Bujinkan

Grandmaster Soke Masaaki Hatsumi

Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi, Grandmaster

Inheriting Soke of 9 Ninjutsu Traditions and Founder of the Bujinkan Dojo
Born in Noda City, Chiba Prefecture on December 2, 1931.
Warrior names: Yoshikai, Tetzusan, Hisamune.
Started martial arts at about age 7.
Grandmaster Hatsumi is the founder and International Director of the Bujinkan Dojo with its Hombu Dojo, the Bujinden (Divine Palace), residing in Noda City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan and has an administration office attached to his downtown home.

He is married to his lovely wife, Mariko, a famous Japanese dance teacher and 10th dan director of women's training for the Bujinkan. Dr. Hatsumi is the inheritor of nine Ninjutsu traditions from the late O'Sensei Toshitsugu Takamatsu (the last true living Ninja) in the early 1970's just before Soke Takamatsu's passing in 1972. It is said that Dr. Hatsumi was the only one receiving indepth training with the great Takamatsu during the last 15 years of his life.

He graduated from Meiji University in Tokyo, with a major in theater studies, and osteopathic medicine (bone doctor). Soon after graduation he opened a bone clinic in his home town and his practice continued on a steady basis until about 1990 when his travel and movie schedule seemed to take over all his time.

Grandmaster Hatsumi is the author of over a dozen books and 40+ video tapes on the art of Ninjutsu. He has been featured in almost every magazine relating to this subject in Japan, and throughout the entire world. He has authored countless magazine and newspaper articles on Ninjutsu and on living a productive life. He wrote, directed and acted in 50 episodes of a television series called 'Jiraya' which was the number one watched kid's program in Japan. He is now what is called a historiographer of martial arts for various plays and movies, acting as a consultant to ensure that what is being portrayed is done correctly based on true history.

He is a past President of the Writers Guild of Japan. He is sought out as a speaker and television personality in Japan. He is an accomplished musician and singer who plays guitar and yukelale. For several years he played night clubs in a Hawaiian band as a singer and musician. The walls of his 3 story brick home display an elaborate collection of signed photos from presidents and leaders of many countries around the world, along with awards, certificates, and honorary degrees from some of the most elite organizations in the world. Among them are Honorary Doctorate degrees from the USA in Human Sciences and Philosophy, Honorary Texas Ranger, Title of Knighthood from Germany, Blackbelt Magazine's Instructor of the Year, and Honorable Citizenship from the state of Texas and cities of Los Angeles, California; Atlanta, Georgia; Dublin, Ireland; etc.. In 2000 Soke was awarded Japan's highest honor, the Cultural Award, by the  Emperor  of Japan for his worldwide martial arts contributions.The list is long and grows every month as he travels around the world teaching at international Tai Kai events hosted by senior Bujinkan students in their countries.

Martial arts background

Young Hatsumi was 7 years old when he first held his father's wooden sword and took up training in the martial ways. That Bokken training blade was made of biwa wood, and his father was very proud of it. That was in the late 1930's and that day became the inspiration of his martial arts life. As a young boy growing up he deeply involved himself in training in the martial arts of Japan. It was his love and passion. He studied everything he could, Judo, Kendo, Karate, Aikido, Okinowan Karate (Zen-Bei Butokukai) and Jukendo (rifle and bayonet combat). By the time he was 20 years old he had obtained the rank of 4th degree black belt in Judo. In 1951 this was a very high rank and rare for such a young student of the arts. This proves his dedication and perseverance since he tested against those much older and bigger than he. He found Judo to be sport oriented.

After the war years he took a break from martial arts for a while. During his late teenage years he trained in western style boxing, continued playing soccer, and worked hard at his academic studies. Missing the dojo world of training he so loved and immersed himself into as a youth, he again returned to martial arts. He kept looking for something; he was not sure what it was but it seemed to be missing. Eventually he found himself at the door step of a man who would change his life and someday renew the world of martial arts, Master Toshitsugu Takamatsu, the last of the true Ninja. Master Takamatsu took him under his wing for the last 15 years of his life, taught him the Nine secret traditions and passed them on to him as the sole heir. Today these studies have become what we know of as the Bujinkan Dojo.

Soke Masaaki Hatsumi's Traditions:

Picture with O’Takamatsu sensei

Guidelines For Participation in The Bujinkan

1.  The Bujinkan shall be open to only those who agree with and uphold the guidelines of the Bujinkan Dojo. Those not doing so shall not be allowed to join. Specifically: Only those who have read and agreed with these guidelines shall be allowed to participate.

2.  Only those able to exercise true patience, self-control, and dedication shall be allowed to participate. A physician's examination report shall be required. Specifically, individuals with mental illness, drug addiction, or mental instability shall be barred from joining. The necessity of such a report concerns individuals who may present a danger to others, for example, those with infectious diseases or illnesses, individuals with clinically abnormal personalities or physiology, and individuals lacking self-control.
3.  Individuals with criminal records shall be turned away. Trouble makers, those who commit crimes, and those living in Japan who break domestic laws shall be turned away.

4.  Those not upholding the guidelines of the Bujinkan, either as practitioners or as members of society, by committing disgraceful or reproachable acts shall be expelled. Until now, the Bujinkan was open to large numbers of people who came to Japan. Among them, unfortunately, were those committing violent drunken acts, the mentally ill, and trouble makers who thought only of themselves and failed to see how their actions might adversely affect others. Through their actions, such people were discarding the traditional righteous heart of the Bujinkan. From this day forward, all such people shall be expelled.

5.  Regarding accidents occurring during training (both inside and outside the dojo), one should not cause trouble to the Bujinkan. This is an extremely important point. Those unwilling to take personal responsibility for accidents occurring during Bujinkan training shall not be admitted. Reiterating for clarity, the Bujinkan shall not take responsibility for any accidents happening in the course of training, regardless of the location.

6.  All those joining the Bujinkan must get an annual membership card. This card not only preserves the honor of the Bujinkan members, it indicates you are part of a larger whole--one whose members come together with warrior hearts to better themselves through training and friendship. It evinces the glory of warrior virtue, and embodies both loyalty and brotherly love.

7.  The tradition of the Bujinkan recognizes nature and the universality of all human life, and is aware of that which flows naturally between the two parts:

• "The secret principle of Taijutsu is to know the foundations of peace."
• "To study is the path to the immovable heart (fudoshin)."

Recently, the Bujinkan has become truly international. Just as there are various time zones, so exist various taboos among the world's peoples and nations. We must respect each other, striving to avoid such taboos. We must put the heart of the warrior first, working together for self-improvement and for the betterment of the Bujinkan.

Those not upholding the above-mentioned guidelines shall be forced out of the Bujinkan.
Masaaki Hatsumi - Soke

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