Frequently Asked Questions

Learn what it takes to become a Black Belt in Ninjutsu / Ninpo Taijutsu at home, at your own pace. We teach the arts as an Empowerment Course – ancient arts for modern times – while you learn self-protection and body enhancement.

This Ninjutsu / Ninpo Taijutsu Black Belt Course, pioneered by Doshi Richard Van Donk, is used by high-ranking Ninjutsu instructors and beginning students alike in over 110 countries. Seven years, thousands of hours of research, lots of blood, sweat and tears, and almost half a million miles of travel in 50 trips to Japan to train personally with Grandmaster Hatsumi and other Shihan went into this step-by-step curriculum. The World Head of Family Sokeship Council gave it its top International Videos Award in 1999. Take total charge of your training and progress.

Authentic Ninjutsu / Ninpo Taijutsu is hard to find in many parts of the world, and there are not qualified instructors on every corner – especially teaching it the way we do. The course gives people without a teacher nearby a step-by-step way to study, a way to get feedback on their training and, if they wish, certified rank.

It also helps students who do have a dojo nearby practice at home. Our students who train at the dojo and at home with the course advance at least twice as quickly. And it gives new black belts a clear method for becoming instructors themselves.

Anyone who loves Ninjutsu – the Art of the Ninja.

People who want a life change, personal development or self-defense skills; teachers who want a solid progressive curriculum; families who want a system to pass on; friends who want to train together; those who train but want to learn more and faster; those without instructors; and black belts in other arts who want to add Ninjutsu skills, knowledge and credibility. This is a very comprehensive, in-depth course.

Start with The Ninja Way – earn your Yellow Belt (9th Kyu) in 30 days. Then continue with the Shodan Black Belt Course, available as a physical binder version or online only.

If you are an “All In” kind of person, get the Bujinkan Masters Course for full access to the teachings from beginner to 5th Dan Shidoshi master-teacher level from the start. Those who do this excel the fastest. If you want to become an instructor, get this course or work toward it.

Enrolling establishes you as a student of Bushindo University and a dojo member. Testing is your choice. Before you test, fill out and send in your student application (found in the IBDA members portal).

You will need a black uniform and a white belt. Tabi are optional. Over time you will get or make a few wooden weapons: a knife, a 3-ft staff, a 6-ft staff and a wooden sword.

Start at 9th Kyu and practice each move until you can do it easily, just like on the video. Most students take about 3 months per level and earn their black belt in 2.5 to 3 years of dedicated study. Athletic or experienced martial artists may go faster – but remember the basics are the foundation for everything that follows. Welcome to the training!

First, the videos are your instructor, teaching you step by step at home or in the dojo. You can slow the instructor down and practice a move until you learn it – try that in a class. No intimidation. Your speed. Your schedule.

Second, we encourage you to find training partners or an IBDA school near you when you are ready to take your training to a new level. Our video and written feedback system really works – it produces results.

Third, don’t believe people who tell you this doesn’t work. Since 1991 there have been countless Shodans, Godans and Judans worldwide who started with our distance learning courses. Today the world’s great universities award online degrees. IBDA is here to stay – and we are here to help you grow your own dojo or training group. Perhaps you will be the head instructor in your area.

Dojo or no dojo – take charge of your own training!

Testing is simple. As a registered student you receive a list of the techniques to demonstrate on video. Post the video privately (for example, an unlisted YouTube link), pay for testing in the IBDA Membership Portal and email the link to info@bushindo.com. An upper-level IBDA black belt instructor will review and grade your skills and give you feedback to inspire your improvement. This can be done for 9th Kyu through 1st Kyu.

The black belt test must be done in person – at a camp, seminar, Tai Kai, dojo or private appointment. This is a real black belt and we want your day to be special. All IBDA rank certifications are awarded and issued by the International Bujinkan Dojo Association. All Bujinkan ranks are not the same.

Nothing is better than sharing these studies with family or a friend – you will inspire each other’s growth. Immediate family members living in your home can study and test with the same course. We recommend everyone has their own training manual and uniform. Contact us about the Buddy Plan.

ABSOLUTELY! Train as you are and do the best you can. There are Bujinkan black belts and Shidoshi in wheelchairs and on crutches. You may not do cartwheels, and your rolls may not look the same – but you can still train your mind, strengthen your body, learn to defend yourself and live the Ninja path. Don’t let it stop you. Follow your dreams.

NINJUTSU IS NOT A RELIGION. Spiritual, yes. Religion, no. You can train in our art whatever your religious path is or is not. We respect all faiths and have issued black belts to people of every faith. Doshi Van Donk and Soke Hatsumi both respect all faiths.

This art has lasted at least a thousand years, and the people who trained in it held their own beliefs, mostly ones that taught living a natural life. Bujinkan Ninjutsu is taught worldwide to people of every religion. Respect, human kindness and helping others are key principles of our teachings.

We don’t want to leave anyone out – these teachings can and do change lives – and we abide by the Bujinkan rules as they are meant to be applied. These arts are not for people in prison, people with a serious drug habit, or people under strong mental supervision. We evaluate every situation individually. People who have recovered from these challenges are usually welcome to train as long as they are not hurting anyone. Everyone may study the Shodan course; we reserve the right to deny rank testing and dojo participation. Study the arts and change your life.

The International Bujinkan Dojo Association (IBDA) is under the direction of Doshi Richard Van Donk, who was designated and authorized directly by Soke Hatsumi to head this international organization to better serve the worldwide community before his retirement.

Doshi carries on the Bujinkan teachings he learned from Soke Hatsumi and ranks all IBDA students worldwide. Now that Soke Hatsumi has retired from active teaching and the Sokeships of the 9 schools have been issued to various individuals, both Kyu and Dan IBDA certifications are awarded and issued by IBDA and signed by Doshi Richard Van Donk. We are your source for authentic Ninpo Taijutsu / Ninjutsu teachings.

Both. The teachings of the Bujinkan’s 9 schools, inherited by Soke Hatsumi and taught by him to Doshi Van Donk, contain knowledge from both regions. People like to think of them as clans – sometimes opposing clans – but Koga and Iga are regions of Japan where families trained in these time-tested methods. There is more than the movies or even the history books can tell you. After all, these are the secret arts of the ninja.

A full-time training center is planned for Northern California or Hawaii (perhaps both). Until then, Doshi offers private multi-day sessions at the IBDA dojo in Northern California. Book a private session.

Our great desire is to help people learn. Write to Bushindo University at info@bushindo.com (or use our contact form) and explain your situation and the skills you could offer the University. There is also an affiliate program that lets you earn toward your study courses.

Please read Become an IBDA Instructor and see the Black Belt Teacher Certification for experienced martial artists.

We feel you – this happens all too often in the Bujinkan. At IBDA it does not happen. We only rank students who train with us at IBDA, and your rank is also about your relationship with your teacher. Our advice is to write to the Japan Hombu, in Japanese, about your situation.

We appreciate your desire to train with IBDA. Many instructors come to us for a solid home, organization and study curriculum. The Bujinkan keeps changing now that Soke Hatsumi is not actively teaching; IBDA stands on its own to carry its teachings on.

Start by reading Become an IBDA Instructor carefully. Then email info@ninjutsu.com with your name, location, Bujinkan training history and what you would like our relationship to be. Most likely Doshi Richard Van Donk will personally get back to you.

Book your private session here.

To host a seminar, email the Bushindo office at info@bushindo.com or text 707-987-9322, and they will send you the “Booking an Event with Doshi Richard Van Donk” information.

Sure – many teachers teach at the Hombu dojo in Noda or at their own dojos. Study hard and earn your Shodan first so you have enough taijutsu to fit into the classes. We recommend going with a senior instructor who can introduce you and show you proper Japanese protocol.

Start right here at Ninja Dojo – train online with IBDA from anywhere. To find IBDA instructors and training groups near you, contact us.

Both. Doshi Richard Van Donk personally signs all Dan certificates. He fills out and stamps all Kyu certificates, and your instructor signs them too. Doshi’s approval is on every IBDA rank certificate.

IBDA is Bujinkan and associated with Soke Masaaki Hatsumi; Mr. Hayes left the Bujinkan many years ago. If you want authentic Bujinkan teachings and to be part of a continuing lineage, we offer that.

Doshi Richard Van Donk was personally taught by Soke Hatsumi to give the Sakki 5th dan test. We have comprehensive continuing education to Judan. We feel we offer authentic Ninjutsu as Soke Hatsumi taught it in Japan, with modern applications, while To-Shin Do is a modernized version.

That said, Anshu Stephen K. Hayes is a very good teacher who simply offers something different. The choice is yours – your path is your own. Our 25-year study program is already built into our Online Study Portal and the Bujinkan Masters Course.