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The Bujinkan is a martial arts organization founded by Hatsumi Masaaki of Noda City, Japan. Nine classical martial arts tradtions are contained within the Bujinkan. It is his expression of Budo (warrior way or method) as a synthesis of these nine traditions, many of which have over lapping histories.

The classical traditions, within the Bujinkan, fall under the classification of "kobudo" (old martial ways), "koryu" (old transmissions or flows of knowledge), or hei-ho (broadly encompassing martial strategy). Martial traditions from the feudal era of Japan were broad and contained knowledge not just of fighting with weapons or empty handed, but also knowledge of how to negotiate a battle, weather forecasting, how to build a proper fortress, how to manage one's fiefdom, medical knowledge, etc. A master of hei-ho was more than just a fighter and would have insights into many aspects of life, as survival itself could hinge on any aspect of life.

The Bujinkan is a large organization, and within it, like any organzation, are differences in tone and tenor. Different countries may have different tendencies. One Shihan (senior teacher)...

The word "dojo" (道場) is often translated as "school," but that translation fails to capture the depth of the word. Translated literally, "dojo" means something closer to "the place of the way." It is considered to be a sacred place for the transmission of a traditional method of some sort, such as a martial art or tea ceremony (Cha-do 茶道). The word comes from "dojo-ji" (道成寺) which was an adjunct facility to a Buddhist temple where learning took place.

A classical Japanese dojo will have a specific layout in accordance to where the teacher sits, VIPs sit, and students sit. This is oriented based on either the cardinal directions or where the main door to the training space is situated, or both. Often there are Shinto trappings associated with martial art's dojo, as well as Buddhist elements, given the traditional religions of Japan and the relationship of many of the classical arts to various shrines and temples. This is not required of all dojo, and no particular faith is required for the study of the art. Some teachers choose to use the classical motif and some do not...

Training in the Bujinkan involves training in classical weaponry (spear, sword, halberd, and other weapons), as well as empty handed combative techniques. All the techniques stem from the nine schools encompassed by the Bujinkan organization. Additionally, history, philosophy, strategy (Hei-ho), and other areas of knowledge are covered.

Class starts and ends with rei-ho, which may involve a formal ceremony or a less formal bowing to one another to maintain a sense of respect and honoring of the traditions. The primary mode of transmission in classical martial arts is to copy what the teacher shows. The teacher will show the technique several times. The students will copy what they have seen. The teacher comments on what he or she observes and shows the technique again.

The students copy, hopefully better, and so it goes.
The traditional teaching model in Japan is Shu, Ha, Ri, and describes three inter-related levels of learning. Shu is the first level and is just learning the rote components or concepts of a subject...

My name is Glenn Manry and I am the instructor at the Sheridan Bujinkan Dojo. I have been studying the Bujinkan school since 1999, receiving my teaching license in 2015 when I was given the rank of godan (5th dan black belt). I formally established the dojo later in that year, but ran a small training group off and on by permission of my teachers, since 2003.

In the last few years, I was introduced to a different way to do this art. This method, while seeming similar on the surface, has a depth to it that I was unaware of previously. I have spent the last five years (of direct experience) working on this new direction. It is not a new direction for the art, just for me. This has required a complete re-working of my fundamentals and the techiques that come out of that foundation. It has been quite the journey so far, and I am fortunate to have been allowed to follow this path.

My teaching philosophy is based on the classical Shu Ha Ri, which maps out three levels of learning. Shu is the first and most crucial level. It involves the learning of the fundamentals, known as kihon (基本), and the inner components of the fundamentals, known as Kisso (基礎)...

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