1. The Bujinkan shall be open to
only those who agree with and uphold the guidelines of the Bujinkan
Dojo. Those not doing so shall not be allowed to join. Specifically:
Only those who have read and agreed with these guidelines shall be
allowed to participate.
2. Only those able to exercise true patience, self-control,
and dedication shall be allowed to participate. A physician's
examination report shall be required. Specifically, individuals with
mental illness, drug addiction, or mental instability shall be barred
from joining. The necessity of such a report concerns individuals who
may present a danger to others, for example, those with infectious
diseases or illnesses, individuals with clinically abnormal
personalities or physiology, and individuals lacking self-control.
3. Individuals with criminal
records shall be turned away. Trouble makers, those who commit crimes,
and those living in Japan who break domestic laws shall be turned away.
4. Those not upholding the guidelines of the Bujinkan, either
as practitioners or as members of society, by committing disgraceful or
reproachable acts shall be expelled. Until now, the Bujinkan was open
to large numbers of people who came to Japan. Among them,
unfortunately, were those committing violent drunken acts, the mentally
ill, and trouble makers who thought only of themselves and failed to
see how their actions might adversely affect others. Through their
actions, such people were discarding the traditional righteous heart of
the Bujinkan. From this day forward, all such people shall be expelled.
5. Regarding accidents occurring during training (both inside
and outside the dojo), one should not cause trouble to the Bujinkan.
This is an extremely important point. Those unwilling to take personal
responsibility for accidents occurring during Bujinkan training shall
not be admitted. Reiterating for clarity, the Bujinkan shall not take
responsibility for any accidents happening in the course of training,
regardless of the location.
6. All those joining the Bujinkan must get an annual
membership card. This card not only preserves the honor of the Bujinkan
members, it indicates you are part of a larger whole--one whose members
come together with warrior hearts to better themselves through training
and friendship. It evinces the glory of warrior virtue, and embodies
both loyalty and brotherly love.
7. The tradition of the Bujinkan recognizes nature and the
universality of all human life, and is aware of that which flows
naturally between the two parts:
•"The
secret principle of Taijutsu is to know the foundations of peace.
•To
study is the path to the immovable heart (fudoshin)."
Recently, the Bujinkan has become truly
international. Just as there are various time zones, so exist various
taboos among the world's peoples and nations. We must respect each
other, striving to avoid such taboos. We must put the heart of the
warrior first, working together for self-improvement and for the
betterment of the Bujinkan.
Those not upholding the above-mentioned guidelines shall be forced out
of the Bujinkan.
Masaaki
Hatsumi - Soke
