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The Bujinkan (武神館) is an international organization based in Japan and

headed by Masaaki Hatsumi. It is best known for its association with the ninja. The
system taught by this group, called Bujinkan Budō Taijutsu, consists of nine
separate martial arts traditions.


Etymology and basic philosophy
The Bujinkan organization is the modern continuation of ninpo as carried on and
adapted from its foundations in Feudal Japan. Thus Bujinkan taijutsu has many
similarities with older forms of otherJapanese martial arts, including Aikido and
Judo.
Bujinkan Budō Taijutsu practice does not normally include participation in
competitions or contests, as the school's training aims to develop the skills to
protect ones self and others, through the use of techniques which often focus on
the disabling (breaking) of the attackers limbs and which can also intentionally
cause their death.
The Bujinkan does not adhere to any guideline or set of rules to limit action or
techniques during training, as such many of the staple responses of a student
would be illegal in most competitions. Specifically however, the Bujinkan is mostly
known for teaching koshijutsu (pressure point, muscle attacks/tears and joint
dislocations), koppojutsu (bone breaking), jutaijutsu (throwing, grappling, ground
fighting),dakentaijutsu (strikes), happo bikenjutsu (various modern and traditional
weapons), and ninpo tactics and strategies (Ninjutsu). The depth of training in the
Bujinkan, is designed to open the eyes of the student to the endless possibilities
and potential in all situations.
“ Every encounter is sacred and could present the one potential key to the perfection of the
great universal enlightenment we seek. - Masaaki Hatsumi
History
Pre-history
Several of the above martial arts taught in the Bujinkan can allegedly be traced
back to the Iga region of Japan and were developed and used by
the Yamabushi and the Ninja. The arts said to be in the Iga-ryuNinjutsu tradition
include Gyokko Ryu, Koto Ryu, Gikan-ryū and Shinden Fudo Ryu. The alleged
connection to Ninjutsu is through Hatsumi's teacher Takamatsu Toshitsugu who
was, among other things, permitted to copy the Amatsu Tatara scrolls. Takamatsu
Toshitsugu's grandfather was a samurai and a direct descedent of the founder
of Gyokko Ryu (the Gikan-ryū was passed to Takamatsu Toshitsugu through
another source). Other arts, such as Takagi Yoshin Ryu and Kukishinden
Ryu were developed and used by members of Japan’s Samurai families. Today
the Bujinkan incorporates techniques from all of the above 9 ryu and others.
In 1843 several of the Bujinkan ryūha were mentioned in the Kakutogi no
Rekishi (“The History of Fighting Arts”).[1] Although details of the ryūha were
omitted, the publication states, "even though they are not mentioned in this
particular periodical, there are several schools that are well-known for being
‘effective arts’ (jitsuryoku ha)." Among the schools listed in this section are Gyokko
Ryū, Gikan-ryū Koppōjutsu, Gyokushin-ryū Ninpō, Kukishin Ryu, Takagi Yōshin-
ryū Jūtaijutsu and Asayama Ichiden-ryū(which is not part of the Bujinkan’s nine
schools but was studied by Hatsumi via Takashi Ueno). [1] The Bujinkan as a
whole has been recognised by the Zen Nippon Todo Renmei (All Japan Sword
Federation).[citation needed] However, the recorded history and lineage of several
of the ryūha taught in the Bujinkan, as documented by the Bujinkan, especially
of Togakure-ryū Ninpō Taijutsu, have been called into question.[2]

Formation of the Bujinkan Organization


The head of the Bujinkan organisation, Masaaki Hatsumi, is the lineage holder of
several ryūha taught in the Bujinkan, transferred to him 1958 by his
teacher Takamatsu Toshitsugu.[3][4][5][6]
From 1968 and onwards, the Bugei Ryuha Daijiten has entries bearing the name
of Hatsumi below his teacher Takamatsu Toshitsugu for the following school
entries: Gyokko-ryū Kosshijutsu, Kuki Shinden Happō Bikenjutsu, Kotō-ryū
Koppōjutsu, Shinden Fudō-ryū Dakentaijutsu, Takagi Yōshin-ryū Jūtaijutsu,Gikan-
ryū Koppōjutsu, Gyokushin-ryū Ninpō and Kumogakure-ryū Ninpō.
[edit]Yearly themes
Since 1988 Hatsumi's teaching has focused on a particular theme each year. This
typically means that a specific ryū, or a certain set of techniques from specific ryū
will be taught. Hatsumi announces the years theme, or focus, each year at
the Daikomyosai.
Depending on what years a student has studied in Japan, they may find that their
focus reflects the themes or schools taught during their time. This is one reason
that there are often noticeable differences in techniques from different teachers
inside the Bujinkan. Although Ninpo Taijutsu is an overall theme of the Bujinkan,
2008 marks the first time that a Ninpo Taijutsu Ryū was the focus of the year.
However, prior to founding the Bujinkan organization and teaching the nine Ryū
collectively (with particular yearly focus), Hatsumi awarded his students rank
certificates in individual Ryū.
The themes thus far are:
• Theme of 2010 - Rokkon Shoujou
• Theme of 2009 - Mu - No theme
• Theme of 2008 - Togakure-ryū Ninpō Taijutsu
• Theme of 2007 - Kukishin Ryu
• Theme of 2006 - Shinden Fudo Ryu
• Theme of 2005 - Gyokko-ryū Kosshijutsu (Bo and Tachi)
• Theme of 2004 - Daishou Juutaijutsu (Roppo-Kuji-no Biken)
• Theme of 2003 - Juppo Sessho
• Theme of 2002 - Jutaijutsu (Takagi Yoshin Ryu)
• Theme of 2001 - Kosshijutsu (Gyokko Ryu)
• Theme of 2000 - Koppojutsu (Koto Ryu)
• Theme of 1999 - Kukishinden Ryu
• Theme of 1998 - Shinden Fudo Ryu
• Theme of 1997 - Jojutsu
• Theme of 1996 - Bokken
• Theme of 1995 - Naginata
• Theme of 1994 - Yari
• Theme of 1993 - Rokushakubojutsu
• Theme of 1992 - Taijutsu Power
• Theme of 1991 - Sword and Jutte
• Theme of 1990 - Hanbo
• Theme of 1989 - Taijutsu and Weapons
• Theme of 1988 - Taijutsu

No focus was announced for 2009, though Hatsumi talked about 3 things which
are important for a martial artist, these 3 things may be thought of as a kind
of Sanshin. He said that these things were going to become a bit of a theme for
next year.[citation needed]
• Sainou (Ability/talent)
• Kokoro (Heart)
• Utsuwa (Capacity)[7]

Soon after the theme as herein described was announced, it was proposed by
Hatsumi that the second aspect, Kokoro (Heart), be replaced by Tamashii (Soul).
His reasoning was that the heart is in a constant state of change, whereas the
soul is permanent and unchanging, and therefore is "essential to the person", as
was later stated on George Ohashi's homepage.[citation needed]

Schools
The Bujinkan organization incorporates the teachings of nine martial arts lineages
known as (ryūha)[8]:
• Togakure Ryū Ninpō Taijutsu (戸隠流忍法体術)
• Gyokko Ryū Kosshijutsu (玉虎流骨指術)
• Kuki Shinden Ryū Happō Bikenjutsu (九鬼神伝流八法秘剣術)
• Koto Ryū Koppōjutsu (虎倒流骨法術)
• Shinden Fudo Ryū Dakentaijutsu (神伝不動流打拳体術)
• Takagi Yoshin Ryū Jūtaijutsu (高木揚心流柔体術)
• Gikan Ryū Koppōjutsu (義鑑流骨法術)
• Gyokushin Ryū Ninpō (玉心流忍法)
• Kumogakure Ryū Ninpō (雲隠流忍法)

Training

Opening and Closing Ceremonies


At the start of the lesson the class kneels in grade order and faces the front of the
dojo (or kamiza if there is one) and the class instructor does the same. The palms
are raised above the head and the instructor says Shikin Haramitsu
Daikomyo which is then repeated by the class. The whole class then claps their
hands twice and bows. Coming up, the hands are raised once again and clapped
(though only once this time) and the bow repeated. The instructor then turns to
face the class and everyone bows repeating the phrase “Onegaishimasu”. Any
special instructions for the day are then given and the class starts. The same is
repeated for the end of the class except that the final phrase is changed to Domo
Arigato Gozaimasu. This means thank you.
Shikin Haramitsu Daikomyo has no exact English translation though the general
meaning is as follows:
• Shikin - A greeting, sensation of harmony, perceived by the heart.
• Haramitsu - Wisdom from courage and effort fosters sincerity, loyalty and
faithfulness.
• Daikomyo Bring respect and reliance, illumination from the inside to the
outside.
Unlike other systems, these ceremonies have no religious connotations.
Taijutsu
The training is generally referred to as taijutsu (body arts), and is composed of
both armed and unarmed methods of fighting. Bujinkan training
incorporates bikenjutsu, bōjutsu, sojutsu, naginatajutsu,tantojutsu, tessenjutsu, jutt
ejutsu, kusarigama, the use of modern firearms and more. Much of the basic
taijutsu taught to beginners comes from six primary lineages in the Bujinkan
compendium, namely Kotō-ryū, Gyokko-ryū, Shinden Fudō-ryū, Takagi Yōshin-
ryū, Kuki Shinden-ryū, and Togakure-ryū.
Roles of the Uke and the Tori
Much like Aikido, training is based primarily on two partners practicing pre-
arranged forms (waza) rather than freestyle practice. The basic pattern is for the
receiver of the technique (uke) to initiate an attack against the person who applies
the technique - the 取り tori
Ukemi and Balance
Bujinkan Taijitsu seeks to use body movement and positioning over strength in
order to defeat the opponent. All techniques in Bujinkan Taijustsu revolve around
getting the opponent off balance while maintaining your own balance. This is
achieved by moving the opponent perpendicular to his or her weak line, the
imaginary line drawn between the opponents heels.
Uke continuously seeks to regain balance and cover vulnerabilities (e.g., an
exposed side), while Toriuses position and timing to keep uke off-balance and
vulnerable. In more advanced training, uke will sometimes apply reversal
techniques (返し技 kaeshi-waza?) to regain balance diable the Tori.
Ukemi (受身?) refers to the act of receiving a technique. Good ukemi involves a
roll or breakfall that is used to avoid pain or injury, such as joint dislocations or
throws. Thus learning to roll and break fall effectively is key to safely training in
Taijutsu. Before receiving the 9th kyu, the first rank, a student must demonstrate
the ability to smoothly roll in a variety of directions without exposing the neck to
injury.
Weapons
A large variety of weapons are taught, including swords such
as daitō, wakizashi and tantō, bambooshinai, wooden bokken, mogito (a flexible
aluminum replica sword that holds no edge), or swords made by soft modern
materials are employed for safety such as fukuro shinai, staves of varying lengths
(bō,jō), short staves called (hanbō, hanjō), nawa (rope), kusari-fundo (weighted
chain), kusarigama (scythe with chain), yari (spear), kamayari (spear with curved
scythe-like blades crossing the principal head),kagiyari (spear with 2 rearward
hooks), bisento (known in Mandarin as 'kwandao'), kyoketsu shoge(similar to
a kama except it has a dagger point and a rope of several feet attached to an iron
ring), jutte(sword trapping truncheon), tessen (iron fan), naginata (Japanese
glaive), kunai (a blunt digging tool), as well various form of shuriken including bo-
shuriken and senban shuriken. In training, students are encouraged to always use
any available weapons, including the environment. In some dojos, students will
practice hiding training weapons in their uwagi or somewhere on the mat, and
surprise their uke(training partner) during technique. While in many other oriental
martial arts this is seen as dishonorable, the emphasis Bujinkan places on stealth
and deception makes it a valuable exercise when practicing awareness.
Physical conditioning
Junan taiso is a method by which the Bujinkan practitioner may develop and
maintain good physical condition and well being. The yoga-like stretching and
breathing exercises form a core part of all training sessions.
Self Protection
This martial art is largely based on combat, it is used to protect oneself from attack
and not for competition purposes. Because of its nature, if any of the techniques
are executed correctly, permanent and major injuries or even death can occur as a
result. Safety and care is always taken seriously during training sessions; when
practicing techniques, one must be careful to not injure their Uke (practice
partner).

Uniforms and Rankings


Kyu levels
The Bujinkan Dōjō has a series of nine kyū (grades) below the level of shodan,
starting with mukyu("without grade") and then from kukyu (9 kyu) to ikkyu (1 kyu),
with 9 kyu being the lowest rank and 1 kyu being the highest. Unlike other
Japanese martial arts, such as karate and judo, unranked (mukyū) practitioners
wear white belts, kyu grade practitioners, green belts, and those with ranks
of shōdan and above wear black belts. In some dojos Kyū level practitioners -
especially in children's classes - wear colored belts, though the actual color of the
belt varies from place to place. In Japan, it was once customary for kyu-level men
to wear green belts over a black gi and women to wear red belts over a purple gi;
however, this practice has largely been abandoned. Now, both male and female
Bujinkan practitioners wear green belts at most Japanese dōjō. Outside of Japan,
some countries still follow the green for men/red for women custom, while others
use green for all practitioners.
Dan levels
There were originally 9 dan levels, as with many other martial arts using
the kyū/dan system, but this was changed by Hatsumi to 10 and later,
15 dan levels[citation needed]. The grades are divided into three groupings; 1-
5 dan Ten (Heaven), 6-10 dan Chi (Earth), 11-15 dan Jin (Man, in the sense of
Humanity). The Jin levels are further divided into the five elements of
the Godai; chi (earth), sui (water), ka (fire), fū(wind) and kū (void).
The practitioner's level is displayed by the color of the art's emblem,
called wappen (ワッペン), inscribed with the kanji "bu"(武) and "jin" (神). There are
four kinds of wappen (9 to 1 kyū, 1 to 4 dan, 5 to 9 dan, and 10 to 15 dan)
sometimes augmented with up to four silver, gold or white stars (called hoshi)
above or around the emblem, representing the individual ranks.
At 4 dan (yondan), practitioners submit to a test before the sōke to establish that
they are able to sense the presence of danger and evade it, considered to be a
fundamental survival skill. This is called sakki. This is the test for 5 dan. A
practitioner with the level of godan or above is entitled to apply for a teaching
license (shidōshi menkyo). A shidōshi is entitled to open his own dōjō, and grade
students up to the level of 4 dan. A practitioner with the level of between 1 dan to
4 dan may become a licensed "assistant teacher" (shidōshi-ho), if backed by and
acting under the supervision of a shidōshi 5th to 9thdan or a person who holds the
level of 10 dan (jūdan). In the Bujinkan a person who holds the level of between
10 dan and 15 dan is often referred to as a shihan.
In addition to the kyū/dan system, a few practitioners have earned menkyo
kaiden "licenses of complete transmission" in individual schools. These menkyo
kaiden essentially establish that the master practitioner has learned all that there
is to learn about the particular lineage. Whereas the kyū/dan ranks are often made
public, those select practitioners who have earned menkyo kaiden rarely divulge
their status, sometimes even being reluctant to recognize their actual dan ranking
to outsiders.

References
1. ^ a b The History of Fighting Arts. 1843. pp. 508–517.
2. ^ Skoss, Diane (ed.); Beaubien, Ron; Friday, Karl
(1999).http://koryu.com/library/ninjutsu.html "Ninjutsu: is it koryu bujutsu?".
Koryu.com. Retrieved 2007-01-01.
3. ^ Tetsuzan: Chapter1 p18; ISBN 4-901619-06-3
4. ^ Alex Esteve: Exploring the essence of the Martial Arts, ISBN 978-84-85278-30-5
5. ^ Ninjustsu, History and Tradition; ISBN 0-86568-027-2
6. ^ Footprints of the Bujinkan dojo soke
7. ^ The main meaning of the word utsuwa, its first definition in the dictionary, is
'container/receptacle/vessel'. A secondary meaning, however, is concerning a
person's capacity or potential. Examples of 'utsuwa' in Japanese sentences include:
"Utsuwa no ookii." (a person of high caliber). "Daitouryou ni naru utsuwa dewa nai."
(He [doesn't have what it takes / isn't cut out] to be president. / He is not of
presidential caliber [stature]) So utsuwa can mean 'caliber', to have 'potential',
basically to have the 'right stuff'.[citation needed] Yet the basic meaning implied by
the word 'container' may hold another aspect. Fish, plants etc. will only grow to the
size of the container which they are in. Their growth is limited by the size of their
container. Humans too have a 'limit' to their potential. If their utsuwa is small, they
can never grow bigger than its limits. Such is another possible suggestion of
Hatsumi.[citation needed]
8. ^ Bujinkan Schools Info

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