Top 40 Quotes & Sayings by Masaaki Hatsumi

Nature is your friend; it helps you to win. Your enemy will have unnatural movement, therefore you will be able to know what he is going to do before he does it.

When properly applied, the kamae reflects the ninja's heart. This means that our physical nature conforms to our intentions, and there is no division between our interior and exterior aspects. This state of integrated mind and body action is totally natural, and can be observed readily in the movements of animals as they interact with their environment. Only human beings seem to develop the need to be trained in natural body motion.

Humans have yet to dwell upon the consequences of their actions. People have yet to admit the bad that they do to nature, for example. Actually, most people spend their time finding fault in the action of others, rather than their own.

Ninja should have the benevolence to protect men of justice since there are lots of good and respectable people in the world.

When weak or injured always continue training as you should always be able to adapt in any condition.

You are not punching them; it is your going into kamae that punches them.

If you do not let go of thinking about forms, you will not understand what I am showing.

It is important to practice so your movement is the minimum necessary to complete its task.

Any place we can breathe, we can do Ninjutsu.

You are not just fighting one opponent. You are fighting the unknown.

The first priority to the ninja is to win without fighting.

Looking for the meaning of life, one man can discover the order of the universe. To discover the truth, to achieve. a higher spiritual state, that is the true meaning of ninja.

Forget your sadness, anger, grudges, and hatred. Let them pass like smoke caught in the breeze. You should not deviate from the path of righteousness; you should lead a life worthy of a man. Don't be possessed by greed, luxury, or your ego. You should accept sorrows, sadness and hatred as they are, and consider them a chance for trial given to you by the powers... a blessing given by nature. Have both your mind and your time fully engaged in bud?, and have your mind deeply set on bujutsu.

Always be able to kill your students

Remember that for every technique you think you can fall back on, there is a counter for it, or there are times when it cannot be used. When real battle comes, you must remember that some things will not be applicable. Don't think that any one technique is quintessential.

It's important to make an effort under any circumstance - stagnant, sickness, being in an unstable lifestyle, even when society is insane. You should consider such periods as an omen before you move. When you are stuck on something, it is important to hold to your purpose but not press onward against the current. When you can't move at all, try to concentrate, continuing forward as if in a boat switching to a stronger motor. The keiko that is most important when you cannot move is kage no keiko [shadow training].

There are times to kill and times not to kill. Please bear this in mind with grave consideration.

Focus on the future for 50%, on the present for 40%, and on the past for 10%

Forget your sadness, anger, grudges and hatred. Let them pass like smoke caught in a breeze. Do not indulge yourself in such feelings.

No more talk. I'm sick of people talking. Train.

Learning a technique is not an end in itself, it merely indicates where you need to start.

The simplest is always the most difficult.

You must throw away your bad habits to get good.

Separate yourself from the technique; separate yourself from yourself.

Always observe your opponent carefully. You need to use the first seconds of every encounter to evaluate the length of their blade, the length of their arms, etc.

What I want you to do is just take it as it is. Don't think too much. If you get involved with thinking about it, the whole thing gets lost or loses its purity. Don't think during practice - DO! The more you think, the further from the truth of budo you get: Budo is NOT an academic subject!

Budo is simply the study of the best ways to kill.

Those who desire only techniques will never understand this art. It is everything beyond that

Breathe life into the weapon, don't take life away from it. Keep walking, because walking is life.

Don't think that any one technique is the end. there is no end. There is no perfect technique. Just when you think you've got them, you're dead because you didn't.

Don't have a fixed idea in your head (that you have to use this or that technique). Use everything you've learned until now.

Your life is on the line, practice well.

If you do something and it saves your life, it was good taijutsu. In a real fight, you aren't worried about what's pretty.

There was a famous Zen master whom people would seek out to become enlightened. He was strict and would occupy people with things having nothing to do with seeking enlightenment. You see, that is the only way to achieve enlightenment; by not focusing on achieving it. Then, one day it will just come to you.

Move with your feet, the hands will follow.

You've got to learn to utilize the space (between you and your opponent). Distancing is very important.

People who cannot respect others for their good qualities - people who only look at the bad in others - are no good themselves. By looking at only the bad points, you open yourself up, and in a real encounter, will most probably be killed.

You must be on your toes constantly, yet be relaxed.

You can only understand if you've had the technique done to you. It's like food. You can't describe the taste, but if you've tasted it, you know what it is. You have to personally experience it to understand.

From now on you must strive to cut out unnecessary movement. Waste in movement is wrong and will get you killed.