What is Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu?
Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu is a martial arts system founded by Masaaki Hatsumi to pass on the traditional martial arts (kobudo) from Toshitsugu Takamatsu. In 1957, Hatsumi sensei began to study with Takamatsu and continued to train regularly for over fifteen years until Takamatsu's death in 1972.
Takamatsu appointed Hatsumi sensei to be his successor, passing on to him the title of Soke (Grandmaster, literally Family Head) in nine Ryuha (traditions):
Togakure Ryu Ninpo Taijutsu ‧ 戸隠流忍法体術
Gyokko Ryu Kosshijutsu ‧ 玉虎流骨指術
Koto Ryu Koppojutsu ‧ 虎倒流骨法術
Shinden Fudo Ryu Dakentaijutsu ‧ 神伝不動流打拳体術
Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu ‧ 高木揚心流柔体術
Kukishinden Ryu Happo Bikenjutsu ‧ 九鬼神伝流八法秘剣術
Gikan Ryu Koppojutsu ‧ 義鑑流骨法術
Gyokushin Ninpo Taijutsu ‧ 玉心流忍法体術
Kumogakure Ryu Ninpo Taijutsu ‧ 雲隠流忍法体術
Hatsumi sensei announced his retirement in 2018 and stepped down from an active role in the dojo. In 2019, he passed the schools on to several of his direct students so that they can carry those arts into the future.
Tetsuji Ishizuka - Gyokko Ryu Kosshijutsu (29th Successor)
Yukio Noguchi - Koto Ryu Koppojutsu (19th Successor)
Norio Sakasai - Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu (18th Successor) & Gikan Ryu Koppojutsu (16th Successor)
Yoshio Iwata - Kukishinden Ryu Happo Bikenjutsu (29th Successor)
Toshiro Nagato - Shinden Fudo Ryu Dakentaijutsu (27th Successor)
Takumi Tsutsui - Togakure Ryu Ninpo Taijutsu (35th Successor)
Kōji Furuta - Kumogakure Ryu Ninpo (15th Successor)
Jun'ichi Kan - Gyokushin Ryu Ninpo (22nd Successor)
These new Soke continue to teach at the honbu (headquarters) dojo in Japan, and travel around the World for Taikai (seminars). The passing on of these Soke-ship titles only apply to the individual ryu-ha and do not designate anyone as the head of the Bujinkan. Even though he retired from teaching, Hatsumi sensei is still viewed by most to be the 'Official Head' of the International Bujinkan Dojo until such a time when a successor is named.
