MWTK2023
Meet the Instructors
In the spirit of Taikai we will be having a vast range in instructor experience and years of training ranging from 10 years to over 40! We will be having 18 instructors from across the midwest, this list isn't final and may be updated.
Larry Turner
Michinori Dojo (Miamisburg, OH)
One of the longest tenured Bujinkan practitioners in the U.S., Larry has been continuously training in the Bujinkan since late 1980 and making regular trips to Japan to train with Hatsumi since 1983.
Kevin Schneider
Akahige Dojo (Cincinnati, OH)
Kevin is the chief instructor for the Bujinkan Akahige Dojo. He began his study of Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu in 1981. He first met grand-master Hatsumi in September, 1982. Kevin began travelling to Japan in 1987 and became a direct student of Dr. Hatsumi and a member of the Shidoshi-kai in that year. He became a fully licensed instructor (5-Dan / Shidoshi) in 1991, and he was awarded the rank of 15th degree in October, 2006 by Hatsumi-sensei.
Dojo Website
Pam Dunsky
Dayton Bujinkan Dojo (Dayton, OH)
Pam is a co-owner of the Dayton Bujinkan Dojo. She started training in 1995, and has visited Japan since 2001 to train with senior Bujinkan instructors. Pam passed the Godan test at the Bujinkan Hombu in 2006 and received Judan in 2011. In 2019, Pam received her Jugodan. In 2021, she was awarded a Dai Shihan certificate. Pam teaches Thursday nights.​ When not at the dojo, Pam is working as a senior executive for a global corporation.
Dojo Website
Gabe Logan
Bujinkan of the Upper Peninsula (Marquette, MI)
Gabe has trained in the bujinkan since 1992. He oversees bujinkan of the upper peninsula Michigan.
Dojo Website
Derek Arciniaga
Michigan Bujinkan Dojo (Ann Arbor, MI)
Derek B. Arciniaga (15th Dan Shihan) began training in the Bujinkan martial arts under the instruction of Shihan Michael Asuncion in 1999 while attending the University of Michigan. In 2002 he relocated to Chiba-ken, Japan to train directly with Shihan Nagase Hiroshi and at the Honbu Dojo with Soke Hatsumi Masaaki. Upon returning to the United States in 2004 he resumed training at the Michigan Bujinkan Dojo. He manages business development and sales in automotive and mobility at Panasonic and returns to Japan multiple times annually for training and work.
Dojo Website
Sean O'Brien
Blue Water Bujinkan Dojo (Marine City, MI)
Sean (Shidoshi) began training in the Bujinkan in 2008 under Gabe Logan (Bujinkan of the Upper Peninsula, Michigan). In 2014, he passed his Godan test at the Honbu Dojo under
Darren Horvath. He visits Japan regularly to train with Hatsumi Sensei and the Bujinkan Shihan. Sean is a Graduate Student of History and teaches East Asian History at Wayne State University.
Dojo Website
Ethan Capers
Mizu Nagare Dojo (Brooklyn Center, MN)
Ethan Capers has been involved in the martial arts for over 40 years and joined the Bujinkan in 1996. He is a father, musician, kinesiologist, and physical therapist. Ethan was host of the 2nd Annual Midwest Tai kai and is grateful to have the opportunity to continue being a part of such a wonderful and important event for the Midwest Bujinkan community.
Dojo Website
Thomas Warfield
Senjo Dojo (Saint Paul, MN)
Thomas has been training since 2008. He received his Godan under Shihan Ethan Capers in 2013. He works in the Medical Field, & enjoys working on cars & computers in his spare time.
Dojo Website
Jo Warfield
Senjo Dojo (Saint Paul, MN)
Jo began training in the Bujinkan in 2011. She passed her Godan test in 2018. She works in International Logistics, & enjoys art of all media in her spare time.
Dojo Website
Mike Jones
Budo Dojo Chicago South (Chicago, IL)
Michael Jones has over 45 years martial arts training, with blackbelts in Judo, Tae Kwon Do and Jujutsu. He has extensive training in Chi Kung, Wing Chun, Capoeira and Aikido. He began training in the Bujinkan in the late 80's, in 2002 he passed his Godan test with Hatsumi-Sensei and was promoted to Judan in 2022. He has been teaching for over 35 years with backgrounds in training different outfits, ranging from military to civilian. Born in the year of the Dragon, and he is a vegan.
Dojo Website
Sam Hersee
Sho-In Dojo (Gilberts, IL)
Sam began training as a Student at Purdue University in 2002. In 2005, he began training out of Elgin, IL under Vic Siedleski until his passing in 2021, with other notable influences from Ed Martin and Dr. Luke Molitor.
​
He passed the Godan test in 2013 under Noguchi Sensei, and currently heads the Sho-In Dojo in the far west Chicago suburbs.
​
In his opinion, in the Bujinkan Organization, Hatsumi Sensei created something truly unique in the world. In his training, Sam enjoys finding balance among many facets of the Bujinkan - knowledge, technical skill, artistic expression, pragmatism and philosophy.
Dojo Website
Joey Kraska
Shouki Dojo (Yorkville, IL)
Joey began training in the Bujinkan in 2008 under Shihan Ethan Capers of Mizu Nagare Dojo. He passed his Godan test in 2017. Joey believes that the process of studying the art starts and ends with the basics.
Dojo Website
Kentucky Phil Williams
Lexington Bujinkan Dojo (Lexington, KY)
Phil started training in Bujinkan in 1999. He passed his Godan under Seno Sensei in the old Hombu in 2008. Phil travels to Japan as often as possible to train with the Shihan. Phil loves whisky.
Dojo Website
Pat Lee
Kajo Waraku Dojo (O'Fallon, MO)
Pat Lee is the Dojo-cho at the Bujinkan Kajo Waraku Dojo in O'Fallon, MO. He had consistently trained since 1992, now a Daishihan who is still intrigued with the life enriching lessons of Ninpo and its efficiency of movement in self defense. He enjoys training weekly and also when outside the country, making bi-annual trips to the Hombu in Japan to gain clearer understanding of the art. Outside the art, he is a member of the Tohzanryu Shin Nihon Buyo, a Japanese dance school of Hachioji, Japan, under Tohzan Yume Yoen sensei in St. Louis. He is a foodie who also enjoys music, traveling, and visiting spiritually empowered places.
Dojo Website
Nick Nelson
Akeru Dojo (St. Louis, MO)
Nick Nelson has been studying Budo Taijutsu since 2006. In 2018, he began training under Patrick Lee and received Shidoshi (teacher certification) at the Bujinkan Hombu in Japan after passing the Sakki test given by Shinden Fudo Ryu Soke Nagato Daishihan. Nick is also a Kendo practitioner as well as a certified firearms instructor. He is the Dojo-Cho of the Akeru Bujinkan Dojo in St. Louis, MO.
Dojo Website
Alex "Gator" Attilli
Tonbo Dojo (Concord, NH)
Alex started training in 2008. She has been going to Japan for training since 2014. Alex passed the Godan test at the Bujinkan Hombu Dojo in 2019 and visits Japan as often as possible to train with Hatsumi Soke and the Japanese Shihan. She is also a full-time student at the UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law in Concord, NH.
Dojo Website
Tori "Sock" Attilli
Dayton Bujinkan Dojo (Dayton, OH)
Tori has been training since 2008. She started in the local Kid Ninja program and has gone to Japan twice to continue her training with Hatsumi Soke and the Japanese Shihan. Tori passed her Godan test at the Dayton 2020 Nagato event. She currently is a full-time college student at Wright State university pursuing her nursing degree.
Dojo Website
Alex Bigley
Gaman Dojo (Cleveland, OH)
After her father refused to teach her kung fu, Alexandra found the Bujinkan through Jess Attilli's dojo in 2006. Training led her to study Japanese, better protect herself at college and while living in Japan, and met her husband (Robert Bigley) and many wonderful Budoka. She now co-owns Raven's Post Gym & Gaman Dojo with Robert in Cleveland, Ohio.
Dojo Website
