Is ninjutsu considered a "soft" style even if it is japanese?

Ninpo taijutsu is based on free form movement focusing on momentum, balance and energy direction as opposed to brute force, so in that respect I would say yes most definitely. However, the aspect that is making me think a little deeper about this question is the difference between the various schools and levels of training. For example, Gyokko Ryu and Koto Ryu Koppojutsu may be perceived as hard(er) styles due to the more %26#039;intensive%26#039; style when compared with Tagaki Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu.





Overall, ninjutsu is regarded as a soft style though.





Sorry, I really haven%26#039;t answered your question very well but it%26#039;s a good one to think about!|||Okay... If by ninjutsu you mean what%26#039;s taught in the Bujinkan (or Genbukan or Jinenkan), then yes and no (Quite the quandary, ne?)





A soft style is not necessarily characterized by use of chi, but rather using the aggressors force and/or momentum against him. If an attack is received in a soft manner, then the force is, with a minimum of exertion and counter-force deflected, then the technique is soft.





Much of what Hatsumi Soke can be seen doing these days in videos is soft -- he%26#039;s older now and doesn%26#039;t get around quite so easily.





However, in the Bujinkan, there are nine schools, three of which are related to the ninja. Of these, techniques from Togakure ryu can often have a soft feel to them. The little bit of Gyokushin I%26#039;ve seen was in reference to koppojutsu, which is hard.





I would probably say that the softest ryuha would be Shinden Fudo Ryu (though I could be persuaded otherwise). Much of the conservation of energy and gentle redirection of force that could be seen in old footage of Judo has roots in this school (Kano Jigoro was a student of Toda Shinryuken Masamitsu for some time, among many others).





However, much of what we do is hard -- locks, armbars, throws, striking... It should be your ideal to be as soft as possible (conserve energy by using your opponent%26#039;s), but you should not be limited by concepts of hard and soft.|||NO it is not. Soft styles are styles that normally work on chi energy. |||WHAT THE TOP GUY SAID.|||NO|||Here is the easiest way i can answer that,..............no