The essence of our research deals with the idea of an analogy. For all intents and purposes we will define an analogy as a method of comparison based on similarity between things that at first seem dissimilar. The idea that we would like to emphasize here is that the use of comparison between two things (one known and one unknown) can lead a better understanding of the unknown. For example, in order to re-create hunting techniques of ancient peoples, Archaeologists compare hunting techniques of modern people who share similar conditions to those of the ancient times.

This key philosophical concept brings us to our first method of understanding Koga Ryu Ninjutsu as practiced today.

1. Middle Range Theory: The idea that to better understand ancient groups/practices we can use current groups that share similar conditions/practices to understand and recreate ancient ways.

Key questions to ask under this idea: What people/groups have similar conditions as the ancient ninja families? What practices are similar to those of the ancient ninja families?

Using this approach a more refined study of Koga Ryu Ninjutsu can be employed. A few groups that have been researched include: military groups, prison populations, and crime/ infiltration groups. This approach however is very limited due to few people/groups sharing such conditions/practices.

The second approach to re-creating Koga Ryu Ninjutsu is very similar to the first approach yet it attempts to look at descendant groups of the Koga/ Koka in order to better understand the practices.

2. Ethno archaeology: The approach that by working with groups that have traditional practices (in modern) times can lead to a better understanding of the ancient practices/ways.

This approach has lead studies of the actual landscape of the historic Koka region of Japan, as well as several museums of the Koka and Iga provinces. Another spin-off of this idea is the practicing of Iga region based styles such a Bujinkan (Dr. Hastumi) etc. This approach leads to a very limited supply of knowledge due to the Iga and Koka regions being very culturally distinct, which is evident historically and well as organizationally.

The final approach is the method which the Koga Ryu Ninjutsu Society has pioneered and draws most of its research from. The idea that by experimenting with similar conditions we can attempt to recreate the same methods that ancient peoples used to survive. For example, modern flint knappers (stone tool chippers) experiment with different rocks and chipping techniques then match them with ancient artifacts to understand how the techniques/ methods were done historically.

3. Experimental Archaeology: The idea that by attempting to recreate ancient practices in an experimental fashion can lead to a better understanding of the ancient practice.