Masaaki Hatsumi facts for kids

Masaaki Hatsumi (初見 良昭, Hatsumi Masaaki, born December 2, 1931) is a famous Japanese martial artist. He founded the Bujinkan Organization, which teaches different types of martial arts, including Ninjutsu. He was also the grandmaster, or soke, of the Togakure-ryū school. While he no longer teaches, he lives in Noda, Chiba, Japan.

Early Life and Martial Arts Journey

Masaaki Hatsumi was born in Noda, Chiba, Japan, on December 2, 1931. When he was young, he loved sports, martial arts, and theater. He was even the captain of his football team!

While studying at Meiji University, he continued to learn judo. He became a black belt and even taught judo to American soldiers. After university, Hatsumi wanted to learn even more about martial arts. He began training in kobudo with a teacher named Chosui Ueno.

Meeting His Master

When Hatsumi was 26, he met Chosui Ueno's teacher, Toshitsugu Takamatsu. Takamatsu was a legendary martial artist, sometimes called "the Tiger of Mongolia." Hatsumi became Takamatsu's student and spent 15 years learning many ninjutsu styles. He also continued to study other martial arts like judo, Shito Ryu karate, aikido, and kobudo.

Takamatsu passed away in 1972. Before he died, he made Hatsumi his successor, giving him the knowledge of nine different martial arts schools. Three of these were ancient ninja schools, and six were samurai jujutsu schools.

Founding the Bujinkan Dojo

After becoming a grandmaster, Hatsumi started the Bujinkan Dojo in Noda. Here, he began teaching the nine schools he had inherited. He first visited the United States in 1982. Since then, he has traveled around the world to lead yearly ninjutsu taikai (gatherings) where students learn and practice.

The Nine Schools of Bujinkan

Masaaki Hatsumi became the sōke (grandmaster) of nine different ryū, or schools of martial arts. These schools teach various techniques and traditions.

• Togakure-ryū (戸隠流)
• Gyokko-ryū (玉虎流)
• Kuki Shinden Happō Biken Jutsu (九鬼神伝流八法秘剣術)
• Kotō-ryū (虎倒流)
• Shinden Fudō-ryū Dakentai Jutsu (神伝不動流打拳体術)
• Takagi Yōshin-ryū Jūtai Jutsu (高木揚心流柔体術)
• Gikan-ryū Koppō Jutsu (義鑑流骨法術)
• Gyokushin-ryū Ninpō (玉心流忍法)
• Kumogakure-ryū Ninpō (雲隠流忍法)

Hatsumi's Teaching Style

Hatsumi's teaching focused on the "feeling" of a technique. He wanted his students to understand what real-life situations felt like. Black Belt magazine once described his teaching as "wild, funny, unpredictable, and a cross between Charlie Chaplin and Obi-Wan Kenobi."

He mainly taught taijutsu, which means body movement skills. He believed that other ninja arts were more for "historical study" in modern times.

Work in Films and Television

Masaaki Hatsumi has also worked as a martial arts advisor for movies and TV shows. He helped with the James Bond movie You Only Live Twice. He also worked on the Japanese series Shinobi no Mono.

He appeared in the Japanese TV show Sekai Ninja Sen Jiraiya. In this show, he played Tetsuzan Yamaji, who was the main hero's mentor and father figure.

• You Only Live Twice (1967) - Photographic Assistant to Tanaka on Train (uncredited)

Awards and Recognition

Masaaki Hatsumi has received several awards for his contributions to martial arts.

• 1986 – Instructor of the Year, Black Belt magazine
• 2000 – International Culture Award, Japan Cultural Promoting Association (given by the Japanese imperial family)
• 2001 – Lifetime Achievement Award, USMA International Hall of Fame
• 2013 – Inducted into the CBME's Dutch National Hall of Fame

See also

In Spanish: Masaaki Hatsumi para niños