Читать книгу Ninjutsu. Facts, Legends, and Techniques онлайн

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A special vertical kind of swimming enabled him to carry things to their destination without wetting them. He could actually write while swimming and keep the paper from becoming water-soaked. The ninja also practiced hand-to-hand combat in and under water, learning to fight with and without weapons. He was equally skilled at grappling with an enemy on the deck of a boat, and could cleverly manage to hurl both himself and his enemy, locked in combat, into water, where his skill would greatly reduce the chances for survival of the enemy. By other methods of swimming the ninja could keep himself afloat and in position to fire arrows or firearms, his powerful legs making this possible.

Breath control methods gave him the ability to remain under water for about three minutes. Longer periods were made possible by use of special breathing devices. Diving and swimming under water involved precision techniques useful in avoiding detection or the missiles fired by his enemies. The ninja knew precisely at which depth he must swim in order to avoid arrows, spears, or rifle balls.