Bujinkan Soke
Bujinkan Founder

Masaaki Hatsumi is the inheritor and family head (Soke) of nine Japanese ryu-ha (lineages) he received after training with his teacher, Takamatsu Sensei, for 15 years (~1958 to 1972). Hatsumi Soke created the Bujinkan to continue the study and instruction of the ryu-ha he inherited. Currently in his 90's, Hatsumi Soke has retired from active teaching and awarded Sokeship of his schools to many of his senior students.

Bujinkan Daishihan
Koto Ryu Soke

Yukio Noguchi is a longtime student (52 years in 2024) of Hatsumi Soke, and teaches at his own dojo or the Hombu twice a week. He is the 19th Soke of the Koto Ryu and holds menkyo kaiden in Gyokko Ryu Koshijutsu, Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu and Kukishin Ryu Bojutsu. It is common to have him place you in a position which forces you to fall, only to find him giggling at you as your mind tries to comprehend how he did it.

Bujinkan Daishihan
Shinden Fudo Ryu Soke

Toshiro Nagato is a Bujinkan Daishihan and has been training under Hatsumi Soke for more than four decades (48 years in 2024). In 2019, he was awarded Sokeship of the Shinden Fudo Ryu. Nagato Sensei grew up as a practitioner of judo in Japan and in the early 1970's taught judo oversees at the University of Ontario in Oregon. After returning to Japan, he fought in Japanese kickboxing competitions. In the late 1970’s, Nagato Sensei began training in the Bujinkan arts. Nagato Sensei continues helping patients at his bone setter clinic. He teaches multiple times a week at the Bujinkan Hombu Dojo and at a Tokyo recreational center in Japan.

Bujinkan Daishihan

Someya Sensei, Bujinkan Daishihan, is a long-time regular student of Hatsumi Soke in Japan. He focuses his instruction on the details of the basics and has a wealth of historical knowledge about each lineage. Someya Sensei commonly teaches only a few kata or waza in any given class in order for proper repetition and training details to be explored. Someya Sensei is also a volunteer firefighter.

Bujinkan Shihan

Shidoshi Kurt Rittenhouse began his Bujinkan training under Stephen K. Hayes and Shawn Havens at "the Barn" in 1983. After a few years of training, Kurt became the youngest student to receive a blackbelt in the old Kasumi-an system. In the late 1980's and early 1990's, Kurt began visiting Japan multiple times a year to train with Hatsumi Soke, Muramatsu Sensei, Manaka Sensei, Oguri Sensei and Noguchi Sensei. Kurt taught martial arts fulltime from 1990-1997, and was the original instructor of many Dayton Bujinkan Dojo instructors.

Bujinkan Shihan

Dan Klug (Bujinkan Judan, boxer and BJJ brown belt) has been training in the Bujinkan since the early 1980s, has visited Japan more than a dozen times for training, and holds private classes in Washington State. An original student of Kurt Rittenhouse Martial Arts in Kettering, Ohio, Dan has trained in the Bujinkan Arts under Hatsumi Soke, Nagato Shihan, and Noguchi Shihan, and in the past with Manaka Sensei and Muramatsu Sensei. His unique style of Budo Taijutsu attracts students from all disciplines of martial arts. Dan has taught seminars at the Dayton Bujinkan Dojo since 1997.

Bujinkan Daishihan

Steve Olsen has been living in Japan since the early 1990s and training in the Bujinkan since 2001. He trained with Soke and attends Japanese Shihan classes weekly. Steve is the photographer and publisher of "Masaaki Hatsumi: Dojo Art", an award-winning art book featuring Hatsumi Soke's calligraphy and paintings. Steve has taught yearly seminars at the Dayton Bujinkan Dojo since 2010. When not running his headhunting business, he is busy designing and publishing books through his Dojo Art book site.

Bujinkan Daishihan

Craig Olson is a Daishihan in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu. He lived in Japan for more than fifteen years (1997-2013), training regularly with Hatsumi Soke and the Bujinkan Shihan. He is the book author of 'Chi Haya Buru: A Japanese Cultural Treasure’, and 'My Way' sharing his experiences living and training in Japan. Craig was a frequent translator for Soke and the Japanese Shihan in class at the Bujinkan Hombu. In the spring of 2013, Craig moved to North Carolina from Japan. He runs the Charlotte Bujinkan Dojo.

Bujinkan Daishihan
Koto Ryu Menkyo Kaiden

Sean Askew has been training since the late 1980s in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu. His martial background includes Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu, Kosen Judo, and shootfighting. Sean lived in Japan for 14+ years (1990-2001 & 2005-2008) where he spent time training under Hatsumi Soke and the Bujinkan Daishihan. Sean graduated from Sophia University with a degree in Japanese Language & History and a minor in Japanese Religions. Sean has also lived and studied abroad in China. In 2024, Sean received Menkyo Kaiden in Koto Ryu from Noguchi Sensei. Sean is the book author of "Hidden Lineage | The Ninja of the Toda Clan". Sean works for a Japanese automotive supplier and runs the Bujinkan Kokusai Renkomyo Dojo.

Bujinkan Daishihan
Shinden Fudo Ryu Menkyo Kaiden

Duncan lived in Japan for 10 years studying the martial arts of the Bujinkan Dojo from Masaaki Hatsumi Soke, Daishihan Toshiro Nagato, Daishihan Yukio Noguchi and Daishihan Kennichi Someya. He has received the Golden Dragon Award, Embu Excellence Award, and the Bufu Ikkan Shin Gi Tai Award directly from Grandmaster Hatsumi at the Hombu Dojo in Japan. He also has Menkyo Kaiden in Shinden Fudo Ryu under Nagato Sensei. Duncan runs the Bushinden Tasmania Budo Dojo.

Bujinkan Daishihan

Paul has lived in Japan since 1994. He attended Hatsumi Soke's weekly training and now teaches classes at the Bujinkan Hombu. Paul is fluent in Japanese and commonly translated for Soke and the Japanese Shihan in class. Paul is the Director of the Kasumi An Study Center in Nodashi, Japan, where he teaches budo, yoga/junan taiso, shodo (calligraphy), suiboku (ink painting) and pottery. Paul also teaches seminars yearly in the US.

Bujinkan Daishihan

Jeff began training in 1983 under Stephen Hayes and then in 1986 began studying under Larry Turner and Kevin Schneider. He received his godan (5th degree black belt) in 1993 and began teaching in NYC in 1994, when he started Muzosa with Tim Brown. Jeff received his Ju-godan (15th degree black belt) in 2009. He was awarded the rank of Daishihan in 2018.

Bujinkan Daishihan

Originally from Florida, Pete has been training in Japan since 2000. His training classes and seminars are focused on studying, exploring and sharing the martial arts of Hatsumi Sensei, Bujinkan Soke. Pete has taught numerous seminars at the Dayton Bujinkan Dojo since 2004. He runs the Fudoushin Bujinkan Dojo in Nezu (Tokyo) Japan.