Bujinkan New York Dojo

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Bujinkan New York Dojo Bujinkan New York Dojo - Ninja and Samurai martial arts! Train like a samurai. Move like a ninja. Develop skills for life.

Bujinkan New York Dojo offers authentic Japanese martial arts training in Westchester, combining centuries-old samurai and ninja traditions with practical modern self-defense. Established in New York in 1983, our training develops unarmed combat, striking, grappling, throws, escapes, sword and staff techniques, movement, timing, awareness, confidence, and composure under pressure. Beginners and experienced martial artists are welcome. Train in a supportive, non-competitive environment with experienced instruction. Located at 101 Pondfield Road West in Yonkers, near Bronxville Metro-North, serving Westchester, the Bronx, Manhattan, Connecticut, and New Jersey. Try our two class special ($35) and start training today!

10/13/2026

Real fights demand restraint. In this video, Hatsumi Soke shares an important goal of training: "That's why in a real fight, in a real situation, you should always do your best to avoid injuring anybody."

Musha Shugyo"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." (Inigo Montoya, "The Princess ...
10/13/2026

Musha Shugyo

"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." (Inigo Montoya, "The Princess Bride")

Musha shugyo (武者修行) is a concept in Japanese martial culture that translates roughly as a “warrior’s pilgrimage,” much like the European knight-errant or the Chinese youxia (遊侠).

In practice, musha shugyo refers to a period in which a warrior leaves their home, teacher, or school to travel the country, hone their skills, and test themselves in the wider world. It is believed that this practice was inspired by Zen monks, who would engage in similar ascetic wanderings which they called angya (行脚, traveling on foot) before attaining enlightenment.

This journey often included training with other schools, dueling, performing bodyguard work, and as Masaaki Hatsumi shared, "Musha shugyo was to go beyond the bounds of simple training. You must stretch beyond your personal limitations." (Ninpo: Wisdom for Life)

Instead, I think that most people have been misusing the previous term when they actually mean Shugyo (修行) which is Japanese for "rigorous training". The person who undergoes this discipline is referred to as a shugyosha (修行者).

Hatsumi Sensei often spoke of his international Tai Kai as his own modern form of musha shugyo, treating them as opportunities to both teach and learn through global experience.

A few notable historical figures renowned for undertaking musha shugyo include Miyamoto Musashi, Yagyu Munenori, Tsukahara Bokuden, Benkei, and Tosh*tsugu Takamatsu.

10/13/2026

1991 Tai Kai in Texas (USA). Hatsumi sensei showing a cool taijutsu lessons with Kan sensei taking ukemi.

10/11/2026

"Because the ninja’s sword is shorter, when facing an attacker with a long sword, one should extend the sword forward as far as possible while lowering the hips. This is Ichi no kamae of Togakure-ryū Happō Biken."

忍者の刀は短いですから、長い刀の敵と戦う場合には、なるべく刀を前に突き出して腰を落とすというのが、戸隠流八法秘剣の一の構えです。

Hatsumi Soke.
From the 1964 TV show called "Ninjutsu Senichiya" (ep 16)]

About 30 years ago, I was in a writing class with a teacher who would give us "fun" writing challenges. One day, she wal...
10/11/2026

About 30 years ago, I was in a writing class with a teacher who would give us "fun" writing challenges. One day, she walked in and said, "Write a five word story."

Then she wrote that phrase on the black board, placed a number above each of those words, looked back at us and smiled.
'Now, students. Get to it," as she counted the words with her fingers.

Almost immediately, there were a lot of smiles and a few questioning looks. Someone raised their hand. The teacher motioned for the student to put their hand down. Some people stared off into space, some sat thinking, and others started writing.

On an index card I wrote, "Sword's clash. Shift. Kick. Thrust."

I found that note today. Decided on a modern rewrite for my martial arts friends.

"Tsuba zeriai. Sabaki. Keri. Tsuki!"

10/10/2026

Learned this just minutes before the camera started rolling! In this 1996 clip, we’re practicing Karai (霞雷), a Shinden Fudo Ryu (神傳不動流) Dakentaijutsu (打拳体術) lesson taught to us by Marko sensei during his visit from Japan.
Thirty years later, we’ve continued to learn, practice, and evolve this lesson and its variations.

Come join us and continue the journey!

10/10/2026

This video follows the yesterdays, with Hatsumi Sōke demonstrating a variation of the Hoteki lesson on Kan sensei.
Watch how Sōke uses his footwork to “hide” from the attack before countering. This kind of unconventional movement is an important part of our training - and often, the most interesting lessons are found in the details.

10/09/2026

Seno Sensei and Kan Sensei demonstrate Hoteki (放擲) from Koto Ryū Koppōjutsu at the 1990 Atlanta Tai Kai, with Hatsumi Sōke looking on... What’s interesting is that lessons like this aren’t just something we watch in old videos - we still work with them in the dojo today. There’s always more to discover when you step onto the mat.

10/08/2026

What can we learn from watching our seniors move?
This footage from the 1990 Atlanta Tai Kai shows Kan Sensei and Seno Sensei demonstrating Kata Mune Dori from Takagi Yoshin Ryū, while Hatsumi Sōke looks on.
This is a rare opportunity to see these techniques as they were taught nearly four decades ago.

10/08/2026

Let's look at the 1989 San Francisco Tai Kai.

In this old footage, Nagato Sensei and Kan Sensei demonstrate Ichimonji no Kata - a lesson in structure, movement, timing, and distance.

Nearly four decades later, there is still much to learn from these moments.

Address

101 Pondfield Road W
Yonkers, NY
10708

Opening Hours

Tuesday 7pm - 8:30pm
Thursday 7pm - 8:30pm
Saturday 10:30am - 12:15pm

Telephone

(914) 297-8277

Website

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