I was thinking about this earlier and it could quite possibly be the single most important question in the history of the universe…
So…who would win in a fight and why?
It’s a tough one 
Re: Samurai vs. Ninja
I will for sure 
Re: Samurai vs. Ninja
Samurai... bcuz i like it :P
Re: Samurai vs. Ninja
aap ke like ya dislike kerne se kya hota hai 
Re: Samurai vs. Ninja
There is only one way to find out:
Re: Samurai vs. Ninja
neither, batman beat them both 
Re: Samurai vs. Ninja
^ but Batman was trained by ninjas (if we go by the Batman Begins film)
Re: Samurai vs. Ninja
usko support milay gi 
Re: Samurai vs. Ninja
ninjas
Re: Samurai vs. Ninja
Okay as the GS resident warrior who better than I to answer that question.
To be honest it would be a very close fight and it would not be the first or last such encounter. Depends on what exact type of fighter is placed into what scenario.
As a rule no two Ninja were alike. We tend to see the stereotype Ninja as a fighter who wears all black, a mask/viel and carries a sword or two on the back. Historically few such Ninja existed and they were limited to night operatives. Many ninja were actually concealled as peasants, tramps coutesans etc… Primarily a Ninja is an assasin and kills using suprise and stealth etc.
Now the Samurai is much more overt and most Samurai went into battle with at least two swords and a Yari (spear) which was thier primary weapon. Not only were Samurai well diciplined soldeir class fighters but they were heavily armed and armoured.
Comparitively in a one on one face off even the best Ninja would struggle against an armour clad Samurai. Simply becuase a Samurai in full battle array would be practically impervious to any close quarter weapon.
Ninjas did have access to a panapoly of stange and often bizzare killing implements but few were practical on the battlefield or in close fighting.
Wheras a Samurai on the otherhand was supposed to be the best fighting machine in the kingdom and in theory could only be beaten by another Samurai.
In a domestic fight on the street even a good Samurai might be taken down by an amatuer Ninja who snuck up and killed him with surprise.
So there you have it. Theres no real conclusion to the scenario… it can go either way.
While I respect both the Bushi culture and the dark arts of the Ninjitsu ryu… neither could ever hope to match a Faris.
Now theres a thought who would win between a Faris and a Samurai…?
Or Ninja if you like. 
Re: Samurai vs. Ninja
not Hollywood again 
Re: Samurai vs. Ninja
Oooh I like your thought process! 
I was thinking the same thing. I mean a ninja is the master of stealth so really the samurai would be killed the night before as he was sleeping But, in a battle scenario I think the samurai would win…
So who would win? Faris Vs. Ninja+Samurai
Oops sorry 
Re: Samurai vs. Ninja
dont know who samurai is ...so yeah ninja.
Re: Samurai vs. Ninja
BLESSED I Imprsd i hate history
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S4/|\Ur4!
Re: Samurai vs. Ninja
.
EDIT: Actually.. I think ninjas are way more BA but the samurai would win. If anybody has seen the movie Seven Samurai, it takes a lot of training and stuff to be one. They want you to like master your mind crazy.
Re: Samurai vs. Ninja
Re: Samurai vs. Ninja
Ninjas definitely.
Samurai are bounded by a v.strong (self) ethical code (called Bushido). Hence, they can only fight someone of equal power - by calling out to them openly in a fair fight etc.
Samurai skills i mainly fast movement and sword.
Ninja on the other hand will use any method to accomplish their goal. The know pressure tactics, they will utilize any weapon they can get their hands on (e.g, a gun). They will not resort to "cheating" (as in multiple of them will attack a samurai, or get someone else to distract the samurai, etc).
Ninja will run away if he/she thinks he will loose and attack another day when there is a better chance. Ninja will use silent method (such as poison) and will not go for glory.
Now if you take one samurai and one ninja and put them in an empty room. They can only take their regular typical weapons and fight till death - Samurai will have a fighter chance, I still think Ninja will be better.
Re: Samurai vs. Ninja
Well Samurai and Ninja both have a vast array of weapons to hand... its not possible to replicate this and draw any meaningfull conclusions from a one on one fight... unless you play it over a thousand times or so and get a pattern that you can relate in figures.
Samurai carried at least two swords into battle and whilst all Samurai were not masters of Nitu-Kenjutsu (fighting with two swords) they still had an advantage over most sword fighters since they carried better forged weapons. In battle they would be in full armour and likely carry a Bow and spear as primary weapons.
Even at home the Samurai wore thier Wakizashi short swords... which they were exclusively allowed to by law... everyone else could be put to death for carrying a sword in public. Whilst a Wakisahi lacks the two handed power of the Katana it's a good weapon fro close fighting and all Samuria carried a dagger or Tanto for back-up as well as an eating knife which could be thrown if needed.
Other weapons available to Samurai include the Tessen or war fan, yeah i know it seems gay but believe me you dont want to be hit with a metal fan... Takeda Shingen was forced to defend himself from his rival Useuigie Kinshen at Kawankajima which he succesfully managed even though Usuegi had suprised him and was wielding a sword from the back of his horse against an unarmed king in camp!
Armourwise the Samurai wore laminated scale or Lammelar armour which was flexible but provided good protection as well.
On the other hand a Ninja would be seriously at a disadvantage... the Ninja sword or Ninjato was much shorter than the Katana and often of less tempered steel so if the Samurai took on the Ninja he would have the upper hand in terms of swordsmanship. Ninjas also lacked the training of two sword fighting so if the Samurai attacked with both blades it would be pretty much impossible for the Ninja to counter with just one.
Ninjas however relied more on stealth and few were swordsmen... even spears were not common among thier ranks most favoured weapon was the Sai and Kami which comprised of twin short swords or twin flesh hooks. These are very effective close quarter weapons particulalrly the Kami which often had chains attached so one could double the range of the weapon and use it to hook or trip an opponent.
Among Ninja weapons one of my favourites is very much unkown and comprises what both Samurai and Ninja would call Suntets. These were like modern day knucle dusters and came in a variety of forms, some spiked or bladed and others had claws to help climb trees and walls at night.
Ninjas are often shown in black Ninja garb but as i've already pointed out this was not thier only disguise. The most effective disguise was that of flute playing mendicants or even monks which allowed Ninja to get close to thier targets without being noticed to much.
As PrinceMS rightly pointed out the Samurai is limited by his code of honour which constricts him from having an unfair advantage over his enemy. A Ninja has no such constrictions and often made simple use of repeating crossbows (poison darts go without saying) and with the advent of firearms such as the Taipo, a primitive matchlock musket the Samurai had no hope of winning unless the fight was in close quarters.
Both Samurai and Ninja however made extensive use of no weapons fighting skills, the Samurai had by the 15thCentury perfected the art of Karate which they had adopted from the conquered people of Okinawa. By the 16th Century fuedal Japan was dotted with schools or Dojos that taught the Martial classes of emty hand warfare.
The Ninja were said to be the best practitioners of Ju Jitsu (not to be confused with modern Jui Jitsu) an art originally known to the Samurai alone but which the Ninja aquired from rouge tutors often Ronin or masterless Samurai.
Personally I favour both styles though Ju Jitsu is better for ground fighting and applications of locks and holds, Karate is still a very powerfull though mostly standup fighting art.
For more details on both the Samurai and Ninja one is advised to get a copy of Stephen Turnbulls excellent books Ninja and Samurai warrior from Osprey millitary history publishers.