You have scoured the internet, read some books, developed a pretty good idea of what Bujinkan training entails and decided, "Yup! That's for me!" Now what?

First understand the rules and guidelines you will be expected to follow. From there you will need to locate a Dojo with a legitimate instructor, make intial contact, verify their credentials, etc., then begin training.

Be Aware of the Rules and Regulations of the Bujinkan Dojo.
There are certain guidelines See the "Learn More" section of this website. that you need to be aware of before joining a Dojo. These guidelines were set by Hatsumi-sensei for the international membership of the Bujinkan.

As a prospective member of the Bujinkan you need to understand these rules and regulations. When you join the Bujinkan you will be expected to uphold them. Knowledge of these rules and regulations prior to making contact with an instructor will also help you to interview them. At the very least, you will know what certification they should be able to produce. You should ask to see it (see below).

Locating a Dojo/Instructor

How do you locate a Dojo near you which is affiliated to the Bujinkan Hombu?
If you live in Canada feel free to contact us for assistance. If you live outside of Canada, check the excellent dojo directory at winjutsu.com and/or do a Google search. Locally, you should check your 'Yellow Pages' telephone directory, pay a visit to the nearest martial arts supply store and network with other martial artists in your community.

If you do find a Dojo near you, ideally the instructor will be a member of the Shidoshikai. If he/she is not a member of the Shidoshikai, then they should be able to give you the name (and contact information) for the Shidoshikai member who is serving as their mentor/sponsor. This person will be the one who sets the framework for your training, issues rank promotion and submits membership fees to the Bujinkan Hombu on your behalf.

First Contact
During initial contact it helps if you provide some information about yourself. Prior martial training experience is not as important as who you are as a person, and what you hope to achieve/gain through your involvement in the Bujinkan. You should also be prepared to ask some questions of your own. Think about these questions before you attempt contact. This way the time you spend talking/emailing is put to good use.

Verifying Instructor Credentials
As outlined in the Bujinkan Rules and Guidelines, there are two types of 'instructor license'; Shidoshi-ho and Shidoshi. Both are currently issued by Hatsumi-sensei directly to the recipients. He brushes them out by hand and adds various seals to authenticate them.

Shidoshi-ho are 'assistant instructors' holding minimum of shodan (first-degree black belt) rank. In addition to their actual rank certificate they will possess a shidoshi-ho menkyo (license) and a current (for this year) Shidoshikai (Instructors Association) membership card.

Shidoshi are 'instructors' holding minimum of godan (fifth degree black belt) rank. In addition to their actual rank certificate they will possess a shidoshi menkyo (license) and a current (for this year) Shidoshikai (Instructors Association) membership card.

To put it simply, any instructor who claims to be either shidoshi-ho or shidoshi but is hesitant to show their current Shidoshi-kai membership card to you should be treated with suspicion. Do not be apprehensive about asking for references or checking with people at the online Bujinkan discussion forum.

What happens if there isn't a shidoshi-ho or shidoshi in your area?

First, are you sure there are no certified instructors in your area? Be sure to check the links above and ask on the online Bujinkan discussion forum. Perhaps you need to adjust your idea of the size of 'your area'. It may be that you will need to travel a little to train. Convenience should not be a factor when looking for an instructor.

With that said, you've exhausted all sources and are sure there are no certified instructors in your area. However you have located someone running a training group. This person may be Kyu (green belt) grade or perhaps Dan (black belt) level without a shidoshiho or shidoshi teaching license. Now what?

If the person is honest with you about their level of experience and who their mentor/instructor is, things are fine. As long as you understand and are OK with the fact that a) they can not issue any rank promotion to you (only Shidoshikai members can do this) and b) their mentor/instructor will technically be your instructor, then jump in and get training!

Some other important points to consider when looking for an instructor. Your chosen instructor should:

The person you pick as your instructor is going to be a huge influence on you, perhaps for many years/decades. The people you meet through training are also going to influence you. Indirectly, these people are also going to influence how you interact with your friends and family. Choose your instructor and your Dojo well. This is especially important when choosing an instructor for your children!

Bujinkan Hombu Membership and Rank Promotion

Through your Shidoshi you will submit an annual membership fee to the Bujinkan Hombu. The base fee is 2,000 yen. Some Dojo also have a local membership fee, so the actual amount you pay may vary. You need to check this with your instructor.

Regardless of what you pay, one of the things you should receive in return for your membership fee is a general membership card from the Bujinkan Hombu. This card is yellow and has writing in English on the front, with the corresponding Japanese on the back. The name of the bearer is usually written in the space between the words "Bujinkan Dojo" and the paragraph below.

Some Dojo issue their own membership cards, etc., in addition to Hombu membership cards. This is fine, as long as they are issuing them in addition to the Hombu cards. If you pay a membership fee, and receive something other than the card above start asking questions. Chances are none of the fee you paid has been forwarded to Hatsumi-sensei and the Bujinkan Hombu. The same applies to rank promotion certificates. The rules and regulations are very clear on these points.

Final Words on Locating a Dojo

If you don't have any luck with the suggestions provided on this page, visit the online Bujinkan discussion forum and politely ask for help there. Some Dojo are small, close knit groups and do not do much in the way of promotion. New members come in through word of mouth. There may be someone training in your area, they just choose not to advertise.

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