The Value of Holding 11 Ninja Disciplines in Today’s World By Sensei Liam Musiak

The Bugei Jūhappan, known as the 18 skills of the ninja, represent one of the most complete martial frameworks in history. These disciplines go far beyond combat — they include awareness, deception, survival, weaponry, and mental refinement. Out of the 18, I have developed skills, knowledge, and experience in 11 of them.

For me, this isn’t about historical reenactment or pretending to be a ninja. It’s about recognising that many of these disciplines are timeless. They’re as relevant today in self-defence, criminology, and personal safety as they were centuries ago. When you strip away the mystique, you see principles of psychology, stealth, movement, strategy, and adaptability that can be applied to real-world situations in both urban and rural environments.

What makes my approach different is that I combine these disciplines with my Karate background, criminology research, and self-defence system design. That means it’s not theory — it’s tested, trained, and pressure-proven. Whether it’s Taijutsu (unarmed combat) overlapping with Karate, Chimon (terrain use) helping with awareness, or Seishin-teki Kyōyō (mental refinement) strengthening resilience, each of these 11 skills deepens the foundation of my teaching.

By holding and applying these disciplines, I bring a rare blend of combat, strategy, stealth, and psychology into my work. For students, this means they aren’t just learning Karate. They are training in a complete system that prepares them physically, mentally, and strategically for the realities of today’s world.