Ninjutsu

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /nɪnd͡ʒɪtsu/

Definitions

1. A traditional Japanese martial art that emphasizes stealth and strategy while employing techniques including espionage, guerrilla warfare, and unarmed combat
2. This discipline focuses on covert operations and warfare strategies combined with hand-to-hand combat techniques and weapon training
3. A comprehensive system of ancient combat practices that includes sabotage, infiltration techniques, and mastery of various weapons and fighting styles

Etymology: Ninjutsu is built from two Japanese elements: "nin" (忍), meaning to endure, conceal oneself or steal in, and "jutsu" (術), meaning art, skill or technique. Together they name the craft of the shinobi, the covert agents of feudal Japan, whose work included espionage, sabotage and infiltration alongside combat. The "nin" character is the key to the word's sense. It carries the idea of pressing on through hardship and of moving unseen, so the term describes a method of concealment and endurance as much as a set of fighting moves. "Jutsu" is the same suffix found in many Japanese martial and craft terms, such as kenjutsu, the art of the sword, which is why ninjutsu sits naturally alongside them.

Synonyms: ninja arts, ninpo, martial arts, stealth techniques, espionage