. . . the ninja of Japan were trained in eighteen funamental areas of knowledge covering expertise in both the physical and mental. (4 - 6 are listed below; 7 - 18 will appear in succeeding articles)

• 4. Bojutsu (stick and staff fighting)
  This art, practiced by samurai and peasant alike, was also a strong skill of the ninja. Togakure ninja were taught to use the bo long staff (six feet) and the hanbo (three feet), as well as sticks and clubs of varying lengths. Specially constructed shinobi-zue or ninja canes were designed to look like normal walking sticks, but concealed blades, chains, or darts that could be used against an enemy.

• 5. Shurikenjutsu (throwing blades)
  Throwing blades were carried in concealed pockets and used as harrassing weapons. The Togakure ryu used a special four-pointed throwing star called a senban shuriken, which was constructed from a thin steel plate. The blade was thrown with a spinning motion and hit its target with a sawing effect. Bo shuriken (straight darts and spikes) were also constructed for throwing.

• 6. Yarijutsu (spear fighting)
  Togakure ryu ninja were taught to use standard Japanese spears and lances as mid-range weapons. Spears were used for stabbing and piercing, and rarely thrown in combat. The Togakure ryu also used a unique spear weapon called a kama-yari, or sickle-lance, which consisted of a spear blade with a hook at the base. The total length of the weapon was over nine feet. The point could be used to lunge and stab, and the hook point could be used to snag and pull an opponent or his weapon.

. . . that a mudra is a symbolic position of the hand(s). Mudras are physical representations of particular energies. Mudras are often seen in Buddhist iconography — statues and illustrations — but can also be used as an aid in meditation to help release the relevant energies in the person practicing these gestures. An example of a mudra would be Bhumisparsa where the deity/person is seated in a meditation posture and touches the ground with his fingertips, as Gautama Buddha did when the demon Mara challenged his resoluteness to gain enlightenment. Gautauma Buddha said that he would not move from his selected spot until he attained enlightenment and touched the earth. This mudra represents the invocation of the earth as a withness to the truth of your words.