Ninjutsu : teaching and method

In years, Ninja were taught to be actors and practical psychologists. Through observation of their own actions as well as those of others, they came to know the workings of the psyche, and how to use mental weaknesses and observational limitations of others to their own advantage. The young ninja also learned how to prepare and use medicines and drugs. The ninja was shown how to gain entrance to buildings, and techniques for climbing walls, across ceilings, and under floors. Methods of tying and binding the enemy, as well as methods of escape, were taught. The ninja also practiced sketching maps, routes and floor plans, and faces.
When his teachers felt that he was ready, the trainee became a genin, or ninja agent,to be assigned on missions. The genin agent would take his orders from his chunin, or "middle man", who would have a team of several agents at his disposal. The chunin executive officer would be contacted by his jonin, or ninja leader, who would be contacted to provide ninja
for military lords or private citizens. The jonin maintained a philosophical outlook over the balance in society, and determined the proper people to aid by staying with the scheme of totality. In most cases, the jonin ninja leader was completely unknown to his field agents, and the leader would occasionally assign more than one team of agents to the same mission to insure successful completion without double cross.
Women, as well as men, were trained in the art of ninjutsu. Female ninja, or kunoichi, were often used in espionage work or observation inside an enemy's camp or stronghold. Many times, female assassins could use their physical attractiveness and charm to gain the confidence of their intended victims.
Along with peace and civil order in Japan,. came the demise of the ninja. Under the Tokugawa shogun's unifying rule, the need for these secret agents slowly disappeared. Many ninja turned to police work, some went with the military, and some used their unique skills to become criminals or guerrilla resistance fighters.
Today, the Togakure ryu is the last historical system of ninjutsu publicly recognized as still being in existence. The Togakure system was founded by Daisuke Togakure, who studied with the warrior monk Kain hbshi in the mountain wilderness of Iga over eight centuries ago. Now in its thirty-fourth generation, the Togakure ryu is under the direction of Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi, an osteopathic practitioner living in Noda City, Japan. Dr. Hatsumi inherited the Togakure training system from his teacher, Toshitsugu Takamatsu, the thirty-third supreme master of the Togakure ryu.
Though the history and tradition of Togakure ninja is obviously
very old, the techniques and methods practiced today are quite contemporary, as it is the responsibility of each generation's supreme master to keep the teachings up to date and fitting with the times. This way, the Togakure ryu ninja's "art of winning" will never become antiquated, even in generations to come.