Rare 1974 Footage of Togakure Ryu Training

PUBLISHED: 6 JUNE 2025

When Ninjutsu Was Raw

Newly restored footage of Togakure Ryu ninjutsu training—filmed in 1974—has surfaced online. Captured by Toei Productions in Noda, Japan, the clip offers a vivid glimpse into the early days of Bujinkan training under Masaaki Hatsumi, during a time when ninjutsu was still shrouded in mystery for much of the world.

The video, now brought to life in crystal-clear detail, captures a raw, physical, and intensely committed style of practice that reflects the martial roots of the Togakure tradition. It is a time capsule of combat training and an invaluable historical document for those fascinated by the evolution of ninjutsu and traditional koryu martial arts.

Rooted in Legacy: Togakure Ryu and the Bujinkan

Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu, one of Japan's oldest ninja lineages, is a foundational component of the Bujinkan system. The system was passed down to Hatsumi Masaaki by his teacher, the legendary Takamatsu Toshitsugu. By the 1970s, Hatsumi was beginning to share these arts with a growing number of Japanese and international students, yet public access to footage like this remained extremely rare—until now.

The Training: Brutal, Physical, and Real

The film opens with practitioners scaling tree trunks using shuko (hand claws)—a dramatic yet practical demonstration of traditional ninja climbing techniques.

Next, the camera captures a gritty outdoor sparring session. With no protective gear in sight, students launch full-speed strikes—kicks, punches, and takedowns—as defenders roll, evade, and counter with precise movements. The realism is stark. The intensity, palpable.

One of the most talked-about moments in the video is Hatsumi’s throw of Israeli student Doron Navon—the first foreigner to earn a Bujinkan black belt. In the clip, Hatsumi grabs Navon and drives him into the ground, then throws him again by the hair. It’s a jarring display that underscores just how hard training was during that era.

Escape from the Impossible

In another jaw-dropping sequence, Hatsumi is seized by multiple attackers. His arms, legs, and neck are restrained by several students. But instead of brute force, he escapes with biomechanical precision. The escape begins with a sudden headbutt to Ishizuka Sensei’s face, knocking him flat. Subtle shifts of balance and expertly applied body mechanics follow, allowing Hatsumi to slip out of the hold like smoke through fingers.

This moment alone speaks volumes about the principle of taijutsu—using minimal effort and superior positioning to neutralize seemingly impossible threats.

Weapons of the Shinobi: Tradition Meets Innovation

The footage also showcases a stunning array of traditional ninja and samurai weaponry:

• A massive bisento cutting through the air

• Shuriken thrown with lethal accuracy

• And the ever-versatile kyoketsu shoge, wielded in a masterful demonstration by Hatsumi Sensei

In one highlight, Hatsumi uses the long cord of the kyoketsu shoge to stay out of range, loop the weapon around his opponent’s wrist, and disarm him from a distance—a clear example of the shinobi's preference for deception and control over brute strength.

Ishizuka in Disguise: A Moment of Theater and Mastery

In an unexpected and theatrical moment, the late Ishizuka Sensei appears disguised — wearing a headscarf and false teeth. When confronted by a swordsman, he dramatically removes the disguise and swiftly ends the encounter with a single thrust from his wooden staff, demonstrating both showmanship and precision.

It’s moments like this that reflect not only the martial seriousness of Bujinkan training, but also its subtle humor, creativity, and psychological depth.

A Harder Edge: Then and Now

This newly revealed footage is a stark contrast to the softer, more flowing style that characterized Hatsumi Sensei’s teaching in the 2000s. In the 1970s, training was harder, faster, and more direct. For modern practitioners of ninjutsu and admirers of Japanese martial traditions, the video is more than historical—it’s inspirational. It offers a chance to reconnect with the roots of the art and to see the principles of ninpo in action during one of the most formative eras of the Bujinkan.