Checking Budo Taijutsu Credentials

[Spaceman]

I've been lurking on this board for a couple weeks now, and I finally have a question worth asking.

 

I'm looking to start Budo Taijutsu soon. From what I understand it's highly similar to traditional Jiujitsu, which, incidentally, is another possible choice of mine.

 

I've chosen to look at the Taijutsu place first because it's half the distance (surprising), its history is much cooler, and the instructor was more jovial and willing to talk when I called him.

 

The jiujitsu place--and there are several in Tulsa--I'm looking at is taught at a YMCA and is about 16 miles away. The Taijutsu is taught from a two-car garage 8 miles away... a literal garage dojo.

 

The jiujitsu instructor is a lawyer, the Taijutsu instructor, Julius McGee, works for TV Guide. So neither is a shady lowlife person.

 

Since lots of fake Ninjutsu schools have popped up in the past, I'm wanting to make sure the Taijutsu guy is legit. He told me he understands my wanting to double-check things, and was more than willing to give me info.

 

Apparently he studied under Aric Keith of around Seattle, who Google tells me teaches at the Cascade Bujinkan Tenchijin Cascade Dojo.

 

I've seen ads McGee put up advertising visits by Aric Keith, so that has some evidence.

 

Also apparently Keith studies under a guy who's studied under Hatsumi, and regularly visits Japan for the same.

 

So far everything seems to check out for him. I'm told, though, I should check for certification from Hatsumi's organization to be for absolute sure.

 

How does this sound so far? Is there anything I need to check on besides this to make sure he's legit?

 

Assuming he's a good teacher, he checks out, the class has a nice atmosphere with safety precautions, etc. etc., I'll probably start there soon.

 

Additionally, since I'm new to the Tulsa area and looking to start learning something new here, I'm going to start doing some kendo on the weekends.

[granmasterchen]

sounds like you already have it figured out. Good luck and train hard

[Rio]

Just some clarification....

 

While traditional Jujitsu is likely very similar to Taijutsu, Jiu Jitsu (notice the I after the first J) is a spelling most commonly applied to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and will not include the weapons training and traditional training you would find at a traditional Jujitsu school

[gcav]

It sounds like you are doing the right things to make sure you're not "taken". I joined my first Ninjutsu club (Togakuri Ryu Budo Taijutsu as it is called now) in 1984. I don't want to be negative, but most of what passes off as "ninja" training is nothing more than TKD with the word ninja painted on the door. There is authentic ninja training available thru the Bujinkan dojos, you just have to make sure that he is afiliated with them. Personally, I would be a little suspicious about an authentic Bujinkan dojo in a garage. You are right to look into his background. It is very easy to tell if a place is legit or not. They should be able to show their lineage to the Grandmaster. Ask to see his rank certificates and teaching credentials. Most people that run Bujinkan Dojos are only 2, 3 or 4 times removed in training from the Grandmaster. They should be able to show that they are a true Bujinkan Dojo. You can go to some "known" Dojos on the web and ask questions by sending them e-mails. Check him out, and if he comes back legit, GO FOR IT. Just be careful.

[Reklats]

You're probably not paying a whole lot to train in a YMCA or a garage anyway, are you?

 

Where's treebranch?

[Shorinryu Sensei]

The jiujitsu place--and there are several in Tulsa--I'm looking at is taught at a YMCA and is about 16 miles away. The Taijutsu is taught from a two-car garage 8 miles away... a literal garage dojo.

 

Personally, I prefer to see schools in garages and YMCA sort of places, as opposed to the flashy, mirror walled "health club" atmosphere. I've taught in both, and I prefer the "cozy" atmosphere of my converted garage.

The jiujitsu instructor is a lawyer, the Taijutsu instructor, Julius McGee, works for TV Guide. So neither is a shady lowlife person.

 

Wait a second. Since when did lawyers move out of the lowlife status in this country? OK..just kidding (sorta)...but you're right, they should be reputable.

Since lots of fake Ninjutsu schools have popped up in the past, I'm wanting to make sure the Taijutsu guy is legit. He told me he understands my wanting to double-check things, and was more than willing to give me info.

 

The fact he understands and is willing to give you any references is a good thing. Personally, I don't care for ninjutsu systems...period. Why? Because I honestly don't believe what you are learning is truly ninjutsu! I've had this discussion with authentic Okinawan masters in the past, and they will roll their eyes and tell you that they believe that people taking ninjutsu are taking classes from someone that studied karate, and decided to make changes to it to fit the peoples perceptions of what a ninja would be. It's all a money making scam...IMHO. Please..no flaming. It's my opinion, and also the opinion of people that have lived their entire lives over there and know what they are talking about more than we do here on this side of the world. Plus think about it., Ninjas were a very secretive people. They would rather die than to give away their secrets. Knowing the Japanese mindset, why all of a sudden would they just one day decide to teach these closely guarded secrets that their descendents guarded with their lives to Western people? It just sort of "smells" to me...but again, that's my opinion.

 

An analogy would be that if I went to Japan and opened a "Want to be a cowboy" school. How many Japanese know anthing about being a real cowboy, other than what they see in movies? I sell them boots, hats, buckles..the whole outfit (like the ninja suit), teach them how to walk funny, how to saddle a horse, how to chew tobacco and spit, how to act like a butthead and listen to country music and two-step. Does this make them a cowboy? No, but they think they are...and I keep telling them they are, and getting better at it every week! For a fee of course!

[gcav]

Shorinryu Sensei - I can assure you that authentic ninjutsu training is available in the U.S. thru the Bujinkan dojos. Soke Masaaki Hatsumi is the 34th grandmaster of the Togakuri Ryu Ninjutsu tradition. He is also the grandmaster of 8 other ninja traditions (systems) that fall under the Togakuri Ryu. His lineage can be traced from teacher to teacher all the way back to the begining. Soke Hatsumi has been declared a national treasure by the Japanese government. I don't think they would do that for some "karate guy" pretending to be ninja. The methods and techniques of ninjutsu are quite different from that of other Japanese MAs. It is obvious to the initiated as to what is real and what is fake. To become an instructor in the authentic art of Togakuri Ryu ninjutsu, you have to be a 5th dan. The grandmaster is the only person in the world that gives that test. You must travel to Japan and test before him, and if you pass, you are promoted to 5th Dan and can receive your teaching certificate. (He is the only one that gives teaching credentials as well). Once you have done this you can open your school under the Bujinkan. For those of us in ninjutsu, the history, power and beauty of the art are well known. The reason Soke Hatsumi brought ninjutsu "out of the shadows", was to save the art from extinction. It is well documented as to why, how and when he did this.

 

You say you don't care for ninjutsu. Have you ever trained in it, or is your only exposer to the art the silly movies that have TKD guys in black suits? Of course that stuff is crap and only what Hollywood thinks people want to see. True ninjutsu is nothing like that. What style was the Okinawan master that you talked to? Has he ever been exposed to the true nature of ninjutsu or studied under Soke Masaaki Hatsumi? I have lived and trained in Asia, and I can tell you that just because they are oriental doesn't make them experts on all MAs, especially the art of ninjutsu. Ninjutsu has to be expierenced to be understood.

 

However, as I stated in my previous post, there are a lot of fakes out there and that is why I encouraged Spaceman to use all possible means to check out and verify people claiming to be ninja. We don't advertise or seek out students, they must find us.

[Shorinryu Sensei]

Shorinryu Sensei - I can assure you that authentic ninjutsu training is available in the U.S. thru the Bujinkan dojos. Soke Masaaki Hatsumi is the 34th grandmaster of the Togakuri Ryu Ninjutsu tradition. He is also the grandmaster of 8 other ninja traditions (systems) that fall under the Togakuri Ryu. His lineage can be traced from teacher to teacher all the way back to the begining. Soke Hatsumi has been declared a national treasure by the Japanese government. I don't think they would do that for some "karate guy" pretending to be ninja. The methods and techniques of ninjutsu are quite different from that of other Japanese MAs. It is obvious to the initiated as to what is real and what is fake. To become an instructor in the authentic art of Togakuri Ryu ninjutsu, you have to be a 5th dan. The grandmaster is the only person in the world that gives that test. You must travel to Japan and test before him, and if you pass, you are promoted to 5th Dan and can receive your teaching certificate. (He is the only one that gives teaching credentials as well). Once you have done this you can open your school under the Bujinkan. For those of us in ninjutsu, the history, power and beauty of the art are well known. The reason Soke Hatsumi brought ninjutsu "out of the shadows", was to save the art from extinction. It is well documented as to why, how and when he did this.

 

You say you don't care for ninjutsu. Have you ever trained in it, or is your only exposer to the art the silly movies that have TKD guys in black suits? Of course that stuff is crap and only what Hollywood thinks people want to see. True ninjutsu is nothing like that. What style was the Okinawan master that you talked to? Has he ever been exposed to the true nature of ninjutsu or studied under Soke Masaaki Hatsumi? I have lived and trained in Asia, and I can tell you that just because they are oriental doesn't make them experts on all MAs, especially the art of ninjutsu. Ninjutsu has to be expierenced to be understood.

 

However, as I stated in my previous post, there are a lot of fakes out there and that is why I encouraged Spaceman to use all possible means to check out and verify people claiming to be ninja. We don't advertise or seek out students, they must find us.

 

I've had the oppportunity to watch ninjutsu classes in the LA, Atlanta, Houston and Seattle areas in the past, and wasn't impressed. Were they legitimate ninja schools? I have no idea at all. All I know is that as I went by them, I stopped, found out when classes were and asked if I would be allowed to watch. I went back later during class time and watched the classes, and in my opinion, it didn't impress me much. But again, I have no idea who they were affiliated with, so they very well could have been phony. I don't believe that an experienced martial artist has to take classes to be able to tell * from legitimate. What I saw being taught was good for Hollywood antics...or basic karate technique.

 

The Okinawan Master that gave me his opinion on ninjutsu was Kuda Yuichi Sensei, head of the system that I practice.

[gcav]

Yes, if they were doing Hollywood movie stuff then I would say they were definitely fake. I checked on one school that claimed to be teaching ninjutsu, and within five minutes I knew they were fake. They were teaching "traditional" stances and kicks. Ninjutsu uses different "stances" than karate. But the real stuff is out there for those that seek it.