Below you will find links to each Ryu within the Bujinkan. Within these are a brief description of its History and Characteristics. Please bear in mind that unlike most common perceptions, the Ninja and Samurai were not that different, in fact many Samurai were Ninja. An example of this can be seen in modern warfare today, where a Special Forces soldier is still a regular soldier, but when required to they will use less conventional warfare tactics.
Shinobi 
Samurai
- Koto Ryu
Here are the 18 levels of training in Ninjutsu according to Soke Hatsumi:
- 1. Seishin Teki Kyoko - Spiritual Refinement.
- 2. Tai Jutsu - Unarmed Combat.
- 3. Ninja Ken - Ninja Sword.
- 4. Bo-Jutsu - Stick and Staff Fighting
- 5. Shuriken-Jutsu - Throwing Blades.
- 6. Yari-Jutsu - Spear Fighting.
- 7. Naginata-Jutsu - Halberd Fighting.
- 8. Kusari-Gama - Chain and Sickle Weapon.
- 9. Kayaku-Jutsu - Fire and Explosives.
- 10. Henso-Jutsu - Disguise and Impersonation.
- 11. Shinobi-Iri - Stealth and Entering Methods.
- 12. Ba-Jutsu - Horsemanship.
- 13. Sui-Ren - Water training.
- 14. Bo-Ryaku - Strategy.
- 15. Cho Ho - Espionage.
- 16. Inton-Jutsu - Escape and Concealment.
- 17. Ten Mon - Meteorology.
- 18. Chi-Mon - Geography.
- 2. Tai Jutsu - Unarmed Combat.