Bujinkan Kokusai Dojos: New Lambton

Welcome 2016 – Training started at Wests Leagues Club on Monday nights and at the All Saints Anglican Church Hall Cnr of Oxford and Cromwell Streets on Saturday mornings from 7. 00am. Tuesday night training is reserved for students of Shodan and above. From the 70s 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 80s and 90s 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 many people practise mixed martial arts and sport styles. Japanese Budo the father of many of the aforementioned practises – remains practised by only a few. The Bujinkan - Warrior-god Hall – represents 9 Japanese martial traditions. At the core of the Bujinkan's study are three Ninjutsu schools.

These generated from Japan's Iga and Koga provinces and passed to us by 34 generations of grandmasters. The Bujinkan's current grandmaster - Hatsumi Sensei – encourages practitioners – through mastering combat, disciplining the body and mind – to pursue an unequivocal understanding of today's world. Bujinkan students train in Taijutsu - the study of natural application of the body in combat. A student acquires Taijutsu skills through stages.

First a conscious study of movement and weapon application. Followed by the unconcious stringing together of forms. Then the letting go of all learned movement so that the appropriate response to any situation flows through a practitioner. Specific exercises 'waza' prescribed by the 9 Japanese warrior traditions anchor training.

Weapon skills arise as an extension of Taijutsu applications. 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.