09/08/2026
I seriously doubt the DOD conducted the study he’s referring to. I do know, however, that the military conducted numerous case studies from the Afghanistan and Iraq campaigns involving soldiers who experienced actual hand-to-hand combat. I’ve read the vast majority of them. Those findings were then used to improve the Modern Army Combatives Program (MACP).
As a Bujinkan practitioner for the past 24 years, I can only speak from my own experiences.
The first was during a 2004 deployment when I was on patrol and nearly stepped on an antipersonnel mine stacked on top of two antitank mines. It felt like the hand of God reached down, grabbed me by the back of my collar, and yanked me backward before I completed the step.
The second occurred on an objective when I went hands-on with a fighting-age male. During the clinch, I kneed him, and his body moved into the perfect position for me to execute Ganseki Nage, knocking him unconscious.
The third involved an informant we suspected of passing information to the Taliban. It was decided I would take him down because I was the team’s resident ninja 😂. My buddy and I entered the room. He had a phone in his right hand, and we didn’t know whether he was wearing a su***de vest. I reached for the phone and began applying Omote Gyaku. He instinctively transferred the phone to his left hand, and I immediately transitioned to Ura Gyaku, taking him face-first into the dirt. That transition principle is something we see in the kata Renyo.
I’d be interested to hear from others in our organization who have served in the military, law enforcement, or as first responders. If you’ve had a real-world experience where your training came into play, please share it.
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Did you know that In a survey by the US Department of Defense, 3,000 students of Bujinkan survived what was classified as dangerous missions. This was verified when Pentagon wanted to find out if there were some charteristics on soldiers that survived dangerous missions. They found out that one important characteristic for people that survived was that they were Bujinkan students.
This heart of life and survival was given to us by our soke. Let's stick together and keep it alive forever.
The spirit of original martial arts has survived through our ryu-ha of Bujinkan up to this present day transmitted by our Bujinkan soke. It's not about strong or weak. And it's not about looks or optimal preparation for the fight at a specific date, because this date is only for sports. According to our legacy this path is more about spirit, awareness, friendship and the correct heart.
Michael
