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2010 Instructors:
Michael Asuncion began training in the Bujinkan martial arts in 1985, having first studied the martial arts of the Philippines (Doce Pares Arnis) at the age of ten. He also studied both western boxing and wrestling while at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. As the head instructor of the UM Bujinkan since 1994, he very frequently travels to Japan to continue his personal training with Hatsumi Sensei. Michael Asuncion is also a trusted and dedicated student of Nagase Hiroshi Sensei (15th Dan) of Nagareyama, Chiba-Ken Japan, and often serves as his dojo translator. He is grateful to Nagase Sensei for his kindness in the sharing of his feeling, experience, and teachings. Michael Asuncion passed the 5th Dan sakki test from soke in 1995. In May of 2000 he received the 10th Dan from Hatsumi Sensei and the 15th Dan (Judan Ku-i 十段空位), the highest rank in the Bujinkan, in August of 2006. As a 15th Dan, he has also administered the godan test in Japan with Hatsumi Sensei in attendance. He received his Ph.D. in Macromolecular Science and Engineering (Materials Science and Engineering) from the University of Michigan and also has several other academic degrees, including a B.S. degree in Asian Studies (Japanese). Besides his pursuit of budo, he dedicates himself to the studies of Materials Chemistry and Japanese. He also enjoys exercising, researching Japanese texts, and listening to music. University of Michigan Bujinkan Dojo Yost Fulton started his training in Budo Taijutsu in the early 80's, and moved to Japan as an exchange student to learn Japanese & train with Hatsumi soke in 1989. After graduating college, he moved back to Japan for work. He lived there for over 6 years, training primarily with Hatsumi soke & Nagato sensei. Living in Japan & being fluent in Japanese have given Yost many unique opportunities & insights into his Bujinkan training. In addition to regular training with this dojo and seminars, Yost travels to Japan frequently and continues training with Hatsumi soke, Nagato sensei, & other shihan. Kevin Schneider is the chief instructor of the Bujinkan Akahige Dojos. Kevin began his training in the martial arts in 1971. He began his study of Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu in 1981. He first met Soke Hatsumi Masaaki in September, 1982. From 1984 until 1987 he served as an instructors in Dayton, Ohio. In 1987, he traveled to Japan and was accepted by Hatsumi-sensei as a personal student. At that time, he was also given membership as a licensed instructor in the Bujinkan. Following guidance from Hatsumi Sensei, he returned to the United States and established the Bujinkan Akahige Dojo. Kevin became a licensed senior instructor (Shidoshi) in the Bujinkan system in 1991, and he was awarded the rank of jyugo-dan (15th Dan) in October, 2006 by Hatsumi Sensei. In addition to his ongoing studies of Budo Taijutsu, he has also studied Tomiki-ryu Aikido, Chinese Kung-fu, and Kodokan Judo. He is a manager at a nationwide information systems consulting company and also works as a professional firefighter/emergency medical technician and as an industrial safety educator. Jay Zimmerman currently holds the rank of 12th-dan (Judan Sui-i) with 21-years of martial arts study. Jay trains in Japan regularly with Hatsumi Sensei, Nagase Sensei and Nagato Sensei. Jay is a student of Nagase Hiroshi Sensei 15th-dan (Judan ku-i) of Nagareyama, Chiba-Ken Japan. Jay has performed seminars for the Fort Wayne Indiana National Guard, Bluffton Indiana Air Cavalry Army National Guard, performs seminars in the United States and hosts many Shihan from around the United States and Japan. Jay is head instructor at the Bujinkan Goshin Budo Dojo, an EMT-BA, active in shooting, physical fitness, and is a drummer. Beth Zimmerman has attained the rank of Judan (10th-degree Black Belt), has made 6-trips to Japan to study with Soke Hatsumi, Nagato Sensei, Noguchi Sensei, Senou Sensei, Oguri Sensei, and Someya Sensei. Beth is also a practicing Trauma Nurse for a major hospital in Indiana. Jeff Ochester is a member of the Shidoshi Kai, a 15th Dan, and one of four co-owners of the Dayton Bujinkan Dojo Martial Arts School in Dayton, Ohio. He began training in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu in 1991 under Kurt Rittenhouse of Kurt Rittenhouse Martial Arts. Jeff began visiting Japan to train in 1997. Since starting his training, Jeff has been mentored by Kurt Rittenhouse, Sean Askew & Dan Klug from the US, and most influenced by Hatsumi Sensei, Noguchi Sensei & Nagato Sensei in Japan. Jeff was born in Massachusetts, raised in NJ, and has lived in Ohio for 19 years. He works in the information technology field for the Public Safety sector. Michael Russell began his Bujinkan training in March 1998 under Trey Willmott, of the Bujinkan Lexington Dojo whom he trained under for 10 years. He passed his Go Dan (5th degree black belt) test and received his Shidoshi Menkyo (Teaching License) in November 2006. He is currently ranked Hachidan (8th degree). Michael was relocated to Madison Wisconsin in February 2008 and assumed responsibility of the Bujinkan Madison Dojo in June of that year. Michael continues to make annual trips to Japan to further his knowledge and to train with Hatsumi Soke and the Japanese Shihan. Ethan Capers has been engaged in the study of Martial Arts for 32 years. His diverse career paths have included Professional Musician, Barista, Bail Enforcement Officer, Nightclub Security, Executive Protection Agent and Director of Operations for Dragonfly Protection Services LLC. Anthony Brooks began training in the Bujinkan in 1982 after studying a mixture of different martial arts as a child in the mid to late 70s’. He founded the Bujinkan Bushigokoro Dojo in Chicago Illinois in the early 90s’and continues to operate the Dojo teaching classes 6 days a week. Over the years he has had the honor to have trained with Hatsumi Sensei and many of the highest ranked Bujinkan instructors from around the world. While in Japan in 2000 he passed the sakki test from Hatsumi sensei and received his godan. Since that time he has continued further his knowledge by making trips to Japan and hosting and attending seminar events. Among the instructors he has trained with throughout the years are: Kevin Schneider, Larry Turner, Rob Renner, Paul Masse, Andrew Young, Toshiro Nagato, Noguchi Sensei, and Oguri Sensei. James Morganelli has participated in martial arts for 30 years, studying both Eastern and Western styles. A graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, with a major in philosophy, he moved to Japan in 1995 to study under Hatsumi Sensei. He currently lives in Chicago, where he teaches through his Shingitai-Ichi Dojo and writes a blog on training. Tom Hilliard began training in the Bujinkan in 1990 and was given the rank of Godan in 2005, and is currently a Nanadan. He continues to train with various Shihan in the United States and travels to Japan annually to train with Soke and the Shihan there. He also receives tactical firearms training from nationally recognized institutions and trainers on an annual basis, and is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.
Special Guest Instructors:
Joanne Legare started training in the Bujinkan in 1993 with the Taka-Seigi Dojo. She passed the Godan test in 2003 and was awarded the rank of Judan in 2010. Joanne lived in Japan for four years (2003-2007) where she attended hombu training on a weekly basis. She has assisted teaching numerous women's self defense and personal protective measures courses that have kept hundreds of government personnel safe during high threat travel. She has additional training certifications from Insight Training and BSR. Joanne assisted the Bujinkan Taka-Seigi Dojo in organizing three Tai Kai events in America for Hatsumi Soke. She is one of only a very few women to have received a Bujinkan Gold Dragon medal. Jeff Christian started training in the Bujinkan in 1983 and is ranked 15th dan. He currently works as a personal trainer in NYC and is the head instructor of Muzosa Bujinkan Dojo. In addition to running the largest Bujinkan dojo in NYC, he also teaches seminars across the country. Karl Koch is a 15th Dan in Budo Taijutsu and an authorized instructor of the Bujinkan Dojo of Japan. He is founder of the Blacksburg Bujinkan Shibu, the Virginia Tech Ninjutsu Club and the Hidden Mountain Bujinkan Dojo. Although his three decades of experience in martial arts have emphasized eastern styles, his diverse background also includes western styles such as wrestling, archery, fencing, boxing, medieval infantry combat, and Native American weaponry and traditions. In 1981, he began studying the teachings of Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi and began training almost exclusively in the Bujinkan in 1983. In 1996, he passed the 5th Dan test and was accepted as a personal student of Dr. Hatsumi and continues to travel regularly to Japan to train with him. Karl was promoted to 15th Dan in April, 2010 by Hatsumi Sensei.
Carol Koch is one of only a few women Ju-nidan (12th degree black belt) in the Bujinkan. Her background consists of a combination of both eastern and western martial arts including Kung Fu and archery. She began training exclusively in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu in 1983 and was awarded her Godan while traveling in Japan in October of 2000. In 2008, Carol was promoted to 10th Dan by Hatsumi Sensei; and promoted to 12th Dan in April 2010. |
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2009 Instructors
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2008 Instructors
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