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Comment by Cryptocurrency on February 21, 2012 at 8:28pm

These ninja are students of the Togakure tradition, and associated with the Bujinkan (School of the divine war spirits). I began the study of ninjutsu at the age of 14 under the same tradition. There are Quest Centers and non To-Shin-Do affiliates that all fall under the umbrella of Bujinkan on every continent.

These ninja are obviously being used as a propaganda tool to further demonize Iran. While the followers of Bujinkan are loyal to the organization they are also loyal to country. However, ninja of this ryu (school) as I was taught, are instructed to love their enemies and show compassion and mercy; it is expected of a ninja to allow an adversary every possible opportunity to escape or avoid conflict. Only then may a student of Ninpo engage.

Comment by youhavetoforgiveme on February 21, 2012 at 3:11pm

Well said Marklar. This makes about as much sense as claiming the revolver jumped up off the kitchen table and shot the intruder than the homeowner did it. My vote is for the dead intruder, but the logic of blaming the weapon for killing and not the person using the weapon applies.

Comment by Marklar on February 21, 2012 at 3:42am

I'm sure we probably have at least 3,000 ninjutsu students here in the US as well, plus Taekwondo, Kenpo, Ju Jitsu, Tai Chi, Krav Maga, Pancration, Salat, Capuaida, Iron Palm, Hung Gar, Arnis, Eskrima, Mui Tay, and soooo many others. These people are just doing what students in any dojo do. Calling them ninja assasins is just dumb. If ever they go up against real assassins like the mossad, they'll have more than their hands full.

Assassinating people makes you an assassin, studying ninjitsu makes you a martial artist. Assassination was not even the primary roll of the ninja in ancient times. They were more often used as spies and gatherers of intelligence. A ninja on a mission was far more likely to climb a city wall by night, dress as a peasant to collect the local gossip and then sneak out again than they were to be on a mission of assassination.

Comment by Cryptocurrency on February 20, 2012 at 11:37pm