Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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.
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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]
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
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