Introduction

The Missouri Budo Taijutsu Dojo-- the oldest dojo of its kind in Missouri-- was established by founder Ken Harding in 1988, as a member of the International Bujinkan Dojo, centered in Noda, Japan. Our purpose is to teach ancient, effective, secrets of self-protection and self-development to responsible, good-hearted people. We strive to preserve and faithfully transmit the six traditional schools of warriorship that make up our rare system, while keeping an emphasis on realism and authenticity.

We are fully traditional, and structure our curriculum after the Densho (handwritten scrolls) of six ancient Japanese martial arts traditions. The material is based two classifications of styes.

One of those is Bujutsu, which are the combat systems of the samurai warrior, as found in the schools of Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu, Kukishinden Happo Hikenjutsu and Shinden Fudo Ryu Dakentaijutsu. Bujutsu involves both armed combat (kenjutsu, bojutsu, yarijutsu, juttejutsu, etc.) and unarmed combat (jujutsu), as well as conditioning and tactics of warfare.

The other is Ninjutsu, as taught in Togakure Ryu Ninpo Taijutsu, Kumogakure Ryu Ninjutsu, Gyokko Ryu Koshijutsu and Koto Ryu Koppojutsu. These systems also involve unarmed and armed combat, tactical training, conditioning, as well as "other" skills.

The Ninja and the Samurai developed combat methods based on actual experiences in battle. Born on the battlefield, bugei (arts of the warrior) were developed during the Warring States period in Japan-- the Sengoku Jidai, a time when a warrior literally either lived or died by the quality of his martial art skills. It is important to understand that many martial arts available today were created in much later times of peace, or altered in the last few decades with other objectives in mind such as sports, the teaching of children, or spiritual and personal development.

Our training philosophy is simple. We offer a connection to a distant warrior tradition. This is an old-style dojo, and we teach a non-sport martial art. We provide training in realistic defense skills, and philosophical guidance toward the Warrior Lifestyle. Our budo is not a modern, recently-fabricated hybrid. Nor is it a sport-oriented style geared toward competitions. It is not for children. It is a serious, thousand-year-old warrior tradition: a way of life that harmonizes the body, mind and spirit.

Within the Missouri Budo Taijutsu Dojo, we study unarmed combat methods-- striking, kicking, joint locks, pressure points, chokes and throws-- and the following weapons: katana (Japanese sword), kodachi (short sword), ninjato (shinobigatana- ninja sword), bo (6 foot staff), yari (spear), naginata (halberd), jo (4 foot staff), hanbo (cane), jutte (iron club), tessen (war fan), tanto (knife), kusarigama (sickle with weighted chain), kyoketsu shoge (Hooked knife with chain and weight), kusarifundo (3-foot weighted chain), shuriken (throwing spikes), shaken (throwing stars), and more. We train indoors and outdoors, in a variety of terrains and weather conditions, day and night.

Our movement style does not resemble karate, taekwondo, aikido, judo, kung fu, or anything else. Our art has no connection to these others-- our art developed in a different time and in a different place: a thousand years ago in the isolated, mountainous region of Central Japan.

The methods are traditional, and the focus is on realism and authenticity. These are battle-tested martial arts, passed down from teacher to student for the last thousand years. You are now invited to experience the ancient secrets for yourself.

Traditional Japanese Arts of Warfare

Effectiveness, above all, is the goal

Authentic Japanese Sword Training

Advanced instruction in more than a dozen weapons

Chief Instructor trained and ranked in Japan

Complete training in every aspect