Meet Iran's female ninja assassins: 3,000 women training to defend the Muslim state



With hundreds of women brandishing deadly weapons while performing back flips and gravity-defying stunts, these incredible images look like a scene out of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.



But this is not the latest martial art film but in fact footage of female pupils practicing their moves at a tiny Ninjutsu club in Iran where the specialist form of martial art has become increasingly popular.



The school opened in 1989 but now has 3,500 women in training to become kunoichi - female ninjas.

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Iranian female ninjas: The martial artists get ready for an intense training session

Kung Fu fighting: The clip starts with what appears to be a single ninja before several more jump out from behind her

Ninjutsu instructor Fatima Muamer told Iranian TV station Press TV that the sport increasingly appeals to women as it helps maintain balance between the body and the mind.

But as Israel steps up pressure on Iran, over fears the country is building nuclear weapons, these lethal ninjas could be called upon to represent their country if relations descend into military conflict.

Iran has a mandatory Army conscription for men aged 18, but it is limited to 18 months service, so these kunoichi could prove very useful.



Ms Muamer said: 'The most important lesson in ninjutsu is respect and humility.

'They learn to respect themselves - first to respect their existence and then the art that they are mastering.

Core strength: A female ninja demonstrates her flexibility and strength in this martial art pose

Lethal: Another female ninja demonstrates some lethal looking moves with nunchucks

'Calmness is the most important lesson they learn.'

Pupils at the school are taught to use dangerous weapons - including the bow, swords, nunchucks and shurikens - small traditional Japanese implements known as 'swords in the hand'.

Sensei Akbar Faraji was the first to introduce ninjutsu to Iran when he set up the club 22 years ago - which now has 24,000 members.

He said: 'In ninjutsu, we call men ninjas, while females are called kunoichi.

Samurai: After two years of training students then move on to using weapons such as swords and nunchucks

Battle: The ninjas practice fighting outside as well as their flips and rolls

Popular: The school has 3,500 members and 24,000 members altogether

'Being a ninja is about patience, tolerance, and fortitude. Literally it means the art of becoming invisible.



'Ninjutsu, or martial arts in general, can be described as a medicine. Just like snake poison, despite the fact that it can be very dangerous, it can be a good antidote as well.'



Ninjutsu is considered to be one of the deadliest martial art forms and is associated with covert agents and mercenary's specialising in unorthodox methods of war in Japan between 1185 and 1868.

See video below

Life of a Samurai: Ninjas jump over the knife's edge - just missing the deadly blade