Specific info on finding a good ninjutsu/taijutsu school?

[sirdarksol]

I ask this because the only people that I've met who "practice ninjutsu/taijutsu" are really learning an art that is keyed toward winning ring/cage matches. Last summer, I was at a lantern lighting festival, and one of the martial arts groups was a taijutsu group. Their "self defense techniques" were pointless, as they all started with the attacker in a completely idiotic stance, such as with his hands straight up in the air. I saw them practicing with polearms, and the black belt was barely in control of his weapon, yet he was teaching a white belt how to use it. They were playing with their swords before their demonstration. Everything I saw spoke of a master who was not teaching his students well.

Unfortunately, this seems to be the majority, much the way that there are a large number of karate and TKD schools that have suffered from capitalism.

So, are there things specific to ninjutsu that you should look for/avoid when looking for a school?

[disgruntled]

are you sure they did not start off in weird stances because it was a basic technique? for SD you really do have to learn ridiculus things to learn the principals of the movements

[sirdarksol]

I had forgotten that this was a knife defense demo. The guy had his arms straight above his head, holding the knife. They were explaining it as "the person with his arms up in the air is the mugger, the other guy is the defender. This is what the defender would do to defend himself in this situation." I don't see what situation would find a defender protecting himself against a mugger with his hands straight in the air.
Aside from that, there was something about the group that is harder to explain. In everything they did, they didn't move like they were friends with their bodies. You know how if you watch a black belt in nearly any style, it looks like they've been doing this since they were born? The black belts of this group (and there were a dozen or more) moved like toddlers, unsure of their actions and very clumsy.

[disgruntled]

wow.... yeah that is a little concerning!

[Hatori]

When looking at a Ninjutsu class I would enquire as to the Instructor's accreditation i.e. who HIS Instructor is. Is it a recognised BUJINKAN Dojo which ONLY operate under the strict Supervision of Grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi, the 34th Ninjutsu Grandmaster? You are quite within your rights to ask these questions before commencing any training and INstructor worth their salt will not take offence if asked.

[disgruntled]

why Grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi? can you give some info on who he is?

[Hatori]

Grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi is the current and 34th Grandmaster of the Togakure Rye Ninjutsu Dynasty. He succeeded his Instructor and was appointed the Chief Representative for one of the longest Ninjutsu "Families" in Japan. He started training at 7 years old and at the sprightly age of 87 he still travels the world educating people in the ways of the Ninja. He is a world-renowned Authority on Ninjutsu and his bujinkan dojo's that cover the Globe are ALL under his supervision