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A home study course for Budo Taijutsu is a very interesting idea for sure. The dilemma comes frmo the fact that the person that made and promotes the course is a legit shidoshi under Hatsumi. Theoretically you should get some good stuff out of such a program, but most of the other Shidoshi don't like the program since the students normally don't end up being that good.

Soke Hatsumi is definitely a complex person. One of his commonly known practices is awarding rank in advance of actual achievement

If this is true about Hatsumi, it's one more reminder that students need to be careful about putting their teachers up on pedestals and treating them like gods instead of the human beings that they remain.

Of course, it's also true that many teachers play such headgames as a way of testing the loyalty of their students; either to see how much they can exploit them or to see how hard they are willing to work. Many teachers don't consciously play such headgames but are just reflecting the way they were raised and/or trained. Any teacher tends to attract and retain like-minded students and vice-versa.

One more good reason for having or developing some common-sense before attaching yourself to your chosen martial role-model.

In the end, you have to learn to teach yourself many of life's lessons but a good teacher can certainly make that learning curve a little easier -- if not painless.

The general concensus from Bujinkan Shidoshi, is that Soke Hatsumi is a good person and a VERY skilled martial artist. Even Shidoshi Ed Martin who was recently awarded 15th Dan by Hatsumi says that Soke knows so much more than him it is amazing how much there is still to learn.

But yes the combination of his own personality with the cultural predilictions makes for some interesting differences from what we are used to in America. The one consistent thing about the Bujinkan is Shidoshi licensure. If Hatsumi thinks you are a good representation of what he is trying to teach then you are a licensed Shidoshi. If he decides to take it back he takes it back. It doesn't matter if you are a 12th Dan. If he decides he doesn't like what you are doing you can no longer teach for him. Quality control at its more direct

Sorry I didn't mean to imply that Soke Hatsumi hands out Shidoshi licensure to anyone. You have to make it to Shodan or higher under a current Shidoshi. Everyone tests for Godan or higher with Soke directly. And you are eligible for Shidoshi licensure once you reach Godan.

Mike, I don't think Hatsumi plays "headgames". To illustrate something of his personality, here's a story I heard back when I trained taijutsu involving a well-known "ninja master" who even had a series of instructional videotapes marketed by an MA publisher.

Apparently, this person had rich parents who flew him to japan to train under Hatsumi. While there, he was constantly dismissive of ninpo philosophy, always trying to compare it to his previous experience with Hapkido, TKD, etc. In short, he just wasn't getting it. Finally, Hatsumi asked him why he was there. His response was something along the lines of "to get a black belt from the grandmaster". So Hatsumi walked into his office, got a black belt, and tossed it to the student, "there, now you have it."

If anyone is reading these posts and saying to themselves "What the hell is Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu?" Check out this video clip and the Winjutsu site

http://www.mizunagaredojo.com/What%20is%20Bujinkan%20Streaming%20Medium.wmv

www.winjutsu.com

Richard, what do you know of Ed Martin? I've found a training group near me that trains under him.

Hi Kenneth,

Well, he is often called Papa-san, and is a grandfatherly looking fellow. I believe he is currently the highest ranking Bujinkan Shidoshi. He is supposedly especially talented with improvised weapons and dirty tricks. He is the only Bujinkan instructor I have heard of that specifically teaches standing meditation and qigong type breathing exercises. I trained under one of Bill Atkins people, and he said that Bill and Ed were the two senior instructors with the highest standards, so all their instructors are normally under-rankded and quite good.

Jesus Christ, Tim Cartmell I love you. You have given me alot of buisness that other dudes would not have. You are a fine fighter indeed, but I more respect what you have given me. It's a good time! Thanx for the help, and I need to come see you soon.

Thanks Chris,
Now get some sleep.

Richard, Kenneth, how would you compare Bujinkan taijutsu with any of the three standard CIMAs (Bagua, Taiji, Hsin-I)? Not in terms of good or bad, but in terms of similarities and differences (if any)?

Hi Kek,

Hmmm, with my limited experience with all the arts in question, I would have to say that Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu is most similar in principle and tactics to Aikido and Xingyi. With the large amount of jujitsu and swordsmanship within the style obviously it has developed in a similar way to Aikido. But I do see some similarity to Xingyi with some of the striking and tactics.

Kek, such comparisons can only result in a vague picture, but Richard's description sounds much the way I view it. I'd like to add that Taijutsu also has a preoccupation with "dirty" fighting that is more than just adding brutality to basic techniques, but are actually a logical part of the system's flow. Also, it is the only MA I've ever known that trains one how to use one's emotional state to influence their movement to best advantage, rather than preach about calmness or bravery.

Thanks fellas. I just asked becasue I practice Taijutsu and Bagua (newb in both but come from seom other MA experience) and I always get a kick when I notice how similar some of the techniques can get in terms of the strategy and external movements (although setups and mechanics might a little different). Thanks for your comments.

In another thread there is a whole discussion about the similarity of Aikido and Bagua. Obviously some of the same similarities must exist between Taijutsu and Bagua. Many of the similarities only exist on the surface, but some others are true universals of the "internal" arts which I think Budo Taijutsu falls into.

Most of the aikido-like Bagua is dragon style, am I right? I saw demonstrations where the body of the practitioner would twist and turn like an eel, it looked like it would be quite healthy and restful to do. On the other hand, I recently ordered a demonstration VCD on some style of Yin Fu Bagua. I was surprised at how stiff and karate-ish it looked, at least this version.

Hi Kenneth,

I don't know enough about the various Bagua styles to comment on the real similarities to Aikido. I would assume that the majority of similarity between Aikido and Bagua is referring to the throwing heavy Cheng styles. Yin Fu Bagua definitely focuses on striking more than Aikido does.