What martial arts do the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles use?

Back in the late 80s, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles first burst onto TV screens across the globe and changed the face of cartoons forever. This was the first time that a kids cartoon had fully integrated martial arts into its storyline and the viewers loved it. Since then, countless movies, video games, and merchandise have been launched and they’re still massively popular to this very day. Before continuing, it’s also important to note that this is a fictional show, so there will be exaggerations and gaps of knowledge at times. We shall be looking at what martial arts the TMNT use and their specialist weapons of choice.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles know Ninjutsu

Throughout the show, it’s referenced that the TMNT’s are highly trained in Ninjutsu, which was taught to them by Master Splinter. Here, the mutated rat represented a knowledgeable black belt who was very old, but equally very wise. He often used his walking stick as a weapon as well if he was called into battle.

Although Ninjutsu is a martial art, as much as anything it also represents a lifestyle and culture that was lived by ninjas hundreds of years ago. It should also be noted that although ninjas did use certain weapons, a lot of the weapons used by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles actually come from Okinawan Kobudo.

These were originally farming equipment from the Japanese island of Okinawa which is where Karate also comes from. At one point, weapons were banned in Japan so the farmers used creative methods and trained with their equipment to go under the radar. Since then, Okinawan weapons have grown in popularity and are also used in various martial arts such as Karate, Aikido, and Hapkido among others.

For the sake of argument though, the show refers to their skills as Ninjutsu which isn’t wrong either as they use a lot of the traits found in Ninjutsu. Remember, this was a kid’s TV show after all where entertainment was the main goal, so it seems a bit petty arguing about the semantics.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles know Kung Fu

Although it’s not mentioned, it’s also pretty clear that the TMNT team also know Kung Fu and use it to fight when unarmed. Most of the time, they do use weapons when fighting and this is their go-to. Nonetheless, there are times where they’ll also resort to kicks and punches to defend themselves as well. Remember, the show was made in the 80s – so it’s fair to assume that Kung Fu was their main style of fighting (after Ninjutsu) as it was still massively popular at the time.

Therefore, the two main styles of fighting used by the TMNT are a combination of Ninjutsu and Kung Fu. Most of the time, they rely on their weapons when fighting, but are also decent enough with their legs and arms to defeat most of their enemies. After all, it would be foolish for a group of martial artists to only fight by using one style. Instead, it’s always good to have a plan B when fighting which is a smart idea. Below is a list of the Turtles and the weapons they use. For the record, it could also be argued that the Turtles also trained Karate at some point as well which looks quite similar to Kung Fu at times.

Leonardo – Katana sword

Leonardo is sometimes seen brandishing one katana, and sometimes he has two (one in each hand). He’s very skilled with swords and may have trained Kenjutsu at some point which teaches you how to become a proper swordsman. The katana is good for distance fighting and is incredibly sharp, meaning it can easily cut and stab if needed.

Raphael – Sai’s

The sai is a weapon that originated from Okinawan Kobudo and was originally used to block and defend against blades. However, in the cartoon, Raphael uses these like daggers and strikes his enemies with them. Overall, someone who is trained with sai’s will be very tough to hit as they are great at defending with.

Michaelangelo – Nunchuks

Nunchuks are perhaps the most famous weapon used in martial arts and were popularized by the likes of Bruce Lee. These are two small poles linked together by a chain link. When swung, they can easily knock people out if they strike the head. This shows a different kind of weapon compared to the previous ones as they aren’t blades, but are still a nightmare to deal with if the Nunchuku practitioner has swift hands.

Donatello – Bo staff

Another weapon from Okinawan Kobudo, the bo staff is often trained under the banner of bojutsu and it’s basically a large, wooden staff. This is used to prod enemies as well as strike and lunge. Like the katana, it is best used from distance and requires two hands to control it due to its long size.

What martial art does Shredder use?

Throughout the series, the main rival to the Turtles is Shredder who is seen as an evil martial artist who uses his skills for bad, rather than good. Like Splinter, the show claims that Shredder is a master in Ninjutsu. It also states that he uses secret Ninjutsu techniques that were banned due to being too deadly. Like the Turtles, Shredder is also armed and wears a suit of spiky armor. Shredder’s weapon of choice was metal claws, which were permanently attached to his hands. Like Michaelangelo’s nunchucks, these may have been inspired by Bruce Lee movies.

What martial art does Casey Jones use?

Casey Jones is a friend of the Turtles, who doesn’t possess any mutant powers. Instead, he’s a regular guy turned street fighter. It’s not known what style he uses, but it’s safe to assume that he’s a street brawler who fights dirty when needed. His main weapon was a hockey stick, but he’d also use a baseball bat and other unconventional weapons at times. It’s safe to assume that Jones may have also picked up a few moves from hanging out with the Turtles over the years which would have certain helped him when fighting. In brief though, it’s assumed that Casey Jones is not a formal martial artist.

Conclusion

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are best described as well trained in Ninjutsu with a background in Kung Fu or Karate. It’s hinted throughout the show, that they’re still learning which makes sense due to being teenagers, so even though they’re talented – they lack the knowledge or mastery of martial arts that the likes of Splinter or Shredder possess.

A key theme throughout this show is also the use of weapons when engaging in combat. These weapons are heavily inspired by Okinawan Kobudo and every character seems to have their own niche weapon that they specialize in. Overall, you would not want to fight a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle due to their martial arts knowledge and freakish mutant strength.