true path of the ninja is the first authoritative translation in english of the shoninki—the famous 17th century ninjutsu manual. antony cummins and yoshie minami worked closely with dr. nakashima atsumi, author of the most comprehensive modern japanese version of the shoninki, thus making this english translation the closest to the original scrolls. the information and insights found in this translation are invaluable for understanding the skills, techniques and mentality of the historical shinobi. whether it involved tips for surviving in the wild, advice on intelligence--gathering techniques, or methods for creating chaos in the enemy camp, this ninja book unveils secrets long lost. along with its practical applications, this book is an important guide to the mental discipline that ninjas must have to ensure success in accomplishing their mission. in addition to the translation of the shoninki, this book also includes the first written record of the oral tradition ""defense against a ninja"" taught by otake risuke, the revered sensei of the legendary katori shinto ryu school of swordsmanship. sensei reveals for the first time these ancient and traditional teachings on how the samurai can protect himself from the cunning wiles of a ninja. see all product description