THE BUJINKAN
The Bujinkan is a martial arts organization that was created by Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi of Noda, Japan as a way to disseminate the arts he received from his mentor, Toshitsugu Takamatsu.
Takamatsu-sensei passed nine arts to Hatsumi-soke. Here at Cedar Park Dojo, we study 6 of those arts. In no particular order of importance, those arts are:
THE DOJO LINEAGE
TOSHITSUGU TAKAMATSU
The Source of the Nine Schools
Takamatsu-sensei is the late grandmaster of the nine arts which make up the Bujinkan canon. He is said to have been the last active combat ninja. A highly respected martial artist, he was dubbed "The Mongolian Tiger".
HATSUMI MASAAKI
The Founder of the Bujinkan
Hatsumi-soke is the founder of the Bujinkan organization, which he created to disseminate the teachings he received from Takamatsu-sensei.
Despite being an accomplished martial artist in his own right prior to meeting Takamatsu-sensei, Hatsumi-sensei's encounter with the old ninja fundamentally changed his life.
ISHIZUKA TETSUJI
My Teacher's Teacher
Ishizuka-sensei has been a devoted student of Hatsumi-soke for many decades. A retired fire-fighter, his strength and dexterity are matched by his joyous nature.
KACEM ZOUGHARI
My Teacher
Kacem first began studying ninjutsu at a very young age. Eventually he decided to go to the source of the art, travelling to Japan in order to deepen his practice. It was there that he encountered his mentor of many years, Ishizuka-sensei.
In addition to the physical practice of martial techniques, Kacem is a respected scholar in the academic study of classical Japanese martial arts. He holds a PhD from INALCO in Paris.