Skip to Main Content
Vintage Ninja Vintage Ninja

6 – History and Martial Arts

Some 1985 Ninja Apparel
28 Jan 2020

Some 1985 Ninja Apparel

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 5 - Art and Advertising, 6 - History and Martial Arts | 0

Some of the most concise and enduring memories of those of us who lived through the 1980s ninja craze are mail order ads. By the middle of the decade, mail order ninja suits, weapons, posters and books nearly crowded the … Continued

The Earliest Hatsumi
28 Jul 2019

The Earliest Hatsumi

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 6 - History and Martial Arts | 0

Few realize multi-media ambassador and curator of modern ninjutsu Masaaki Hatsumi’s first exposure in the Western world came in a 1961 issue of a pulp fiction rag…

Argosy, Bujinkan, Masaaki Hatsumi, ninjutsu
Why did it take me so long to write about THE GREAT KABUKI?
8 Nov 2018

Why did it take me so long to write about THE GREAT KABUKI?

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 6 - History and Martial Arts | 0

Akihisa Mera is a name unknown to most ninja-maniacs — he never starred in a martial arts film, was never featured in the pages of Black Belt, never consulted at a Bujinkan seminar. Yet he is one of the most … Continued

Gary Hart, Great Kabuki, Great Muta, pro wrestling
Turnbull calls BULL!
1 May 2018

Turnbull calls BULL!

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 2 - Books and Manga, 6 - History and Martial Arts | 0

Stephen Turnbull, noted author of ninja books from a military history perspective, riddles his former work with shuriken in the remarkable new NINJA: UNMASKING THE MYTH.

NINJA: UNMASKING THE MYTH, Stephen Turnbull
New from Kosugi and Firstenberg
7 May 2017

New from Kosugi and Firstenberg

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 1 - Film and TV, 2 - Books and Manga, 6 - History and Martial Arts | 0

Sho Kosugi returns to home video with a series of training DVDs via Masters Magazine! An expansion on his 1980’s VHS release Master Class, The Art of Hollywood Ninja Action Film Making is a five part ‘course’ on ninja-centric choreography and … Continued

Cannon Films, Sam Fistenberg, Sho Kosugi
8 ninja vendors I accidentally found on Etsy
8 Mar 2017

8 ninja vendors I accidentally found on Etsy

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 4 - Collectibles, 6 - History and Martial Arts | 0

I had never even been on Etsy before last Christmas, when a friend who practically lives on there turned me on to some jewelry crafters for Christmas gifts. So while there, I did a quick “ninja” and “shinobi” search and what … Continued

NINJA DART BOARDS
23 Nov 2016

NINJA DART BOARDS

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 4 - Collectibles, 6 - History and Martial Arts | 0

One staple of martial arts mail order that not only made the transition from the kung-fu 70s to the ninja 80s was the dart board. What started as “Chinese throwing star target boards” quickly transitioned into the profoundly more successful … Continued

This post BLOWS!
16 Dec 2015

This post BLOWS!

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 6 - History and Martial Arts | 0

From our friends at Vintage Nunchaku comes a feature on a critical piece of survival equipment that helped us get through the 1980s — The Jivaro Blowgun. The Jivaro Blowgun: This was serious “ninja stuff.” First of all you had to … Continued

Jivaro Blowgun, VINTAGE NUNCHAKU
The oldest days of the Shuriken trade
18 Oct 2015

The oldest days of the Shuriken trade

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 6 - History and Martial Arts | 0

We’re delighted to present the first of hopefully many editorial exchanges with the superb VINTAGE NUNCHAKU community — found on Facebook here. This ‘other VN’ is the best fountain of info anywhere on old mail order advertising from the kung-fu craze … Continued

80s martial arts supply ads, shuriken, vintage magazines, VINTAGE NUNCHAKU
A phenomenal vintage weaponry collection
19 Jul 2015

A phenomenal vintage weaponry collection

by Keith Rainville | posted in: 6 - History and Martial Arts | 0

Love vintage mail-order weaponry and training gear from the 80’s ninja craze? Want to completely lose your shit? Then click on this link and read the short article LOFT TREASURES AND YOUTHFUL MEMORIES: MY BROTHER & I WERE NINJA WARRIORS … Continued

Posts navigation

1 2 3 4 5 »

Welcome to VINTAGE NINJA — dedicated to old ninja movies from Japan’s 60s boom to the 80s American exploitation craze and beyond, with a ton of vintage toys, comics, and sharp pointy stuff thrown in for good measure.

Read the Definitive History:

50+ Japanese ninja movies reviewed

Categories

  • 1 – Film and TV
  • 2 – Books and Manga
  • 3 – Toys and Merch
  • 4 – Collectibles
  • 5 – Art and Advertising
  • 6 – History and Martial Arts
  • 7 – Ninja Miscelany
  • 8 – News & Notes

Pages

  • About us
  • Contact
  • Some Commonly Used Terms
  • Welcome…

©2022 Keith J. Rainville