---
product_id: 50451787
title: "True Path of the Ninja: The Definitive Translation of the Shoninki (The Authentic Ninja Training Manual)"
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# True Path of the Ninja: The Definitive Translation of the Shoninki (The Authentic Ninja Training Manual)

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## Description

True Path of the Ninja is the first authoritative translation in English of the Shoninki —the famous 17th-century ninjutsu manual. Authors 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. True Path of the Ninja covers the following topics: What a ninja is and what equipment he needs The skills of infiltration and information gathering How to disrupt and distract the enemy How to be mentally prepared to carry out ninja missions 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. About this new edition: This second edition contains a new introduction by the translator and has been thoroughly updated to reflect developments that shed new light on the original Japanese text.

Review: 'True Path' is a path to truth. - The Ninja. Virtually everyone in the modern world has heard the term, but what do we really know about them? Those seeking a true understanding of the historical realities of these mysterious figures will find scant few volumes available. In a market saturated with and dominated by long held misconceptions and often blatant misinformation and misdirection about the ninja, 'True Path' is a path to truth. This slight volume is a translation of primary source documentation about the legitiimate historical ninja and the practice of ninjutsu; and as such provides a rare glimpse through the veil of fiction and fantasy, leaving us with factual accounts by an actual ninja! The diminutive size of this volume belies the abundance of information with which it is packed. I've read this tome many times and I'm always astounded by just how much information is contained in such a small book. I think it's fair to say that a great many books of double (and even greater) size often do not contain a fraction of the information contained in this one! If I were to make any criticism of the book it would be soley with the publishers and their marketing ploys to capitalize on long held, but erroneous popular misconceptions of the ninja despite the efforts of the translators to present a different (i.e. - accurate and factual) representation in the form of primary evidence. That said, this should not be seen as a reflection of the efforts of the translation team and these little nuances do little to underscore the importance of this historical work and wealth of it's content. An updated and revised second edition is forthcoming and I have already pre-ordered it, for anyone seeking a glimpse into the actual thoughts, practices, and operations of the ninja of old, I would HIGHLY recommend you do the same! In my humble opinion this is among a small handful of books that no person having an interest in the ninja should be without. -J. Farthing, March 2017
Review: Valuable book - At first I was skeptical with this book when I decided to get a translation of Shoninki, because of some of the controversy surrounding the author. So I purchased the Axel version instead. But upon investigating the work of Antony Cummins, I came to the conclusion that most of the controversy is not founded in any objective criticism, but rather in personal attacks due to the author's comments regarding Bujinkan and modern Ninjitsu. So from a skeptic, I came all the way, to my current opinion that this is a far better translation of Shoninki than the version by mr. Axel. The book is very detailed, and pays much attention to details. The author states that a lot of footnotes were incorporated into the text itself due to publisher's request. This is my only objection to this book, but I know the author didn't have a choice in the matter as much. In regards to the work itself. It might be a disappointment to those who are used to the popular image of a Ninja warrior provided by media and modern Ninjutsu schools, which are unable to prove their lineage. This isn't a book for kids playing with shurikens. It's a manual on espionage, communication skills, strategy etc. In fact it is much more usable in everyday life, than any martial arts book could ever come close to be. As the shoninki states itself, the real war is fought with words, not weapons. And the greatest Shinobi is he who manages to have no enemies. If a Ninja has to hit someone or use a sword, then he is a really bad Ninja. This is the whole message of the book. If anyone is interested in REAL Ninpo, historical Ninpo, as opposed to modern imaginative reenactments, or 80's movies nonsense, I'd recommend this book. If you are, like me, looking to buy any translation of Shoninki and can't make up your mind, I'd advise you to buy this one first(and others then just to compare).

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #76,533 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #107 in Japanese History (Books) #122 in Sports Training (Books) #169 in Martial Arts (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 486 Reviews |

## Images

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## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'True Path' is a path to truth.
*by N***E on March 8, 2017*

The Ninja. Virtually everyone in the modern world has heard the term, but what do we really know about them? Those seeking a true understanding of the historical realities of these mysterious figures will find scant few volumes available. In a market saturated with and dominated by long held misconceptions and often blatant misinformation and misdirection about the ninja, 'True Path' is a path to truth. This slight volume is a translation of primary source documentation about the legitiimate historical ninja and the practice of ninjutsu; and as such provides a rare glimpse through the veil of fiction and fantasy, leaving us with factual accounts by an actual ninja! The diminutive size of this volume belies the abundance of information with which it is packed. I've read this tome many times and I'm always astounded by just how much information is contained in such a small book. I think it's fair to say that a great many books of double (and even greater) size often do not contain a fraction of the information contained in this one! If I were to make any criticism of the book it would be soley with the publishers and their marketing ploys to capitalize on long held, but erroneous popular misconceptions of the ninja despite the efforts of the translators to present a different (i.e. - accurate and factual) representation in the form of primary evidence. That said, this should not be seen as a reflection of the efforts of the translation team and these little nuances do little to underscore the importance of this historical work and wealth of it's content. An updated and revised second edition is forthcoming and I have already pre-ordered it, for anyone seeking a glimpse into the actual thoughts, practices, and operations of the ninja of old, I would HIGHLY recommend you do the same! In my humble opinion this is among a small handful of books that no person having an interest in the ninja should be without. -J. Farthing, March 2017

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Valuable book
*by N***6 on December 14, 2011*

At first I was skeptical with this book when I decided to get a translation of Shoninki, because of some of the controversy surrounding the author. So I purchased the Axel version instead. But upon investigating the work of Antony Cummins, I came to the conclusion that most of the controversy is not founded in any objective criticism, but rather in personal attacks due to the author's comments regarding Bujinkan and modern Ninjitsu. So from a skeptic, I came all the way, to my current opinion that this is a far better translation of Shoninki than the version by mr. Axel. The book is very detailed, and pays much attention to details. The author states that a lot of footnotes were incorporated into the text itself due to publisher's request. This is my only objection to this book, but I know the author didn't have a choice in the matter as much. In regards to the work itself. It might be a disappointment to those who are used to the popular image of a Ninja warrior provided by media and modern Ninjutsu schools, which are unable to prove their lineage. This isn't a book for kids playing with shurikens. It's a manual on espionage, communication skills, strategy etc. In fact it is much more usable in everyday life, than any martial arts book could ever come close to be. As the shoninki states itself, the real war is fought with words, not weapons. And the greatest Shinobi is he who manages to have no enemies. If a Ninja has to hit someone or use a sword, then he is a really bad Ninja. This is the whole message of the book. If anyone is interested in REAL Ninpo, historical Ninpo, as opposed to modern imaginative reenactments, or 80's movies nonsense, I'd recommend this book. If you are, like me, looking to buy any translation of Shoninki and can't make up your mind, I'd advise you to buy this one first(and others then just to compare).

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An excellent basic manual on the Shinobi Ninja clan. A book many martial artists will enjoy.
*by J***E on April 11, 2011*

As a lifetime student of the martial arts I looked forward to reading this book. It is supposed to be "an authentic Ninja training manual." Indeed, it is a very interesting and informative treatise on Ninjutsu. This book on Ninja training is somewhat different than the many other books on this shadow art. This manual does not show any actual fighting techniques but goes into detail on many other aspects of being a true "Shinobi" Ninja soldier. This book is organized into three basic sections. Some of the topics covered include: What it means to be a Shinobi, tools of the trade, how to disguise yourself, how to infiltrate the enemy's home, camp and areas. This text also explains how to work in teams to achieve an objective, how to find your way in the wilderness. It also explains a basic guide to the proper philosophy a Shinobi must be guided by to succeed, and outlines how to understand your weak points and how to correct them. In conclusion, this manual will be of interest to all martial artists who desire to better understand the mind-set of the ancient Japanese Ninja. This book will also be of interest to martial artists and Japanese scholars. Rating: 5 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Martial Art Myths)

## Frequently Bought Together

- True Path of the Ninja: The Definitive Translation of the Shoninki (the Authentic Ninja Training Manual)
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- The Secret Traditions of the Shinobi: Hattori Hanzo's Shinobi Hiden and Other Ninja Scrolls

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*Last updated: 2026-07-10*