Ninjutsu: Masaaki Hatsumi, Brian McCarthy, Dusty Miller and Robert Bussey
Neal Nelson
---
In answer to several postings about Massaki Hatsumi and various of his teachers of
Ninjutsu:
Masaaki Hatsumi is the undisputed head master of Bujinjan Ninjutsu, the collection of
the nine schools of Ninjutsu that are still known to exist. There may be others, but
only in Japan and they don't appear to be letting on that they exist. There are many people that have set themselves up as Ninjutsu masters but none have credentials. Most are just ludicrous re-hashes of other conventinal (and modern) martial arts.
If you have ever seen real Ninjutsu, you will know that is bears little resemblance in style to any of the modern martial arts that are popular today. It is a far older battlefield art that is not suited to the sport mentality of most present day martial artists.
There was a school of Ninjutsu called Genbukan. I don't know if it is still going. This was set up by a man called Tanemura. He was a fellow student of Hatsumi under Takamatsu Sensei (the 33rd head master). The reason for the founding of this school is something to do with a split between Hatsumi and Tanemura. I don't know the reason and to theorise would be just spreading gossip!
As for the various techers of Bujinkan Ninjutsu that have been mentioned in this group
recently;
Brian McCarthy was a student of Hatsumi. I myself have seen them training together at a
seminar I attended in Wimbledon several years ago. I don't know about of any split between Hatsumi and Brian as I have not trained with Brian for some time, since the end of the EBNS.
Dusty Miller was a teacher in Plymouth many years ago when I first started Ninjutsu. I
can remember going to one of his first seminars, with Brian McCarthy teaching. Its nice
to know that he is still training, wherever he may be.
Robert Bussey, I think, is likewise a practitioner of Bujinkan Ninjutsu. I have never met him so I cannot vouch for his ability but I beleive he has trained with Hatsumi on some of his American visits.
Ninpo ik kan!
=================================================================
Neal Nelson, Science Systems (Space) Ltd Tel: (+49) 6151 90-2899
European Space Operatins Centre Fax: (+49) 6151 90-3414
Renee Christine Raterman
>Ninpo ik kan!
There is also Richard Van Donk here in Santa Cruz, who has studied in Japan under the Grandmaster. I have studied under his pupils and I know he is
certified as a Bujinkan practicioner.
James Harr
>Neal Nelson, Science Systems (Space) Ltd Tel: (+49) 6151 90-2899
>European Space Operatins Centre Fax: (+49) 6151 90-3414
I have a question about nijitsu. I hope this is a good place to ask.
Isn't this an art of assasination and covert manuevers? If so, why do you
want to learn this art? Is there that much of a market for assasins these
days? Or are people who study this just another form of "Soldier of
Fortune" survivalist psychos? No offense intended, please correct me if I
am wrong.
Thanks,
James.
Craig
: >=================================================================
: Thanks,
: James.
Well there are no real Ninjas today, haven't been for a very long time.
Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu in Fuedal times of Japan had their own code of ethics
and greatly disliked the small percentage of Togakure Ryu Ninja that missused
Ninjutsu to do assasination and other very dishonorable things.
People study Togakure Ryu for many different reasons, same as people do in
other martial art styles. Some people taking Togakure Ryu may feel it best
prepares them for any kind of real life situation, anywhere they go because
the art does train extensively outdoors in many types of terrain.
Myself, I've met a lot of martial artisits that think anyone that does
Togakure Ryu is doing an assasination [and other things that they consider
very dishonorable] only art, but they fail to do any extensive reading on
this particular Ryu of Ninjutsu to know that the MAJORITY of Togakure Ryu
Ninja in Fueadal Japanese times weren't assasins. Only the small percentage
that were very dishonorable of the very ethical code that the Togakure Ryu
had, were assasins and were not held in very high regard by the Togakure
Ryu. Some martial artists I've talked to go only by what was told to them
by their instructor(s) and don't bother to do their own extensive research
on Togakure Ryu. One Togakure Ryu insturcutor, Jack Hoban, has taught
certain members of law enforcement and military Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu and
these type of people would be considered very honorable people.
There's also those that believe no Ryu of Ninjutsu exists today and that
it's all a sham. However, maybe these people will some day get to see
someone like Jack Hoban [Togakure Ryu] or Dr. Hatsumi [Togakure Ryu] perform
and then draw their conclusion. It can take a lifetime in Togakure Ryu just
to learn all there is about it, or a good part of it.
As far as some practitioners of Togakure Ryu may be thinking their art is the
ultimate, of course no art is the ultimate. Each art, has its strengths and
weaknesses and there is no one ultimate art. One attractive part about
Togakure Ryu for some is that it trains on all types of terrain and
different environments, which many schools of any style seem to neglect.
If a school of any style does neglect these area as official training, then
it would be left up to students to do it themselves.
Craig
: >There's also those that believe no Ryu of Ninjutsu exists today and that
: >it's all a sham. However, maybe these people will some day get to see
: >someone like Jack Hoban [Togakure Ryu] or Dr. Hatsumi [Togakure Ryu] perform
: I agree with the last part, tho'. Hatsumi is so good it doesn't matter if
: he's a fake.
: (Note: I'm graded nidan in Togakure ryu Ninjutsu)
I ask the question, if Dr. Hatsumi is fake, then what would he be teaching
then? Some people on this newsgroup think he's a fake. If anyone has any
clues as to what arts they think he might've combined to get what he teaches
feel free to comment. :-)
NNE...@esoc.bitnet
>Isn't this an art of assasination and covert manuevers? If so, why do you
want to learn this art? Is there that much of a market for assasins these
Fortune" survivalist psychos? No offence intended, please correct me if I
am wrong.
In reply:
Most peoples concept of Ninjutsu is based on the medias glorification of the
old Japanese myths. Ninjutsu is nothing like most people imagine. In fact, it
is much more thay one might think!
Ninjutsu is quite an old art. The first school, Tagakure Ryu, was founded over
900 years ago. As far as anyone knows, only nine schools of Ninjutsu still
exist. These are collectively taught as Bujinkan Ninjutsu.
Ninjutsu is unlike most other martial arts as it is a complete combat system.
It does not limit itself to one style of fighting or limit its use of weaponry.
It has evolved as a battlefield and personal protection art. The constituent
arts vary from Kukishinden Ryu, which is predominantly a battlefield weapons
art, designed for use in and against armour, to Tagakiyosin Ryu, which is
mainly a grappling oriented art. Other arts specialise in such things are
predominantly unarmed combat against both an unarmed and armed opponent, such
as Gyokko Ryu as well as Koto Ryu, which is an extreme combat art which
emphasises the rapid beating of an opponent by the quickest method possible,
usualy by breaking many of the opponents bones.
Ninjutsu is much more than most of the moderm arts of today. It contains so
much more depth. However it is probably not so popular due to the lack of
suitability for contest. Ninjutsu is not really suitable for tournaments as it
breaks most of the rules and tends to be too damaging.
If you want to know what it is really about you must go and witness some
training for yourself. Too many people comment about Ninjutsu from a position
of complete ignorance. This seems to be also true of many of the people
posting to this new group.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Neal Nelson. nnelson%esoc....@vmd.gm.de
European Space Operations Centre
Darmstadt, Germany.
Dude
>tra...@netcom.com (Craig) writes:
>>There's also those that believe no Ryu of Ninjutsu exists today and that
>>it's all a sham. However, maybe these people will some day get to see
>>someone like Jack Hoban [Togakure Ryu] or Dr. Hatsumi [Togakure Ryu] perform
>I agree with the last part, tho'. Hatsumi is so good it doesn't matter if
>he's a fake.
I don't think he's fake: if he's a fake, then Takamatsu (his teacher)
should also be a fake (and so on, and so on).
I think some people are confused because the bujinkan system consists
of 9 schools, and only one or two of these schools are 'true'
ninjutsu.
And I do agree with the fact that the man is an awesome martial
artist, but I wished people would stop talking about him like
he was jesus christ or something.
I mean: the man is great, but there's no need to create a cult
around him! He's no saint (he said that himself :-), and there's
nothing magical about him (really).
Dude
Craig
: Ninjutsu is unlike most other martial arts as it is a complete combat system.
: It does not limit itself to one style of fighting or limit its use of weaponry.
: It has evolved as a battlefield and personal protection art. The constituent
Many of the Filipino systems are complete combat systems. They just look at
things in a very different way. :-)
Craig
: Ninjutsu is much more than most of the moderm arts of today. It contains so
: much more depth. However it is probably not so popular due to the lack of
: suitability for contest. Ninjutsu is not really suitable for tournaments as it
: breaks most of the rules and tends to be too damaging.
The Filipino 'death matches' many years ago certainly apply to not being
suitable to any kind of tournament and breaks all of their rules and were
very damaging in that only one person lived from a fight to the death.
Benjamin William Kelly
that is known in the western world is not a ninja ryu at all. The
Ninja schools of japan prided themselves on secrecy and the rumours of
their existence. If a ryu wanted anyone to join them, that person
would be well and truly told.
Again I stress that this is my personal opinion, replies welcome,
but those doing 'public' ninjitsu are not doing ninjitsu at all, but a
hybrid that probably had Yakuza origins rather than Ninja.
who knows??????????????????
Shai Guday
Benjamin William Kelly <s940...@yallara.cs.rmit.OZ.AU> wrote:
% Disagree if you like, but it is my opinion that any Ninja ryu
%that is known in the western world is not a ninja ryu at all. The
%Ninja schools of japan prided themselves on secrecy and the rumours of
%their existence. If a ryu wanted anyone to join them, that person
%would be well and truly told.
% Again I stress that this is my personal opinion, replies welcome,
%but those doing 'public' ninjitsu are not doing ninjitsu at all, but a
%hybrid that probably had Yakuza origins rather than Ninja.
% who knows??????????????????
I'll take the bait. OK, what do you base this marvelous opinion that
flies in the face of well documented research on?
-- Shai
--
Shai Guday |
CLaM Associates | Puns,
101 Main St. | the ninja humor of the English language.
Cambridge, MA. |
Erik Svensson
>Well there are no real Ninjas today, haven't been for a very long time.
>Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu in Fuedal times of Japan had their own code of ethics
>and greatly disliked the small percentage of Togakure Ryu Ninja that missused
>Ninjutsu to do assasination and other very dishonorable things.
Ah, I would take any claims of ethical behaviour within Togakure with a big
grain of salt. There is _no_ historical evidence for this. Read for instance
_Ninja_ by Stephen Turnbull.
>There's also those that believe no Ryu of Ninjutsu exists today and that
>it's all a sham. However, maybe these people will some day get to see
>someone like Jack Hoban [Togakure Ryu] or Dr. Hatsumi [Togakure Ryu] perform
I agree with the last part, tho'. Hatsumi is so good it doesn't matter if
he's a fake.
(Note: I'm graded nidan in Togakure ryu Ninjutsu)
cheers
--
Erik Svensson
Research Officer National Defense Research Establishment (FOA)
Guided Weapons Division Stockholm, Sweden er...@sto.foa.se
"The problem with the future is that it keeps turning into the present."
-- Calvin
Martin Dale
Fair enough it is your own opinion but the fact that Ninjutsu is
shrouded in secrecy is that they wanted it that way. After the Emporer
was reinstated all martial arts were outlawed unless they were
adapted/used as sports or fitness training. Loate to do this and
already an underground organisation Ninjutsu was driven deeper
underground. Now with more relaxed approaches towards martial arts the
Hatsumi decided to "spread the word" and let poeple know the truth about
ninjas, they were strategists and unconvetional (wouldn't think twice
about drawing their sword from the right hand side if it helped them
win) and assasins too.
The Fact that today Bujinkan is spread throughout the world by the
teachings of Dr Hatsumi(the grandmaster as recognised by all Bujinkan
Ninpo students) does not mean that we are not real Ninjas it means that
Ninjutsu no longer needs to be and is not the secret assasin martial
arts it was once made out to be.
Martin Dale **********Reality Sucks***********
Norman Ninja Lante
adapting to the enviorment. The ninja of old had to keep it a secret because of the
samurai. Just like scientist in the pre 1600`s approx where if they said anything
against the current stream of belief then they were punished - same to the ninja of
japan. Now a days people are more lenient than before so are willing to accept
new ideas. The yakuza dont have a history that spans over 1000 years.
The style that is taught in BUJINKAN DOJO is a documented art corroberated by the
japanese government as the grand master ( Masaaki Hatsumi ) is considered to be
a National Treasure.
I myself have trained with Hastumi and have been doing the art for 8 years.
I have trained in Karate, Judo and have observed other arts and NINJUTSU is not like
any of them.
If you have not seen the art in action please make an opinion only by looking at or
going to a class. Do not take for granted the Movies / TV as it is no where near the
Truth.
What is on the movies is writers imagination nothing more - the action displayed is
predominantly karate, kung fu, jujutsu.
for more information contact
Norman Lante ( 3rd Dan black belt ) "nor...@vsl.com.au"
Martin Dale
I've been kicking around this newsgroup for about 10 weeks and have seen
lots of people writing about ninjutsu around the world. If there are
any UK Ninjas out there hows about a bit more news from you.
This would be a great place to plug your dojo and advertise any courses
that are forthcoming i.e. the next Nottingham course.
Anyone in Edinburgh or Glasgow wishing to train e-mail me and I'll give
you the details.
P.S. has anybody got any info on the course in Rotterdam later this year?