From time to time I hear about people who, for whatever reason, choose to pose as martial arts instructors, sometimes going as far as purchasing fake licenses and putting on elaborate scams.
To teach Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu, an instructor must be a licensed as a Bujinkan Shidoshi in good standing or a Shidoshi-ho under a licensed Bujinkan Shidoshi. If an instructor is marketing himself as a Bujinkan sensei and does not meet these qualifications, he is quite simply a fraud.
Some signs of a fake are someone who is hesitant to state who they studied under, or gives only information that is impossible to verify. Generally, their advertisements will sound like something out of ninja movie or from someone who went to a bookstore and read way too much Ashida Kim.
All of the Vegas instructors/dojos listed here are legitimate. If your instructor and dojo is not listed, be sure to ask to see his current bujinkan membership card. If you are a Shidoshi, or a black belt teaching under a Shidoshi, and are new to the area and in good standing with the Bujinkan, I am happy to place your dojo on the page.
With a small amount of effort, it is possible to check with the Hombu dojo directly to verify someone's credentials. Anyone committing this particular fraud should be aware that you will be publicly exposed sooner or later and that now is the time to cease any and all fraudulent activities involving the Bujinkan name.
Shidoshi Scott ArmstrongKuro Yama Budo FRAUD ALERT
