University of Birmingham Ninpo Budo
Dr Hatsumi is the soke of the Bujinkan system, and grandmaster of all nine schools of which it is comprised. His martial credentials are impressive to say the least. He is:
·34th Grandmaster of Togakure Ryu Ninpo
·28th Grandmaster of Kukishinden Ryu Happo Biken
·28th Grandmaster of Gyokoshin Ninpo
·26th Grandmaster of Shinden Fudo Ryu Daken Taijutsu
·21st Grandmaster of Gyokko Ryu Koshijutsu.
·18th Grandmaster of Koto Ryu Koppojutsu
·17th Grandmaster of Takagi Yoshin Ryu Ninpo
·15th Grandmaster of Giken Ryu Koppojutsu
·14th Grandmaster of Kumogakure Ryu Ninpo
He was born in 1931, and began studying the martial arts at the age of seven, going on to study Kendo, Karate, Judo and Western Boxing. During his 20's he began to question his training, after practicing Judo with American soldiers, asking "what good is a martial art if a bigger or stronger person can defeat you?" He then began an exhaustive search for training in which this was not the case, and at the age of 26 met Takamatsu Toshitsugu, who exposed him to Ninpo Taijutsu and Samurai Jutaijutsu for the first time.
He then became a personal student of Takamatsu Soke, the previous Grandmaster of the above traditions, and travelled weekly for more than half a day each way for 15 years to train with him. The Sokeship of the 9 schools was bestowed upon him when Takamatsu Soke named Hatsumi as his successor, a year or so before his death at the age of 85 in 1972.
Ninpo Taijutsu was to remain wholly within Japan until the first westerners to study and be awarded teaching licences (Doron Navon of Israel, and later Stephen K. Hayes of America) returned home and began to teach in the late 70's. Hatsumi Soke made his first foreign visit in 1983 and over the next 20 years travelled all over the world, holding seminars in the home countries of the students who had come to train with him. Since the 70's Ninjutsu has spread from being a small secretive art, taught only within Japan, to become a system which is taught world-wide, and which now has high-ranking instructors in many countries.
Soke has earned a Ph.D. through his studies, books and videos, and is a Japanese traditional bone doctor by profession. He is a writer and researcher, an accomplished and renowned painter, and has acted and advised in television and film (most notably the James bond film 'You only live twice', for which he was the martial arts advisor).
During his travels Soke has also received numerous honours from institutions and government bodies around the world, varying from university Doctorates to such things as honorary membership of the Texas Rangers! Notably, in 2001 he became the only Budoka (martial artist) ever to receive the Apostalic Papal Award 'as a token of Celestial Grace and Favours', which was awarded to him by Pope John Paul II.
Finally, perhaps his most striking accolade is having been awarded the Grand Prize from the International Cultural Promoting Association, signed by the Japanese Emperor, for his work in cultural exchange as the only living example of a unique part of Japans cultural heritage.
How might we illustrate the manner in which Soke teaches, in order transmit the principles of Budo Taijutsu to students within the Bujinkan?
·34th Grandmaster of Togakure Ryu Ninpo
·28th Grandmaster of Kukishinden Ryu Happo Biken
·28th Grandmaster of Gyokoshin Ninpo
·26th Grandmaster of Shinden Fudo Ryu Daken Taijutsu
·21st Grandmaster of Gyokko Ryu Koshijutsu.
·18th Grandmaster of Koto Ryu Koppojutsu
·17th Grandmaster of Takagi Yoshin Ryu Ninpo
·15th Grandmaster of Giken Ryu Koppojutsu
·14th Grandmaster of Kumogakure Ryu Ninpo
He was born in 1931, and began studying the martial arts at the age of seven, going on to study Kendo, Karate, Judo and Western Boxing. During his 20's he began to question his training, after practicing Judo with American soldiers, asking "what good is a martial art if a bigger or stronger person can defeat you?" He then began an exhaustive search for training in which this was not the case, and at the age of 26 met Takamatsu Toshitsugu, who exposed him to Ninpo Taijutsu and Samurai Jutaijutsu for the first time.
He then became a personal student of Takamatsu Soke, the previous Grandmaster of the above traditions, and travelled weekly for more than half a day each way for 15 years to train with him. The Sokeship of the 9 schools was bestowed upon him when Takamatsu Soke named Hatsumi as his successor, a year or so before his death at the age of 85 in 1972.
Ninpo Taijutsu was to remain wholly within Japan until the first westerners to study and be awarded teaching licences (Doron Navon of Israel, and later Stephen K. Hayes of America) returned home and began to teach in the late 70's. Hatsumi Soke made his first foreign visit in 1983 and over the next 20 years travelled all over the world, holding seminars in the home countries of the students who had come to train with him. Since the 70's Ninjutsu has spread from being a small secretive art, taught only within Japan, to become a system which is taught world-wide, and which now has high-ranking instructors in many countries.
Soke has earned a Ph.D. through his studies, books and videos, and is a Japanese traditional bone doctor by profession. He is a writer and researcher, an accomplished and renowned painter, and has acted and advised in television and film (most notably the James bond film 'You only live twice', for which he was the martial arts advisor).
During his travels Soke has also received numerous honours from institutions and government bodies around the world, varying from university Doctorates to such things as honorary membership of the Texas Rangers! Notably, in 2001 he became the only Budoka (martial artist) ever to receive the Apostalic Papal Award 'as a token of Celestial Grace and Favours', which was awarded to him by Pope John Paul II.
Finally, perhaps his most striking accolade is having been awarded the Grand Prize from the International Cultural Promoting Association, signed by the Japanese Emperor, for his work in cultural exchange as the only living example of a unique part of Japans cultural heritage.
How might we illustrate the manner in which Soke teaches, in order transmit the principles of Budo Taijutsu to students within the Bujinkan?
Dr Hatsumi - Grandmaster
"Most other martial arts teachers would teach you one technique, then have you practice 300 sets of it. I have shown some 20 techniques already (today) of the same principle. Everyone will forget the techniques themselves, but what's important will go into your bodies and will manifest itself when really needed."
Soke Masaaki Hatsumi
Soke Masaaki Hatsumi
