Ninja Training Techniques as taught by the Japanese Masters of Ninjutsu and Samurai Budo.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Ninjutsu?

Ninjutsu is the martial art of the ancient samurai and ninja. Techniques cover locks, throws, ground fighting, multiple attacks, and modern weaponry.

2. What is the Bujinkan?

The Bujinkan is the organization created by Soke Masaaki Hatsumi to teach the arts of Budo Taijutsu.

It is considered the last legitimate source of Ninpo or Ninjutsu training in theworld.

The kanji for Bujinkan translates to “Hall of the divine warrior.” In the Bujinkan we strive to become divine warriors.

3. Who is Masaaki Hatsumi?

Dr. Hatsumi Masaaki is the Soke (pronounced So Kay) of the Bujinkan. There are many better places to find information on Soke Hatsumi, so I won’t get into it too much here.

Suffice today he is the head of the Bujinkan, Budo Taijutsu is his art, and he is easily the most skilled practitioner of this art alive.

4. What is Budo Taijutsu?

Budo Taijutsu is the name for the 9 martial traditions (called ryuha) practiced by the Bujinkan.

The (rough) translation of Budo is “martial way” or “martial art” and Taijutsu is (roughly) “practical body movement art.” So…Budo Taijutsu could be translated as “Whole body martial way”.

5. What does 9 traditions mean

Japanese martial art styles are called ryuha. Budo Taijutsu is made up of 9 ryu: 6 of samurai origin (called koryu) and 3 of ninja origin (called ninpo). These styles have many similarities.

6. What is the ranking system of the Bujinkan?

Soke Hatsumi tells us that rank means nothing. In the Bujinkan rank comes in time, it’s aside-effect of gaining ability, not a goal to be achieved (hope that makes sense). With rankcomes greater responsibility.

The Ranking system looks like this:

10th kyu – white belt
9th-1st kyu – green belt
Shodan – black belt

There are 15 degrees of black belt. To give rank, an instructor is required to be at least 5th degree (this requires a trip to Japan for a test in front of Soke Hatsumi) and an annually renewed teaching license called ‘Shidoshi-kai’.

7. How long do I have to train before I become a master?

The pursuit of true Budo (martial arts) like Taijutsu never ends. Even Soke Hatsumi says that he is still learning. You can train in this art for your entire life and never learn everything…you’ll never be bored either.

8. Do I have to go to Japan for advanced training?

Going to Japan is highly recommended for any serious student. However, it is not
required until you’re ready for the 5th degree black belt test.

9. What weapons are used in training?

Taijutsu treats weapons as extensions of the body, not separate tools. With this mindset
anything can be used effectively as a weapon. Here is a short list of weapons commonly
encountered in Taijutsu training:

• Firearms – Handguns, long guns, and automatic weapons
• Jutte – a weapon used to capture swords and even break them
• Knives – all types
• Kusari Fundo – a length of chain with iron weights at each end
• Shiruken – these would be the infamous ‘ninja throwing stars’
• Sticks – all kinds, from a 3 inch kobutan to a 6 ft bo staff
• Sword – Primarily the Japanese katana. But also kodachi, tachi, nodachi, and
shinobigatana.

10. Is Taijutsu appropriate for women?

Absolutely. First; because it requires no strength, and is extremely effective, it is perfect
for self-defense. Second; from a physical aspect, women have wider hips and a different center
of gravity. This makes it very simple for women to apply techniques that men find quite difficult
to learn. Finally; most women have very little ego, because of this they pick up on the
movements of the art very quickly, and become very skilled.

Should Ask Questions

1. What does training involve? What happens in a class?

Just to give you a general idea, a class normally starts with everyone lining up and bowing, as a matter of respect to Soke Hatsumi, and to the people we train with. Then we have a warm up, where we make sure we’re fully stretched and ready to do exercise. For the main part of the class, you’ll usually get a training partner, and spend time practicing with them. Every so often the instructor will stop the class to demonstrate, or give new instructions, and then you’ll carry on. You might be partnered with a complete beginner one week, and a 5th degree black belt the next, it’s all part of the fun.

2. What sort of things do you learn in class?

We cover a huge variety of things in class, which can seem daunting at first! We cover striking (punches, kicks, elbows, knees), grappling, throwing, traditional and improvised weapons, and the most important part: staying alive.

3. Do I have to be physically fit to train?

No, you don’t have to be physically fit to start training with us. If you’re unfit to start with, you’ll get more fit the more you turn up. If you haven’t done any exercise for a long time, or you have a medical condition that may affect your ability to do a martial art, then please consult with your doctor beforehand. Feel free to turn up and watch a class, and to talk with the instructors to get a feel for what it’s all about, and to get their experiences of teaching the wide variety of people we’ve had through our doors.

4. Does the training include kata or forms, as in karate?

Not quite like those. In the old arts such as ours, kata are generally performed by two (or more) partners and are quite brief, reflecting the reality of combat encounters. They teach an art’s basic concepts: typical attacks and common ways of dealing with them. Kata may also refer to a class or set of waza (techniques), especially groupings which embody a particular principle or group of related principles. Kata are the starting point for learning the arts.

5. How long does it take to learn this art?

How long do you have? You begin learning effective life-protection principles and skills from the first class, but there is no end to the process.

6. Is anyone prohibited from joining the Bujinkan?

The first four points of the Bujinkan Guidelines from Hatsumi soke identify categories of persons considered unsuitable for training:

1. The Bujinkan shall be open to only those who agree with and uphold the guidelines of the Bujinkan Dojo. Those not doing so shall not be allowed to join. Specifically: Only those who have read and agreed with these guidelines shall be allowed to participate.

2. Only those able to exercise true patience, self-control, and dedication shall be allowed to participate. A physician’s examination report shall be required. Specifically, individuals with mental illness, drug addiction, or mental instability shall be barred from joining. The necessity of such a report concerns individuals who may present a danger to others, for example, those with infectious diseases or illnesses, individuals with clinically abnormal personalities or physiology, and individuals lacking self-control.

3. Individuals with criminal records shall be turned away. Trouble makers, those who commit crimes, and those living in Japan who break domestic laws shall be turned away.

4. Those not upholding the guidelines of the Bujinkan, either as practitioners or as members of society, by committing disgraceful or reproachable acts shall be expelled. Until now, the Bujinkan was open to large numbers of people who came to Japan. Among them, unfortunately, were those committing violent drunken acts, the mentally ill, and trouble makers who thought only of themselves and failed to see how their actions might adversely affect others. Through their actions, such people were discarding the traditional righteous heart of the Bujinkan. From this day forward, all such people shall be expelled.

7. How difficult is it to train in Japan with Hatsumi sensei? What would I have to do to attend his classes?

Just show up and train. He holds weekly classes at the Hombu dojo in Noda and at the Tokyo Budokan in Ayase.

8. Is Budo Taijutsu a “soft” or “hard” style?

The “feel” of the art can depend in large part on the person instructing, and even the instructor’s mood that particular day. Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu incorporates elements of both striking and grappling schools. Training focuses on the realistic application of combat techniques, including “crushing” strikes, joint locks, and bone-breaking. However, Budo Taijutsu also emphasizes defeating and controlling opponents without using power, and ideally, without any force at all, by controlling the physical and mental balance of the attacker.

9. Are there competitions?

Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu is a combat martial art, not a sport. Therefore, we do not compete within the dojo or participate in tournaments. “Sparring” is often replaced with randori, or “free response” exercises, with the intention of developing realistically applicable skills.

Since these are combat techniques, there are no rules or illegal moves as there are in tournaments or other competitions. We try to avoid training to win within artificial constraints, and potentially developing bad habits that could be limiting in a real life situation.

Also, because the techniques of Budo Taijutsu evolved from real combat, they are often designed to injure and potentially kill attackers, and could not safely be applied in a competitive environment.

10. How often should I train?

Only you can answer this question. However, the more you train, and the better you train, the more you will improve. Therefore, you should try to train as often as you can, as well as you can, without sacrificing other things that are important in your life. Training is about how to survive and how to live as much as winning a fight. If you are neglecting your family, career, or personal goals for training, you are missing the point.

A minimal amount of training sufficient to maintain your skills is around one two-hour class per week, but you will need to train on your own as well in order to improve. Ideally, students should attend at least two classes a week with a qualified instructor, in addition to working on your own on kihon (fundamentals), such as kamae, ukemi, and sanshin.