BRIEF HISTORY OF NINJUTSU IN UK

While Stephen K. Hayes was introducing and promoting ninjutsu in America his counter part Bo f. Munthe was doing the same in Europe.
On October 1983 , Bo F. Munthe ,3^rd dan, Branch Chief of Europe, personal student of Ishizuka Sensei and member of the Bujinkan Dojo,Ishizuka Society came over to teach two, one day courses held in London and Dublin on the invite of course organiser, Brian McCarthy ,Brian had previously attended a 5 day training seminar organised by Stephen K. Hayes in Ohio in 1982, Keith Lebihan from London also attended. Bo was joined on the courses by Sveneric Bogsator, 1st kyu, the only other person attending the London course who held a grade in ninpo was Peter King who after two training trips to Japan was promoted to 3rd kyu.
The following year , March 1984, Sveneric and Brian both received their 1st Dan, shidoshi ho from Dr Hatsumi in Japan and Bo was promoted to 4th Dan all three were made personal students of the Soke, from this association the EBNS was formed, later that year at the August camp in Wales, Bo F. Munthe promoted Matts Gulberg, Sveneric and Brian to 2nd Dan and in the spring of 1985 Peter King received his 1st Dan, shidoshi ho from Grandmaster Hatsumi, the first person in the UK to do so, by the end of 1985 saw the demise of the EBNS and putting it in simple terms, in the UK, Bo’s students went with Bo and Brian’s students went with Brian.

Since 1985 much has changed, without the contribution made by all the above named individuals, as well as the original area representatives and training group leaders who organised courses and training in their areas ninjutsu would not be as well established as it is in Europe, UK and Ireland, all played their part.

Now there are many teachers, too numerous to mention as the Bujinkan has grown, in the beginning there was only one teacher , Bo F. Munthe, the man everyone called sensei, he’s where it all began in Europe , he’s part of our history, part of our lineage.

GRANDMASTER

GRANDMASTER MASAAKI HATSUMI

Dr Masaaki Hatsumi, Grandmaster of Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu and eight other Ryuha as outlined below travelled across Japan every weekend in the 1950’s to 60’s for 15 years to train and learn the ways of Japan elusive, mysterious ninja from its last Grandmaster, Toshitsugu Takamatsu.
Through Hatsumi Soke generosity these teachings were shared with the world through his organisation, the Bujinkan.

33^rd GRANDMASTER TOSHITSUGU TAKAMATSU

Takamatsu Sensei was a warrior in the old tradition, 33rd Grandmaster of the Togakure Ryu, he passed all nine schools to his student Massaki Hatsumi, and Takamatsu sensei was the last ninja to have used his skills in real life and death situations.