Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu

After much thought and some research I have joined a Bujinkan Dojo some distance from my home here in the UK. To a novice, the training seems good, and the 2nd Dan instructor is patient and thoughtful. What I am looking for is some sort of reference material which will allow me to have ready and accurate reference to some of the basic 'forms' i.e. the 8 basic exercises of budo taijutsu (I know that the very basis of budo taijutsu is not to learn set movements, but I would like to introduce some solo disciplin and practice in my own time. I have seen the Jack Hogan videos (which seem spot on, and have credibility as Hogan is one of the Grandmaster's favoured pupils) available on Amazon.com but they are NTSC - not European PAL.

Does anybody know of any PAL videos or Books which might contain this sort of basic information ?

I am also interested in any material on taihenjutsu and falls and rolls as this area is (in my humble opinion) given very little coverage in our instruction.

Many Thanks,

Tim O'Donnell

Tim,

Soke Hatsumi (Sensei Hogan's teacher) has several of his own books out that you can look up online at Amazon.com or Barnesandnoble.com. Why not learn from the source. Also, another of Soke Hatsumi's prize pupils, Shidoshi Hayes, has been quite prolific and written any number of books on the Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu. Incidentally, so you know, Budo Taijutsu has gone through several different name changes by Soke Hatsumi, but all of it has always been under the Bujinkan Dojos. It is also known as Ninpo, Ninjutsu, and here in the US Shidoshi Hayes has begun calling his schools (affiliated with the Bujinkan) as practicing To Shin Do.

The books by Shidoshi Hayes I thoroughly recommend are the 'Legacy of the Night Warriors' Vol. 1-5. Excellent books. Shidoshi Hayes' full name if you need it for look up is Stephen K. Hayes.

Good luck, and welcome to the Bujinkan!

Galdor A fellow Bujinkan student returning from a 6 year Hiatus. *L*