Madison Dojo class times
Tuesday: 6:30PM to 8:30PM
Thursday: 6:30PM to 8:30PM
Welcome to the Bujinkan Teisatsu Dojo Web Site
We offer a reality-based self-defense system based off the ancient art of ninjutsu. The Bujinkan Teisatsu Dojo is an official branch of the International Bujinkan Dojo under Soke (Grandmaster) Masaaki Hatsumi. Training at the Bujinkan Teisatsu Dojo is directly affiliated with the Bujinkan in Japan. Ninjutsu is an “over-all” term for the entire system we study, including both unarmed combat and weapons training.
Instructor Information
The instructor for the Bujinkan Teisatsu Dojo is Brad Meng. His day job for twenty-five years was working in the government looking for wanted fugitives. In addition to teaching martial arts Mr. Meng is also a female self-defense instructor and a close quarters combat instructor for the military. Mr. Meng was a federal firearms instructor and a Less than Lethal instructor for Federal Law Enforcement before he retired. Mr. Meng began studying in the martial arts at the age of seven. He has over forty-five years of marital arts experience and holds multiple black belts in different martial art styles. His real life experience has given him a unique insight into the reality of combat. In 1997 he began studying Ninpo Taijutsu in the Bujinkan, earning his Shodan (1st degree black belt) in 2003. During his 2008 trip to Japan he earned his Godan (5th degree black belt). Currently Mr. Meng holds a seventh degree black belt which he was gifted while in Japan in May of 2018. He is fond of the saying: "to those much is given, much will be required." Mr. Meng tries to use his teaching to better society as a whole, one person at a time. If you would like further information please contact Mr. Meng via email at: madisonshibu@yahoo.com and he will reply soon. Thank you for your interest in the Bujinkan.
Where and how is training conducted?
Like our art, our dojo (training hall) is flexible. We train indoors and outdoors, during the daylight and in darkness, Training is held in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin. Training is offered two nights a week - Tuesday and Thursdays. There are no monetary contracts, and payment is done on a monthly basis ($70). The cost is slightly less than most martial arts in the area due to the fact that we are a small backyard / basement dojo. Mr. Meng's point has always been to help pass on what he has learned, to make the world a better place, and to make his students feel safer and better trained.
About Taijutsu
Ninjutsu and Ninpo are terms that are often used inter-changeably. Taijutsu (body combat skills) usually refers to the unarmed aspect of the art. At this time, Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi in Japan is the only known head of an authentic ninja tradition. No other alleged representative historic school has been able to produce the hereditary makimono and densho scrolls containing the methods and techniques and transferring authority from one grand master to the next down through the centuries. Any authentic instructor will be able to tell you who his teacher is and how to contact him, and that teacher will be able to refer you to his teacher, all the way back to Hatsumi Sensei. An authentic instructor will have a rank certificate from the Bujinkan in Japan, dated and signed by Hatsumi Sensei.
How is Ninjutsu different from other martial arts?
Ninpo uses relaxed natural movement and distance to overcome speed and strength. Movement is refined for grace and naturalness in all actions until power results from mere movement and evasiveness results from simple adjustment of position. Ninpo is not limited to circular movements, but incorporates strikes, punches, kicks, locks, throws, rolls, tumbling, numerous weaponry, stalking, meditation, spiritual empowerment, and much more. The four key components of Taijutsu that are studied are Balance, Distance, Timing, and Flow. All aspects of your martial training should build on perfecting these four elements. Ninjutsu has a weapons based approach to combat, so that students spend as much time learning unarmed combat as learning to use tools to help them overcome larger, stronger, younger, faster opponents. Mr. Meng is fond of saying that your mind is your greatest weapon.
The Nine Ryu's of the Bujinkan
Togakure Ryu Ninpo Taijutsu - Hidden Door School
Gyokko Ryu Kosshijutsu - Jeweled Tiger School
Kukishinden Ryu Happo Hikenjutsu - Nine Demons School
Koto Ryu Koppojutsu - Tiger Knocking Down School
Shindenfudo Ryu Dakentaijutsu - Immovable Heart School
Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu - High Tree, Raised Heart School
Gikan Ryu Koppojutsu - Truth, Loyalty, and Justice School
Gyokushin Ryu Ninpo - Jeweled Heart School
Kumogakure Ryu Ninpo - Hiding in the Clouds School
Guidelines For Participation In The Bujinkan
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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