There are many theories about the true origins of the word "ninja", a profession so steeped in history and mythology that discerning the true facts is nigh impossible. Sorting ninja reality from ninja fiction would be a journey of magic, mystery, and murder that would inspire the imagination and educate as well as scintillate.
None of which is going to happen on this blog, as I don't plan on using the word "ninja" correctly at all. Instead, I'm using it to tap into one of my deep, irrational, childhood fantasies: of one day becoming a ninja, a masked warrior with superhuman skills and a penchant for justice!
Of course, I'm not twelve any more, but triple that. That doesn't mean the fantasy has gone away, but rather that it has gotten more complex. Justice is no longer as simple as stabbing bad people in the face, but rather seems to involve education and economics and infrastructure in order to create circumstances where people find it easier to be good. Being a warrior is less about swinging a sword and more about courage and peace in the face of adversity and violence, making people like Malala Yousafzai and Glen Canning seem like the true heroes of our age.
But I still wish I could backflip ten feet onto the top of a wall, and viewing the keen edge of a katana still makes my heart yearn in the way that only beautiful art can. The ninja remains some kind of paragon of self-perfection in my inner child's imagination.
So the kind of ninja I will be talking about on this blog is the one who has trained him or herself to a point of perfection. This may include physical training, mental education, and spiritual fortitude. There may be martial arts and acrobatics. There may be links to fascinating lectures and educational resources. There will certainly be some exploration of what it means to be such a ninja in the 21st century.
It's a simple definition, but one that should lead to an interesting journey.
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