Tehran, Feb 7 : Iran has so far trained nearly 3,500 women in ninja martial arts.
A small Ninjutsu club in Iran opened in 1989 has 3,500 women now being trained to become kunoichi - female ninjas, reports Daily Mail.
Women brandishing deadly weapons while performing back flips and gravity-defying stunts are a common sight at this club. 
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.
'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.
'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.
