Allow me to fill in the Gaps...

The hard truth is this; I am the ultimate underdog. Been the underdog my whole life. One thing you learn as the underdog is how to take a punch.

In losing the "fight" against Icy Mike I make two clear points. 1. That I can take a punch, because you will get hit. Its a fact of life and, if the aggressor is bigger and stronger you will get hit a lot and hard. So sick it up... 2. All the haters who are pissed a kickboxing former SWAT cop and a "Fake Ninja" former Infantry Team leader and former Hand-to-hand combat instructor manipulated and exploited a former Reserve Policeman, A ninja master in the Bujinkan Ninpo 15th Dan with 15 years training at the Bujinkan Hombu Dojo. It doesn't matter of Icy Mike was holding back when he hit me multiple times in the face... Thats an average training. It was nothing to take those hits because that is average for training.

Yeah between Barron Shepherd bitching out repeatedly and lying to cover up for lying (only compounding the deception. And my manipulation of Don Roley, into agreeing to fight me and come to West Virginia. Its like that, why prove a lineage when I can prove methodology. And winning or losing a fight means nothing compared to fact that ninjutsu is not a martial and compatible to any martial art. That just taking the hits is enough because that is just a day. Training is just that jardd should be and, if it ain't that hard at a minimum it is a McDojo. It is fake martial arts...

If you don't get punched with enough force to leave a few bruises, get stunned and a busted lip its not real martial arts. And as for ninjutsu, if you ain't a manipulating people to gather information or, make them act to  your advantage... You aren't being a ninja, even then its what you might call it LARPing but what else you gonna do to practice those skills?

Well I have an interview with someone who used Historical Ninjutsu and Black Dragon Ninjitsu from my books as a Water Protector...  This means someone has actual experience using Ninjitsu in a political and social action against a militarized police force.

His evaluation of my methods that he used; shows that as an "unofficial" and "unranked" self-taught individual can use my strategic and intelligence gathering methods. With his own adaptations, it shows that there is proof, my methods work. Not just by me... Add Johnny Hunter's experience of training with me & the independent actions of the (for now) unnamed activist it provides multiple sources of reference.

The lesson, action is more then rank and more then paper. Action is the expression of the art. A painter is known by their painting and a martial artist should be known by their effects in the world. A competitive fighter proves themselves and expresses themselves in the ring or on the mats. Their art is the action of competition but, for the self-defense minded the expression is in avoiding the threat before it becomes the danger. The modern ninja does this in the  expression of influence without overt action.

So there are gaps in the training recommended in the book. Skills that you may learn academically but, must express through action. Express yourself within the art, take action. So we will discuss that application. And, it is simply not just the application within the physical action of strikes and grappling but, those higher elements of psychological manipulation and information gathering, real Ninjitsu. So consider this a warm up for the Upcoming Interview.

Ninja Mind F*ckery 103: What Comes Next

Since I made the statements I did and clarified my stance that I called Brennan Cleveland a "House Nigger" because he has been trying to race bait me from the get go &, because it holds a historical context in that it hold's the same meaning as it did when Malcolm-X said it... In that it describes someone who is happy to be a slave to their "masters." "Masters" being a metaphor to describe our corrupt & increasingly oppressive government. It also brought out national attention to 2nd Interview with Bob Carson on Carson's Corner...

Where I publicly declared ninjutsu to be "Bull Shit" as a martial art and, in Ninja Mind F*ckery 101, I demonstrated that I did indeed have power over Don Roley. Add to this that even those they seek to Influence and seek aid from have even, gone so far as to defend me against their lies, as demonstrated in Ninja Mind F*ckery 102, now we have Ninja Mind F*ckery 103... 

I rather do enjoy, the ploys to get me to become involved in some form of online debate or argument but, lets be real for a minute. Now I have to be clear here, that was my intent from the get go... Ninjutsu has been at conflict with itself since the beginning of its first appearance in the US, the Ohara family which at one time owned Black Belt Magazine also had an extension to the Classic Bansenshukai which was exclusive to their family and, part of Book of the Ninja by Anthony Cummins and, something that contains information (as a shocker), also turns up in my own books, specifically Army of Shadows. Though most people know me for my still Best Selling book Black Dragon Ninjitsu.

Ninjutsu has always been the historical doctrine of espionage and intelligence warfare... Some of this was covered in my book Legacy of the Kokuryukai. Now before we get our wires crossed, I am claiming (and, you can quote me on this):
1. To not be award Soke of anything... Not to be Grandmaster or, whatever...
2. To have learned ninjutsu are part of Omoto Ryu Budo...
3. That the Omoto Family is real and, that Kioshi Omoto did own a commercial school in Canada named Omoto Ryu Jujitsu & Budo...
4. That all official rank comes from Kioshi Omoto in Omoto Ryu Budo...
5. That Reginald Allen Martin, who initially taught me Ninjutsu did so in his back yard...
6. That Ninjitsu is a art of strategy, tactics, intelligence gathering & counter-intelligence not a martial art...
7. That Kioshi's bother, adopted cousin, claimed their ninjitsu came from Koga/Koka Ryu & was taught to them by their father...
8. That Kioshi's brother also claimed to have some connection to the Yakuza and the Kokuryukai... But, when asked about it, Kioshi just said "So he claims..." or something similar. Which neither confirms nor denies anything. So I did some research and wrote the book...
9. Beyond that I claim nothing else... So enjoy.

Now in writing Legacy of the Kokuryukai, I came across evidence and information that shows that the Kokuryukai tried to divide our nation and spark a "race war." This same thing has been repeated by the Communist/Socialist USSR during the Cold War & seen today among groups like Antifa & similar... So yes, my "House Nigger" comment was geared at engaging & pushing away these people. In writing, the Special Shadow Warrior Edition of World's Deadliest Fighting Secrets, I openly addressed how Bruce Lee used martial arts to try to bridge the gap among Asians specifically in their own forms of racism and, cultural disdain for each other because. In the same book; Special Shadow Warrior Edition of World's Deadliest Fighting Secrets, I also addressed how Count Dante addressed the racism and racial divide between whites & blacks during the 1960s. I am not addressing those I have proven to be able to control or, their attempts to address me and draw into another online feud they think they can "win." Nor, am I even concerned with them... I am only addressing THEM because they might be the very people who steered you here...

All that out the way, allow me to answer the question asked by the title... What Comes Next?

Ninjutsu, was never taught to me as a martial art, outside the Bujinkan &, as I explained before they have made false statements in the past that prove they are not creditable historical sources... Ninjitsu has to change and adapt, it has to be honest with itself to progress and my statements to Bob Carson remain true...
1. Ninjutsu was never a mystical or magical anything...
2. Ninjitsu is not a martial art, the ninja were samurai; who practiced samurai martial arts...
3. Ninjitsu has to be transformed to function into the 21st Century...

For me personally, I am going to get more focused on competitive training and, while I have no intention of dropping ninjitsu... I do plan to open it up as a kind of adventure camp/martial arts school however, ninja martial arts will never be the focus or claim.

Ninjas are Bullshit! Black Dragon Ninjitsu & Omoto Ryu Budo.

So when I addressed the root of the problem, i stated Fujita Seiko was a Naval Intelligence Officer, in Ninjas are Bullshit!  The root of the Problem. Don Roley disputes this... Calling me a slut, obviously not knowing when I called him a whore not to long ago I was calling him a sell out, for sale.

Actually, a translation of an article on Fujita Seiko I had found online years ago said Fujita was a Naval Intelligence Officer but the Nakano Espionage school was an Army facility. So there are debates concerning this... Especially, considering a biography on Motokatsu Inoue, the founder of Yui Shin Kai Karate, mentions Fujita Seiko's military record only vaguely.

However, in order demonstrate Don Roley's taste for falsifying information to substantiate his claims (God knows he's lied on me enough) I was hoping I could manipulate him into making a false statement concerning Fujita Seiko. I did just that...

       Here is an image of Fujita Seiko, on the left is Fujita Seiko during his time as a Holy Man when he was believed to be a "Living God" (One more thing Takamatsu has tried to mimic, well Hatsumi crediting to Takamatsu in common with copying Fujita Seiko's legacy). On the image to the right are three men standing together, in the middle is Fujita Seiko in what appears to be a M98 or 98shiki Gun-i World War II Japanese Army uniform... One to the left is Iwata & to Fujita's right Mabuni. Guess Don Roley just ran straight into that one didn't he..?

Because once we come to deal with the issue of modern ninjutsu, which has a different set of issues in dealing with historical ninjutsu, you start to see it is a lot of Bull Shit. One, get the idea of a traditional or koryu ninjutsu system out of your head. All ninjutsu is a modern recreationist system, with a few Koryu bujutsu systems containing ninjutsu as an auxiliary area of study.

Whether it is something Takamatsu and Hatsumi invented in Japan or whether it is something I invented in training with others who invented their own styles of Ninjutsu, or just someone making something up and calling it ninjutsu comes the issue that we cannot rewrite or change History. Historical ninjutsu is a constant, it is history that has passed by on that constantly flowing river we call time & been recorded as the past.

Two, the roots of any system of modern ninjutsu whether in Japan or in the US do not change the reality of historical ninjutsu. That all we have of historical ninjutsu is written documents & a few Okuden (Oral Traditionals) of one or two, Samurai Koryu systems; such as Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu. Studying Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu isn't likely to provide you with access to Ninjutsu but, Koryu (literally Old School) Bujutsu; Swordsmanship, Staff, Spear, Halbred, Shuriken and Jujutsu.

I state all this because, much like with Don Roley above there is a great deal of misinformation and disinformation spread about ninjutsu, from the Bujinkan. Since ninjutsu is so heavily bastardized in both America and Japan it does little good to concern yourself with it as a whole. If you want stories of ninja, then their are more fictions and folktales in Japan then in American 80s cinema. Many of these folktales extend to the Ashuka era and beyond. As well as, real events in history. You don't need to study ninjutsu to learn them.

It was one thing that Kioshi Omoto (Westernized Pronunciation) used to always remark on. His Dojo in Canada was called Omoto Ryu Jujitsu and Budo. His brother called it simply Koga Ryu Ninjutsu or Koga Ryu Omoto Ha. It was system of martial arts, philosophy, tactics and strategy.

The thing is I only met Kioshi's brother once, and that was at his son in law's house, in Charlotte, North Carolina. He told me these fantastic stories of secret Yakuza ninja clans and his family being in the Kokuryukai. All stories I wanted to believe, because I wanted them to be true.

Anyone of my haters already knows I stated years ago almost a decade ago I stated the Omoto Ryu system was originally taught using a simple systems of titles that was a reflection of traditional ranking in martial arts. These were Deshi (student)  and Sempai/Sensei (senor student/teacher) and Shihan (Master). What was a Sempai to the Shihan was a Sensei to the Deshi.

As a belt system this Kyu Grades (Deshi), to a Dan Grade (Sempai/ Sensei)  and a Godan (5th Dan) was a Shihan. As the Menkyo system this is a Deshi ranging from an Okuiri someone who begins training to a Mukyu (no grade) and continues on to 6th Kyu, to a Mokuroku or, Certificate, Holder. This is split between a Shomkuroku (Basic Certificate) basic certification in the art (1st Kyu) and Gomokuroku or certification in advanced forms equal to Dan grades with a Menkyo teaching license issued to Shihan or Godan. All Jugaro Kano did was apply the school grades for students as martial arts rank, thus kyu-dan system and belt rank replaced Menkyo. It doesn't matter what ranking system you use, the issue of rank is one of ego and not content.

We have no Soke nor desire to mimic the Iemoto trade system, in Omoto Ryu. A friend of mine from the old days online before I was arrested and held in jail awaiting trial for terroristic threats, who was a Bujinkan member from the early days of Bujinkan, had heard of the Omoto Ryu Dojo in Canada & went looking for it. Only thing is Kioshi Omoto taught the art commercially, using the modern Kyu/Dan system.

All that needs to be known is that everything they (Reginald Martin & Kioshi Omoto) wished to teach me, had been taught to me. Adding to that Reg chose to use the title system, while Kioshi used the belt system because he was teaching commercially and I used both. Sadly, because this title system reflected the Menkyo system more closely, Don Roley took notice because I was not a native Japanese speaker and didn't even know about the Menkyo system back then. And me and Don go back to issues from 1999 when I first discredited his Koga Ryu is Dead article and brought up own systems faulty lineage claims from the early 2000s. Don has largely tried to remain in "hiding" (not confronting me) online. Instead letting his online following of paper tigers attack me using Barron and his own lies. Now we have been face to face with Don Roley having the issue that Black Dragon Ninjitsu has been proven closer to the Ninjutsu of the Bansenshukai or Shoninki then his own claimed "Legitimate Ninjutsu from Japan."

The big issues are that in the raw footage shows Don's Roley's major goal to make everything seem like the Bujinkan is the sole source of ninjutsu. Ignoring the many smaller Japanese martial arts schools which used Fujita's research mixed with Karate, Judo and/or Aikido.

Fujita was a supporter and endorsed Okinawan Karate and Kobudo. Among his associates were Iwata Manzo of Shito-Ryu Karate who was instructed to study under Fujita Seiko by Shito Ryu founder Mabuni Kenwa (of Okinawa), Satsoshi Saito who inherited Fujita Seiko's Shingetsu Ryu Shurikenjutsu and was Soke of Negishi Ryu Shurikenjutsu and other arts, Kenei Mabuni the second Soke of Shito Ryu and claimed student of Ninjutsu from Fujita Seiko (student not heir) and had been in contact with Funakoshi Guchin (founder of Shotokan Karate-do), Miyagi Chojun (founder of Goju Ryu Karate) and Motobu Chuki (founder of Motobu Ryu Karate or Okinawan-Te), since Mabunni Kenei was a child. Certainly Fujita Seiko had such an impact on Japanese Karate, it is not hard to see why some Japanese Karateka would study Fujita's written works and claim ninjutsu knowledge...

And here I was claiming a ranking structure similar to the Menkyo system, something that appeared creditable. How important is rank? Let me ask you what rank does a boxer have? They don't have rank, they have skills and get rank by fighting in their respective circuits. Like Kioshi told me when he awarded me my 5th Dan or Shihan ranking, "What I am giving you is a gift, the gift of knowledge. You must decide what to do with that gift and improve it for those you pass it on to."

And I have done exactly that, I made Omoto Ryu Budo my own art. I called it Black Dragon Ninjitsu because I was a member of the Black Dragon Fighting Society and Ashida Kim's Koga Hai Lung Ryu (a merger of Koga Ryu Ninjutsu and Hai Lung Gung Fu) resembled the Ninjutsu I studied, not in fighting techniques but in actual strategic skills. So even though Kioshi Omoto tried to set me up with Nine Shadows of the Koga Ryu in Canada and introduced me to Toshitora Yamashiro (Kenneth Sato, I never met the man as anything but Toshitora Yamashiro), to form a lose association because of my desire to learn & practice the mysterious art of Ninjutsu.

Because of this I named my school the Omoto Ryu Black Dragon Dojo. I added weapons like the shoge from the time I trained in the Bujinkan. I also added firearms training based off my army infantry training and developed a modern combat survival system. Even codified this work in Army of Shadows.

However, unlike Barron Shepherd, Don Roley and Phil Elmore... Who claim I never ran a commercial school, I present proof. My old business registration certificate.

Now the fact that I did own a commercial school, not counting when I was teaching at New River Park for free and eventually charged a whopping $5 a lesson back in 1999 or out of a spare bedroom in my apartment in 2011 and 2012. Is something so many want to deny online because it makes it easier to claim my art doesn't have merit, that it was never taught to anyone.

The fact that Black Dragon Ninjitsu, even as far as the first book published on the art (a thin pamplet) back in 2000, talked about herbal medicines and pyrotechnics in 2000 shows far more then martial arts. This booklet is still available (though out of print from Dojo Press), though never printed by Shadow Warrior Press. Remains a standard all its own. I still teach seminars on the very elements which make Black Dragon Ninjitsu unique compared to the Bujinkan; herbal medicine, survival training, pyrotechnics and psychological manipulation. This is why I created the American Kokuryukai so that non-Ninjutsu styles could train in paramilitary tactics and ninjutsu, without having to be a "Ninjutsu system."

Hell... I have even used that Psychological Manipulation online. First on Bullshido (whom Dux proved had Bujinkan roots) with the Force Recon Marine claim... That started as some idiot on Ashida Kim's old message board claiming some bad firearms training drills (right out the Bujinkan's doctrine) claiming it was taught in the USMC. When I disagreed, having just came from Paris Island (so I knew what was taught there) this anonymous person claims they were a Marine. So I one upped them by claiming to be a Force Recon Marine and for years all that the investigators did was try to trick me into admitting it to them. Course I had actual Marines and a former Force Recon Marine giving me information to throw them off.

Its a popular claim or was at the time, that Force Recon was the Marine Special Forces. US Army Special Forces, 75th Rangers, Navy SEALs and the Airforce PJs (?) are Special Operations because they are under USSOC or US SOCOM. U.S. Special Operations Command. The Marines (who wanted to be Special Operations prior to 2003) never had a Marine Special Operations branch, being a department of the Navy, they simply became Navy SEALs.

This meant Marine Force Recon was the equivalent of the US Army Rangers. Least until 2003 when MARSOC was created, Marine Corps Special Operations Command bringing the Marines under US SOCOM. Meaning no one who mattered Ashida Kim, my students or people in the real world heard that BS. No the truth didn't come out until I started dealing with Phil Elmore & disproved his arguement for Reality Based Self-Defense and why he didn't need to be physically fit. Something about old women learned to defend themselves and no one would tell them they were too old, so no one should tell him he was too fat. Phil's investigation proved that Bullshido never investigated. This was before Chuck Harden of POWNetwork was caught fabricating evidence that someone, who wasn't a fraud, was a fraud.

Even then Phil is quick to pretend he never tried to interfer with my business... I had a free public seminar on criminal violence & civilian counter terrorism oriented self-defense cancelled and commenced slandering my name online. This doesn't even count trying to have me arrested.

Even this time around these guys have filed complaints with the police about my possession of a firearm. Which I am legally allowed to do. All because of this Meme:

You see I proved Barron Shepherd a liar about my criminal history here and here. As a consequence proved Don Roley lied here and lied about his lies here (on his own site), with the same evidence I used against Barron.

You see I am a product of 90's Ninjutsu market. During the 90's there was a big push online to defame and disgrace people teaching Ninjutsu, people not in the Bujinkan. Even attacking those who broke from the Bujinkan like Robert Bussey.

The Bujinkan has had a habit of claiming their art was superior to Kung-fu, Karate, Aikido and Judo, even Japanese Jujitsu itself, to such an extent it was almost gospel. That was until Scott Morris in the UFC. Take Mind of the Ninja by Kirkland C. Peterson, with the forward by Stephen K. Hayes, published in 1986.

Here in selected page above we can see a few outright historical lies...
1. Comes a statement about how the skills of the Ninja, Ninjutsu, was considered "dark" or dishonorable by the ruling elite, the samurai.
Fact: We know, thanks to the research of Anthony Cummins & the Historical Ninjutsu Research Team, that Shinobi was a job and that samurai, elite samurai, were chosen to be shinobi or ninja. So there was no Ninja Vs Samurai, Ninja or, more properly Shinobi, were Samurai.

2. That the Bansenshukai is a spiritual text, like the Tibetan Book of the Dead or the Secret Teachings of the Sorcerer Don Juan.
Fact: The Bansenshukai is a pretty straight forward military text. With no mystical and quasi-mystical teachings. It can be compared to the Go Rin Sho (Book of Five Rings) or Sun Tzu's art of war, from which it claims to be drawn (and where Ashida Kim places the roots of ninjitsu in Secrets of the Ninja).

In fact, with careful examination we find additional lies told about the historical texts of the Bansenshukai.

Here, again Kirkland Peterson makes several comments concerning the historical text of the Bansenshukai.
1. That the second chapter dealt with the ninja's spirituality.
FACT: Chapter deals with spiritual matters much like the Hagakure deals with spiritual matters. It doesn't... The second chapter deals with psychological and philosophical aspects like motivation and personality traits, but not spirituality.

2. While I certainly agree with Kirkland Peterson that the ninja were not common Mercenaries and terrorists, I am aware they were in many ways Jizamurai warlords and mercenaries. Jizamurai or Kokujin, who where rural/country samurai and that the Iga and Koga domains where without a Shugo (Governor) making the area basically lawless and dominated by smaller constantly warring factions.
FACT: The "Ninja Families" of Iga & Koga were country samurai and professional soldiers in their time with many warriors supporting other forces in other wars outside their domain for the support of said domains they were aiding or supporting. Because their land was basically lawless, the Iga & Koga Jizamurai fought among themselves constantly, with continually shifting alliances and yes... They did hire themselves out as mercenaries or fight in support of third parties. From Fujibayashi's description there was little to no spiritual-philosophical prospective. Certainly they used Terrorist tactics of sabotage and arson.
According to the Bansenshukai the Iga & Koga, translation by Anthony Cummins & Yoshie Minami The Book of the Ninja page 25; "The people of Iga & Koka had never had a shugo governor and each clan was self-governing; they constructed small castles in each estate independently and had free rein. As having no shugo or a lord. there was not a governor to oversee them. There were numerous instances of them fighting each other to take away the other's land. Therefore, their main concentration was set on battles, each morning and every evening, and their life revolved around armament and defence. They would search for a gap within each other, send shinobi to infiltrate and set fire on each other's castles, get inside information on the enemy, interfere with the enemy's plans of alliance by disinformation, carry out raids or night attacks, and conduct strategy with innumerable changes to catch the enemy of guard."
From The Book of the Ninja goes on to say starting on page 25 and ending on page 26: "Therefore, the result was that they thought that, in order to defeat the enemy's greater forces by using a small number of people and defeating the hard and strong, it is best to use the flexible and supple, and nothing is better than the use of the shinobi to do this. Therefore, they had every samurai hone himself with the skill of the shinobi and the lower people or genin [kanji] learn in-nin or 'stealth' techniques."
A footnote on page 26 says that "...it appears that high-ranking people performed predominantly yo-nin as it required a high level of education; however, it is difficult to assess how much of each discipline the different classes learned."
So clearly, the term Iga or Koga no Mono (Man of Iga or Koga) was due to constantly warring smaller factions training their samurai (actually Jizamurai or Kokujin) in Shinobi no Jutsu (Ninjutsu) and using smaller strategic forces against their enemy.

3. That the fourth volume of the Bansenshukai, gets the Yo- or Yonin from the Chinese concept of Yang.
FACT: This is somewhat true, In is the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese Yin. Yo is the Japanese equivalent of the Chinese Yang and Tao is the Chinese root of the Japanese Do. However, there is no deep philosophical concept to Innin, which is gathering information while being openly observed.
In Volume Eight, titled Yo-Nin (Page 100 of Book of the Ninja) the Bansenshukai says "Shinobi no jutsu consists of yo-jutsu and in-jutsu. Yo-jutsu in to infiltrate the enemy in plain sight with elaborate plans of ingenuity, while  in-jutsu is to 'steal in,' hiding yourself from people's eyes. In this volume are written the techniques to infiltrate by inventing innumerable plans which should be ever changing according to the situation, and finding and taking advantage of any gap within the enemy while you are in plain sight - that is why it is titled yo-nin."
Why is it important that these historical inaccuracies are being taught in the Bujinkan? Because not only are they providing false information concerning Ninjutsu and Japanese history to advertise their "Ninpo" but, they are doing so while attacking others for either doing the same thing or avoiding spiritual (religious cult) aspects of a ninja themed Eastern Religion, by talking about skills.

What makes this even more tragic is that Takamatsu and Hatsumi are Japanese and have no reason to provide such false information, except to take advantage of ignorant Western minds. This is the type of mysticism which Count Dante/John Keehan fought against in his denouncing of Eastern Martial Arts.

Add to this that Black Dragon Ninjitsu is a tested system used to confront corrupt cops, lawyers and judges and that the personal attacks, libel and slander against me are used to not only discredit me but, to cover up for my exposure of the Bujinkan's lies. Lies intended to proclaim the Bujinkan (Takamatsu-den) as the sole source of ninjutsu in the world.

I don't claim to have never been arrested. I don't claim to speak Japanese or not have been associated with criminals. In fact, back in the early 2000s I said I learned in a McDojo that awarded me a black belt before I hit puberty. I also said I wasn't concerned with rank because I had used my martial arts in the real life, this did include some "underground" fighting events as a teenager.  When I spoke of being in a family of criminals, even been in a local gang in Charlotte, North Carolina and having fought in "underground fights" for money as a teenager because I was homeless (because my mom and me were running from her ex-boyfriend). I was called a liar.

Well until we see that the State of West Virginia, actually Prosecutor Kristen Keller, Assistant Prosecutor Pat Lamp, Troopers Duckworth, Moore, Efrid & Palmateer. Judge Hutchison, Magistrate Steve Massy and former Magistrate Mary Jennings all conspired to conceal evidence of false charges brought against me. That was the Child Pornography charges used to defame and discredit me, to conceal evidence of wrong doing by the state by attaching the worst crime imaginable to my name.  I made a hypothetical legal argument which resulted in the Terrorist threats charges which were dismissed without ever going to trial because, they refused to dismiss the case, provide discovery and/or go to trial. This resulted in me getting evidence that Kristen Keller falsified evidence in my case to have me chemically tortured to try to force a false confession out of me to something I didn't do; make a threat, terroristic or otherwise.

Ninjutsu in the 90s:
During the 80s ninja hype there was a lot conflicts over who was the "real ninja." The 90s brought up the mainstream us of the internet and the conflicts went from dojo trash talk to online trolling. Yet, from the very beginning we know see that Koga Ryu Ninjutsu has always been a set of skills involving stealth and strategy and Bujinkan Ninpo has always been a form "spiritual training." During the 90s Bujinkan sites sprang up and the Bujinkan produced one of the first video black belt courses in martial arts marketing history to spread it's cult-like message & martial arts franchise.

This works in tandem, with the message that "only the Bujinkan is real" because, while the video courses are blasted as fake, watered down or not the real thing, they are the only link people who want to learn ninjutsu have to Real Ninjutsu. But, we've already covered how all that is Bull Shit.

As far as I am Concerned:
I am not trying to push religion or spiritual training on the individual. I don't want to be the Wal-mart of Ninjutsu that the Bujinkan has become. Yes... I said that in the light of a mega-franchise pushing the "lil guy" out of business. I am just someone tired of bull shit and fighting battle after battle with so many different people at one time. I am also tired of cultists trying to slander my name in a sad attempt to promote their fraudulent business.

Here is the thing, if you don't want to train with me because you might get harassed by the cops... Cool that is your right. Most of my students are black anyway so they are kinda used to it. If you don't want to train with me because I have been associated with criminals, fine... That is your right to do. If you don't want to train with me because, I am anti-cop and think the whole occupation is government extortion and jack booted thuggery... I accept that. If you think I am liar or a fraud, I don't care...

That simple, you are entitled to your opinion. But, if you want to listen to lies and slander, if you don't want to train with me or associate with me because of those people's lies and slander. You are a victim of either Bujinkan cult-thinking, harassment or defamation as tool for racketeering and fraud. A pattern of lies and slander, even lies about historical texts which were never before available to West until recently, is right here on display for you.

Doesn't Matter if the Bujinkan has a pattern of lies, Ron Collins is Crazy:
Ah... Yes, they claim that the Terrorist Threats case was dismissed, because I was found incompetent to stand trial, not guilty by reason of insanity (which doesn't exist in West Virginia its Guilty of Reason of Mental Illness WVC 61-7A-3(b) & 18 USC 922 of Federal Law). Pity the court document below proves Pat, Phil, Barron & Don Roley all lied, again.

The case was dismissed without prejudice. It also says this is because "[t]he conditions that the state requested be met during this period of abeyance have been fulfilled and by agreement both parties are moving to a dismissal of this matter." which nothing of insanity pleas or findings...

Don Roley Character Assassin for Hatsumi/Takamatsu-den Cult Monoply

This blog is going to deal with the how Troll Bridges and backly the Racketeering behind the actions of certain online trolls and haters.

Lets start with Don Roley "King Troll" for the Bujinkan. Me and Don got our start online at about the same time. Me with Ashida Kim's Dojo Press and Don Roley publishing his Koga Ryu is Dead article. At the time Don Roley did this he made several claims about the Bujinkan and the Takamatsu-den lineage as well as, several historical text such as the Bansenshukai and similar documents trying to prove Takamatsu authentic.

Now Don is fluid in modern Japanese, lived in Japan for 15 years and used modern Japanese translations of the historical ttext in his arguments online. However, its been all shot down before... By me on Ashida Kim's old message board.

Two being an easy means of disproving the whole thing...
1. The terms Iga and Koga Ryu are historical terms for the origin of various schools. There were several schools of fighting methods, tactics and military strategy in the Iga and Koga provinces. They were all Iga or Koga Ryus. Just any martial arts school in Los Angelos or even Beckley, West Virginia is a Los Angelos school or a Beckley school of martial arts.

Citing Seiko Fujita (Americanized pronunciation) as Roley does, Fujita says ninjutsu was a family tradition. Meaning that if one studied the Hidden Leaf School of Martial Arts, one might implicate one's own life or occupation into your own tactics.

In modern Comparision so its easier to grasp, John is a Locksmith. John is drafted into service by an a local militia to protect Johns town from invaders. John learns Militia X-rays methods of warfare. John uses his Lock Smithing knowledge to stealthly pick a lock on a building the gang is using as a base and slip inside to look at the gangs plans of attack and listen to their talk about the plan.

John is a spy by modern thinking and as a spy John used his available spycraft skills of picking a lock. Johns son who is also being taught to perform the family trade of lock smithing is also taught the family spycraft of picking locks. Bill by contrast repairs electronics and Bill's spycraft is built arounding building listening devices to hear what others are saying or radio jammers to cut off communications during raids.

Militia X-ray has a set of skills and an SOP related to scouting and patrols. Both Bill and John have their own individual methods of using what they call spycraft. David is a Captain in the militia and has a Phd in Psychology so his spycraft is built around manipulation. David has an SOP for the militias Special Operations Group & suggests the SOG members learn the ways of lower ranked people.

Now replace the term spy with ninja and spycraft with ninjutsu and you get the odea behind "family styles of ninjitsu."

2. Ryu didn't codify "ninjutsu" into their schools until the Tokugawa era. This was the era of peace following the warring states period of Sengoku era. Togakure Ryu claims it was codified 400 years before said era of peace.

Once we get past that, we come to the fact that during the earily years of the Meiji era. Samurai used "ninjutsu" like methods during the Saga Rebellion. These were Kishu Ryu methods if any...

This means that Ninjutsu existed as part of most Koryu Schools at some point and that ninjutsu was not specifically limited to schools of martial arts. Nor is it as special as many seek to believe. Ot was something done in secret and a bit taboo to Japanese cultural ideas of the noble samurai.

More so, it becomes even more ridiculous when you think about a codified school of martial arts claiming to be the root of all ninjutsu, when those Koryu Schools who did codify it only did so to preserve it the skills and methods for future generations is not, as Hatsumi claims, a secret ninja martial art built around Shinto rituals and the worship of Takamatsu as a deity.

Now this brings us to a singular problem, what I just said... You can examine a free breakdown of the Bansenshukai amd read my earilier blogs on the Bujinkan cult is you so choose, for reference.

Additionally, you have to understand the nature of the word Soke and why not all Japanese Koryu arts use the title. In short it is a feudal term used by various trade guilds in Japan during the Tokugawa period upto the later Meiji era.

Ninjutsu isn't the big deal in Japan it is in America. Even then the Japanese image of the ninja is more of a warrior magician then the Western version of a spy-assassin. Though the historical reality of a soldier-spy is closer to the American image.

Now, I am sure you are going to say what does that have to do with anything. Well I have been the poster boy online for pointing out those holes in the argument by Roley. Antony Cummins (whom Don and others in the Bujin-con Cult have tried to discredit) seeking academic credibility translated the historical documents proving what ninjutsu was historically, has produced works which will substantiate these facts for many non-Japanese.

Now remember when I said about Don Roley getting his start online? That would be in 1999, same time as me and the same time he was doing everything to get the other Bujin-con cultists online attacking people for being frauds.

However this isn't new for the Bujin-con. The date for the post by Don Roley is pretty, significant since it shows he was in Japan all that time. And, I could argue that Roley's actions were permissible by the Hombu Dojo and perhaps Hatsumi himself.

I have stated many, many, times before that Don Roley's "fraud busting" was directly tied to making money but, perhaps uts not making Roley money except that he is making Hatsumi money.

How many people over the years have been harassed and stalked by Don Roley online because they were "frauds?" What is seriously funny is the "pot calling the kettle black" mentality of Don Roley's loes and personal attacks. I have mentioned Don many times in the past, showcased his unstable cult-like devotion to the Bujinkan Takamatsu cult.

I know there are 9 schools, that's 6 from a man no one can prove existed. 5 of which has a kind of incestuous link to them Togakure Ryu Ninpo is a form of Koshijutsu, is the oldest of the Nine schools and is linked to Gyokko Ryu Koshijutsu (using the same Koshijutsu methods) yet Gyokko was started in Japan in 1156 to 1159 and claims to extend back to the Tang Dynasty in China in which ended in 907. Togakure Ryu was founded in in 1161. So why is there a Soke in both lineages who was only 18th Generation in Gyokko Ryu and 24th Generation in Togakure Ryu? This gets even more alarming when looking at Koto Ryu which was begin by Toda Sakyo Isshinai during the Temon Era 1532 to 1150 who was a student of the Soke Gyokko Ryu and inherited the art from him. Gyokko being a close range style and Koto Ryu being a long range style compliment each other. But, keep them separate for so long? Why one Soke of two very different styles?

Now Togakure Ryu was founded in 1161 by Daisuke Nishian who changed his name to Daisuke Togakure. Kumogakure is supposed to be an Togakure Ryu founded in 1532 to 1550 of the. Teman Era by Iga Hainaizen Ienaga.

Gyokushin Ryu another Ninpo school has no date for when ot was founded but has something in common to all four other schools. They were all passed to Toda Seiryu Nobutsuna in from 1624 to 1644. Koto Ryu which has had the same Soke since the founding of Koto Ryu with Gyokko Ryu, though Gyokko Ryu claims further or is said to, is 9 generations removed. More so why are they so different if Koto Ryu draws from Gyokko Ryu?

On seperate but also conflicting nature, Koto Ryu became the basis for Togakure Ryu Taijutsu. This could not have happened until 1624 to 1644 when Toda Seiryu inherited the five schools. Yet, why did Togakure Ryu merge part of the teachings for Koto Ryu, taught along side Gyokko Ryu to the shared Soke of both Ryu and not the other schools? Having learned Gyokushin Ryu Ninpo from a third line of transmission(?).

Now Takamatsu did have legitimate claims to teach Shinden Ryu and Takagi Yoshin Ryu. Gikan Ryu is debatable since he didn't start claiming to know it until the Ninpo/Ninjutsu claims popped up. Takamatsu then copied the Kukishin Ryu denshi and presented his imbellished copies to the Kuki family before making up a story about the Kuki shrine being burned by US firebombing flights and proclaiming himself Soke of Kukishinden Ryu a sibling art to the Kuki families Kukishin Ryu.

Takamatsu was a licensed teacher of Kukishin Ryu and Takagi Yoshin Ryu arts.

Regardless Takamatsu was an established fraud having stolen the Kuki family legacy to enhance his status by naming himself Soke of Kukishinden Ryu, saying he was chosen to replace the offical Soke inheritor because they thought he was dead and using the copies of the Kuki family scrolls as evidence of his status of Soke of the Kuki family's traditions and teachings. Before inventing the Ninja Lineage with Hatsumi and using modern translations of historical documents (many made available by Fujita Seiko's 1930s research) to claim to have authentic ninjutsu in the 1960s.

So it is very easy to see where the Bujinkan motivations are at, make money selling people on the idea of a long lost ninja legacy and all the fraud busting is just hiding their own lies and fraudulent claims. Six supposedly, Koryu traditions with Densho written by Takamatsu and five with  list of shared Soke before coming to Toda Shinryuken who picks up a sixth art in Shinden Fudo Ryu. Shinden Fudo Ryu being a form of Jujutsu with a long and strong lineage but sharing no connection to the Shinden Fudo Ryu claimed by the Bujinkan except to say that they are the same as Izumo Kanja Yoshiteru founded both schools. However this does not stack up to independent research.

Nor do Hatsummi's Densho match the Densho published by the "other" Shinden Fudo Ryu. Thus making it appear that Takamatsu used the name of an art already in existence with a strong lineage to try to justify the five incestuous Ryu. A basic claim by the Bujin-con cultists is, to claim that because Shinden Fudo Ryu can be proven a real and established ryu (in someone else's lineage) it is a legitimate school and offers proof that Toda Shinryuken was a real person and that other five ryu are legitimate schools.

No, it really doesn't. First you have to prove that the Shin Fudo Ryu you are claiming has a real lineage and ties to the Shinden Fudo Ryu that is proven prior to Takamatsu or Toda Shinryuken. Then you must prove that Toda Shinryuken existed to proven it was even passed down to Takamatsu. No such evidence exists... Its a bit like printing off a certificate that says you graduated BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolitions/SEAL School), we all know BUD/S is real and that it is a proven historical school for elite navy operators. You just can't prove its connected to you outside of the certificate you printed up... Same issue but, I digress.


Once you understand the issues the Bujinkan is trying to hide you understand the financial gain of people like Don Roley in trying to silence me. And you see Don usually makes a good show of issuing online challenges and spinning however he wants to make people look bad and harass them into silence. So Roley will never come at me in dark alley and he wouldn't even meet me on neutral ground. And Roley doesn't publish were he teaches at for fear that someone might come to his school and well, without cameras it would be fun. I don't know where Don Roley teaches at; I know where he lives, Don Roley's middle name is James and he is 49. And, little image above about Don Roley saying he was in Japan when he started his whole fraud busting game back in 1999 basically comes down to this. We can assume that Hatsumi is involved or was aware of and that Don Roley is carrying out his activities in an illegal attempt to define Hatsumi as a true Soke.

A Soke is the head of a trade guild in pre Meiji Japan, under the Soke or Iemoto system a family functioned like a corporate entity. The Family trade was licensed and no one could practice the family trade; poetry, blacksmithing, pottery or whatever... without licensing from the family who dominated the trade. After the Sengoku era, the Tokugawa era of peace, brought with it many new schools of martial arts and many martial arts, due to the castes becoming locked, having been used by various Samurai families in certain areas adopted the Iemoto or Soke system. Meaning only the Soke or head of the family would have full transmission. Under the Iemoto system, one could not practice pottery or blacksmithing without paying the family who has Soke dominance over a particular trade.

So it is quite clear that the Bujinkan cultists are seeking to use the internet fraud busting to create a ninja monopoly. This is especially interesting because as I pointed out, Hatsumi is a fraud who draws his lineage from a well known fraud and who's only attempt at any true status of being a Soke is to implement the Iemoto system under the guise of claiming legitimate authority through fraudulent means...

 

I mean doesn't the Bujinkan claim that only the Takamatsu-den lineage is real? Don't they attack even Kawakami's claims to Koga Ban Ryu Ninjutsu? Don't they tell you to be a legitimate ninjutsu practice you have to study Bujinkan arts? Wasn't the Historical fact of the ninjutsu recently revealed closer to the fantasy of ninjutsu taught by so called frauds like Ashida Kim, Frank Dux and myself?

 

Ever wonder why my Ninjutsu taught making smoke bombs and herbal medicine, even when it was a small red pamphlet named Black Dragon Ninjitsu? Ever wonder why Ashida Kim split many of his books into categories like Kata Dante, Submission Holds and Ninjitsu or why Ashida Kim spoke of Espionage as a Weapon, yet was dismissed as being unhistorical? Compared to Hatsumi's claim that Ninjutsu evolved from the mystic practices of the Yamabushi called Shugendo (The Path to Achieving Spiritual Power) and claims of esoteric secrets of the universe? Ever think this copyright on the secrets of the universe is cult-like in its devotion and principles?

Simply read Mind of the Ninja and you will see the cult-like religious worship of Takamatsu and Hatsumi in the belief of magical powers.

Don't worry I will review this book soon, I just have to buy a new copy because it is complete Bull Shit where I am concerned.

 

Respect Does Not Come from A Belt

Many times I have stated I think the Bujinkan system is a bad system, with a false history and full of people trying play Ninja-Warrior. I don't like the system and that is my opinion... Now I am going to blow your mind because I am going to praise a Bujinkan member, Richard Van Donk. Now like I've said I don't much like the system (it has it's good and bad points to it, everything does) but, I di have to discuss my respect for Shihan Richard Van Donk.

Now Hayes and Bussey brought us Hatsumi's "Ninjutsu" in the 1980s. Robert Bussey managed one of the largest ninjutsu organizations in America at one time & even offered instructional videos, I think Bussey probably pioneered the martial arts instructional video market. Certainly, Richard Van Donk being the first to establish a video testing platform in which a person could get rank in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu changed the game. I happen to respect Richard Van Donk as both a business man and martial artists.

Now I know many will say "But you don't like the Bujinkan" or "You talk trash about their art." This is basically true, there is a lot of things I take issue with here. The fact however is this, Richard Van Donk has put in his time and did much to help spread his art. His video courses have made his art widely accessible to people throughout the US, possibly the world. So regardless of my personal opinion about the Bujinkan, I'm stuck having to honestly admit he did a good job.

The fact of the matter is that if you've ever listened to online idiots like Don Roley or his troll account Simon Edwards you can see his motivation for blasting Shihan Van Donk. At one time Bujinkan ninjutsu was few and far between now it has grown into a multi-million dollar franchise business mainly through Richard Van Donk's video courses. This is where I respect him as a business man and hope to emulate him with my own Black Dragon Ninjitsu video course.

While there are many against these courses there is a simple fact, video courses are not much different then many martial arts schools. I've been in schools where students barely saw their Sensei. He'd lead the class in a 10 to 15 minute warm up exercise, teach a few drills and instruct students to perform the drills while he went into his office to do paperwork. If you had a problem with a technique, it was generally other students who helped you. So with a video course you can watch the video over and over again to grasp the concept. Sadly, Shihan Van Donk takes a lot of flak from members of the Bujinkan who feel cheated, their arts are no longer "exclusive" they are no longer the "elitist" they wish to be and their art has become a franchise.

Ultimately, this goes back to another more subconscious matter of relying on external tokens of achievement to justify your life. Of needing something outside yourself to feel validated. Respect does not come from a belt or a certificate or even a tradition. Respect comes from within, respect comes from whats in your heart and mind. You cannot get respect without first achieving self-respect and understanding your self-worth. Only then do you achieve respect from others and even it is not guarantee that everyone will respect you or care about what you've done.

The Secrets of Budo: Esoteric Philosophies in Martial Arts

Budo, the warrior's way, often promises to teach one the secrets to the esoteric universe... But, what is it? Many times people mention their martial arts passing on "esoteric secrets" but what does that all mean? First off let say this, I can sum up what Budo is and what it is meant to convey in very plane simple American-English. I will save my take on Budo for the end and you can skip to it if you don't want me to explain the nature of Esoteric Philosophies.

Now the word Esoteric gets thrown around a lot in the martial arts world. Many people don't even know what the word esoteric means. So lets start there, generally speaking the term esoteric is related to religion, specifically speaking the Greek Mystery Religions. Esoteric generally refers to Private or Secret Knowledge belonging only to a select few. Now in the "ninjutsu world" this gets broken down in to two things, 1) strategy and philosophy that address incites into human nature and/or 2) religious mysteries and philosophical incites into human nature.

One good example of such case is the often debated Sakki element of martial arts training. Now Sakki is literally translated as "Air of Murder" and refers to the uneasy feeling one gets when danger is close by. Now there are multiple explanations of this, ranging from "guardian angels" and mystical powers gained through meditation to the subconscious mind and psychic powers. Now guardian angles is a general term for guardian spirits & not specifically limited to Judaeo-christian or Islamic mythology. Sakki can best be summed up in modern terms as a kind of "Spidey Sense" that warns of possible threat.

It is actually interesting that the scientific community has attempted to investigate and examine this phenomenon. On multiple occasions, and science has explained this (at least in part), psychologists and other researchers have found that the subconscious mind seems signs of a threat and relays this information to the conscious mind as "feelings." So what is such a mystery concerning this matter? One study conducted back 2008-2009 produced this result:
The characteristics identified as beneficial to IED detection came as little surprise to JIEDDO’s command sergeant major, Command Sgt. Maj. Todd Burnett, USA (no relation to Dr. Burnett). Command Sgt. Maj. Burnett has extensive in-theater experience, including performing route clearance missions, and he says he expected the person who would be best at finding the devices would be a little older and have hunting experience because that involves the ability to remain still and take in a 360-degree view of the surroundings.

So is hunting an esoteric practice? In ninjutsu there is a term Haragei which literally means "stomach art" and it is the Japan practice of reading (between the lines) non-verbal ques. It is not specific to martial arts but Japanese culture. You see the Japanese are very polite people and rather risk offending someone with direct response that would be viewed as negative, they give indirect responses that basically conveys the negative response in a less perceived offensive light. So must have a Haragei "gut instinct" for what is meant regardless of what is said. Understanding a true meaning through implication. This also means the Japanese deal more with reading body language and what isn't said as much as what is said... This not secret art form but a common cultural aspect of the Japanese culture.

In martial arts there is also the term Mushin which means no mind, and this has a simple meaning of acting without thought. Mushin is gained by developing one's Kan or intuition. There is a story in Shotokan of how the founder of Shotokan Funakoshi Guchin asked his students to attack him at random to develop his skill in Karate as a form of training. Following modern studies into soldier's Combat Intuition this a simply building said intuition through experience. This is good training and not some "secret" known only to a chosen few. It develops Kan or Intuition.

Now most often the "esoteric" teachings come in the form of quasi-mystical semi-religious thought, what child psychologists call "magical thinking." Now magical thinking is basically counter to any religious belief system, and I don't want to be accused of picking on anyone's religion so I will leave my religious beliefs to be addressed by addressed below. I will state religions are like relationships and so can be toxic, misleading and abusive. I know a great many people who have done more harm to themselves using the religion of Wicca to try to force things to happen or the reading of horoscopes and tarot cards to convince themselves of lies. It is of course not the fault of the Wiccan religion that they used "magical thinking" to deceive themselves.

The five elemental philosophies of Taoist Alchemy and Shinto are a philosophical approach to nature science from a far older time. Thus they approached the elements of nature at basic levels, water, fire, earth, air & nothingness. These elements became expressions of energies, ideologies, personality types (archetypes) and motivations. They are elements of an ancient science and part of cultures and religions. Like the Ten Commandments, they do not have to be linked to religion to have value. You do not have to believe in the Judaeo-Christian God or Jesus to believe lying, stealing and murder are wrong. Nor do you need to worship the gods of Buddhism and Shinto use the ancient science within the religion. You don't have to believe in "Ki" or "Chi" (a manifestation of the void) to believe in Sakki or develop Kan. Often times these practices are used to entrap the weak minded and those who feel powerless by offering a "secret power" or Red Badge of Courage to feel special.

My Take on Budo: Warning you may not like this...
Budo doesn't and shouldn't be seen as a mystical philosophy. Quite the opposite, the Way of the Warrior is very straight forward, although the methods are generally not. The Samurai often wrote poetry and examined or expressed philosophies. Reading the Hagakure: Book of Hidden Leaves we see that certain Shinto religious philosophies are carried over and defined Yamamoto Tsunetomo, a Tokugawa Era Samurai. It has many comparable philosophies to the Go Rin Sho (Musashi Miyamoto's Book of Five Rings). While the standardized Bushido is a more modern construct based on historical philosophies the oldest of which was the Kojiki, dates back to 8th Century and is mostly a collection of old myths and stories, the story of Prince Yamato Takeru provides a basis for early warrior standards based off his live and exploits.The Gunki Monomatari or War Tales puts a particular focus on warrior ethics and calls lists them as Loyalty to one's Lord, Courage in the face a certain death, Alliance to Family and Personal Honor tied to Loyalty. Other, such historical accounts such the Tale of the Heike (Heike Monogatari) focuses on a fantastic and romanticized view of the Genpei War (a 5 year war between the Taira & Minamoto Clan), these same virtues of Duty, Loyalty,  Selflessness, Courage & personal Honor are focused on.

The term Do is the Japanese way of pronouncing Tao. Do is also linked to the Buddhist Sanskrit word Marga meaning Path. This frames the understanding of the meaning of Budo, as opposed to Bujutsu. Bujutsu is quite literally Military Art or War Art and Budo meaning  Military Way/Path or War Way/Path. While art is generally a reference to the methods of war, techniques and strategies used in battle, way or path often speaks of spiritual, religious or philosophical path. So if we leave out the spiritual and religious path we are left with a simple philosophical path. A way of thinking and acting in accordance with a non-religious philosophical values system. This makes the value of Bushido (The Warrior Way/Path) and Budo (The War Way/Path or Way/Path of War) basically the same in concept.

If we apply religion, it is the religious interpretation of the warrior's path. Looking at history and Shinto is especial true in the case where the Imperial bloodline is said to be derived from the Kami. Loyalty to one's lord is essentially loyalty to the Imperial family and to one's divine  beings of religion. Other virtues of the religion would of course also be associated with the virtues of a warrior. Certainly Shinto and Buddhism aren't the only religion to express this, even Christianity has it interpretation of the warrior's path. So what is so secret about the Warrior's Path that it conveys esoteric meaning? Does Honor, Duty, Integrity, Courage & Loyalty has some secret that only a chosen few can understand or is it just the quasi-religious cult following a martial arts cult?

The way of the warrior is straight forward, to charge headlong into adversity, conflict and hardship (combat both physical and mental) and the Way of War is embrace the Warrior mindset and character in mundane life and technical elements of military or paramilitary conditioning (martial arts) to develop the warrior character and teach warrior philosophy. In this way, Budo can be applied to business strategy and other aspects of life like other society interactions, not just a strict adherence to warfare.

Sometimes (more times then we would like to admit in the martial arts culture), Budo is used to teach and encourage Asian religions and other practices. This is often an interesting question when embraced by Atheists, Judaeo-Christian believers, Muslims and others who do not wish to stray from their ancestral or chosen religion. As it is a bit like tricking someone to converting to another religion, and many practices seen in martial arts training, like bowing a picture of the schools founder, then clapping and chanting a mantra are characteristic of said religious practices of Shinto and worshiping the "divinity" of said founder. This the problem with esoterics in martial arts...

The 102 families of Iga & Koga Ninja

If you are wondering the 102 families are the 49 Iga families and the 53 Koka/Koga families. Actually, there are less then 102 families, since some of the Iga & Koga families are the same, According to the Bansenshukai the Iga & Koga, translation by Anthony Cummins & Yoshie Minami The Book of the Ninja page 25; "The people of Iga & Koka had never had a shugo governor and each clan was self-governing; they constructed small castles in each estate independently and had free rein. As having no shugo or a lord. there was not a governor to oversee them. There were numerous instances of them fighting each other to take away the other's land. Therefore, their main concentration was set on battles, each morning and every evening, and their life revolved around armament and defence. They would search for a gap within each other, send shinobi to infiltrate and set fire on each other's castles, get inside information on the enemy, interfere with the enemy's plans of alliance by disinformation, carry out raids or night attacks, and conduct strategy with innumerable changes to catch the enemy of guard."

Clearly, this destroys the myth of the Iga being a republic of freedom and defines Iga & Koka as a lawless land of chaos and constant warfare. It is comparable in modern terms to living in Afghanistan or Syria, or Yugoslavia between the years 1989 to 1992. Being in the eastern Ukraine right now or for my survivalist & prepper mates the US when society breakdowns happens.

This provides a great deal of understanding into where it was created and what ninjutsu is. In fact, the translation from The Book of the Ninja goes on to say starting on page 25 and ending on page 26: "Therefore, the result was that they thought that, in order to defeat the enemy's greater forces by using a small number of people and defeating the heard and strong, it is best to use the flexible and supple, and nothing is better than the use of the shinobi to do this. Therefore, they had every samurai hone himself with the skill of the shinobi and the lower people or genin [kanji] learn in-nin or 'stealth' techniques."

A footnote on page 26 says that "...it appears that high-ranking people performed predominantly yo-nin as it required a high level of education; however, it is difficult to assess how much of each discipline the different classes learned."

In Volume Eight, titled Yo-Nin (Page 100 of Book of the Ninja) the Bansenshukai says "Shinobi no jutsu consists of yo-jutsu and in-jutsu. Yo-jutsu in to infiltrate the enemy in plain sight with elaborate plans of ingenuity, while  in-jutsu is to 'steal in,' hiding yourself from people's eyes. In this volume are written the techniques to infiltrate by inventing innumerable plans which should be ever changing according to the situation, and finding and taking advantage of any gap within the enemy while you are in plain sight - that is why it is titled yo-nin."

So we know now that Yo-nin and yo-jutsu are the same things, its just logical to assume (correctly so) that in-nin and injutsu are the same. What is of great importance is in understanding the text I've cited on a deeper level. When you hear about "high-ranking" and "low-ranking" here they are talking about social status. The genin were therefore criminals or other low-ranking people in society. So even if one was a high-ranking member of society they were required to know certain things like burglary, pick pocketing, forgery and so on.

Even when discussing "low-people" in modern society, a modern shinobi should be aware of and/or experienced with the methods of criminals and other unsavory types in "the gutter." However, yo-nin is what I wish to focus on, the to infiltrate the enemy in plain sight with elaborate plans of ingenuity. There are a list of skills and methods for doing so both within the Bansenshukai and within Black Dragon Ninjitsu. It is unknown if the Iga and Koga shinobi had different schools and traditions with a variation of ninjutsu techniques but clearly Fujibayashi who compiled the information in the first place traced ninjutsu back to one point. So we are found with a quote from Fujibayashi that he attributes to the Dialog of Tai-Zong, in which Li Ting says:
"Zhang Liang learned the Six Secret Strategic Teaching and the Three Strategies of Huang Shigong written by Jiang Ziya. Also, Han Xin learned Sima Rangju and Sun Tzu."

However, Fujibabashi goes on to state "However, it was limited to the Three Focuses and the Four Schools. One of these three focuses is about ninjutsu." on page 24 of The Book of the Ninja.

Well first off Sun Tzu (the most well know eastern strategy doctrine in the West) was not as widely available then at it is now. In fact, many people who had access to the information did not openly share it. Some of those who who had it had incomplete copies of the iconic text. Also, only when one has studied the text multiple times and in depth does one find those brief passages repeat a theme within the text. These general themes are never openly explained and are therefore considered "secret" because you have to read, study and meditate on the text to understand these themes.

But, Fujibayashi is not speaking of Sun Tzu instead his is speaking of the Chinese treatise on civil and military matters title the Six Secret Teaching by Jiang Ziya but also connects the strategic principles to Sun Tzu. The Six Secret Teachings is important because it is the only one of the seven military classics that is written from a revolutionary prospective.

The Six Secret Teachings is organized into six chapters:

1. The Civil Strategy: Is focused on organizing the state to support military action and the importance of alliances and diplomacy. 
2. The Military Strategy: Is a continuation of the concept of using alliances and diplomacy, as well as the focus on what we call "winning hearts and minds" today. A concept that historically allowed us to win every battle but lose the war in Vietnam.
3. The Dragon Strategy: Is a chapter focused on core basic military matters ranging from general maintaining military moral, order and discipline, to basic tactics and use of unorthodox thinking and flexibility between commanders and leaders "on the ground."
4. The Tiger Strategy: Focuses on tactical principles and military equipment. Tactical principles are focused around ambush and withdraw under assault, favoring speed, maneuverability and  misdirection.
5. The Leopard Strategy: Is focused on using terrain to one's advantage, use of strategic forces and tactical thinking deployed against a stronger force by targeting strategic weaknesses.
6. The Dog Strategy: The dog strategy contains a lot of miscellaneous material, for the other chapters on weakness to exploit within the enemy, the use of selecting soldiers for elite infantry units for special missions, training those soldiers, as well as detecting enemy moral and a warning against attacking when moral is high.

This is a huge difference in how strategy is view by Jiang Ziya and as it is presented in the Bansenshukai is that Iga and Koga. Fujibayashi's statement about clans (families) of Iga & Koka being without a Lord and so engaging in various and constant internal conflicts shows were ninjutsu moved into specifically Japanese context. These internal struggles would require an indirect method of using small teams of soldiers as opposed to sending whole armies (which would very small compared to a formal armies under shugo made up of several clans) to commit to direct battle.

The Chinese states that influenced ninjutsu were in many cases the size of Japan's main island or, larger then Japan's main island of, Honshu. So they had more resources and larger forces, they could expend the waste of man power in open war. Even then much of Chinese thought was conserving resources more so then throwing resources at the enemy recklessly. The Three Strategies of Huang Shigong are an extension of Jiang Ziya's original Six Strategies. Jiang Ziya is credited with being the first person to write a doctrine on military strategy in China, predating Sun Tzu and believed to have been studied by Sun Tzu as well... 


In the 3 Strategies of Huang Shigong, we taught that the 3 strategies are fixed to each of the three styles of government, the importance of Generals being unquestionable once they assume command & that attacks are to be swift and deceive guided by strategic goals. More so, the principles are laid out that should be mastered are;

1. To alternate between hard and soft approaches, with a leader being both awe-inspiring and  benevolent as the situations calls for it.
2. Act according to situation and avoid habits, patterns, similarities to other events or one's desires. Judge each situation with perception, observation and be willing to adapt. 
3. Offers insight into others, and warns to use only the capable.

Han Xin, is a historical figure in ancient China (birth date unknown but died 196BC) who was a brilliant military leader. Sima Rangju, a powerful general and author of The Methods of Sima, another of the seven Chinese military classics.


"Zhang Liang learned the Six Secret Strategic Teaching and the Three Strategies of Huang Shigong written by Jiang Ziya. Also, Han Xin learned Sima Rangju and Sun Tzu."

When Fujibashi goes on to state "However, it was limited to the Three Focuses and the Four Schools. One of these three focuses is about ninjutsu." we are left with an unclear understanding of the Three Focuses (without studying said Chinese Military Classics), which Anthony's notes at the bottom of page 24 that explains what these three focuses are; Strategy, Troops and Resources. The matter of four schools Anthony cites as "Strategy & Tactics," "Circumstances & Developments," "Yin and Yang" and "Techniques and Craft." According to Fujibashi only one of these skills focuses on ninjutsu.

Allow me to show you were this all going...

The above graph is hopefully able to get you to understand where ninjutsu fits into the world of warfare, in the Asian mindset. The four schools, are schools of thought concerning assessing & evaluating the situation, while 3 focuses are the foundations of directing forces; strategic goals, man power and supplies. Ninjitsu is not only the methods of psychological manipulation, strategy and tactics, infiltration and disguise but it heavily tied to the study of military strategy at all levels. The 49 Iga families/clans and 53 Koka families/clans applied strategy to "Economy of Force" (to borrow a martial arts term) with a lawless land of social chaos and constant infighting.

Note: Anthony's translation said Yin & Yang and I don't know if the Bansenshukai originally said this but, assuming it does, anyone familiar with Taoist philosophy know that Yin and Yang are two halves of the Tao. The Tao is a reflection of balance and acceptance of positive and negative, give and taken, loss and gain. A manifestation of the polar opposites that presents an ebb and flow to existence.

Investigating Fujita Seiko leads to more Takamatsu conflicts with his Ninjutsu/Ninpo claims

This was brought up in a forum and I'm going to put the information right here to be saved for future reference. This whole affair started off as a debate as to whether Fujita Seiko was the Soke of all Koga Ryu Ninjutsu or just Koga Ryu Wada-ha Ninjutsu/Wada Ryu Bujutsu. Now this came about from a translation of Fujita Seiko's autobiography by Don Roley...

Anyone who knows Don Roley knows he has an agenda of trying to push the Bujinkan and the Takamatsu-den arts as the only legitimate sources of ninjutsu. Mr. Roley is also a high ranked Bujinkan member, or so he claims. Now if might come as a surprise but the portion of the translation by Don Roley I don't really have any problems with except at two minor points which have been brought by fellow "ninja-geeks". The image of origional Japanese is below...

And this is what Mr. Roley stated...

Ok, so I have been told that there are accusations against me regarding my translation of Fujita Seiko's biography. People are trying to say I am making stuff up and that Fujita never said that he was the last, etc.
Well, here is a picture of the page from his book in Japanese, along with my translation. I do tend to edit things so the story flows better without need to keep checking footnotes to understand things, but those who can read both languages can tell that the information about the history is intact.
Here is the English translation. Parts in brackets are from the prior page.
("My family founder, Wada Iga-no-kami.

Today we know of the Iga ryu and Ko)ga ryu, but these were not names used for the schools originally. The birthplaces of ninjutsu are Koga in Shiga prefecture and nearby Iga in Mie prefecture. The area is composed of sharply rising mountain ranges and in their narrow valleys are the remains of fortresses and strong points cover about 1000 meters. While trying to continue their lifestyle, they kept themselves sharp, preparing for conflict and searching out any piece of information they could on possible enemy moves. Thus, in their precarious position, they were well placed to put great importance and research into developing the skills of espionage and scouting.
And, in 1487 when the Ashikaga Shogun Yoshihiki attacked Sasaki Kourou the Iga and Koga served him a defeat so spectacular that their name and the skill they possessed became known and sought after among the various warlords in the nation and the Iga and Koga traditions were born.
In the times that followed, with the nation plunged into war the skills of the ninja became more and more into demand and the traditions extended into schools such as the Akutagawa ryu, Negoro ryu, Mafuu ryu, Ninkou ryu, Kouyou ryu, Kishu ryu and others. About 25 schools of ninjutsu came into being.
But, all these schools came from the two main sources of the Iga and Koga. And even when talking about the Iga, they themselves were composed of 49 traditions while the Koga had 53 families passing down their skills.
My family was one of those 53, and more specifically part of the 6 families of Minamiyama, also known as the six great names of Koga. From Wada Iga-no-kami 14 generations passed down. In olden days this was how important ninjutsu was, but today it has all but died out and I am the last."

Now the issues my "ninja geek" friends addressed was that
a) Mr. Roley's translation refers to 49 Iga traditions. Anyone who knows Japanese history Iga ninjutsu was traced to 49 families of kokujin or Ji-Samurai (country samurai) and Koga ninjutsu is traced back to the 53 families of Kokujin. So their arguement is that Mr. Roley is in fact suggesting/implying that the 49 families of Iga were in fact a seperate tradition  and the 53 families of Koga had only one tradition.
b) That Mr. Roley was excusing his implied difference in the tradition/family by posting the origional Japanese when he said "Ok, so I have been told that there are accusations against me regarding my translation of Fujita Seiko's biography. People are trying to say I am making stuff up and that Fujita never said that he was the last, etc."

The issue is simple, anyone who is seeking to do legitimate historical research on ninjutsu doesn't discount that Seiko Fujita said he was the last. The big debate comes over whether Fujita Seiko (proper Japanese, with the Surname first) was the last of the Wada line or all of Koga Ryu.

Now the issue rests on this matter, Fujita Seiko had no proof he was Soke of Koga Ryu Wada Ha ninjutsu. As Fujita clearly states in the translation provided by Mr. Roley, his family was one of the 53 families and his line began with Wada Iga no Kami. You'll notice first that Seiko states that "Today we know of the Iga ryu and Koga ryu, but these were not names used for the schools originally. The birthplaces of ninjutsu are Koga in Shiga prefecture and nearby Iga in Mie prefecture."

Now to any ninjutsu researcher, we understand that Fujita Seiko was explaining that Iga Ryu & Koga Ryu is a blanket term for schools arising from those areas. And many feel that Don Roley is translating the text to account for why there are multiple ninjutsu schools in the Bujinkan that would be referred to as Iga Ryu: Togakure Ryu, Gyokushin Ryu & Kumogakure Ryu. However, Koga Ryu in Japan only goes so far as Fujita Seiko's Wada Ryu.

A very in depth article on Koga Ryu Ninjutsu by the Shuto Karate Club, the article notes that there is a mention of 3 Wada schools in the Bugei Ryuha Daijiten, a listing for Koga Ryu Wada Ha on page 273, a mention of Wada Ryu on page 921 & a mention of another school called "Wada To" on page 273. Watatani Kiyoshi stated in the Bugei Ryuha Daijiten he believed Fujita Seiko was only expertise extended only to Koga Ryu Wada Ha. Meaning it is possible for other Koga Ryu Ninjutsu lines to exist...

Now as a person associated with Frank Dux and Ashida Kim, both claiming Koga Ryu lineages what I feel about Fujita Seiko being the last of the Wada line and last Soke of Wada Ryu could be seen as my own bias. But, what about Watatani Kiyoshi who has nothing invested in any such systems? More so, it is my belief as an amateur researcher & "ninja geek" that Fujita Seiko may have been the last ninja period... end of story. We all know I think Takamatsu made up his ninjutsu and when I got into researching Fujita I found some interesting facts...

1. Fujita Seiko's first book on ninjutsu in 1936, during Japan's own Ninja Boom (50 years before America's 1980s Ninja Boom) in pop-culture.

2. That Takamatsu's claims in China cannot be verified, most of his claims in Japan cannot be verified. However, Takamatsu's autobiography states on interesting things.

First, that Takamatsu wrote this brief autobiography in 1955, nearly 20 years before his death...

Second, that Takamatsu claims to have learn ninjutsu from both Ishitani and Toda Shinryuken. However, Takamatsu only lists Ishintani Matsutaro Takekage as him teaching Kuki Happo Biken no Jutsu (this is a reference to the Kuki family's art of Kukishin Happo Biken Jutsu). He attributes Toda to teaching him Koto Ryu and Togakure Ryu and Koshijutsu. With no mention of the other schools...

This is mainly irrelevant except when you look at the claim to Takamatsu learning ninjutsu from both men. Why is this important? Because Takamatsu was never known for ninjutsu in his early days. Takamatsu had a hand in creating a Japanese Martial Arts Organization known as the Minoku Seinen Botoku-kai but he was known as a master of Jujutsu & Bojutsu not Ninjutsu...

Now according to Takamatsu's Autobiography which can also be found here & here... He didn't open his private dojo: Sukisha Dojo until after he came back from China. The Biography at USDojo.com states Takamatsu spent 10 years in China & left when he was 20. So lets assume he was 29, for a man born in 1887 + 20 years... is 1907 and 10 years in China would put his return at 1917. A Genbukan site states Takamatsu returned from China in 1919 but says he started his personal school in May of 1950. Which means Takamatsu would have been 63. It is important to note that Takamatsu's ninjutsu legacy rests mostly with Masaki Hatsumi as Takamatsu was not known for ninjutsu previously... His first published article on ninjutsu was in the later 1960s and the article on Fujita cites his displeasure at Hatsumi and Takamatsu for openly teaching ninjutsu, but this was in 1967.

Now let us compare dates... Hatsumi and Takamatsu hold public demonstrations in the 1960s, I'll even offer the 1950 date. Takamatsu's first private Dojo (Sukisha Dojo) was opened in 1950 & before this he was know as a Jujutsu and Bojutsu master. His first, written article came in the later 1960s (1967 perhaps?).

The Historical Ninjutsu texts of the Bansenshukai, Ninpiden and Shoninki were translated in the later 1930s, Fujita Seiko had already written 3 books on ninjutsu by the time Takamatsu made his first appearance and already stated he was the last of the Wada line of Koga Ryu Ninjutsu.
Ninjutsu Hiroku 1939
Ninjutsu Kara Spy Sen He 1942
Saigo no Ninja 1954
Plus the entries in the Bugei Ryuha Daijiten as earily as 1963 (1st Edition)...

Fujita Seiko was ninjutsu researcher and known as the "last ninja" 11 years before Takamatsu formulated his own scrolls and claimed to have learned Ninjutsu. With the historical text being translated in the later 1920s and early 1930s, Japan's pop culture ninja boom occurring in the 1930s, Takamatsu's claim is suspect. This doesn't account for the pattern of behavior concerning his "theft" of the  Kuki families art and lineage or other claims which cannot be proven that sound very much unlikely and grandiose.

The problem with legitimately researching history, is that you have to work with the facts and not try to present facts to protect your own bias & opinion. The fact remains, no evidence of an existing ninjutsu school from history being in existence today exists. At best they are all modern creations, except where proven Koryu schools such as Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu have it as part of their kuden (verbal teachings) usually only passed down to from Soke to Soke.

Update: 
So my addressing the information about Takamatsu I seemed to ruffled some feathers. As it turned out I was arguing with Don Roley's troll account Simon Edwards. Who (being Don Roley and Bujinkan member) was trying to declare all Koga Ryu extinct because Fujita Seiko was the last know practicer to come forward, apparently Don does not count Americans who claim Koga Ryu or Kawakami Jinichi. I was waiting on Don to make a few more argument before addressing a final trump card I had been holding.

You see there are 2 distinct points I chose to withhold both come from an older article written by Don Roley entitled: History of the Koga Ryu...
First someone letting it slip Simon Edwards is Don Roley:

Now comes the important points that reinforce my earlier statements concern the issue of Mr. Roley's translation. In Mr. Roley's article using the same material he translated from Japanese to English to argue that all Koga Ryu died off with Fujita Seiko, Don Roley explains Fujita Seiko own worlds stating that Iga & Koga Ryu were not part of a formal ryu or school like classical Koryu martial arts where.

So here Don Roley explaining that there was no formal schools of ninjutsu and that they were all associated by families. Don Roley states they would have names like Iga Ryu (family name)-ha or Koga Ryu (family name)-ha but notes these names didn't exist until after the warring states (Sengoku) period.

This brings us to my points; first there was no formal school of ninjutsu and by Mr. Roley's own statements how does the Bujinkan claim three distinct Ninjutsu Ryu; Togakure Ryu, Kumogakure Ryu & Gyokushin Ryu?

Now why does Don Roley say this, you might ask but answer is because Fujita Seiko said as much and Roley was quoting Fujita. This is reinforced by Bansenshukai who Don Roley's troll account Simon Edwards refers to as a "notebook" and I feel down plays the historical text conceal information that conflicts with his claims (but thats just). On Page 25 of the Bansenshukai translation by Athony Cummins and Yoshie Minami title The Book Of The Ninja states "The people of Iga and Koka (alternate spelling of Koga) had never had a shugo governor and each clan was self-governing; they constructed small castles in each estate independently and had free rien. As having no shugo or a lord, there was not a governor to oversee them. There were numerous instances of them fighting with each other to take away the other's land. Therefore, their main concentration was set on battles each morning and every evening, and their life revolved around armament and defence."

The second issue, is with each of 49 Iga families having a tradition and each of the 53 Koga families having a tradition, Fujita Seiko was only one line. Now I will say he never had a proven lineage, yet in the case of Mr. Kawakami he was historically correct. A big glaring issue here is not only later time in the 1960s of Takamatsu claiming a ninjutsu lineage, he also claims "ninjutsu ryu." So our second issue is the huge hole in the information Don Roley is presenting. Remember Takamatsu's own friend Watatani Kiyoshi said Takamatsu made use of modern information availabel on ninjutsu at the time.

Finally, because I will be called a liar by some concerning Don Roley's gaps in information, here is the entire article, via screen shots from the article at http://www.jigokudojo.org/koga.htm beginning with a close up of Don Roley's name as the author of this work...

Fujita Seiko was the last Soke of Koga Ryu Wada-ha Ninjutsu, he left no successor to his art. However if he was the only/last of the Koga families to practice ninjutsu or if more survived, I do not know. If his grandfather lied to him or if he himself was lying, as Mr. Roley addresses in his article, I do not know. Fujita was sometimes called a mere researcher and other times a ninja. You can believe what you like, I am merely presenting evidence for my belief that Bujinkan members readily run about internet calling out others as frauds, real and imagined because their own art is fraudulent, the pot calling the kettle black kind of thing.

What I do know is that Fujita Seiko, was a researcher and an author, an instructor at spy school and had a hand in making a partial translation of the Bansenshukai. He was Soke of Taien Ryu Jojutsu (short staff art), Shingetsu Ryu Shueikenjutsu (throwing blade art), Ichiden Ryu Toritejutsu (restraining or escaping from restraint by an attacker art) & Naban Satto Ryu Kenpo (lit. "Foreign Killing School" Kenpo) in addition to Koga Ryu Wada Ha Ninjutsu.

Seiko Fujita was also taught at the following...

• Kokumin Seishin Bunka Kenkyusho (Cultural Institute of National Spirit)
• Kobo Kinmu-in Joseisho
• The Nakano Gakko/Espionage School
• Toyama Japanese Army Academy
• Rikugun Shikan Gakko/Military Officers Academy
• Instructor in Police Bujutsu at the Tokyo Headquarters of Regimented Military Police
• Educational Facilities of the Japanese Navy (existed from 1888 to 1945)
• Adviser to Nihon Kararte-do Kai

I'm ending my updated information here. I more then doubled the length of the origional blog post.