| Tonbokan Institute of Martial Studies |
| At this time, because Kurokawa-ryu and it's adapted international branch,Tonbo-ryu are a closed linear family system, student membership in the advanced AikiBujutsu curriculum beyond the basic Tonbokan Goshinjutsu as taught in public venues is limited to personal invitation or direct negotiation with an authorized instructor only. |
| The Tonbo-ryu was established in the USA in 1989 as an international branch to assist in the continued study of the Kurokawa-ha AikiBujutsu family traditions, which includes historical Samurai fighting arts, as well as elements of Shinobi-no-ho(Ninjutsu) within it's curriculum. It is largely an Okuden system, taught only to immediate family members and close trusted associates, and those who gain entrance as students learn these arts and sciences to the full historical capacity as they were intended, with street applications and adaptations in keeping with the times, unlike many modern high profile schools which have softened their curriculums and now focus mainly on self-defense and unarmed approaches to personal refinement. In 2001, with permission granted, it took a new direction with the addition of web exposure, video, and books such as the tanren tebikisho known as "Koke Soshite Ishi"(Stones and Moss), used by students to facilitate training and home study when away from the dojos, and to serve as guidelines for behavior. After a time, it was suggested by sponsors that many travelling students and satellite dojos could better benefit if the main office relocated to a more central region of the USA. The Tonbo Kai Bugei Bumon, or Dragonfly Society, as it is often called for short is a name applied to the Kokusai Tonbo-ryu Bugei Tanren Kenkyukai by the Nippon Kurokawa Bugei Honbu, and more specifically refers mainly to those Kurokawa & Tonbo-ryu students and instructors that have passed the requirements for ranking equivalent to 5th Dan or higher and now teach within their own satellite schools. These have trained hard and diligently, surpassing previous limitations and personal obstacles, and who can be considered the pride of the Tonbo-ryu. Graduating members recieve Menkyo-kaidan, Menjo, and accomplishment certificates with their formal ranks. In 2005, the Tonbo Kai Bugei Bumon were granted permission to establish their own 'house', known as the Tonbokan Institute of Martial Studies & Cultural Research, wherein several seperate martial arts and sciences are examined. As well, a support eGroup has been established to provide active students with information, links, and answers to common questions about the family arts and sciences of Kurokawa Bujutsu. Internationally recognized, the Tonbokan is non-political, and honors all martial arts systems and branches, modern or historic. Students who have studied with other, more well known schools are asked to leave school politics aside. We do not discuss our private traditions or techniques online to prevent misuse, and new applicant students must have a person to person interview, or arrive by way of referral to us through an affiliated sponsor. A dojo exists to assist sincere students in learning, not arguing. Argumentative behavior is not acceptable, nor honorable and reveals more about the heart and mind of those who willfully or regularly engage in such bickering than they may want others to realize. "What we do is what we are. Our actions, words, and behaviors represent our core characters. If we act with impropriety, disrespect, and rudeness, it says much of our teachers, role models, and values." |
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