The Mystic Arts of the Ninja: Hypnotism, Invisibility and Weaponry Contemporary Books Inc ( 01 April, 1985 ) Book Our Price : £ 8.10 List Price : £ 8.99 You save £0.89 (10% off) Prices subject to change. usually dispatched within 24 hours.

Too much technique, not enough background.

This book gives a fair amount of information on techniques to do with stealth, subtle movement, meditation and so on as well as giving background on ninja history. However where this is very interesting, far too much of the book is taken up with illustrated stick, sword and taijitsu techniques. Although there is nothing wrong with these or how they are shown, it is pretty much impossible to learn them from a book and there are so many techniques in Ninjitsu generally that the only way you are going to be able to pick them up is to find a reputable dojo and work your way up the grades. If you are already doing this then the value of the book is really in the stuff you dont get to learn in the training hall; the history and background of the art, the ways of moving stealthily over terrain and some of the philosophy that underlies the style. Although this is covered within this book I would have rather seen it dominant, rather than the physical techniques.

one does not become ninja, but are ninja

No book can replace the real thing, as soke says words do not teach..

BUY IT!

now, i was one who sought a book that would teach me as much as possible about how to become a ninja, and im aware that it is a skill that cannot be learned from a book alone, but, this book contained SO much information, i owe it to the author to praise this book. not only did this book contain pages and pages of moves using bare hands, sticks, and swords, it also covered all other aspects of ninjutsu, such as stealth walking, throwing shurikens, climbing ropes, walls, under stairs, walkways, etc.. it also had info on the culture itself, how to break a fall, tumbling, ... i just cant tell you how pleased i am with this book. it had much more than i was looking for. go out and buy it now!! its the BIBLE of ninjutsu, and believe me, you wont regret it.