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Ninpo is the spiritual side of ninjutsu or budo taijutsu as taught by Bujinkan Grandmaster Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi of Japan, the sole grandmaster of the only historically unbroken ninjutsu tradition left in the world, as well as his first American student, Quest Center To-Shin Do An-shu Stephen K. Hayes, one of the foremost American authorities on ninjutsu and a member of the Black Belt Hall of Fame. When the spiritual and martial aspects of the tradition are taught as an integrated curriculum, they are often referred to collectively as ninpo budo taijutsu. At its core, ninpo involves Kuji-In, the two versions of the five-element theory, Mikkyo Buddhism, and Shugendo, along with certain other components. Kuji-In refers to the nine finger "cuts" that give the ninja their power. This energy-channeling system, of Hindu and Buddhist origin, involves creating neurolinguistic triggers in the consciousness that link specific emotional states to nine finger positions (mudra), their corresponding phrases (mantra) and associated symbology or images (mandala). Bujinkan   Nin To-Shin Do       "Kuji-In is a ritual process that encourages the development of body, mind and spirit," according to Francois Lepine, a Buddhist priest and author of a trilogy on the subject: "Qi-Gong and Kuji-In: An Oriental Esoteric Experience," "Advanced Kuji-In: Transformational Approach," and "Mastering Kuji-In: The Power of Manifestation."

Links: Training Groups We’d Recommend The following is a limited list of people we have trained with and would recommend to others for quality taijutsu: In the Bujinkan: Potomac Bujinkan Dojo Steven Schmidt & Rob Schuler CIMA Studios 16804 Oakmont Ave. Gaithersburg, MD 20877 steven.schmidt@comcast.net Bujinkan Buyu Columbia Leonard Pollard Kahler Hall (Harper’s Choice Community Center) 5440 Old Tucker Row Columbia, MD 21044 columbiabuyu@aol.com 410 290-3888 Bujinkan Magokoro Dojo Jeff Mueller Columbia/Laurel, MD jmueller@magokoro-dojo.org Bujinkan Buyu New Jersey Dojo Jack Hoban Wesley Hall Auditorium Spring Lake, NJ buyu9@livingvalues.com Shori Bujinkan Dojo Victor Siedleski, Shidoshi-Ho Elgin, IL Vic@ShoRiSha.com To-Shin Do: Stephen K. Hayes Quest Martial Arts Central Training Headquarters 6236 Far Hills Avenue Dayton, OH 45459 (937) 436-9990 daytonquest@skhquest.com

"It enhances the nervous system, endocrine system, energy channels of the body, mental abilities, comprehension, quickness of body and mind, and opens the door on great spiritual depth," he continues. "It involves the combination of many tools to focus all of the practitioner's attention: hand gestures, spoken words, mental visualization, philosophic contemplation, and focus points on the body."   Five Element Theory. There are two iterations of this theory: One version is linear, based on the five elements of the universe: Earth - Water - Fire - Air - Void (or in reverse), and has to do with progression or degression. The other version is more circular: Wood - Fire - Earth - Metal - Water; each one interacts to create the one to its right, and to destroy the next one after that. So Water creates Wood and destroys Fire, while Metal creates Water (condensation) and destroys Wood, etc.

Mikkyo is a Japanese term for Vajrayana, Diamond Thunderbolt-inspired Tantric Buddhist practices. Although elements of Mikkyo are found in Zen and other Buddhist lineages, the primary schools of Mikkyo are the Tendai and Shingon.   Shugendo, in Japanese the name given the priests of the Shugendo religion, breaks down into yama, meaning mountain, and bushi (often mistranslated as warrior), meaning to lie down. Yamabushi immerse themselves in nature and sever all worldly connections, to purify their bodies and minds. In this way, believers lose their individuality--burning away their egos with the hardships of hell--and are able to see through the world of delusion and be reborn as one with nature. Thus, by becoming an ascetic, one essentially commits spiritual seppuku.