How to Be a Ninja

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: March 28, 2022 Approved

Ninjas have a super cool reputation, and it’s no surprise that so many people want to be one. Stealth, physical agility, and strength, both physical and mental, are important components for you to master to become a ninja. Learn martial arts, how to walk without making a sound, and how to be aware of your surroundings so you can always be ready for whatever mission may come your way.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Training to Become a Ninja

1
Join a martial arts class to become a master of hand-to-hand fighting. Ninjutsu is the traditional class of martial arts that ninjas studied, but it can be hard to find these types of classes at many martial arts schools. If it isn’t an option for you, look into taking Taekwondo, Karate, Jujitsu, or Judo classes.^{[1]
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- These classes train your body so that you can combat an opponent without any weapons. While ninjas do sometimes use weapons, it isn’t safe or recommended to carry weapons around with you.
2
Become comfortable with your surroundings by practicing parkour. If you’re a ninja, chances are, you’ll be out and about whenever you need to use your skills. Parkour will enable you to get from place to place quickly by climbing and jumping. You’ll feel ready to face whatever comes your way if you know you can always scale a wall or jump over a stationary car if you need to.^{[2]
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- Watch tutorials or join a class to learn the basics, then take your practice to the streets and teach yourself how to use the world as your gym.
Warning: Parkour is physically demanding, so if you’re not in shape, work on strengthening your entire body before moving on to demanding parkour moves.
3
Perfect your balancing skills so that you can move quickly and nimbly. As a ninja, you need to be able to creep around corners, move quickly from place to place, and hide in small spaces. Having great balance will help you do all these things with ease. Try out some of these balance-improving exercises:
- Do 30-45 squats every day to strengthen your calves and thighs.
- Exercise your core so that your center of gravity is as strong as possible.
- Practice standing on one leg at a time until you can do it without wobbling for 60 seconds.
- Join a pilates or yoga class to improve your balance and strengthen your entire body.
4
Learn how to blend in with your surroundings and create distractions. Ninjas pride themselves on operating in plain sight without being noticed by others. But, if you do get noticed and need to get away quickly, you also need to know how to distract those around you.
- To blend in better, work on maintaining a neutral composure. Be neither too loud or too quiet, and don’t brag about your ninja skills when you’re in front of others.
- To create a distraction, you could do something like covertly throw a pen across a room so it hits a wall and makes a noise. When everyone looks to see what caused the commotion, you can make your getaway.
5
Practice walking stealthily so others can’t hear you approaching. Start by putting your pinkie toe on the floor and then roll the rest of your toes until they’re all touching the ground. If you need to, roll your step so that your heel rests on the ground—but, if you’re in motion, you can mainly walk on the tips of your toes.
- It’s helpful to crouch slightly as you walk so that your center of gravity is more compact. This makes it a lot less likely that you’ll lose your balance.
- You may even want to practice walking on all fours in case you end up somewhere where you can’t walk upright.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Sharpening Your Senses

1
Meditate to gain control over your internal self and improve your focus. A clear mind is an essential part of your success as a ninja. It can help you be present in every situation so that you’re always ready for whatever comes your way. Try out a few of these meditation practices to find one that works for you:^{[3]
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- Try mindful breathing—set a timer for 3-5 minutes and focus on your breathing. Inhale through your nose for 5 counts and exhale through your mouth for 4. Repeat until the timer goes off.
- Download a meditation app and follow the daily prompts to make meditation a part of your daily practice. Calm, Headspace, Insight Timer, and 10% Happier are great options to look into.
- Join a mindful yoga and meditation class for a guided in-person experience.
2
Practice being aware of your surroundings at all times. Instead of looking down at your phone, look around you. Observe the people around you, what types of obstacles might be in your way if you need to move quickly, and tune into your senses.
- Being aware will also help you remember things better, which can come in handy if you are somewhere you aren’t familiar with.
- Paying attention to what you see, smell, feel, touch, and hear can keep you in tune with your gut, which can alert you to potential problems.
3
Read the behavior of people around you to assess potential threats. Even if someone isn’t posing a threat, they could still be untrustworthy. Part of being a ninja is being able to tell who is and isn’t a worthy companion. Pay attention to what people say, if they are acting nervous or twitchy, and how they change in front of different people.^{[4]
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- If you’re doing a reconnaissance mission and don’t want the person to know you’re watching them, do your best to blend in with your surroundings. Pretending to look at your phone or read a book can help you keep tabs on them without risking them catching you staring.
Signs that Someone is Lying:

Avoiding eye contact

Nervous fidgeting

Decreased blinking or pursed lips

Including an extreme number of details to a story or forgetting those details later on

Avoiding using words like “I,” “me,” and “mine”
4
Become a master of Shugendo, the Japanese practice of discipline. Shugendo emphasizes physical and mental endurance as a path to enlightenment. Read as much as you can about the practice, and check to see if there is a group in your area that you can join. If not, many of the tenants of Buddhism are similar to those of Shugendo—either would be a good spiritual practice to align yourself with as a ninja.^{[5]
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- There are some great articles and websites you can use to learn more about Shugendo. Also, check out your local library to see if they have any books about the subject.
Check These Out: Shugendo by Hitoshi Miyake, Shugendo: The Way of the Mountain Monks by Martin Faulks, and The Mandala of the Mountain: Shugendo and Folk Religion, also by Hitoshi Miyake, are books that would give you a lot of information about the history and practice of Shugendo.

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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Dressing the Part

1
Wear regular clothes if you want to blend in with those around you. A huge part of ninja life is being able to camouflage yourself with your surroundings, and if you’re most often around other people, you want to blend in rather than stick out. While it can be super fun to wear all black and sneak around, save that ensemble for nighttime or parties.
- Part of the reason why ninjas were so good at what they did was that they could get close to their marks without being noticed.
- If you want others to know you’re a ninja, though, feel free to wear clothes that mark you as one.
2
Opt for clothes that don’t rustle or make noise so you can move quietly. Even if you’re blending in, it’s still important that you can move quickly and quietly when needed. Choose cotton, cotton-blends, and broken-in denim. For shoes, pick ones that don’t squeak or make noise when you walk. Avoid wearing jangly jewelry.
- Avoid clothes made of synthetic materials, like polyester, acrylic, and rayon.
3
Put on a traditional ninja outfit if you are doing missions at night. This outfit is called the “shinobi foku.” Pick pants and a top that are dark and loose-fitting so you can move with ease. Overtop of your shirt, wear a dark kimono or short robe and secure it with a sash.^{[6]
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- Invest in a pair of tabi split-toe boots to complete your look. They help you move more stealthily.
Tip: Wear navy blue rather than black to blend in with night surroundings better. Black is more visible that navy blue because it reflects more light.
4
Wear a black mask to cover your face if you’re doing a covert operation. You could use something simple like a ski mask, or you could wear a turtleneck and a black beanie to cover the majority of your face. Do your best to cover up as much as possible so only your eyes are visible.
- If you think you might need your mask or outfit at some point and won’t have time to go home and change, bring everything with you in a backpack. That way, you’re always ready with your gear.
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Question

what if your cover is blown

Scott Cushman

Community Answer

Never blow your cover. Being a ninja requires stealth and constant vigilance. Stay safe out there.

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How do ninjas fight?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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The ninja specializes in catching people unawares, so as to avoid having to use too much force when fighting. As such, much of the fight is about patience and waiting for that moment when the opponent is off guard. When having to fight, the ninja would use a martial art specific to their master’s training. More information on the techniques used can be found in the wikiHow How to Learn Ninja Techniques and How to Train to Be a Ninja Easily.

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What is Ninja technique?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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Ninjutsu techniques involved subterfuge, misdirection and sneaking around so as to remain undetected. Stealth, spying and avoidance form a large part of ninja technique. You can learn more about these techniques with this wikiHow: How to Learn Ninja Techniques.

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Tips

Read books about Ninjutsu to become even more familiar with the history of ninjas. Mansen Shukai, Shoninki, and Shinobi Hiden are considered to be the 3 canonical ninja tomes.^{[7]
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Thanks
Helpful 13 Not Helpful 5
Some people want to be a ninja for fun because they like the way it looks, and others want to be able to do everything a ninja does. Do however much ninja training feels right to you!

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Helpful 17 Not Helpful 2
Don't beat people up for the fun of it!

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