About
The Bujinkan New York Dojo (武神館 ニューヨーク道場) was founded in 1987 by Joe Maurantonio, a native New Yorker. Located in Westchester (NY), our martial arts school is dedicated to the Bujinkan tradition of sharing authentic samurai jujutsu and ninja taijutsu (ninjutsu) arts.
Budo taijutsu (ninjutsu) uses relaxed, natural movement, timing, and control of distance to overcome an opponent's speed and strength. Movement is refined for grace and naturalness in all action until power results from mere movement and evasion from a simple adjustment of position. Weaponry, striking, grappling, choking, and throwing, as well as methods of leaping and rolling, are all disciplines incorporated into our curriculum. This training is one of the rare martial arts undiluted by an emphasis on sports competition or artificial rules. Our training emphasizes shinken gata, or combat survival techniques.
Bujinkan Dojo Training
The Bujinkan Dojo, or "Warrior Spirit Training Hall," was organized in the mid-1970s by Grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi. This international organization is comprised of nine distinct schools of ancient Japanese samurai and ninja martial arts that trace their lineage back to the ninth century. The Bujinkan Dojo Hombu (main office) is directly supervised by Soke Masaaki Hatsumi from his home in Noda City, Japan. He is recognized as one of the premiere martial artists alive today.
The Bujinkan is a collection of nine martial arts family lines, called ryuha. These ryuha are: Gyokko-ryu Kosshijutsu (玉虎流骨指術), Koto-ryu Koppojutsu (虎倒流骨法術), Kukishinden Happo Bikenjutsu (九鬼神伝流八法秘剣術), Shinden Fudo-ryu Dakentaijutsu (神傳不動流打拳体術), Takagi Yoshin-ryu Jutaijutsu (高木揚心流柔体術), Gikan-ryu Koppojutsu (義鑑流骨法術), Togakure-ryu Ninpo Taijutsu (戸隠流忍法體術), Gyokushin-ryu Ninpo (玉心流忍法), and Kumogakure-ryu Ninpo (雲隠流忍法).
The Bujinkan New York Dojo, currently located in Bronxville, Yonkers, and Katonah, is one of the oldest Bujinkan schools in the USA. Training focuses on traditional Japanese samurai and ninja martial arts. We offer instruction in these traditional arts of the Bujinkan Dojo under the authority of Joe Maurantonio (Shidoshi), as taught by Grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi in Noda, Japan.
Bujinkan Ninjutsu In New York
In the early 1980s, there were four main New York (NY) training groups (called "shibu") authorized by Stephen Hayes, who was the leading Bujinkan instructor in the USA. Each of these New York groups had a green belt leader and a black belt sponsor. The group leader's job was to share lessons learned from Hayes and his black belts. The black belt sponsor was tasked with mentoring the group and providing clear direction. These New York groups were located in Brooklyn [Jean Pierre S. (leader); Ken Brooks (Black Belt )], Queens [Robert G. (leader); Dan Johnson (sponsor)], Bronx [Phil M. (leader); Darryl Caldwell (sponsor)] and upstate New York [Kevin H. (leader); Bud Malmstrom (sponsor)]. In 1983, Joe Maurantonio co-founded the Bronx group, which trained at Lehman College, Fordham University, and nearby environs. In 1986–1987, under Joe-sensei's leadership, the Bronx group changed their name to Bujinkan New York Dojo.
Masaaki Hatsumi, soke
Masaaki Hatsumi (初見良昭, 2 Dec 1931 - ) is the founder and head of the Bujinkan Dojo martial arts organization. He resides in Noda, Chiba Prefecture (Japan). He grew up with an avid love of the martial arts.
In 1957, he began making regular (15 hour train rides) trips to learn from Takamatsu. For over fifteen years, Hatsumi-soke trained under the supervision of Toshitsugu Takamatsu, and in 1972, with the death of his teacher, Hatsumi Sensei became the heir to our authentic ninja and samurai traditions.
Hatsumi has written numerous books and articles on philosophy and martial arts that have been translated into many languages. He wrote a weekly column for his local Noda city newspaper and was the recurring subject of a major Japanese martial arts magazine called Hiden. An accomplished actor and director of both movies and television, he starred in the TV series Jiraiya, coached and directed notable martial arts film stars, and spread the martial arts of the Bujinkan throughout the world. He has been recognized by many governments, private organizations, and distinguished individuals. In December of 2019, he retired from active teaching.
Joe Maurantonio, shidoshi
Joe Maurantonio (sensei) is a native New Yorker. After years of martial arts training, he found his passion in ninjutsu. In the fall of 1983, he formally began training with Stephen K. Hayes and Darryl Caldwell. In 1986, Joe met Hatsumi-sensei and founded the Bujinkan New York Dojo a year later (1987). In 1991, he was awarded the title of shidoshi (士道師, teacher of the warrior way). He is a senior member of the American Shidoshi Kai, a member of the International Bujinkan Hombu, and the editor of Hatsumi-sensei's book Ninpo: Wisdom for Life. Throughout his four decades of continuous Bujinkan training, he has practiced regularly with Hatsumi-soke and other senior Bujinkan instructors from Japan, Australia, Europe, and the USA. Maurantonio also runs Kihon Press, a small publishing company dedicated to the martial arts.