But, rather than seeing these 9 schools as “styles,” in the conventional sense, modern practitioners should recognize that each school has contributed it’s own strengths to the overall body of knowledge. Instead of trying to separate and compartmentalize each ryu-ha as a different entity as it was once-upon-a-time, modern students need to understand that today’s training reflects a very powerful model that is made up of the “best-of-the-best” from a wide range of sources.

The list of the 9 traditional schools, which form the foundation for training for both the Bujinkan Dojo as-well-as the curriculum that I used for my own personal students, is offered here as an introduction to the power that lies waiting for the student who is ready to take massive action and go beyond the concept of being a mere martial artist – to becoming a true warrior in every sense of that word.

It’s important to see beyond the “toys,” “forms,” and other surface-level appearances that each school seems to be made up of. It’s also important, unless we are training for purely aesthetic reasons, that we must be able to extract the important combat and life strategies from each, if they are to do us any good in the modern world.

So, the following list contains not only the name of the school, and it’s primary specialty, but also the strategic “place” that each holds for real-world self protection in today’s world.

The 9 Lineages of Modern Ninjutsu Training include:

Togakure-Ryu Ninjutsu - Information-gathering and unconventional tactics. This school focuses on the concept of Kaju no waraku (‘The wisdom of the wildflowers’) which is a reminder to adapt to the situation, rather than conform to rigid structure. The combat theme to be applied to modern self defense is: Pay attention and gather information about your attacker before acting. And, using any aids you can find, let him show you the way to beat him.
Gyokko-Ryu Kosshijutsu - The kosshijutsu is said to be the essence of real budo training. The focus of the Gyokko-ryu is to provide the foundation to mastery. And, it teaches that mastery comes through an integration of body, mind, and spirit. The lessons from this school that can be directly translated to modern self defense is this: Understand the essential – most critical lessons – first. Then, you will be unbeatable.
Kukishinden-Ryu Happo Hikenjutsu - This school has traversed not only centuries, but also applications. It’s major claim to fame is in the use of longer, battlefield weapons and fighting in armor. The name Kukishinden means “9 demon Gods” and points toward the tenaciousness used to overcome adversaries. According to some sources, this lineage also has ties to shipping and therefore the development and use of weapons and tactics that would be found in a ship-building area, and abourd ship. The lessons of the Kukishinden ryu should be seen as models for both using longer items such as brooms, garden rakes, etc., as tools for self protection, as-well-as the principles and concepts for fighting on shifting surfaces and beating larger, stronger attackers.
Shinden Fudo-Ryu Dakentaijutsu - The lessons of the shinden-fudo school are based, as are all the other, on the workings of nature. The core idea within this ryu-ha is “find the most natural way.” And, although this lineage does have example kata to convey the teachings, the lessons require that the student see beyond the form to the real lesson. The modern self defense lesson from this school is to use your natural surroundings as an aid to your defense, and find the easiest, most natural way to defeat your assailant.
Koto-Ryu Koppojutsu - Koppojutsu means “bone-method skills” and points to the science of attacking the skeleton, rather than the muscles. And, although this school does have pressure point attacks, throws, etc., the focus is on using these other skills in a way which causes the attacker’s own frame to lock up on itself. The movement of this lineage uses long-range, angular movement to move away from and then back into the weak points of the assailant. The modern self defense application of these lessons is the same as that of the Gyokko-ryu for learning the proper foundation, and then using that to be able to position yourself perfectly so that you can take your opponent down with 1 finger! In fact, these 2 schools were organized and structured as complimenting opposites of each other!
Gikan-Ryu Koppojutsu - This techniques of this school include very strange, almost “square,” movements and footwork patterns when applying techniques. There are very few kata examples. The idea here is that you should be able to take any technique from anywhere, and apply it with the principles of this school.
Takagi-Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu - The Takagi school is a very diverse and dynamic school in and of itself. It has been a major contributing influence to the over-all training system and perspectives for combat that make up the training today. At one time, the Takagi-Yoshin school was used as a bodyguard system. So many of the techniques are based on the idea that you, the defender, are not the target of aggression. It also focuses on defending in the smaller rooms and structures from ancient Japan, where there was little room for the more conventional tactics. The lessons from this school give you the critical lessons for both defending others, and protecting yourself in very tight areas – such as in a parking lot between parked cars.
Gyokushin-Ryu Ninjutsu - This school was derived from the Gyokko-Ryu and was also known for it’s superior use of the nagenawa (a lasso-like weapon). This school contribution is the use of cords, ropes, belts, etc., as defensive tools during an attack.
Kumogakure-Ryu Ninjutsu - This school was derived from the Togakure-ryu and contributes special ways of walking which can be applied in a combat situation against an attacker’s own legs. The contribution of this school to modern self protection is the use of the legs to attack the opponent’s legs (not kicking) while applying your other defensive techniques.

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But, even if every instructor out there could teach you everything that you needed to know to become a walking, talking, modern-day ninja master, there are still plenty of reasons that you might want to – or need to – consider training on your own. And, you wouldn’t be alone either. Some of the best, and most well-known teachers to come out of this art – including Soke Masaaki Hatsumi, this generation’s head of the 9 historical traditions that make up the Bujinkan Dojo, and form the foundation for my own Warrior Concepts Life Mastery Program – had limited contact with their own teacher.

Solo training – not to be confused with the concept of being “self-taught,” which I’ll talk about later – has it’s basis even in ancient Japan, where warriors would take time away from the dictates, duties, and demands of the world, and spend a day or two with a teacher, only to return to their own lives with the task of working on and developing a personal understanding of the lesson or skills they had learned from their “master.”

And, while every student is responsible for a certain amount of “solo practice” away from his or her teacher – this “homework” away from the dojo is not really what this is about. It has been my experience that the dojo, and having a regular schedule of classes with your teacher, can actually be a hinderance to proficiency.

What I mean is that, students who live close to a teacher and attend classes regularly, can make the mistake of confusing class-time with practice-time. Just like instructors who confuse floor-time teaching with their own need for continued learning, these students can use the dojo as a kind of “crutch.” The dojo, and class time, is seen as the place to “practice,” rather than learn. And so, the teacher sees and is constantly correcting the same mistakes and trouble areas over and over again.

The solo-student, off on their own away from their teacher however, tends to put all of his or her focus on learning as much as possible when they are with their teacher. Knowing that this information is all they will have to carry them until they can get with their teacher again.

This is exactly what my training was like in the early days of the Ninja’s art here in the West. During a time when I could count how many Shidoshi, licensed teachers their were in North America – and I was stationed with the U.S. Army around the country and across the globe – I had to put great value on my time with my teacher. Because I was forced by my prior life choices, to do what I had to in order to get this knowledge.

Of course, it also meant that I had to be more mindful of my life away from my teacher so he would see definite progress when we got together again.

But, that was my own story and, not unlike my own teachers in this art, who have had to make sacrifices, choices, and at times a much greater effort than our fellow students who lived in the same town as our dojo – you may have your own reasons for being personally responsible for your own training and doing so long-distance from your teacher. Here are a few reasons that you might, out of personal preference or due to necessity, choose to engage in solo training.

No qualified teachers close enough for convenient training on an ongoing basis
You live in a different country than your personal teacher
Like my own early years, your job or other responsibilities makes regular training with a teacher difficult
Your age, or medical considerations makes regular training difficult, at least until your condition changes
Finances, resources, or access to transportation is limited and must be rationed over time

Of course, your own reason my be different than any of those that I’ve listed above, but the point is that solo training as one of your teacher’s “long-distance” students is not only doable, but is also historically validated as a “normal” part of training in the Ninja warrior’s arts of accomplishment. In fact, you might even find that, in the end, you develop skills, abilities, and methods as a result of this path to mastery – that you’re fellow deshi (“students”) never thought of.

Are you serious about mastering the art of ninjutsu – about having the power, confidence, and control to handle any attacker – any situation?

Read my newest ninja training book, “Becoming The Master.” Get your free copy at: http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com/becoming-the-master-subsc.html