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Mr.
Kurt Rittenhouse (8th Dan Bujinkan) is a licensed teacher (Shidoshi)
of Budo Taijutsu under Hatsumi Soke of the Bujinkan Honbu in
Noda-shi, Japan. He began training in Budo Taijutsu in the early
1980’s. At that time the art was called Ninjutsu or Ninpo
Taijutsu.
Shidoshi Rittenhouse originally studied Budo Taijutsu at "The
Barn", a dojo near Dayton, Ohio. His instructors were Shawn
Havens, a senior student of "The Barn" (now with the
Jinenkan) and Stephen K. Hayes. During this time the Kasumi-An
curriculum was used to teach Budo Taijutsu in the United States.
Shidoshi Rittenhouse was one of the youngest students to attain
Shodan 1st Degree Black Belt in Budo Taijutsu under the Kasumi-An
curriculum.
After attaining his 1st Degree Blackbelt, Shidoshi Rittenhouse
began visiting Japan to further his studies in Budo Taijutsu.
He trained under Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi, Muramatsu Sensei and many
of the Shihan teachers of the Bujinkan. After many years of hard
work and ongoing trips to Japan, Kurt Rittenhouse took and passed
the sakkijutsu Godan 5th Degree Black Belt test in 1993 (all
before reaching his 24th birthday).
Shidoshi Rittenhouse continues to study Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu
by training in Japan under Soke and the Shihan, as well as through
solo training.
Kurt Rittenhouse Martial Arts was Shidoshi Rittenhouse’ martial
arts school. Within five years of starting his own school, Shidoshi
Rittenhouse had two dojos (Kettering, OH & Columbus, OH)
with over 250 students under him.
In the summer of 1997, Shidoshi Rittenhouse chose to close both
of his dojos and stop teaching publicly. With his permission,
the Dayton Bujinkan Dojo was created.
Shidoshi Rittenhouse’s teaching style & philosophy
of Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu are carried on at the Dayton Bujinkan
Dojo. Without Shidoshi Rittenhouse and his dojos, many of us
would not have found Budo Taijutsu. We thank Shidoshi Rittenhouse
for what he has given us in the past, and for what lies ahead
for all of us training in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu.
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