From Bujinkan Santa Monica by Michael

Bujinkan Hombu Dojo Walls, Windows. July 2013 photo by Michael Glenn

We have three basic staff lengths in the Bujinkan: 六尺棒 Rokushakubo (six shaku staff), sometimes just called 棒 bo (stick or pole); 四尺棒 Yonshakubo (four shaku staff) or 杖 jo (staff or cane); and 三尺棒 sanshakubo (three shaku stick) or 半棒 hanbo (half bo).

Did you know that the Hombu dojo is built around these measures?

I was in one class recently where Someya Sensei held the bo and hanbo up against the walls and windows of the Hombu to show us this. The wall sections between supports was the length of six shaku, or the length of a bo. The sliding windows along the sides of the room are six shaku each, and the sliding portion is 3 shaku.

A doorway is six shaku high and 6 wide. But the sliding portion is just 3 shaku.

These lengths of shaku are not a measurement we have in the west. It is said to be derived from nature and is the length between nodes on a shaft of bamboo. But this measurement varies widely. I have also seen it described as the distance between the outstretched thumb and forefinger. The "official" measurement has varied over the centuries by country or by decree. Currently the Japanese government has defined it as approximately 30.3 cm, or 11.93 inches

From wiki about shaku:

While Japanese law required official use of these units be discontinued on March 31, 1966, the shaku is still used in some fields in Japan, such as the traditional carpentry. The ken and jō are multiples of a shaku: 6 shaku make up one ken; 10 shaku make up one jō. The ken is commonly the distance between pillars in traditional buildings such as Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines.

Michael Glenn in the doorway of Lord Kira Yoshinaka's residence

I think these measurements have grown as the Japanese people have gotten taller. Some of the older structures I've walked through in Japan have the height of the door set at jo level or 4 shaku.

Of course you would never want your 六尺褌 rokushakufundoshi (traditional Japanese G-string for men) to be too small.…

From Paart Budo Buki by Mats "Toryu" Hjelm

Dear Budo friends,

here is few pics of ninja uchigatana bokken with saya and itomaki and round tsuba,
for those who like simple design we could say "basic"




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From Paart Budo Buki by Mats "Toryu" Hjelm

The specialties of the historical Togakure Ryu was  the use of a four-pointed throwing blade known as a SENBAN shaken (shuriken)
Size of this rubber Senban  is identical to my metal one, also come in two different thickness of rubber plate 

for now few pics









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From Paart Budo Buki by Mats "Toryu" Hjelm

Here is new pics of my Hira rubber shuriken's

to satisfy everyone's choice, it is possible to get them in several thicknesses(size is also possible to change), 
my standard 4 mm thick are enough if throw them on your Uke, but if you do certain techniques of hitting or stabbing with Shuriken then you need something thicker, such as 6 to 6.5 mm thick, this thicker are also good for longer distance or more realistic feeling evasion of shuriken flying towards you, perhaps even metal but blunt.

My recommendation is always,  get yourself a different (if not size) thickness for all types of training, only one species is not enough.

so here they are,




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From Paart Budo Buki by Mats "Toryu" Hjelm

One of the rare and simple tools from the Ninja's arsenal is Teppan, 
which translated means square plate.
I have not in detail investigating information about this tool, but when I learned more, I'll put all info about them here.

For now, I know it can be used as Shaken (Shuriken), means to throw, used for hitting and blocking blades.
Could be used while climbing (inserting into small cracks or gaps on stone or wood), if you know the proper way, it can be tied to end of the rope, or a belt, and so you get a tool similar Kusarifundo, but I did not say that to you, right : )…