The Bujinkan can be defined as Bu (Martial or Military), Jin (Spirit or Divine), Kan (House or Training Hall), giving us the "Divine War School", as one possible translation.  This is a name that Hatsumi Sensei devised to encompass the nine Ryu-ha, or schools of martial arts to which he inherited the Sokeship (Grandmaster) to, as passed from his teacher Takamatsu Sensei.

The following nine schools listed below comprise the Bujinkan system: