ABOUT BUJINKAN NINJUTSU
The Bujinkan is an international martial arts organization based in Japan and headed by Masaaki Hatsumi. The combat system taught by this organization comprises nine separate ryuha, or schools, which are collectively referred to as Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu.
The Bujinkan is most commonly associated with ninjutsu. However, Masaaki Hatsumi uses the term Budo (meaning martial way) as he says the ryuha are descended from historical samurai schools that teach samurai martial tactics and ninjutsu schools that teach ninja tactics.
Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu training does not include participation in competitions or contests, as the school’s training aims to develop the ability to protect oneself and others using techniques that focus on disabling an attacker as efficiently as possible.
Training is done in a manner that entails little risk of permanent injury.
The Bujinkan does not adhere to any official guideline or set of rules to limit actions or techniques used during training. The approach used in the Bujinkan includes gaining compliance through pain and utilising potentially damaging techniques in order to survive dangerous situations, rather than focusing on winning a competition or evenly matched duel. As a result, many of the staple responses of a Bujinkan student would be inappropriate in most competitions.
Source: Wikimedia.org
ABOUT OWAIN MEARS
I was born in Cardiff in 1971, and I had my first Ninjutsu lesson in The Eastern Leisure Centre under the tutelage of Dave Dymonds in 1988.
Although Ninjutsu employs a number of different weapons in its training regime, I much prefer the Tai Jutsu or unarmed aspect of the art. Although it is easy to forget that everything that can be done “empty handed” can also be done holding a weapon, and it is this freedom and flexibility that has kept me training up to the present day.
I have never trained specifically for gradings, as it is my belief that even the most experienced practitioner can learn from the most humble of beginners if they are willing to keep an open mind.
My warrior name is Koh Sen Sha. This was given to me when I received my Shodan-my first black belt. It roughly translates to “The Combatant”, as my training and technique is quite direct.
I believe in self-protection rather than self-defence, and this ethos can be seen in the technique that I teach.