The Bujinkan is an international martial arts organization created by Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi. It is a collection of nine Japanese ryuha (schools or traditions). Six of the nine schools are traditional samurai arts, and three are ninja arts. Hatsumi Sensei inherited these ryuha from his teacher, the late Toshitsugu Takamatsu, in 1972.

Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu translates as “Warrior Way Body Skills.” The art was formerly known as Ninjutsu, but Hatsumi Sensei renamed it, possibly due to inaccurate ideas many people associated with the previous name. Budo Taijutsu emphasizes natural, relaxed movement. In training, one learns to use proper alignment, timing, and distancing to defeat opponents, rather than strength or speed. Taijutsu (unarmed combat) training uses the entire body moving together to provide power. The subtle destruction of the attacker’s balance and rhythm is a primary focus. These principles allow even smaller practitioners to defeat larger and stronger opponents.

The international Bujinkan Dojo is supervised directly by Grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi. Presently, Hatsumi Sensei lives and trains in Noda City, Japan. He teaches at the Ayase Budokan in northern Tokyo, and at the Bujinkan Honbu Dojo in Noda. Hatsumi Sensei is recognized worldwide for his martial arts abilities and his expertise in ancient samurai and ninja arts. The Bujinkan Dojo has hundreds of schools and training groups spread all over the world.