Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu (武神館武道体術) is a japanese martial art taught within the Bujinkan Organisation founded by Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi. The system integrates nine different traditional schools or ryūha in its practice incorporating those with samurai and ninja heritage.
The nine traditional ryūha of the Bujinkan are:
- Togakure Ryū Ninpō Taijutsu
- Gyokko Ryū Kosshijutsu
- Shinden Fudō Ryū Dakentaijutsu
- Kukishinden Ryū Happō Bikenjutsu
- Takagi Yōshin Ryū Jūtaijutsu
- Kumogakure Ryū Ninpō
- Gyokushin Ryū Ninpō
- Gikan Ryū Koppōjutsu
- Kotō Ryū Koppōjutsu
The training in the Bujinkan is not similar to that of a sports martial art, consequently there are no competitions and no explicit set of rules which govern it. Instead the training in the Bujinkan offers a holistic approach of a traditional martial art which starts from kata, with the focus of survival and self-preservation.
Kata can be described as a of technique in which an opponent (uke) and defender (tori) interact through a series of prescribed actions. This is then explored via variations (henka) in attack, defense or structure.
Given the historic nature of these ryūha, they cover a variety of unarmed techniques from striking to locks and throws. They also explore traditional weapons ranging from polearms, staves, japanese sword, but also obscure weapons such as thrown or flexible.
