Bujinkan down under
Nunu
I would just like to ask if any out there have any info on when
and
how Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu(formerly Ninjutsu) was introduced
in Australia and New Zealand.
I have bits and peices of info off the net but, with all due
respect, would like to hear other peoples versions of it.
I would also like to ask as to important events in the history
of the art "down under"and important figures in its development
and growth.
I'm sorry if I'm asking too many questions, my appreciation in
advance for any info.
Bufu Nin-po Ik-kan
Nunu
"Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword
will perish by the sword." -Matt 26:52
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Ed
I can add much of this but some would say I am biased - I
will try and keep things as unbiased as possible.
in 1980ish Wayne Roy went to Japan for 10 months and trained solely
with Nagato - maximum of two nights a week. A friend of his went over
in that time for 3-4 months and came back and started a dojo which
disappeared into obscurity.
mid 80's Murray Lynch and Micheal Gent started training with Roy,
Murray left Roy's school a few years later..
Anthony Netzler of NZ shifted to live and train in Japan I think in
1986
in early 1987 Andrew MacDonald went to Japan to train for 18 months
Nov 1988 Andrew came back and did a few seminas around Australia
before he and several others (myself, Andrew Jarvis, Steve Revnak,
Craig Turbett, Scott Whitbread) with him went to Japan to train
1992 after being back in Australia for a year I brought Hatsumi and
Nagato Sensei's to Adelaide for a taikai. At said Taikai Micheal Gent
had a falling out with Roy (some very nasty things going on there) and
he and practically the entire NZ Bujinkan split from Roy's scholl and
became independant dojo's.
1993 Charles Daniel and Ed Martin came to Australia at Roy's invite on
a closed seminar tour - they promptly condemned Roy and his
organisation on the basis of what they saw. Roy had promoted this tour
as an 'alternative' to the coming taikai - ie his students were not to
turn up to the taikai.
1993 I held a taikai in Sydney with Hatsumi and Senno Sensei's - it
was boycotted by Roy's dojo and a few others made meagre efforts.
because of this it was a great taikai with the majority of people
being there actually getting along in a friendly manner.
1994 Anthony Netzler asked Hatsumi Sensei to be his best man at his
wedding in NZ with Murray Lynch organising a one day mini-taikai
1994 Mike Hammond who was scheduled to hold a taikai in Sydney
cancelled it on the basis of insufficient interest.
1997 Mark O'Brien did a seminar tour on my invitation. training in
Adelaide, Sydney, and Brisbane.
1998 Sveneric toured Hobart, Adelaide, Sydney and Perth
1999 Hatsumi Sensei stopped training in Tokyo to advise me to start
collecting votes of foreign Shihan to remove Roy from the Bujinkan
officially. It was said by him on no prompting of any sort from any
Australian or other person there. It is a requirement that the Shihan
have personal experience of Roy's actions to be able to vote, and
currently Japanese Shihan are not to vote (something I will try to
change as several have first hand experience of Roy's actions).
To date only three Shihan have voted, myself, Ed Martin, and Darren
Horvath - two other Australians have abstained to date.
1999 Sveneric toured Auckland, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth - the same
is planned for later this year.
there is more that can be added but I think these are probably the
major events. Currently there are several Australians living in Japan
some for many years now roughly in this order of time :Kenji Mukai,
Scott Whibread (both over 10 years), Rod Hodgson (gotta be almost 10
years now), Tim Bathurst, and a several others. Anthony Netzler is
still living there and also a few other NZer's have been and returned.
Ed
Nunu
I knew that the history of Ninpo down under would be riddled
with politics but not to the extent judging from past discussions
on this message board. On the other hand, what has being
discussed has being backed up by too many people to be
discarded as plain 'jealousy', 'bias' etc.
adding to what has already being mentioned, here's a sort of
chronological history from what I have manage to put together.
Just a note that the year in brackets denotes year that person
started Ninpo studies.
1980-81 Mr.Wayne L.Roy(1980-), trains in Japan and on returning
est. first Ninpo school in the Oceania region.
1986 Mr. Stuart Campbell(1984-), a student of Roy's, conducts a
workshop on Ninpo in New Zealand. Hence, the introduction of the
art in New Zealand.
1987-88 Mr Michael J.Gent(1986-), another student of Roy's, est.
first Ninpo school in New Zealand under the Bujinkan Roy
Dojos banner.
1990-92 Gent becomes independent of Roy, renaming his school
Maai-Hyoshi Dojos.
1994 NZ Tai-Kai, organised by Mr Murray Lynch and Mr Richard
Hunia. 190+students attended although not many aussies attended.
As a result of the 3 Tai-Kai's held down under, around
13 New Zealanders passed the Godan test.
1996 Shihan Brin Morgan visit to New Zealand, sponsered by Mr
Gent. Also visit by Japanese Shihan, Taguchi Sensei.
TODAY, the Bujinkan in New Zealand is led by Shidoshi Murray
Lynch-Hachidan. With other prominent persons being Shidoshi H
Hunia, Ric Hunia, Gary Croslands, Conan Khan(1984-) and
Jim Gould (from England).
In Australia, the Bujinkan is led by Shihan Ed
Lomax(1983-)-Judan.
Politically, the art is(still) split between two camps;
1. Those under Shihan Ed Lomax- Bujinkan Hombu representive,
and..
2. Those under Shidoshi Wayne Roy and Shihan Mark Hammond.
Other prominent figures past and present in the development of
the
Bujinkan arts down under have being Shidoshi Steward and Andrew
Jarvis, Richard Jones(a student of Shihan Peter King and Chris
Roworth of the UK), Paul Duffy-Hachidan, Mark Tattoli-Hachidan
and Shihan Andrew Young-Judan, of the UK.
PROBLEMS(training related) down under since Ninpo first came
this way seems to have always being the problem of instructors
keeping in touch with Hombu in Japan.
Mainly financial constraints, have meant many have not being
able to make regular trips there for training. This now is
vital since there will be no Tai-Kai, too demanding and
expensive, add to this, Hatsumi Soke's decision that he will
stop going overseas(for Tai-Kai's) after 2002.
.as for the continuing politics, which can be constraining budo
feeling between schools, it's sad but unfortunately it's part of
life.
Students must always strive to be open-minded and to be
individuals first and upmost.
Keep Going!
Nunu