Sensei Hakim Isler continues his discussion of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and whether or not they practice true Ninjutsu.
We’re all familiar with the weapons the Turtles use. Raphael favors the Sai, and Michelangelo wields a set of Nunchucks. Interestingly these weapons were not something used by true Ninja back in Japan.
Watch the video below to see what Sensei has to say about these weapons:
The sai is a weapon from the island of Okinawa. Its similar to, but not quite the same as the ninja weapon called the jutte.
The nunchucks have an even more interesting history. They didn’t originate as a weapon at all! Instead they were used by farmers to beat the ground and search for snakes.
The Kusari Fundo was the weapon used by the true Ninja. This chain would be 12 – 48 inches long with weights on the end. It was easier to hide than a sword, and was often used in Japanese palaces where swords were banned, even for guards. It was capable of inflicting serious – even fatal – injuries.
Lets Show Some True Ninjutsu
So the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are pretty definitely not authentic Ninja. (Maybe “mutant” applies to their art as well as their bodies as they are a mutation of several martial arts.)
But when the movie premiers this week, let’s take the time and show the world what authentic modern Ninjutsu really looks like! Join Elevo Dynamics as we perform a live demo for theater audiences in the lobbies of Market Fair theater on Friday, August 8 at 6:00 PM, and Westwood Shopping Center theater on Saturday, August 9 at 5:00 PM.
Hope to see you there!
