BUDO TAIJUTSU
Practiced worldwide by
the Bujinkan Dojos of Soke Masaaki Hatsumi
and Represented by Doshi Richard Van Donk
who was formally by Soke granted the IBDA
International Bujinkan Dojo Association
A Practical, Natural, Real Fighting Art
Budo Taijutsu is a practical natural real fighting and philosophical martial arts system deeply founded in the lore of the mystic warriors of feudal Japan, both the Samurai and the Ninja.
In the Bujinkan dojos we practice techniques, wazas, principles and philosophies of 9 different Japanese martial art schools, known as Ryu in Japanese. We train both unarmed and armed (both ancient, exotic and modern). We train in true proven ancient budo methods and we train in modern applications that have been used by Special Forces, FBI, DEA and police forces worldwide.
What You Will Learn to Apply
- Body Conditioning
- Punching
- Kicking
- Grappling
- Countering attacks
- Art of winning
- Awareness training
- Staying safe by positioning
- Posture power
- Footwork
- Taijutsu integration
- Art of distancing
- Timing
- Angling
- Control without grabbing
- Determining space
- Any technique with any weapon
- Finger locks
- Striking kyusho points
- Unattached commitment
- Mastering the kukan
- Running energy
Grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi
The founder and International Director of the Bujinkan Dojo (Divine Warrior Training Hall) with its Hombu Dojo, called the Bujinden (Divine Palace), residing in Noda City, Japan is Grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi (commonly referred to as Soke – head of family). Soke Hatsumi (now retired from all teaching Jan 2020) is the inheritor of nine Samurai/Ninjutsu traditions from the late O’Sensei Toshitsugu Takamatsu (perhaps the last true living Ninja) in 1972. He shared his budo several times a week to instructors that came from around the world until he was 89. This is amazing and proves that the art is effective no matter what your age is. Now he enjoys life and does lots of painting.
To become a fully licensed teacher in the Bujinkan, called a Shidoshi, you must pass the 5th dan test which at one time had to be taken in Japan directly from Soke Hatsumi (Doshi Van Donk was among the 1st foreigners to take the test and he passed on his first attempt). Now the test can be given by a Bujinkan DaiShihan, 15th dan all over the world.
This art is infinite in its possibilities and super fun to learn.
The 9 Schools
Nine ryuha – samurai and ninja traditions passed from Takamatsu Toshitsugu to Masaaki Hatsumi – studied together as Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu.
01 · 28TH SOKEGyokko RyuKosshijutsu · Jeweled Tiger School玉虎流骨指術
02 · 18TH SOKEKoto RyuKoppojutsu · Tiger Knocking Down School虎倒流骨法術
03 · 26TH SOKEShinden Fudo RyuDakentaijutsu · Immovable Heart School神伝不動流打拳体術
04 · 17TH SOKETakagi Yoshin RyuJutaijutsu · High Tree, Raised Heart School高木揚心流柔体術
05 · 28TH SOKEKuki Shinden RyuHappo Bikenjutsu · Transmission of the Nine Demon Gods九鬼神伝流八法秘剣術
06 · 15TH SOKEGikan RyuKoppojutsu · Truth, Loyalty and Justice School義鑑流骨法術
07 · 34TH SOKETogakure RyuNinpo Taijutsu · Hidden Door School戸隠流忍法体術
08 · 21ST SOKEGyokushin RyuNinpo · Jeweled Heart School玉心流忍法
09 · 14TH SOKEKumogakure RyuNinpo · Hiding in the Clouds School雲隠流忍法Bushindo University: Contribution to the Arts
To further spread the arts of Soke Masaaki Hatsumi, Soke authorized Doshi Richard Van Donk to create the International Bujinkan Dojo Association. The mission was/is to help codify the Bujinkan arts and offer the most comprehensive study possible to students, teachers and dojos worldwide. We love the arts and our only intent is to give every person no matter where they live the opportunity to learn and study what we also love.
This worldwide effort was pioneered and championed by Senior Bujinkan Doshi Richard Van Donk and now carried on by the IBDA Master Council and Bujinkan teachers worldwide. We are truly grateful to all our friends and fellow Bujinkan instructors that have helped contribute to this success in anyway both direct and indirectly. We continue to champion the opportunity for the arts to be able to be studied by anyone no matter where they live and if there is a teacher nearby or not.
Doshi Richard Van Donk
Bujinkan Doshi Richard Van Donk was one of the first foreign students of Soke Hatsumi to ever pass the 5th dan test in Japan becoming a full licensed teacher of the arts, a Shidoshi. That was in early 1986. Since then he has done his best, at great personal expense, to provide the opportunity to study this great art to the general public by creating an entire university of study materials to take you from beginner to master level. He worked hard to get Soke Hatsumi to put his works on DVD with English subtitles and to translate all of Soke’s books into English so that students can appreciate them.
You will find all the teachings you may want on this Ninjutsu/Budo Taijutsu art at Bushindo University.
Ninjutsu First, Then Budo Taijutsu
At IBDA (International Bujinkan Dojo Association) we directly practice Budo Taijutsu studying the art school by school formally starting with Gyokko Ryu at 2nd degree BlackBelt.
Let me clarify that for you. Doshi Richard Van Donk first learned Ninjutsu / Ninpo Taijutsu before Soke Hatsumi switched his teachings to Budo Taijutsu in the 1990’s. He received his 9th dan in Ninpo Taijutsu (highest rank possible in that art) before beginning his Budo Taijutsu training. Ninjutsu/Ninpo Taijutsu (and sword) is why he started in the arts. So he teaches Ninjutsu / Ninpo Taijutsu first to all his students. He always will. Most students that join us really want Ninjutsu. So you earn your Shodan in that before starting formal Budo Taijutsu with IBDA. These fundamentals are imperative in our opinion or your Budo Taijutsu will be very weak in a realistic combat situation.
Foundations are everything from a marriage, to a checkbook to the house you are living in. Learn the foundation first. Learn the form first and then play with the shadows.
Our beginning IBDA students start their Bujinkan Arts Ninjutsu/Ninpo Taijutsu journey at 9th kyu tori gate learning a complete detailed overview of all the fundamental basics of the Bujinkan schools while directly learning Ninjutsu, art of the Ninja for their 1st degree BlackBelt. The IBDA Ninja BlackBelt level study includes Body Conditioning, punching, kicking, grappling, countering attacks, Art of winning, awareness training, Stealth, Gotonpo (use of the outdoor elements), Meiso (Meditation), Metsubishi (blinding powders), Dream work, Exotic Weapon Training, Philosophy and much more. Hundreds of techniques and principles are learned in the Shodan Ninjutsu BlackBelt Course, which was designed to work as a study both in or out of the dojo.
Then at IBDA we directly practice Budo Taijutsu studying the art school by school formally starting with Gyokko Ryu at 2nd degree BlackBelt, Shinden Fudo Ryu at 3rd Degree BlackBelt, of which we have complete waza training courses. Of course you study all the pieces of Budo Taijutsu while learning Ninjutsu from us. In our Budo Taijutsu Course you will learn the master principles of the art.
What Is Not to Love About the Mystical Teachings of the Ninja?
We love Ninjutsu and all that it stands for. That is why we teach it as the foundation to ALL Bujinkan teachings. This includes teaching it as a foundation to the Budo Taijutsu that is now taught in the Japan hombu dojo. You will NOT learn Ninjutsu in the Hombu dojo. This art has not been taught in Japan for at least 15-20 years. But you can get it here from someone that personally learned from Soke Hatsumi, as a personal student.
Since the very early 1980’s Doshi Richard Van Donk and his wife Linda have pioneered Grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi’s Ninjutsu (and Budo Taijutsu) around the world with their proven study programs and International dojo affiliations. Richard, a personal student of Grandmaster Hatsumi, was one of the first Bujinkan non-Japanese students to become a Shidoshi, a fully licensed teacher of the warrior ways of enlightenment in 1987 when he passed his 5th degree test. He was awarded 10th dan in 1995 and his Ju-Godan (5th level of Judan) on Dec 2nd, 2004 (Soke Hatsumi’s Birthday). Today as director of the International Bujinkan Dojo Association, known as IBDA, he is still working on more study materials for his students around the world, doing seminars, hosting annual Tai Kai events and taking students to train in Japan.
We invite you to explore the Bujinkan teachings offered by IBDA and to train with us either at an IBDA Bujinkan Dojo near you or hook up with a certified IBDA instructor for private lessons with Zoom, or by studying with a buddy in our proven Home Study Courses, if there is no dojo near you.
Perfect Your Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu
Ten master instructors share the most important principles of the art. Study online on your computer, tablet or phone app, with the Binder manual mailed to you.