divxfan wrote:
Some believe ninja used special short swords called ninjato, or shinobigatana. Ninjato are smaller than katana but larger than wakizashi. The ninjato was often more of a utilitarian tool than a weapon, not having the complex heat treatment of a usual weapon, and a straight blade. It should be noted there have been no actual Ninjato found, and their existence is purely speculative. In all probability, ninja used the standard swords of the time. Another version of the ninja sword was the shikoro ken (saw sword). The shikoro ken was said to be used to gain entry into buildings, and could also have a double use by cutting (or slashing in this case) opponents.
The shuriken is a weapon that was barely ever used for throwing. It would be stuck into a wall or the ground to be used as a distraction, similar to Caltrops. Shuriken were often used coated with poison so when in direct combat with another the ninja could throw the shuriken and have a more substantial effect than the minor physical injury (with potentially severe effects depending on the strength of the poison). Shuriken does not actually refer to a singular weapon, in actuality the word refers to the general group of a ninja’s throwing weapons i.e.; shaken and kunai and various sharpened conical or spike-shaped pieces of metal.
Many ninja disguised themselves as farmers so their weapons (the kama, for example) could double as both weapons and farming implements.[citation needed] Many ninja also viewed their hands as weapons to be used in combat. To be able to attack their enemies with enough force to damage them, ninja would often wrap cloth, leather, or wear metal gloves around their hands to avoid breaking their knuckles and immobilizing them.
Ninjato
was the main bladed weapon Ninja used against opponents. You are correct in saying that the ninjato was of a low grade steel and inferior to that of a Katana. This allowed the ninjato to become more of a stabbing weapon rather than a slashing weapon. However, had a Ninja defeated a samurai in battle they would steal their katana.
Weapons such as the kunai were originally used as farming tools i.e. trowels which, as you have stated, allowed them for multiple use. The weapons they used were more like tools rather than wepaons, and Ninjas were not afraid to use every weapon in the book.
There is a misconception that Ninja used nunchucks. They did not.
A Ninja also used mainly feet for attacking at close range, however the palm of their hand was used in other cases. This was to avoid the chance of braking bones, considering that, when executed properly, the chance of breaking bones in the palm is less than the knuckles which are acctually quite fragile.
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