True Path of the Ninja: The Definitive Translation of the Shoninki (The Authentic Ninja Training Manual)

The Ninja. Virtually everyone in the modern world has heard the term, but what do we really know about them? Those seeking a true understanding of the historical realities of these mysterious figures will find scant few volumes available. In a market saturated with and dominated by long held misconceptions and often blatant misinformation and misdirection about the ninja, 'True Path' is a path to truth. This slight volume is a translation of primary source documentation about the legitiimate historical ninja and the practice of ninjutsu; and as such provides a rare glimpse through the veil of fiction and fantasy, leaving us with factual accounts by an actual ninja! The diminutive size of this volume belies the abundance of information with which it is packed. I've read this tome many times and I'm always astounded by just how much information is contained in such a small book. I think it's fair to say that a great many books of double (and even greater) size often do not contain a fraction of the information contained in this one! If I were to make any criticism of the book it would be soley with the publishers and their marketing ploys to capitalize on long held, but erroneous popular misconceptions of the ninja despite the efforts of the translators to present a different (i.e. - accurate and factual) representation in the form of primary evidence. That said, this should not be seen as a reflection of the efforts of the translation team and these little nuances do little to underscore the importance of this historical work and wealth of it's content. An updated and revised second edition is forthcoming and I have already pre-ordered it, for anyone seeking a glimpse into the actual thoughts, practices, and operations of the ninja of old, I would HIGHLY recommend you do the same! In my humble opinion this is among a small handful of books that no person having an interest in the ninja should be without. -J. Farthing, March 2017

At first I was skeptical with this book when I decided to get a translation of Shoninki, because of some of the controversy surrounding the author. So I purchased the Axel version instead. But upon investigating the work of Antony Cummins, I came to the conclusion that most of the controversy is not founded in any objective criticism, but rather in personal attacks due to the author's comments regarding Bujinkan and modern Ninjitsu. So from a skeptic, I came all the way, to my current opinion that this is a far better translation of Shoninki than the version by mr. Axel. The book is very detailed, and pays much attention to details. The author states that a lot of footnotes were incorporated into the text itself due to publisher's request. This is my only objection to this book, but I know the author didn't have a choice in the matter as much. In regards to the work itself. It might be a disappointment to those who are used to the popular image of a Ninja warrior provided by media and modern Ninjutsu schools, which are unable to prove their lineage. This isn't a book for kids playing with shurikens. It's a manual on espionage, communication skills, strategy etc. In fact it is much more usable in everyday life, than any martial arts book could ever come close to be. As the shoninki states itself, the real war is fought with words, not weapons. And the greatest Shinobi is he who manages to have no enemies. If a Ninja has to hit someone or use a sword, then he is a really bad Ninja. This is the whole message of the book. If anyone is interested in REAL Ninpo, historical Ninpo, as opposed to modern imaginative reenactments, or 80's movies nonsense, I'd recommend this book. If you are, like me, looking to buy any translation of Shoninki and can't make up your mind, I'd advise you to buy this one first(and others then just to compare).

As a lifetime student of the martial arts I looked forward to reading this book. It is supposed to be "an authentic Ninja training manual." Indeed, it is a very interesting and informative treatise on Ninjutsu. This book on Ninja training is somewhat different than the many other books on this shadow art. This manual does not show any actual fighting techniques but goes into detail on many other aspects of being a true "Shinobi" Ninja soldier. This book is organized into three basic sections. Some of the topics covered include: What it means to be a Shinobi, tools of the trade, how to disguise yourself, how to infiltrate the enemy's home, camp and areas. This text also explains how to work in teams to achieve an objective, how to find your way in the wilderness. It also explains a basic guide to the proper philosophy a Shinobi must be guided by to succeed, and outlines how to understand your weak points and how to correct them. In conclusion, this manual will be of interest to all martial artists who desire to better understand the mind-set of the ancient Japanese Ninja. This book will also be of interest to martial artists and Japanese scholars. Rating: 5 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Martial Art Myths)

Similar to another book called "Shoninki". It was good effort of the author using his style to translate the information. I found the information quite useful. The contents are somewhat outdated for modern times. A good read however.

Cummins unceremoniously shatters the "modern" image of the ninja with his commentary, but he provides a portrait of an ancient spy as consolation. Much of the original work was meant for training men to gather information, usually in a military setting that put the spy's life in peril. This viewpoint is, in some ways, more entertaining than the ninja who performs otherworldly and difficult acts while dressed entirely in black. Still, Cummins knows his audience is likely those enamored with the "modern" ninja, and does try to draw parallels at points so he doesn't alienate the people who will get this book for that reason. This isn't a ninja instruction book in the sense that the reader would hope, but that doesn't detract from it. There are tricks in here that could easily be performed in a present-day scenario, as well as a few that require specialized (but likely obtainable) equipment. The book turned slightly esoteric near the middle, when the topic of spirituality came up. This may have been a failing of the e-book layout, since this was the most thoroughly-illustrated part of the book, but it was hard to follow along at this point and made me feel disconnected from the material at a critical juncture. That's why I dropped a star from my rating. Chapters start with a few words from the translator that interpret the meaning of each section before providing the translated texts themselves. While some points seem extrapolated beyond what's on the page, they were conclusions the reader would likely draw anyway. From an entertainment perspective (which was the context I purchased it in), it was fun picturing the actions described in the book, and I found the piece engaging enough to justify my purchase. If you are just starting to study ancient Japan or have always been intrigued by what ninja were really like, I would highly recommend this book.

There are now numerous translations of the classic shinobi-no-jutsu (ninjutsu) manual which can be found online and throughout the research communities. This is updated work, in my humble opinion, is very accurate and includes some additional content which helps to serve the researcher or student well. I highly recommend this for one seeking to study, train, or simply learn more about shinobi (ninja) tactics and philosophy. On a side note, this manual is an advanced-level manual in many respects, which hinges on foundational aspects found within earlier manuals of the Natori family. This point is often overlooked and misunderstood. It would serve one well to include the study of earlier basic manuals, as well as, additional shinobi-no-jutsu (ninjutsu) material to gain a deeper context of this. Excellent work. Highly recommended. - Ukyo, Seininkai Dojo

Very informative good book

So it turns out this once secret manual, a manual many were waiting for , for years, is among other things about guerrilla tactics, intelligence gathering, survivalism, bush-craft, sabotage, psychological manipulation , con-artistry and trickery, general military strategy, physiognomy, divination and last but not least asymmetric warfare. The Ninja is a much broader set of skills than previously imagined, they never really cared much about unarmed hand combat "known now as martial arts", and preferred much to accomplish their tasks using deception and winning without a fight a la Sun Tzu. This is truly a masterpiece, its not a detailed step by step manual, but more of a general know-how book on how to become a ninja. While some of the stuff can be recreated , most would need "kuden" or oral knowledge which has been unfortunately lost. If you know what to expect, from what I have written above, this book will entertain you.

Un libro que nos presenta el mundo del shinobi desde un punto de vista histórico. En este caso es la traducción de un clásico Japones, en el que Antony Cummins con un montón de anotaciones nos aporta mucha información extra.

El libro es justo lo que se ofertaba y esperaba. El único detalle de este pedido fue el desempeño del servicio de entrega. La caja en la que llegaron presentó daño; abolladuras para ser concretos, y por consecuencia el libro sufrió daños en una de sus esquinas. Estos libros fueron un encargo de una amiga, la que me comentó al respecto, Al comentarle sobre la posibilidad de regresar la pieza dañada para que le enviaran uno en mejores condiciones, desestimó la opción, dado que ya no podía esperar más tiempo dadas sus actividades de estudio.

Excellent book, got that old copy with the blue cover even if not up to date compared to the red cover one. The red cover one is the same book with some removed parts that were not factual (to my

C'est la caractéristique même de cet auteur. Une étude universitaire de cet art, de cette façon de vivre. On n'accepte ou on n'accepte pas ce qui est dévoilé comme tout livre historique mais les éléments sont là. A chacun a en tirer ce qu'il en veut et surtout ce qu'il en peut.

When researching the real history of the Shonobi no Mono (aka Ninja) and what they actually did, Antony Cummins is an absolute must! True Path of the Ninja is the genuine article. Translated from the Shoninki (written in the late 1600's) it is ram packed with useful information and gives a clear window into the shadowy world of Medieval Japanese Espionage!