All About Ninja !!!
All About Ninja !!!
All About Ninja !!!
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Budo Taijutsu, literally translates as “Martial way of skills with the body.”
Taijutsu forms the basis for all training in the Ninjutsu warrior methods. Taijutsu strives to
develop natural responsive actions with the body. As the practitioner progresses, one can use the
lessons gained in the physical, as models for the psychological and tactical training in advanced
studies. To understand the fighting art of the ninja, one must understand a bit of the history that has
Contrary to the most common Hollywood stereotype, the ninjutsu ryu were not
comprised of assassins, thieves and cut throats. A few of the more notable clans held samurai
The majority of the ninjutsu clans were founded by warriors who had the misfortune of
being on the losing side of a war and chose to live by taking their families into the mountains,
rather that facing the option of seppeku, or ritualistic suicide as the samurai code would
demand. Other ryu were founded by simple peasants and farmer, or even pirates who were
Japanese Bujutsu Ryu contain or have that contained a ninjutsu curriculum within its warrior
curriculum.
Within these lessons, the fighting art being described and taught is Budo Taijutsu, (there
will be lessons outside of this curriculum but those will be specifically highlighted) as such 9 arts
comprise the basic teachings. Contained and overlaid on these fighting tactics are the principles
and strategies from the ninjutsu ryuha. Below is a short description of each of the 9 ryu.
Founded by Tozawa Hakuunsai. Its name translates as jewel tiger. It is the oldest of the
Bujinkan ryuha and it contains the fundamental techniques known as the kihon happo, sanshin no
Founded by Sakagami Taro Kunishige, its name translates as knock down the tiger. Famous
Founded by Daisuke Nishuna, its name translates as hidden door. This is the second oldest
ryuha contained within the Bujinkan dojo. It is also one of the most famous to the outside world.
Gyokkushin ryu ninjutsu
Founded by Sasaki Goemon Teryoshi, its name translates as jewel heart. Very little is yet
Founded by Iga heinaizaemon no jo Ienega, its name translates as hidden cloud. Most
Founded by Izumo Kaja Yoshitero, its name translates as immovable spirit. Most famous for
its rough taijaijutsu techniques and the use of naturalness in its training.
Founded by Izumo Kaja Yoshitero, its name translates as nine demon gods. Most famous for
Founded by Takagi Oriuemon Shigenobu, its name translates as raise your spirits to high
trees. Sometimes known as the bodyguard school for its fast and effective jujutsu techniques.
Gikan ryu koppojutsu
Founded by Uryu Hangan Gikanbo, its name translates as example of justice. Most famous
for its difficult kamaes and its Koppojutsu. Little of this ryuha has yet been taught.
Within these 9 schools are fighting tactics that have survived and evolve over centuries.
Unlike many martial arts, Budo Taijutsu has continued to evolve and adapt to each passing
generation. As some traditional styles are locked into practicing techniques designed to be
effective against now defunct weapons and strategies, Budo Taijutsu teaches the practitioner
With this basic understanding of the history and component schools that make up Budo
Taijutsu, what follows is a categorization break out of the components of the system.
Main Divisions in Budo Taijutsu
There are three main divisions in Budo Taijutsu, each section then breaks into several
subdivisions.
The first area covers the fundamental methods in which to move, climb, leap and tumble.
Tobi – Leaping
DAKENTAIJUTSU (striking)
The second area contains the body of knowledge involving striking. The subdivisions include:
The final area includes Budo Taijutsu’s grappling skills. Sometimes similar to techniques in
the martial arts such as Judo, Aikido, Aikijujutsu, these techniques were designed to immobilize,
Training Hint:
In ancient times the Ninja were often employed to gather intelligence information on
one’s enemies. In the modern times, you should employ this historical aspect as part of
your everyday training. It can start with gathering information about your training and what
was taught in your class. But, later can expand to include gathering information regarding
topics that are outside of the realms of your everyday experiences.
KATA
All of the skills and principles contained in these three areas are taught in a series of
prearranged drills known as kata. The kata contain techniques that give a practitioner a reference
the kata tend to be fairly short. No more than 10-15 moves. Each kata relates to teaching a
In olden times, kata were the safest method to teach a martial art. With the nature of
practice being very dangerous, many people were often injured or even died during their training.
To help prevent this from occurring as well as teaching effective lessons in the quickest manner
Soke Hatsumi often refers to what he calls "dead techniques". This is like performing
kata for the sake of the kata. It is doing techniques without understanding why. Technique
must have spirit and feeling. This is difficult to explain, and unless you train, you will not
understand. Many people involved in martial arts feel as though learning a new kata means
that they are progressing in the art, or that they are "preserving" the art for posterity. This is
not so. To learn a new kata without understanding the application is the essence of this "dead
In ancient times, membership in a ninjutsu ryu was restricted to those who were born
into the ninja families every day was spent ensuring the families' survival: farming, martial
training, living off the land, evasion and escape practice, etc. very little was left to chance in
their daily training, and within the lessons contained here at Ninjutsu Training Online you will
contains, I would like to leave you with the following quote from Toshitsugu Takamatsu:
“The essence of all martial arts and military strategies is self protection and the prevention of
danger. Ninjutsu epitomizes the fullest concept of self protection through martial training in that the
ninja art deals with the protection not only of the physical body, but the mind and spirit as well. The
way of the ninja is the way of enduring, surviving, and prevailing over all that would destroy one.
More than merely delivering strikes and slashes, and deeper in significance than the simple
outwitting of an enemy, ninjutsu is the way of attaining that which we need while making the world
a better place.