So in conclusion…
Look at that poor, little, unassuming sword down there. Why is that cute little fella the center of such controversy? Why do so many try to use the straight blade as a fulcrum to separate the ‘men from the boys’ … Continued
The ones that lasted, the ones we’ve made, and the one that got away
At the apex of the 80’s ninja boom, I was in my early teens, had disposable income from odd jobs and a dad willing to put his name as an adult on a mail-in order to a martial arts supply … Continued
‘Ninja-To’ visual shorthand in American vs. Japanese films
One thing you hear over and over from the anti-‘Ninja-To’-sword-haters-club is the blade is “pure Hollywood.” Before this recent spat of research and over-scrutinizing swords in old movies, I used to argue against that notion; the Japanese studios got ninja … Continued
‘Ninja-To’ visual shorthand in manga
Depending on what school of thought you believe, the stereotypical ‘Ninja-To’ is either pure myth propagated by popular media or martial tradition traced back centuries in Japan. Well, if EITHER of those is true, then you’d think the short, straight … Continued
E-debate rages on notorious ‘Ninja-To’
Martial arts are a lot like religion – you can’t have a discussion, it’s an argument. You can’t have an opinion, you take sides. And just like religions draw lines in the sand over buildings, relics and figures, so too has the ninjutsu community … Continued
Why are people so hung up on the alleged “Ninja-To?”
The question of the ‘Ninja-To’…. Did it exist or not? Is it tradition, lore, or Hollywood? Healthcare in the U.S. and the Kennedy assassination have been debated less. I didn’t fully realize how much of a sticking point in the martial … Continued
Origins of the 80’s “Ninja-To”
UPDATED! We had some great response to this post last month, and since then another major find, so I’ve chosen to update and refine it a bit, and repost it as the start of a series of features on the … Continued
Ninja miscellany to close out February…
No major theme today, but I wanted to throw some notes out there before a busy weekend. I’ll start with a rather strange score from LA’s Chinatown: Found this statue/plaque/display thing at a shop in the Dynasty Market complex, which … Continued
Ninja costume shops in Japan
Got a request for info on Japanese ninja wear outside the usual off-the-rack martial arts gear that’s pretty much stuck in the 80’s mail order mold. So here’s a few shops and their offerings. Should be noted that all this … Continued
300!?!? Wow…
Holy cats… this is POST #300 on Vintage Ninja! I seem to celebrate every milestone with a return to one of the photos that got me so jazzed on old ninja movies, I just had to start some sort of … Continued