Page 36 - Green Butterfly Book 2

Date:
unit 5
4. Extension to History
Ninjas, Real or Make Believe?
Have you ever seen a cartoon or movie about ninjas? How about a ninja costume during Halloween or in a costume party? Do you know if ninjas really did exist?
wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c3/Kendo_EM_2005_-_kote.jpg
They did exist quite a long time ago. Not much is known about their history; most of what we know today has been transmitted from generation to generation. They were part of feudal Japanese society; they were specially trained in martial arts and hired mostly for espionage; they are well known for the effective techniques they used to gather information.
Ninjas practiced the art of “Ninjutsu”, which meant acting secretly, imperceptibly, or with caution, that is, the “art of stealth”. They practiced this fighting system
mostly to defend themselves. Ninjutsu was more than just a way to fight; it was a way of life. Ninjas and their families observed and respected nature, they felt closely related to the Earth (to water, wind, fire, and energy).
It is not totally clear how the ninjas began; it is thought that they started in small villages selling their skills to prominent families to protect their village from their enemies.
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