But come on, people! Everyone know that if something is awesome and everybody loves it, it must be from Japan!

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But sodomy is Greek.

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Heaven sends me here to you
And if a-you fear you've reason to
Open up all seven seals
The beast is come to claim the youth

But hentai is better and that's Japanese.

But back on topic, I notice everyone thinks Ninjutsu is a very violent martial art. From what I've read about it, it would be more accurate to say it's an art with violent aspects. Ninjutsu is split into elemental categories that offer different approaches to a situation. In combat for example, 'fire' tactics (which are best-known) involve generally mashing up your opponent. To his face. Whereas air involves more avoidance and water involves more locks and holds. So, it's only a violent art if you choose to use it violently.

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Don't try and raise me. Who else will tend to the depths?

Well, you have to realise that the Air-way guides the advesary to a place in which you can either run away or do the Fire-thing. Also, locks and holds guide your advesary to a position in which you can do a number of things, including but not limited to turning arms and/or legs in impossible angles, breaking fingers and/or ripping of hands.

We did many such things; when we practiced our sensei warned us to 'do it very lightly' for the risk of losing hands or breaking bones.

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Evil pig-man lover. Slash is nice what you say is logical The only real time you re-read posts is if their by Slash

Congratulations. You just described virtually every form of martial art in the known world. Every form has it's hard and soft aspects. How those aspects are balanced and utilized is what makes the discipline unique. Some utilize more joint locks and grapple moves more than strikes, while others go more for strikes than grappling. However, there are still hard and soft techniques in every style.

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True, but not many styles are so equally balanced as Ninjutsu. Ninjas learn pretty much equal amounts of strikes, grapples and other things, not many disciplines can say that.

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Don't try and raise me. Who else will tend to the depths?

And not many disciplines would want to. Why would something so personalized as martial arts want to replicate another style? There are no 'better' or 'worse', 'good' or 'bad' martial arts. They are just different styles; each of which suits different personalities differently. Ninjutsu is no better than Shotokan or Aikido. It just depends on which one works best for you. Ninjutsu may have more advanced techniques or bettery moves, but if the style doesn't jive with you, how good it is? Are there things Ninjutsu does better than Tai Chi or Eagle Claw? Sure. But that doesn't make it a better style, nor does it make it worse. It just makes it different.

People often make the mistake of seeing some bad ass, and wondering what he studied so they can be that way too. It just doesn't work like that. The reason why that person is as good at their style as they are is because they found a style they liked, a style that worked best for them, and a style they were motivated to learn. It's not a matter of 'well, learn this discipline and you'll be the biggest bad ass in the world'. It's a matter of what style you are driven to master, and what style best matches up with you. For me, that's not Ninjutsu; no matter how great it may be. It very well may be the deadliest style in the world. But it's not a style I'm driven to learn, so what good would studying it do me? Not much. It's not so much how good or bad a style is considered to be, but rather what style you prefer and what best works for you.

Also, bear in mind that martial arts are not so much about winning fights as they are learning control. Controlling your movements, controlling your opponent, and controlling the situation.

That's not really geared towards anyone in particular, just me rambling on.

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What's a real shame here in the west is that a limited number of martial arts have become vastly popular, such as Taekwon Do and Karate. Whilst I have nothing against these martial arts (except for their watering down in many instances) it sucks that martial arts such as Tai Chi, Ninjustu, Indian martial arts and other less-known arts are very difficult to get teaching in. I'm lucky because there's a Tai Chi club nearby, but generally speaking if you're limited in your choice. But, I guess that's just the way it is.

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Don't try and raise me. Who else will tend to the depths?