About Budo Taijutsu

Budo Taijutsu is a practical natural real fighting and philosophical martial arts system deeply founded in the lore of the mystic warriors of feudal Japan, both the Samurai and the Ninja. In our dojos we practice techniques, wazas, principles and philosophies of 9 different Japanese martial art schools, known as Ryu in Japanese. We train both unarmed and armed (both ancient, exotic and modern). We train in true proven ancient budo methods and we train in modern applications that have been used by Special Forces, FBI, DEA and police forces worldwide.

The Bujinkan (translated as “warrior spirit hall”) is the platform Masaaki Hatsumi, Soke (literally “head of the family”, but commonly called “Grandmaster”), teaches Budo Taijutsu from. Hatsumi Sensei created the Bujinkan after his teacher, the late Takamatsu Sensei, died in 1972. Takamatsu Sensei was the Soke of nine ryu, or lineages, of which he taught to Hatsumi Sensei over the course of 15 years. The nine ryu are:

  1. Togakure Ryu Ninpo Taijutsu – Hidden Door School
  2. Gyokko Ryu Koshijutsu – Jewel Tiger School
  3. Kukishinden Happo Hikenjutsu – Nine Demon Gods School
  4. Koto Ryu Koppojutsu – Tiger Knocking Down School
  5. Shinden Fudo Ryu Dakentaijutsu – Immovable Heart School
  6. (Hon Tai) Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu – High Tree, Raised Heart School
  7. Gikan Ryu Koppojutsu – Truth, Loyalty & Justice School
  8. Gyokushin Ryu Ninjutsu – Jeweled Heart School
  9. Kumogakure Ryu Ninpo – Hiding in the Clouds School

It is the culmination of these nine ryu that Hatsumi Sensei uses as the basis for the Bujinkan. Three of the nine ryu are of ninjutsu decent (Togakure Ryu, Kumogakure Ryu & Gyokushin Ryu), making the history of the Bujinkan slightly more difficult to understand without proper historical interpretation by an authentic teacher.

The physical level of training in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu includes:

Junan Taiso
Body flexibility and conditioning
Dakentaijutsu
Strikes, kicks and blocks
Jutaijutsu
Grappling, throwing and limb control
Taihenjutsu
Rolls, leaps and evasions

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