Ninja in English languae

Ninjutsu is life art
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Ninja in English

Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi, Ph.D.

Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi is a highly accomplished martial artist, doctor and healer, writer, actor, and artist. Dr. Hatsumi, is most noted as the 34th Grandmaster of Budo Taijutsu and founder of the Bujinkan Dojo

Budo Taijutsu encompasses nine ancient martial art traditions of feudal Japan and integrates physical, intellectual and spiritual elements for personal growth and development. It is practiced by more than 10,000 practitioners around the world.

Dr. Hatsumi was born in Noda City, Chiba Prefecture, on December 2, 1931. He graduated from Meiji University of Medicine in Tokyo, as a Hone-tsugi (Orthopedic Doctor). He is respected as an accomplished practitioner of the ancient Japanese medical techniques of Seikotsu (natural healing methods). In addition to medicine, Dr. Hatsumi is an accomplished artist of brush and ink in the Nihonga style. His art work has been exhibited at the Nagai Gallery of Tokyo and in Paris, France.

Dr. Hatsumi has written numerous books and articles on philosophy and martial arts that have been translated into many languages. He writes a weekly column for a local Chiba prefecture newspaper and is a recurring subject of the major Japanese martial arts magazine, Hiden. An accomplished actor and director of both movies and television, he starred in the TV series, Jiraiya, for four seasons. He also coached and directed notable martial arts film stars, Sonny Chiba and Toshiro Mifune.

For his efforts to spread the art of the Bujinkan throughout the world, Dr. Hatsumi has been recognized by many governments, private organizations and distinguished individuals as a national treasure.

A History of Budo Taijutsu

For many years the martial art that we study was known throughout the world as Ninjutsu,.

The Japanese ideogram for "Nin" of Ninpo is composed of two lesser characters. The character for "blade" is placed over the character for "heart". This has been interpreted in several ways. One meaning is that the warrior will persevere although a blade (or any adversity) is held over his heart.

The term Ninjutsu, however, is limited, for the Bujinkan itself consists of nine ryu and only three of these are Ninjutsu schools. The other six arts are predominately of the Samurai arts.

Ninjutsu was developed in the Iga and Koga regions of Japan.

Hollywood would have you believe that all ninjas were assassins, hired for one single purpose… to kill. This is, in fact, only true in part and now confined to the stuff of myth and legend. The fact is that ninjutsu ryu’s were derived from samurai, farmers and peasants. Many clans were founded by warriors who retreated to the mountains with their families, after falling to their enemies in battle. This way they would avoid ritualistic suicide (sepaque), which the samurai code demands in defeat.

Here in the sanctity of their mountain hideouts, they would carve a new life and in tern would develop the necessary skills, not only to survive but also to fend off any aggression from advancing samurai clans. In time, their way of life made them something to be feared. They had become warfare specialists, experts in combat and strategy. Legend now shrouded them, as their very beings were linked to ‘Tengu’, demons of the forest. As such the ninja clans were despised by samurai and common folk.

Daisuke Togakure, a samurai in the mid 1100's, was on the losing side of a battle and escaped to the mountain region of Iga. It was here that he is credited for founding Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu.

Unlike many martial arts, Budo Taijutsu has continued to evolve and adapt to each passing generation. As some styles are locked into practicing techniques designed to be effective against now defunct weapons and strategies, Budo Taijutsu teaches the practitioner how to deal with the dangers of an ever-changing modern society.

Hatsumi Soke often refers to what he calls "dead technique". This is like performing kata for the sake of the kata. It is doing techniques without understanding why. Technique must have spirit and feeling. This is difficult to explain, and unless you train, you will not understand. Many people involved in martial arts feel as though learning a new kata means that they are progressing in the art, or that they are "preserving" the art for posterity. This is not so. To learn a new kata without understanding the application is the essence of this "dead technique."

Living martial traditions must change and adapt with the times. Budo Taijutsu is the embodiment of this idea. The basic idea, or "feeling" remains the same, the applications change. Budo Taijutsu is effective whether you're fighting unarmed, with a traditional weapon, or a modern weapon.

 

The Nine Ryu of the Bujinkan

Budo Taijutsu is made up of nine individual martial lineages. Six of these lineages are Bugei battlefield arts, previously used by Japan's Samurai warriors, the remaining three are Ninpo arts practiced by the infamous ninja.

Each lineage is between 500 – 800yrs old, born from actual combat and passed on through history by an unbroken chain of family heads or patriarch. The current patriarch to all nine lineages is Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi.

 

 

 

 

The Nine Ryu

Togakure Ryu Ninpo - "Hidden Door" Ryu
Kukishinden Ryu Happo Hiken - "Nine Daemons" Ryu
Gyokko Ryu Koshijutsu - "Jewel Tiger" Ryu
Koto Ryu Koppojutsu - "Tiger Knocking Down" Ryu
Gikan Ryu Koppojutsu - "Truth, Loyalty & Justice" Ryu
Kumogakure Ryu Ninpo - "Hiding in the Clouds" Ryu
Shinden Fudo Ryu Dakentaijutsu - "Immoveable Heart" Ryu
Takagi Yoshin ryu Jutaijutsu - "High Tree, Raised Heart" Ryu
Gyokushin Ryu Ninpo - "Jewel Heart" Ryu