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Written by Administrator
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Sunday, 19 June 2005 |
WEAPON: ASHIKO
DESCRIPTION:
The Ashiko were spiked claws that were worn on the feet. This helped
the Ninja climb faster and more efficiently on their missions. As well
as a great climbing aid, it could also be used in combat to deliver
deadly kicks.
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WEAPON: BO (Staff)
DESCRIPTION:
The staff was one of the most important weapons in the ninja's arsenal.
It was generally around 6 feet in length, made of hard wood or bamboo
and was hollow. The reason for the hollow part was another trick of the
ninja trade. By flicking the bow with great speed, the ninja could
launch a poison tipped dart or small knife out of the open end of the
staff, often catching the opponent off guard. |
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WEAPON: BOW (Long & Short)
DESCRIPTION:
The bow and arrow was a weapon used by the ninja as well as the
samurai. There were two types of bows used, the short bow and the long
bow. The arrows were sometimes dipped in poison to make them deadlier.
Kunoichi (female ninja) were experts with the bow and arrow. |
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WEAPON: BOKKEN
DESCRIPTION:
A bokken is a wooden sword usually used for sword training. When a
student begins to work with a sword, he learns basic maneuvers with a
bokken. However, the bokken can also be used as an effective weapon
since it is made of strong, heavy wood. In fact, many Ninja preferred
to use the bokken on a mission than a regular sword.
The reasons for this are that a bokken is lighter and
easier to carry, there is no risk of cutting oneself, bokken are very
easy to camouflage since they can be stained or painted, and, when
using proper techniques, a bokken can easily break bones and damage
internal organs. |
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WEAPON: CHIGIRIKI
DESCRIPTION:
This weapon is a 2 foot long straight stick, with a 2-1/2 chain
attached to the top with a ball with spikes. This weapon is considered
to be the japanese morning star. The chain could be fitted in side the
stick like the Kusari-Gama/Kama, and used as a mace. |
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WEAPON: DARTS
DESCRIPTION:
The ninja would use the poison darts differently depending on the
situation. It was not uncommon for the ninja to carry poison darts in
his mouth so they could be blown into the enemy's face at close range.
If they needed to kill someone quietly, a dart could easily enter the
body and be withdrawn without leaving a mark. From a distance the dart
could be shot with a blowgun.
Kunoichi (female ninja) would hide the poisonous darts
in their hair. When the victim was preoccupied with something else, the
ninja would stick them with the dart. |
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WEAPON: FUKIYA
DESCRIPTION:
The fukiya, or blowgun, was a staple in the Ninja's arsenal since it was so versatile.
The fukiya was used to shoot darts (sometimes poisoned) at an enemy
from a distance and, since it made almost no noise, the Ninja's hiding
place wasn't threatened by using this weapon. Aside from launching
darts, the blowgun could be used as a snorkel while the Ninja was
underwater. Since the fukiya was made of bamboo, it blended in with the
reeds in the water, therefore enabling the Ninja to stay submerged for
hours, if necessary.
Metsubishi could also be delivered through the fukiya
by shooting small paper containers filled with pepper and metal
shavings at an enemy's face. |
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WEAPON: HANBO
DESCRIPTION:
A bo 3 feet in length can be concealed as a cane. Can be used like a
bokken. May also conceal things inside, like a sword blade or a chain. |
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WEAPON: HOKO
DESCRIPTION:
This weapon looks like a sai mounted on top of a jo. The Hoko was
mostly made out of bamboo and was a very good offensive, as well as a
very good defensive weapon. It was used in a stabbing motion, there are
some variants of this weapon. |
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WEAPON: NAGINATA & JUTTE
DESCRIPTION:
The Naginata is a long staff with a blade attached to one end.
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WEAPON: KAKUTE
DESCRIPTION:
The Kakute were rings that the kunoichi wore that were dipped in
poison. The rings could be made out of metals, and tempered wood. The
ninja would quietly strangle enemies with the ring stuck in their neck.
It was far less messy then using a sword, and left very little evidence
on how the victim died. |
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WEAPON: KAMA
DESCRIPTION:
Kama are the basis of the kusari-gama. Kama is just the sickle on it's
own. They are usually used in pairs and swung in various arcs,
crescents etc.
All sorts of slashing motions combined with the forward
momentum of the ninja they can cause some devastating damage. The blade
of the Kama is roughly around 11-12 inches. The handle is slightly
longer. Original sickles had a longer blade and shorter handle. |
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WEAPON: NEKO-TE
DESCRIPTION:
The Neko-te were usually used by the kunoichi (female ninja). The
weapon is strong iron fingernails that were fastened into leather bands
fitted on the fingers, and resembled claws (not like that of of the
shuko, ashiko) and were also dipped in poisons. The eyes were a
favorite spot for slashing. |
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WEAPON: KUSARI-GAMA
DESCRIPTION:
The Kusari-gama is a combination of a sickle (short scythe) and a long
chain with a weight attached to the end of it. The sickle was used in a
slashing or stabbing motion, as well as used to block and hook
opponents weapons. By holding the chain portion of the weapon, the
sickle could be swung around to get a greater reach with it.
The chain portion of the weapon was most often used for
trapping an enemy or his weapon. Once tangled up with the chain, the
ninja could finish him off with the sickle. This was a weapon the ninja
invented out of farming tools they used. |
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WEAPON: KYOKETSU-SHOGEI
DESCRIPTION:
The Kyoketsu-shogei was a knife attached to one end of a long cord made
of women's or horse hair, or sometimes chain. On the other end of the
cord was a ring. The knife could be used in close quarters or swung
around by holding on to the ring. |
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WEAPON: MANRIKI-GUSARI
DESCRIPTION:
The Manriki Gusari was a chain usually about 3 feet long, and weighted
at both ends. It was developed as a self-defence weapon but was also a
wicked offensive weapon in the hands of a ninja. It was small and
easily concealed in the palm of the ninja's hand, or in a sash.
While holding one end of the chain, it could be swung
around and used as a whip. The weighted end could cause a great deal of
damage. |
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WEAPON: NUNCHAKUS
DESCRIPTION:
Though not a primary weapon of the Ninja, nunchakus (also known as
"nunchucks") were used because they could be adapted for many
situations. Aside from being easy to carry, the nunchakus were used to
defend against most any weapon from a bo to a sword. By trapping the
blade of a sword with the chain between the two sticks, a Ninja could
entangle and disarm a sword-weilding attacker.
The same concept applies to almost every other weapon.
The nunchakus were not just used for defense, they could also be
effectively employed against an enemy in an offensive way. The Ninja
could strangle an opponent or even execute joint locks with the chain
or cord between the two sticks.
Don't bother emailing with your nunchaku hate, got plenty already. Ninja may or may not have used Nunchaku....deal with it.
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WEAPON: ONO
DESCRIPTION:
The Ono, or battle axe, was a very powerful weapon used to smash
through castle gates, knock opponents off their horses or totally
destroy anyone attempting to fight with a lesser weapon. The Ono was
generally 4 feet long with a heavy, oversized steel blade.
The weight of this weapon demanded great skill from the user in battle.
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WEAPON: SHOBO
DESCRIPTION:
A shobo was a small weapon that was used for striking pressure points
within the body, the neck was the best place to strike. It was a ring
fitted on the middle finger and a piece of sharp/dull wood attached,
there are many variants of this weapon. |
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WEAPON: SHURIKEN
DESCRIPTION:
The Shuriken is the trade mark ninja weapon made famous by the movies
and stories about the ninja. The Shuriken was simply a flat piece of
metal with sharpened points that were thrown at the enemy.
The Shuriken was not originally designed as a killing
weapon. It was mostly used to distract or deter so the ninja could
escape. While in the midst of a get-away, the Shuriken could be thrown
at the samurai chasing the ninja, possibly making the samurai think
twice about continuing the chase.
Although the Shuriken was not intended to kill, it was
easily made lethal by dipping the edges in poison. This was effective,
but sometimes it backfired when the ninja would accidentally cut
himself while digging around for it, thus poisoning himself.
Shuriken were also designed to hit the opponent then
bounce away out of sight. This way a ninja could fool an unsuspecting
guard or sentry into believing he had been cut by an invisible
swordsmen. (One of many mental tricks) |
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WEAPON: TANTO
DESCRIPTION:
The tanto, or knife, was an important weapon in the ninja's arsenal.
Like the ninja-to, the tanto was not made of the high quality steel
that the samurai's sword was but the ninja made up for this by using
the tanto as a multi-purpose tool.
The tanto was used to pry open doors, dig holes or
small ditches, or it could be thrown like a shuriken. Of course, the
tanto was also used to cut and stab an opponent. |
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WEAPON: SWORDS
DESCRIPTION:
The ninja sword (ninja-to) was different than that of the samurai. The
long sword that the samurai carried was made of high-carbon steel, and
took months to have made. They were hand made specially for each
samurai, taking great care to make a very high quality sword. It was so
sharp that it could easily cut a man in two, even through their armor.
The length of the samurai swords averaged around 26 1/2 to 37 inches.
The ninja sword was considerably shorter, only 24
inches, and the quality of the swords was much poorer. The reason for
the poorer quality was the way they used the sword as opposed to the
way the samurai used theirs. Samurai would swing their sword, severing
limbs and slashing at the opponent. Ninja, on the other hand, used the
sword more in a stabbing motion. To use the blade of the ninja sword
effectively you would have to use a sawing motion when the blade came
in contact with the opponents flesh.
Another reason for the poor quality of the swords is
that since ninja were mostly mountain people and outlaws, they could
not afford to hire expert sword smiths like the samurai could. Also
their own sword smiths did not have access to the right resources to be
able to make curved edge swords with well constructed blades. If a
Ninja could overcome a samurai he would take his swords, simply because
they are better.
Although the ninja sword was smaller and poorer
quality, it still had its advantages. The scabbard for instance was
made longer than the sword, about 3 to 4 inches longer. At the end of
the scabbard there was a hidden compartment that was used to hide small
weapons such as spikes, daggers or small amounts of poisons. Another
use the sword had was that it could act as a small step by jamming the
blade into the ground, the ninja could use the hand-guard as a step to
get that extra height needed to scale a wall. Because the blade was not
very sharp, the ninja could also use it as a hammer by holding onto the
blade (carefully) and hitting with the handle. Also it was common to
have the tip of the scabbard come off so it could be used as a snorkel.
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WEAPON: TESSEN
DESCRIPTION:
The Tessen was a folding fan with an iron frame and, when folded, was
used to club an enemy. A few different variations were invented,
including one with a sharp edge on the outside of the framework so
that, instead of only being able to club a person, the ninja could cut
as well. |
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WEAPON: TETSU-BISHI
DESCRIPTION:
Tetsu-bishi (also known as calthrops) are small metal weapons shaped so
that one point is always up. They, like the shuriken, were a weapon
used for distraction while fleeing. The ninja would scatter the
calthrops behind them and anyone unlucky enough to step on them would
not likely continue with the pursuit. They could also be thrown, and
dipped in poison like the shuriken. |
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WEAPON: YARI
DESCRIPTION:
The Yari was typically 5 feet long with a 6 inch blade and the handle often contained a hidden chain or knife.
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WEAPON: KUNAI
DESCRIPTION:
The Kunai was a small dagger-type tool that served primarily as a
utility knife. It's secondary use was as a weapon, with a sharp point
and short handle it was a great throwing weapon. It was also a great
close combat weapon as it could be used in very tight situations.
Some other uses for the kunai include a climing device, a hammering tool, a make-shift spear tip just to name a few.
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