Ninjutsu FAQ

See also, Ninjutsu Glossary. If U live in NYC and want to get started visit Benevolent Heart Dojo.

What background do U have in ninjutsu?

I've practiced since 2013 under Joshua Polier at Benevolent Heart Dojo and with Kacem Zoughari at seminars across the world.

When and why did U start training?

I began my practice February 2013. Path Notes Of An American Ninja Master made me aware of ninjutsu. Since the meditation practices in that book had a huge positive influence on me, I felt curious about ninjutsu, so I sought it out after moving to NYC.

At that time, I had a story about myself that I always quit things when they got hard (a classic gifted kid syndrome) and I could see some ways that story harmed my life. Since ninjutsu means 'perseverance skills' I decided I'd use it as an arena to grow my grit. Immediately ninjutsu felt like the hardest practice I'd ever tried, so it really challenged me in the way I needed.

What does training look like, specifically?

We mostly don't breathe heavily or sweat a great deal during class. However, classes will feel physically and mentally demanding. Early in your training U will invest a large chunk of time focused on solo practice under guidance from your senpai in order to learn the basic forms that U'll apply. Paired exercises will take up a larger percentage of in class time as your training progresses.

Our training consists of both unarmed and armed techniques. Generally in paired exercises each partner will take turns initiating an attack, which the other partner will practice receiving in a certain way.

What benefits have U seen from training?

Training has dramatically improved my Ukemi, and my mettle. Quite literally it has improved my perseverance. I feel physically stronger and more mobile, although strength feels less important now that if feels like a minor input into effectiveness.

I feel safe and confident in my body most places I go. At the same time I have a well calibrated sense of danger and wisely steer far clear of getting myself into trouble. I can instinctively go towards danger when I think it will benefit others.

What motivates U to continue training?

I personally intend to continue my practice until my death. This intention itself serves as a practice of perseverance, I simply choose this. The practice serves as its own reward, I choose to practice for its own sake. I find having auto-teleological practice feels deeply spiritually nourishing.

That said, the practical benefits give me plenty of motive too. I want to protect my family and loved ones and carry a bubble of safety with me wherever I go.

What kinds of people would be well suited to training, excel at it, or be interested in it?

I believe people of all backgrounds can succeed at ninjutsu, it only requires commitment. An ideal ninja might have the following traits when beginning, but a seasoned ninja will have developed many of these through practice: intelligence generally but especially spatial intelligence, flexibility, proprioception, and mindfulness.

Can I do this?

Am I too old to start?

U can start! The Japanese masters practiced well into their 80s. A friend of mine that I met on the seminar circuit still trains at 65, and he didn't start until 40 after a long life serving in the US Marines.

Do I need to already be fit?

No, although it will help at first. Paradoxically a lot of senior practitioners actually look quite out of shape. I think they started moving efficiently and stopped burning many calories during training.

Most ninjas look like unassuming athletic people unless U know how to look, in which case U might notice certain obscure forms of strength that they possess.

At my dojo we mostly expect people to do their own strength and conditioning training outside of class.

I've never done a martial art in my life. Does that matter?

Not especially, it could even advantage U as U won't have to unlearn any bad habits.

I have old injuries. Can I still train?

Many of my senpai practice despite a variety of different injuries from outside the dojo (high school football, motorcycle accidents, etc). We consider injuries part of the path. I've fortunately avoided any injuries from ninjutsu practice (as of 2026) but have gotten injured rock climbing, sparring in BJJ, and hiking, and I've always carried my practice through.

I'm small, or not strong. Will I get hurt or left behind?

I've never seen someone sustain an injury in my dojo in thirteen years of training. I've definitely gotten hurt a lot, but I've learned to accept and process a wealth of pain. U can't get left behind because everyone walks their own path and starts at different points.

Our techniques don't require power, but U will develop a sort of strength, the strength that comes from integrating your body.

Do women practice ninjutsu?

Yes, as a minority. In my experience women tend to learn ninjutsu quickly as they rely less on strength in daily life.

Does it work?

How does ninjutsu compare to BJJ or MMA?

We differ quite a bit. We generally don't spar, and we don't compete. We use weapons. We don't have any prescribed rules that we follow in combat that would make our practice into a sport. We have a steeper learning curve at the start, and a more advanced aim. The ultimate techniques of our practice challenge U to face armed opponents without weapons of your own.

Why don't U compete?

My partner got her elbow hyperextended in a BJJ competition, in a setting designed with many rules and regulations to try and prevent injury. MMA's list of prohibitions reads like a list of highly effective techniques and striking targets to me. Competitions necessitate rules, and rules shape the movements people employ.

Do U spar? If not, how do U know any of it works?

I spar with people who practice other arts, under their rules. I consider violence something that erupts unpredictably and under poor circumstances, for that I can only maintain awareness.

What about guns?

Some schools have more or less emphasis on guns. Muskets have a long history in Japanese martial arts, and with a little exploration U might discover how neatly a variety of firearms will fit into ninjutsu. I've met several ninjas with excellent firearms expertise. I currently live in a highly gun controlled area, so I haven't practiced with them a ton.

I looked up the Bujinkan and found people saying the lineage is fabricated. What do U say to that?

I can't personally verify the lineage claims. I can attest to Hatsumi, Ishizuka, and Kacem's movement, the whole chain of transmission that I could see. If God told me tomorrow that Takamatsu Toshitsugu fabricated everything I'd still practice because I want to do what Kacem can.

What will it do to my body?

How often do people get injured?

Very rarely. I have heard of injuries occurring although I haven't witnessed any yet. We exercise due caution in proportion to the danger of the technique in question. I've had close calls. Training at the limit sharpens awareness but feels very edgy, it can pose danger.

Does it hurt?

It can certainly hurt a great deal. Exotic painful qualia I've experienced include: a strike to my brachial plexus that caused my entire left arm to temporarily go numb and made it so I couldn't close my hand, a strike that caused a bone in my forearm to vibrate like a bell accompanied by the deepest bone pain I'd ever felt, another strike to my forearm that sent a shockwave through my spine to whiplash my head.

Will I get in shape?

Practice often motivates people to get into better shape, but we won't have U running laps in class.

What does a decade of this do to a person's knees?

Poor form will certainly destroy someone's knees over a few decades. U can pick out the misaligned schools by their inability to sit in seiza, or take a low stance. Proper form will bulletproof your knees and make them far stronger than anyone could reasonably expect.

What will it cost me?

How many nights a week does this take?

From what I've seen people can make progress at a once per week rate, although I'd really recommend twice a week if at all possible.

What's the smallest amount of training that still gets me somewhere?

Once a week with a qualified instructor.

What does it cost in money?

From what I've seen generally on the order of $100-200 USD a month for dojo fees. Most of the quality schools take a non-commercial approach, and generally operate at a sustainable loss.

For domestic weekend seminar travel I budget around $500-800, for international seminar travel I budget around $800-$1200 for a weekend. To practice in Japan for two weeks I budget about $2500.

Do I have to travel to seminars?

No, although I'll always encourage people who practice with me to meet my teachers, as have my teachers. I consider it a good sign if a teacher wants to direct to their source.

How long until I stop feeling useless?

I joined a quite advanced group and it took me about two years relative to that group. It only took a few months for me to feel quite confident relative to the general population.

What do I have to believe?

What's with the bowing and the Japanese terms?

My dojo has pretty perfunctory bowing, sometimes we forget entirely. I find learning Japanese helpful, because 'punch' and 'block' really don't correspond to 'tsuki' and 'uke' and it helps to have new conceptual buckets to put information.

Are there belts or ranks, and what do they mean?

The Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu organization does feature a rank system as follows: white belt (unranked), green belt (kyu ranks, nine levels), black belt (dan ranks, fifteen levels).

In practice my lineage largely disregards ranks, or at least takes way longer to promote people.

I mostly consider the following ranks significant: a green belt means hey U've stayed around enough that we want to at least distinguish U from the total beginners, a black belt means hey U've stuck around for long enough (perhaps five years or so) to have really started your practice congrats, fifth degree black belt means that the Bujinkan licenses U to teach (and it comes with a special test).

How much of this is mystical?

As much as U want, basically. My particular lineage doesn't especially emphasize or discuss the more esoteric aspects of practice. U can refer to Path Notes Of An American Ninja Master if that aspect interests U. I like figuring out the subtle or difficult to explain, however U want to put words to it.

Do I have to revere the teacher?

I personally wouldn't recommend it, although I do consider my teachers inspirational and admirable in many ways. We all have our flaws and U'd do best to observe a person's failings and excellences and steal as much of their excellence as U possibly can while avoiding the failings.

Weapons

When do I get to touch a weapon?

Typically in your first class.

Do beginners handle live blades?

No, and practically speaking even senior students will generally practice with unsharpened blades much of the time, although we all enjoy the heightened sensation of handling live weapons.

Gear

What do I need to buy before my first class?

U won't need anything, although a gi would prove useful.

Do I need a gi? What do I wear?

I recommend getting a gi to practice grappling techniques, and a belt. I personally just wear a pair of flexible pants instead of gi pants. So U really just need a gi jacket.

What does the full kit cost once I've stuck around?

Depending on what quality of practice tools U want, U might expect to spend a few hundred USD building an arsenal. I recommend buying one piece at a time as practice calls for it. For example, I only got a jutte when I knew I'd need it for a seminar. Buy something once U know U'll really practice with it.

When do I buy my own weapons, and which first?

When U want to practice outside the dojo. I recommend starting with a bokken and a bo staff to start.

What do I pack for a seminar?

It'll depend on the seminar. Some seminars involve a lot of weapons. Usually dojos will have some extras for people coming out of town.

Mars

Why do U want to bring Ninjutsu to Mars?

I want to see the continuation of the currents of transmission I've received, and bringing Ninjutsu to Mars seems like a high leverage move to see it continue and spread. Since I want to go to Mars, I might as well spread it as I go.