KuroShinobi Ryu accepts study groups and individual membership.
Membership
Membership is open to any individual who has a strong desire to practice shinobi-do according to Kuroshinobi Ryu. Membership in Kuroshinobi Ryu allows members to train in Kuroshinobi Ryu Shinobi-do as well as allows continuing their advancement in shinobi-do directly through the ryu. Only members in good standing are eligible for advancement certification or promotion within Kuroshinobi Ryu.
Life-time membership fee: $75. This allows members Genin membership. Those wishing to advance must attend a Kuroshinobi Boot Camp and/or be under the study of a Chunin or Jonin within the ryu. The third option is advancement to Chunin by individual or group study; but all Chunnin testing must be conducted by a Jonin in good standing within the ryu (test fees may be applied separately from lifetime membership).
All KuroShinobi Ryu Shinobi-do must have lifetime membership. Membership allows individuals to form a study group and individuals to join a study group. Please request a membership form to be emailed to you below.
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GENIN: The common clan member is called Genin (your beginners in the ryu; on average 1 year-3 years in training within a study group or as an individual. Of course this is only an approximated time table. The Genin was the ninja agent, sent out to perform the duties they would be employed to do… at this stage in a ninja life, often during their young adult-hood, after their elders felt they were ready to undertake ninja missions. Most ninja at this stage either made it or didn’t, meaning they died during the course of their missions. We of course do not follow, or promote, this ancient mentality, but use the term to mean “beginning student within the ryu”. This is what each of you will be throughout this training course provided in this manual.
CHUNIN: Beneath the Jonin, and above the Genin are the Chunin, the middlemen. The Chunin were the seniors of the ninja groups, responsible for taking the orders from the Jonin and employing the ninja Genin agents into missions (for our purposes it equates our intermediate level students; average 2-5 years in their training after passing the Chunin test; a shodan if you will.) . Most Chunin were the one responsible for mission designs, mission guides, and setting up strategy. The Chunin was also the one who helped in the training, selecting of the best ninja agents for the given job. Chunin often assist Jonin in teaching Genin the basic Ninja skills. Chunin are allowed to promote others to Chunin (as long as they are lifetime members in the main body of KuroShinobi Ryu). Chunin are under the clan of their Jonin.
JONIN: The Jonin was the leader of the ninja clan they belonged to; their identity guarded by secrecy, no one knew who this person was, at most times, not even the Chunin. This was to protect the ninja agents and the clan. They would be the ones to decide a mission and pass on its particulars to the Chunin. For the Kuroshinobi Ryu we equate Jonin with “tutor, or sensei”; the equivalent of Master. Unlike traditional dan ranking a Jonin can promote a Chunin to Jonin (his own rank) if they feel that student is worthy. Jonin may continue with their initial clan or create their own clan. All Jonin are under the Inheritor who is considered the leader of the ryu. A Kuroshinobi Ryu Jonin License is offered only to individuals 18 years of age or older.
Ninjutsu training in the ancient times was a lot different to training today. The whole structure of ninjutsu organizations was also different. In the early times of the shinobi, there were three levels within a ninja ryu and they were known as Jonin, Chunin and Genin as discussed previously. One must also remember that ninjutsu is often translated to “the art of stealth” or “the art of invisibility”; ninjutsu can also mean "the skill of going unperceived". Ninjutsu, in the strictest sense of the word, is not a martial art system, as it is most commonly mis-portrayed. Ninjutsu is a separate and self-sufficient art of warfare. Ninjutsu used to be written shinobi-no-mono before the term ninjutsu became popular during WW2. Some individuals have “created” new systems based off historical evidence of ninjutsu employing a system that meets a modern world; these are typically referred to as neo-ninja’s or neo-ninjutsu. Kuroshinobi Ryu and Kuroshinobi Ryu Shinobi-do are neo-ninja.
Remember ninjutsu is not so much one particular approach to martial arts, but a collection of fundamental survivalist techniques that came out of necessity in a politically volatile Japan; now modified for today's practitioners. Knowing this it is reasonable to see similarity between systems as well as the uniqueness that each system portrays. Remember there is no one definition of what a ninjutsu system must include; there is no governing ninjutsu body. Only the ethics and principals of each system determine the authenticity of that system. Instead of the modern-day Dan (blackbelt) and Kyu (ranks under blackbelt) rank structure, Kuroshinobi Ryu and Kuroshinobi Ryu Shinobi-do prefer to follow the more ancient ninjutsu three level structure of rank as outlined previously.
Kuroshinobi Ryu knows there are many individuals, male and female, who wish to run clans (schools or dojo’s) and follow the Nine Traditions of the Kuroshinobi Ryu. For those who wish to teach and award students Genin, Chunin, or Jonin status in Kuroshinobi Ryu Shinobi-do, obtaining a Kuroshinobi Ryu Jonin License allows you to do so. Teachers develop their own curriculum (all that is asked is that you share it that with your Jonin and include the Nine Traditions within said curriculum) and advance students as you see fit under your title.
You set up your own fee’s as you wish for instruction; these are subject to the laws of your country, state and/ or province.
With a Kuroshinobi Ryu Jonin License you have international rank within the Kuroshinobi Ryu; you have support and can ask for guidance at any time regarding your clan or school.
