- In the sixties, Hatsumi sensei tells Takamatsu sensei that he wants to create a program regrouping the nine ryûha into one single one. Takamatsu sensei rejected the idea adding something like: “each system is important and they are all different, this is why they should be taught separately”.
- Fourty years ago, in April 1972, Takamatsu sensei leaves us. Hatsumi sensei is now alone, he begins to develop the Bujinkan system.
- Having had time to think it over, Hatsumi sensei abandoned the idea of a common program for the nine ryûha but takes the decision instead of regrouping all the basics of the ryûha into one set of techniques: this is the Tenchijin Ryaku no Maki 天地人 略 の 巻. The title says it all as 略 (ryaku) means shorten, abbreviation, outline. His idea, therefore is to create a simplified program to prepare for the study of the nine Ryûha.
- At the end of the 70s, Hatsumi sensei creates his first Tenchijin program. It is presented in the form of 3 stencil like booklets and is only in japanese, no pictures.
- In1983, Hatsumi sensei publishes, in Japanese only, the evolution of the first paper version. He calls it: “Togakure Ryû Ninpô Taijutsu”. It follows the tenchijin structure. This published version of the Tenchijin contains 267 pages and presents three parts: Ten ryaku no Maki, Chi ryaku no Maki, and Jin ryaku no Maki. Shuriken and kakushi buki are added in the Jin Ryaku.
- In 1987, some western students receive from Japan a photocopied booklet written on a typewriter and entitled: “Bujinkan Shinden Kihon Gata”. The subtitle is Tenchijin Ryaku no Maki. It contains many changes to the 1983 version. The Kyûsho are gone, the weapons are gone, and the techniques are reshuffled and simplified.
- In the “official” Kihon Happô, Ganseki Nage is replaced by Musô Dori.
The first version (tcj1) was a sketch.
The second version of 1983 (tcj2) a prototype. A beta version.
The third version of 1987(tcj3), the Tenchijin 1.0. Unfinished but good enough.
Today in 2013, some 30 years after the Beta version (tcj2), I am surprised to see many high ranks trying to discover a new hidden truth by basing their teaching on the first tries by sensei.
But I wonder how can these high ranks be so wrong in their analysis?
The tenchijin was an attempt to summarize all the basics of the nine schools into a single tool to make it easier to enter the specific study of the Bujinkan Ryûha.
Please keep in mind that:
- The terms used in the tenchijin are generic (or became generic).
- Similar techniques in various Ryû can be named differently.
- A technique is a mix of several basic generic moves
- Techniques “look like” some basic techniques but are not to be done fully to the end.
- Some concepts, some techniques are missing from one version to the other.
- Some concepts, some techniques are added from one version to the other.
- The structure if the tenchijin is evolving from one version to the other.
- Some techniques from the Chi enter the Jin.
- Some techniques from the Jin are now into the Ten, etc.
With all that in mind, please see the overall logic followed by sensei since the death of his mentor:
- Ninjutsu: Hatsumi Sensei develops the Bujinkan through 20 years of Tenchijin practice (1973-1992)
- 1993-1997 – Budô Taijutsu Omote: He teaches the weapons, to emphasize knowledge of angles and distances (5 years),
- 1998-2002 – Budô Taijutsu Ura: The five aspects of Taijutsu and body movement through five ryûha (5 years),
- 2003-2012 – Juppô Sesshô: and then sensei continued with Ninpô Taijutsu: 5 years of Juppô Sesshô Omote and 5 years of Juppô Sesshô Ura.
- 2013: This is where we are today with a Tsurugi in the hand.
Sensei can be called many names but “stupid” is definitely not the appropriate one!
I never reply to stuff about training on any sites, but this is a great post and should be shared. Thanks Arnoud.
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APLAUSOS!!
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Just go and take your wooden oar down the beach and do 1000 cuts, 1000 sanshins 1000 kihons… and open your heart and train to the bone…. Time to also return to Soke… we know nothing…. smile…! Thank you Arnaud..
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BRAVO WELL STATED THANKS ARNOUD
I ENJOYED READING YOUR ARTICAL ABOUT OUR BUDO SYSTEM
HOWEVER IM A LITTLE CONFUSED AS TO WHICH (TCJRM) VERSION IS THE CORRECT THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT COPIES OUT THERE HOW CAN I IDENTIFIY WHICH IS SOURCE IS CORRECT.
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Well put Arnaud. All one has to do is go train with Soke to see that he is also not only teaching, but training himself! Those that teach are not following what he is doing……we all train, all the time, and always in the context of following where Soke is at today, not yesterday. Change is the only constant, and Ninpo, Bujinkan or Hatsumi-jutsu will always evolve but HAS to evolve in the right direction or it ends up being like most other modern “martial arts” which have lost their way (in my opinion). The only person that is leading change today is Soke. Tomorrow, who knows?
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Reblogged this on tamontenyamashiro's Blog.
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Thank you Arnaud. This is a good article. The Head (Soke) is leading from the front. The body (dojo) is following. The sense of planning and reviewing that Soke has done is massive. Not often will we meet someone of this capability. Appreciating your blogs immensely Sensei. Cheers.
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Good text Arnaud! If we think Bujinkan as a train ride,it´s of course good to know where the journey started and places we have passed during the years.But because the train is constantly going forwards,if we want to stop or return,we have to jump off.And then we see the train rolling away…
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So I know this is an old post but I feel my insight is helpful here. First off thank you for this info, it’s super helpful. So I was guilty of this (not teaching this way, but I was soon going to) until I read this. And I think it is helpful to explain why. While I know all too well that some people do this for the exact reasons you described, I was not, and I don’t think I am alone. So my story is this, My teacher was… not very… good. I have spent the last 7 years after my godan test and starting my dojo, trying to reverse the bad habits and incorrect techniques he taught. Because of this, only being financialy able to go to japan every 2 years, and lacking a personal relationship with Soke, I fond myself researching to find a more accurate account of the Tenchijin. I of course found MANY versions with different techniques listed, some were apparently these older versions of Soke’s, some shihan removed techniques they didn’t like to teach or couldn’t do themselves and other poor reasons. So this led me to search for the source material, which usually means tracking down the original source (often the oldest one). This unfortunately led me to finding what I now understand to be Soke’s latest version. But then I found an earlier version with older names and thought this must be the actual original version. This continued until I ended up with TCJ version one, thinking it was the true version Soke meant to be taught. Luckily before implementing it in my curriculum, I discovered this post by you which opened my eyes to the history and explanation for the changes. So again, thank you, this information has been invaluable.
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Hi,
I have studied under a teacher who belongs to a particular “elite society” of Bujinkan. I don’t believe in elite societies. Techniques taught there were different from what you show in your videos. For example, what you presented as gan seki otoshi is gan seki nage in the syllabus I am trying to describe. You said that when Soke made the third version of ten chi jin, he changed names of techniques. Was Gan seki otoshi formerly known as gan seki nage? If so, does that mean that the organisation I studied in teaches techniques from the old syllabus?
Respect,
Milan
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Hi Milán,
As far as I know, Ganseki nage has always been Ganseki nage, and Ganseki otoshi, Ganseki otoshi.
You should get the reprint of the original tenchijin by sensei published by http://www.shindenediciones.com it will help you to find your answer. 😀
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