Ninjutsu, as a method of protection against various kinds of danger evolves many fighting skills and techniques. Ninjas, considered themselves to be simple executors of political, religious or military proceedings demanding from them to act in all possible situations. Their skills and knowledge comprised various techniques of espionage, infiltration in various environment, methods of enemy confusion, escape of hopeless situation and some others. The main target was to survive and fulfil the task than the general victory.

The eighteen levels of training were as follows:
Seishin teki kyoyo (精神的教養) – spiritual refinement,
Taijutsu (体術) – unarmed combat,
Ken jutsu (剣術) – ninja sword,
Bo jutsu (棒術) – stick and staff fighting,
Shuriken jutsu (手裏剣術) – throwing blades,
Yari jutsu (槍術) – spear fighting,
Naginata jutsu (長刀術) – halberd fighting,
Kusari gama (鎖鎌術) – chain and sickle weapon,
Kayaku jutsu (火薬術)- fire and explosives,
Henso jutsu (変装術) – disguise and impersonation,
Shinobi iri (忍び入り) – stealth and entering methods,
Ba jutsu (馬術) – horsemanship,
Sui ren (水練) – water training,
Bo ryaku (謀略) – strategy,
Cho ho (諜報) – espionage,
Inton jutsu (隠遁術) – escape and concealment,
Ten mon (天文) – meteorology
Chi mon (地文) – geography

Thougt not listed as a separate item in the eighteen qualities above, a crucial part of the Togakure ryu ninja´s training wasn the application of the kyojitsu tenkan ho philosophy. A strategy for winning that relies on the presentation of truth and falsehood in ways that permit the antagonist to be deceived, kyojitsu tenkan forms the basic approach for all ninjutsu activities and thinking.

Sun Tsu – The use of spies (On the art of war)
This text comes from a collection of thirteen books concerning strategy, known as the Ancient Art of War which was written by Sun Tzu sometime around 509 B.C. This treatise is the oldest well-preserved book of strategic considerations as well as the oldest documented war policy in the history of mankind. Master Sun was one of the most renowned Chinese strategists, soldiers and poets. The principles presented in his work are still applicable even in the conditions of the modern world. The excerpt from the book published on these pages depicts activities that later became distinctively associated with schools of Ninjutsu.


Historical books concerning Ninjutsu
Bansenshukai, Ninpinen and Shoninky are three propably most important historical books treating Ninjutsu. Here you can find some basic information about them.