Is Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu a Combat Art?
Somehow there exists the misconception that Bujinkan is a combat martial art.
Bujinkan Budo taijutsu is about NOT fighting. Combat is always last resort.
Takamatsu Sensei spent a great deal of his life fighting, but then spent the rest of it as a monk to distance himself from it. Thanks to his sacrifice, he has given us a taste of this reality through Hatsumi Sensei.
According to the Webster’s Dictionary online, the definition for combat is “a fight or contest between individuals or groups”. We are not a competitive art, so we must be referring to a fight then.
The mindset that is taught is NOT to fight, and furthermore avoid conflict all together. Ninpo teaches to dissipate the fight and to not even be there.
This mindset is developed through combat training nevertheless, but the training although physical, is focused at a mental and spiritual development. The result is an internalized ability to react in an uncommon sense way. The element of surprise!
The ultimate martial artist is the one who never has to fight. But in the time of a fight, does not hesitate to take action. The type of action is infinite and the state of the times plays a role.
This is a life martial art that allows for personal development and achievement of personal potential. Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu can be practiced and perfected over one’s entire lifetime. There are no restrictions due to the human limit of the peak of physical prowess or athletic ability. In a sense, there are no restrictions. “Made in Human”, as Soke often says recently.
Again, fighting is the last resort. In a fight, luck plays a large part as does the ability to read the air.
Through consistent training the ability to cultivate good luck attracts.
As stated in so many previous posts-What I’m not saying is that physical contact training is unnecessary. It is should be done at early stages of training when the body best accepts it. A formula for this is already provided by the Bujinkan.
There are no shortcuts-training is a personal responsibility.
Buffu Ikkan
April 15, 2008 at 3:41 pm
There, it’s been said. This is probably a point that many just don’t seem to get. Learning to avoid a confrontation and yet still be prepared to defend ones self is the main reason I became a Bujinkan member.
Many people slam the Bujinkan because we don’t promote a competitive attitude. If people want to fight, competitively or not, there are many places they can go to that will train them for that … just leave us to our personal growth.
Thanks Doug for spelling it out so plainly.
Ken Williams
April 15, 2008 at 6:54 pm
I agree and disagree as does your article. The bujinkan formed out of 9 seperate schools now blending to one action. Is to move in simple form not to fight or be in a fight. Yet a statement made by Soke and others,” Do not harm your attacker, yet if need be kill him.” This statement follows true to where the arts came from. The Sengoku period, “Warring States”.Not a sport combat art but an understanding of life and preserving it and in unfortunate truth some life is lost. Out of all the martial arts I have been involved in I think the Bujinkan still keeps this heart attitude a sleeping tiger. We are learning this art to become better people part of that process is seeing how weak and vulnerable we all are in or through our training. Just my simple thoughts .
April 16, 2008 at 12:03 am
“The ultimate martial artist is the one who never has to fight. But in the time of a fight, does not hesitate to take action. The type of action is infinite and the state of the times plays a role.”
Wilson Sensei, the last sentence above is complete. No comment is possible, thank you for this deep lesson. I will think about this.
April 16, 2008 at 6:29 am
Many thanks to you Doug for sharing your thoughts.
April 16, 2008 at 8:18 am
i remember issai chosan’s neko no myojutsu. just be a cat. no fancy techniques, no esoteric skills, just do what cats do: catch mice.
i believe this is for the advanced practitioners. it’s like saying :newbies study tactics, professionals study logistics.
April 17, 2008 at 4:33 am
Well, I disagree with this, I do consider Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu a Combat Martial Art, we train for combat and war, if we want we can go and challenge anyone and kick their — but we don’t do it because we are humble and just fight whenever is necesary. And remember Bujinkan means the Divine Hall Warrior, and what do warriors do best? FIGHT!
April 17, 2008 at 6:56 am
In the book “Ima Ninja” Hatsumi Soke tells the following story of Miyamoto Musashi: “When the famous swordsman arrived in the city of Yamada, or may be Mitsuki, he stoped to rest in an old tea house where he planned to get his energy back after such a long trip. After eating something he laid down to rest on the bench by the table while he looked at the noon sky at that moment he saw on the roof of the old house an old cat that was doing the same; it was laying down resting comfortably under the weak autumn sun light. Musashi also noticed that several flies that had been bothering him suddenly disappeared while something big and dark drew big circles in the sky. In an instant, that big bird dove towards the relaxed old cat that did not move until the hawk’s claws were closing on him. With a subtle move the old cat had jumped to the floor in front of Musashi while the hawk climbed away furiously cawing. It is said that in that way Musahi was able to understand the true nature of Budo”
The old cat had the spirit of Budo. The old cat was able to time the movements of his mortal enemy and get out of the way. Without fighting it had won. The real martial artist avoids to fight but is prepared for the ultimate fight.
April 20, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Great topic and one that I fully subscribe to.
I see what we do as “multi-faceted” and in the case of fighting, I prefer to replace combat with “interaction”. So our training provides us with proven methods (Waza) to interact with our environment in the safest and best way possible. In defining the “environment” this is everything, especially other people.
To me there is no difference between a punch, a verbal attack and even a psychic attack. These are just different levels of vibration or energy. A verbal attack can be as hard hitting as a well landed punch, if targetted right or at “Tsuki”. So many english descriptions of situations also describe this; got him by the balls, gone for the jugular, got his back up, that was a “low blow” etc. Also I find Kamae is key as everyone is in one of these “attitudes” at any time and simplistically want to give (Offensive), take(receiving), negotiate(defensive) or aviod(evasive) you.
So when looking to answers to help me in what life can throw at you, I always look for the kamae and waza and what best defines the situation. It may be that the person you are dealing with has “twisted your arm”, so you look to “Taiho Doki” waza to break free or Tsuki in his waza to escape. Of course in Ninpo, this is not only a non-physical movement, but is also totally un-obvious to your opponent. I find the greatest skill in this is leave them believing that they actually won the confrontation, since they do not feel the need for retaliation. Again, as training progresses, like Taijutsu in the Dojo, this happens naturally, without any need for the brain to calculate and it is only realised afterwards, what actually happened.
Works for me.
April 21, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Because what you say is true, I can keep my motivation alive. I did it all, teakondo, kung fu, kick-boxing, tai-boxing, boxing, jujutsu, and more. I practiced seriously and sincere. And I got pretty good in all of them. BUT, there was always someone bigger, faster, stronger, better. I had many real fights, but I was never comfortable. Than 20 years ago I came across what they called ninjutsu, and I was astonished. I didn’t need to win. The point was to survive and protect. I didn’t need to be the best. I COULD BE JUST ME. and be ok. Now some 20 years later, after being a bodyguard for some years (even worked for H.H. The Dalai Lama twice) I understand “our” art much better. I’m still not the best, but I can survive and protect the ones I love, and be me. If our art would be a combat art. I could never stay. Every intelligent human being understands that combat will only give temporary satisfaction (if you win). It will never solve the problem. (if at best temporarily.) Our art is not about fighting alone. It is a way our ancestors try to teach us a way to overcome misery.
I totally agree with you.
KEEP GOING with a smile.
Carlo
May 1, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Thanks for this blog, Doug. It is always inspirational. Years ago, I carried a firearm when I worked as a PI. That was a lot like this budo. I knew it was there and I trained with it. Because of that lethality, combat was the last thing I wanted to find.