Hall of the Divine Warrior

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The Bujinkan Dōjō was founded in 1972 by Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi, following his succession as Grandmaster (Sōke) of nine traditional Japanese martial schools (ryū-ha) inherited from his teacher, Toshitsugu Takamatsu. In honor of his teacher’s legacy, Dr. Hatsumi named the organization Bujinkan—“Hall of the Divine Warrior”—as a tribute to Takamatsu Sensei, who is remembered as the embodiment of a true Bujin, or divine warrior.

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Recognizing the vast depth of knowledge and interwoven nature of the nine lineages,

Sōke Hatsumi chose to transmit their teachings as a unified system, bringing together their techniques and philosophies under the name,

Bujinkan Budō Taijutsu ( 武 神 館 武 道 体 術 ).

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Originally known as Bujinkan Ninpo Taijutsu ( 武 神 館 忍 法 体 術 ) also referred to as Ninjutsu ( 忍 術 ) this name was later refined to reflect Hatsumi Sensei’s evolving emphasis on Budō—the martial path that harmonizes physical skill, spiritual awareness, and personal growth in everyday life.

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Bujinkan Budō Taijutsu represents the combined wisdom of over 900 years of Japanese martial heritage in the samurai and ninja traditions. Training encompasses both unarmed combat (taijutsu) and the study of classical Japanese weaponry such as the sword, staff, and various other traditional implements. Alongside physical technique, practitioners also develop mental focus, breathing, and body control—cultivating balance between mind, body, and spirit (shin gi tai).

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Through dedicated study, the practitioner (budōka) seeks not only proficiency in technique but also a deeper understanding of the principles that guide the way of the warrior: perseverance, humility, respect, and harmony. These timeless values lie at the heart of the Bujinkan and continue to guide its students on the path of Budō.