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===Ashida Kim===
===Ashida Kim===
Ashida Kim, also known as Radford Davis and Chris Hunter, <ref>{{cite web|url= http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/massachusetts/madce/1:2007cv11673/111449/27/|title= Massachusetts District Court, October 15, 2007, Motion to Dismiss F.R.C.P. 65(a) (1) Radford Davis by Ashida Kim a/k/a Radford Davis (Boyce, Kathy)}}</ref> is a writer and a practitioner of modern ninjitsu. Kim says his ninjitsu techniques include levitation, magic, and ''[[Dim Mak]]'' (touch of death). <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F3tJHuZDIo|title=Ninja Levitation|last=Kim|first=Ashida}}</ref>
Ashida Kim, also known as Radford Davis and Chris Hunter, <ref>{{cite web|url= http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/massachusetts/madce/1:2007cv11673/111449/27/|title= Massachusetts District Court, October 15, 2007, Motion to Dismiss F.R.C.P. 65(a) (1) Radford Davis by Ashida Kim a/k/a Radford Davis (Boyce, Kathy)}}</ref> is a writer and a practitioner of modern ninjitsu. Kim says his ninjitsu techniques include levitation, magic, and ''[[Dim Mak]]'' (touch of death). <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F3tJHuZDIo|title=Ninja Levitation|last=Kim|first=Ashida}}</ref>
From the early 1980s, Kim has written about ninjitsu techniques including the "ninja death touch", "ninja mind control" and "ninja secrets of invisibility". <ref>''Secrets of the Ninja'', Citadel Press (1981); ''Ninja Secrets of Invisibility'', Citadel Press (1983); [http://www.dojopress.com/ dojopress.com]</ref><ref>[http://www.dojopress.com/catalog.books6.html] ''Classic Ninja Titles''. Dojo Press. Retrieved on 2012-03-25.</ref> He also writes sexually explicit ninja related biographical and fictional works such as ''X-Rated dragon lady'', ''The amorous adventures of Ashida Kim'', and ''Dragon lady of the ninja''.<ref>[http://www.dojopress.com/catalog.books3.html] ''Dragon lady of the ninja''. Dojo Press. Retrieved on 2012-03-25.</ref>. These books are distributed by the publishing company Dojo Press which is owned and operated by Kim.<ref>[http://www.dojopress.com/catalog.books_new-releases.html] "New releases". Dojo Press. Retrieved on 2012-03-25.</ref>
From the early 1980s, Kim has written about ninjitsu techniques including the "ninja death touch", "ninja mind control" and "ninja secrets of invisibility". <ref>''Secrets of the Ninja'', Citadel Press (1981); ''Ninja Secrets of Invisibility'', Citadel Press (1983); [http://www.dojopress.com/ dojopress.com]</ref><ref>[http://www.dojopress.com/catalog.books6.html] ''Classic Ninja Titles''. Dojo Press. Retrieved on 2012-03-25.</ref> He also writes sexually explicit ninja related biographical and fictional works such as ''X-Rated dragon lady'', ''The amorous adventures of Ashida Kim'', and ''Dragon lady of the ninja''.<ref>[http://www.dojopress.com/catalog.books3.html] ''Dragon lady of the ninja''. Dojo Press. Retrieved on 2012-03-25.</ref>. These books are only legally distributed online by the publishing company Dojo Press which is owned and operated by Kim.<ref>[http://www.dojopress.com/catalog.books_new-releases.html] "New releases". Dojo Press. Retrieved on 2012-03-25.</ref>
In 2003, Kim stated in an interview with [[The Believer (magazine)|''The Believer'']] magazine, that he has been associated with the [[Black Dragon Fighting Society]] (BDFS) since meeting its head, [[Count Dante]], in 1968. In the same article he indicates that the BDFS is descended from a 6000 year old Chinese school called the "Polestar school" which has been preserving knowledge since the fall of Atlantis. <ref name= "believer"> [http://www.believermag.com/issues/200305/?read=interview_kim] Horowitz, Eli. "Kim and BDFS", "The Believer", May 2003.</ref> Kim also describes his belief that the Earth undergoes a cataclysm every 43,000 years due to the [[Pole shift hypothesis|poles shifting]].<ref name= "believer"/>
In 2003, Kim stated in an interview with [[The Believer (magazine)|''The Believer'']] magazine, that he has been associated with the [[Black Dragon Fighting Society]] (BDFS) since meeting its head, [[Count Dante]], in 1968. In the same article he indicates that the BDFS is descended from a 6000 year old Chinese school called the "Polestar school" which has been preserving knowledge since the fall of Atlantis. <ref name= "believer"> [http://www.believermag.com/issues/200305/?read=interview_kim] Horowitz, Eli. "Kim and BDFS", "The Believer", May 2003.</ref> Kim also describes his belief that the Earth undergoes a cataclysm every 43,000 years due to the [[Pole shift hypothesis|poles shifting]].<ref name= "believer"/>


Revision as of 18:31, 4 July 2012

Modern schools of ninjutsu are schools which offer tuition in martial arts. To a larger or smaller degree, the curriculum is derived from the practice of ninjutsu, the arts of the ninja covert agents or assassins of feudal Japan.

One of the earliest modern schools to be established was the Bujinkan Organization in 1978 by martial artist Masaaki Hatsumi. The organization teaches nine different martial arts styles, three of which are named after and claim to be descended from historical ninjutsu styles. Stephen K. Hayes, a student of Hatsumi, took what he learned to the United States in the 1970s, starting his own group of organizations called Quest Centers and his own martial arts style, To-Shin Do. Several other schools of ninjutsu also were created during the 70's, including the Dux Ryu Ninjutsu school in 1975 and the Nindo Ryu Bujutsu Kai federation in 1979.

During the 1980s, several other schools of ninjutsu also began to be developed across the world, with the Genbukan being founded in 1984 in Japan by Shoto Tanemura, a former friend and student of Hatsumi, and the AKBAN school being developed in Israel in 1986 by Doron Navon's student, Yossi Sherriff, as an offshoot of the Bujinkan Organization. The Banke Shinobinoden school, which claims a long history, began teaching Koga and Iga ninjutsu more popularly with the opening of the Iga-ryū Ninja Museum by Jinichi Kawakami.

Some of the historical claims of these modern schools have been questioned in regards to whether they truly qualify as Koryū.[1] A number of people in the general martial arts community deny the existence of any true ninjutsu being taught today because of these concerns.

1970s

Bujinkan

Main article: Bujinkan

In 1978, Masaaki Hatsumi founded the Bujinkan organization. It uses the concepts of Ninjutsu in three of its nine schools. [2]

Shadows of Iga Society

Stephen K. Hayes founded the "Shadows of Iga Society" to promote ninjutsu studies in North America. He studied with Shoto Tanemura and then with Masaaki Hatsumi. Hayes introduced the concepts of ninjutsu to North America. He founded a ninjutsu dojo in In the mid 1970s, in Atlanta, Georgia. In about 1980, Hayes moved to Dayton, Ohio where he continued to teach.

Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū

In 1973, Donn F. Draeger at the school of Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū, cited use of ninjutsu in the school curriculum. [3]

Nindo Ryu Bujutsu Kai

The "Nindo Ryu Bujutsu Kai" is a martial arts federation founded in 1979. It has a gendai ninjutsu division under the direction of Carlos R. Febres. Febres was a former student of Shoto Tanemura and T. Higushi and studies with of Ronald Duncan & Bo Munthe. "Nindo Ryu Gendai Ninjutsu" uses modern application and interpretation of the takamatsuden, koga (koka) & eclectic schools of ninjutsu.

Dux Ryu

Main article: Frank Dux

In 1975, Frank Dux established "Dux Ryu Ninjutsu" in North Hollywood, Los Angeles. His students have also owned and operated ninjutsu schools. [4]

1980s

During the 1980s, several schools of ninjutsu were developed both in and outside Japan.

Genbukan organization

"Genbukan" (玄武館) was founded in 1984 by Shoto Tanemura. [5][6] Tanemura studied under Toshshitsugo and Masaki Hatsumi. (Tanemura left Hatsumi's tutelage after a disagreement) [citation needed]. The Genbukan organization includes over 100 dojos in approximately 30 countries and 20 states in the USA. [5] Tanemura also operated a shop selling samurai swords which was associated with the Genbukan headquarters (Honbu) in Japan. [7] The organization, Genbukan Ninpo Bugei (玄武館忍法武芸) has 36 divisions called "ninja sanjurokkei". [8] The schools teach taijutsu, bikenjutsu and keishinteki kyoyo as well as bō jutsu, yumi, naginata, yari, jutte, kusari-gama, and shuriken. The Kokusai Jujutsu Renmei (international organization) also teaches traditional japanese Jujutsu techniques.[5] and self defense techniques such as goshinjutsu, 'koryu karate' and 'chugoku kenpo'. [5]

Akban

In 1986, in Israel, Yossi Sherriff founded Akban. The school's curriculum is based on that which was taught to Doron Navon (Sherriff's teacher). Navon was the first foreign Bujinkan shihan. He studied with Tanemura and then with Hatsumi. [9]

Banke Shinobinoden

The Banke Shinobinoden school began teaching koga and iga ninjutsu when these martial arts became more popular after the opening of the Iga-ryū Ninja Museum. [10] The founder, Jinichi Kawakami, studied with Masazo Ishida. Thomas Dillon wrote,

"No one knows anything about Ishida. How very ninja-like." [11][12]

Kawakami is the 21st head of the "Koga Ban" clan and the honorary director of the Iga-ryu Ninja Museum. Kawakami operates a dojo in Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture, but no longer accepts new students. [13] [14] [15] Kawakami's student, Yasushi Kiyomoto, is also a teacher of this school. [16]

Ashida Kim

Ashida Kim, also known as Radford Davis and Chris Hunter, [17] is a writer and a practitioner of modern ninjitsu. Kim says his ninjitsu techniques include levitation, magic, and Dim Mak (touch of death). [18] From the early 1980s, Kim has written about ninjitsu techniques including the "ninja death touch", "ninja mind control" and "ninja secrets of invisibility". [19][20] He also writes sexually explicit ninja related biographical and fictional works such as X-Rated dragon lady, The amorous adventures of Ashida Kim, and Dragon lady of the ninja.[21]. These books are only legally distributed online by the publishing company Dojo Press which is owned and operated by Kim.[22] In 2003, Kim stated in an interview with The Believer magazine, that he has been associated with the Black Dragon Fighting Society (BDFS) since meeting its head, Count Dante, in 1968. In the same article he indicates that the BDFS is descended from a 6000 year old Chinese school called the "Polestar school" which has been preserving knowledge since the fall of Atlantis. [23] Kim also describes his belief that the Earth undergoes a cataclysm every 43,000 years due to the poles shifting.[23]

1990 to present

Quest Centers

In the 1997 Stephen K. Hayes retired the Shadows of Igia society, and founded the "Quest Centers". Hayes developed To-Shin Do, a western system of Ninjutsu distinct from Bujinkan.[24]

Jissen Kobudo Jinenkan

This school was founded by Fumio Manaka in 1996. Manaka was a student of Masaaki Hatsumi and achieved menkyo kaiden in several styles of Bujinkan including togakure-ryu ninjutsu. [citation needed].

Bansenshukai Ninjutsu organization

The Bansenshukai organization was founded in 2006 by E. Scott Damron and Daniel Buckley. [25] The men share backgrounds in bujinkan budo taijutsu, to-shin do, and American jujitsu.

Ninja South Africa

Ninja SA was founded by David Field in 2006. It teaches a hybrid Ninjutsu style based on experiences on the streets of South Africa and the "Koga Ryu" ninjutsu style (the first taught in South Africa). The group has dojos in South Africa and Wales, United Kingdom.[26]

National ninjustsu academy

In 2011, Brandon Anderson, who has a background in Bujinkan Ninjutsu and To Shin Do, developed "Jissen Ninpo Budo Taijutsu" and founded the National Ninjutsu Academy (NNA). [27]

The martial university

In 2011, Jonathan Kingsley established "The martial university" in Charlotte, North Carolina. It teaches ninjutau and other martial arts styles. The curriculum offers training in stealth, disguise, technique, weapons and philosophy and modernized versions of the techniques for use in real-life situations.

Modern ninjutsu concepts

In 2011, Robert Reynoso founded "Modern ninjutsu concepts" (M.N.C.) in Southern California. M.N.C. offers an American ninjutsu training system which values effectiveness over tradition by referring to real situations. [28]

Kage no michi ryu

"Kage No Michi Ryu" was founded in South Africa in 2011. It is a shinobi bujutsu school which offers coaching in street defence, modern weaponry, tactics and strategies with which to effectively deal with potential threats. [29]

Controversy and opposition

Concerns about modern schools of ninjustsu relate to the schools' claims to authenticity (direct lines of tutelage from the ancient schools) and secondly, to claims of notability by those who operate them. For example, some ask whether modern schools of ninjutsu qualify as "Koryū". [30]

Authenticity

The concerns about authenticity are voiced by historians of koryu arts and by representatives of the Iga Ninja Museum of Japan. Some would go so far as to say there are no longer any true ninjutsu schools.[30][31]

Claims to notability

Opponents of the operators of modern schools of ninjutsu point to documents which conflict with claims of those operators. The conflict is about the veracity of claims about training and skills.

Hatsumi

In August 1960, Masaaki Hatsumi said he had studied under Takashi Ueno from when he was 24 to 29 years of age. [32] He said he sometimes wrote letters to Ueno's teacher, Toshitsugu Takamatsu. [32] However, the certificate which Takamatsu gave to Hatsumi, that named Hatsumi the 34th head of "Togakure ryu" is dated March, 1958. [33] Furthermore, there is no documentation of the previous 33 holders of this title. [34] There are films of Hatsumi and Ueno training together over a long period of several years[33]. Furthermore, Takamatsu confirmed that Hatsumi had been training with him since 1958. [35] In November 1963, Hatsumi said he was training with Takamatsu once every three months, on weekends. [36] Kiyoshi Watatani (editor of the Bugeicyo magazine in 1963), suggested Hatsumi's lineage was Hatsumi's notion alone and that Hatsumi had no proof of it. [36] Sources of the history of ninjutsu are the Kakutogi No Rekishi (which lists Bujinkan Ryuha - Hatsumi's organization) and the historian and author, Yumio Nawa. In 1972, Nawa confirmed the historic status of the 12th century tradition, the togakure ryu. [37] In 1978, the Bugei Ryūha Daijiten said of the Takamatsu togakure-ryu,

" the genealogy includes embellishments, by referring to data and kuden about persons whose existence is based on written materials and traditions, in order to appear older than it actually is."[38]. (The 1963 and 1969 versions of the Bugei include similar wording).[clarification needed]

In Shinobi no sengokushi (August, 2004) Hatsumi said he trained under Toshitsugu Takamatsu's tutelage for 15 years and became master of 9 systems at age 27. [39]

Dux

The validity of Dux's claims which have been disputed include his martial arts credentials; his fighting in the "Kumite"; and his prior military service. [40] In 1998, in the Los Angeles superior court, Dux and Jean Claude Van Damme were opposing litigants. [41] [42][clarification needed] In 2004, Ralph Keyes (writer for the LA Times) wrote,

"Like Wayland Clifton, Dux even forged a press account of his exploits. Research on these 'exploits' conducted by Los Angeles Times reporter, John Johnson, and phony-veteran unmasker, B.G. 'Jug' Burkett, revealed that Dux had been in the military for only a few months, didn't serve in Southeast Asia, and won no medals. His service record indicates that Dux had been referred for psychiatric evaluation due to 'flights of ideas and exaggerations." [43]

Kim

Opponents of modern ninjutsu schools argue that no evidence is readily available to show that Kim has studied or trained under a teacher. Demonstrating his poor martial arts knowledge in a video interview released on YouTube, Kim says that the first five forms learned in Goju Ryu, Shotokan, Wado Ryu, Isshin Ryu, and "hard Korean martial arts" are all identical.[44][clarification needed]

References

  1. ^ Skoss, Diane (ed.) (1999). "Ninjutsu: is it koryu bujutsu?". Koryu.com. Retrieved 2007-01-01. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ ""Bujinkan Dojo-Soke Masaaki Hatsumi"". Retrieved 2007-06-05.
  3. ^ Draeger, Donn F. (1973, 2007). "Classical Bujutsu: The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan". Boston, Massachusetts: Weatherhill. pp. 84–85. ISBN 978-0-8348-0233-9. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ Chia, Juan, ""Reto Final"", Artes Marciales, No.30: 14–19 {{citation}}: |volume= has extra text (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |journal= (help)
  5. ^ a b c d [1] "Genbukan organization, KJJR International Headquarters". Retrieved on 2012-03-25.
  6. ^ "The Battle for Ninja Supremacy", Adams, Andy. Black Belt Magazine, May, 1986.
  7. ^ [2] "Samurai sword shop". Retrieved on 2012-03-25.
  8. ^ [3] "Ninjutsu martial arts, the Genbukan, way of Ninja". Retrieved on 2012-03-25.
  9. ^ ""Akban - Budo Ninjutsu: The Largest Martial Arts Database"". Retrieved 2007-06-05.
  10. ^ [4] "Banke Shinobi"
  11. ^ [5] Study/Circles "Iga-ryu ninja museum" website, retrieved on 2012-03-25.
  12. ^ A story of life, fate, and finding the lost art of koga ninjutsu in Japan, DiMarzio, Daniel, ISBN 978-1-4357-1208-9
  13. ^ [6] "Banke Shinobinoden Kensyujyo" website. Retrieved on 2012-03-25.
  14. ^ [7] "The last of the ninja" | The Japan Times Online. Retrieved on 2012-03-25.
  15. ^ "Koga Ryu Wada Ha" style taught by the late Fujita Seiko, Fujita Seiko by Phillip Hevener ISBN 1-4363-0176-9
  16. ^ Template:Jp icon 伴家忍之傳研修所
  17. ^ "Massachusetts District Court, October 15, 2007, Motion to Dismiss F.R.C.P. 65(a) (1) Radford Davis by Ashida Kim a/k/a Radford Davis (Boyce, Kathy)".
  18. ^ Kim, Ashida. "Ninja Levitation".
  19. ^ Secrets of the Ninja, Citadel Press (1981); Ninja Secrets of Invisibility, Citadel Press (1983); dojopress.com
  20. ^ [8] Classic Ninja Titles. Dojo Press. Retrieved on 2012-03-25.
  21. ^ [9] Dragon lady of the ninja. Dojo Press. Retrieved on 2012-03-25.
  22. ^ [10] "New releases". Dojo Press. Retrieved on 2012-03-25.
  23. ^ a b [11] Horowitz, Eli. "Kim and BDFS", "The Believer", May 2003.
  24. ^ Toller, Dennis. "Once the West's Most Celebrated Ninja, Stephen K. Hayes Moves Beyond the Assassin Image." Black Belt Magazine. October 1998. P. 32.
  25. ^ [12] "Bansenshukai organization website". Retrieved on 2012-03-25.
  26. ^ [13] "Ninja South Africa"
  27. ^ nationalninjutsuacademy "National ninjustsu academy". Retrieved on 2012-03-25.
  28. ^ [14] "Modern Ninjutsu Concepts" Vechtsporten, Fysieke fitness, La Habra, Ca. Facebook page (2008-06-12). Retrieved on 2012-03-25.
  29. ^ [15] Kage No Michi Ryu school, South Africa.
  30. ^ a b Skoss, Diane (ed.) (1999). [[16] ""Ninjutsu: is it koryu bujutsu?""]. Koryu.com. Retrieved 2007-01-01. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help); Check |url= value (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  31. ^ [17] "Ninja Iga ryu Ninja Museum". Retrieved on 25 March, 2012.
  32. ^ a b Rekishi Dokuhon (history magazine) August, 1960.
  33. ^ a b "Saigo no Ninja, Toshitsugu Takamatsu" ISBN 4-87389-706-8
  34. ^ "Ninjutsu and Koryu Bujutsu" | Martial Arts Database. Mardb.com (19 May, 1999). Retrieved on 2012-03-25.
  35. ^ "Shinsetsu Nihon Ninja Retsuden", Koyama Ryutaro, 1964, Arechi Shuppansha (publisher).
  36. ^ a b Bugeicyo magazine, November, 1963.
  37. ^ Ninjutsu no kenku, 1972, Ninchibo Shuppansha
  38. ^ Watatani Kiyoshi and Yamada Tadashi (1978). "Bugei Ryuha Daijiten". Various. pp. 626–627. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help)
  39. ^ Shinobino Sengokushi Heisei August, 2004.
  40. ^ Johnson, John (1 May, 1988). ""Ninja: hero or master fake? Others kick holes in fabled past of Woodland Hills martial arts teacher"". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2007-05-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  41. ^ "Full Mental Jacket" (August 1996) and "Stolen Valor: Profiles of a Phony-Hunter" (November 1998), Soldier of Fortune
  42. ^ Frank Dux v. Jean Claude Van Damme, U.S., SC 046395 (LA Superior Court 1998).
  43. ^ Keyes (2004), p. 73.
  44. ^ Interview with Ashida Kim, p. 1:40
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