The History

The History

The exact origins of the Ninja and the art of Ninjutsu could not be traced exactly. However, important historians generally accept that Ninjutsu came into being through religious and political upheaval around the end of the 6th century A.D. in Japan. Political refugees, priests and other intellectuals from China wandered and come to settle in the mountainous regions of Central Japan in their bid to escape the political turmoil due to the change of dynasty. They brought with them fighting arts, medicinal, philosophical and other skills.

Japanese ronins (master-less samurai), yamabushis (mountain priests) and other Japanese political and war refugees escaping from the turbulent wars of the Japanese courts also made their way into the mountains.

At the end of the Tang Dynasty (circa A.D. 900), a large input of military strategies, religious philosophies, folklore, cultural concepts and medical practices were brought over once again to Japan by fleeing refugees.

Isolated for years in the wilderness, whole families and clans began to emerge through intermarriages, generations lived and died. Their knowledge, martial skills, beliefs and philosophies blended and evolved into what is known as Ninjutsu today.

At the end of the Heian period (1185 A.D.) the central government weakened and many political factions come into being. There were conflicts and unrest. This period is known as the Kamakura period, (1192-1333 A.D.), which is also known as "the Golden Period of Ninjutsu".

The Daimyos (Lords) would call upon the shinobi warriors (Ninjas) to spy on and occasionally get rid of their rivals. The Ninja clans would only do so after considering deeply all factors and which of the lords can preserve their self-existence in turbulent Japan.

The regions of Iga and Koga became famous for producing great Ninja families. As peace approached in the Tokugawa period (1603 A.D.), Ninjutsu started to decline. Many clans put aside and forgot their fighting skills. Only a few continued to practice.

The one remaining Koga style survived until the 1960's. Unfortunately, the master Fujita Seiko and his students perished in a car crash. This leave only the Iga style inherited by Sensei Takamatsu Toshitsugu Uoh, who handed all the grandmasters of nine traditional Ninja and Samurai schools to Soke Masaaki Hatsumi, the founder of the Bujinkan Dojo International.

The "Ninja Boom" of the 1980's was taken advantage of by many people who claimed to have links to historical Ninja families of the past, present and even non-existing ones. Some used false or real names of others with high ranks to attract members lacking in information. Others would join the Bujinkan Dojo for a short period of time to pick up some skills before disappearing elsewhere to teach while using the Bujinkan name illegally. This happens everywhere. 

 Ninjutsu in Malaysia​

​​​​Authentically speaking, Ninjutsu started in Malaysia when Mr. William Boesen (8th Dan), a Danish expartriate and ex-soldier met up with a group of Malaysians training in Budo (Ninpo) Taijutsu on their own somewhere in the 1990's.

He gave them advance and intensive training in all aspects of Ninjutsu. It was him (with assistance from Mr. Justyn Olby and Mr. Marcus Snoddy) who graded and delivered hand written certificates from Soke

Maasaki Hatsumi to the Malaysian members.

Mr. Boesen left for home in 1999. One of our members, Mr. James Lee P.K. was given the task of furthering Bujinkan Budo (Ninpo) Taijutsu, (or in short Bujinkan Ninjutsu) in Malaysia.​