04/01/2026
In the wake of a recent conversation with a mentor concerning the longevity of training as we age, an excerpt from the dojo syllabus serves as an anchor of inspiration and direction.
Train Your Age...
When students are in their twenties and thirties, they train hard. Four or five classes a week? No problem. Bruises from strikes to the ribs and arms? They clear up in a day or two. Learning to train through the pain when young is common practice. Broken toes, fingers, black eyes, and happy accidents are seen as a rite of passage. Testing the kihon is a common goal at this stage. Training is thought to be better if it means throwing and punching faster or harder. Interestingly, advanced practitioners look at the younger generation and chuckle. They know something the younger generation hasn’t yet recognized or comprehended. Shu Ha Ri? To the younger students, that’s mumbo jumbo - “Just train hard!” is the common focus.
As students get older, training changes. Experience reflected on and applied becomes knowledge. And knowledge leads to smarter - not harder - training. The Bujinkan ryuha kata become more important at this stage. Older experienced students notice when balance is broken earlier in the attack sequence. Kuzushi manipulation - it replaces the need to survive dozens of hip throws, an uchi mata, or worse...a weapon worn during a throw. The knowledge and experience becomes wisdom, allowing for more efficient training when the body can no longer support hard physical taijutsu.
In 1997, Hatsumi Soke started class at his Bujinkan Hombu during a warm August day by telling attendees to “train your age”. If we were hot, we should rest. If we were old, go slow. If we were young, train hard but don’t sweat! (We never did figure that out.) Soke was providing us guidance on how to train for the long run.
Young students need to train hard. But as students age, training changes. We shouldn’t be surprised by this. Banpen Fugyo.
It's important as a Bujinkan practitioner - especially an aging one - to not be burdened by what could be done yesterday. Instead, focus on what you can do today. Live in the moment without anxiety or a yearning to recreate youthful movement. Have an injury impeding your ability to take ukemi? Train with a partner without throwing and work on balance manipulation instead. Vision not nearly as good as it used to be? Focus on grabs and weapons retention. Use class to explore and enable what options you have today. Ukemi changes as students age. Practicing hard falls is important for young deshi. Older students may choose to reduce the impact of hard ukemi to limit injury or damage.
As physical training slows due to age, consistent training becomes paramount to longevity. Walking every day, practicing Shoshin and Gogyo at a slow pace, and increasing internal aspects of training (better diet, increased mental positivity, Bujinkan historical interests, etc.) are all enablers. Soke trained and taught until 88 years old. Many of his senior students have followed his path and continue to teach or train in their 70’s and 80’s. Soke gave us a template to lifelong training if we are willing to follow it. Learn to survive the dojo with what you have the capacity to perform today. Commit to this mindset and internalize it. Accept this as part of your fudoshin. Then keep going.
Bufu Ikkan!
