HISTORY & TRANSMISSION
The history of
Bujinkan.
From Takamatsu to Hatsumi – and nine traditions brought together under one name.
ROOTS & TRANSMISSION
A more recent organisation.
Older traditions.
Bujinkan and its constituent schools each have their own history.
Hatsumi brings the traditions together
Masaaki Hatsumi established Bujinkan in the 1970s to carry on the martial arts traditions he had learned from Toshitsugu Takamatsu.
1972 is often cited as the founding year. This was also the year Takamatsu died. Other Bujinkan sources use 1974 or describe the establishment as a gradual process in the years after 1972.
The nine schools were brought together in a shared training practice: Bujinkan Budō Taijutsu.
About the founding year
The sources describe different aspects of the establishment. We therefore use “the 1970s” as the broader dating and show 1972 as the year most often cited.
FROM TEACHER TO STUDENT
A tradition
in motion.
The traditions Hatsumi learned from Takamatsu form the background to Bujinkan. When reading older lineages, it is important to distinguish between a school’s roots, the name it acquired and how it was later taught.
Historical roots give perspective. Training itself consists of people practising together here and now. You can read more about distinctive features and approximate dates on the nine schools page.