FAQ

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Get started right now by first joining the International Bujinkan Dojo Association at www.BushindoUniversity.com IBDA Membership- you will get an ID card and a downloadable certificate plus many other benefits in the Online Portal that comes with IBDA membership.

Then simply enroll in a Ninjutsu Course with us at a local dojo or by obtaining from Bushindo University a distance learning Course.
If your an “All In” kind of person and your budget allows it then get the Complete Bujinkan Masters Course so that you have full access to all the teachings from Beginner to 5th Dan Shidoshi Master teacher level from the start. Those that do this excel the fastest and best. If you are wanting to become an instructor get this course or work towards it. Note: We have a physical Masters Course Binder version or you can get the ONLINE ONLY version which has everything in it. For a limited time when you get the Bujinkan Masters Course Binder Course version we grant you LIFETIME access to the ONLINE VERSION for FREE!

Or just Start with the Shodan Course. This also comes in either a Physical Binder Version or an ONLINE ONLY.
Or enroll in the NINJA DOJO ONLINE program. there are many payment options at www.NinjaDojo.com

Enrolling in this course establishes you as a student in our Bushindo University. You are consider a dojo member. You can choose to test with us or not. This is YOUR choice. Before you test fill out and send in your student application – you can find this in the IBDA members portal.
Obtain through us or your local martial arts shop a Black uniform with a white belt. You do not need to have tabi shoes, (some do, some don’t). Over time you will need to get or make a few wooden weapons such as a knife, 3ft staff, 6 ft staff and a wooden sword.
Start your studies at 9th kyu and study each move on the videos over and over until you can do them easily just like it is on the dvd. Most students take about 3 months at each level, achieving their blackbelt in 2.5 to 3 years of dedicated study. If you are athletic or already have martial arts experience you may go faster through the levels keeping in mind that the basics are the foundations that you build your Blackbelt and advanced levels of training. This Course was carefully crafted over 7 years to give you a natural progression of material after some 20 trips to Japan. Welcome to the Training and let us know how we can help you on your path! 

First, the dvd’s are your instructor, teaching you in your home or dojo in a step by step way. You can slow motion the instructor and practice the move until you learn it. Try that in a dojo. No intimidation of a class. Go at your own speed. And do it when you have the time.

Second, we encourage you to find training partners or a IBDA Bujinkan school near you when you feel you are ready to take your training to a new level. For you we have created a unique and very effective video written feedback system that really works. We know because it produces results!

Third, Do no believe people that tell you that this does not work. They all have some gain for telling you so (like afraid you will learn stuff that they do not know) or they are just not educated in this learning method. Since 1991, there are countless Shodans, Godans and Judans that started with this our distance learning courses all over the world.

Now, every major university in the world is not only offering Online Classes, but also awarding online distance learning degrees. Yes, prestigious Universities like Stanford, John Hopkins, Penn State, North Eastern, Waldorf, Boston U, Yale and even Harvard. You MUST get good education to excell.

IBDA is here to stay! And we are here to help you grow as an IBDA dojo or training groups anywhere in the world. Perhaps you will be the head instructor in your area.

No matter if you have a dojo to train in or not –
TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR OWN TRAINING!

Testing is simple. Upon becoming a registered student we provide you with a list of what techniques to demonstrate while being filmed on video and post it to a private YouTube account or other video medium. For detailed how to go the IBDA Membership Portal.  Pay for testing in the Membership Portal, e-mail the test video link to the University at info@bushindo.com – an upper level IBDA blackbelt instructor will carefully review and grade your skills, give you great feedback inspiring your improvements in the areas needed. This can be done for 9th kyu to 1st kyu ranks. The blackbelt test must be done in person at a semi-annual camp, seminar, tai kai, dojo or private appointment. Of course the Kyu ranks are best done this way also. But for many students this cost is to great. This is a real blackbelt and we want your day to be special! ALL OF OUR RANK CERTIFICATIONS ARE AWARED AND ISSUED BY THE INTERNATIONAL BUJINKAN DOJO ASSOCIATION! All Bujinkan ranks are not the same.
Click on Rank Testing to go to that section for more details and watch a short video on this subject.

Nothing is better than sharing these studies with family or a buddy! It is so much fun to have someone you can share this art with. Each of you will inspire each other’s growth. We highly encourage it and we designed a special training plan where you and a friend can share your training at a reduced enrollment price. Family is everything to us. So immediate family members such as your wife, husband or children living in your home can study and test with the same Course. We recommend that everyone has their own training manual and of course their own uniform. Check our Buddy Plan section for complete information.

NINJUTSU IS NOT RELIGION. Spiritual Yes. Religion NO. You can train in our art no matter what your religious path is or is not. Please do not confuse this or let anyone else tell you otherwise. We respect all faiths. We have issued blackbelts to people of every faith. Doshi Van Donk and Soke Hatsumi both emphatically respect all faiths and considers their own not limited to one but includes all religions. This art has lasted at least a thousand years and people who trained in it had their own religious beliefs, mostly ones that taught living a natural life. As time goes on cultures change form as do even religious beliefs. Many Japanese families that where once Shinto over time adopted Daoism and Buddhism and now have converted to Christian. Bujinkan Ninjutsu teachings are worldwide and encompass every religion. Please know that respect, human kindness and helping others are key principles of our Ninjutsu teachings.

We do not want to leave anyone out as we believe that these teachings can and do change peoples lives. And we abide by the Bujinkan rules as they are meant to be applied. These arts are are not for everyone and they are not for people in prison (or should be), those that have a very bad drug habit or those that are under strong mental supervision. We evaluate yours and all other situations on an individual basis. Someone who has recovered from the mentioned challenges are usually welcomed into the training and as long as they are not hurting anyone else they are welcome to train. We allow everyone to have the opportunity to train with the Shodan course and we reserve the right to deny rank testing and dojo participation. Study the arts and change your life.
See the IBDA Bujinkan Rules page for more details. 

IBDA is under the direction of Doshi Richard Van Donk was designated and authorized by Soke Hatsumi’s to head this organization. Doshi Richard Van Donk now carries on the Bujinkan teachings he learned from Soke Hatsumi and he ranks all IBDA students worldwide. Now that Soke Hatsumi has retired from active teaching and Sokeships of the 9 schools issued to various individuals Both Kyu and Dan IBDA certifications are awarded and issued by IBDA and are signed by Doshi Richard Van Donk. We are your source for authentic Ninpo Taijutsu/ Ninjutsu teachings.

We feel you. This happens all too often in the Bujinkan. At IBDA this does not happen. We ONLY rank students that train with us at IBDA. Your ability and rank is also about your relationship with your teacher. Our advice is for you to write to the Japan Hombu, in Japanese, about your situation.

 We appreciate your desire to train with IBDA. Many instructors come to us because they want a solid home, organization and a solid study curriculum… The Bujinkan is ever changing now that Soke Hatsumi is not actively teaching. IBDA stands on its own to carry its teachings on forever.

To learn how to be a part of our organization Please go to http://ninjutsu.com/ibda/become-an-instructor/ and deeply read all about this and then watch the ranking video at http://ninjutsu.com/ibda/ranking-testing/

You are welcome to e-mail us at info@ninjutsu.com with your name – location – Bujinkan dojo training history and what you would like to have happen in our relationship together. Most likely Doshi Richard Van Donk will personally get back to you.

YES, actually both. Doshi Richard Van Donk personally signs and stamps his approval on every IBDA rank certificate.  This will always be the case for IBDA students as long as Doshi is alive, teaching and issuing certification.

Well the first thing is that IBDA is BUJINKAN and associated with Soke Masaaki Hatsumi and Mr. Hayes is no longer with the Bujinkan (for about 15+ years). So if you want authentic Bujinkan teachings and to be a part of a continuing lineage then we offer that. 

Doshi Richard Van Donk was personally taught to give the Sakki 5th dan test by Soke Hatsumi and Anshu Hayes was not. We feel that we have very comprehensive continued education courses to Judan which Toshindo does not. We feel we offer authentic Ninjutsu as it was taught in Japan by Soke Hatsumi with modern applications while we feel Toshindo is a modernized version and it is NOT what Hatsumi taught.

That being said, Anshu Stephen K. Hayes is a very good teacher and just offers something different than we do. That choice can only be yours as your path is your own.  Oh, did I mention that we already have a 25 year study program created and in our Online Study Portal and in the Ninjutsu Masters Course Program? www.BushindoUniversity.com