# Any no-BS source about what & who real Ninjas were vs pop culture fantasy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 4, 2004, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-no-bs-source-about-what-who-real-ninjas-were-vs-pop-culture-fantasy/267424 "2004-10-04T05:21:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-no-bs-source-about-what-who-real-ninjas-were-vs-pop-culture-fantasy/267424/1 "2004-10-04T05:21:21Z")
There is so much pop culture fantasy about Ninjas that it’s difficult to find any real authoritative information about what and who they really were. Any authoritative sources for this info? ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-no-bs-source-about-what-who-real-ninjas-were-vs-pop-culture-fantasy/267424/2 "2004-10-04T06:07:02Z")
Wikipedia looks to have a good overview and links: > **[Ninja](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninja)** > > A ninja (忍者, Japanese pronunciation: \[ɲiꜜɲdʑa\]) or shinobi (忍び, \[ɕinobi\]) was a covert agent or mercenary in feudal Japan. The functions of a ninja included espionage, deception, and surprise attacks. Their covert methods of waging irregular warfare were deemed dishonorable and beneath the honor of the samurai. Though shinobi proper, as specially trained spies and mercenaries, appeared in the 15th century during the Sengoku period, antecedents may have existed as early as the 12th centur In th... ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-no-bs-source-about-what-who-real-ninjas-were-vs-pop-culture-fantasy/267424/3 "2004-10-04T06:26:35Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Wikipedia looks to have a good overview and links: > > [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninja](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninja) > [@](#): > > From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. > This page has been Ninja’d 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Atticus\_Finch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Atticus\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atticus_Finch)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-no-bs-source-about-what-who-real-ninjas-were-vs-pop-culture-fantasy/267424/4 "2004-10-04T06:39:56Z")
[This site](http://www.realultimatepower.net/) also has useful information about ninjas. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-no-bs-source-about-what-who-real-ninjas-were-vs-pop-culture-fantasy/267424/5 "2004-10-04T06:49:23Z")
> [@astro](#): > > 😕 😕 I wonder if you have some spyware there!, try going to the wikipedia main page: > **[Main Page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page)** > > John (1166–1216) was King of England from 1199 until his death. The youngest of the four surviving sons of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, he became Henry's favourite after a revolt by his brothers Henry, Richard, and Geoffrey. Despite rebelling against King Richard, who was away on the Third Crusade, he became king after Richard's death. War with France broke out in 1202; John achieved early victories, but shortages of resources led to the loss of the Duchy of Normandy and most other French l... And then search for Ninja. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-no-bs-source-about-what-who-real-ninjas-were-vs-pop-culture-fantasy/267424/6 "2004-10-04T07:27:46Z")
Well, since the Ninja’s were a secret & illegal group (or groups), anything is BS to some degree. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-no-bs-source-about-what-who-real-ninjas-were-vs-pop-culture-fantasy/267424/7 "2004-10-04T08:33:33Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > 😕 I wonder if you have some spyware there! No spyware, just [some jerk](http://en.wikipedia.org/w/wiki.phtml?title=Ninja&oldid=6276127) messing up the page. The [current version](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninja) appears to have been fixed. ---
**Author:** ![micco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f8ce5/32.png) [@micco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/micco)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-no-bs-source-about-what-who-real-ninjas-were-vs-pop-culture-fantasy/267424/8 "2004-10-04T13:06:16Z")
You might try digging through the forums at [E-Budo](http://www.e-budo.com/vbulletin/index.php). This site includes a forum for the current practice and history of Ninpo and Ninjutsu. The members of e-Budo are very good about exposing frauds, fake lineages, and bogus history. ---
**Author:** ![RandomLetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@RandomLetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandomLetters)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-no-bs-source-about-what-who-real-ninjas-were-vs-pop-culture-fantasy/267424/9 "2004-10-04T14:00:49Z")
> [@Atticus Finch](#): > > [This site](http://www.realultimatepower.net/) also has useful information about ninjas. I agree with this - that site simply has the best info on ninjas that is available on the net. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-no-bs-source-about-what-who-real-ninjas-were-vs-pop-culture-fantasy/267424/10 "2004-10-04T14:33:40Z")
Donn Draeger wrote extensively this and related subjects. Try his excellent Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts, co-authored with Robert W. Smith, and Draeger’s definitive work Classical Bujutsu. Draeger held a Ph.D. in hoplology, or the study of weapons, and was widely considered one of the most knowledgeable people ever to study the classical warrior traditions of Japan. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-no-bs-source-about-what-who-real-ninjas-were-vs-pop-culture-fantasy/267424/11 "2004-10-04T14:57:48Z")
[I believe this is site you’re looking for.](http://www.realultimatepower.net/index3.htm) ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-no-bs-source-about-what-who-real-ninjas-were-vs-pop-culture-fantasy/267424/12 "2004-10-04T14:59:25Z")
Alas, perview is not my friend. I see that **Atticus Finch** beat me to it. Please don’t send the ninjas after me. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-no-bs-source-about-what-who-real-ninjas-were-vs-pop-culture-fantasy/267424/13 "2004-10-04T16:33:36Z")
> [@picker](#): > > [I believe this is site you’re looking for.](http://www.realultimatepower.net/index3.htm) Is that a parody site, or the genuine rantings of a gushing adolescent? ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-no-bs-source-about-what-who-real-ninjas-were-vs-pop-culture-fantasy/267424/14 "2004-10-04T17:18:20Z")
Though **Don Draeger** is pretty good, he does still fall for some serious Ninja B-S (see the picture of a Ninja Hand Glider). For the best non-partesan book on Ninjutsu try Andrew Adams’ [Ninja : The Invisable Assassins](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/089750030X/qid=/sr=/ref=cm_lm_asin/102-3242099-5568140?v=glance) **DrDeth** Ninjas were not illegal during much of Japanese history, they are mentioned several times as parts of several Samurai’s armys. Look up details about the real [Hanzo Hattori](http://www.samurai-archives.com/hanzo.html) And real-ultimate-power is a parody. ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2004, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-no-bs-source-about-what-who-real-ninjas-were-vs-pop-culture-fantasy/267424/15 "2004-10-04T17:21:17Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Is that a parody site, or the genuine rantings of a gushing adolescent? Question not its provenance; rather give thanks that it exists at all. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-no-bs-source-about-what-who-real-ninjas-were-vs-pop-culture-fantasy/267424/16 "2004-10-05T07:29:22Z")
When you’re finished doing your research and have built up your hunger, [go here](http://www.ninjaburger.com/) for a repast. ---
**Author:** ![RandomLetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@RandomLetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandomLetters)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-no-bs-source-about-what-who-real-ninjas-were-vs-pop-culture-fantasy/267424/17 "2004-10-05T12:53:09Z")
> [@Bippy the Beardless](#): > > And real-ultimate-power is a parody. No, everything on that site is both true AND awesome. Claims otherwise are just pirate propoganda - note that the poster of these lies has a pirate name. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2004, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-no-bs-source-about-what-who-real-ninjas-were-vs-pop-culture-fantasy/267424/18 "2004-10-05T15:20:08Z")
This is GQ and the OP asked for non B-S info. The Ninja were a number of real groups of people in medievil Japan, the joke sites are not realy helpful in answering the OP. OP may also want to look at some of Stephen Turnbull’s history books on Japan especially those dealing with the 16th Century.