Here's some questions : )
Ok, for a while I've been very interested in Ninjutsu, as a whole. Not just Taijutsu, but the art as a whole - even if it isn't entirely applicable in the modern day world. I'm curious, at least, and was wondering about some .. hotly debated things. If you guys don't mind, I'd really appreciate someone taking some time to clear this stuff up for me. The political wish-wash surrounding Ninjutsu on the net is really causing me some distress.
First of all, what is the deal with Bujinkan? It is the organization stemming from Hatsumi Sensei's teachings, correct? It seems to be very strict in what it teaches, IE, not "Bujinkan" unless everyone adheres to strict teachings, with little variance. From what I keep hearing, everyone HATES Bujinkan, and Hatsumi.. as a general rule of thumb. Why? I know that Hatsumi's teacher also taught other students, and I believe these other students (most notably the one that teaches Genbukan, I think?) branched off and taught other variations of Ninjutsu as learned from the Grandmaster.
What are these differences? The negatives, the positives? Why do people frown on Bujinkan and Hatsumi - is it because (from what I heard) he tried to publicize it greatly, having himself as the only real Ninjutsu grandmaster? Did Hatsumi water down everything in Bujinkan Ninjutsu as I've heard, making it laughable when put up against other arts, which are similarly meant to be practical and damaging in a combat situation?
Where has the teaching of stealth/subterfuge/utility tactics gone? Isn't that one of the foremost applications of Ninjutsu, in the old days, rather than the Taijutsu aspect, of hand to hand - and even weapons training? A school down here, a Biakku Ryu Ninjutsu school, teaches weapons, taijutsu, as well as they commonly practice things such as climbing, stealth, escape, utilities such as the grappling hook, using weapons as tools, etc.. is this a joke? Or is this merely a teacher trying to reinstill the fullness of Ninjutsu theory? They teach the Mutras (the meditative aspects of Ninjutsu) as well.. I was wondering what you all thought of this place? The guy is a 5th dan in Ninjutsu, and something like a 4th dan in Aikido.
What are some other (IE, not Genbukan or Bujinkan) schools of Ninjutsu, if any?
What are your opinions of Ninjutsu, when compared and contrasted with other combat-geared forms, such as Wing Chun (great close in combat, destroying the opponent's technique at all costs) and things like Aikido, which I've seen work great against offensive attackers (good balance of energy expenditure, with potential for damaging your target)?
I will probably think of more things to ask in short time.. but please don't flame me. I hope I didn't warrant anything to provoke a hostile response.. I'm just trying to learn.
Thanks guys!