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One of the characteristics that set a ninja apart from other martial arts practitioners is their ingenuity. Throughout the history of ninjutsu, ninjas have utilized unorthodox weapons and techniques to accomplish their goals: And that has not changed. A practitioner of ninjutsu must be versatile, unorthodox, and creative in combat.

Improvisation and versatility can manifest itself in several ways. First of all, the ninja’s ability to use improvised weapons is a great advantage in combat. The ninja's weapons extend far beyond the body. Rocks, dirt, grass, ashtrays, car keys, pens, belts, coins, flashlights, and many other things are everyday items that are at the ninja's disposal at almost any given time. These things should be used to accomplish the ultimate goal: The goal of achieving victory in combat. Secondly, the ninja must learn to take advantage of the environment. Many things in the environment may be taken advantage of and even used as weapons: Even something as far away as the sun. When fighting an opponent, one should keep the sun to one’s back and in the enemy's eyes. This will impair their vision. As another example, if one is fighting at dusk, one can lower oneself below the height of the opponent to see their silhouette against the slightly brighter skyline. These types of things give the ninja an even greater advantage over an opponent who is not trained in a similar fashion.

It is also important to remember that anything that one can use against an opponent may be used against oneself as well. Therefore, keep in mind that the enemy also has use of these things and always be aware of these potential threats. The ninja must neutralize these threats right away by taking advantage of them before the opponent is able to do so.

It is good training to take note of improvised weapons and environmental factors throughout one’s daily routine. Then, when necessary, it will be easier for one to take advantage of one’s surroundings when the need arises and will help maximize one’s versatility and ability to improvise. Remember to train always!