Every once in a while I am asked, “What were the most important qualities of the ninja?”

Years ago, Hatsumi-soke spoke about this years ago. He stated the three most important qualities of a ninja were honesty, desire to learn, and perseverance.

He further explained the ninja’s honesty was akin to the lessons of justice and integrity. This honesty was a form of enlightenment developed by judging right and wrong with one’s heart as a mirror.

Learning was the ninja’s greatest weapon and companion. The ninja took interest in learning everything… general knowledge and common sense would ultimately enable the ninja to make critical judgments with decisive certainty. This led to understanding of day-to-day affairs and eventually wisdom and spiritual refinement.

The perseverance of the ninja is perhaps the most legendary of all his abilities. The ninja could not be dissuaded from his chosen path once is was begun. He had levels of endurance cultivated over years of training and tempering.