A recent exchange took place regarding the writing and publishing of an article on the Kunoichi Taikai for various international magazines. This prompted the question, what is the goal and purpose of the event. The initial purpose of the Kunoichi Taikai is stated on the Taikai website. Most recently an interview with Soke took place in March, and a portion of that interview is also on the site. Since that time I have expanded my perspective and added to my belief in the importance of this one time event.

This article can again, enforce the uniqueness of the event, shift perspective on its importance, and demonstrate the potential of its impact for the future. Soke stated clearly in his interview, that although it is great to have your own beliefs and perspectives, it is also good to be able to step outside them and consider others, if for nothing else than the pure experience of it.

In my reflections on this article I stated that it would be good to talk about the women instructors, who have achieved a high rank and are out there teaching. To focus on the challenges a woman instructor has in a predominately male field. How many men walk into a dojo where a woman is either the owner, or one of the instructors, and takes classes from her. What does she have to prove, how can she still be female and woman and feminine and not lose that to be equally effective, albeit different, than her male counterpart. That is one issue.

Next, what does it take for a women to walk into a dojo and start to train. What reasons or motivations are strong enough to compel her to want to deal with all the testosterone that one has to wade through, let alone the egos. Once she is there, has made that decision, what keeps her there? Why do so many women start and leave? What does it take to stick it out? How can a woman be supported to stay?

These and more are what we are coming together to discover and share at the Taikai. Soke said in his interview, be a woman, be yourself, don't be like a man. The question is how when surrounded by so much "maleness". How to make Bujinkan our own? How to remain female, and be taken seriously? How do we be seen being equally effective without being compared to the standard of male effectiveness?

I also see the benefit of this to the greater Bujinkan. The more aware women are of the answers to these questions, the more they know themselves, the more confident they are in their dojo. This will attract and keep more women in Bujinkan. Little by little there are more women training. I remember back to my beginnings, coming to Taikai's or Hombu dojo, (even before it existed) I don't know if I saw but maybe one other woman. Now there are so many more. It takes time, but I believe an event like this can speed that process along.

Another thought is of those now training in Bujinkan, how many came from other arts, and why make the change? Those who don't know other styles, why Bujinkan? Coming purely for self defense reasons isn't enough, as it takes a long time to learn self defense in a martial art, when you can take straight out self defense classes and have skill. What else is it in martial arts and Bujinkan per se that attracts a woman, and keeps her training? Are the struggles and challenges for women in Bujinkan any different than for women in other martial arts? Are the challenges for women the same in the field of martial arts or with in various styles? Do any arts lend themselves more easily to the nature of women?

So you see, an article like this can take on quite a depth. This sort of depth we hope to achieve in the Kunoichi Taikai. To share, explore and learn from each other. This sort of exploration can't take place with men there, as the atmosphere can't help but be different. And that atmosphere will inhibit this sort of exploration. This is not creating a division in Bujinkan, as some may see it, but simply a time out for women, to gather, regroup, or maybe form a group, in order to return to the whole, more complete, self aware and with more to contribute to greater good. It will further the whole of Bujinkan, and allow it to stay on the leading edge of evolution in the 21st century. We honor tradition, but we live and practice in the present. As within any group or society, the core is what informs the whole. In order to evolve and progress, both in consciousness and skill, the core must expand. We, as women, hope to contribute greatly to that growth in Bujinkan, so that we can practice and live what Soke teaches, in part, to be better human beings, and to survive, not just for survivals sake, but survive in order to contribute to a more conscious world. Women must be a stronger force within the core of Bujinkan. Otherwise the imbalance of feminine and masculine energy remains. Ultimately, a group will either turn on itself, or simply fail. What do we do when Soke is no longer here? Yes, go the natural way, but what way is natural? It will go the way of imbalance if not corrected. We can, with a core of stronger women involved, keep Soke's Bujinkan growing and help it to be less ego and more healthy for the future.