The word ninjitsu originated in sixth-century Japan. Originally, the role of the ninja was to gain information about the enemy and to sabotage his operatons. Over the centuries the sect (which might be called the original Fifth Column) perfected the art of boring from within. The ninja long ago perfected the art and techniques of covert entry, especially designed to infiltrate enemy territory in wartime.

Traditionally, the ninja's duty demands one, or all, of three actions: espionage, sabotage, assassination. The taboos against death-dealing keep the agents of ninjitsu cloaked on the shadow of their own deeds. But, then, the successful ninja owes his very life to those shadows, within whose darkest umbra he waits in ambush, invisible even to those who search.

The Secrets of the Ninja is the first book to describe in detail the inner workings of this remarkable legion.

Contents

Preface
1 Basic ninjitsu
2 Meditation for inner strength
3 The art of hiding
4 The nine steps
5 Climbing devices
6 Positions of concealment
7 Covert entry
8 Sentry removal
9 Attacking from ambush
10 The art of escaping
11 Nunchaku techniques
12 Fast drawing the sword
13 The nine ways of throwing
14 Capture in passing
15 Leaving no trace
16 The mission
Postscriptum

Interesting, on a purely intellectual level. Lots of pictures. Now if your martial arts skills are like mine, you can still benefit from the graphics showing the correct way to hide behind a ficus bush or under the stairs. On the other hand, if you master the techniques in this book, the days of Uma Thurman kicking sand in your face at the beach will be history...unless of course, you go in for that sort of thing.