With violent encounters, the object is to survive the battle, survive the legal fight, and to be able to live with one's self afterwards. My primary goal as an instructor is to assist students to develop the ability to avoid/survive hostile situations without threatening their own freedom and well being, or creating a situation that will follow them for years.
The Vegas Bujinkan / Kura Yama Budo dojo was founded in Las Vegas in 2005 by Shidoshi Jeramis McFadden until his transfer out of state in late 2007. It was then run by Shidoshi-ho Luke Van Donsel until his military transfer as well. In June 2008, I took over operation of the dojo and have been running it since.
My own training in the Bujinkan began in 1992 with Dennis Rehmeier, then a student of Phil Legare's. Later instructors included Nino Hicks, David Estorga, Jeramis McFadden, and Luke Van Donsel. In April of 2009 I was fortunate to be able to successfully test for Godan (fifth degree black belt) at the Hombu dojo in Noda, Japan. My Rokudan (sixth dan) was received in April of 2011.
Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu is a combat art rather than a sport. Because much of what is taught has the potential to be crippling or lethal, practice in this dojo tends to be slow and deliberate rather than competitive. If that is a problem for you in class, there are other arts I can recommend, but I will not accept you as a student.
By studying this art, you are accepting the possibility that you can be injured in training as well as your responsibility to avoid injuring your training partners.
Instruction for new students begins with a strong focus on moving to a safe place, that is, off line and away from an opponent. Basic self defense training, falling, rolling out of a fall, strikes, kicks, and blocks follow. More advanced instruction includes the essential techniques of the Bujinkan found in the TenChiJin Ryaku no Maki. Most of the training is exploring the principles found in the use of these techniques, rather than strictly rote use of techniques.
Beyond that, much of the instruction in the dojo is taken directly from classes out of Japan and seminars in the US. Classes tend to be loosely structured around a theme or principle and are adapted to the level of students present. Guest instructors are brought in periodically as an additional resource.
My expectations of students and class guidelines:
1. Review the guidelines for Bujinkan membership.
2. Come to class ready to train, and attend as many classes as you can.
3. Stay on the technique being taught and appropriate henka.
4. There is an instructor and an assistant instructor. If you're not one of these, please focus on your own training.
5. From time to time, I am able to bring in guest instructors for classes or seminars. Students of the dojo are expected to make a strong effort to attend these sessions.
6. Practice outside of class.
7. Don't embarrass the dojo or the Bujinkan.
8. Students are expected to function as rational, law abiding adults in the dojo and elsewhere.
9. Students are openly encouraged to drop in to other Bujinkan dojos in town.
