Gendaijin no Ninjutsu

With so much BS abound about ninjutsu, it is refreshing to see a decent book. I opened it to a random page and it discussed diet and why one would eat a certain way. This is confirmed by my training, by my experience with special forces operators who did the same thing, and by common sense to anyone who understands the explanation given in the book. While I've not read the book yet, I am encouraged by this part that I read as I've never seen this an any of the other books I read and I don't keep many books about ninjutsu after I get disgusted and throw them out. Anthony Cummings translations of certain ninja texts are useful; I've not read his take on ninjutsu. The other commentator seems not to like it.I would suggest you go out and find a teacher if you want to be sure you're getting an "authentic experience", but even then you'll always have to wonder. None of these people seem very legit when you go back far enough and who cares? If you want to be a modern day ninja, sign up for a military profession that will get you assigned to Special Operations Command. Else, you'll have to piece it together and figure it out for yourself like the first ninja did. It's clear to me that most of them plagiarized Sun Tzu or other writers of Chinese military classics and made the rest up as they went along.The successful ninja were the ones who inspire us today. So, go out and be a warfighter in special operations and learn to kill in the dark or go out and get a teacher and learn to skulk around in the dark. Or, read about it and imagine what it might be like. But, you'll be hard pressed to ever get the "authentic experience" and, even if you did, how would you verify it?Ninjutsu is a way of life -- a philosophy is the best word, but modern thinkers do not live their philosophy as the ancient philosophers did -- and part of that way of life includes developing a system of using one's body to defend one's self and perform whatever feats the user may require. It is as much a mindset as it is a meta-paradigm for fighting systems. Most of it relates to spying, covert operations, and other matters. It's not particularly interesting stuff if the underlying way of life does not appeal to you. You won't get much benefit from skulking around in the dark, but you will get much if you learn to think and live as a ninja would.

The big problem with this book is that the translator seems to want to make everyone learn Japanese in a crash course. I realize that every language has terms that do not translate well and are left as is. So the use of the term "shugyo" (semi-religious practice of improvement) is a valid term to use in the book.But there are so many words introduced that there are perfectly good English words for. "Gensoku" is used instead of "principle", "aji" is used in place of "taste", "Matsuge" is substituted for "eyelashes" and there is even more. There are words given in Japanese that you have to look up in the notes at the bottom that are also not unique to Japanese. The translator will introduce these terms once with the English word and then go on to use the Japanese term exclusively from then on. If you can't remember the words, or put down the book for a few days, you are soon not able to follow what is being said.And he seems to make fun of those that can't be bothered to remember hundreds of Japanese words. On page 175 when he uses again a word he hasn't used for 50 or so pages he puts a note at the bottom asking if we forgot the term. It really is annoying to try to read this.In general, the prose is stilted and unnatural even without all the Japanese and the content seems to be more about what a Japanese in the early 20th century thought ninjutsu should be rather than anything based on actual sources. There are exceptions with sources to the Shoninki and such given, but for the most part these things can be found in better books in English.

Although I am happy to see these books finally be translated, I really think Eric Shahan could have done a better job. The content is good, but his tendency to translate a term or phrase only ONCE in an entire work, and then repeatedly use that same phrase in Japanese throughout the remainder of the book -- never providing a glossary or index -- is frustrating. I'm sure the late Mr. Itoh would appreciate it if someone else gave it a try.

"Gendaijin no Ninjutsu!"Ito,Sensei announces that:"Ninjutsu is the Highest Level of Martial Arts!" This totally smashes ''Anthony Cummins" theory that:"Ninjutsu is not a Martial Arts."Gendaijin no Ninjutsu will increase any Martialist Technique and the way we see the Universe down to the History of the Origins of Ninjutsu found in the Mountains of the Himalayas.

Wonderful translation by Eric Shahan. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the modern history of ninjutsu. See how modern ninjutsu, especially Takamatsuden is connected to pre-Meiji ninjutsu. Gingetsu Itoh is a very thorough and entertaining author. These books are under appreciated.

Ok material. A little tough to read. Author does not appear to be associated with the Bujinkan. Ok for some additional historical information.

Great addition to my collection.

good

Excellent book exactly what I was looking for about ninjitsu in day to day life

Aunque la traducción puede resultar un tanto confusa, el maestro Itoh da una buena visión del Ninjutsu adaptado al hombre moderno.

La pratique du Nin Jutsu dans le monde actuel pour des gens vivants bien actuellement et non passéistes! Excellent livre!