Is this a Bussey desrivative art?

[MJS]

Well there are alot of differances. First off knowledge of the various ryu-ha is the biggest deal. Proper kata's and henka off of them. Bussey studied only for a short while before adding things that we not Bujinkan related. Besides knowledge of the ryu and there kata's the other distinguishing features of Mr. Bussey's style is high kicks, acrobatic moves and flash. Mind you many people in the Bujinkan are not Bussey fan's. However he was around pretty early on and blended his hapkido training with Budo Taijutsu and then marketed it during the Ninja boom. Personally if he inspired anyone to find legitimate training under Hatsumi then more power to him.

Thanks, this was helpful!:ultracool

While I'm not sure the exact timeframe it takes to be remotely good at the things you mention, I'm sure its not going to happen in a short time. I get the impression from reading Obliquitys' post, that Bussey didn't seem to think that what he was learning would not be effective ASAP. Considering, as I said in the beginning, that many things could take years to perfect, would this be one reason he added/deleted things? Is there anything "Bujinkan like" in anything that he is doing now?

Mike

 

[Cryozombie]

If you think was Bussey does is fluid, you seriously have no idea as to what the Bujinkan has to offer in that regard.

I think A lot of "Hard Style" artists (which is what I would consider him from most of what I have have seen from Bussey) consider "fluid" being able to transition from technique to technique in a... rapid, non-broken chain of moves... or a "rapid" motion that isnt so much about fluid movement how we think of it as it is about rapid transitions.

 

[Don Roley]

Like a lot of martial artists who adapted their learning for street fighting, Mr. Bussey's approach was adapted for personal defense in real-life situations as opposed to propogating "the art." This was part of the rub between he and the bujinkan.

No... The people in the Bujinkan that were around at that time seem to have a lot more trouble with him using the Bujinkan name while not really doing much that Hatsumi was showing. The flashy kicks and such are just part of that. The big complaint seems to be that he was quite willing to use the name ninjutsu to sell himself, but was not eager to learn or teach what actual ninjutsu was. That is a rather big charecter flaw in many people's opinion.

Another major issue was Mr. Bussey's spirituality. As a Christian, Mr. Bussey was not comfortable with, or outright opposed to, some of the teachings to which he had been exposed.

To be more exact, this is the excuse he gave. Whether it is the truth or not is another matter. The way I heard the story, it looks like he fled Japan for reasons other than having trouble with the teachings. And there is nothing I can point to that would run counter to a Chritian studying this art. Thousands have and have not had a problem.

As an aside, I just read an article about him in American Karate Magazine dated May, 1987 where the author states, "To attack Robert Bussey when he has a sword in his hand would be like throwing yourself into a Cuisinart -- you wouldn't stand a chance. There is something slightly frightening about being around a length of steel that is spinning and twirling too fast for your eye to even see! (Once, while viewing a videotape of Bussey's sword technique, it was necessary to put the player on slow motion to view the actual path pf the blade.)"

Never mistake flash for real skill. If you look at what Bussey does with a blade and compare it with the traditions in Japan you will see a lot less flash, but what they do has been tested in real combat while Bussey's show has not. The author of the article, like most, is probably like most folks that see stuff in movies and think it is real and have no experience with real swordsmanship.

 

[Obliquity]

I guess people see what they want to see.

Um . . . you do realize that I was agreeing with your statement that I "seriously have no idea as to what the Bujinkan has to offer in that regard."

I am not really sure what your follow-up post is about, but I am quite willing to learn more.

 

[Obliquity]

I think A lot of "Hard Style" artists (which is what I would consider him from most of what I have have seen from Bussey) consider "fluid" being able to transition from technique to technique in a... rapid, non-broken chain of moves... or a "rapid" motion that isnt so much about fluid movement how we think of it as it is about rapid transitions.

I think this may be a very accurate characterization of my experience. I had never seen techniques chained together in a rapid sequence. Thanks!

 

[Obliquity]

No... The people in the Bujinkan that were around at that time seem to have a lot more trouble with him using the Bujinkan name while not really doing much that Hatsumi was showing. The flashy kicks and such are just part of that. The big complaint seems to be that he was quite willing to use the name ninjutsu to sell himself, but was not eager to learn or teach what actual ninjutsu was. That is a rather big charecter flaw in many people's opinion.



To be more exact, this is the excuse he gave. Whether it is the truth or not is another matter. The way I heard the story, it looks like he fled Japan for reasons other than having trouble with the teachings. And there is nothing I can point to that would run counter to a Chritian studying this art. Thousands have and have not had a problem.




Never mistake flash for real skill. If you look at what Bussey does with a blade and compare it with the traditions in Japan you will see a lot less flash, but what they do has been tested in real combat while Bussey's show has not. The author of the article, like most, is probably like most folks that see stuff in movies and think it is real and have no experience with real swordsmanship.

Don,

I have read several of your posts since joining MartialTalk and really appreciate your perspective on this. Seriously. I will take what you have written to heart and give it significant consideration.

I haven't read recently if you have decided where to settle when you return to the States, but am hoping that the Seattle area still has great appeal to you. I was hoping to visit the Seattle Bujinkan Tenchijin Dojo on a recent trip, but was not able to work it in. Perhaps if you are in the area again, I could make the trek from Wenatchee in order to meet and observe first-hand some of what you bring with you from the Bujinkan Honbu Dojo.

Keith