Samurai Jujutsu

🇬🇧 I am famous overseas as a Ninja, but that is because I am the successor to the nine ancient schools (Koryū Kyū Ryūha 古流九流派). I just happen to be called a Ninja. However, Takamatsu sensei always said, “Ninjutsu is the highest form of martial arts.” Having traveled around the world, I have come to realize that those words were true.
-Masaaki Hatsumi from the book “Jinsei Mutōdori”

🇮🇹 Sono famoso all’estero come Ninja, ma sono il successore di nove antiche scuole (Koryū Kyū Ryūha 古流九流派) Mi è capitato di essere chiamato Ninja. Tuttavia, il Sensei Takamatsu diceva sempre: “Il Ninjutsu è la forma più elevata di arti marziali”. Avendo viaggiato per il mondo, ho capito che queste parole erano vere.
-Masaaki Hatsumi dal libro “Jinsei Mutōdori”

🇪🇸 Soy famoso en el extranjero como Ninja, pero yo soy el sucesor de las nueve escuelas antiguas (Koryū Kyū Ryūha 古流九流派). Casualmente me llaman Ninja. Sin embargo, Takamatsu sensei siempre decía: «El ninjutsu es la forma más elevada de las artes marciales». Tras viajar por todo el mundo, he llegado a comprender la verdad de esas palabras.
-Masaaki Hatsumi del libro “Jinsei Mutōdori”

🇬🇧 “In a real battle, you do not have time to recall techniques. Your reaction time would be much too slow. Train so as to not interfere with your natural reactions”.
- Masaaki Hatsumi

🇮🇹 “In un vero combattimento, non hai tempo per ricordare le tecniche. Il tuo tempo di reazione sarebbe troppo lento. Allenati in modo da non interferire con le tue reazioni naturali”.
- Masaaki Hatsumi

🇪🇸 “En una batalla real, no tienes tiempo para recordar técnicas. El tu tiempo de reacción sería demasiado lento. Entrena para no interferir con tus reacciones naturales”.
- Masaaki Hatsumi

Hatsumi sensei wrote an article for "History and Travel" magazine special about his visit to the US in 1983. Here's my translation:

Togakure ryū training in America
Hatsumi Masaaki

Until I met the martial arts master, Takamatsu Tosh*tsugu sensei, in era of the 20th year of Shōwa (mid-60s), I had constantly questioned whether the increasingly Westernized and stylized state of the ancient martial arts was truly representative of Japan’s martial traditions. It was at that time that Takamatsu sensei clarified the direction of my path, saying, “Become a mere insect. Even an insect can travel a thousand miles if it clings to a horse’s tail; the same applies to a tiger.”

Because of that, I was able to embark on my training with a pure heart, and for the thirty years since then, I have continued to train in order to master the profound secrets of Togakure ryū ninpō. Then, last August, I traveled alone to the United States, wondering if I was worthy of being the head of the Togakure ryū and if I could live up to my master’s expectations.

The moment I arrived, a friend who had been living in New York for over twenty years said to me, "Sensei, in America I’ll introduce you as Dr. Hatsumi. Here, if you say you’re a martial artist, people may go so far as to question your character." So, as Dr. Hatsumi, Togakure ryū ninpō Sōke, I decided to employ the principals of martial strategy to dispel the misunderstandings and prejudices surrounding Japanese martial arts.

Upon arriving at the dōjō on Broadway, I found fierce professional fighters waiting for me. Facing these warriors, I first explained, "My martial art is no power, no-speed; it requires a relaxed mindset." Right away, several massive professional fighters attack me all at once. But in the very next instant, their massive bodies were plummeting through the air. As I knocked down and pinned several of them at once, they all cried out in unison, "He's a wizard!!"—their eyes wide with astonishment at the sheer mastery of the Togakure ryū ninpō.

I next visited Camp Miami in Florida where three hundred professional fighters from all over the world were waiting. A man known as "Cowboy" who was said to have been stabbed in six places by a bull’s horn, was glaring at me with a murderous look. I tried to subdue him first, shouting, “Hey, come on, attack OK!” But before I could finish, his rock-hard fists and kicks flew at me. I used shinkūtaihen to send him spinning through the air and knock him down. As he tried to get up, I took the kyūsho at the knee with nadaredori (hōsetsu?) and he quickly tapped out in pain. Next to appear was an Indian wielding axes in both hands and sporting no fewer than five knives strapped to his body.

With a body as massive as an ox, he swung his axes wildly side-to-side. Since this had become a fight where I was risking my life, I held nothing back and struck the nagare hoshi kyûsho with a fist. With a scream, his axes flew to the ground one by one. I immediately dove into his guard, attacked his knees, twisted his half-standing body until he fell, snatched away his knife and pressed it firmly against his throat.

Next, the commander who had resolved the Lufthansa hijacking incident challenged me with a secret weapon. He launched a relentless assault. I was like the wind; his attacks merely cut through the air. Seizing the opportunity, I took his weapon and counterattacked, then toyed with him as if he were a ball. Perhaps overcome by astonishment, he cried, "Danke, danke, I have never met anyone so godlike!" and prostrated himself on the ground. After that, several giant men challenged me, but I seized their weapons from each of them,

After the match, I was bombarded with questions about the mysteries of the East, kuji, and jūmon (incantations). So I said, "Kuji, jūji, and the wonders of budō aren’t about theory. I’ll show you in practice. Hayes-kun, while I’m talking to everyone, if you see an opening, feel free to punch me anytime." With that, I had Hayes, a massive man with an eighteen-year career as a professional fighter, stand behind me while I continued answering questions. Perhaps he spotted an opening, for Hayes’s deadly punch came flying at me. However, his fist just grazed the side of my left ear and missed completely. "That is kuji" I said. He stood there speechless, his face pale. The nearly three hundred martial artists present all said, for a moment, time seemed to stand still during this miraculous scene. I believe that through this trip to the United States, I may have succeeded in making foreigners understand that "true budō is noble and peaceful and must be elevated to the level of art."

I believe this has been achieved. The reason is that, as I have long maintained, it has been confirmed in practice that neither ninpō nor martial arts can be understood through theoretical discourse alone; this has also served as proof that merely receiving instruction in the essence of mind, technique, and body is not enough. Whether it be ninpō or martial arts, only those who have managed to enter the flow of the perfect harmony of mind, technique, and body can truly perceive it. Finally, I invited the foreign martial artists who, through this trip to the U.S., came to understand just how wonderful Togakure ryū ninpō is as a martial art, to host the Martial Arts Japan Tournament. They enthusiastically agreed, and it has been decided that the event will be held for three days, from October 28 to 30, at Yūmoa Mura at the foot of Mount Tsukuba in Ibaraki Prefecture. I hope to use this opportunity to further spread Togakure ryū ninpō as a global martial art.

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Vale Darin Alan.
You will be missed. After over a year fighting cancer, with grace, bravery, and good humour, you passed away Saturday morning. I among many in the dojo are glad to have known you, and inspired by your love for the training, and respect your forthright principles and friendship. We were not teacher and student, just friends with a different number of years in the dojo.
To his wife, kids and grandchildren, my heartfelt condolences.

Heads up... There will be no training Tuesday 3rd June

Hi all, seeing as some of you have asked. Training has been run by other people for a few weeks as I've had to take a break, but I'll be back from Friday in a supervisory capacity.
I had some minor eye surgery and am recovering well. For over a year my vision was getting worse due to diplopia, double vision, dizzyness and vertigo. Some concussions I suffered as a child and young teenager caused a nerve palsy, and eventually my eye muscles could no longer compensate.
I say this in part to raise the topic of concussion injuries, especially in childhood, as it is critical in our study of martial arts. It is not a matter of being tough, or learning to take a hit, as every concussion does damage. Even head hits that do not result in loss of consciousness will cause damage and has been shown to cause CTE, chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Please train smart, please respect other peoples health.

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"If you inform someone that he's not virtuous or is on the wrong track, and correct him by pointing out his mistakes, the listener won't believe you. On the contrary, it is men's nature to feel that they're being slandered and to dislike being told they're wrong."
Issai Chozanshi