Bujinkan Training Videos

my Bujinkan video exploring 破術九法 Hajutsu Kyūho with 蹴返 keri kaeshi and 蹴砕 keri kudaki. I have been fortunate to study this with Hatsumi Sensei more than once. But one of my favorite training sessions was in 2008 when we were studying ninjutsu outside under the Japanese maples. That was when Soke said hajutsu was (more...)

my Bujinkan video exploring 半棒術 Hanbōjutsu kihon. We warmed up with 突き返し tsukikaeshi. This is the type of form that normally pits hanbō against a knife or short sword. But I began against a punch to keep it simple. Then I had the opponent cut in with a sword. These movements default to muto dori (more...)

my Bujinkan video exploring the kihon 武者捕 Musha Dori and henka. We warmed up with he 半棒術 hanbōjutsu kihon awase nage. We used both the standard and the cross grip. I also showed some reversals. I began class with 武者捕 musha dori kihon. First I showed the basic form. Then I added the 四方 shiho (more...)

my Bujinkan video exploring the kata 柄砕 tsuka kudaki with 下げ緒 sageojutsu. I shared some tips for wearing the sword in your belt: like how to insert it properly and what to do with the 下緒 sageo. A lot of people make critical mistakes right from the beginning and lose control over their own weapon. (more...)

my Bujinkan video exploring the kata, 四方 shihō and 八方斬 happō giri. We began with 四方斬 shihō giri. You begin this kata from what Hatsumi Sensei calls tenchi hasso no kamae. This looks different depending on whether you wield a katana or a tachi. I showed both methods. One key in this form is to (more...)

my Bujinkan video exploring the kata, 方波 katanami. Control over distance and and angle are always important in 九鬼神流 Kukishin Ryū. But in this kata, the use of kurai dori locks the opponent into a one sided attack that ultimately creates his fall. The throw we use to defeat our opponent is 拂腰 harai goshi (more...)

We warmed up with several types of furigata with the 鎖分銅 kusarifundō. I showed one that I don’t think many people know or teach. Soke calls it ハ字六法振リ haji roppō furi. I wrote about it here: A Ninja Tease With the 鎖分銅 Kusari Fundou This furi has many uses. There are the obvious strikes including (more...)

We warmed up with tobi geri. First with the rear foot, then the lead foot. We finished with the double leaping kick. I began class with 虚倒 kyotō. The first kanji is the same as kyo in kyojitsu. It means void, emptiness, untruth. The second kanji means to fall, collapse, drop, or knock over. So (more...)

lesson four of my Bujinkan video series exploring the weapon 鎖分銅 kusarifundō. We warmed up with 鎖分銅 kusarifundō striking drills. First rolling and striking. Then striking out of katate furi and using the body and tobi to return strike. Then we used kicks to return strike: forward; backward; and using the instep. I began class (more...)

lesson three of my Bujinkan video series exploring the weapon 鎖分銅 kusarifundō. We warmed up with katate furi using the 鎖分銅 kusarifundō. I showed how to strike using the both the clockwise and counterclockwise spin. Then I showed how to receive the chain after the strike to redirect. This is a most important skill with (more...)

lesson two of my Bujinkan video series exploring the weapon 鎖分銅 kusarifundō. I continued using sui no kata as a springboard. After a review of the basic form, I added this kakushi buki in the striking hand. Now when you deliver the shuto, the fundo penetrates the kyusho and then grates up the neck to (more...)

lesson one of my Bujinkan video series exploring the weapon 鎖分銅 kusarifundō. We warmed up using our ukemi to propel a strike with the 鎖分銅 kusarifundō. I showed how to do this 中振 nakafuri from a grip that I learned from Hatsumi Sensei. Then a second strike slams down hard at the end of your (more...)