About Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu

The Bujinkan Dojo consists of nine traditional schools, or Ryuha, that are under the guidance and instruction of Soke Masaaki Hatsumi who is the Gradmaster of Bujinkan.

In the Bujinkan we study very effective techniques that have evolved over a 1000-year period of warfare and peace in Japan. Some of the unarmed techniques practiced involve punches, kicks, throws, grabs, joint locks, pressure point control, grappling and many more. Some of the weapons we practice are swords, spears and halberds, sticks and staffs, knives, chains, truncheons, ropes and Ninga weapons such as shuriken (throwing stars) and shuki (hand claws).

Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu uses natural movement to overcome speed and power. Movement is refined for grace and naturalness while “true strength” is developed from subtly of movement, evasiveness, adjustment of position and the use of the body as a whole. Jissen Gata, real fighting style, is the driving force behind all techniques and always stressed during training.

The Self-Defence training of the Bujinkan Dojo is suitable for all people regardless of gender, size, shape or level of fitness. Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu is very unique amongst most Martial Arts practiced today in that it has retained its warrior heritage while still being effective in these modern times.

Bujinkan Rules

Below is a list of the basic rules, which must be followed and considered by anyone wanting to belong to this international association. These rules are also observed by Bujinkan Australia dojos.

Guidelines for participation in the Bujinkan

The Bujinkan shall be open only to those who agree with and uphold the guidelines of the Bujinkan Dojo. Those not doing so shall not be allowed to join. Specifically:

1. 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.
3. 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.
4. Individuals with criminal records shall be turned away. Troublemakers, those who commit crimes, and those living in Japan or Australia who break domestic laws shall be turned away.
5. 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 visited Japan. Among them, unfortunately, were those committing violent drunken acts, the mentally ill, and troublemakers 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.
6. Regarding accidents occurring during training (both inside and outside the dojo), one should not cause trouble to the Bujinkan. This is an extremely important point. Those unwilling to take personal responsibility for accidents occurring during Bujinkan training shall not be admitted. Reiterating for clarity, the Bujinkan shall not take responsibility for any accidents happening in the course of training, regardless of the location.
7. All adults joining the Bujinkan must get an annual member’s card. This card not only preserves the honour of the Bujinkan members, it indicates you are part of a larger whole – one whose members come together with warrior hearts to better themselves through training and friendship. It evinces the glory of warrior virtue, and embodies both loyalty and brotherly love.
8. The tradition of the Bujinkan recognizes nature and the universality of all human life, and is aware of that which flows naturally between the two parts:
   1. The secret principle of Taijutsu is to know the foundations of peace.
   2. To study is the path to the immovable heart (fudoshin).
   3. Initial training begins with Taijutsu:
      1. Kyu levels: beginners
      2. First to fifth dans: Ten (heaven)
      3. Fifth to Tenth dans: Chi (earth)
      4. Tenth to Fifteenth dans: Jin (person)

The eleventh to fifteenth dans are broken into Chi (earth), Sui (water), Ka (fire), Fu (wind) and Ku (the void); the Happo Hiken will be taught at these levels. The fifth dan test shall only be administered by Soke. True shihan can be given fifteenth dan.

Recently, the Bujinkan has become truly international. Just as there are various time zones, so there exist various taboos among the world’s peoples and nations. We must respect each other, striving to avoid such taboos. We must put the heart of the warrior first, working together for self-improvement and for the betterment of the Bujinkan.

Those not upholding the above-mentioned guidelines shall be forced out of the Bujinkan.

Masaaki Hatsumi - Soke