It simply amazes me every time I see a website portraying Ninja as a soldier, or commando, the display of Ninja along side someone dressing up in a soldier uniform with a machine gun makes me cringe to say the very least, what are these people thinking.

  I understand how some can think they are somehow related, the truth is, Ninja are not soldiers nor are they mercenaries or guns for hire. Another mistake people make is in assuming just because one is a fighting solider they are a warrior or Ninja, this isn't correct either, in fact many soldiers are not real warriors, they only think they are.

  There are those are try to take advantage of this war going on and to attract military students they give them the impression that Ninja are combat soldiers, usually these Bujinkan instructors had prior Military experience so they go with what they know. Personally, I believe this is sending a wrong message and I find it insulting to Hatsumi Sensei and the Bujinkan.

  It's very wrong to compare Ninja to Military or to even put the two in the same light is asking for trouble not to mention possibly harming the reputation of the Bujinkan. It's true that there are some related studies they both have in common but Ninja think very differently from your common solider and the training is very different as well.

  This goes back to what I had mentioned previously about students in the Bujinkan doing their own thing, they never see the consequences of their actions and the message they are sending out. They think just because Sensei may not say anything that they are ok to do so, what they fail to realize is that Sensei is looking for them to do the right thing.

  When I consider training military and law enforcement students, i am very careful about who I train, I am mindful of these types of professions and what they represent, there are some good people in these fields, however, many are not so good and should not be taught Ninjutsu or Bujinkan training.

  So, my advice to all those Ninja Commando's out there, put the hood, camouflage and the rambo toys away before someone gets seriously injured. Set an example better still, be the example, we are not militia, we are NINJA.