Welcome 2011 - Training Starts at Mayfield on January 17th

From the 70’s till now the media popularised martial art. Famous practitioners such as  Bruce Lee offered a glimpse of warrior strategies and philosophy to drive success. In the 80's and 90’s many active men and women - and their trainers - sought inspiration from martial works such as the Hagakure, Mushashi’s Go Rin No Sho and Sun Tzu's Art of War to support their pursuits. Sport oriented dojos flourished as parents discovered that martial discipline harnessed their children’s excess energy. In addition, acquiring a defensive skill gave them confidence. Adults also ventured into judo, karate, and tae kwon do dojos - many eclectic schools flourished - and today sport styles are seen in the olympic games.

Yet the fog of popular culture -  creating so many choices, and so much advice - also led many men and women into a perpetual search for that something or someone to support their lives. Today many train to chisel their bodies, help discipline their minds, and seek some insight into the non-physical, or spiritual, realm. Gyms, Kickboxing, Aerobics, Yoga, Feldenkrais, Pilates, Meditation, and New Age programs abound.

Japanese Budo - the warrior path - the father of many of the aforementioned practices - remains practiced by only a few. Generated in Japan's Iga and Koga provinces and passed by 34 generations  to the current grandmaster - Hatsumi Sensei - Bujinkan's budo empowers practitioners in all their pursuits - through mastering combat, disciplining the body and mind, and guiding a practitioner to an unequivocal understanding of today's world.

Bujinkan students train in Taijutsu. Taijutsu - the study of natural application of the body in combat - draws on techniques from 9 Japanese warrior traditions. Weapon skills arise as an extension of Taijutsu applications.  Fundemental applications - waza - launch exercises in the full range of combat - unarmed and armed.  Controlled simulations through henka - variations - allow students to study and develop individual talent. Training focuses on applying power to protect and sustain life, aware of nature’s impact on all outcomes.