Ninjas are Bullshit! Mind of the Ninja & the Bujinkan Martial Arts Cult.

Now I want to make a statement, a disclaimer really, that not everyone in the Bujinkan is a Martial Arts Cultist. Many do not teach their art with religious under tones or Shinto prayers to Takamatsu. However, many do and it has largely always been that way. It is not uncommon to see this in any Asian Martial Arts, Chinese as well as Korean, arts as well. Even traditional Muay Thai has certain religious undertones and rituals from Buddhism that come from Thai culture. However, very few people I know who studied Mauy Thai in the states learned it as a Traditional Martial Art, with said additional cultural traditions attached. Nor, do these people practice any of the cultural aspects of their arts, with a claim secret mystical knowledge or power.

Regardless, we are now going to examine the book Mind of the Ninja... A reflection of the philosophical and religious teachings within the Bujinkan. As well as providing proof that Hatsumi taught incorrect, dare I say knowingly false information, to Western Bujinkan artists.

Years ago as a teenager, I got a copy of Mind of the Ninja by Kirkland C. Peterson. And it had some nice photos and lots of information pertaining to Japanese Historical Documents like the Bansenshukai which only recently in the last few years have become available to the English speaking public at large. As Book of the Ninja by Anthony Cummins and the Historical Ninjutsu Research Team. Shows that many of the statements made by Kirkland Peterson (attributed to either Hayes or Hatsumi) about the Bansenshukai are outright false, including comparisions to historical and new age occult texts.

Since then it is now far easier to see the problems with the book & Hatsumi...
1. The author had bad information from Hatsumi or others within the Bujinkan to explain meditative training, religious indoctrination and unverified claims.
2. That false claims about historical documents, then (1986) were only available in Japanese. So its easy to tell someone who doesn't speak Japanese, especially 17th century Japanese, a historical document says something it doesn't. They can't tell the difference anyway... (makes you wonder why they took cursive out of school right?)
3. That Hatsumi was not completely honest with the Americans who came to him to learn authentic "Ninjutsu." Worse yet is that this isn't something that can be passed off on Takamatsu. Takamatsu taught Hatsumi "Ninpo" but, Hatsumi knew the truth about what was in the documents, and told people who wouldn't know the difference lies, untruths and falsehoods about said historical document.

There is some good information here but it is watered down with propaganda and, bad pop psychology from the 80s. Best of all it shows why Ninjas are Bullshit!

Here is a little page talking about the philosophical aspects of darkness. The Ninja retaining the "Inner Light" when doing dark deeds. For the most part I don't disagree with the little information shown here.

 Here we see a nice piece of fluff dedicated to countering the arguments of other writers in This particular case the "unmentioned author" is in fact Ashida Kim. Since Ashida, makes reference to similar skills among different groups throughout history Indians and similar, he opens the door to not only examine the core methods of his ninjutsu but, provides the reader with other places to seek additional knowledge...

So Kirkland Peterson, seems to be trying to discredit the additional references for study. Even as the argument goes, Mr. Peterson seems to be making an argument for limited knowledge to a particular school (the Bujinkan) & ignoring the other sources of viable information and historical references.

More so, Kirkland seems to dismiss the idea that nature (the universe of you will) is the source of stealth since all stealth is based on an understanding of nature and natural orders within it... This would seem to be a counter-argument to the Bujinkan's own Gotonpo methods of Intonjutsu.

Here is another interesting reference to the propaganda passed off as history by the Bujinkan. Above 'The "Unimpressive" Ninja' heading we see a reference to Ninjutsu as a martial art, comparing it to Karate and stating you have to unlearn certain habits.

I always found it laughable that a trained fighter would have to unlearn what is natural to him or her to learn "natural body movements." Its like citing Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do philosophy about avoiding fixed positions and movements but, ignoring that the body and mind are so conditioned that responses are ingrained habits. Thus, one doesn't need to unprogram reflexes but, to recondition them to be fluid and reflexive.

More so, under heading  'The "Unimpressive" heading we see an argument that only Hayes and Hatsumi are the legitimate sources of information. That ignoring them, means one is ignoring true and complete information.

Hayes is responsible for nothing bit relaying what he was taught by Hatsumi. Hatsumi however, began claiming his secret ninja teachings along side Takamatsu. Who was often known to exaggerate, embellish and outright lie. More so, as you will see later on, Hatsumi has made outright false statements about Historical Documents. This destroys any claims of credibility with the English Translations of said Historical documents.

Above the heading 'The "Outdated" Ninja' Kirkland makes a very lacking argument that those "other authorities" compare ninjutsu to other and similar systems. He says this is to confuse the issue but, in truth he is avoiding the logical application of clarifying any skills.

For example, the ninja used a method of starting a fire in a hole and covering the hot coals with dirt to have a warm place to sleep in colder climates. The North American Tribes such as the Sioux and others extending into Canada used this same method for scouts and braves who needed to move fast and carry little to no shelter. By comparing these methods we find that the ninja and the tribal scouts used the same methods. This means that it is an effective survival camping method to be used in the field.

Yet, under the Heading 'The "Outdated" Ninja' we see a reference to (once again martial arts) this time describing the defense of avoiding the attack with a sideways handspring... This section also talks about "techniques and stances that are mismatched with the realities of the twentieth century." I mentioned some of the issues with Ichimonji no Kamae, and the claim that no one can hit you with a reverse punch if you are standing in Ichimonji no Kamae at a 45 degree angle to the center of the opponents body. However, the issue of both a matter triangulation (angles) and rotation of the body to drive the reverse hand to the target. And explained on This Blog.

Ultimately, its an argument for large and exaggerated stances and strikes that are not explosive. Which is why Fujita Seiko favored Okinawan Karate and Kobudo over Japanese Koryu Arts, in part by his Soke status of Na Ban Sato Ryu Kenpo which was a modern (gendai) Japanese version of Okinawan Te or Okinawan Karate. So who is a superior Source of Knowledge of Ninjutsu, Fujita Seiko or Massaki Hatsumi..?

It all depends on the researcher and observer to decide for himself. This decision must be based on research and understanding of history and facts. Ultimately, evidence proves that Takamatsu and Hatsumi plagiarized hostorical documents and attempted to reference Fujita's own research to invent Togakure Ryu Ninpo Taijutsu.

Here are two images from Kirkland Peterson's Mind of The Ninja addresses the "Bible of Ninjutsu" the Bansenshukai. Translated as "Ten Thousand River Flow Into The Sea." The Bansenshukai was translated by Anthony Cummins and The Historical Ninjitsu Research Team as The Book of the Ninja.

Now in examining the page below, Peterson makes reference to the Ninja's Spiritual Purity and the Bansenshukai as a reference to a historical text. A text that we now know has no mention of anything Spiritual. This is only a Smaller example of a considerable whole...

Here we see a closer examination with Kirkland mentioning references to Hayes and the Bansenshukai. More so, Mind of the Ninja states that the third chapter of the Bansenshukai where it references Yo-nin. Now we know thanks to the historic Ninjutsu Research Team, we know the characters refer to "hiding in or under light" (plain sight) and not some quasi-mystical teaching.

Kirkland Peterson's whole text, actually convolutes the Matter. The matter being that of culture and context which Mr. Peterson's argument lack. However, I will clear this up. The Taoist ideas of the Tao (way) being a whole of two parts, opposing forces of Yin and Yang. You see when the Bansenshukai was written Japan was separate from China govermentally, and culturally but the Nationalist influence of the 1920s to 40s that shapes modern Japanese culture didn't exist and what Mr. Peterson wrote is wrong... Because, in the context of the time most knowledge in Japan was drawn from Chinese Sources and people often referenced China to seem more creditable.

In Japan, the Tao is used at the end of word and Spelled in English as -do, such as Aikido, Judo and Karatedo. The Do is made up of two opposing forces In and Yo. This concept isn't taken from Chinese influence, it is Chinese cultural influence used to discribe two opposing view points on Performing spy craft... Both just as valuable and necessary as the other.

Here Peterson writes incorrectly,
"The next volume, Yo-nin takes a step into the more philosophical, aspects of Ninjutsu. It deals with the yo (yogi in Chinese), or masculine, bright and firm side of the ninjas power. "

Pick up a copy of The Book of Ninja by Anthony Cummins and Yoshie Minami and the sections on In-nin deal with essentially breaking in and sneaking past guards. Those of Yo-nin talk about psychological manipulation, disguise and similar. In fact Kirkland makes other claims to mystical ninja teachings in historical documents that is also outright false.

If you look above you see another whole page dedicated to the Bansenshukai. It references making poisons, medicine and a variety of tools in majority of the text above. Then you read the first line under the Heading Cryptic and Poetic Secrets & see that here Kirkland refers to the Bamsenshukai (a document only recently made available to the west) as a source of "Poetic and Cryptic Secrets" and that Kirkland goes on to state the Bansenshukai is a text like the Tibetan Book of the Dead or the secret teachings of the sorcerer Duan Juan. In the section above Kirkland even compares the Bansenshukai to the I-Ching of Chinese history falsely claiming the information on moon phases, navigation by the stars and weather forecasting are used in mutual context (for divination of the future). The I-Ching referenced above is a Ancient Chinese Manual on Predicting the Future. The Tibetan Book of the Dead is religious text in Tibetan Buddhism with deals primarily with levels of human consciousness & meditations on what happens after one's death. The The Secret Teachings of the Sorcerer Duan Juan is book based on the Master Thesis of Carlos Castaenda in 1968 about his apprenticeship with a self-proclaimed Yaqui Sorcerer named Don Juan, the text deals with using Hallucinogenic plants to speak with spirits, divination  using lizards and similar shamanic practices. These metaphysical and mystical teachings  do appear in some lesser known ninja documents that have been translated by Anthony and Yoshie, however they are not found in the Bansenshukai.

Using Kirkland Peterson's own argument that it is "wrong" to compare Ninjutsu to similar methods by other cultures outside of Japan which operate on the same basic physical principles. How much more wrong is it for Kirkland Peterson to claim that the Bansenshukai (at the time unavailable to the West) is comparable to books (then available)  that addressed Mystical and Metaphysical teachings which not alike or have any cultural roots to unite them...

Thus, we clearly see that Kirkland Peterson's Mind of the Ninja is not much different from many other New Age texts trying to reveal some secret teachings about the universe... This is the pseudo- mystical teachings of Asian culture which Count Dante detested.

Speaking of Dante, lets address one of his students (if only briefly) Ashida Kim. Kirkland Peterson's Mind of the Ninja is about 1/3 of which dedicated to attacking Ashida Kim. Ashida Kim who is never named but, many times referenced was even imitated in the Book and referred to as the Terrorist Ninja.

Here Peterson makes a pretty good argument for the the Terrorist acts of the past, and the association with the ninja. Unfortunately, again thanks to the ethical research on the part of Anthony Cummins and Yoshie MInami as well as others, we know the ninja were historically known to commit the very Terrorist Acts that Peterson describes...

Political Assassinations, taking Hostages and while Peterson mentioned car bombs, the historical shinobi didn't have cars, they were known to poison enemy supplies or burn down buildings without regard for the bystanders within, much to the same effect. In view of such actions the Shinobi\Ninja could be considered terrorists.

This is the problem with Peterson's context in full, the ninja were also Samurai. Samurai Special Forces to be exact. Such actions were taken as part of the mission in the context of a warring states period. The historical ninja, was viewed with disgust by the modern Japanese, as terrorists and in modern media portrayed as magicians (evil sorcerers was another historic portrayal of the ninja).

And Kirkland, did not miss a chance to make his Jab at Ashida Kim... Using staged pictures to let us all know we he was talking about. I call this Bujinkan Propaganda to attack their competition and spread the New Age Mystical Ninja Religion.

 Ninja Mind Prob... If this was meant to be the Kata Dante... He did it wrong?

I don't know... Ninja squat?

Somehow I see this and think Ninja Stage Magician in Vegas...

Ok I have no issue with the stab him in the neck from behind part... A reference to Ashida Kim's Book Secrets of the Ninja and Ashida Kim's (more historically accurate) partial of ninjutsu as an espionage based system.  I don't know What the Hell is with that shuriken pose?

Another bad attempt at imitating Ashida Kim badly. More Sentry Removal skills.

And, he is posing with a sword and a mask.

Finally, we have to ask are people like Don Roley who claim to be researchers and translating Fujita Seiko's books, as well as Phillip T. Hanover who wrote Fujita Seiko: The Last Koga Ninja (both connected to the Bujinkan) doing so to spread the cult like teachings within the Bujinkan?

This produces another issue within the Ninjutsu Community. So much disinformation has been spread and lies that no one is really worth believing... Another reason why Ninjas & Ninjutsu is Bullshit...

Go back and read:
Ninjas are Bullshit: The Root of the Problem &
Ninjas are Budo! Black Dragon Ninjitsu & Omoto Ryu Budo

Note: As I no longer own Mind of the Ninja,  all images were provided by a friend.

When you know you are Winning...

Nothing says success like, the crying of internet trolls... I think I can hear the sobbing now, or maybe its the lack of oxygen from laughing so hard... This will be a short post.

So the administrator of Ron Collins Facts who I believe is Donald James Roley... The "researcher" I showed didn't know as much about Fujita Seiko was me, muchless everyone else on the internet. Sent me these lovely images...

 What did they do, stay up all night watching SNL looking at images of men exposing themselves and/or gay porn to make this... (above) Really who has the time and puts in that much effort..?

Well this one (above) is titled Ron's Sword when downloaded it... At least we know its a "Long Sword" and not a "Short Sword" but I think my cyber-stalkers are sporting "boot knives." Oh and the screenshot of e-mail is below... Cause I don't much care what they say, and even though I said they bored me... This got a good laugh out of.

Though none of this is as funny as Don Roley's tears and threats to bring in the FBI... No seriously, because I said I intended to stump him and prove hie does half-ass research, by stating Fujita Seiko was military intelligence in Ninja's are Bull Shit 1 and then dumbfounded him with the Image of what appears to Fujita Seiko in a Military Uniform with the founder of Soke of Shito Ryu Karate and one of its must well known and respected master Iwata Manzo. I even included a link to Jesse Enkamp's Saigo No Ninja blog about Seiko Fujita (he did two more before this linked in blog here) to prove my point. And Jesse Enkamp is someone who has travelled to Japan and Okinawa to study Karate in both countries and travels the world teaching, training and learning karate, as well as researching karate and those involved such as Seiko Fujita who oddly had a hand in shaping most modern Karate Styles.

In fact, even though Fujita Seiko didn't pass on the Soke title to anyone in his ninjutsu style he did teach a few people including Mabani Kenei according to the Mabuni family. Mabani Kenei Soke has taught a handful of people a Kata (allegedly) developed by Fujita Seiko for his recreation of Koga Ryu Wada-Ha Ninjutsu... Now this makes sense as Fujita found Okinawan Karate & Kobudo in many way superior to Japanese martial arts and had a hue influence on modern Karate. Which in turn no doubt had such a huge influence on him & certainly Fujita Seiko wasn't Xenophobic person some "researchers" have made him out to be...

Now this goes back to the claims of George Sosa, Sr. who claims he was taught this Kata and other elements of Koga Ryu Ninjutsu from Mabani Kenei. Now this is important well... These people have trained in Koga Ryu Ninjutsu (or claim to) in Japan and pictures of themselves in Japan (in the video). Now I don't know these people, nor do I stand by any of this as indisputable facts but, if one is doing "real research" on Fujita Seiko and their concern is with real information, I would the Manbani family would be the best place to start.

Oh and before I forget here is the insane rant of Don Roley claiming he can prove "intent" of what I don't know... Which got a good laugh out of and after the e-mail from Ron Collins Facts, which got a good laugh out of me. You boys are awesome, you are making my day and I took a whole 30 minutes out my day to post this, just to tell you... "Good work and oh Don, as an "ex-mental patient" who "has never touched a girl" (your mom doesn't count, I was drunk and thought she was a man; with that beard thicker then mine and I only shook her hand) who is also a "fraud," the fact that I am claiming to have known about the Fujita Seiko connection to Shito Ryu back in 2010 (ask Johnny Hunter about that one) a whole 6 years before I brought to your attention is irrelevant. The fact that Jesse Enkamp's blog article is from 2010 shows that the information has been online for six years before I proved you know just a little bit less then me and a lot more "then everyone else online" about Fujita Seiko...

That means, you do half ass research that only goes so far as to substantiate your claims and that is why YOU WILL NOT POST THE ORIGINAL JAPANESE TEXT to substantiate what you say the original text claims as facts.

Ninjas are Bullshit! The Root of the Problem.

I can see everyone reading this and thinking "WTF Now!?" Did Ron Collins the Black Dragon Ninjitsu guy just say Ninjas are Bullshit!? And the answer is, yes... yes, I did. Ninjutsu is the most bastardized system on the planet and you have to understand why and how...

Now don't go getting your happy in this, just yet. You see, when I say Ninjas... I mean every ninjutsu practicer on the planet is full of it. Allow me to explain this whole problem begins with Fujita Seiko "The Last Ninja." Now that title of "the last ninja" is a shorthand for what he was "the Last Ninja employed by Japan." So Fujita Seiko claims to have been a "ninja" and he tough ninjutsu at the Nakano Espionage School in Japan from the Bansenshukai. However, Fujita Seiko was a Japanese Naval Intelligence Officer. This means his was military intelligence, so to give you an idea there are 3 types of Mission Intelligence;

Tactical Intelligence is gathered, analyzed and prepared at the soldiers in the field level. This is things like using scouts to provide over watch security for a main force of soldiers on their way to engage an objective. If the scouts can find and mark enemy defenses on the map, the main forces can simply avoid them. If they need to hit one position with a raid to draw enemy for there to create an opening this is also produced at the Tactical Level.

Operational Intelligence deals with the support and planning of a strategic operation. So while tactical intelligence deals with providing an idea of what soldiers in the field will engage on their mission and how to complete the mission. Operational Intelligence deals with supporting them so that they can complete the mission and this branches into things like counter-intelligence (providing the enemy false or misleading information or outright denying them intelligence all to gather) operations.

Finally there is Strategic Intelligence, and this deals with forming a strategy to win the war. This comes into evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of an enemy and knowing how to attack them. This means examining the Economic Strength, Technological Strength, Military Strength and other aspects like diplomatic relations, national/religious ideologies and cultural traditions in this as well. A strategy is just a plan and a strategy is simply planning in reverse. Look at the end result and figure out what you have to do to reach that goal. Then what steps you need to take to reach that point and the steps needed to reach that point and you just keep doing.
Given that Fujita Seiko was an officer and an instructor at Nakano, I can pretty safely assume he was dealing with Tactical & Operational Intelligence. So Fujita Seiko was a Ninja Master & a military intelligence officer. So he had the then modern equivalent job of being a ninja and a claim to a Ninjutsu lineage. Now if you understand what I am saying, its like saying you have Army Survival Training from SEREs School and all your merit badges from the boy scouts.

But, Fujita Seiko got some stuff wrong and tried to fill in his gaps with other systems of martial arts and other areas of study. There was a great deal of interest with the historical ninjutsu documents and Fujita Seiko even made a partial translation of the Bansenshukai in the 1930s as well as published his partial translation as Ninjutsu Hiroku (Secret Notes about Ninjutsu in 1936), in 1942 Fujita Seiko published Ninjutsu Kara Spy Sen He (From Ninjutsu to Spy Warfare) & in 1958 published Doronron: Saigo no Ninja. There is no translation for Doronron, it is an reference to a particular Taiko (drum) roll used in plays and Japanese theater when a ghost appears and disappears from stage. Saigo No Ninja means "The Last Ninja."  Doronron: Saigo no Ninja is a Japanese phrase for a Taiko drum series and words Saigo no Ninja or The Last Ninja. Fujits Seiko also produced a book on Naban Sato Ryu Kenpo in 1958 called Kenpo Gokui Atemi Sappo Kappo Meikai or The Technique to strike vital points from the kenpo to kill and revive. These same points are reference to Dim Mak points or Kyusho points. Different names but same arts. I have explained the intricacies of Kenpo as a Japanese term already, in Okinawan martial arts, they are drawn from Chinese White Crane Gung-fu which at the higher levels does teach Dim Mak. And Fujita Seiko's Naban Sato Ryu Kenpo was developed from Okinawan fighting systems. So it is possible that those who have read Fujita's works, as well as the many Okinawan martial artists he associated with might have used the Chinese term Dim Mak which was a reference to the original system used in Kung-fu.

Regardless Fujita Seiko was an instructor at the Nakano Espionage School and a Military Intelligence Officer in addition to being a "Ninja." Japan experienced a Ninja Boom in the media akin to the 1980s ninja boom in American media and cinema. Fujita's book Ninjutsu Kara Spy Sen He states that ninjutsu is in essence a form of espionage or intelligence warfare. Je was an intelligence officer and as such will always be the Last Ninja to serve the Japanese Government.

However, the 1960s Ninja Boom in Japan used to hype, the folk image of the Ninja as a Sorcerer or Magician who could fly, shape shift into animals, become invisible or summon demons. Fujita Seiko had no proof of his claim to ninjutsu and he mixed other elements to said ninjutsu. One such element was the addition of Shugendo.

Now this comes from a friend in Japan who has visited the Yamabushi temple in Togakoshi village in Japan. Shugendo and the Yamabushi, specifically those Yamabushi have no connection to ninjutsu except for that a Ninja trained with them a ninja named Fujita Seiko. Fujita Seiko mixed the Yamabushi art of Shugendo, the way of gaining great mystical power. Many people doubted Fujita Seiko and many researchers noted that Fujita's demonstrations of ninjutsu was simply common Yamabushi demonstrations of their mystical powers, by historical researchers in Japan.

Now it could be speculated that Fujita Seiko was playing the role of a entertainer to gather information about the crowd via observations and then tell them these observations. It is also possible that Fujita Seiko lacking the training of a true ninja used Shugendo to supplement said training to allow him to go without food, sleep and withstand long periods of discomfort. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Regardless the Yamabushi temple in Togakoshi is important because Takamatsu "misspelled"  the kanji calling it Togakure, as in Togakure Ryu and, claiming an older lineage to a non-existent school of ninjutsu. Takamatsu blended elements of his Kukishenden Ryu, pirated from the Kuki family's shrine and his transcribed copies of the Kuki family scrolls. Bastardizing the Kuki family tradition with elements of his own made up Shugendo style and created 5 other schools of martial arts, including two other schools of ninjutsu. I have already addressed the incestuous nature of these 5 schools coming from Toda Shinryuken (who was a bone setter, like Hatsumi which is only one point of reference that Hatsumi might have conspired with Takamatsu to create this Ninja Mythology).

Now it should be noted that there is a pattern here that shows that Takamatsu used Fujita Seiko's research, and to a native Japanese it would be easy to follow Fujita's research. As well as the work of other researchers...

Fujita Seiko says he learned Ninjutsu from his grandfather...

Takamatsu claims he learned ot from his grandfather or, uncle, accounts vary, named Toda Shinryuken.

This isn't important... But, other similarities exist...

Fujita Seiko adds Shugendo to fill in gaps in his Ninjutsu training and trains at the Yamabushi temple in Togakushi Japan.

Takamatsu claims his ninjutsu is Togakure Ryu from Togakoshi and claims a link to the Yamabushi in Togakushi Japan. This means that Takamatsu is claiming his Ninjutsu is older then Fujita Seiko's ninjutsu and comes from the same root and claiming that he (Takamatsu) gained full transmission means he is insinuating a purer and more complete form of ninjutsu. The issue is the Yamabushi of Togakoshi claim no connection to Ninjutsu, except that Fujita Seiko trained with them and added their brand of Shugendo to his Ninjutsu.

This goes into the bastardized form of Kukishin Ryu Kenpo (kanji here means Sword Law) which refers to the a Sword Combat art and a combat philosophy as well, called Togakure Ryu Ninpo. It is important to note I have addressed this in the past in detail here. So Takamatsu attached his art to Fujita Seiko for legitimacy by claiming an older tradition and using Fujita's research as a base.

Shugendo however also applies a similar philosophy of facing danger to gain enlightenment. These ritualistic tests of courage and endurance are known as Shugyo, such as piercing the body with needles and meditating under waterfalls in mod winter. Shugenja also embark on a dangerous pilgrimage known be the same name, which involves passing along dangerous mountain paths and praying to various gods (kami) at different shrines along the way. Regarded as a form of sorcerery this has nothing to do with the Art of Military Strategy or Ninjutsu the art of espionage, though it might as well...

However, like Takamatsu many modern Ninjutsu schools copy this Shugendo link to Ninjutsu. Additionally, many Bujinkan trolls online began harassing those claiming ninjutsu and demanding they prove their lineage (something Takamatsu couldn't do) and stating that all other ninjutsu schools should resemble their art. Many people did exactly that copying the Bujinkan theme of Ninjutsu.

This is all made up by the way... As the only connection to Shugendo and the Yamabushi is Fujita Seiko. This makes Hatsumi's ninja museum in Togakushi Japan look like a stunt to appear legitimate, especially given that Kawakami of the Koga Ban Ryu (not proven either) would be named an expert by the Iga Ninja Museum. Creating the additional conflict that the Iga Ninja Museum says ninjutsu is not a martial art but ancient Japanese espionage methods.

Fujita Seiko was a Naval Intelligence officer who acting served in Japan's military and as as an instructor at the infamous Nakano Espionage school.

Takamatsu spent many years in China and is claimed to have written letters home describing his spy missions for the Japanese government.

The Fujita Seiko and Takamatsu pattern:
1. Both men claim to have learned there art from a family elder...
2. Both men have a history of covert operations, Takamatsu claimed bt himself by writing letters home about his secret ninja missions in Japan. Fujita Seiko by enlisting in the Japanese Navy and training covert and clandestine operations operators at the Nakano Espionage School.
3. Both men apply certain "mystical practices" to their arts.
4. Both were amateur researchers, Takamatsu copying the Kuki family scrolls, copying various ninjutsu documents available to the public. Fujita published a partial translation of the Bansenshukai, researched various other documents and even wrote books on Ninjutsu.

Where the pattern breaks up is that, Fujita Seiko having studied Naban Sato Ryu Kenpo had a certain respect and favored the Okinawan Kenpo (general term for any striking dominant art) and Kobudo arts as a martial arts system. This goes into Fujita Seiko's huge influence on karate.

Takamatsu and Hatsumi claim their art is better then Okinawan arts of Karate/Kenpo and Kobudo.

While Fujita's ninjutsu was claimed to be a partial study of the art, for which he researched historical documents and esoteric practices to fill in the gaps. Takamatsu researched the same historical documents and plagiarizing Fujita claimed a complete esoteric system of martial arts called ninpo.

The biggest difference is timing Fujita claimed his Ninjutsu before he even published his Partial Translation of the Bansenshukai in 1936. And thanks to Anthony Cummins research we know Fujita got some stuff wrong like the Genin, Chunin and Jonin rank structure of the ninja.

The 60's US Servicemen Ninja Connection:
What gets better is that US Servicemen and women stationed in Japan saw the cinema image of the Ninja during the Ninja Boom in Japan in the 1960s. Many were training in Shotokan, Judo, Aikido and so on.

When Americans showed an interest in Ninjutsu and the ninja. Some instructors offered classes on "ninjutsu." Their information came mainly from the Fujita Seiko's works and research.

For example, Ashida Kim claims he learned Ninjutsu from his Shotokan Instructor in Hawaii. That all he had to do was break a break, to prove he was skilled enough in Karate (which was offered only to Judoka as an advanced course on military posts).

The late great Ronald Duncan learned ninjutsu in the service and used it to create his Way of the Winds system of Koga Ryu Ninjutsu.

Mark Allen who only people in the local area will know, told he learned ninjutsu refering to it as "Japanese James Bond Bull shit." When he studied Karate in the US Army during his time with the 75th Rangers (only Ranger unit under USSOC, US Special Operations Command out of Fort Bragg in Greensboro North Carolina) during his service during Vietnam. As it provided an Asian doctrine of clandestine and covert warfare similar to what the Viet Cong were using.

This is why the Bujinkan, trolls online have demanded any "would be ninjas" online look like their style of fighting. Though it could be argued anyone using anything from the Fujita influenced systems would resemble established arts like Judo, Karate and Kobudo.

In fact, Fujita's association with Karate is why Donn F. Draeger in Ninjutsu The Art of Invisibility on page 75 refers to Karate as the Ninja's martial arts. In fact, the Takamatsu-den claims can also be viewed on page 76 when refering to te-kagi or hand claws.

Recreating Ninjutsu:
In recreating ninjutsu Fujita drew a lot from Okinawan martial arts,  which have an influence in Chinese Kung-fu and Wushu, as well as Okinawan peasant weapons like nunchaku, sai and kama. It's also possible the urban myth that Karate developed as a peasant fighting art, was also imposed on ninjutsu being invented as a peasant fighting art due to Fujita Seiko's influence.

Takamatsu however seems to have drawn elements from Chinese arts like Chinese Long Fist Kung fu and did invent some rather interesting tools. Te-kagi for example are rather useless for scaling castle walls almost useless for climbing trees but obviously influenced by modern ice hooks used in ice houses. The Shoge is another ingenious ninja device invented by Takamatsu. The Shoge's name means to "run over hills and valley's" influenced by the mitsukagi or three hooked spear mentioned in the Bansenshukai, used to thrust and hook enemies in battle but also to hook onto trees and ledges or stabbed into the ground and pull the shinobi up for traveling up mountain passes. And single hook grappling hook. The Shoge of Takamatsu's design is unique weapon which could be used in the same or similar manner. Best of all it could be easily concealed. And of course always wanting to be unique Takamatsu claimed a 3rd unique item, the four pointed shuriken unique to Togakure Ryu.

Addressing the long fist kung fu aspects, all kung fu can be classed as long fist or short fist striking arts. Long fist kung fu is associated with striking with the lead hand. According to Takamatsu two of his incestuous five arts, are Gyokko Ryu Koshijutsu which os the parent art of Koto Ryu Koppojutsu. Gyokko Ryu is a long diatance striking art... Much like Paochui Chaun or Cannon Fist which uses the lead hand like a spear to strike from distance using the advantage of long reach. Koto Ryu claims to be a close range style and both schools claim a lineage centuries before the Japanese codified their arts into fixed schools. With Gyokko being listed as an art brought to Japan from China to explain the similarities. The infamously unique skills of Chinese Chin Na or grappling arts also includes Dim Mak or pressure points (another reason for the ise of the term Dim Mak). The muscle and tendon tearing chin na, is called Fen Jin or Zhua Jin Chin Na. The basis of Gyokko Ryu Kushijutsu and Koto Ryu Koppojutsu seems to focus on the bone misplacing or Cuo gu, which involves not only joint manipulation/destruction, but also the striking the weak points in the bone structure such as the xyphoid process or the floating ribs.

Aspects not seen in Japanese Jujutsu because the samurai wore armor and related more to the Chinese arts Takamatsu would have studied in China. Arts Takamatsu would have wanted to claim as Japanese because the of Ultra Nationalist attitude of the Japanese in the late 19th and early 20th century. Claiming to know Ninjutsu or its "Higher Order" Ninpo to make a quick buck or get some notoriety would also allow Takamatsu to invent some schools tied to his study of Chinese arts and systems in the decade he spent in China.

So if you are looking at Ninjutsu thinking it is all bull shit. Now you know why and what all the childish drama is over... Frauds declaring others, and yes... Other frauds, frauds.  All to hide the truth that they are frauds. Ninjutsu and Ninja lineage claims are all Bull Shit... So called "Ninjas" are either liars or lied to.

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

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.

The Last "Last Ninja:" The Fraud of the Ninjutsu Lineage Arguements

If you have spent any time on martial arts forums or facebook you notice that the issue with ninjutsu is lineage. So lets discuss lineage...

Before we get further let me say that I would like the thank Antony Cummings & the Historical Ninjutsu Research Team for translating the Densho and Historical Ninjutsu Research Group for helping to throw some ideas around on Facebook. So thank you all.

Now then let me start by addressing the ninja lineage issue in itself, as such... There is no verifiable ninja lineage proven to exist in the 20th Century and therefor none in the 21st Century. That's right my lineage is basically someone told me "this is ninjutsu" and I've told my students "this is ninjutsu" then Antony Cummings pops up with translated scrolls and says "This is Ninjutsu!"

So we know what ninjutsu is and what it isn't. Imagine a coin; this coin is warfare. On one side is the heads; the public image of combat skills, strategy, tactics etc. On the other side is the tails; except our tails is just a blank space because the tails is invisible and unseen. Ninjutsu is not the art of invisibility but the invisible (unseen) art, its practice is not in stealth killing or hiding but in gathering information, infiltration and investigation. Or as explained by others ninjutsu is Espionage, Sabotage & Assassination; though the use of assassination is more geared toward enemy agents who themselves are seeking to gather information and subvert your side's own operations then killing enemy leaders and politicians.

Oddly enough the first "Last Ninja" was Fujita Seiko who never stated if had or hadn't passed on his ninjutsu lineage and while it is assumed he didn't it is of little consequence at this point. The fact remains (again thanks to the efforts of Anthony Cummings while in Japan) a copy of the Nakano Espionage Course revealed Fujita Seiko did teach ninjutsu at the famed Nakano Espionage School in Japan during WW2 and that he taught from the Bansenshukai. Two distinct versions of this text exist, one for Koga (Koka) Shinobi and another for Iga Shinobi. Both are basically the same text with only a slight difference in how things are compiled. So for a "fraudulent ninja" with no proven lineage Fujita Seiko had a hand in training modern Japanese Espionage Agents during WW2. To be honest, that's pretty **Bleeping** Ninja!

Now to consider the issue of whether Fujita Seiko actually passed on his ninjutsu to someone else? We don't know, if ninjutsu is meant to be an invisible art then would even have passed it on to a new Soke? He never stated he wished to let the art die. Of course he never stated he wished to see it kept alive either. The fact remains ninjutsu is not a martial art and is separate from the combat methods of soldiers. It does not mean the Shinobi/Ninja is not trained as a soldier/warrior but that the combat training and soldiering skills are separate from the espionage skills, trained differently and hidden from the eyes of regular soldiers.

Bansenshukai

Volume Index & Contents

Volume 1: Jo
Preface & InterductionPhilosophy of Successful Warfare & StrategyHistorical Examples of Successful Warfare & StrategyIndex of the Volumes
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Volume 2: Seishin
Sincerity, Motivation & Moral Strength of Intention
Correct approach to Life & Death

Volume 3: Shochi
Methods For Managing a Ninja Organization
Using Ninja Successfully
Conditions for Stopping Enemy Agents
Methods for Infiltrating An Enemy's Base

Volume 4: Yo-Nin
Various Methods For Observing The Enemy's Intentions:
*Continuous observation through agents placed during peaceful times
*Location of agents after war breaks out
*Observation of the geographical layout of the enemy's territory
*Observation of the enemy's force numbers, capabilities and other strenghts
*Observation of the enemy's strategy and positioning
*Nokisaru: (The Eaves Monkey) Agents who specilize in watching and listening (Ancient Application of using Audio-Video Bugs and Wiretaps)

Volumes 5, 6 & 7: In-Nin
Shinobi Yochi- Ninja Night Attack/Raid Techniques
Goto- Mugging & Assailent Techniques
Methods Of:
*Stealth
*Deception
*Confusion Tactics
*Surprise Attacks & Ambushes
*Disguises
*Sneaking In & Burglary
*Capturing Enemys
*Betrayal
*Individual Fighting
*Group Hit & Scatter Tactics

 Volume 8: TenjiTentoki {Heaven Time} Tenmon {Heaven's Gate}
Methods For Interpreting The Coditions InThe Enviroment:
*Weather Forcasting
*Tide Tables
*Moon Phases
*Determination Of Direction & Location By Observing The Stars
*Divination
*Predicting Future Trends & Happenings

Volume 9: Nin-ki
Toki- Climbing Gear
Suiki- Water Gear
Kaiki- Entering Gear
Physical Dimensions & Specifications of Equipment

Volume 10:
Kaki- Fire Gear:
*Explosives *Smoke Bombs
Medicines
Poisons
Sleeping Potions
Formulas

While the Bansenshukai deals with a selective concern of small teams tactics (considered skirmish tactics in their time) it has nothing on ninjutsu as a martial arts system teaching either joint manipulation or striking, nothing to hold a sword or shoot a bow and arrow. These are soldier skills and a special forces unit does not shoot a gun any different then an infantry soldier fresh out of basic, except that the Special Forces soldier trains more and has more experience.

So what does this have to do with the Last Ninja or Last Ninjas that seem to be popping up? Quite simply, while Fujita Seiko may or may not have been a Soke of a tradition, he was an instructor for the Nakano Espionage School training spies and commandos during World War 2.

The Last Ninja title is now claimed by Hatsumi, who has no connection to ninjutsu or a proven lineage; except that claims a higher order of Ninjutsu called Ninpo & he learned it from Takamatsu. In fact much of Takamatsu-den lineage claims to be false. Lets examine it and then why.

Toshitsugu (Chosui) Takamatsu claims to have inherited several schools from Toda Shinryuken, these schools are;

Gyokko-ryū/Gyokko-ryū Kosshijutsu

Kotō-ryū Koppōjutsu

Shinden Fudo Ryu/Shinden Fudō-ryū Dakentaijutsu

Togakure Ryu Ninpo Taijutsu

Gyokushin Ryu Ninpo

Kumogakure Ryu Ninpo

As Toda Shinryuken Masamitsu is listen in Volume 1 of the Bugei Ryuha Daijiten as having died 4 years before Tokamatsu's birth, however this was not fixed until the 3rd edition of the Encyclopedia of Martial Arts; the Bugei Ryuha Daijiten, after being addressed in the 2nd edition. And the existence of fictional characters the equal of Robinhood and King Arthur in the west was stated in the first volume and corrected by Takamatsu other questions require answering.

How come as a military man and sword instructor no record of Toda Shinryuken exists?
How come as a bone setter no tax records exist?
How come Takamatsu placed his death 4 years before his own birth?

The reality Takamatsu seems to have made up Toda Shinryuken after being forbidden from teaching claiming a ninjutsu lineage through the Kuki family. You see the Amatsu Tatara claims a direct transmission from Babylon via a Chaldean King who brought a great library of knowledge to tribal Japan. While Takamatsu claims this knowledge was in the Kuki Family's possession and has a creditable lineage to the Kuki Family, the Family denies the existence of the Amatsu Tatara before Takamatsu "discovered it" and disputes Takamatsu's claim to destroyed scrolls and his own copies of the documents.

So automatically six of the nine traditions are proven false, looking at the issues with Takamatsu's story more so then his lineage and his habit of making grandiose claims; such as hiss letter detailing his "secret spy missions" in China during World War 2; Takamatsu had bragged that a busted ear drum (a training injury) prevented him from joining the military during that time. More so, as proven by the Kuki family the destroyed scroll claim is false due to the Densho being held in wood cases that protected them; while their are missing scrolls these have been lost to time and while their was a fire several scrolls which were "burned" merely had their wooden cases scorched while the scrolls inside where protected from the damage.

Many Bujinkan "scholars" point to Shindenfudo Ryu Daikentaijutsu as being proof of Toda Shinryuken's existence. This is relatively true except that the Shindenfudo Ryu studied by Kuki Takei from the Kuki family of Kukishin Ryu and a Senior student of Jugaro Kano the founder of Judo was not a student of Toda Shinryuken. In fact their is a style of Shinden Fudo Ryu Jujutsu with a completely different lineage and no connection to the Bujinkan or Takamatsu except that it was studied by Kuki Takei. This lineage of Shinden Fudo Ryu Jujutsu and Judo are the sources of Baritsu; an English Self-Defense System created by  Edward William Barton-Wright in 1898. Barton was an Engineer who spent several years in Japan.

It is therefore easy to assume in light of the other falsehoods that either;
a) Takamatsu invented the Kuki Takei connection to Shindenfudo Ryu or
b) Takamatsu added Shinden Fudo Ryu to the list of arts taught to him by Toda Shinryuken (a man yet unproven to exist) to make the fictitious Toda seem more real by adding a legitimate martial art to the fictional arts passed down to him by a fictional master.

So no argument stands as none of these six ryu ha have been proven and the man Takamatsu claims as the source seems non-existent.

This leaves only Kukishinden Ryu, Takagi Yoshin Ryu & Gikan Ryu.
*Kukishinden is a splinter from the Kuki family's Kukishin Ryu formed by Takamatsu. While the Kuki family doesn't wish to speak of Takamatsu save for clarifying the destruction story to be a falsehood & to label the Amatsu Tatara as the work of Takamatsu not much else is gleamed. Whether Takamatsu broke away from the Kukishin Ryu and founded his own ryu-ha Kukishinden to become Soke of own traditional is debated. The fact is Kukishinden Ryu is a verifiable and traceable system to the Kukishin family.
*Takagi Yoshin Ryu under Mizuta Yoshitaro is also not disputed and Takamatsu was in possession of the Takagi Yoshin Ryu Densho to validate his claim.
*Gikan Ryu has some dispute as there are two different lineages claiming Takamatsu inherited/learned from both Mitzuta Yoshitaro and Ishitani Matsutaro Takekage; yet no proof exists for Ishitani's existence and a supposedly claimed grave site with the name doesn't prove this person knew, taught  or inherited a lineage to pass on to Takamatsu.

So we see 2 and half (I give Gikan Ryu a half value) lineages that are proven under Takamatsu and none of them are ninjutsu or have anything to do with ninjutsu except that Takamatsu experienced the Ninja Boom of Japan in the 1930s and 50 years later Hatsumi a student of Takamatsu mass marketed the ninja image during that time.

In 1969, Donn Draeger wrote in Comprihensive Asian Fighting Arts "The late Fujita Seiko was the last of the living ninja, having served in assignments for the Imperial Government during the Taisho and Showa eras. No ninja exist today. Modern authorities such as T. Hatsumi are responsible for most research being done on ninjutsu."

Fujita was also called the last true ninja in his obituary in 1966 published in a tourist magazine in Japan. Despite claims that Fujita didn't teach ninjutsu at Nakano has been disproved by historical research done by Antony Cummings, however is was only a 8 hour course of study.

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The Iga Ninja Museum (a tourist attraction and not an academic institution) claims the "last ninja" is their honorary directer Jinichi Kawakami; however he claims only to be the Soke of Koga Ban family Ninjutsu both Iga and Koka Ryu arts.

Hatsumi claims title of "last ninja" from Takamatsu whom Hatsumi believed was divine (yes they worship him in the Shinto sense of paying homage to spirits) and named his Bujinkan Dojo after Takamatsu; Bu: War or pretaining to War, Jin: God or Divine Spirit & Kan: Hall or Domain. Bujinkan literally translates to Hall of the Warrior God or War God's Hall.

In his 2006 book Takamatsu Toshitsugu: The Last Shinobi Wolfgang Ettig refers to Takamatsu as the "last shinobi" citing unproven and fanciful tells of Takamatsu fighting death matches in China and similar unproven tells. Such as his self-established Moko no Tora (Tiger of Monogolia) title. Surely a famed fighter of several "death matches" who carried out espionage activies for the Japanese government and known by such a name to his enemies would have some proof?

Consider that (picking on Hanshi Frank Dux) a "notorious ninja fraud" Frank W. Dux is often reputed by his enemies as having been proven to have lied about the whole Blood Sport Kumite fighting event; had taken Soldier of Fortune Magazine in court and proved they used unverified claims and never investigated the facts. Consider that an alleged fraud who sued Jean Claude Van Dam actually attended the Iran-Contra hearings as a witness, whose claims to being an (untrained) agent for the CIA was verified by an assistant director for the CIA, a Naval Intelligence Officer and a former Soviet Officer who defected to the US. Oh and those alleged sugared glass bottles he broke in Bierce France and the alleged fake bullet proof glass is listed as real in the Genius Book of Records.

So Frank Dux isn't a fraud? You decide my opinion is, no. Nor does he claim to be the "Last Ninja" or such nonsense. The fact remains the Last Ninja title has a very specific point to it. Money...

Let us examine Shidoshi Richard Van Donk's site advertising a video ninjutsu course, that takes you up to shodan; though fine print says training requires direct testing for shodan. But the second image is priceless; it lists other courses...
* Nidan Course for you second degree black belt
* Sandan Course for your third degree black belt
* A Shidoshi-Ho Course teaching you to be an instructor
* A Ninja Masters Course teaching you to go from beginning to Godan (5th degree black belt) requiring you to test in Japan before Hatsumi in Japan.

Shihan Van Donk isn't the only one doing this;

That's right more mail order black belts offering authentic ninjutsu; this is little different then video self-defense courses & I don't believe these courses are without merit as a tool for learning. They are marketed towards a single end goal. Offering an instant "bad ass certificate" that proves you are a "bad ass" without having to put yourself at risk. Much like the Military Hand-to-Hand combat courses and Civilian Self-Defense Courses they offer you a good feeling and little chance to exercise those skills; to prove them in a training or real world situation.

The problem comes from lack of usage or experience with these skills; its been covered ninjutsu is not fighting arts & these courses do not offer anything in regards to espionage or intelligence operations.

Instead they offer a Hollywood image of being a deadly ninja assassin with black suit and sword, not very in line with the Bansenshukai is it?

More so looking at the Ninja Master Courses and Shidoshi-Ho courses we see a present trend of "home schooled martial artists" becoming instructors. Claiming a legitimate and authentic system, which isn't in any way related to historical ninjutsu and, many spending their time on the Internet attacking "fraudulent ninja practicers" to boost their own self-importance.

 Looks like I'm buying a Sham Wow!

with Ninjas... 

 

The fact remains several shidoshi-ho (godan ranked instructors) are listed in the Success Stories section who have used this course and are now instructors operating Dojos, some with websites listed.

Then your "home schooled ninja master" becomes a home schooled instructor and teaches your kids the "secrets of the ninja." I think I mentioned Sham & Wow at some point (joking by the way). While this has value as a learning tool; something I don't discount and in all honesty most instructors from creditable arts, lineages and organization often have little real world experience. I myself was a student of McDojo baby sitting service and except for a few school yard fights and teenage stupidity (ok a lot of teenage stupidity) had to get experience the hard way. It is honestly better to be untested then to have to test yourself when you are unprepared from academic learning, my personal experiences and observations after the experiences had ended.

 

Looking at the Ninjutsu IBDA Course Curriculum; this course who's subject matter is martial arts and fighting techniques; nothing concerning ninjutsu as listed in the Bansenshukai or other historically research materials.

 

 

All the way up to judan (10th Degree Blackbelt) ninjutsu is not covered and while a passing glance does uncover the mention of Togakure Ryu we have the problem; excluding the lineage issues, that Togakure Ryu is mostly weapons with little unarmed "taijutsu" and hardly any espionage mentioned or taught.

 

How does this compare the "frauds" like Frank Dux and Ashida Kim; well Hanshi Dux was a private contractor contracted to operate as a spy; an espionage agent. I don't have much concerning frame work for teaching as Hanshi Dux desires to keep it a secret of he and his students. Grandmaster Ashida Kim (Admittedly a Stage/Ring Name); allegedly Radford Davis Jr and Christopher Hunter, seems to follow the course of what is historically accurate.

Looking first at Secrets of the Ninja, we see a contents page; with the first subject after the preface on Ninjutsu History speaks of espionage as a weapon, followed by a basic coverage of ninjutsu dealing with meditation for inner strength and kuji kiri. This compares with the spirit of the Bansenshukai Volumes 1 & 2, which is considered by many historical researchers the "Bible of Ninjutsu."
The rest deals with In-nin/inpo and tonin/tonpo which also follows along the lines of Volumes 5, 6 & 7 of the Bansenshukai but also takes elements from Volumes3 & 9 in spirit.

So elements in the section on tonpo would follow along with the spirit of sections on Yonin and using ninja successfully.

Looking at the contents from Ninja Hands of Death; three things immediately jump at the reader...

1) The Breakdown of sections Kata Dante, Submission Holds, Ninjutsu & Post Script...

Ashida Kim did not consider ninjutsu a martial art in itself but separated it from martial arts techniques. This book copy written in 1985 comes before Historical Ninjutsu Researcher Anthony Cummings addressed this very element in the modern image of ninjutsu.

2) That Ashida Kim refers to Nine Methods of Prevailing...

What are these nine methods of prevailing that are different then Kata Dante; a striking and trapping form or grappling skills? They are over views of strategic principles of social infiltration and manipulation. I would suggest one reads the book for details; http://www.amazon.com/Ninja-Hands-Death-Ashida-Kim/product-reviews/0873643224

3) A post script titled the World's Deadliest Fighting Secrets...

While this seems mostly geared toward combat on the title alone, one cannot discount the words of the post script. That is that all warfare whether personal combat or fielding armies is a matter strategy and Ashida Kim offers methods of attacking by strategy in this post script.

 

So why is there such a competition fueled by people trying to validate themselves through Internet attacks on business competitors, empty titles of the "Last Ninja" and learn at home mastery courses? Well because this is America. Because some people want to feel good as opposed to doing good works and because quite simply its a desire to validate one's self and one's choices. Many times we are unaware that their are no good or bad, right or wrong choices. Our opinions and actions are so irrelevant to all but ourselves we cannot see how unimportant they are.

 

In the end its whats we do with what we have. I don't want to be the "Last Ninja" nor would I care to learn an 800 year old tradition. I'm to focused on being the First Ninja; the first to design a thermal blocking shinobi gi, the first to develop a sniper course and add modern firearms to the curriculum, the first to teach strategy, intelligence warfare and espionage tactics openly to the public. If my lineage is a fraud; so what my methods (methods I discussed on this blog) have worked for me and a real life or death situation. I can't be accused of giving away national security secrets concerning espionage training if my ninjutsu is real or fake and I make no claim to being a CIA or otherwise operative.

 

In the end things are what you make them and you get out what you put in, if you work hard those courses might benefit you. But, if you spend all your time validating choices you made and not working hard to achieve results, you gain only the illusion of progress.