Real Ninja Weapons

There is no exact time in history when the "ninja" came to be. It was a military organization that came to be out of neccesity and family training. They tend to be misunderstood and their abilities are legendary to the point of being superhuman and even mystical.  But in truth, Ninjas were actually peasants highly trained in martial arts, unlike the Samurai who were typically born into their rank.

Real Ninjas are able to do some of the things they due because of their intense training and their mastery of their environment as well as their mind and body. But, Ninjas are not superhuman, they are not some mystical being. They are human. In most cases the ninja was trained by his clan. After his training was complete (this took many years) he or she would go out into the world (Japanese society) and begin to earn money by selling themselves to the wealthy or politically powerful. Their missions usually involved spying, but was not limited to that. They were also master assassins and sabatoers. Now the money that they earned would go back to their clan to help support their families and continue the training of future ninjas.

The Samurai class did not particularily like them and even feared the ninja because the ninja did not fight by the same code as the samurai. Where the samurai lived and died by the code of "Bushido" the ninja would do whatever it took to win or succeed at their mission. Ninjas did not try and fight in "fair fights" they were out to survive and escape using any means necessary. 

Here are some of the basic weapons used by Real Ninjas in fuedal Japan:

The Knife

The knife is a great weapon for close hand to hand combat. They train intensely to be able to kill quickly and quietly. The knife was also a great weapon because of its ability to remain concelled and hidden until it was needed.



The Staff

The staff was one of mans first weapons ever used. Originally made of wood, and polished to a smooth surface it was a common sight to see people carrying it, helping with walking, herding, or any other domestic uses. In the hands of a trained person the staff can also be a dangerous and deadly weapon often overlooked by guards.



The Spear and Naginata

The art of sojutsu is a very extensive training in ninpo. It is a weapon similar to a staff except with a pointed end, or sharpened stone tied to the end, or even a metal blade on the end. This particular weapon allowed the ninja to attack an enemy from a distance while remaining untouched.



The Kusari Gama

This weapon, like the staff is a weapon that has domestic uses. It is a short-handled sickle that peasants would use to harvest rice. But put a chain on it with a weighted end and it becomes a very deadly range weapon that can also kill close up.



The Ninjato

A ninjato is a sword used by the ninja that differs from the traditional katana. The ninjato is a straight bladed sword, not curved like the katana. They also tended to be a little shorter then the katana allowing a faster draw. The ninja typically focused on using the last 1/2" of the blade for cutting. And it was very common for the ninja to use just 1 hand on the sword to permit a free hand to grab the enemy, or possibly the enemys weapon to be able to inflict a killing blow.