Is it better to master one martial art or study several? It’s a question that can spark a lively debate among martial artists. Some believe you should devote yourself entirely to one discipline, while others argue that learning multiple arts makes you a more complete fighter. I think martial arts cross training works best when […]
Solo practice, Jūnan Taisō, Sanshin, weapons, and training between classes Park training was canceled today. Naturally, I was disappointed. Training with Sensei and other students gives us things solo practice cannot: real distance, timing, balance, resistance, and correction. But Sensei isn’t always available. So does that mean training stops? Of course not. A useful Japanese […]
There is a very easy joke to make about the naginata: “So… it’s a sword on a stick?” A naginata does have a curved blade. It does have a long shaft. From across the room, it can look like someone took a sword, gave it extra reach, and decided that normal personal space was no […]
When most people hear ninjutsu, they think of fighting. They picture strikes, throws, weapons, stealth, and self-defense. And yes, all of that is part of the art. But if we stop there, we miss something important. In Togakure Ryū, the Ninja Jūhakkei, the 18 ways of ninja training, show us a much bigger picture. Alongside […]
The word ninja still captures the imagination like few other martial ideas can. For many people, it brings to mind stealth, mystery, unusual weapons, and secret skills passed down through the centuries. For those who study Bujinkan, the question becomes deeper than fantasy: Is there really such a thing as a modern-day ninja? To answer […]
A rokushaku bō is six feet of wood… and a mirror. It doesn’t care what you meant to do. It shows what you actually did… where your posture leaks, where your timing hesitates, where your attention drifts. A lot of people pick up a staff and immediately reach for the flashy stuff: big spins, big […]
At a recent training session in the park, we ended up going deep into Sanshin no Kata. Sanshin is one of those things you can “know” for years, but it still keeps teaching you. In Bujinkan Budō Taijutsu, Sanshin no Kata is a foundational method of movement from Gyokko Ryū, commonly expressed through five elemental […]
In the world of Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu, certain concepts act as hidden hinges, small details that support the entire structure. One of those concepts is Kaname (要). Kaname means “the vital point” or “crux.” It is the bolt in the hinge, the pin in the structure, the detail that if removed, causes everything else to […]
15th Dan Bujinkan Shihan with 30+ years of experience teaching traditional ninja arts across the globe.
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