What is the Bujinkan?
The Bujinkan is a martial arts organisation founded by Soke Masaaki Hatsumi. It comprises of nine seperate martial ryuha, or schools, collectively known as Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu.
Hatsumi was taught these disciplines over a number of years by his teacher and mentor, Takamatsu Toshitsugu.
The nine schools combine techniques and training across a wide range of subjects, taken from both traditional samurai and ninjutsu tactics.
Hatsumi organised the nine separate schools under the umbrella of the Bujinkan in 1972, and was Soke, or the Grandmaster, in each discipline until passing the leadership to his top students in 2019.
Current Soke: Tsutsui Takumi
A ninjutsu tradition known as 'School of the Hidden Door', Togakure-ryū is said to have been founded in the 1100's, with links to Chinese monastic fighting styles. While most modern training in this style focuses on ninpo taijutsu and its associated sword-work, the school also covers topics such as fire-starting, geography, disguise, concentration, and other skills lending themselves to the duties of ninja.
Current Soke: Kan Jun'ichi
Another of the ninjutsu traditions found within the Bujinkan, Gyokushin-Ryū has a focus on koshijutsu, or the control and manipulation of your opponent via nerve and pressure-point attacks. It is also one of the only schools to make use of nawa-nage (rope throwing) as a way to control and subdue.
Current Soke: Furuta Kōji
The third school within the Bujinkan to utilise ninja tactics, Kumogakure-ryū also utilises unique weaponry as part of its teachings such as the kamayari (sickle spear) and several distinct striking styles. As with Togakure-Ryū, the taijutsu involved with escape and evasion are fundamental.
Current Soke: Noguchi Yukio
Koto-ryū traces its origins to the mid-16th century, focused strongly on koppojutsu originally taught by Chinese martial artists. This school focuses on targeting the skeletal structure, joints and nervous system in order to incapacitate one's opponents. Pivotal to success in this style is the strong alignment and structure of your own body to affect your opponent.
Gyokko Ryū
Kosshi-jutsu
Current Soke: Ishizuka Tetsuji (Deceased 2025)
The 'Jewel Tiger' school, Gyokko-Ryū is one of the fundamental pillars of the Bujinkan, focusing on joint locks and throws, as well as well-targeted finger, thumb and knuckle strikes to muscles and nerve points. This tradition lends itself to almost every other school within the Bujinkan, and provides some of the most important training tools for every practitioner at any level.
Current Soke: Iwata Yoshio
This ryūha traces its origins to an Imperial Palace guard in the 1330's. As can be expected, traditional weaponry plays a major part in the training for this school, including the bo (six-foot staff), yari (spear), and ken (sword).
As this tradition often found use in the navy, it also emphasises a low stance that allowed for better balance in turbulent waters, especially when combined with armour.
Current Soke: Nagato Toshirō
Founded in the 1100's, Shinden Fudo-ryū is an ancient style of jujutsu. It emphasises working within one's surroundings, and making use of a natural stance. This school focuses entirely on unarmed combat, although this can include defending oneself against an armed assailant. Control of distancing and balance is a key component, and a cornerstone of Bujinkan fundamentals.
Current Soke: Sakasai Norio
The 'High Tree, Raised Heart' school of the Bujinkan, Takagi Yoshin-ryū has many links to Kukishinden-ryū. Founded in the 16th century, this school includes many close combat techniques, as well as unarmed defences against sword attacks known as mûtô-dori. As such, the mental discipline required is every bit as necessary as physical fortitude.
Current Soke: Sakasai Norio
Gikan-ryū, or 'Truth, Loyalty & Justice' school, is rarely taught as a distinct style, but lends its curriculum of strikes, kicks and throws to many of the other Bujinkan ryūha. Said to be a hybrid of Japanese martial arts and a Chinese style of Gyokko-ryū, it utilises both koppojutsu and koshijutsu in order to subdue one's opponent.