International
Bujinkan Dojo Association TM
Simply put we are dedicated to creating teachers,
(called Shidoshi's in the Bujinkan Ninjutsu system of Grandmaster
Masaaki Hatsumi. We have established over the last 20+ years what
we feel is the most comprehensive Ninjutsu study program available
to the general public anywhere in the world. The International
Bujinkan Dojo Association (aka American Bujinkan Dojo) and Bushindo
Martial Arts University is the One Stop Shop for Authentic Ninjutsu
Information, no one offers more information to the general public
than we do. In offering our students a direct lineage to Soke
Masaaki Hatsumi in Japan we have become the premier official Hatsumi
(Quest Co. Ltd) video distributor outside of Japan. We secured
English subtitles on Soke's videos so that you can better understand
what he is teaching and now the conversion to DVD is in progress.
We also secured distributors for his Japanese and English book
titles and hired translators of his Japanese books (both in and
out of print). We established a structured step- by- step Ninjutsu
learning and ranking system all the way to 10th dan for interested
parties. We have a Ninjutsu forum where students can help each
other learn and find training partners. We have a Shidoshi training
program and a how to open and run a successful dojo for our affiliated
IBDA members. Every licensed teacher in Ninjutsu must be certified
by Grandmaster Hatsumi first as a Shidoshi-ho (junior licensed
instructor under a Shidoshi) and then as a Shidoshi (fully licensed
teacher of the warrior ways of Enlightnement-5th degree rank is
required). We now have many affiliated training groups and Branch
dojo's and Bujinkan friends (Buyu) all over the world. Hundreds
of our students are now Shidoshi (5th dan or above) and a many
are Judan (10th degree level). We are proud of that success as
it says we are doing many things right.
IBDA's history began in 1985 with
when Shidoshi Richard J. Van Donk was sanctioned by Grandmaster
Masaaki Hatsumi Soke of the International Hombu Dojo in Japan
to help build unity and to spread the teachings of the nine traditions
of Ninjutsu throughout the United States and abroad. It began
as the American Bujinkan DojoTM, now run by Shihan Linda Van Donk,
and grew internationally through our long distant courses. We
now have students studying worldwide in over 80 countries.
Our mission is to train and to
share with as many people as we are able, the art of Bujinkan
Ninpo Taijutsu. Our only prerequisite for training is that the
student possess respect for all life, an open heart, an open mind,
and a strong desire to learn. Those that do not attempt to cultivate
these attributes will not find happiness or success in our school.
Please read Soke Hatsumi's rules of the Bujinkan.
Please beware of instructors who
cannot provide you with official licensing proof for themselves
or if your personal ranking certification does not come from Japan
with Grandmaster Hatsumi's seal on it. If it doesn't you are not
officially the rank you think you are. This is your guarantee
of the quality of teaching. We at the IBDAtm offer authentic Ninjutsu
and Budo Taijutsu (as Soke Hatsumi now calls his martial art)
training as practiced in Japan by Grandmaster Hatsumi of whom
Shihan Van Donk is a personal student. We have compiled many training
tools and unsurpassed learning materials to help you with your
training progress. Also if you are traveling or moving to another
area we have a network of friends in the Bujinkan we can direct
you to for training. Our network of training friends is growing
on a daily basis. Check out the IBDA dojo's that we have under
our Bujinkan Dojo links page on this web site.
Students attending an IBDATM
class or seminar will find a helpful and harmonious family type
atmosphere. There is no rivalry because our art is not taught
competitively. It is taught and learned by people helping each
other to grow in Body, Mind, and Spirit. Students are instructed
to maintain the idea of harmony and non-aggression in their daily
lives. You become what you think about and do. Again, balance
is what we seek through creating a flexible body, free mind, and
an open heart. Our studies reflect that all training is a reflection
and journey of the self. We strive to become better human beings
through all our actions including our Budo training. Shihan Van
Donk says "To be a protector of peace you must
be strong enough to defend peace and resolved enough to be peaceful
even in times of challenge".
The International Bujinkan Dojo
Association TM has developed a sound reputation in the Bujinkan
organization as well as throughout the martial arts community.
We have developed one of the finest methods available today, utilizing
self empowerment and Enlightened Warriortm / Life Change Technologies
to enhance our members progress. To us it's not the rank you get
to but what you personally become in the process.
In keeping with our philosophy
of fostering good relations between all martial schools, we willingly
accept students from other Bujinkan schools and other martial
disciplines as well to train with us in our school, come to camps
or to purchase our study materials. Let us grow together as one
family of friends.
Happy training!
Richard Van Donk,
15th dan
Linda Van Donk, 10th dan |
