Bujinkan Gyo-Un Ryusui Dojo

10/12/2026

Mamoru 守る ( protect,guard )
The first stage and duty of the student is to learn and master the forms to protect tradition. One must firstly remove the self in order to fulfil a duty of respect to carry forward the transmissions of those who have gone before.

Shu (守) "protect", "obey"— traditional wisdom— learning fundamentals, techniques.

09/30/2026

09/24/2026

When studying the Naginata form called Nagi Taoshi (薙倒), Hatsumi Sensei taught that we should practice the technique from five kamae: Hasso no Kamae (八相之構), Seigan no Kamae (青眼之構), Yoko Ichimonji no Kamae (横一文字之構), Hira Ichimonji no Kamae (平一文字之構), and Naka Seigan no Kamae (中青眼之構). Thirty years later, we continue practicing it this way.

[Photo from a 1995 video; Hatsumi sensei is teaching Naginata]

09/18/2026

Do NOT do Taka no Mai this way….this is just shifting back and forth and not doing the proper movements with the hands and the torso first.

You do NOT turn and transition the hands WHILE shifting the other direction with your back still turned. If you do this with a sword or a weapon, this develops the habit of shifting and turning into a potential cut from the enemy, which is a terrible habit to form.

While facing one direction shifted forward over the tibia, rotate the rear heel, turn in place facing the other direction in Ichi or Doko or Hira Ichi into Ichi/doko. Taka no Mai is ALWAYS transitioning directions WITH defensive integrity.

NEVER, ever, ever shift and change directions until you have turned, adjusted your wings, and assess what is in front of you . Advanced versions of this could be shifting and stepping forward or shifting and stepping backwards, which transitions into the movements of Gogyo…  never develop a habit of shifting toward the direction of an enemy while your back is turned to them. Togakure Ryu moves away from an enemy when your back is to them to avoid being cut.

09/04/2026

Kihon Happō (基本八法)

One day, Takamatsu Sensei said the following:
“When I was taught the Gyokko-ryū Kosshijutsu Kihon-gata by Toda Shinryūken Sensei, he told me that these Kihon-gata contain Happō. He said that these Kihon Happō are the foundation of all Budō. As I reflect upon it, I realize this is indeed true, and I say this to you also. Hatsumi, you should take this Kihon-gata Happō as your foundation and teach it to your students!”

高松先生がある日、このようなことを言われた。
「戸田真龍軒先生から、玉虎流骨指術起（基）本型をお教えていただいたときやな、この起本型に八法があります。この基本八法が、すべての武道の根本とおっしゃられましたな。わてもつくづく、そのとおりであると、初見君にも申し上げときます。初見君もな、この起本型八法を根本として、弟子たちに教えなはれ！」

Hatsumi, Masaaki. Togakure-ryū Ninpō Taijutsu. Shin Jinbutsu Ōraisha, 1983, p. 75. (​初見良昭『戸隠流忍法体術』新人物往来社、1983年、75頁。)