About Training

Bujinkan

Budo Taijutsu

a truly unique art

From some dojos around the world:

Survival Mindset

Budo Taijutsu takes a pragmatic survivalist mindset, where the first priority is to survive, followed by protecting those around you. It's considered a "combat" art, exploring techniques and contexts that are ill-suited for sport application.

In a truly dangerous situation, you'll often be smaller, weaker, and slower than your opponent. Rather than physical prowess, emphasis is placed on things like positioning, timing, balance, relaxed movements, using weapons, and psychology. A common goal is spontaneous creativity, and the ability to adapt to unexpected changes.

Ancient & Modern

The base techniques are derived from Japanese schools of warfare that date back to the medieval era. Most are similar to other "Japanese Jiu-Jutsu" traditions. This art moves past the tradition, for application in modern contexts.

Traditional techniques illustrate principles to be extracted, and applied to your life, your body type, and your personality. Budo Taijutsu embodies qualities of both traditional and modern martial arts

Integrated Skillsets

Due to it's "combat" roots, weapons usage & disarming is integral, from day-one. This includes traditional weapons (swords, staffs, and knives), but also considers the use of improvised weapons (pens, cell phones, clothing, etc). Rather than training skillsets distinctly (unarmed vs. armed, or striking vs. grappling, etc), Budo Taijutsu aims to unify all aspects in a holistic, integrated, and coherent manner.

What kind of skills are taught?

Safe rolling & falling skills
Unarmed - Strikes, kicks, joint locks, throws, chokes, pins, pressure-point and pain-compliance.
Armed - Knife, staff, sword, rope, handguns, projectiles, etc
Defense against multiple assailants, as well as working with teammates to neutralize assailants

What to Expect in Class?

Rolling/falling skills are practiced at every class to prevent injury in the dojo and out in life.
Techniques are taught in a hands-on fashion, including contact with your training partners.
To prevent injury, techniques are initially trained in a slow & controlled fashion, with speed & intensity increasing with skill level.
Pressure-testing using free response drills against unscripted attacks, and technical sparring.
A flexible curriculum is followed, but students may explore topics they feel they need for them as an individual.
Students are encouraged to take personal stock in what they are learning.

Ranking

Training in Budo Taijutsu can be a life-long pursuit of constant learning. But there are general belt rankings, and other certifications:

Belts:

White - new students
Green - initiated practitioners (10th-1st kyu ranking)
Black - seasoned practitioners (1st-10th dan ranking)

Certifications & Honorifics:

Shidoshi-ho - Non-licensed instructor
Shidoshi - Licensed instructor
Shihan - master level instructor
DaiShihan - top level instructor
Menkyo Kaiden - formal certification in specific traditions or subject matters