A little about us...
International Bujinkan Dojo
AssociationTM
Simply put we are dedicated to creating
teachers, (called Shidoshi's in the Bujinkan Ninjutsu
system of Grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi. We have established
over the last 20+ years what we feel is the most comprehensive
Ninjutsu study program available to the general public
anywhere in the world. The International Bujinkan Dojo
Association (aka American Bujinkan Dojo) and Bushindo
Martial Arts University is the One Stop Shop for Authentic
Ninjutsu Information, no one offers more information
to the general public than we do. In offering our students
a direct lineage to Soke Masaaki Hatsumi in Japan we
have become the premier official Hatsumi (Quest Co.
Ltd) video distributor outside of Japan. We secured
English subtitles on Soke's videos so that you can better
understand what he is teaching and now the conversion
to DVD is in progress. We also secured distributors
for his Japanese and English book titles and hired translators
of his Japanese books (both in and out of print). We
established a structured step- by- step Ninjutsu learning
and ranking system all the way to 10th dan for interested
parties. We have a Ninjutsu forum where students can
help each other learn and find training partners. We
have a Shidoshi training program and a how to open and
run a successful dojo for our affiliated IBDA members.
Every licensed teacher in Ninjutsu must be certified
by Grandmaster Hatsumi first as a Shidoshi-ho (junior
licensed instructor under a Shidoshi) and then as a
Shidoshi (fully licensed teacher of the warrior ways
of Enlightnement-5th degree rank is required). We now
have many affiliated training groups and Branch dojo's
and Bujinkan friends (Buyu) all over the world. Hundreds
of our students are now Shidoshi (5th dan or above)
and a many are Judan (10th degree level). We are proud
of that success as it says we are doing many things
right.
IBDA's history began in 1985 with when
Shidoshi Richard J. Van Donk was sanctioned by Grandmaster
Masaaki Hatsumi Soke of the International Hombu Dojo
in Japan to help build unity and to spread the teachings
of the nine traditions of Ninjutsu throughout the United
States and abroad. It began as the American Bujinkan
DojoTM, now run by Shihan Linda Van Donk, and grew internationally
through our long distant courses. We now have students
studying worldwide in over 80 countries.
Our mission is to train and to share
with as many people as we are able, the art of Bujinkan
Ninpo Taijutsu. Our only prerequisite for training is
that the student possess respect for all life, an open
heart, an open mind, and a strong desire to learn. Those
that do not attempt to cultivate these attributes will
not find happiness or success in our school. Please
read Soke Hatsumi's rules of the Bujinkan.
Please beware of instructors who cannot
provide you with official licensing proof for themselves
or if your personal ranking certification does not come
from Japan with Grandmaster Hatsumi's seal on it. If
it doesn't you are not officially the rank you think
you are. This is your guarantee of the quality of teaching.
We at the IBDAtm offer authentic Ninjutsu and Budo Taijutsu
(as Soke Hatsumi now calls his martial art) training
as practiced in Japan by Grandmaster Hatsumi of whom
Shihan Van Donk is a personal student. We have compiled
many training tools and unsurpassed learning materials
to help you with your training progress. Also if you
are traveling or moving to another area we have a network
of friends in the Bujinkan we can direct you to for
training. Our network of training friends is growing
on a daily basis. Check out the IBDA dojo's that we
have under our Bujinkan Dojo links page on this web
site.
Students attending an IBDATM class or
seminar will find a helpful and harmonious family type
atmosphere. There is no rivalry because our art is not
taught competitively. It is taught and learned by people
helping each other to grow in Body, Mind, and Spirit.
Students are instructed to maintain the idea of harmony
and non-aggression in their daily lives. You become
what you think about and do. Again, balance is what
we seek through creating a flexible body, free mind,
and an open heart. Our studies reflect that all training
is a reflection and journey of the self. We strive to
become better human beings through all our actions including
our Budo training. Shihan Van Donk says "To be
a protector of peace you must be strong enough to defend
peace and resolved enough to be peaceful even in times
of challenge".
The International Bujinkan Dojo Association
TM has developed a sound reputation in the Bujinkan
organization as well as throughout the martial arts
community. We have developed one of the finest methods
available today, utilizing self empowerment and Enlightened
Warriortm / Life Change Technologies to enhance our
members progress. To us it's not the rank you get to
but what you personally become in the process.
In keeping with our philosophy of fostering
good relations between all martial schools, we willingly
accept students from other Bujinkan schools and other
martial disciplines as well to train with us in our
school, come to camps or to purchase our study materials.
Let us grow together as one family of friends.
Happy training!
Richard Van Donk, 15th dan
Linda Van Donk, 10th dan