Bujinkan
The Bujinkan Dojo is a new martial arts organization, having been established by Hatsumi Soke (Founder) in the last 30 years. The literal translation of Bujinkan is "Hall of the Divine Warrior." Hatsumi Soke gave his organization this name to honour his teacher Takamatsu Toshitsugu, the first person to receive the title Soke in all of the nine Ryu of which the Bujinkan is composed and which have histories dating from the eighth century onwards. The teachings of these schools have been handed down in direct teacher/disciple relationships throughout a lineage of some two hundred and one Soke and thousands of warriors under their tutelage.
Bujutsu is a classical martial arts system, pre 1600's, whilst Ninjutsu is a section within Bujutsu. To think of Ninjustu as a system outside of Bujutsu would be wrong, as would thinking of the Bujinkan Dojo teaching only Ninjutsu.
Masaaki Hatsumi received the teachings of the nine schools of the Bujinkan from Takamatsu Toshitsugu. Takamatsu Sensei received these teachings from three sources: Toda Shinryuken, Ishitani Matsutaro, and Mizuta Yoshitaro. A brief description of each school is essential to an understanding of the Bujinkan as a whole.
What seperates the Bujinkan from other forms of martial training, such as Karate, Judo, Kendo, Aikido, etc., is the fact that the techniques studied today are the same as those formed on the Japanese battlefields in 1603. During the 250 years of peace that followed, as their skills were no longer needed, the warrior class began to undertake more humanitarian pursuits. The skills developed during that time of peace held perfection of character more important that actual combative effectiveness.
The Bujinkan is unique in that combat effectiveness is still held at the highest level, and techniques are not being diluted to accommodate safety. This means that there is no tournament competition, as techniques are studied for real-life situations only. Particpants generally practice with a partner, taking turns performing the role of uke (receiver of a technique). The instructor will typically demonstrate a basic technique with an uke at the beginning of class, and the students will pair up and attempt the technique just shown. As the class progresses, numerous henka (variations) of the basic technique will be shown.
Bujinkan training is made for real life situations. With the Bujinkan the student learns to instantly produce a technique from nothing. As we all know a real life situation very rarely plays out like a kata practised in the class.
In the Bujinkan it is stressed that you should train with a happy heart. Shortly before his death Takamatsu told Hatsumi sensei how important it is:
The way to experience happiness is to let go of all worries and regrets and know that being happy is the most satisfying of life's feelings. Reflect back on all the progress in your life and allow the positive, creative, and joyous thoughts to outshine and overwhelm any sorrow or grief. Happiness is waiting there in front of you. Only you can decide whether or not you choose to experience it.