Akeru Bujinkan Ninpo School teaches traditional Samurai and Ninja Martial Arts in a practical modern day context. We also offer self defense classes and seminars to the residents of St Louis, St Louis County, Clayton, Maryland Heights, Earth City, and Chesterfield.

What Techniques Do We Teach?

Taijutsu (literally "body techniques") in the context of budo (martial ways) and ninpo (the higher philosophical and tactical art of the ninja) refers to the core foundation of unarmed and armed combat derived from a compilation of nine distinct traditional martial arts schools (ryūha).

The 6 Samurai Schools (Bujutsu Ryūha)

These lineages originate from traditional battlefield martial arts, focusing on unarmed combat, weapons mastery, and armor-compatible strategies.

• Gyokko-ryū Kosshijutsu (玉虎流): The oldest lineage in the system, dating back to the 12th century. It specializes in kosshijutsu (attacks aimed at nerve clusters and muscle tissue) and fluid, circular footwork.

• Koto-ryū Koppōjutsu (虎倒流): Known as the "Tiger Toppling School," it specializes in koppōjutsu (bone-breaking and joint-destruction techniques). It uses aggressive, direct movements to overwhelm an opponent.

• Shinden Fudo-ryū Dakentaijutsu (神伝不動流): A school that focuses heavily on unarmed striking (dakentaijutsu) and the mastery of massive battlefield weapons like the ono (war axe) and ōdachi (giant sword). It emphasizes natural movement.

• Kukishinden-ryū Happō Bikenjutsu (九鬼神伝流): Historically connected to naval warfare and samurai armor combat. It is highly regarded for its structured weapons mastery, including the bō (six-foot staff), hanbō (three-foot staff), spear, halberd, and sword.

• Takagi Yoshin-ryū Jūtaijutsu (高木揚心流): A classic samurai school specializing in close-quarters grappling, throws, locks, and pins (jūtaijutsu). It was originally designed to control an opponent inside a building or palace where drawing a weapon was difficult.

• Gikan-ryū Koppōjutsu (義鑑流): A highly technical school that relies on precise balance, awkward looking stances, and powerful bone-striking methods. It is rarely taught openly compared to the other schools.

The 3 Ninja Schools (Ninjutsu Ryūha)

These lineages focus heavily on asymmetrical warfare, survival strategies, escape, and unconventional combat.

• Togakure-ryū Ninpō Taijutsu (戸隠流): The most famous school in the Bujinkan. Founded in the 12th century, it is known for its focus on escape, stealth, and unique weapons like shuriken (throwing stars) and shuko (hand claws).

• Gyokushin-ryū Ninpō (玉心流): A school highly focused on intelligence and tactical positioning over direct combat. It utilizes unique weapon applications like the kusari-fundo (weighted chain).

• Kumogakure-ryū Ninpō (雲隠流): Translating to "Hiding in the Clouds School," it features specialized survival tactics, leaping techniques (tobi), and the historical use of spiked survival gear or specialized spears.