Iranian women practice ninjutsu a lot - Photo: TI
Is there a female ninja army?
These images appeared years ago, and were widely circulated again on social media recently, when war broke out in Iran.
Accordingly, thousands of Iranian women dressed in black practice combat skills such as climbing, high jumping, using swords, bows and arrows, and even nunchaku and hidden weapons.
Some tabloids such as Daily Mail , India TV or some YouTube channels do not hesitate to call this “army of assassin ninjas”. These newspapers even have headlines such as “Iran trains female assassins for secret missions” or “Kunoichi army ready to fight for the Iranian government ”.
Some images of Iranian female kunoichi (female ninja) fighters wearing military uniforms, practicing in open areas such as deserts and military barracks, have further fueled rumors that Iran actually trains a part of its special forces in ninjutsu.
Many ninjutsu clubs organize outdoor training to give a realistic feel - Photo: TA
But of course, that's just nonsense. The "Iranian female ninja army" is not a military unit, nor is it a secret special forces team.
This is essentially a martial arts community - a network of ninjutsu clubs whose members are mostly women, operating openly and legally in Iran for more than three decades.
The first ninjutsu club was established in 1989 in the Jughin area, near the city of Karaj, about 40km from the capital Tehran.
Many female boxers have attractive looks - Photo: ANADOIU
The founder was Coach Akbar Faraji, an Iranian martial artist who is said to have studied in Japan and brought ninjutsu back to spread in his country.
From a small group, the system gradually spread throughout the provinces and was organized into the Iranian Ninjutsu Federation.
As of 2012, there were approximately 3,500 women practicing regularly in ninjutsu clubs across the country. The total membership of the sect (both male and female) was then estimated at 24,000.
Notably, ninjutsu is not considered a foreign cultural taboo in Iran. On the contrary, the country's sports and cultural authorities even recognize ninjutsu as an official martial art.
Classes are held openly in sports centers. Students wear modest clothing in accordance with Islamic standards. And the training content is managed by the Iranian Martial Arts Federation.
For that reason, this martial art not only exists but also thrives in a country that has strict regulations on the role and image of women in public.
Why are Iranians fascinated by ninjutsu?
Why are ninjas - a Japanese symbol - popular in a Muslim country like Iran?
The answer lies more in the martial arts aspect than in the cultural one. Ninjutsu in this system is emphasized as a discipline of physical development, mental discipline, and self-defense.
In a society where women faced many social barriers, practicing ninjutsu gave a sense of initiative and strength.
Misleading military-ninja outfit - Photo: ANADOIU
“I learned to understand my body, control my emotions and defend myself if necessary,” said one member interviewed by Reuters in 2012. “It made me feel more valuable. The ninja uniforms also fit us quite well. Also through ninjutsu, we learned about the interesting culture of another country.”
Activities in the club are organized as systematically as any other sports center. Students are divided by level, from basic to advanced, learning techniques of dodging, moving, climbing, camouflage, using wooden weapons, and finally taking belt exams.
Domestic competitions are also held periodically, and some outstanding female students have become official instructors. Some have even been invited to become self-defense instructors for Iran's female police force.
After the 2012 Western press incident - when Reuters news agency called the group "female assassins", causing a backlash from Iran - the club's activities became more cautious, but remained stable.
Reuters later apologized and retracted the article. But they were still sued for defamation by the female ninjutsu club.
To this day, female ninjutsu still exists and continues to be taught in many sports centers in Iran, including cities such as Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, Mazandaran, Fars...
Iranian women are very interested in Japanese culture, through practicing ninjutsu - Photo: IT
In recent years, videos of Iranian female practitioners demonstrating their ninjutsu techniques have continued to appear on YouTube and domestic television. In these videos, they perform acrobatics, use wooden swords, dodge attacks, and climb ropes. And all within the framework of sports training.
The culture of this community is also carefully built. In addition to martial arts training, classes also focus on team spirit, meditation, and maintaining bushido ethics such as respecting teachers, being humble, and not using martial arts for bad purposes.
They hold experience sharing sessions, personal development seminars, and invite successful former students back to inspire them. In a world of many limitations, ninjutsu dojos have become a rare space for Iranian women to practice, bond, and overcome social stigma.
It may be hard to believe, but Iran is a country that is extremely open to Eastern martial arts. From taekwondo, judo to ninjutsu, all are very popular in Iran, even among the female community.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thuc-hu-ve-dao-quan-ninja-nu-cua-iran-20250624200837191.htm
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