2020 Teacher List
2020 Teacher List
Below is the current teaching list for Midwest Taikai 2020, in no particular order. At this point names may come & go, but we will keep it up to date here.
Jeff Ochester
Jeff is one of the co-owners of the Dayton Bujinkan Dojo. He started training in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu in 1992. He visits Japan regularly to train with Hatsumi Soke and the Japanese Daishihan.
Anton Phipps
After 7 years of training in Karate, Anton was introduced to Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu through a High School Friend - who can be seen in the background of his photo - in Early in 1998. In October of 2006 Anton passed his Godan Test, and has spent an average of 1 month in Japan each year since.
Kevin Schneider
Kevin is the chief instructor for the Bujinkan Akahige Dojo. He started studying the martial arts in the early 1970s. He began his study of Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu in 1981. He first met grand-master Hatsumi Masaaki 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. Following directions from Hatsumi-sensei, he returned to United States and established the Bujinkan Akahige Dojo. Kevin became a licensed senior instructor (Shidoshi) in the Bujinkan system in 1991, and he was awarded the rank of jyugo-dan (15th degree black belt) in October, 2006 by Hatsumi-sensei.
In addition to Budo Taijutsu, he has studied Tomiki-ryu aikido, Chinese Kung-fu, and Kodokan Judo. He is a program manager for a telecommunications company and volunteers as a Firefighter/EMT. According to his wife, his most dangerous weapon is his set of bagpipes, which he does not play very well.
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Gabe Logan
Gabe Logan has trained in the bujinkan since ,1992. He oversees bujinkan of the upper peninsula Michigan.
Pat Lee
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.
Michael Asuncion
Michael started training in the Bujinkan martial arts in 1985. As the head instructor of the Michigan Bujinkan Dojo since 1994, he very frequently travels to Japan to continue his personal training with Hatsumi Massaki Sensei, Bujinkan Soke. Michael Asuncion is also a trusted,personal student of Nagase Hiroshi sensei. In 2017 he was awarded the Bujinkan Dai Shihan Menkyo.
Robert J. Hartung III (Rob)
Rob began his training in 1993 in the Bujinkan. In March of 2005, he passed his go-dan test administered by Hatsumi Sensei. Shortly after, he moved to Japan to continue studying and training with Hatsumi sensei and Noguchi Sensei. With the help of a senior member of the Noguchi dojo, Rob became a student of Noguchi sensei and member of the Noguchi dojo.
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His training also included studying with various other Shihan as well, most notably Oguri sensei. While in Japan, Rob also studied other martial arts including kendo and entered other koryu schools of kenjutsu and jujutsu.
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Rob feels privileged to have had a chance to study and train with some of the best martial artists Japan has to offer. He is also indebted to those who helped him on his way while living in Japan. Without help and care of senior members of the Noguchi Dojo and others, he would not have been able to learn and grow as he did. Rob moved back to the States in 2010. Currently, he teaches and trains six days a week at the Bujikan Roselle Dojo and continues to travel to Japan when he can.
Ethan Capers
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 Taikai and is grateful to have the opportunity to continue being a part of such a wonderful and important event for the Midwest Bujinkan community.
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Jo Warfield
Jo has been training in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu since 2011. She recieved her Godan under Dai Shihan Gabe Logan in 2016. She works in International Logistics, & enjoys art of all media in her spare time.
Thomas Warfield
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.
Joey Kraska
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.
Gabriel Bain (Godan - 5th Degree Black Belt)
Since age 13 Gabe has trained in several martial arts and combat styles including the following; Tae Kwon Do, Dirty Kick-boxing, MMA, Aikido, Bujinkan.
Gabe has been studying Bujinkan for almost 15 years, and had found early on that it offers everything I am looking for and more from a martial art.
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Jason Hoshaw
Jason has been training since 2002 with a focus on complete body movement & control.
Mike Stoller
Mike started training under the direction of, now, DaiShihan Jay Zimmerman in 2010. Currently train under DaiShihan Asuncion at the UMich Dojo. Spend my time working as a Paleontologist for the University of Michigan, Museum of Natural History.
Alex "Gator" Attilli
Alex Attilli (Bujinkan Shidoshi) has been training since she was a child. She really has no idea when she started. She has been going to Japan for training since 2014. Alex passed the Godan test at the Bujinkan Hombu Dojo in 2019. Alex visits Japan as often as possible to train with Hatsumi Soke and the Japanese Shihan. Alex is a full-time student at Hofstra University in the LEAP program.
Phil "Kentucky Phil" Williams
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.
Genevieve Prange
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Victoria "Sock" Attilli
Victoria Attilli has been training since 2007. She started the local Kid Ninja program and has gone to Japan twice to continue her training with Hatsumi Soke and the Japanese Shihan. She currently is a full-time high school student at Little Miami High School.