What is the Bujinkan?

The Bujinkan Dojo or “Warrior God Training Hall” is an international martial arts organization based in Japan and headed by Masaaki Hatsumi. The system taught is called Bujinkan Budō Taijutsu, consisting of nine separate martial arts traditions with traceable histories from the ninth century and earlier.

Hatsumi Sensei inherited these ryu ha from his teacher, the late Takamatsu Toshitsugu in 1972. The nine schools of the Bujinkan are:

How is Taijutsu Unique?

Budo Taijutsu takes an open-ended approach to martial arts that holds survival as the FIRST priority above all else. At the very least, you need to keep yourself and loved ones alive!

This training involves studying combat scenarios and techniques that are up to 900 years old and making them relevant to YOUR life. As this isn't sport-oriented, there are no rules about what is/isn't allowed, as long as what you do works for you.

In a dangerous situation, you'll often be smaller, weaker, and slower than your opponent. Iinstead of relying on physical prowess, emphasis is placed on things like positioning, timing, balance, relaxed movements and psychology to prevail. You will ALWAYS have some control of these things. A heavy emphasis is placed on the ability to change and adapt to whatever comes your way - in a fight or in life. Weapons usage & disarming is integral from day-one, and includes traditional martial arts weapons (such as swords, staffs, and knives), but considers the use of improvised weapons such as pens, cell phones, wallet chains, clothing and whatever might be available to you.

A wholistic and unrestricted view is taken to seamlessly integrate various combat skills such as striking, grappling, pain-compliance, weaponry, etc. as well as integrate those skills to your body type and who you are as a person.

Takamatsu's Words Regarding Ninjutsu

”The way of the Ninja is the way of enduring, surviving, and prevailing over all that would destroy one. More than merely delivering strikes and slashes, and deeper in significance than the simple out-witting of an enemy; Ninjutsu is the way off attaining that which we need while making the world a better place.

The skill of the Ninja is the art of winning. In the beginning study of any combative art, proper motivation is crucial. Without the proper frame of mind, continuous exposure to fighting techniques can lead to ruin instead of self-development. But this fact is not different from any other beneficial practice in life carried to extremes.”

“If an expert in the fighting arts sincerely pursues the essence of Ninjutsu, devoid of the influence of the ego's desires, the student will progressively come to realize the ultimate secret for becoming invincible - the attainment of the "mind and eyes of god". The combatant who would win must be in harmony with the scheme of totality, and must be guided by an intuitive knowledge of the playing out of fate.”

“In tune with the providence of heaven and the impartial justice of nature, and following a clear and pure heart full of trust in the inevitable, the Ninja captures the insight that will guide him successfully into battle when he must conquer and conceal himself protectively from hostility when he must acquiesce
“The vast universe, beautiful in its coldly impersonal totality, contains all that we call good or bad, all the answers for all the paradoxes we see around us. By opening his eyes and his mind, the Ninja can responsively follow the subtle seasons and reasons of heaven, changing just as change is necessary, adapting always, so that in the end there is no such thing as a surprise for the Ninja.”

-Takamatsu Sensei

Quotes above are taken from and Courtesy of WIN and Tetsuzan