Is there anyone that can offer a comparison of some of the differences? I'd be intrested to know just for my own knowledge.
Dear Ms. Kaur,
I seen this when it was originally posted, however, I didnÂ’t want to touch it
J
Reason being I wanted to avoid any potential trouble. People hold their styles very dear to them, and if people see something as a slight (even if it is not intended), they tend to defend their arts, their reasons for training in it etc. In other words it gets messyÂ…
I do have experience in both arts, about 23 years in the Bujinkan as a matter of factÂ… But I would feel strange comparing both organizations because to be honest, it is like breaking up with a wife, getting re-married and then comparing the two of them in front of each other. Simply not a good idea is it? LOL!
Obviously if the person doing the comparison has chosen one over the other, then that person prefers the qualities of one over the other, to name publicly the qualities that the person didnÂ’t like would only cause hard feelings.
Suffice it to say, that the Bujinkan is not an organization that I personally wish to be a part of for many varied reasons. Those reasons will remain personal and are just due to what I like and donÂ’t like in martial arts and organizations.
Mr. Hatsumi is obviously skilled and has great knowledge. The Bujinkan is home to many, many fine people, some of them very highly skilled at what they do. I have friends in the Bujinkan who are very happy. We both found the same happiness just in different organizations. It all comes down to personal preference, like all things in life.
So what I have decided to do is to just tell you the features and benefits of the Genbukan organization and the things that I like about it personally. Then maybe someone else can do the same for the Bujinkan in that way you might come away with a better understanding of the two.
While I am aware that some people “out there” have great prejudice, I ask that they put it aside and allow others to come forward in good conversation and exchange with mutual respect.
The name Genbukan refers to three things. One, it is the name of the Honbu Dojo. Two, it refers to the Ninpo program and organization, (Genbukan World Ninpo Federation) and three it refers to the style of ninpo we do (Genbukan Ninpo Bugei).
The Genbukan Honbu Dojo houses various federations/organizations teaching various styles in their pure forms. Most but not all of these styles (Ryu) can be traced back through Takamatsu Toshitsugu Sensei. There are two gates in the Genbukan the Bu-Mon (martial gate) and Shu-Mon (spiritual gate). LetÂ’s talk of the Bu-Mon first.
Entering the martial gate, we find a variety of organizations/federations.
The oldest of these federations is the Genbukan World Ninpo Bugei Federation. Members belonging to this federation may study the arts of Genbukan Ninpo Bugei, Biken Jutsu, Bojutsu, Shuriken jutsu etcÂ…
So letÂ’s talk about these various arts that can be studied under the G.W.N.B.F. banner.
First Genbukan Ninpo Bugei. This is the oldest of the Genbukan arts and is said to be Tanemura Soke’s favorite system. Students who study this art enter into a kyu/dan system (9th-1st kyu –1st- 9th dan) and study in detail the various taijutsu that makes up the Ninpo Bugei such as Kosshi Jutsu, Koppo Jutsu, Daken taijutsu, Ju Taijutsu etc… This is also the ONLY organization teaching and ranking people in Ninpo Bugei! Bujinkan teaches and ranks people in budo taijutsu (“martial arts body techniques”) Even though you see many people in the bujinkan referring to what they do as ninjutsu their own Kancho say’s that this is NOT what he is teaching! The Jinenkan teach and rank people in Jissen Kobudo (real fighting old martial arts) The G.W.N.B.F. is dedicated solely to the Ninja’s legacy and arts.
The curriculum is the same worldwide in all Genbukan Dojo, public tests are preformed, and students are held to an international standard in performance and understanding of the material tested. Percentage grades are given and these go on your permanent record. All students joining the federation must submit an application along with photographs, and will be given a booklet to record their grades, licenses, seminars and trainings attended. A careful record of each studentÂ’s movement through the organization is maintained.
Once a student has achieved the rank of 3rd degree black belt (or thereabouts) with Tanemura senseiÂ’s permission a student may choose to study one of the traditional schools that make up the Ninpo Bugei syllabus. The student can rank in the traditional menkyo system even being able to test for and receive menkyo kaiden along with scrolls and densho. This grading runs parallel with the Kyu/dan system of Ninpo Bugei.
The Ninpo Biken Jutsu system is a step by step system of traditional Japanese sword
With a kyu system of 9th-1st kyu and a menkyo system of sho-den, chu-den, oku-den, menkyo-kaiden. The sword system is made up from Kukishin ryu, Togakure Ryu, Ono-ha Itto Ryu, Mugen Shinto Ryu etc. Everything from how to hold a sword, to cutting sparring kata, sword care etc. Is covered. Again public tests are held with percentage grades given.
The Bojutsu system is taught in Three Kyu grades, sho-kyu, chu-kyu and jo-kyu and then a menkyo system as in the Biken system. The Bojutsu system is very different than the Bujinkan as Tanemura Sensei has inherited a few different lines of Kukishin Ryu Bojutsu. The focus initially is on the 6Â’ and 3Â’ sticks although Jo 4Â’ stick and others are taught step by step.
Also a part of the G.W.N.B.F. are Naginata, Yari, Shuriken etc. Each of these are as well taught step by step in the same way.
The Next federation is the Kokusai Jujutsu Renmei or K.J.J.R. Again, The curriculum is the same worldwide in all Kokusai Jujutsu Renmei Dojo, public tests are preformed, and students are held to an international standard in performance and understanding of the material tested. Percentage grades are given and these go on your permanent record. All students joining the federation must submit an application along with photographs, and will be given a booklet to record their grades, licenses, seminars and trainings attended. A careful record of each studentÂ’s movement through the organization is maintained.
This federation (international jujutsu federation) teaches two arts primarily. The first being the jujutsu program. This curriculum comes from a variety of jujutsu ryu, although the Hontai Takagi Yoshin Ryu is featured heavily in the Kyu grades. From 9th-1st kyu one learns and is tested on most of the Shoden Gata from this school for instanceÂ… The dan grades feature many ryu not contained in the bujinkan like Shinden Tatara Ryu, Asayama Ichiden Ryu, Daito Ryu, Yagyu Shingan Ryu, along with Shinden fudo Ryu, Hontai Takagi Ryu etcÂ… Again there are 9 kyu grades and 9 dan grades.
The second art taught in the K.J.J.R. is Chinese martial arts, ba kua, Chin na, chi gung etc. In Japanese Chugoku Kenpo, hakkesho, kina, and ki-ko. These arts are not shared at all in the Bujinkan and are from Master Sato Kinbei. In these arts we can see many of the roots of Japanese jujutsu. Many of the drills in this art develops very fast hands and inside fighting and grappling, even “lock flows” like in Kali, escrima and arnis and dumog are taught. It’s system of ranking is: 3rd kyu, 2nd kyu, 1st kyu, sho-kei, chu-kei, dai-kei, kyoren, denjin.
There are also two systems that can be studied by either members of the G.W.N.B.F. or K.J.J.R. These systems are Koryu Karate and Goshin Jutsu.
Koryu Karate is a very fast and devastating system. It uses smaller efficient body movements and rapid explosive counter tactics. This art also has the standard kyu and dan system. It comes mainly from Gikan Ryu Karate Koppo-Jutsu, Kijin Chosui Ryu Daken-Taijutsu, Tenshin Koryu Kenpo, Gyokko Ryu Karate Kosshi-Jutsu and Koto Ryu Karate Koppo-Jutsu along with special kuden from Takamatsu Sensei and Sato KinbeiÂ’s kuden regarding Chinese martial arts. This is also taught as a kyu and dan system
Next is Goshinjutsu. This art focuses on simple techniques that are very effective against common self defense situations, tactics and strategies are taught as well. Again a kyu and dan system are used, and people who are teachers may add with Tanemura Sokes permission their own self defense system ideas that they may have already been teachingÂ…
Last is the Japan Kobudo / Koryu Bujutsu World Federation (JKWF) this federation offers instruction and ranking in authentic “Ko-Ryu” systems that have been in existence for at least 100 years. A kyu system and then menkyo system is offered.
The other gate in the genbukan is the Shu-Mon or spiritual gate. Tanemura sensei not only teaches in detail and step by step the authentic Amatsu Tatara system, he also has yet another federation to train teachers in this system which is called the Amatsu tatara World federation.
So as you can see, when someone saysÂ’s genbukan it doesnÂ’t just mean Ninpo. Worse yet is when people try to say it is Tanemura SenseiÂ’s version of hatsumiÂ’s art. This is just not true. There are many aspects that I enjoy in the Genbukan. From a technical point of view, the diversity of the training makes me very well rounded. The strict attention to detail is very appreciated, the standards world wide. The fact that there is a chain of command, a student cannot go around their teacher as happens in the Bujinkan, there is a hierarchy in place that must be respected. Everyone pays their dues and puts in their time.
I like the fact that there are spiritual tests given AFTER you pass the appropriate physical tests and that these tests (there are five of them) are authentic, done a full speed and no punches pulled so to speak. For example, the test for Renshi requires someone to first pass the required physical material and then they must kneel before Soke who is armed with a bamboo sword, Soke will either cut straight down or diagonal down. The person must respond with rolling away safely. The next test is from behind, then the next test from behind with a live blade, next test is again from behind with a live blade, but there are two cuts like a cross + even Kuji Kiri is taught step by step to Dojo-ChoÂ…
There are many, many reasons I like the Genbukan and many benefits of being a member I have not even listed. But I hope this can give you some idea of the Genbukan and help you understand how it is different from other organizations.
Sincerely,
