The Bujinkan
Focus:
The Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu system of martial arts is comprised of authentic techniques from ancient samurai and ninja combat arts, taught within both their historical contexts as well as within modern settings. The subtle destruction of the opponent’s balance and rhythm with proper control of distance and timing are a primary focus of Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu. These principles allow even smaller persons to overcome larger and more powerful opponents.
The Bujinkan applies both unarmed and armed methods of defense such as leaping, rolling, striking, throwing, pressure points from taihenjutsu and ukemi, dakentaijutsu, jutaijutsu, koshijutsu, and koppojutsu techniques.
Additionally, Bujinkan teaches a complete range of how to use ancient and modern weapons such as swords, knives, staves, stars and daito, katana, and wakizashi, tanto, rokushakubo, jo, and hanbo, yari, kamayari, kagiyari, naginata, and bisento, nawa and kusari-fundo; kusarigama and kyoketsu shoge, jutte, and a variety of shuriken.
History:
The Bujinkan Dojo was organized in the early 1970′s by the current Grandmaster, Masaaki Hatsumi. This organization is comprised of nine distinct schools of ancient Japanese martial arts, with traceable histories from the 9th century and earlier. Hatsumi-sensei inherited these ryuha from his teacher, the late Toshitsugu Takamatsu, in 1972.
The Bujinkan organization incorporates the teachings of nine martial arts lineages (schools) known as ryuha.
Approximate dates of their historical beginnings are:
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Togakure Ryu Ninpo Taijutsu | 戸隠流忍法体術 | 1161
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Gyokko Ryu Kosshijutsu | 玉虎流骨指術 | 1156
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Kukishinden Ryu Happo Bikenjutsu | 九鬼神伝流八法秘剣術 | 1336
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Koto Ryu Koppojutsu | 虎倒流骨法術 | 1532
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Shinden Fudo Ryu Dakentaijutsu | 神伝不動流打拳体術 | 1346
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Gyokushin Ryu Ninpo | 玉心流忍法 | 1532
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Gikan Ryu Koppojutsu | 義鑑流骨法術 | 1558
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Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu | 高木揚心流柔体術 | 1625
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Kumogakure Ryu Ninpo | 雲隠流忍法 | 1532
