In an era over eight centuries ago, when Japan was composed of many independent feudal states and war was frequent, Daisuke of the Togakure family once suffered heavy losses in battle.

Barely escaping with his life, he retreated into the mountains, where he came upon the teachings of a warrior priest named Kain Doshi. There in the fog-shrouded peaks of Iga Province, Daisuke studied long and hard a new art of combat, new ways to use the body and spirit, a new vision.

With the knowledge of these secrets, Daisuke emerged from the mists of Iga enlightened. Thus was born the shadow warriors of  Togakure.

- A Tale of the Togakure Ninja

About Us
The Bujinkan Orange County Dojo is located in the city of Mission Viejo, Orange County, California.

We offer training in the Japanese Martial Arts of the Bujinkan Dojo under the direction of Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi in Japan who is the Soke (Head of the Family) or "Grandmaster". We are not a "commercial" dojo.

The Bujinkan Dojo is composed of nine different
historical schools or lineages tracing back to different Ninja clans throughout Japan's history. Instruction is conducted in all facets of these nine schools. Although usually known as Ninjutsu ("The way of overcoming, persevering, or enduring), Hatsumi-Soke prefers to call the culmination of skills learned through these nine schools "Budo Taijutsu" (loosely translated as "Warrior Combat Arts of the Body").

"Bu" translates as warrior
"do" translates as way or method

"Tai" translates as body
"jutsu" translates as combat art

Ninjutsu is just a small part of what is taught in the Bujinkan Dojo. The Nine Schools are listed below:

Togakure Ryu Ninpo
Gyokushin Ryu Ninpo
Kumogakure Ryu Ninpo
Gikan Ryu Koppojutsu
Koto Ryu Koppo Taijutsu
Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu
Gyokko Ryu Koshijutsu
Shinden Fudo Ryu Dakentaijutsu
Kuki Shinden Ryu Happo Hikenjutsu

For more information on the Bujinkan Dojo click the link below:

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From these nine schools unarmed combat skills, natural body movement and evasion utilizing tumbling & leaping skills, weaponry skills, and some basic survival skills, are taught through a training curriculum designed to carry the student from beginning concepts to advanced skills through 19 areas of study.

The Bujinkan Dojo is one of the unique martial arts taught as a practical self-defense system, totally integrated with one's everyday life and not isolated from it.

There are no tournaments or championships as such and the class is a environment with emphasis on mastering one's self while helping others through cooperation. If you feel you have something to prove then this dojo is not for you.

For hand-crafted martial art training weaponry and accessories of the highest quality consult the link below:

2008 Year of "Ninpo" - Togakure Ryu

Typically Hatsumi Soke picks a particular theme (kunji) for the Bujinkan to study each year. This year's theme for 2008 that Hatsumi Sensei and the Shihan have embarked on involves "Ninpo". "Ninpo" is roughly translated as "the way of endurance". But this year seems to focus on way in which it is done harmoniously so that the way becomes effortless. Soke says that this year is a  culmination of many of the past themes but with an emphasis on "kukan, filling the space appropriately to control it". If you control the space you automatically control the opponent. The ideas of "koku, potential space",  as well as the idea of being in a state of "zero" was also discussed.  In this way, it makes it hard for the opponent to understand what you are doing. There is no intention that can be discerned in your movement. You have infinite options in the moment when the space is controlled.

These ideas will be studied through the techniques and methods of the Togakure Ryu "Hidden Door" School. This particular school specialized in methods of escape and evasion while utilizing many different types of weapons.