New Page 1

It's been over 27 years since I started in the Bujinkan and I have seen so many changes in that time. The organization itself has not changed that much but the mentality of many of the practitioners has.

At one time, many people traveled to Japan to learn and train with Sensei and the Shihans because they valued the teachings. Now, it seems that there is a new generation more interested in rank, recognition, and information rather than physical skill. Sensei respects those that pass on his tradition through books and videos and rewards them with ranks and acknowledgements of achievement but he leaves it up to the individual to attain that which they aspire to collect.

Then there are those that have chosen to remain unnamed and live life in the shadows of those that have passed them in rank but not years. I objectively found that it is these individuals I prefer to train with . They represent what the art entails and prefer not to make a mockery of it by pretending to be something that they are not and then show it to the rest of the world as if they have truly understood Sensei's teachings!

The future of the Bujinkan is uncertain but, as Sensei puts it, "If you cannot see through a person's rank to understand their skill, you will be easily deceived!"

So, if you are new to the path, shop around for a teacher that best suits your individual needs!