Masaaki Hatsumi - Biography

Biography

Hatsumi was born in Noda, Japan on December 2, 1931. He heavily participated in sports during his school years, along with martial arts and theater, including becoming "captain of the soccer team". While attending the Meiji University, he continued learning judo and eventually rose to Judoka rank. He also began teaching Judo during his time at the university to American soldiers at the nearby Yokota Air Base. After graduating, Hatsumi began to search for a teacher to further his study of martial arts and when he was 26 he met Toshitsugu Takamatsu, known as "the Tiger of Mongolia". Hatsumi was accepted as Takamatsu's student and spent fifteen years on Honshu Island learning various ninjutsu styles from Takamatsu and other members of the Takamatsu family, along with continuing to learn judo, karate, aikido, and kobudo.

Takamatsu died in Nara, Japan in 1972 after advancing Hatsumi from student and bestowing on him "all the art of the nine schools", three of which he indicated were ancient ninja schools and six samurai schools of martial arts. Hatsumi went on to found the Bujinkan Dojo in Noda, Japan to teach the nine schools to other students. His first trip to the US was in 1982 and he has since continued to participate in the ninjutsu Tai Kai (gathering), which was held in Atlanta in 1994.

Hatsumi also worked as a bonesetter after his graduation and was chairman of the Writers Guild of Japan at one point in time. He is the writer of a martial arts magazine, Tetsuzan, which is "distributed in 18 countries".