What is Ninjutsu
Bujinkan Dojo
The Bujinkan Dojo “Divine Warrior Training Hall” is Grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi’s international organization for
teaching the essence of nine ancient Japanese martial traditions. These traditional schools, or ryu, are:
Togakure Ryu Ninpo Taijutsu
Gyokko Ryu Koshijutsu
Kukishin Ryu Taijutsu
Shindenfudo Ryu Dakentaijutsu
Gyokushin Ryu Ninpo
Koto Ryu Koppojutsu
Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu
Gikan Ryu Gikan Koppojutsu
Kumogakure Ryu Ninpo
Some of these ryu date back nearly 1,000 years and can be traced through 34 generations of Grandmasters. Three of the ryu are based on the fighting arts and philosophy of Japan’s legendary Ninja Warriors, while some originated with the Samurai Class. All nine ryu retain their original combat essence and warrior skills. The basis of these ryu is known as Budo Taijutsu or “whole body movement.” This concept goes well beyond the idea of simple physical movement. Instead, the goal is to produce a fully developed human being by integrating body, mind and spirit.
Hatsumi Sensei Takamatsu Sensei
34th Grand master of Togakure Ryu 33rd Grand master of Togakure Ryu
Training Concepts
Although the techniques involved in Budo Taijutsu number in the thousands, students are not expected to memorize the movements of each technique. Instead, training emphasizes the principles embodied by the technique. This is done using a three- phase approach to training. Beginning stages emphasize understanding of the physical movement, purpose and proper application of the technique. As students progress, more emphasis is placed on allowing the movement to flow naturally within the parameters of the technique. In the final stages, the concept of technique is dropped altogether and movement becomes a natural response to the situation at hand. Thus, a balance between form and function is acquired providing an in depth understanding of the principles embodied within a given technique.
Budo Taijutsu
Basically, the ninjas hand-to-hand fighting method was Taijutsu, sometimes referred to as koshijutsu, sometimes dakentaijutsu, or yawara, or even jujutsu. The terms changed and varied as the years went on. Sometimes it was called koshijutsu or koppojutsu or only te (literally translated as “hand”, implying “hand-to-hand”). So the basic core was Taijutsu, and after they had mastered Taijutsu they learned to employ the special weapons of their style or system. (Soke)
There is a theory that the fundamental base for the ninja fighting method is Gyokko Ryu Koshijutsu which was adapted in Japan from an older original Chinese fighting system. It is my feeling that this Gyokko Ryu method was not simply transplanted whole to Japan. It was absorbed and adapted to relate with the indigenous Japanese fighting methods of the period. Then this Koshijutsu (fighting method translated as “body weapon art” – koshi can relate to fingers or toes, hand or foot) was later expanded upon and evolved into the Japanese Koppojutsu (fighting method translated as “body frame art” – the body in motion breaks the enemy’s bones and knocks him down). According to Takamatsu, ninja from Iga and Koga areas mastered Koshijutsu and Koppojutsu as a part of their combat training. As you know, if you cannot properly do Taijutsu, there is no way you can do sword or spear techniques either. (Hatsumi Soke)
“Hold on to your pure and straightforward heart” Takamatsu Sensei used to tell me. To obtain such a heart, the basic requirement is Ninpo Taijutsu training. From there, you go on to enlightenment. (Hatsumi Soke)
“The ninja philosophy includes, Chijoku wo shinonde urami wo hojki saru, or “Endure the knowledge that you have been treated shamefully, and do not hold on to hatred.” (Hatsumi Soke)
The Basenshukai (10,000 rivers diverging into the sea) is a multivolume work on the subject of Ninjutsu. In one of its volumes it has this passage: “The essential element for the ninja is a pure heart. If a ninja pursues the wrong course using trickery or plots his heart cannot be pure and his judgment will always be misguided, never permitting an honest course of action. If such a person uses Ninjutsu for only his own benefit or for that of an evil superior, their actions will betray them, showing they were responsible. There may be initial success providing money and fame but they will tumble from their high pedestals before long. The heart of a ninja is pure and honest.”
Ninjutsu is not intended for the satisfaction of personal desires. The ninja employs his art because he is forced to protect his country, his leader, or his family. If you employ Ninjutsu for the mere fulfillment of personal desires, your technique will be of no avail.” (Momochi Sandayu)
The art of taijutsu emphasizes the use of the whole body as a unit to provide power within the techniques. Unarmed techniques involve training in breakfalls and rolling (ukemi), striking and kicking (dakentaijutsu) and grappling and counters (jutaijutsu.) Armed techniques involve the use of various traditional and modern weapons. The weapons practiced include but are not limited to:
Kenjutsu: Sword fighting
Bojutsu: Stick fighting
Tantojutsu: Knife fighting
Shurikenjutsu: thrown weapons
Kusari fundo jutsu: rope and chain weapons
Additionally, all weapons are taught as natural extensions of the taijutsu unarmed movements. This eliminates the need to learn a totally new set of movement for each weapon studied.
Fundamental kamae
Doko no Kamae – Angry tiger posture. Comes from the Koto Ryu
Ichimonji posture with rear hand held high behind the head in boshiken, arm bent.
– Angry tiger posture. Comes from the Koto Ryu Ichimonji posture with rear hand held high behind the head in boshiken, arm bent.
Hoko no Kamae – Bear posture. Comes from the Koto Ryu, variation also in the Gyokko Ryu.
Shizen posture with arms straight up towards the ceiling and knees slightly bent.
– Bear posture. Comes from the Koto Ryu, variation also in the Gyokko Ryu.Shizen posture with arms straight up towards the ceiling and knees slightly bent.
Shizen no Kamae – Natural posture. Comes from the Shindenfudo Ryu.
Stand in a natural posture with hands held down at your sides. Feet pointing straight forwards, knees slightly bent. The back is held straight and the gaze is forward.
– Natural posture. Comes from the Shindenfudo Ryu.Stand in a natural posture with hands held down at your sides. Feet pointing straight forwards, knees slightly bent. The back is held straight and the gaze is forward.
Seiza no Kamae – Seated posture. Called “Za no Kamae” in Takagi Yoshin and Shindenfudo Ryu.
Sit upright with the legs tucked underneath you. Sitting on the heels, back straight, and the tops of the feet flat to the ground. In the Takagiyoshin ryu and Shindenfudo Ryu the body rests on the heels and the toes are bent.
– Seated posture. Called “Za no Kamae” in Takagi Yoshin and Shindenfudo Ryu.Sit upright with the legs tucked underneath you. Sitting on the heels, back straight, and the tops of the feet flat to the ground. In the Takagiyoshin ryu and Shindenfudo Ryu the body rests on the heels and the toes are bent.
Kongo Gassho – Standing prayer posture. Comes from the Togakure Ryu.
Shizen no kamae with the hands held at solar plexus level in a prayer fashion.
– Standing prayer posture. Comes from the Togakure Ryu.Shizen no kamae with the hands held at solar plexus level in a prayer fashion.
Hira no Kamae – Wind posture. From the Togakure Ryu, variation in the Gyokko Ryu.
Standing in shizen with legs slightly wider than shoulder width apart. Arms straight out to the sides, knees and elbows slightly bent, the back is straight.
– Wind posture. From the Togakure Ryu, variation in the Gyokko Ryu.Standing in shizen with legs slightly wider than shoulder width apart. Arms straight out to the sides, knees and elbows slightly bent, the back is straight.
Ichimonji no Kamae – One posture. There are several variations of this Kamae, to mention only a few:
Togakure Ryu – posture low and extended, hands held close to body and turned in slightly. Posture is slightly backward.
Gyokko Ryu – posture compact and upright, hands held close to the body with arms bent. Posture is almost straight, spine stays erect.
Koto Ryu – somewhat straight arms wide leg base, hands held slightly further out form the body than Togakure Ryu.
– One posture. There are several variations of this Kamae, to mention only a few: – posture low and extended, hands held close to body and turned in slightly. Posture is slightly backward. – posture compact and upright, hands held close to the body with arms bent. Posture is almost straight, spine stays erect. – somewhat straight arms wide leg base, hands held slightly further out form the body than Togakure Ryu.
NINJA JUHAKKEI (TYPES OF TRAINING) OF
Togakure ryu ninjutsu
1.Taijutsu - Unarmed Combat
2.Kenpo / Ninja Ken - Swordsmanship (Ninja Ken = Ninja sword)
3.Bojutsu – Stick and Staff fighting
4.Shurikenjutsu - Blade throwing
5.Kusarigama - Sickle and chain weapon
6.Yarijutsu - Spear fighting
7.Naginatajutsu - Halberd fighting
8.Bajutsu - Horsemanship
9.Sui Ren – water techniques
10.Kayakujutsu - Use of gunpowder (fire and explosives)
11.Bo-ryaku - Strategy
12.Cho ho - Espionage
13.Shinobi Iri - Infiltration (stealth and entering methods)
14.Intonjutsu – escape and concealment
15.Hensojutsu – Disguise and impersonation
16.Ten-mon - Meteorology
17.Chi-mon - Geography
18.Seishin Teki Kyoyo - Spiritual refinement
+ Kyojitsu Tenkan Ho - Philosophy
