They also needed to be aware of ambient light at night and try to avoid having their silhouette show. Ninjas practiced walking on all fours, which allowed for a better distribution of weight and silent movement. They needed to be cognizant of any twig and stone that might cause an unwanted noise. Blackbelt Magazine notes that being aware of the environment about him or her was very important for ninjas. One important aspect of this training was silent movement. According to Mercenaries, ninja training began in childhood at the family level, particularly in the provinces of Iga and Koga, which were a center of ninja training in the 16th century.
