Guidelines
For Participation In The Bujinkan
By Masaaki Hatsumi - Soke
- The Bujinkan shall be open to only those
who agree with and uphold the guidelines of the Bujinkan Dojo.
Those not doing so shall not be allowed to join. Specifically:
Only those who have read and agreed with these guidelines shall
be allowed to participate.
- Only those able to exercise true patience,
self-control, and dedication shall be allowed to participate.
A physician's examination report shall be required. Specifically,
individuals with mental illness, drug addiction, or mentally
instability shall be barred from joining. The necessity of such
a report concerns individuals who may present a danger to others,
for example, those with infectious diseases or illnesses, individuals
with clinically abnormal personalities or physiology, and individuals
lacking self-control.
- Individuals with criminal records shall
be turned away. Trouble makers, those who commit crimes, and
those living in Japan who break domestic laws shall be turned
away.
- Those not upholding the guidelines of the
Bujinkan, either as practitioners or as members of society,
by committing disgraceful or reproachable acts shall be expelled.
Until now, the Bujinkan was open to large numbers of people
who came to Japan. Among them, unfortunately, were those committing
violent drunken acts, the mentally ill, and trouble makers who
thought only of themselves and failed to see how their actions
might adversely affect others. Through their actions, such people
were discarding the traditional righteous heart of the Bujinkan.
From this day forward, all such people shall be expelled.
- Regarding accidents occurring during training
(both inside and outside the dojo), one should not cause trouble
to the Bujinkan. This is an extremely important point. Those
unwilling to take personal responsibility for accidents occurring
during Bujinkan training shall not be admitted. Reiterating
for clarity, the Bujinkan shall not take responsibility for
any accidents happening in the course of training, regardless
of the location.
- All those joining the Bujinkan must get an
annual membership card. This card not only preserves the honor
of the Bujinkan members, it indicates you are part of a larger
whole--one whose members come together with warrior hearts to
better themselves through training and friendship. It evinces
the glory of warrior virtue, and embodies both loyalty and brotherly
love.
-
The tradition of the Bujinkan
recognizes nature and the universality of all human life,
and is aware of that which flows naturally between the two
parts:
A:"The secret principle of Taijutsu is to know the foundations
of peace.
B:To study is the path to the immovable heart (fudoshin)."
Recently, the Bujinkan has become truly international. Just
as there are various time zones, so exist various taboos among
the world's peoples and nations. We must respect each other,
striving to avoid such taboos. We must put the heart of the
warrior first, working together for self-improvement and for
the betterment of the Bujinkan. Those not upholding the above-mentioned
guidelines shall be forced out of the Bujinkan.
Sealed by Masaaki Hatsumi -
Soke
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