. A real ninja is, among other things, someon skilled in making others believe he is not a ninja. This is the most important rule. Besides, a real ninja is someone who is loyal to his clan and whose orders he fulfils without question. Should it have been otherwise, should there have been shinobis plagued by scruples and haunted by moral dilemmas, the days of their clan would been numbered and their traces would have been wiped from the pages of history. This is the most important thing that sets today's ninja wannabes from the real ones. A useful attempt to understand the essence of the ninja art is to try to put them into the social context of their days and time and to analyse this context.
Most the research comes from sources of the koga museum of Japan and Master Jininchi .
Thank u everyone for your support. Im just trying to give you the truth about ninja.
The waki you used in the illustration with, what brand or maker is that one please?
That waki is from cold steel swords.
@@antoniomonday4462 Can’t find that Cold a steel model wakizashi. What model is it?
Muito bom cara
I believe the shorter version was used but why does he keep repeating the same thing over & over again ? He's killing me with the overemphasis lol lol
So I think what he is trying to say is that ninja didn’t use a straight sword...........😆
@@vinnieboombotz2001 you think ? 🤣
My question is where this research came from. A wakizashi is also a curved blade which is built for slashing yet slashing would not have been practical for close spaces with ninjas. Ninjas werent meant to fight, if they fought they were terrible ninja and meant they had gotten caught and had to defend. And either way they wouldve ran first as their entire purpose was retrieve information and deliver it back which meant they had to survive at all costs. Ningu (ninja weapons) also always had multiple uses yet a wakizashi only has one, to fight, which was previously established as not being the main point of ninja, meanwhile, a ninjato (straight blade) had more practical uses with the saya and tsuba as well as the straight blade for stabbing.
That is true. But they did use wakizashi with square tsuba. Yet some were straight blades
Yes I agree with you but It was normal wakitashi not the one you have there , why do I say this apart from assassination what other jobs did Ninjas do , there most important was to act as spyes no hold on to that thought . What sword could a normal none Samurai person including a Foreigner carry around for self defence as he travels around Japn to protect himself from bandits that's right its the wakitashi so a Ninja acting a travelling tradesman buisneman would not look out of place carring a normal Wakitashi he would draw attention to himself if he carried a straight sword or a Katana but a staff spier or Wakitashi he mite get a look but not stopped
💯
Where I buy that's sword
That sword can be purchased, at cold steel swords .com Or karate mart. Com
Sho Kusugi hat immer ein Nimjato in seinen Filmen verwendet.
The wakisashi is pretty shinobi !!!
Iga is best
Pusnete nesto
za za shogunite i
Imperatorite.
I.K.58g.
Neither of those swords are real. Please learn your facts. It's not a " scrabbard" it's a Says ( scabbard). 2nd the ninja would have used a wakizashi length sword but in a katana length Saya. That ( hollywood) ninjato is a cheap wall hanger too. Bottom line, please learn your facts before trying to educate. Sending positive vibes and wish you a great day
Since you're being picky, Saya, not says. So positive.
Old Chinese and Korean mass production swords. Cheap no blacksmith name no problem to just ditch it. Besides spies and saboteurs don't wanna get into fights.