Hello,
I would like to respond to your question about Genbukan vs Bujinkan how they are different. I would like to preface with saying, I have a yon Dan in the Bujinkan after 18 years of training in the art. I have trained in Genbukan since 1998 and am a Dojo-Cho (Official Dojo owner assigned by Tanemura Sensei) of Genbukan USA makoto Dojo.
On to the question:
-First, while in the Bujinkan I ran into people who were very good, and some who were VERY bad! Some of the terrible ones were high level ranks. Some of the great ones were LOW level ranks! LOL! This stems from the fact that there are no standards for ranking in Bujinkan and it is left up to each Dojo. Hatsumi Sensei himself seems to give rank out carelessly and freely
-In the Genbukan, the ranking is VERY specific and the same around the world. There are 300 techniques up to first kyu that must be tested in public and held to the world wide standard for performance. You receive a percentage grade and letter grade that goes on your permanent record. You must get at least 85% to pass.
-In the Bujinkan, it was very difficult to learn even the basic techniques correctly. Hatsumi Sensei changes how he teaches them each time he teaches them! All of his Japanese teachers do them in different ways, and in America so many people would learn a technique half way then mix it with their own ideas
-In Genbukan, each basic technique and kata are done exactly the same way world wide as the BASIC form, this way the authentic correct technique is perserved and transmitted. Only after you master the basic version are you encouraged to explore past that.
-In Bujinkan you receive rank in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu. It used to be Ninpo Taijutsu but that has changed.
-In Genbukan you receive rank in Genbukan Ninpo Bugei, at third degree black belt, you can train in one of the ryu ha that make up the art and actually receive TRADITIONAL ranking scrolls and Densho (secret books) up to Menkyo kaiden level along with the dan grades in Ninpo Bugei.
-In Bujinkan, all of the arts Ninpo and jujutsu are mixed together mostly hatsumi Sensei's interpretation of these arts which he is always changing. he has said bujinkan is faster than the internet it changes from second to second...
-In Genbukan, we strive to maintain the traditional Japanese art of Ninpo/Ninjutsu and Jujutsu. It is not about Tanemura Soke's interpretation of the arts, instead it is faithful to the densho and kuden he received.
-In Bujinkan the Ninja/ninpo aspects are downplayed
-In Genbukan Ninpo is ninpo! We teach Shuriken (there are actual kamae, and throwing techniques that are practiced) Kiai Jutsu, Kuji Kiri, Mikkyo, shinto etc...
-The Bujinkan shys away from the religious side of the art
-In the Genbukan, Tanemura Sensei teaches as Takamatsu Sensei taught and Hatsumi Sensei USED to teach. Shumon and Bumon Martial gate and Spiritual gate. Side by side. Amatsu Tatara Shinto is a big part of the art with meditations, kuji kiri kuden etc...
-In Bujinkan, weapons are thrown in with everything else as part of Budo Taijutsu. The traditional training is not stressed, instead inovative usage of traditional and modern weapons are encouraged.
-In Genbukan, we learn weapons outside of our basic taijutsu training. They are a study onto themselves. We earn seperate kyu and dan grads for weapons as well as menkyo. We study them step by step, for example in sword, 9th kyu has how to take a sword apart, clean it, examine it, bow with it. Safety, how to tie sageo names of parts etc... How to hold, how to cut everything step by step to master level.
Hatsumi Sensei takes his art of budo taijutsu from the nine arts he received from Takamatsu Sensei. In addition, the arts he received menkyo in from Ueno Sensei. Since 1973 he has been without a teacher.
-Tanemura Sensei has studied with hatsumi Sensei until 1984 receiving menkyo kaiden in many of the 9 schools and being vice president of bujinkan. Since then, he trained with Kimura Sensei maybe the closest student of Takamatsu Sensei, and Sato kinbei Sensei who was also a student of Takamatsu Sensei and received Soke-ship and menkyo kaiden in various arts. Tanemura Sensei trained with these men until the last one died in 2000. In addition, he trained with Fukumoto Sensei who was Ura Soke of Togakure Ryu and received his scrolls and kuden, he is still friends with Aikimoto Sensei's Son with whom he learned many kuden and received scrolls, and has training in the ueno line as well. he to this day has a teacher in Itto Ryu Iaido as he continues to develop the Genbukan.
Overall, Bujinkan is good for people who are more free spirited and like to be able to do their own thing. the stress is on the "essence" of the arts. many people add many things to the Bujinakn and get away with it. Fire walks, new age teachings, you name it
Genbukan is much more strict and is a traditional JAPANESE school FIRST! From that base you can explore, but never are you allowed to infect the base system with outside influence. it is to remain pure. We do however spar, and practice our art against other arts.
Bujinkan training is very soft and playful with flow and experimentation being the priority. People throw weapons to each other, wear tye-dyed tee-shirts in the Dojo, talk swear... It is VERY relaxed, like woodstock LOL!
Genbukan is very hardcore. Manners are stressed, training is intense with many repetitions of the basics over and over again. You will be sweating LOL!
Last is the sword test. In Bujinkan you take a sword test at 5th dan with a bamboo sword from behind. It is well known that Hatsumi Sensei passes who he wants. Why he does this is anyones guess. he will squeek the sword, make a noise, pull it short etc... Now he is letting some "14th dans" do it while under his supervision
In Genbukan the test is real. You must first master the physical side testing on technique then you can take the sword test when Sensei feels you are ready, this could be years after passing the physical test. The first sword test is from the front with a bamboo sword for the title of renshi. The next one is bamboo from behind, for the title of Kyoshi.
Next is from behind with a REAL cutting sword straight down for Jun-Shihan. After that we have on from behind with a real cutting sword making a + sign sideways, then down. Last for next gradmaster is cutting freely with a cutting blade in all directions and you must CATCH the sword with your hands!
I hesitate to respond to these questions because they are sensitive issues. Although I stated the facts above, I am sure some may take offense. But alas I answered your question truthfully. Bujinkan is the best thing in the world for some people. Maybe for you too you never know unless you try it. Some people will never like the Genbukan. Even though I am genbukan, there are some aspects of the Bujinkan I like better, they better fit with my personality.
I hope that helps.
Kind regards,
