Hatsumi Masaaki was born on December 2, 1931 in Noda-shi, Japan. When he was 7 years old he held his father’s bokken for the first time and began training in Kendō and other Budō (martial arts).

After World War II he taught Judō to occupation soldiers at the Yokata Army Base and was dismayed at how the soldiers were able to use their size and strength to better their Japanese counterparts. Hatsumi quit teaching and began searching for the real Budō of Japan eventually meeting Ueno Takashi who initiated him into the arts of Asayama Ichiden Ryū, Shintō Tenshin Ryū, Takagi Yoshin Ryū, Kukishinden Ryū, Gyokushin Ryū, and Bokuden Ryū. When Takashi could not take Hatsumi any further, he recommended him to Takamatsu Toshitsugu, considered to be the last Shinobi (Ninja).

After their first meeting, Hatsumi travelled 15 hours by train nearly every weekend for the next 15 years to train with Takamatsu Sensei until his death in 1972.

Shortly before his death, Takamatsu Sensei passed on to Hatsumi Sensei the 9 Ryū-ha that were to be the basis for Bujinkan Budō Taijutsu:

Togakure Ryū Ninpō Taijutsu	34th Sōke
Gyokko Ryū Kosshijutsu	28th Sōke
Kotō Ryū Koppōjutsu	18th Sōke
Shinden Fudō Ryū Dakentaijutsu	26th Sōke
Kukishinden Ryū Happō Biken	28th Sōke
Takagi Yōshin Ryū Jūtaijutsu	17th Sōke
Kumogakure Ryū Ninpō	14th Sōke
Gyokushin Ryū Ninpō	21st Sōke
Gikan Ryū Koppōjutsu	15th Sōke