bujinkan manitoba | about the Bujinkan

From humble beginnings the Bujinkan has grown into an international organization with over 150,000 members. This article is an attempt to provide those new to the Bujinkan with an overview of where and when the Bujinkan began, some information on individuals involved in its growth internationally during the 'early years', and concludes with a brief summary of the Bujinkan today.

Humble Beginnings

It began in the mid 1950's with a handful of people meeting and training in a small room in the clinic of Hatsumi Masaaki (Hatsumi-sensei). To most people Hatsumi-sensei was simply known as a Seikotsui. The sign in front gave no indication of the activities occurring outside of regular clinic hours.

From the accounts of some of the early students of Hatsumi-sensei, the training was incredibly rough. Skin was torn, blood flowed and, on occasion, bones were broken. The wooden planks of the small clinic floor often broke from the strong movements and the weight of bodies being thrown. Training would stop long enough for the planks to be repaired and then everyone would begin again. By all accounts, the group remained small and close knit.

In the early 1960's foreigners began to visit the Dojo. Most left after experiencing the painful techniques of Hatsumi-sensei and his students. A few stayed.

The earliest foreign students of Hatsumi-sensei were, in chronological order, Terry Dobson (USA), Quintin Chambers (UK), Danny Waxman and Doron Navon (both from Israel), Stephen K. Hayes (USA) and Bo F. Munthe (Sweden).

The Americas

Terry Dobson was the first North American to train with Hatsumi-sensei. Mr. Dobson was an uchi-deshi (live in student) to Aikido founder Ueshiba Morihei and lived in Japan for over 10 years. He can be seen taking ukemi for Ueshiba in archive film shot in 1962.

An early 1960's newspaper article led Mr. Dobson to visit Hatsumi-sensei and begin training with him. Mr. Dobson made regular trips to Hatsumi-sensei's Dojo. For many years his name held the senior position for foreign students on the Dojo name board. Although he did receive Dan (black belt) level recognition from Hatsumi-sensei, Aikido was Mr. Dobson's training/teaching focus.

Another American who made regular visits to Hatsumi-sensei's dojo during the 1960's was Charles Gruzanski (1933-1972). Mr. Gruzanski was introduced to Hatsumi-sensei by Nawa Yumio, master of Masaki Ryu.

Mr. Gruzanski was a student of Mr. Nawa and authored the book "Spike and Chain Fighting: Japanese Fighting Arts" in 1968. Hatsumi-sensei had also studied with Mr. Nawa prior to meeting Takamatsu-sensei.

In the summer of 1975 Stephen K. Hayes visited Japan for a month with the intention of meeting Hatsumi-sensei. He had become aware of Hatsumi-sensei through the book "Ninja: The Invisible Assassins", written by Andrew Adams in 1970. With the assistance of other resident foreigners, an introduction was arranged and Mr. Hayes began training with Tanemura Shoto, at that time a senior-student of Hatsumi-sensei.

Upon his return to the USA Mr. Hayes began teaching what he had learned to the senior-students at his Karate school. In 1976 Mr. Tanemura visited Mr. Hayes in Ohio for a month of intensive training.

Mr. Hayes returned to Japan in mid 1977 and remained there until late 1980. For the first year he lived close to Noda and attended Hatsumi-sensei's classes regularly. In 1978 he moved to Kumamoto, Kyushu (Southern Japan) and lived there until his return to the USA. While this move enabled Mr. Hayes to remain in Japan, it greatly limited his opportunities to train with Hatsumi-sensei.

Upon his return Mr. Hayes established the 'Shadows of Iga' organization to promote his interpretation of the training in Japan. Through seminars, books, and articles in martial arts magazines like 'Black Belt', Mr. Hayes did much to promote the Shadows of Iga as the source for Ninjutsu outside of Japan.

In 1982 Mr. Hayes invited Hatsumi-sensei to teach at a 'Shadows of Iga' gathering. Inspired by his techniques, and encouraged by his words, many Americans began visiting Japan to establish direct connections to Hatsumi-sensei and his senior-students in Japan.

Today the Bujinkan is very well established in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, and growing in other South American countries.

European Union

Quintin Chambers was the first European to train with Hatsumi-sensei. Mr. Chambers moved to Japan in 1961 to lecture in English at Saitama University. He lived in Japan for 10 years before moving to Hawaii.

During his time in Japan Mr. Chambers trained in a number of modern and classical systems. Most notably, he was a student of Ueshiba Morihei (Aikido), Shimizu Takaji (Shinto Muso Ryu), and Otake Ritsuke (Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu) and received teaching licences in all of their respective traditions.

Mr. Chambers was introduced to Hatsumi-sensei by Terry Dobson and trained with him from 1965 until he left Japan in 1971. Although he did receive menkyo from Hatsumi-sensei, Mr. Chamber's has never formally taught as a Bujinkan instructor. He is more widely known as a senior of Shinto Muso Ryu.

In the early 1970's, Mr. Chambers and his wife worked with Hatsumi-sensei on "Stick-fighting: Techniques of Self Defense". This book, which presents short stick techniques from Kukishin Ryu and Asayama Ichiden Ryu, is a classic reference on short stick technique.

In September 1975 Ishizuka Tetsuji, a senior-student of Hatsumi-sensei, visited Bo Munthe and his students in Sweden for one week of intense training. The initial contact was made through an exchange of letters and postcards between Mr. Munthe and Ishizuka-sensei. Ishizuka-sensei was traveling to Israel to visit with Doron Navon and extended his trip to visit Mr. Munthe. Good timing!

The following year Mr. Munthe made his first trip to Japan to train with Hatsumi-sensei. On his return from Japan, Mr. Munthe began to work to promote Bujinkan training in Sweden. This was boosted by another visit from Ishizuka-sensei in 1977. Within a few years the ninja-boom hit and expressions of interest came from martial artists in other parts of Europe.

With Hatsumi-sensei's approval, Mr. Munthe established the 'European Bujinkan Ninjutsu Society' and began conducting seminars outside of Sweden: UK 1983; Holland, Norway and Finland 1984; Spain and Greece 1986; and Germany 1987. It wasn't long before other Europeans began visiting Japan to establish direct connections to Hatsumi-sensei and his senior-students in Japan.

There are many excellent Bujinkan instructors in Europe. The most well known internationally are Peter King (UK), Sveneric Bogsater (Netherlands), Arnuad Cosergue (France) and Pedro Felitas (Grand Canary). These men were dubbed the "Shi-Tenno (Four Divine Protectors) of Europe" by Hatsumi-sensei.

The Israeli Connection

Danny Waxman and Doron Navon were two of the first non-Japanese to actually stay and study, for an extended period, with Hatsumi-sensei and his small group. Both men were Kenshusei, studying Judo at the Kodokan.

Mr. Waxman was introduced to Hatsumi-sensei by Quintin Chambers in 1966. Mr. Waxman in turn introduced Doron Navon to Hatsumi-sensei. In addition to their Judo practice, both men trained with Hatsumi-sensei for many years.

Mr. Navon would spend 6 years (1968-1974) training with Hatsumi-sensei. In 1983 he became the first non-Japanese to pass the Sakki-test and attain Shidoshi (Instructor) status in Bujinkan martial arts. He was the first non-japanese to achieve full instructor status and teach Bujinkan martial arts outside of Japan. In addition to establishing the Bujinkan in Israel, Mr. Navon taught throughout Europe, the UK, Canada and the United States. The influence of this gifted teacher has been felt far and wide.

While there are many Israeli instructors, Moti Nativ is probably the most well known internationally.

Meanwhile... Back in Japan

Through the 1980's Hatsumi-sensei floated between the Dojo of his most senior Japanese students, moving to a new Dojo each month. He also taught at various locations in Tokyo. The Japanese seniors also taught, expressing their own interpretation of Bujinkan Budo.

The 'ninja-boom' of the mid to late 1980's put Hatsumi-sensei and the Bujinkan in the media spotlight. The attention brought more visitors to Japan and the Bujinkan grew internationally. The small Dojo in and around Noda were often crowded beyond capacity. To accommodate the larger groups, and provide a more central location, Hatsumi-sensei began teaching at the Tokyo Budokan (Ayase) in 1991.

In 1993 the building that served as Hatsumi-sensei's clinic was replaced by a modern three story structure. Living quarters and a small Dojo occupy the top two floors. An office space, meeting room and entrance are on the main.

In 1997 the Bujinden ('Palace of the Divine Warrior') was officially opened near Atago shrine in Chiba-ken. This now serves as the Honbu (Headquarters) Dojo for the Bujinkan worldwide.

Taikai/Daikomyosai

In addition to teaching at the Bujinden and Tokyo Budokan, Hatsumi-sensei used to travel to other countries to teach at Taikai ('Big Party'). These 3-day convention style events were held in major cities around the world. A similar annual event, Daikomyosai, is also held in Japan in late November/early December to coincide with Hatsumi-sensei's birthday.

The first Taikai/Daikomyosai was held at Yumoa-mura, Ibaragi-ken, Japan in 1983. Senior Bujinkan practitioners and their students from around the world trained and celebrated with Hatsumi-sensei and the Japanese Bujinkan family. There is a video from this event floating around which is a wonderful record of the Bujinkan just before the 'ninja-boom' of the late 80's and 90's. If you get the chance to, watch it!

From the mid 1980's to 2001, Hatsumi-sensei traveled around the world each year teaching at Taikai. At the peak he was teaching between five to seven Taikai a year, teaching in as many different countries as possible. Now he has scaled these larger training events back and only the annual Daikomyosai event is held in Japan.

International Bujinkan Community

There are now over 150,000 Bujinkan members worldwide. On every continent, in most countries, there are Dojo affiliated to the Bujinkan Honbu. In some countries the Bujinkan is just getting established, with little more than a decade of involvement. In other countries like Israel, the USA, Sweden, the UK, France and Spain, the Bujinkan has a well established base of practitioners being guided by senior instructors.

Throughout the year Bujinkan members travel to Japan to study with Hatsumi-sensei and the Shihan. On any given night one can find people from many different countries training at the Honbu. Differences of culture, ethnicity, or religious belief do not matter. There is something much greater at work. Something much more important to focus on.

Future Generations

In early 2009 Hatsumi-sensei announced plans to construct a much larger facility to serve as Hombu Dojo. The goal is to build within 3-5 years. Once complete, the new Hombu will serve as a 'home' for all members of the Bujinkan, and help preserve the heritage of the Bujinkan for future generations.