Bujinkan Ireland: HISTORY & TRADITION

Bujinkan Information and History

Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu is a traditional Japanese martial art, teaching unarmed combat and traditional weapons. This martial art has been commonly taught as ninjutsu in the West but is actually an amalgamation of nine different martial arts, of which only three are ninjutsu Ryu. The nine schools taught under the banner of the Bujinkan are:

Togakure Ryu Ninpo, Gyokko Ryu Koshijutsu, KukiShinden Ryu Taijutsu, Koto Ryu Koppojutsu, ShindenFudo Ryu Dakentaijutsu, TagakiYoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu, Gyokushin Ryu Ninpo, Gikan Ryu Koppojutsu, Kumogakure Ryu Ninpo,

Bujinkan Ireland is an organisation that represents the consolidation of several official Irish Bujinkan groups whose common purpose, under the guidance and leadership of chief instructor Steve Byrne, 10th Dan Shihan, is the promotion and growth of Soke Maasaki Hatsumi's Bujinkan in Ireland.

The training method of the Bujinkan Ireland Dojos involves little formality and no forced respect. The atmosphere is one of learning, with practitioners communicating and co-operating with each other while receiving guidance from the instructor. The teaching method used has a three-fold purpose of firstly providing a realistic self protection ability; secondly, ensuring that the ability taught is appropriate to the student's skill level, and finally, developing an above-average sense of self awareness and self-control in the practitioner.

Generally, each class attended will involve one or two of the many subjects that are studied in the Bujinkan Dojo. For example, it might be a class on blocking and striking, or grappling and throwing or a combination of both, or the application of weapons in self defence. The pace of each class is created by one or more of four fundamental training styles, slow, soft, fast and hard. Each of these different styles offers students an important learning experience. Beginners are mostly exposed to the slow and soft style. This provides a level at which one can easily understand and practise natural body movement, develop co-ordination and balance. With the co-operation of a willing partner at this stage, one can experience and experiment with the training aspects of distance, angling, timing and balance-breaking. Senior students frequently train in the hard and fast manner in order to obtain a uniform experience and understanding of Bujinkan principles at realistic combat speed.

The rules and regulations of Bujinkan Ireland are the same as those of the Honbu Dojo.

BUDO TAIJUTSU

On a physical level, this subject covers the traditional aspects of the Bujinkan combat method which includes:

JUNAN TAISO: Body flexibility
DAKEN TAIJUTSU: Strikes, kicks and blocks
JUTAIJUTSU: Grappling, throwing and limb control
TAIHENJUTSU: Rolls, leaps and evasions

On a mental level, placed in the controlled combat environment of the dojo, a student can quickly begin to confront emotions and attitudes that are not usually recognised in everyday living.
These could be, for example: aggression, ego, shyness, or fear of confronting personal limitations or even fear of failure itself. As students express any of these non-productive aspects of their personality, they are encouraged and guided to acknowledge and overcome them, thereby enabling a greater level of success to be achieved in any and every area of their personal lives. Through the process of this training method, students develop into mature martial artists, respected for their physical attributes and balanced character.

BUKI

Beginners are introduced to the application of traditional weapons in self-defence when they have demonstrated the appropriate level of self control and co-ordination. Many traditional weapons are studied (within the limits of Irish law) including:

Bojutsu - long, medium and short stick and staff techniques
Kenjutsu - Sword techniques
Tantojutsu - Knife techniques
Kusarijutsu - Short chain techniques
Juttejutsu - arresting techniques
Naginatajutsu - Halbard techniques
Sojutsu - Spear techniques

All bladed weapons used in training such as swords, knives etc, are of the safety variety, i.e. blunt. On some occasions these weapons are replaced with mock wooden replicas.

Students are also taught to understand the principles of self-defence that together forms the very essence of weapon use. This enables Bujinkan practitioners to instantly adapt any object of any description as an aid in self-protection.

GRADINGS

Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu uses the traditional Japanese belt system with nine kyu grades, from beginner to Shodan (1st Dan blackbelt), denoted by stars above the school crest. There are also fifteen black-belt Dan grades. Unlike in most Japanese martial arts, a black belt does not mean that a student is authorised to open a dojo and to become an instructor. Only people of fifth dan level, or Shidoshi, and above may open a full dojo. (The title of Shidoshi-ho is given to instructors-in-training, usually at around 3rd Dan.)

All gradings are on an individual basis with students being constantly monitored and assessed every few months. All Bujinkan Ireland Dojo members and gradings are registered in the Honbu Dojo in Japan, thus ensuring world-wide recognition of membership and of grades held.

Soke Masaaki Hatsumi, Kancho of the Bujinkan Dojo

Soke Masaaki Hatsumi
The function of each branch of the Bujinkan Dojo is to disseminate and teach the accumulated knowledge of Dr Masaaki Hatsumi's Divine Warrior School. This is achieved in Ireland through regular training sessions and seminars, where Shidoshi, or instructors, of international standing hold courses.

If you wish to join Bujinkan Ireland, then you will find a provisional application form in the links below. Fill it out and e-mail it to Steve Byrne at skibyrne@indigo.ie You must include all the information requested in the provided form.

If you have further questions about Bujinkan Ireland, see our enquiry page.

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