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Ninja hand gestures


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v1cious



Joined: 31 Dec 2002
Posts: 6241
Location: Houston, TX
PostPosted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 7:58 pm Reply with quote
does anyone know what the hand gesturing is supposed to represent exactly? is it some sort of sign language? it doesn't seem like it would be realistically possible to do them.... unless of course you're really fast Wink

Last edited by v1cious on Thu Apr 27, 2006 12:16 am; edited 1 time in total
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Dranxis



Joined: 23 Feb 2005
Posts: 591
Location: Ohtori Academy
PostPosted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 8:08 pm Reply with quote
I'm pretty sure they're supposed to represent signs for animals. Ex. Sign of the Tiger, Bird, Horse, ect. I'm not an expert on that exactly though so don't quote me.
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joel_s95387



Joined: 29 Jun 2005
Posts: 1804
Location: California... The Village Hidden In The Porn
PostPosted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 9:59 pm Reply with quote
Are you referring to any anime in particular? For example Naruto? Or just hand gestures in general?
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Exaar



Joined: 19 Apr 2006
Posts: 279
Location: Delaware
PostPosted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 10:38 pm Reply with quote
The ones in Naruto are indeed representatives of animals, of the Chinese Zodiac, in fact, if I remember correctly. They have a great pictoral guide to them at (I tried to link it here but it said it was a fansub distribution site. Which I guess it is, but it also has a ton of good Naruto information including a character guide and the hand-symbol guide. Anyway!). In that show, they use them to invoke techniques by combining them in differant combinations as if they were words in a magic spell, or somesuch.

But the idea of using those kinds of hand symbols to invoke magic isn't unique to Naruto, they use it in lots of anime for ninja techniques. Akira in Mai HiME is one example that comes to mind. Not sure what the basis of the whole thing is, but I know it's something ninja-esque characters do in lots of anime.
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Thanatos01s2



Joined: 23 Dec 2005
Posts: 231
PostPosted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 11:18 pm Reply with quote
In my martial arts class, where I do ninjutsu, the hand gestures represent:

Earth
Wind
Fire
Water

And Exaar typically ninjas are japanese and they obviously do not use the chinese zodiac. Maybe they do in naruto, but I am not exactly sure what v1cious is asking for. Real life or anime gestures.


Last edited by Thanatos01s2 on Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:03 pm; edited 1 time in total
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v1cious



Joined: 31 Dec 2002
Posts: 6241
Location: Houston, TX
PostPosted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 11:54 pm Reply with quote
Thanatos01s2 wrote:
In my martial arts class, where I do ninjitsu, the hand gestures represent:

Earth
Wind
Fire
Water

And Exaar typically ninjas are japanese and they obviously do not use the chinese zodiac. Maybe they do in naruto, but I am not exactly sure what v1cious is asking for. Real life or anime gestures.


there's actual ninja classes? Shocked

anyways yeah i was just wondering what the basis of it is in general, whether real life or not. what's the purpose doing it exactly? is it some sort of chi thing?
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Fui



Joined: 12 Dec 2005
Posts: 339
PostPosted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 12:01 am Reply with quote
v1cious wrote:
does anyone what the hand gesturing is supposed to represent exactly? is it some sort of sign language? it doesn't seem like it would be realistically possible to do them.... unless of course you're really fast Wink

I'm not sure if youtube is a legit site or whatever, but regarding ninjitsu hand signs I stumbled across this recently: Someone doing Naruto Hand Jutsus. I wonder if that alone is enough to qualify him as a rabid Naruto fanboy.
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v1cious



Joined: 31 Dec 2002
Posts: 6241
Location: Houston, TX
PostPosted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 12:23 am Reply with quote
Fui wrote:
Someone doing Naruto Hand Jutsus. I wonder if that alone is enough to qualify him as a rabid Naruto fanboy.


HAHA wow.
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TwinSkies



Joined: 03 Apr 2006
Posts: 49
Location: Philippines
PostPosted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 1:26 am Reply with quote
Just a speculation but...

remember that Ninjutsu IS a practiced martial art today, and just like any martial art they have their own forms of Katas (forms exercise), and meditation techniques.

Perhaps the original hand gestures were meant for either of these two?
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naeblis



Joined: 31 Jan 2005
Posts: 38
PostPosted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 4:15 am Reply with quote
You know oddly enough, there are books about ninjas out there. A while ago, I was looking at such a book at Barnes and Noble. It said that the seals, (they do represent animals, but maybe not the chinese zodiac, least, I think it was animals) are to help the focus of the user. I kept reading but couldn't figure out how to make fire with my mouth.
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goins007



Joined: 30 Mar 2006
Posts: 291
PostPosted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 7:19 am Reply with quote
Well thats probably a good things, considering where you were standing when you read about it....
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Exaar



Joined: 19 Apr 2006
Posts: 279
Location: Delaware
PostPosted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 9:27 am Reply with quote
Well, I didn't mean ALL ninja symbols represent the Chinese Zodiac.. I'm sure in most cases they don't, but I'm 90 percent positive that in Naruto they do. There are a few good Naruto-encyclopedia sites that say as much. As for other animes/real hand signs, I can't talk. Smile
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hentai4me



Joined: 25 Oct 2005
Posts: 1313
Location: England. Robin is so Cute!
PostPosted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 10:37 am Reply with quote
Thanatos01s2 wrote:
In my martial arts class, where I do ninjitsu, the hand gestures represent:

Earth
Wind
Fire
Water

And Exaar typically ninjas are japanese and they obviously do not use the chinese zodiac. Maybe they do in naruto, but I am not exactly sure what v1cious is asking for. Real life or anime gestures.


Well that seems a bit off...

the 5 done in Bujinkan Ninjutsu are

Fire
Earth
Metal
Water
Wood

not the 4 Greek ones from Empedocles
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Thanatos01s2



Joined: 23 Dec 2005
Posts: 231
PostPosted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 12:14 pm Reply with quote
hentai4me wrote:
Thanatos01s2 wrote:
In my martial arts class, where I do ninjitsu, the hand gestures represent:

Earth
Wind
Fire
Water

And Exaar typically ninjas are japanese and they obviously do not use the chinese zodiac. Maybe they do in naruto, but I am not exactly sure what v1cious is asking for. Real life or anime gestures.


Well that seems a bit off...

the 5 done in Bujinkan Ninjutsu are

Fire
Earth
Metal
Water
Wood

not the 4 Greek ones from Empedocles


Yes, but I only have eight fingers and two thumbs. SO I can only make FOUR gestures. Metal is a stance, where you stay solid and do not move. (it is not one of the elements) Just so you know wood is earth in my class.

Anyways v1cious, in class we use these four elements to balance ourselves for attacking or defending. For example: wind is used for defense and you move real fluently and smoothly around punches and kicks. (keep in mind this is all psychological and you have to believe it to move that way.) Anyways what you do is you take, for example, your thumb and middle finger on your left hand and touch their tips. Then take your right hand thumb and middle finger and touch their tips through the circle you have made on your left hand. Interlocking these fingers. Then touch all other finger tips together. You then breath and center yourself. If I remember correctly this is water. But I am not sure. Ninjitsu is very powerful and fun to do, it is also a very violent form of martial arts. I have done 5 different forms of martial arts and this is my first or second favorite style. (Kenpo being the other) If you can find a dojo that teaches it, definately hit it up.

Edit: and then you go down the rest of your hand with every finger depending on which element you choose to imitate. SO basically water is(I think): pointer to pointer, middle to thumb, ring finger to ring finger and pinky to pinky.

Tell me if this makes sense, it is hard to describe accurately on here. Plus I haven't done it for almost 6 months, I am a little rusty, damn college classes. But this summer I will be back in action! Very Happy
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hentai4me



Joined: 25 Oct 2005
Posts: 1313
Location: England. Robin is so Cute!
PostPosted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 1:15 pm Reply with quote
Thanatos01s2 wrote:
hentai4me wrote:
Thanatos01s2 wrote:
In my martial arts class, where I do ninjitsu, the hand gestures represent:

Earth
Wind
Fire
Water

And Exaar typically ninjas are japanese and they obviously do not use the chinese zodiac. Maybe they do in naruto, but I am not exactly sure what v1cious is asking for. Real life or anime gestures.


Well that seems a bit off...

the 5 done in Bujinkan Ninjutsu are

Fire
Earth
Metal
Water
Wood

not the 4 Greek ones from Empedocles


Yes, but I only have eight fingers and two thumbs. SO I can only make FOUR gestures. Metal is a stance, where you stay solid and do not move. (it is not one of the elements) Just so you know wood is earth in my class.

Anyways v1cious, in class we use these four elements to balance ourselves for attacking or defending. For example: wind is used for defense and you move real fluently and smoothly around punches and kicks. (keep in mind this is all psychological and you have to believe it to move that way.) Anyways what you do is you take, for example, your thumb and middle finger on your left hand and touch their tips. Then take your right hand thumb and middle finger and touch their tips through the circle you have made on your left hand. Interlocking these fingers. Then touch all other finger tips together. You then breath and center yourself. If I remember correctly this is water. But I am not sure. Ninjitsu is very powerful and fun to do, it is also a very violent form of martial arts. I have done 5 different forms of martial arts and this is my first or second favorite style. (Kenpo being the other) If you can find a dojo that teaches it, definately hit it up.

Edit: and then you go down the rest of your hand with every finger depending on which element you choose to imitate. SO basically water is(I think): pointer to pointer, middle to thumb, ring finger to ring finger and pinky to pinky.

Tell me if this makes sense, it is hard to describe accurately on here. Plus I haven't done it for almost 6 months, I am a little rusty, damn college classes. But this summer I will be back in action! Very Happy


Stances?

wow thats really different from what my friend does...

I dont personally study Ninjutsu(though I have done some sparring, full contact and semi, with a 3rd Dan in Bujinkan) my friend(the 3rd dan) says that he's always taught that there are no 'stances' what there are is 'attitudes', you put your body in a position but are able to alter and adapt it to any situation.

in Tae-Kwon-Do for example you have set 'stances' the 'Gunnon Sogi' is done so that your legs are 1 shoulder width apart, 1 and a half long, front leg bent, rear leg locked out, front foot facing forwards, rear foot at 15 degrees from the centre line and weight at 50/50 on each leg.

whereas the 'Ichi No Kamae' (or something I'll check later) is open to interpretation and based upon the situation.

Just so you know if you ever get the chance to try a martial art do so! Its great fun and you can learn a lot about yourself and what you can do with your body is quite amazing even if you dont think you can(until youve seen a 70 year old to a standing side kick vertically, essentially a splits while standing, you seen nothing)
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