Okona Dojo (Ninjutsu)
For life, not sport
Our Story
Ninpo Taijutsu, as a martial art, has been in Bristol since 1985. Our dojo was the first to teach what was then known as Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu. Now, many years later, we have built a reputation for producing some of the best students and instructors in our chosen art.
We established and built the South West's only private dojo and, as such, student numbers are kept low to make sessions a little more personal; we feel that this personal approach leads to quicker improvement in not only martial art skills but confidence. You will be received by a friendly group of like-minded martial arts practitioners whose only goal is to improve themselves whilst assisting others around them.
Ninpo Taijutsu techniques are based on an ancient and well tested system of warrior disciplines from both ninjas and samurai, handed down by nine historical Japanese family lineages. The techniques have been developed over centuries of conflict where the defender had to persevere and win against stronger, more numerous, and better equipped adversaries, these are still transmitted in the same way as they were in the mid 1600's, as a result, the training encourages a mindset of survival rather than victory, and places higher focus on strategic thinking, they do not rely on strength, speed, or size but rather our art utilizes natural, relaxed, efficient body movements, distancing, timing, and absolute practicality to defeat the adversary as a result, this different mindset and training method is found in authentic Koryu, or old martial arts.
This mindset allows you, the individual, to act in a free and spontaneous manner while remaining clear. This idea of "formless spontaneity" is something that dwells within all of us, so can be rediscovered for each one of us through dedicated practice. The art of Ninpo Taijutsu is not only based upon learning a set of motions or techniques, it is awareness of countless principles that allow a "technique" to happen naturally.
Ninpo Taijutsu has not been degraded or watered down for sport, nor are there any artificial rules, but are true Koryu "old schools" that retain their true and effective martial capabilities, constantly improving your mind and body through both mental and physical challenges is the only way to effectively improve your life.