Bujinkan Lineage

The Bujinkan History Lineage

Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu (武神館武道体術) is a Japanese martial art originating from Nodashi, Chiba-ken, Japan. The head of the Bujinkan, or Soke (宗家, "head of the family"), is Masaaki Hatsumi (初見良昭; 1931—). Originally a practitioner of judo and soccer in his youth, Hatsumi Soke traveled to Kobe, Japan to meet Soke Toshitsugu Takamatsu (高松寿嗣; 1889-1972) and study his kobudo (古武道; old/traditional martial arts) for fifteen years (~1958 to 1972). Over that time he learned Takamatsu Sensei’s unique martial arts, kata, waza, buki, and kuden, leading to inheriting nine distinct martial arts ryu-ha (流, "schools" or "lineages") from Takamatsu Sensei. As a result of these studies, Hatsumi Soke created the Bujinkan organization (武神館, "warrior spirit hall") in honor of his teacher’s martial arts. Hatsumi Soke then spent nearly fifty years exploring and sharing his Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu martial arts out of Nodashi, Japan and later from his Bujinkan Hombu Dojo (本部; headquarters) along with performing seminars around the world. Hatsumi Soke publicly retired in 2019.

Bujinkan Ryu-ha (Lineages)

Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu martial arts are influenced from nine ryu-ha of which Hatsumi Soke is the inheritor of. It is the culmination of these nine ryu-ha that Dr. Hatsumi used as the basis for the Bujinkan. The nine ryu-ha are:

Togakure Ryu Ninpo Taijutsu | Hidden Door School | 1161 | 戸隠流忍法体術
Gyokko Ryu Kosshijutsu | Jewel Tiger School |1156 | 玉虎流骨指術
Kukishinden Ryu Happo Bikenjutsu | Nine Demon School | 1336 | 九鬼神伝流八法秘剣術
Koto Ryu Koppojutsu | Tiger Knocking Down School | 1532 | 虎倒流骨法術
Shinden Fudo Ryu Dakentaijutsu | Immovable Heart School | 1113 | 神伝不動流打拳体術
Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu | High Tree, Raised Heart School | 1625 | 高木揚心流柔体術
Gikan Ryu Koppojutsu | Truth, Loyalty, and Justice School | 1558 | 義鑑流骨法術
Gyokushin Ninpo Taijutsu | Jeweled Heart School |1532 | 玉心流忍法体術
Kumogakure Ryu Ninpo Taijutsu | Hiding in the Clouds School | 1532 | 雲隠流忍法体術

Three of the nine ryu are of ninpo 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.

Although students are taught multiple techniques from the nine ryu, Dr. Hatsumi teaches the culmination of these lineages as one martial arts body, of which he has titled "Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu". Therefore, students of the Dayton Bujinkan Dojo are tested & licensed in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu, not the specific lineages.

The Bujinkan Guidelines from the Bujinkan Honbu (headquarters) in Japan are applicable to all students and teachers. Students should agree to these guidelines before joining the Dayton Bujinkan Dojo Martial Arts School. As defined and written by Hatsumi Sensei, Soke of the Bujinkan, the guidelines are:

The Bujinkan shall be open to only those who agree with and uphold the guidelines of the Bujinkan Dojo. Those not doing so shall not be allowed to join. Specifically: Only those who have read and agreed with these guidelines shall be allowed to participate.
Only those able to exercise true patience, self-control, and dedication shall be allowed to participate.
A physician's examination report may be required. Specifically, individuals with mental illness, drug addiction, or mentally 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.
Individuals with criminal records shall be turned away.
Trouble makers, those who commit crimes, and those living in Japan who break domestic laws shall be turned away.
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.

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:

"The secret principle of Taijutsu is to know the foundations of peace."
"To study is the path to the immovable heart (fudoshin)."

Bujinkan Sokeship Succession

In late 2019 at the age of 88 years old, Hatsumi Soke retired from 50+ years of public teaching and awarded certificates of sokeship to select senior Japanese Bujinkan practitioners.

Below are the publicly announced inheritors of specific Bujinkan ryu-ha.