Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu is the official designation for the traditional Japanese budo martial arts as taught by Soke(Grandmaster) Masaaki Hatsumi of Noda-shi, Japan. The organization is a compilation of 9 ryu(schools) teaching samurai and ninjutsu traditions of armed and unarmed fighting techniques. Hatsumi Sensei received his Sokeship directly from his teacher Toshitsugu Takamatsu, considered a budo legend and the last combat ninja. Training generally consists of an amalgamation of techniques from the 9 different schools combined into a manual called the Ten Chi Jin Ryaku no Maki(the book of heaven, earth and man). This collection forms the kihon, or basic, techniques of the total Bujinkan system. In addition to the Ten Chi Jin, students are taught specific techniques and philosophies from the densho(scrolls) of each of the 9 traditions to round out the training. Unarmed techniques include, but are not limited to: Throws, joint locks, chokes, striking, kicking, ground fighting, and strategy combined with proper body positioning and distancing. Weapons training is compiled from various sources from the 9 schools, most notably the Kukishinden Ryu and the Togakure Ryu. Weapons include, but are not limited to: Long and short sword, bo of various lengths, pole arms such as halberd and spear, rope and chain weapons and throwing weapons such as shuriken. Teachers in the Bujinkan should be in possession of a Shidoshi-kai membership card for the current year and students should, upon commitment to training, be in possession of a current Bujinkan membership card. This ensures a connection to the Hombu Dojo in Japan(the headquarters of Hatsumi Sensei).
More information