Schools of Ninjutsu
Encyclopedia
There are several modern martial arts schools that claim to teach martial arts derived from Ninjutsu, the historical arts of the Ninja
covert agents or assassins of feudal Japan.
Some of these modern schools claim a background as historical schools of Japanese martial arts(koryu
) that is questioned. Many in the martial arts community deny the existence of any true ninja today, such as Donn F. Draeger
.
At least part of this modern ninjutsu revival began with Masaaki Hatsumi
in ca. 1970. Hatsumi's ninjutsu was studied by Stephen K. Hayes
who brought his variation into the USA in 1975. In the West, the role of ninjutsu was greatly exaggerated due to the movie-based "ninja-boom," and the field of modern ninjutsu diversified in the late 1970s and 1980s, sometimes steeped in controversy on fraud surrounding colourful characters such as those of Ashida Kim and Frank Dux
.
In Rekishi dokuhon Masaaki Hatsumi said he was Takashi Ueno's student at age 24, and until age 29 only sometimes wrote letters to Toshitsugu Takamatsu who was then Ueno Takashi's teacher; though the certificate Takamatsu gave Hatsumi naming him 34th head of Togakure ryu is dated March 1958. There is no documentation of the previous 33 holders of this title. There are films of them training together over a long period of several years and in interviews with Ryutaro Koyama, Takamatsu confirmed that Hatsumi had been training with him since 1958. Following this, in the Bugeicho (11/1963) Hatsumi states he only trains with Takamatsu once every three months on weekends.
The Bugeicho (11/1963) editor Kiyoshi Watatani states that Hatsumi's ideas and lineage are only his ideas and have no proof to support them. The Kakutogi No Rekishi lists several of the Bujinkan Ryuha and martial arts authority Yumio Nawa also examined and confirmed the Togakure ryu's historical status in his 1972 book Ninjutsu no kenkyu (Ninchibo Shuppansha). Watatani, editor of the Bugeicho who had said that there was no proof to Hatsumi's claims in 1963 then reverses himself and in his work the Bugei Ryuha Daijiten
1978 from then on treats the Togakure ryu as a historical art.
In the more recent Shinobi no sengokushi (08/2004) Hatsumi states he trained with Toshitsugu Takamatsu for 15 years and became master of 9 systems at age 27. Toshitsugu Takamatsu died in 1972, so this would make the year Hatsumi started training with Takamatsu 1957 or 1958. This statement claims the training with Takamatsu having been two or three years longer than can be concluded from Hatsumi's statements from the Rekishi dokuhon 08/1960" and the Bugeicho 11/1963. However, the statement in Shinobi no sengokushi (08/2004) is consistent with Takamatsu's statements to Koyama and the certificate he wrote. In 1983 Shinji Souya wrote that the historical book Genpeisuiseki supported the Togakure ryu history.
In the 3rd edition of the Bugei ryuha daijiten, Watatani (who was a friend of Takamatsu) states that Takamatsu's ninjutsu was made up from childhood ninja games. This was retracted in the 4th edition.
.
(1973), the school of Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū
claimed to have been the first to incorporate ninjutsu into its curriculum.
Dux opened his first school in North Hollywood
in 1980 while subsequent schools have been owned and operated by his students.
The validity of many of his personal claims have been disputed. His claims concerning his martial arts background, fighting in the "Kumite
", and prior military service have been alleged as unsubstantiated by the Los Angeles Times
, Soldier of Fortune
, and various former associates.
The Genbukan Ninpo Bugei (玄武館忍法武芸) is divided in 36 categories called the "Ninja Sanjurokkei focusing on tai jutsu, biken jutsu and Seishinteki Kyoyo. Other topics of study may include bō jutsu
, yumi
, naginata
, yari
, jutte, kusari-gama, shuriken
etc.
(founded 1986 in Israel) uses the Bujinkan curriculum the way it was used when Doron Navon, the first foreign Bujinkan shihan
, studied under Tanemura and then under Hatsumi when Tanemura left the Bujinkan.
Jinichi Kawakami claims to have been taught by Masazo Ishida, who he says was one of the last remaining ninjutsu practitioners alive.
He says he is the 21st head of the Koga Ban family (Iga
and Koga
Ninjutsu) and is the honorary director of the Iga-ryu Ninja Museum
.
Kawakami's top student, Yasushi Kiyomoto, is the only one teaching from the Banke Shinobinoden group. Kiyomoto operates a dojo
in Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture
, but he no longer takes on new students. There are also no branches, contact points and instructors overseas.
However, As Thomas Dillon writes, "No one knows anything about Ishida. How very ninja-like." Also, Kawakami claims to teach not only Iga style ninjutsu, but Koka (Koga) ryu ninjutsu
In a 2003 interview with The Believer
magazine, Davis claims to be associated with the Black Dragon Fighting Society (BDFS) after meeting its head Count Dante
in 1968.
Ninja
A or was a covert agent or mercenary of feudal Japan specializing in unorthodox arts of war. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, as well as open combat in certain situations...
covert agents or assassins of feudal Japan.
Some of these modern schools claim a background as historical schools of Japanese martial arts(koryu
Koryu
is a Japanese word that is used in association with the ancient Japanese martial arts. This word literally translates as "old school" or "traditional school"...
) that is questioned. Many in the martial arts community deny the existence of any true ninja today, such as Donn F. Draeger
Donn F. Draeger
Donald 'Donn' Frederick Draeger was an expert practitioner of Asian martial arts, an author of several martial arts books, and a United States Marine...
.
At least part of this modern ninjutsu revival began with Masaaki Hatsumi
Masaaki Hatsumi
Masaaki Hatsumi Masaaki Hatsumi Masaaki Hatsumi (初見良昭 Hatsumi Masaaki, (born 2 December 1931) refers to himself (and is generally recognised) as the 34th Togakure-ryū ninpo Soke (Grandmaster), and is the founder of the Bujinkan Organization. He currently resides and teaches in the city of Noda,...
in ca. 1970. Hatsumi's ninjutsu was studied by Stephen K. Hayes
Stephen K. Hayes
Stephen K. Hayes is an American Bujinkan ninjutsu master, Buddhist priest and writer.-Life and martial arts:Stephen K. Hayes was born in Wilmington, Delaware and raised in Dayton, Ohio. He graduated from Fairmont West High School, Kettering, Ohio in 1967. He began formal training in the martial...
who brought his variation into the USA in 1975. In the West, the role of ninjutsu was greatly exaggerated due to the movie-based "ninja-boom," and the field of modern ninjutsu diversified in the late 1970s and 1980s, sometimes steeped in controversy on fraud surrounding colourful characters such as those of Ashida Kim and Frank Dux
Frank Dux
Frank W. Dux is an American martial artist and fight choreographer. Dux established his own school of Ninjutsu in 1975, called "Dux Ryu Ninjutsu".He was the inspiration for the 1988 film Bloodsport starring Jean-Claude Van Damme.-Martial arts career:...
.
Bujinkan
The Bujinkan Organization, founded by Masaaki Hatsumi in 1978, is one of the many organizations claiming to teach ninjutsu as three of the nine martial art schools of Bujinkan are said to be ninjutsu schools. These claims are opposed by historians of koryu arts, as well as by the iga ninja museam of Japan.In Rekishi dokuhon Masaaki Hatsumi said he was Takashi Ueno's student at age 24, and until age 29 only sometimes wrote letters to Toshitsugu Takamatsu who was then Ueno Takashi's teacher; though the certificate Takamatsu gave Hatsumi naming him 34th head of Togakure ryu is dated March 1958. There is no documentation of the previous 33 holders of this title. There are films of them training together over a long period of several years and in interviews with Ryutaro Koyama, Takamatsu confirmed that Hatsumi had been training with him since 1958. Following this, in the Bugeicho (11/1963) Hatsumi states he only trains with Takamatsu once every three months on weekends.
The Bugeicho (11/1963) editor Kiyoshi Watatani states that Hatsumi's ideas and lineage are only his ideas and have no proof to support them. The Kakutogi No Rekishi lists several of the Bujinkan Ryuha and martial arts authority Yumio Nawa also examined and confirmed the Togakure ryu's historical status in his 1972 book Ninjutsu no kenkyu (Ninchibo Shuppansha). Watatani, editor of the Bugeicho who had said that there was no proof to Hatsumi's claims in 1963 then reverses himself and in his work the Bugei Ryuha Daijiten
Bugei Ryuha Daijiten
The or "Encyclopedia of Martial art schools", originally Bugei Ryuha Jiten , is a catalog of Koryū Bujutsu and Gendai Budō of Japanese martial arts...
1978 from then on treats the Togakure ryu as a historical art.
In the more recent Shinobi no sengokushi (08/2004) Hatsumi states he trained with Toshitsugu Takamatsu for 15 years and became master of 9 systems at age 27. Toshitsugu Takamatsu died in 1972, so this would make the year Hatsumi started training with Takamatsu 1957 or 1958. This statement claims the training with Takamatsu having been two or three years longer than can be concluded from Hatsumi's statements from the Rekishi dokuhon 08/1960" and the Bugeicho 11/1963. However, the statement in Shinobi no sengokushi (08/2004) is consistent with Takamatsu's statements to Koyama and the certificate he wrote. In 1983 Shinji Souya wrote that the historical book Genpeisuiseki supported the Togakure ryu history.
In the 3rd edition of the Bugei ryuha daijiten, Watatani (who was a friend of Takamatsu) states that Takamatsu's ninjutsu was made up from childhood ninja games. This was retracted in the 4th edition.
Quest Centers
The Quest Centers headed by Stephen K. Hayes who studied under Shoto Tanemura until the latter's falling out with Hatsumi. Hayes then continued under Masaaki Hatsumi and is (claimed to be) the person who first brought ninjutsu to North America, founding a ninjutsu dojo in the Western Hemisphere in Atlanta, Georgia, in the mid-70s. Hayes relocated to Dayton, Ohio around 1980, where he continued to teach the art for a number of years. He now teaches his own Westernized system separated from bujinkan, To-Shin DoTo-Shin Do
To-Shin Do is a martial art founded by Black Belt Hall of Fame instructor Stephen K. Hayes in 1997. It is a modernized version of ninjutsu, and differs from the traditional form taught by Masaaki Hatsumi’s Bujinkan organization. Instruction focuses on threats found in contemporary western society...
.
Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū
According to Donn F. DraegerDonn F. Draeger
Donald 'Donn' Frederick Draeger was an expert practitioner of Asian martial arts, an author of several martial arts books, and a United States Marine...
(1973), the school of Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū
Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu
is one of the oldest extant Japanese martial arts, and an exemplar of koryū bujutsu. The Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū was founded by Iizasa Ienao, born 1387 in Iizasa village , who was living near Katori Shrine at the time...
claimed to have been the first to incorporate ninjutsu into its curriculum.
Nindo Ryu Bujutsu Kai
The Nindo Ryu Bujutsu Kai is a martial arts federation founded in 1979, it has a Gendai Ninjutsu division under the direction of Carlos R. Febres, (former student of Shoto Tanemura, T. Higushi and current student of both Ronald Duncan & Bo Munthe). Nindo Ryu Gendai Ninjutsu works around modern applications & modern interpretation of Takamatsuden, Koga (Koka) & Eclectic schools.Dux Ryu
Frank Dux established his school of "Dux Ryu Ninjutsu" in 1975.Dux opened his first school in North Hollywood
North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
North Hollywood is a district in the San Fernando Valley region of the city of Los Angeles, California, along the Tujunga Wash. It is bounded on the south by Moorpark Street and the Ventura Freeway, on the southwest by Burbank Blvd...
in 1980 while subsequent schools have been owned and operated by his students.
The validity of many of his personal claims have been disputed. His claims concerning his martial arts background, fighting in the "Kumite
Kumite
Kumite means sparring, and is one of the three main sections of karate training, along with kata and kihon. Kumite is the part of karate in which you train against an adversary, using the techniques learned from the kihon and kata....
", and prior military service have been alleged as unsubstantiated by the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, Soldier of Fortune
Soldier of Fortune (magazine)
Soldier of Fortune , The Journal of Professional Adventurers, is a periodical monthly magazine devoted to world-wide reporting of wars, including conventional warfare, low-intensity warfare, counter insurgency, and counter-terrorism...
, and various former associates.
Genbukan
was founded in 1984 by Shoto Tanemura. It is an international organization with over a hundred dojos in circa thirty countries and twenty US states. Shoto Tanemura stopped training with Masaki Hatsumi in 1984 after a falling out with him. Tanemura is also the head and founder of three organizations that operate under the Genbukan headquarters (Honbu) in Japan:The Genbukan Ninpo Bugei (玄武館忍法武芸) is divided in 36 categories called the "Ninja Sanjurokkei focusing on tai jutsu, biken jutsu and Seishinteki Kyoyo. Other topics of study may include bō jutsu
Bojutsu
, translated from Japanese as "staff technique", is the martial art of using a staff weapon called bō which simply means "staff". Staffs are perhaps one of the earliest weapons used by humankind. They have been in use for thousands of years in Eastern Asia. Some techniques involve slashing,...
, yumi
Yumi
is the Japanese term for bows, and includes the longer and the shorter used in the practice of kyūdō, or Japanese archery. The yumi was an important weapon of the samurai warrior during the feudal period of Japan.-History of the yumi:...
, naginata
Naginata
The naginata is one of several varieties of traditionally made Japanese blades in the form of a pole weapon. Naginata were originally used by the samurai class in feudal Japan, and naginata were also used by ashigaru and sōhei .-Description:A naginata consists of a wooden shaft with a curved...
, yari
Yari
is the term for one of the traditionally made Japanese blades in the form of a spear, or more specifically, the straight-headed spear...
, jutte, kusari-gama, shuriken
Shuriken
A shuriken is a traditional Japanese concealed weapon that was generally used for throwing, and sometimes stabbing or slashing...
etc.
AKBAN
AKBANAKBAN
is an international educational non-profit martial arts school. The school's name augments the Turkish word for light and the Japanese word for protection, A.K.A the "Light guard". It is now used as a two syllable name....
(founded 1986 in Israel) uses the Bujinkan curriculum the way it was used when Doron Navon, the first foreign Bujinkan shihan
Shihan
- Title of "Master" is a Japanese Honorific Title, Expert License Certification used in Japanese martial arts for Master Level Instructors. The award of the Expert License Certification is if designated by the qualification by virtue of endorsement by the [A] Association of Chief Instructors or [B]...
, studied under Tanemura and then under Hatsumi when Tanemura left the Bujinkan.
Banke Shinobinoden
The Banke Shinobinoden group claim to teach Koga and Iga ninjutsu in Japan.Jinichi Kawakami claims to have been taught by Masazo Ishida, who he says was one of the last remaining ninjutsu practitioners alive.
He says he is the 21st head of the Koga Ban family (Iga
Iga-ryu
Iga-ryū 伊賀流 is a historical school of ninjutsu. It became one of the two most well-known ninja schools in Japan, along with the Kōga-ryū. The Iga-ryū originated in the Iga Province in the area around the towns of Iga and Ueno...
and Koga
Koga-ryu
Kōka-ryū is a historical school of ninjutsu. It originated from the region of Kōka...
Ninjutsu) and is the honorary director of the Iga-ryu Ninja Museum
Iga-ryu Ninja Museum
The located in Iga, Mie Prefecture, Japan, is a museum dedicated to the history of the ninja and ninjutsu. It is located near Iga Ueno Castle.The museum's collection includes ancient ninjutsu writings analyzed scientifically along with ancient ninjutsu weapons. The museum has audiovisuals, models...
.
Kawakami's top student, Yasushi Kiyomoto, is the only one teaching from the Banke Shinobinoden group. Kiyomoto operates a dojo
Dojo
A is a Japanese term which literally means "place of the way". Initially, dōjōs were adjunct to temples. The term can refer to a formal training place for any of the Japanese do arts but typically it is considered the formal gathering place for students of any Japanese martial arts style to...
in Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture
Kanagawa Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the southern Kantō region of Japan. The capital is Yokohama. Kanagawa is part of the Greater Tokyo Area.-History:The prefecture has some archaeological sites going back to the Jōmon period...
, but he no longer takes on new students. There are also no branches, contact points and instructors overseas.
However, As Thomas Dillon writes, "No one knows anything about Ishida. How very ninja-like." Also, Kawakami claims to teach not only Iga style ninjutsu, but Koka (Koga) ryu ninjutsu
Ashida Kim
A number of books purporting to teach ninjutsu have been published by "Ashida Kim", the pseudonym of Radford Davis beginning in the 1980s. However, no evidence has been advanced to suggest that Davis has studied or trained in ninjutsu.In a 2003 interview with The Believer
The Believer (magazine)
The Believer is a United States literary magazine that also covers other arts and general culture. Founded and designed in 2003 by the writer and publisher Dave Eggers, it is edited by Vendela Vida, Heidi Julavits and Ed Park...
magazine, Davis claims to be associated with the Black Dragon Fighting Society (BDFS) after meeting its head Count Dante
Count Dante
Count Juan Raphael Dante was a controversial American martial artist figure during the 1960s and '70s who claimed he could do extraordinary feats such as Dim mak....
in 1968.
1990 to present
- Fumio Manaka, the founder of Jissen Kobudo Jinenkan, is the former senior student of Masaaki Hatsumi. Manaka achieved Menkyo kaiden in several schools of Bujinkan including Togakure-ryu ninjutsu and founded the Jinenkan organisation in 1996..
- The Bansenshukai Ninjutsu organization was founded in 2006 by E. Scott Damron and Daniel Buckley who share backgrounds in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu, To-Shin Do, and American Jujitsu.
- Ninja SA teach a hybrid Ninjutsu style based on experiences on the streets of South Africa. The style has evolved from what was first taught in South Africa as Koga Ryu ninjutsu. The group was founded by David Field in 2006 and now has dojos in South Africa and Wales, United Kingdom.
- Ninja Senshi Ryu (Ninja Warrior School) was founded in 2005 by Kaylan Soto, which combines 2 styles of Ninjutsu. It is located in in Western Sydney, NSW, Australia.
- In 2011 Brandon Anderson, who has a background in Bujinkan Ninjutsu and To Shin Do, developed Jissen Ninpo Budo Taijutsu and founded the National Ninjutsu Academy or NNA for short.
- In 2011, lifelong martial artist Jonathan Kingsley established The Martial University, which teaches many martial arts styles with Ninjutsu being the focus among them. The curriculum features training in aspects of stealth, disguise, technique, weapons and philosophy, along with modernized versions of the techniques for use in real-life situations. The school is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.