For centuries, the ancient martial art of ninjutsu has fascinated people worldwide, with the enigmatic ninja and their espionage and assassination skills becoming popularized in various media. Yet, the true history and methods of the ninja remain veiled in mystery and legend.

Tracing back nearly a millennium, the origins of ninjutsu can be found in Japan's Iga prefecture. Here, inhabitants sought peaceful lives amidst a backdrop of feudal lords who enforced a strict code of honor and wielded powerful steel swords. To protect themselves, the people of Iga honed their self-defense martial arts skills, repurposing simple farming tools as weapons against their samurai oppressors. This struggle gave rise to nine unique ninja arts traditions, with tales of the fighters' supernatural abilities spreading far and wide.

Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi, the last living grandmaster of ninjutsu, has devoted his life to preserving and teaching this ancient art. As the founder of the Bujinkan Dojo, he succeeded his mentor, Toshitsugu Takamatsu, as the leader of these nine arts and has since traveled the globe to share his wisdom.

The Bujinkan Dojo teaches ninjutsu based on these nine traditions: Togakure-ryu Ninpo Taijutsu, Gyokko-ryu Kosshijutsu, Kukishinden-ryu Daken Taijutsu, Koto-ryu Koppojutsu, Shinden Fudo-ryu Daken Taijutsu, Takagi Yoshin-ryu Jutaijutsu, Gikan-ryu Koppojutsu, Gyokushin-ryu Ninpo, and Kumogakure-ryu Ninpo. Hatsumi-sensei's teachings encompass not only the physical techniques of ninjutsu but also its underlying philosophy and mindset. He highlights the importance of balance and control in both physical movement and life, demonstrating his mastery through smooth, precise movements that require minimal physical strength.

Students from all corners of the world flock to the Bujinkan Dojo to learn directly from Hatsumi-sensei, acquiring the skills of Japan's most renowned secret agents. His commitment to preserving and disseminating this ancient art attests to its ongoing significance and power. In a world fraught with violence and conflict, ninjutsu teachings offer a path towards cultivating balance and control in our lives, allowing the spirit to endure and the mind to dictate its destiny.

Though advanced in years, Hatsumi-sensei persists in teaching at his dojo in Noda, Chiba Prefecture, where men and women from around the globe gather to learn both the physical techniques and the philosophy of ninjutsu. While the ninja may not have achieved the kind of power to overthrow tyrants, they gained a reputation that kept such rulers on their toes, as well as the power to ensure the spirit's endurance and the mind's mastery of its fate.