Grand Master Masaaki Hatsumi is the last living apprentice of the last "fighting ninja," Toshitsugu Takamatsu. At 76, he continues to train would-be ninjas, and the AP's Hans Greimel spent a day at his studio, collecting ninja wisdom like "Always be able to kill your students."
In many ways, the curly-haired, wide-eyed Hatsumi has been a victim of success: He has helped make ninja an international household name by training followers from Chile to South Africa. But he also has watched his legacy co-opted by goofy caricatures such as "Mutant Ninja Turtles" and schlocky Hollywood send-ups like "Beverly Hills Ninja."
"I think it's pathetic," Hatsumi says of the ninja's modern image.
(via /.)
Update: M Otis Beard sez, "Did you know there is a documentary film about Toshitsugu
Takamatsu, with Masaaki Hatsumi in it as well? It's a Japanese
film, the title in English is "Takamatsu Toshitsugu, the Last Real
Ninja". It's based upon a black-and-white movie filmed in the '60s
that shows Takamatsu Sensei teaching Hatsumi Sensei in a park.
Takamatsu Sensei demonstrates unarmed techniques and weapon
techniques from the nine schools, with comments in Japanese
(subtitled in English) by Hatsumi Sensei. "
