Learn Ninjutsu – The 9 Martial Schools Within Modern Bujinkan Ninja Training

One of the least understood aspects of modern Ninja training is the adoption and assimilation of the techniques, tactics, and strategies of other schools throughout history. In fact, the Bujinkan Dojo of Soke Masaaki Hatsumi, director of the current generation of Togakure-Ryu Ninjutsu, includes the techniques, weapons and teachings of at least 8 other traditional Japanese schools of martial arts.

But rather than view these 9 schools as “styles” in the conventional sense, modern practitioners should recognize that each school has contributed its own strengths to the overall body of knowledge. Instead of trying to separate and compartmentalize each ryu-ha as a different entity as it once was, modern students need to understand that current training reflects a very powerful model that is made up of the “best of the best” of a wide range of sources.

The list of the 9 traditional schools, which form the training foundation for both the Bujinkan Dojo and the curriculum I used for my own personal students, is offered here as an introduction to the power that awaits the student. who is ready to take massive action and go beyond the concept of being a mere martial artist, to become a true warrior in every sense of the word.

It is important to see beyond the “toys”, “forms” and other superficial appearances that each school seems to be made up of. It’s also important, unless we’re training for purely aesthetic reasons, that we need to be able to extract important combat and life strategies from each other if we want them to be of any use to us in the modern world.

So, the following list contains not only the name of the school and its main specialty, but also the strategic “place” each has for real world self-protection in today’s world.

The 9 Lineages of the Modern ninjutsu The training includes:

• Togakure-Ryu Ninjutsu- Information gathering and unconventional tactics. This school focuses on the concept of Kaju no waraku (‘The Wisdom of Wildflowers’), which is a reminder to adapt to the situation, rather than settling for a rigid structure. The combat theme that should apply to modern self defense is: Pay attention and gather information about your attacker before you act. And, using any help you can find, let me show you the way to beat him.
• Gyokko-Ryu Kosshijutsu – Tea koshi jutsu It is said to be the essence of true budo training. The focus of Gyokko-ryu is to provide the foundation for mastery. And it teaches that mastery comes through an integration of body, mind, and spirit. The lessons from this school that can be directly translated to modern self defense are as follows: Understand the gist first, the most critical lessons. So, you will be unbeatable.
• Kukishinden-Ryu Happo Hikenjutsu – This school has gone through not only centuries, but also applications. His biggest claim to fame is his use of longer battlefield weapons and fighting in armor. Name Kukishinden means “9 Demon Gods” and points towards the tenacity used to defeat adversaries. According to some sources, this lineage also has ties to shipping, and thus to the development and use of weapons and tactics that would be found in a shipbuilding area and within a ship. The lessons of the Kukishinden ryu should be seen as models for both the use of longer items such as brooms, garden rakes, etc., as tools for self-protection, as well as the principles and concepts for fighting on moving surfaces and striking larger, attacking attackers. stronger.
• Shinden Fudo-Ryu Dakentaijutsu – The lessons of the shinden fudo the school are based, like all the others, on the functioning of nature. The central idea within this ryu-ha is “to find the most natural form”. And, while this lineage has example kata to convey the teachings, the lessons require the student to look beyond the actual lesson form. The modern self defense lesson of this school is to use your natural environment as an aid to your defense and find the easiest and most natural way to defeat your assailant.
• Koto-Ryu Koppojutsu- Koppojutsu means “bone method skills” and points to the science of attacking the skeleton, rather than the muscles. And, while this school has pressure point attacks, throws, etc., the focus is on using these other abilities in a way that causes the attacker’s own frame to lock on itself. This bloodline’s move uses a long-range angular movement to move away from and then return to the attacker’s weak points. The modern self-defense application of these lessons is the same as that of the Gyokko-ryu by learning proper foundation, and then using that to be able to position yourself perfectly so you can take down your opponent with 1 finger. In fact, these 2 schools were organized and structured as complementary opposites of each other!
• Gikan-Ryu Koppojutsu- The techniques of this school include very strange, almost “square” movements and footwork patterns, when applying the techniques. There are very few examples of katas. The idea here is that you should be able to take any technique from anywhere and apply it with the principles of this school.
• Takagi-Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu – Tea takagi The school is a very diverse and dynamic school itself. He has been a major influence contributing to the overall training system and combat perspectives that make up today’s training. At one point, the Yoshin Takagi the school was used as a bodyguard system. Many of the techniques are based on the idea that you, the defender, are not the target of aggression. It also focuses on defending in the smaller rooms and structures of ancient Japan, where there was little room for more conventional tactics. The lessons in this school give you the critical lessons in both defending others and protecting yourself in very tight areas, such as in a parking lot between parked cars.
• Gyokushin-Ryu Ninjutsu – This school grew out of the Gyokko Ryu and was also known for his superior use of nagenawa (a lasso-like weapon). This school contribution is the use of ropes, ropes, belts, etc., as defensive tools during an attack.
• Kumogakure-Ryu Ninjutsu- This school grew out of the Togakure-ryu and brings special ways of walking that can be applied in a combat situation against an attacker’s own legacy. This school’s contribution to modern self-protection is the use of the legs to attack the opponent’s legs (not kick) while applying other defensive techniques.