Mentors and Buyu

Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi - Bujinkan Soke & 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.

Robert F. Johnson - Dai Shihan Bujinkan Dojo

Dai Shihan Robert F. Johnson founded the Bujinkan Indianapolis Dojo where Shihan George began his training.

Dai Shihan Johnson was a retired Marion County Deputy Sheriff with 30 years law enforcement experience. He was the first in Indianapolis to be awarded black belt in the Togakure Ryu. Dai Shihan Johnson was the highest ranking Togakure Ryu Ninpo practitioner in Indiana at Jugodan (15th degree black belt). Dai Shihan Johnson was a personal student of Soke Hatsumi.

In addition to Dai Shihan Johnson’s rank in the nine schools of the Bujinkan Dojo, he also held a second degree black belt in Isshinryu Karate, awarded by his personal instructor, Mr. Clarence S. Ewing, seventh Dan. Dai Shihan Johnson was a P.K.C. certified judge, and referee.

Dai Shihan Johnson was a decorated U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam War. He was assigned to Fighter Squadron 121 Naval Air Station Miramar, California. He also provided personal protection services for visiting celebrities Sammy Davis Jr., Jayne Kennedy, Michael (Bobby Hill) Warren and others. Sensei Johnson has since passed from this plane and is ever an inspiration for my life and training.

Toshiro Nagato - Bujinkan Dai-shihan

Shinden Fudo Ryu Soke

Toshiro Nagato, a Daishihan (Master Teacher) of the Bujinkan Arts in Japan, has been training with Hatsumi Soke for 45+ years.

Nagato Sensei grew up as a practitioner of judo in Japan and, in the early 1970's, he taught judo oversees at the University of Ontario in Oregon. After returning to Japan, he fought in Japanese kickboxing competitions.

While in Oregon, his friend Mike Echanis told him about the existence of a ninja master named Masaaki Hatsumi... Intrigued, he resolved to return to Japan to meet this master and experience his training.

Nagato Sensei was attracted to Hatsumi Sensei’s practical orientation, tough training, and esoteric teachings. He committed himself to learning Hatsumi Sensei’s arts. During the 1980's, 1990's and 2000's, Hatsumi Soke traveled to Bujinkan events around the world to share his teachings and he brought high ranking students with him including Nagato Sensei.

In 2019 Hatsumi Soke awarded Nagato Sensei with the title of Soke for Shinden Fudo Ryu 神伝不動流 (which is one of the Bujinkan Dojo’s nine martial schools). And with Hatsumi Soke’s blessings, Nagato Sensei began accepting invitations to teach overseas. His first event was in New Zealand. His second event, in Spain, was attended by over 500 participants. His third event took place in in Dayton, Ohio on October 8-10, 2021 with over 400 participants. He also was in Sankt Ingbert, Germany where there were over 600 participants.

Nagato Sensei continues helping patients at his bone setter clinic. And he teaches at the Bujinkan Hombu Dojo in Noda City, Japan.

Students at the Bujinkan Toku Ryu Sui Aoyama Dojo work to follow his teachings.

Yukio Noguchi - Bujinkan Dai-shihan

Koto Ryu Soke

Noguchi Shihan (center) is a longtime student (50 years in 2022) of Hatsumi Soke, and teaches at his own dojo or the Hombu twice a week. His skill in Taijutsu, Kenjutsu, Kyojutsu & henka are unparalleled. 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.

Duncan Stewart - Bujinkan Dai-Shihan

Shinden Fudo Ryu Menkyo Kaiden

Duncan lived in Japan for 10 years studying the martial arts of the Bujinkan Dojo from Masaaki Hatsumi Soke, Shihan Toshiro Nagato, Shihan Yukio Noguchi and Shihan 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. Duncan provides seminars yearly in the US. Duncan runs the Bujinkan Tasmania Budo Dojo.

Duncan provides guidance and direction to the Bujinkan Toku Ryu Sui Aoyama Dojo.

Steve Olsen - Bujinkan Dai-shihan

Steve Olsen has been living in Japan since the early 1990s and training in the Bujinkan since 2001. He trains with Soke and the Japanese Shihan weekly. In addition, 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.

Darius McClendon - Bujinkan Shihan

Darius began training in Budo Taijutsu in 1999, and he achieved Shodan in April 2002. He’s made several trips to the Bujinkan Honbu dojo in Japan to train. Darius achieved Godan (5th degree black belt) in April, 2010, and has since attained Ju Nidan (12th degree black belt). He’s trained with many shihan, including Nagato Sensei, Someya Sensei, Oguri Sensei, Seno Sensei, Noguchi Sensei, Johnson Sensei, and Hayes Sensei.

In addition, Darius has attended various firearms training sessions with Johnson Sensei, Shidoshi Palmer, and Shidoshi Halbakken. Darius has been teaching Budo Taijutsu since 2003, and he’s served as a firefighter in Indianapolis with Pike Township since 2005.

Jeff Ochester - Bujinkan Dai-Shihan

Jeff is a co-owner of the Dayton Bujinkan Dojo. He started training in 1992, and has visited Japan since 1997 to train at the Bujinkan Hombu. Jeff passed the godan test in 1999, received Judan in 2005, and Jugodan in 2010. He is also a Golden Dragon Award, Shin Gi Tai Bufu Ikkan Award, Yushuu Shihan and Dai Shihan certificate recipient. Jeff currently teaches on Wednesdays and Saturdays. When Jeff is not at the dojo, he's working at Hellebore.

Craig Olsen - Bujinkan Dai-shihan

Craig Olson 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.