Taijutsu at Tech
Tasukeru Shibu, Yamaneko Dojo
Class Times for Fall 1999
Advanced
Mon & Wed 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Beginning
Tue & Thr 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Class Location
Room 23 in the Basement of the Gym and behind Wells Hall
All classes are offered through New Mexico Tech.
For more information about class times and locations
contact the Registrars Office at (505)835-5133
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Taijutsu at Tech began informally in February of 1993 as a Shibu (branch) of the
Yamaneko Dojo (known as the Bujinkan Yamaneko Dojo Taifu Shibu) under the
instruction of Robert Protsman. At that time the class consisted of a small
handful of friends studying taijutsu. In May of 1993, Protsman moved to
Indiana and transferred Shibu-cho to Sean Waters. In May of 1994, Waters
moved to Albuquerque and transferred Shibu-cho to Charles Durbin.
In August of 1994, Durbin formally registered a beginning class through
New Mexico Tech. The first class consisted of four students. The advanced class
with the prior students continued informally. Word spread across campus about taijutsu,
and consequently more students became interested. Because of this and because the
beginning class was so successful, the advanced class was also formally registered through
New Mexico Tech. Currently, there are over ten students at New Mexico Tech that study taijutsu.
Early in 1995, Robert Protsman began another shibu of the Bujinkan Yamaneko Dojo
in Indiana. Because the name "Taifu" is Protsman Warrior name, Durbin
yielded the name to him out of respect so that he could use it for the name of his shibu.
Therefore, the Bujinkan Yamaneko Dojo Taifu Shibu is now located in Indiana, and
Taijutsu and Tech is now also known as the Bujinkan Yamaneko Dojo Tasukeru Shibu.
The name Tasukeru is taken from the city name Socorro, where New
Mexico Tech is located. In Spanish Socorro means "help" or to "render aid" just as the Shibu name, Tetsukera, does in Japanese.
In the Summer of 1996 Charles Durbin moved away and left Shibu-cho
to Paul Stinnet. Paul Stinnet then transferred it to Cort Dougan temporarily.
After Stinnet left Dominic Lees inherited Shibu-cho and still has it today.
This originally written by Charles Durbin maintained by Cort Dougan
"Ninpo...should be offered to the world as a guiding influence for all martial
artists. Without...total training...in the combative arts, today's martial artist
cannot hope to progress any further than mere proficiency in the limited set
of muscular skills that make up his or her...system. Personal enlightenment
can only come about...by...the confrontation of danger, the transcendence of
fear...injury or death, and a working knowledge of individual personal powers
and limitations. The practitioner of ninjutsu can gain the strength and
invincibility that permit the enjoyment of flowers moving in the wind,
appreciation of the love of others, and the contentment of the presence of peace
in society...Born of insight attained from repeated exposure to the very brink
between life and death, ninpo's benevolent heart is the key to finding
harmony and understanding in the realms of the spiritual...and material worlds."
-Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi Hisamune
Why learn Ninjustu today?
Society today, of course, is no longer feudal. Things are civilized, safe and sane
today, aren't they? We have laws and police to curtail crime, and military forces to
prevent international aggression. Yet a glance at any daily newspaper might suggest
that there still exists a need for skillful means of protection for self and family to enjoy
life in modern society. Ninpo, with its warrior heritage intact, remains the perfect
vehicle by which one may learn to take true responsibility for his or her actions.
Ninjutsu's reputation as something very esoteric and spiritual
is what really interests me. How can I learn that part of Ninpo?
As Hatsumi Sensei says in the quote above, one enters the spiritual circles of ninpo through
martial arts training. The mental and spiritual insights to be gained through training in a
martial art are a direct and natural outgrowth of physical experience. Trying to develop
spiritual abilities through and as an application of a warrior art without first developing
physical warrior skills is like writing a check when there are no funds in your account.
There are no shortcuts.
How can I distinguish an authentic ninja dojo
from a fraudulent one?
At this time, Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi in Japan is the only known head of an authentic
ninja tradition. No other alleged representative historic school has been able to produce
the hereditary makimono and densho scrolls containing the methods and techniques and
transferring authority from one grand master to the next down through the centuries.
Any authentic instructor will be able to tell you who his teacher is and how to contact him,
and that teacher will be able to refer you to his teacher, all the way back to Hatsumi Sensei.
An authentic instructor will have a rank certificate from the Bujinkan in Japan, dated and
signed by Hatsumi Sensei.
Why is Ninjutsu different?
Ninpo, like Aikido, uses relaxed, natural movement and distance to overcome speed and
strength. Movement is refined for grace and naturalness in all actions until power results
from mere movement and evasiveness results from simple adjustment of position. Unlike
Aikido, Ninpo is not limited to circular movements, but incorporates strikes, punches, kicks,
throws, locks, rolls, flips, numerous weaponry, stalking, meditation, spiritual empowerment,
and much more.
Where and how is training conducted?
Like our art, our dojo (training hall) is flexible. We train in daylight and darkness, indoors
and outdoors. To maintain authenticity, class is conducted just as it is in Japan, from
bowing-in at class start, to traditional tea afterwards. There are no contracts and the public
is invited to watch.
For those student interested, testing and certification is available to the rank of Yondan
(i.e. 4th degree black belt). Ranks higher than Yondan can only be awarded by Hatsumi-Sensei.
All certification and licensing is through the Yamaneko Dojo and ultimately through the Bujinkan
located in Japan. All certificates are signed and dated by Hatsumi-Sensei.
Taijutsu at Tech (a.k.a. the Bujinkan Yamaneko Dojo Tasukeru Shibu)
is directly affiliated with the Bujinkan Yamaneko Dojo in Tucson
and ultimately the Bujinkan in Japan.
There are numerous Bujinkan Links on the net. However, since those links change fairly
often, only one link is provided here. This link is perhaps the most informative on the net.
If you wish to view other links, use any search engine with the following key words:
Bujinkan, Taijutsu, Ninpo, Ninjutsu or perhaps Hatsumi. Happy searching.
Mats Hjelm's Bujinkan Page
email: cort@cs.nmt.edu