The Bujinkan is an international martial arts organization based in Japan and headed by Masaaki Hatsumi, it is best known for its association with ninjutsu. The system taught by this group, called Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu, consists of nine separate martial arts traditions.
The Bujinkan organization incorporates the teachings of nine martial arts lineages (ryuha)
- Togakure-ryu Ninpo Taijutsu
- Gyokko-ryu Kosshijutsu
- Kuki Shinden Happo Bikenjutsu
- Koto-ryu Koppojutsu
- Shinden Fudo-ryu Dakentaijutsu
- Takagi Yoshin-ryu Jutaijutsu
- Gikan-ryu Koppojutsu
- Gyokushin-ryu Ninpo
- Kumogakure-ryu Ninpo
The head of the Bujinkan organisation, Masaaki Hatsumi, is the lineage holder of several ryuha taught in the Bujinkan, transferred to him in the middle of the 20th Century by his teacher Takamatsu Toshitsugu
Training
The training is generally referred to as taijutsu (body arts), and is composed of both armed and unarmed methods of fighting. Bujinkan training incorporates bikenjutsu, bojutsu, sojutsu, naginatajutsu, tantojutsu, tessenjutsu, juttejutsu, kusarigama, the use of modern firearms and more. Much of the basic taijutsu taught to beginners comes from six primary lineages in the Bujinkan compendium, namely Koto-ryu, Gyokko-ryu, Shinden Fudo-ryu, Takagi Yoshin-ryu, Kuki Shinden-ryu, and Togakure-ryu.
A large variety of weapons are taught, including swords such as daito, wakizashi and tanto, staves of varying lengths (bo, jo), short staves called (hanbo, hanjo), nawa (rope), kusari-fundo (weighted chain), kusarigama (scythe with chain), yari (spear), kamayari (spear with curved scythe-like blades crossing the principal head), kagiyari (spear with 2 rearward hooks), bisento (known in Mandarin as 'kwandao'), kyoketsu shoge (similar to a kama except it has a dagger point and a rope of several feet attached to an iron ring), jutte (sword trapping truncheon), tessen (iron fan), naginata (Japanese glaive), kunai (a blunt digging tool), as well various form of shuriken including bo-shuriken and senban shuriken. In training, students are encouraged to always use any available weapons, including the environment.
Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu practice does not normally include participation in competitions or contests because of the possibility of injury or even death from the dangerous techniques. 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).
Please see the links down under 'Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu' for information on the individual school.