We know that starting a martial art can be a little bit stressful. We hope we can put your mind at rest a little by reading some of the frequently asked questions that we get.
If you have a specific question, head to the contact page and let us know.
What is Bujinkan?
The martial art that is studied at Kizen Dōjō is Bujinkan Budō Taijutsu, sometimes called Ninpō Taijutsu.
Bujinkan is a collective term for the different ryuha(schools) that we study. There are 9 Schools that make up the Bujinkan.
There are 9 schools?
Correct! Each school teaches a different strategy. Here are the names of them but don’t worry too much about them. They come in to play later in your training.
- 神伝不動流打拳体術 Shindenfudō-ryū dakentaijutsu – (immovable heart school)
- 九鬼神流八法秘剣術 Kukishin-ryū happōbikenjutsu – (nine demon gods school)
- 高木揚心流柔体術 Takagiyōshin-ryū jūtaijutsu – (heart of the willow tree school)
- 玉虎流骨指術 Gyokko-ryū kosshijutsu – (jewel tiger school)
- 虎倒流骨法術 Kotō-ryū koppōjutsu – (knocking down the tiger school)
- 義鑑流骨法術 Gikan-ryū koppōjutsu – (truth, loyalty and justice school)
- 戸隠流忍法 Togakure-ryū ninpō – (the hidden door school)
- 雲隠流忍法 Kumogakure-ryū ninpō – (hidden cloud school)
- 玉心流忍法 Gyokushin-ryū ninpō – (jewelled heart school
Where and when do you train?
You can find us at the Arc: Health & Fitness Centre at Caledonian Uni. Class runs from 1930-2130 so please arrive at the reception 15 mins before.
What does a normal lesson consist of?
Each lesson can be quite different. Normally, lessons begin with a warm up of aerobic exercise, followed by some stretching. It is important that we condition our bodies for training so we will also practice Taihenjutsu Ukemi Gata which are a series of break-falls and rolling exercises.
The main body of the lesson will usually focus on the basic kata and kihon and move onto more advanced techniques towards the end of the lesson.
Here’s an idea of some of the tings you can learn in a lesson
- punches, kicks
- blocks, arm and joint locks
- throws
- rolling and breakfalls
- staff weapons (bo, jo, hanbo)
- blades and swords (long and short swords, knives)
- rope, chained weapons (nawa, kusari fundo, etc)
- battlefield weapons (naginata, yari, etc)
Kata and Kihon? What are those?
Like most traditional Japanese Martial Arts, Kata (forms) and Kihon (fundamentals) make up a large part of our training.
We study the kata with a partner with a common theme; how to deal with a certain type of attack.
Is it painful? Will I get injured?
Training is always conducted in a safe a respectable manner to minimise the risk of injury. While don’t smash each other to pieces, you can expect to maybe get the odd bruise or scratch. Pain is very different to injury and we try to prevent the latter as much as possible.
Please be aware of your own limits though!
Is there ranks and exams?
The Bujinkan has 9 Kyu grades before reaching the level of Shodan (初段 1st Dan Black Belt). There are a further 15th divisions of the Dan grade after this.
While there is no formal focus on exams and grades, we recognise that students like to know at which level they are performing at. It’s also good to have goals! We have devised exams for the Kyu grades based on the Tenchijin Syllabus set by the Honbu Dojo(central dojo) in Japan.
What should I wear?
To your first class, we would recommend wearing something light and airy to allow freedom of movement and to stop you from overheating. A tracksuit, jogging clothes are ideal.
When you feel ready to commit to buying a Gi (uniform) our instructors can advise you further. Under no circumstances should you buy a ninja costume from the internet. Please avoid the embarrassment of being sent home early!
Should I bring anything else?
You should definitely bring water and a towel. It sometimes can get quite hot in the dojo. Please fee free to bring a note pad and pen as you are more than welcome to take notes during your training session.
Wait, do I need to be fit?
No, but you should be in generally sound health. You will have to be able to fall down. That is a non-negotiable part of training. We train you how to do it. But if you must not fall due to doctors orders, sorry but this isn’t for you.
We will help you on the way to becoming fitter and more conditioned so please don’t worry.