Taijutsu Self Defense Fort Collins, Colorado

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Welcome to our homepage! We are committed to transmitting the authentic art of the BUJINKAN DOJO, as well as applying the lessons for everyday living. Our training in the Fort Collins, CO area is an authorized branch of the International Bujinkan Dojo based out of Noda, Japan headed by Grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi.

Bujinkan BUDO TAIJUTSU is a comprehensive and effective martial arts system that was developed from battlefield experiences and handed down for nearly 1000 years. At the heart of our training is the ability to adapt moment by moment with body, mind and spirit integrated together to suit any situation. This adaptive approach gives us greater opportunity for success in protecting ourselves and those we care about.

Our CURRICULUM covers a broad range of training including:

• Dakentaijutsu - STRIKING methods using almost every part of your body,
• Jujutsu/Jutaijutsu - GRAPPLING methods from various positions including joint locks, throws, chokes, restraints and counters to the above,
• WEAPONS training including sword, stick/staff, knife, rope, chain etc, and
• MODERN APPLICATIONS such as defense against a knife attack, gun retention and disarms, and how to use ordinary items for protection.

SAFETY is a primary focus for us. We begin with slow movement to understand the dynamics, and then as knowledge and skill grows speed and power can be adjusted with less risk.

CLASSES focus on developing sound basics, learning traditional techniques and lessons, and being able to apply them to modern situations.

My Japan trip 2007 reflections

The 2007 theme - Kuki Taisho "Playing like a demon" revolved around using Kuki Shin Ryu "9 demon gods school" to think in unconventional ways.  This is an unorthodox example Hatsumi Sensei gave along these lines:  You notice an attacker about to jump your friend.  So you quickly kick your friend into the attacker possibly saving their life and giving you the surprise in the situation once again.

Think of the scrolls of the various schools as being written by demons.  You can not trust them, only someone with the proper training can see value through the deception.  Even if someone with the ability to read archaic Japanese steals them they will be of little value to them.

Hatsumi Sensei was more upset than I have ever seen him one Friday night because too many people weren't punching for real.  He talked about putting the weapon out first and then moving in with body/kamae.  As you get closer to the opponent you can finish the strike which will be more effective in close, per his teacher.  As you move in you are controlling the space.  It may be silly to begin in a fighting posture; you move into the posture as you strike.

Breaking the Kuzushi "balance" physically or mentally is a fundamental part of techniques.  In some situations it may be more accurate to say ‘breaking the Kamae "structure” which leads to the balance loss’.  We must break the head, shoulder, hip, and feet alignment so the opponent has reduced stability and power.  Omote Gyaku, Oni Kudaki, Musha Dori break the structure to the rear of the opponent.  Ura Gyaku, Ganseki Nage, Muso Dori break the structure to the front.

Shinnenjutsu – “tricking the opponent through controlling their perceptions”.  Beyond the technique level of training, you must be able to attack the opponent at their unconscious level of movement, such as when they instinctively begin to prepare for Ukemi “receiving/rolling”.  Also you can manipulate the visual perception of humans as we see motion, shape and then color in that order by leaving the top profile flat and relatively in place using lack of depth perception to distort the distance change.

Anyone who seriously practices this art should make trips to Japan as much as they can, because the teaching there is so undiluted.  The further you move from the center of the circle the less concentrated the knowledge is.  My thanks to Rob Renner and Shawn Gray for helping me out with my trip this year!

-Dave

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