by Ameet Studio
for the scroll . . . and he eventually found
it. We couldn’t believe what was inside it!
Here are the dark secrets it revealed:
It was wrong of me to steal from
my father. Years later, I realized I
should not have revealed his secrets in
this book. So I have removed them.
This knowledge should be kept
secret forever, but I was too young
to understand . . .
TWO BROTHERS,
TWO PATHS
“LEARN, PRACTICE, AND APPLY YOUR TRAINING.
THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO DISCOVER YOUR PATH.”
As part of our training, Father has sent Garmadon and
me out to explore the world to experience the wonders he
created, meet its people, and learn some of the challenges
we will face as its defenders. “You cannot protect what
you do not understand,” he says.
I hope our trip will bring Garmadon and me closer
together. I miss my brother. I can see in his eyes
that he is fighting the growing evil coursing
through his veins. Perhaps our journey
will slow, or even stop, the progress of
that evil. I hope so.
I don’t know where destiny will
lead us, but we have made a
list of destinations. We hope
to have a new adventure in each
of these places.
1. A trip to the
Corridor of Elders
to see the statues of
Ninjago Island’s heroes.
(Remember to pack
climbing gear.)
2. A hike to
the top of the
Wailing Alps to
admire the view.
(Don’t forget the
earplugs!)
3. Cross-country
racing with Treehorns
in the Birchwood
Forest. (Garmadon
swears they exist!)
4. A seafood dinner
in the City of Stiix.
(I love regional cuisine.)
5. A trip to the Holy City of Domu.
(Father has recommended quite
a few good reads from the city’s
famous library.)
We were young and innocent, but also brave and eager.
Though we set out on the same journey, we would soon
arrive on very different paths.
THE GOLDEN WEAPONS
OF SPINJITZU
“THE GOLDEN WEAPONS ARE
THE FOUR PILLARS ON WHICH
THE WORLD OF NINJAGO STANDS.”
It has been many years since I’ve written in my journal. Now I must
continue my work and keep the promise I made to my father. I miss him
dearly.
My brother,
Lord Garmadon
Father has gone to his eternal rest, leaving
Garmadon and me to safeguard the Golden
Weapons of Spinjitzu. It was not long before
my brother gave in to the evil urges
inside him. He tried to take the
weapons. He was determined to use
them and Spinjitzu to bend the
world of Ninjago to his
will. But I could not
allow it.
We fought, brother against
brother. I used everything I
had learned about Spinjitzu and
all the energy within me to stop
Garmadon. I prevailed. When our
battle ended . . . I had banished my
brother into the Darkness of the
Underworld, whence no one has
ever returned.
The Golden Weapons are the most powerful weapons of creation
known to man. The safety of our world is in my hands, so I must
put aside grieving over the loss of my brother and do my best
to protect the weapons.
Each weapon lets the user channel
the power of its element.
When a skilled Master of Spinjitzu
wields these weapons, they can create
amazing machines. Many years later,
my ninja team found this power
extremely useful in battles with the
Serpentine tribes.
The Scythe of Quakes grants
power over the earth. It can cut
the hardest stone, bring about
earthquakes, and create deep
cracks in the ground.
The Sword of Fire grants the user
control over flames and heat. True
to its name, it can become a blade of
flame and project firebolts.
The Nunchuks of Lightning are
The Shurikens of Ice are bladed
a short chain connecting two
throwing stars that freeze
dragon-headed batons. When a
whatever they touch. They can
ninja swings them rapidly, they
project beams of ice.
create energy storms and shoot
lightning bolts.
THE TRUST FACTOR
“A NINJA TRUSTS FEW, BUT TRUSTS THEM COMPLETELY.”
My duties as protector of the realm of Ninjago are so great that I
cannot spend every moment with the Golden Weapons of Spinjitzu. And
yet, it is only a matter of time before the forces of Darkness try to
take the weapons by force. I know that, and I fear that time will come
sooner than I expect.
Skulkins in
the service
of my evil
brother . . .
Therefore, I have hidden the weapons in separate locations and posted
special guardians to protect them. Should anything happen to me, I have
created a map to the weapons and given it to a trusted friend, Ray,
and his wife, Maya.
Father said to know someone well
before trusting them. A ninja
decides whether to trust
someone not on the basis of
their words, which can be
false, but on their actions.
Actions, Father felt,
revealed if a person was
good or not.
Ray’s and Maya’s actions
have proved them to be
good, honorable people who
care for others, and for the
world of Ninjago.
Future heroes!
(I also like their
children very
much. Kai and Nya
are capable of
great things. I look
forward to our
paths crossing again
in the future.)
After our paths
crossed once more . . .
THE NINJA OF
“THE PAST IS THE PAST,
TOMORROW
BUT THERE IS ALWAYS
THE FUTURE.”
In the years between journal entries,
While meditating yesterday,
I tried a little teaching, grew a very
Eventuali-tea showed me a vision
impressive beard, and devoted many
of the future that revealed
hours to study.
my brother returning from
the Underworld! The world of
Ninjago is in terrible peril. I am
afraid I might not be able to
protect it on my own.
MY READING LIST
1. Mastering Your
Bamboo Staff:
Attacks and Defense
2. Spinjitzu Tornado
Techniques
3. Tasty Tea Recipes:
An Ancient
Handbook
4. Guide to the
Serpentine Tribes
/>
5. Mustache
Maintenance for
Beginners
6. The Art of the
Silent Fist
7. Legends of the
Temple of Fortitude
FIG. I.
SPIRIT BUSH. BOSCUS SPIRITUM.
ONLY FOUND IN THE CLEARING NORTH
OF THE FOREST OF TRANQUILITY.
But I am sworn to uphold my father’s legacy. The time has
come to seek help, to find four chosen ones to become ninja
who can wield the Golden Weapons in the fight against my
brother. The new heroes could be anywhere, but I have
some ideas about where to begin my quest. I must leave
the monastery and begin my search immediately . . .
THE CHOSEN
“WE MUST SHARE OUR WISDOM WITH
ONES
THOSE WHO COME AFTER US.”
After weeks of searching, I have found the four young people destined
to become the protectors of the Four Golden Weapons of Spinjitzu. Each
ninja-in-training has great potential waiting to be unlocked. It is my
responsibility to help them become what they are meant to be.
Cole tested himself by climbing
one of the tallest mountains on
Ninjago Island, and I met him at
the peak. Something was troubling
Cole, and he was fighting it on
the inside. Cole always wants
to be the best at everything.
When I told him about the
potential I saw in him, he
was eager to study to become a
master of Spinjitzu.
Jay was testing his latest invention, mechanical wings, when he crashed in front of me
on a rooftop. He is energetic, funny, and tends to hide his insecurities behind jokes.
But he doesn’t hide his desire to help others. Jay will become the Lightning Ninja.
I found Zane at the bottom of a
frozen pond, trying to see how long
he could hold his breath. (The fish
around him were eager to learn
the answer, too!) Quiet, cool, and
logical, the aspiring Ice Ninja knows
little of his past, but I see a bright
future in him.
Zane could hold his
breath longer than anyone
suspected, but we wouldn’t
learn why for a long time!
Kai joined the team as the future Fire
Ninja. Kai is the son of my dear friends
Ray and Maya. We met again when Kai
and his sister, Nya, fought off Skulkin
raiders sent by Lord Garmadon to
retrieve the map to the Golden Weapons
hidden in their father’s forge.
After being
kidnapped
and rescued,
Nya joined her
brother to train
at the monastery.
Now I must train these very different personalities in the
art of Spinjitzu. It is my duty to help them master their abilities and mold
them into a team. They can only protect the world of Ninjago from the
coming storm if they work together.
TEAM SPIRIT
E HIM YOUR FRIEND.”
“THE BEST WAY TO DEFEAT AN ENEMY IS TO MAK
Cole, Jay, Kai, and Zane have begun training together. They need to learn
how to wield their weapons and become skilled with Spinjitzu techniques. It
is taking some time for Kai to fit in. He and Cole are especially competitive
and rarely see eye to eye.
Sipping tea and saying “Fail” as they struggle
through training, like my father did for
Garmadon and me, makes me smile. (But only
on the inside! It is too soon to show the ninja
my sense of humor.)
The ninja must not see each other as rivals or enemies. Every
team member must trust that the team is there for him, no
matter the situation. Trust only comes with gradually getting
to know the true heart of another.
Today Jay told me he
wants his weapon to look
like the one in his favorite
video game!
My ninja understand
the great responsibility
that rests on their
shoulders. Protecting
the Ninjago realm
from evil requires
skills, determination,
and power. What they
still need to discover is
that each of them is an
Elemental Master. If
all goes well, soon they
will unlock their True
Potential.
The ninja remind me of me when I was
younger — excited, eager, and sorely in need
of discipline!
SPINJITZU TRAINING
PROGRAM
“EVEN LESSONS LEARNED
THE HARD WAY ARE
LESSONS LEARNED.”
I have taught many ninja
over the years. At first, it
was not easy, and I made
mistakes. But over time, I
found the ideal combination
of exercises and moves
for my Spinjitzu training
routine. Some of those are
described here.
Page 3
LEG WARM-UP
1. Taking a wide stance, lunge to the left,
and then right.
2. Lift one leg straight up in front
without bending your back. Repeat with
the other leg.
3. Holding on to something for balance, lift
one leg behind you as high as you can.
Repeat with the other leg.
4. Lift and swing one leg from side to
side. Repeat with the other leg.
Balance is key in every Spinjitzu movement.
Finding balance is everything!
IMPORTANT: Don’t try this at home!
These moves are best learned under the
guidance of a trained Spinjitzu Master.
ARM WARM-UP
Swing arms forward, then
backward, and finally one arm
forward and the other backward.
Page 4
Repeat each exercise
ten times.
HEAD WARM-UP
1. Turn head slowly to the left as far
as you can, and then to the right.
2. Bring head down toward chest, and
then tip it back as far as you can.
HIP WARM-UP
1. Plant your feet firmly on the ground,
arms stretched out at shoulder height.
2. Twist body from side to side as if you
are wringing out a wet cloth.
3. Repeat the movement with hands on hips.
At first, my students said the
exercises were a waste of time.
But after a week’s training, they
found they were a lot more flexible, and
they quickly changed their minds!
BASIC STANCES
Page 7
A strong defense is the best attack. Spinjitzu teaches us to be peaceful. These stances
— if properly performed — may be enough to make your opponent surrender.
PINCHED
CRAB
1. Stand with your
2. Bend legs
3. Raise arms to
4. Cup hands like
feet apart, facing
at knees.
shoulder height.
crab pincers.
outward.
Father’s original version called for feet
to face forward. After seeing many
students stumb
le and trip, I altered this
stance and had my students face their feet
outward to achieve better balance.
SWOOPING
CRANE
An excellent move for
distracting opponents!
1. Hold arms out to
2. Bend upper body,
3. Bring head
sides, palms down.
arching back.
up slowly.
BALANCE!!!
Father’s original move had closed hands. He
called it “Hammerhead Strike.” To me, it seemed
more catlike, so I changed the name to
“Tiger Claw.”
TIGER
CLAW
1. Stand with legs
bent at knees, feet
shoulder-width apart.
2. Bend arms and raise them
3. Lunge upper body
at elbows. Spread fingers and
forward and down,
bend them like cat claws.
with hands out in front.
CURIOUS
DRAGON
Roar loudly to
intimidate your
opponent!
3. Thrust neck
1. Stand with feet
2. Raise arms above
forward and lean
together, facing
head, bring hands
head to one side,
forward.
together with fingers
as though puzzled.
facing forward.
This is a
STINGING
good attack
WASP
position, but
it’s also good
for dodging,
as you can
2. Lean upper
3. Extend arms
leap to either
1. Bend legs at
body forward
in front, palms
knees, and keep
side or back.
over knees.
together.
feet together.
Page 9
BASIC MOVEMENTS
The key to mastering the following sequences is maintaining balance while spinning.
IMPORTANT: Do not attempt to perform these exercises without the supervision
of an experienced Spinjitzu Master!
SIDE ROUNDHOUSE SWING
1. Stand with knees
2. Turn at waist.
3. Quickly turn back,
bent, one foot in
bringing back foot up and
front of the other.
around. Then drive rear
knee toward target.
Nya amazed the other ninja with
her skill in this sequence!
SEESAW
2. Ninja A bends forward.
3. Ninja B bends forward.
