True history of ninjitsu?

**Colin** · Posted On: 5/15/2012 9:45am

I saw RotN for the first time circa age 10-11 y/o?
Do you remember the scene where he walks out into the backyard where the baby is crying and he plants his sword in the ground next to the baby and the baby stops crying, but because of the camera angle - there is actually a moment of horror when you think he actually stabbed the baby?

Man.. that traumatized me.

**omoplatypus** · Posted On: 5/15/2012 9:56am

I remember that. But I was more concerned about getting a magic silver ninja mask that would make my eyes glow red.

**Colin** · Posted On: 5/15/2012 10:52am

**omoplatypus** · Posted On: 5/15/2012 11:44am

I love you; no homo.

[Edit]OK, maybe a little homo...

**Colin** · Posted On: 5/15/2012 11:55am

**W. Rabbit** · Posted On: 5/15/2012 12:31pm

This article I wrote contains every Ninja secret anyone would ever need to know, particularly the techniques regarding possession and mind control.

Yes, Sho Kosugi is in there.

http://www.bullshido.net/forums/show...=101972&page=1

Here's a preview: Ninja Golf! They like to play through...

**omoplatypus** · Posted On: 5/15/2012 1:39pm

Don't forget the ninjy use of V8 by ninjettes. Its very useful in hiding your murderous scent from cops during fornication.

**DARPAChief** · Posted On: 5/16/2012 10:59am

Originally Posted by omoplatypus

There once was a failing film company called Cannon. They sold out to the Golan group (Israeli expats). The Jews decided to make their fortune with ninja flicks.

Thus, the popular culture idea of ninjitsu was born. All the modern ideas of what ninjas are and what they do came from these Israeli made films.

What do you mean by "modern ideas"? While the Kosugi pictures may have popularised theatrical ninja in the US and elsewhere, black pajama'd ninjanigans were commonplace in postwar chanbara (e.g. the Shinobi-no-Mono series in the 60s; Hatsumi was a consultant on the first).

It was my understanding that the derth of scholarly information coupled with folklore and popular fiction from the 19th century onward culminated in the explosion of period film depicting "ninja" in Japan, and the only real contribution the American counterparts made to the mythos was conflating Ryukyuan and Japanese weapons.

On another note, Ninja III was one of those films that drove a certain nutcase at the BBFC mad because of some personal vendetta against martial arts weapons. As a result, many circulating copies based on the UK version are cut for violence. I found a VHS quality DVD with Japanese subtitles somewhere; it was uncut, but probably a bootleg. How 'bout a Blu-ray trilogy box, MGM?