top of page
Rules  of  the  Bujinkan
​

The Bujinkan shall be open to only those who agree with and uphold the guidelines of the Bujinkan Dojo. Those not doing so shall not be allowed to join. Specifically:

  • Only those who have read and agreed with these guidelines shall be allowed to participate.

  • Only those able to exercise true patience, self-control, and dedication shall be allowed to participate.

  • A physician's examination report shall be required. Specifically, individuals with mental illness, drug addiction, or mentally instability shall be barred from joining. The necessity of such a report concerns individuals who may present a danger to others, for example, those with infectious diseases or illnesses, individuals with clinically abnormal personalities or physiology, and individuals lacking self-control.

  • Individuals with criminal records shall be turned away. Trouble makers, those who commit crimes, and those living in Japan who break domestic laws shall be turned away.

  • Those not upholding the guidelines of the Bujinkan, either as practitioners or as members of society, by committing disgraceful or reproachable acts shall be expelled. Until now, the Bujinkan was open to large numbers of people who came to Japan. Among them, unfortunately, were those committing violent drunken acts, the mentally ill, and trouble makers who thought only of themselves and failed to see how their actions might adversely affect others. Through their actions, such people were discarding the traditional righteous heart of the Bujinkan. From this day forward, all such people shall be expelled.

  • Regarding accidents occurring during training (both inside and outside the dojo), one should not cause trouble to the Bujinkan. This is an extremely important point. Those unwilling to take personal responsibility for accidents occurring during Bujinkan training shall not be admitted. Reiterating for clarity, the Bujinkan shall not take responsibility for any accidents happening in the course of training, regardless of the location.

  • All those joining the Bujinkan must get an annual member's card. This card not only preserves the honor of the Bujinkan members, it indicates you are part of a larger whole -- one whose members come together with warrior hearts to better themselves through training and friendship. It evinces the glory of warrior virtue, and embodies both loyalty and brotherly love. 

  •  All members must have a membership card for the year, issued by the Hombu.  There are two types of membership card: General Membership Card and Shidoshi Kai Membership Card:​

    • (i) The General Membership Card applies to members of the Bujinkan Dojo, whether ungraded, kyu-grade or dan-grade.

    • (ii) The Shidoshi Kai Membership Card applies to those of Fifth Dan and above (called Shidoshi), and those from First to Fourth Dan (called Shidoshi-ho).  Members who are teaching should posess one of these cards.  Non-Shidoshi Kai members are not recognized as teachers and cannot grade students.​

  • All memberships must be renewed every year.

  • Membership of the Shidoshi Kai of Fifth Dan and above may apply to the Hombu for licenses up to Fourth Dan, and may award these to their students.  Members over Fifth Dan are promoted personally by Soke, who will judge them on their technique, character and integrity. (Update: As of 2002, Hatsumi Sensei has given direct permission to certain individuals to administer the godan test.)

  • Only membership cards and licenses issued by the Bujinkan Dojo Hombu will be recognized as valid.  People issueing "fake" membership cards and/or certificates will face expulsion from the Bujinkan Dojo.

  • As of January 2018, The Bujinkan Dojo no longer sells membership cards or requires them.

  • The "Bujin" symbol is copyright.  If planning to use it, you must contact the Hombu first for permission.

  • The tradition of the Bujinkan recognizes nature and the universality of all human life, and is aware of that which flows naturally between the two parts:

    • "The secret principle of Taijutsu is to know the foundations of peace.

    • To study is the path to the immovable heart (fudoshin)."

  • The Code Of The Dojo:

    1. To know that patience comes first. 
    2. To know that the path of Man comes from justice. 
    3. To renounce avarice, indolence, and obstinacy. 
    4. To recognize sadness and worry as natural, and
        to seek the immovable  heart.
    5. To not stray from the path of loyalty and brotherly
        love, and to delve always deeper into the heart of Budo.

    To follow this code is part of the dojo's guidelines.

        Meiji 23 (1890) Spring, Toda Shinryuken Masamitsu 
        Showa 33 (1958) March, Takamatsu Toshitsugu Uou 
        Hatsumi Masaaki Byakuryu 

​

​

  • Initial Training Begins With Taijutsu: 

    • Kyu levels: beginners 

    •     First to Fifth dans: Ten (heaven) 

    •     Fifth to Tenth dans: Chi (earth) 

    •     Tenth to Fifteenth dans: Jin (person) 

  • The eleventh to fifteenth dans are broken into Chi (earth), Sui (water), Ka (fire), Fu (wind) and Ku (the void); the Happo Hiken will be taught at these  levels. The fifth dan test shall only be administered by Soke. True shihan can be given fifteenth dan.

  • Recently, the Bujinkan has become truly international. Just as there are various time zones, so exist various taboos among the world's peoples and nations. We must respect each other, striving to avoid such taboos. We must put the heart of the warrior first, working together for self-improvement and for the betterment of the Bujinkan.

  • Communication with the Hombu must be in Japanese.  This is to help all business run smoothly now that the Bujinkan has become international.

  • Those not upholding the above-mentioned guidelines shall be forced out of the Bujinkan.

bottom of page