The art of Ninjutsu, in the form we recognize today, began in the Koga and Iga regions of Japan by mountain warrior ascetics. However, it is widely accepted that the true origins of the art of ninjutsu reach back over 2,000 years and stem as far as India, Tibet and China. Looking closely, one can see the influence of East Indian spiritual doctrine, and Chinese military strategy and combat principles within modern day teachings.
The majority of the clans were most likely founded by warriors who had the misfortune of being on the losing side of a major war or battle. Rather than face seppukku (ritualistic suicide), as the code of the Samurai demanded, they instead chose to live by taking their families into the mountains. This is the case with Nishina Daisuke, a samurai who, in the 1100’s, fled to Togakure mountain in Iga after one such battle. There, he adopted the name of the mountain as his own and is credited with laying the foundations of our modern system of personal protection.
Other ryu, or styles, were founded by simple peasants and farmers whose only chance of survival against an oppressive military government was to ally themselves with nature and develop skills to help them prosper under the most dire conditions. The ancient Ninja soon developed a reputation as formidable guerrilla warfare specialists with expertise in all aspects of combat, strategy, and intelligence gathering. These attributes did not sit well with the military establishment of those times. Many fierce battles were initiated by the Shogunate and lesser daimyo to eradicate the existence of these warrior families because their beliefs were not in line with the prescribed doctrine of the government.
Although other schools of Budo do still exist and a few do contain some elements of the art of Ninjutsu as part of their studies (the most widely known is the Shinden Katori Ryu school of Samurai arts), only the Bujinkan system of Ninpo/Budo Taijutsu is known to have survived as a complete system of Ninjutsu history, tradition and techniques.
Legend and myth has always surrounded the existence of Ninja traditions.
They were either feared or dismissed as myth by the elite as well as the commoner. Even as late as the 1980’s, exploitation films did nothing to further the truth of Ninjutsu. During this time, dedicated practitioners discarded the use of the word “Ninja” to avoid the negative connotations brought on by the dollar-driven, Hollywood inspired “Ninja craze.”
Although well known for Togakure Ryu Ninpo, the Bujinkan system consists of nine different ryu of which only three are Ninjutsu traditions. The majority of the techniques offered for study are from the other schools of martial arts.
Today, the collective system of nine martial arts that we study is known as Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu or Ninpo Taijutsu.
The term “Ninpo” being translated as “the way of enduring” or “the higher order of Ninjutsu” as opposed to “Ninja,” or “one who endures.” The term Bujinkan was coined by our current Grandmaster, Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi, as a way to honor his Sensei, Toshitsugu Takamatsu. It is commonly translated as
“Divine Warrior.”
Unlike many martial systems, Budo Taijutsu has continued to evolve and adapt to each passing generation. Through Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu we teach all of our students how to deal with the dangers of an ever-changing modern society.
Today, we enforce strict guidelines to ensure that only those truly worthy individuals receive the rare gift of the history and traditions of the nine Ninja traditions of Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu.