The Bujinkan

The Bujinkan (武神館) is an international martial arts organization based in Japan and headed by Dr Masaaki Hatsumi. The combat system taught by this organisation comprises of nine separate ryuha (schools), which are collectively referred to as Bujinkan Budō Taijutsu.

The Bujinkan is commonly associated with Ninjutsu however, Soke Masaaki Hatsumi uses the term 'Budo' (meaning Martial Way) as the ryūha are descended from both historical Samurai schools and Ninjutsu schools.

The Bujinkan organisation incorporates the teachings of the martial arts lineages (schools) that Dr Masaaki Hatsumi learnt from Takamatsu Toshitsugu under the banner of ‘Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu’.

These include:

• Togakure-ryū Ninpō Taijutsu
  (戸隠流忍法体術)
• Gyokko ryū Kosshi jutsu
  (玉虎流骨指術)
• Kuki Shinden Happō Bikenjutsu (九鬼神伝流八法秘剣術)
• Koto Ryū Koppō jutsu
  (虎倒流骨法術)
• ShindenFudoRyū Dakentai jutsu
  (神伝不動流打拳体術)
• Takagi Yoshin Ryū Jūtai jutsu
  (高木揚心流柔体術)
• Gikan Ryū Koppō jutsu
  (義鑑流骨法術)
• Gyokushin-ryū Ryū Ninpō
  (玉心流忍法)
• Kumogakure Ryū Ninpō
  (雲隠流忍法)

Toshitsugu Takamatsu was the 33rd Grandmaster  of Togakure-ryu Ninjutsu

Bujinkan Budō Taijutsu training does not include participation in competitions or contests, as the school's training aims to develop the ability to protect oneself and others using techniques that focus on disabling an attacker (&/or removing their desire/ability to continue) as efficiently as possible. The training is often conducted in a manner in which there are predefined "attackers" (tori) and "receivers" (uke) similar to other traditional Japanese martial arts. However, the Bujinkan differs from many traditional martial arts in that the training progresses through the following stages:

    ▪    Predefined sets of movements (kata) and physical conditioning

 ▪    Variations to the fixed drills (henka), responding to changes in the attacker's movements or situation

 ▪    Free form training (randori) consisting mostly of spur-of-the-moment, dynamic techniques during which the defender hits, locks, chokes or throws the attacker in a controlled and safe manner in the Dojo

▪    More advanced training consists of controlling the attacker's mind using various techniques such as pain compliance and deception

Training is done in a manner that entails little risk of permanent injury. The Bujinkan system does not adhere to any official guideline or set of rules to limit actions or techniques used during training. The approach used in the Bujinkan includes gaining compliance through pain and utilising potentially damaging techniques in order to survive dangerous situations rather than focusing on winning a competition or evenly matched duel. As a result many of the staple responses of a Bujinkan student would be inappropriate in most competitions.

Masaaki Hatsumi 34th Grandmaster  of Togakure-ryu Ninjutsu

GRADING SYSTEM

The gradings system within the Bujinkan Organisation consists of three belts, White, Green (or Red for female practitioners) and Black, within these belts resides a succession of Kyu and Dan ranks which are indicated by the following badges.