The Legendary Ninja Weapons
A ninja
When you think of the word ninja or shinobi, what comes into mind? A man in black clothing armed with stealth and sharp weapons? A person who could shape shift or who could make multiple copies of himself? A boy in an orange jumpsuit who dreams to become Hokage? What is a ninja anyway?
A ninja was a spy of feudal Japan, specializing in untraditional tactics. A ninja is sneaky and sly for he tries to blend in a crowd, disguising himself as a civilian. He may look harmless but, really, he is collecting data about his enemy’s weaknesses or the scope of his enemy’s territory. Unlike the samurai, who is strict with honor, combat and discipline, the ninja had to use hidden ways in order to fight.
Now, what is a ninja without his weapons?
Just like the samurai, a ninja’s weapon of choice is the katana, a sword which has the capability to slice a man in half. Ninjas have numerous ways of using the katana. They can stun enemies with it by putting red pepper, iron fillings or dirt near the top of its scabbard.
Aside from the katana, there is also the ashiko. The ashiko are spiked claws worn on the feet. It was useful in climbing walls and kicking enemies hard. The ninjas used a Bo which is a staff that is six feet long. It is made of wood or bamboo that is hollow. Why hollow? The ninjas used a trick for this kind of weapon. A dagger or dart would fly out of the hollow if the staff is flicked with great speed, often catching the enemy off guard.
The ninja had another weapon called the naginata. It is a staff with a blade attached on one of its end. It is perfect for dismounting and immobilizing riders.
The kakute were rings dunked in poison. Ninjas would use the kakute to silently strangle their enemies to death. Using such was less messy than using the sword.
Powerful steal fingernails called the neko-te were usually used by kunoichi or female ninjas. Tied into leather bands, the neko-te bore a resemblance to claws. Like the kakute, the neko-te is dipped in poison.
There is also the famous shuriken, popularized by movies and tales about the ninja. A shuriken is a star-shaped flat piece of metal. Each of the shuriken’s point is sharpened and, again, dipped in poison. The shuriken was used for as a distraction or a way to get away from the enemy. The ninja would throw it into the air and divert his enemy to help him escape.
The kunai is an awesome throwing weapon. It is a small knife or dagger-type tool with a short grip. It was primarily used as a utility blade. Its secondary use is for throwing it towards the enemy. It is excellent for close-range combats. It is useful for climbing as well and hammering.
The ninjas used a large variety of weapons. The above are just a few examples.
Related posts:
