VIRTUOUS BONDS: The Sacred Circle of Budō Taijutsu

 VIRTUOUS BONDS: The Sacred Circle of Budō Taijutsu

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There are moments in the history of an art that are not written with ink, but with the light of a revelation. Today, through the experiences and publications of Hatsumi Sensei, I wish to share with you the living essence of Budō Taijutsu.

The year was 1995. The sky over Tucson, Arizona, became the stage for a phenomenon that would mark our path. During that Taikai (a traditional martial arts competition), the sun reflected with such intensity that Sensei called it "The Sacred Circle." It was not merely an aesthetic sight; it was a sign. In Volume I, Number 8 of the Spanish edition of Sanmyaku Bujinkan Denshō, Sensei confessed his inspiration: that circle represented the concept of "Wa" (Harmony), a sacred peace. It was under this influence that he decided to name our schools Budō Taijutsu.

Personally, I have always believed that Hatsumi Sensei possesses a refined, almost surgical, perception for interpreting the signs of the universe at the precise moment. As human beings, we are all subject to the dance of life and death, to the impermanence of ever-changing states. Although we often proudly repeat that “not even ten thousand changes will surprise us,” honesty compels us to acknowledge that accepting continuous change is a challenge of the spirit.

Throughout his active life on the tatami, Sensei's teachings have been a constant flow. We have seen concepts fluctuate without disappearing: from Ninpō Taijutsu to the attunement of budō Taijutsu, detaching the teachings from rigid labels to elevate them to a higher harmony.

It is like climbing the hills of Lake Biwa: one sits and observes how the ripples appear and disappear on the surface; the water is the same, but the form is always new.

This journey was full of ups and downs: changes to the certificates, donations for the first Honbu Dojo, and even the idea—which sparked controversy among those who offered uninformed opinions—of converting the Dojo into a Shinto shrine. But the truth is, when the essence of a Master impacts your consciousness as positively as it did in my case, external changes cease to matter.

Change is inherent to human beings; it's the most natural thing there is. It shouldn't affect our deepest connection.

Perhaps the figure of the Master isn't what we think it is, but rather the capacity of that figure to become your own conscience.

The Master answers your questions not from what you expect to hear, but from a coherence so pure that, if you're not prepared, it can even offend you.

That's why I love Budō Taijutsu. I'm passionate about the manipulation of the abstract, the fragrance of its movement, and that "tactile quality" of Hatsumi Sensei that allows you to be yourself while looking at yourself through your heart. He invites you to reflect and, at the same time, demands that you not think. He strikes you down with astonishing subtlety while piercing you with the gaze of a tiger.

He gives us tools to live the happiest life possible, without interfering, allowing each of us to develop our own projects based on our own "martial essences."

He tells us "no" when it's "yes," and "yes" when it's "no," only so that we sharpen our senses and awaken.

It is an honor to follow this path.

Pedro Unryu

Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu Daishihan & Shitenno

Founder of the Balance Method and Unryukai.

P.S.: The photo is of a beautiful gift that Hatsumi Sensei sent me last year through disciples who traveled to visit him. Given my inability to travel long distances in recent years, Hatsumi Sensei and my beloved disciples connected so that this happened as a miracle. This image of Kannon was located in a very special place in the Master's space.

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