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Ikari Dōjō (UQ)

Bujinkan Ikari Dōjō (武神館奭道場) practices traditional Japanese martial arts including weapons, close quarters fighting, strategy and tactics in all ranges of combat at the University of Queensland St. Lucia campus, Brisbane. Ikari Dōjō (Majestic Hall 奭道場) is affiliated with the Bujinkan organisation (Divine Warrior Temple 武神館). The Bujinkan teaches Budō Taijutsu (Classical Martial Arts of the Way of War 武道體術) and is based in Noda, Japan, and headed by grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi. The Bujinkan teaches nine traditional Japanese martial arts schools including:

  • Togakure-ryū Ninpō Taijutsu (戸隠流忍法体術) [Hidden Door School]: Shinobi (Ninja) school focusing on infiltration, evasion, and specialised warfare. This school includes the use of Shuriken (Hand blades), metsubushi (blinding powder) and the use of acrobatics and evasion techniques to avoid detection and escape from danger. 

  • Gyokko-ryū Kosshijutsu (玉虎流骨指術) [Jade Tiger School]: Samurai combat school focusing on armed and unarmed combat with specialization in blades, knives, capturing techniques and striking weak points.

  • Kuki Shinden Happō Bikenjutsu (九鬼神伝流八法秘剣術) [Nine Fierce Gods School]: Samurai battlefield school focusing on all aspects of large scale combat including spears, glaives, equestrian, armour, formation fighting, bows and battlefield strategy.

  • Koto Ryū Koppōjutsu (虎倒流骨法術) [Tiger Felling School]: Monk school focusing on hidden weapons, self-defense, throwing and breaking bones. Monks, merchants and common people were known to travel alone, often being the target of thieves and brigands, and they needed techniques and tactics to protect themselves.

  • Shinden Fudo Ryū Dakentaijutsu (神伝不動流打拳体術) [Immovable Heart School]: Monk school focusing on guerilla warfare, difficult terrain, glaives, medium armour and ranged warfare. Mountain Monks (Yamabushi) were known to be fierce warriors.

  • Takagi Yoshin Ryū Jūtaijutsu (高木揚心流柔体術) [Willow Heart School]: Samurai school focusing on personal protection, bodyguarding, grappling, throwing and capturing techniques. Yoshin ryu is known as a bodyguard specifically designed for the protection of others.

  • Gikan Ryū Koppōjutsu (義鑑流骨法術) [Virtues Paragon School]: Monk school focusing on bone breaking, weapon breaking, defensive techniques, leaping techniques and throwing techniques (Shuriken). Warrior Monks (Sohei) were widespread in feudal Japan and often the target of local lords and criminals, so they developed their own traditions of self-protection.

  • Gyokushin-ryū Ryū Ninpō (玉心流忍法) [Jade Heart School]: Shinobi (Ninja) school focusing on espionage, disguises, sacrifice throws (Sutemi), misdirection and hidden blades. This close combat variant of Ninjutsu puts greater emphasis on direct confrontations.

  • Kumogakure Ryū Ninpō (雲隠流忍法) [Hidden Clouds School]: Shinobi (Ninja) school focusing on sabotage, ambush, climbing and leaping techniques. Kumogakure practitioners were known to be able to leap from tree to tree.


Classes

Days: Tuesday and Thursday
Time: 1900 to 2030 (7 PM to 8:30 PM)
Location: Park Adjacent to UQ Community Garden. The UQ Community Garden and Park are located at the roundabout which is the main entrance to the campus. See Google map for more details and exact location.
Cost: First session is free to trial, classes are $20 thereafter.

Instructor

Richard Roth has several decades of experience in the martial arts and has been practicing Bujinkan Budō Taijutsu since 2004 and is the lead instructor. He regularly travels to Japan to train at the Bujinkan headquarters (Honbu) under grandmaster Hatsumi Masaaki and senior master Nagato Toshiro. Richard provides a safe, encouraging and positive learning environment for students to hone their martial arts skills.