The Bujinkan organization was formed in the early 1970's as the umbrella organization under which Souke ("Grandmaster") Hatsumi Masaaki transmits the teachings of the martial arts ryu-ha ("traditions / schools") which he in turn received from his teacher. These ryu-ha follow an unbroken lineage back through hundreds of years of Japanese history. The roots of the ryu-ha themselves are said to be 3,000 years old.

Although Hatsumi Sensei possesses the densho ("scrolls") which designate him as the grandmaster of many different martial schools, the Bujinkan itself is officially comprised of the following 9 ryu-ha:

Gyokko Ryu	"Jewel Tiger School"
Koto Ryu	"Tiger Knock-down School"
Takagi Yoshin Ryu	"High-Tree Raise-Heart School"
Shinden Fudo Ryu	"Divine Transmission Immovable School"
Gikan Ryu	"Regard for Justice School"
Kukishinden Ryu	"9 Demons Divine Transmission School"
Gyokushin Ryu	"Jewel Heart School"
Kumogakure Ryu	"Concealing Clouds School"
Togakure Ryu	"Concealing Door School"

These schools were formed during the centuries of civil war which preceded the unification of Japan under the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1603. Their teachings have not been watered down for the sake of sporting applications, as is the case with most other Japanese martial practices, but have been faithfully handed down as methods for dealing with real-life conflict-resolution situations.

There are therefore no tournaments or other such sporting events in the Bujinkan. Training is mainly done through study and practice of various combat situations against 1 or more opponents, either empty-handed or with an endless variety of tools. Training is done in a safe and controlled manner in most Bujinkan dojo, so injuries are rare.

Refer to the following websites for more detailed Bujinkan information:

Official English Site:	http://www.bujinkan.com/
Japan Training Schedule:	http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/bujinkan/
Bujinkan Web Board:	http://bujinkan.graycastle.com/

* About the Bujinkan Gurei Dojo

At Bujinkan Shiraishi Dojo

I started a small training group in July of 2000 after over a year of repeated encouragement from Hatsumi Sensei and Shiraishi Sensei to do so. I was very reluctant to start a training group because I did not want to set myself up as a teacher. After being told that instructing and experimenting on my own was beneficial to development as a martial artist, I finally took my teachers' advice, and it has proved to be valuable.

Our training is held in a "Budojo" martial arts training hall at a public municipal sports centre.

The training is not held for the specific purpose of instruction of students by a teacher, but in order to allow me the opportunity to train with others outside of regular classes with my teachers. Thus the "dojo" is merely a rented space in which to gather a few bodies together for the sake of my own training, allowing me the opportunity to experiment with things that I find in regular training at my teachers' dojo.