Dayton Bujinkan Dojo History
From Japan to the Dayton Community
Since 1997, the Dayton Bujinkan Dojo has taught the kata, waza, buki, and kuden of the Bujinkan to the Dayton Community, drawing on past and present study with the Bujinkan Mentors in Japan and from their visits to the United States.
What is the History of the Dayton Bujinkan Dojo?
The Dayton Bujinkan Dojo Martial Arts School had its first class on November 3, 1997. Many factors contributed to the opening of the dojo. The following explains how it came about....
The Dayton Bujinkan Dojo senior instructors began training under Shidoshi Kurt Rittenhouse in 1992. Kurt began his Bujinkan training under Stephen K. Hayes and Shawn Havens at "the Barn" in 1983. At the time, Kurt was the youngest student to receive a blackbelt in the old Kasumi-an system. In the late 1980's and early 1990's, Kurt began visiting Japan to train with Hatsumi Soke, Muramatsu Sensei, Manaka Sensei, Oguri Sensei and Noguchi Sensei. In addition, within the United States it was Jack Hoban, Don Smith, Bud Malstrom and Will Meijer who were an influence on Kurt's training.
From 1990 to 1997, Kurt ran "Kurt Rittenhouse Martial Arts" (KRMA) Bujinkan Dojo and at its peak had 250 students between two schools (Kettering, Ohio, and Columbus, Ohio). Kurt's Taijutsu was based on strong striking skills and knowing the kihon happo (foundational techniques); every class encompassed this methodology regardless of the techniques taught.
In the summer of 1997, Kurt Rittenhouse closed his dojos and stop teaching publicly in Dayton, Ohio. Many of his students wanted to continue training in Budo Taijutsu after the dojo was closed. Tony Maddin & Jeff Ochester, both blackbelt students of the now-closed Kurt Rittenhouse Martial Arts, were able to establish training classes twice a week at a North Dayton Recreational Center. As time went by, the need to open a small training studio became obvious.
Around the same time, Greg Sherwood contacted Jeff about his son, who trained at the Kurt Rittenhouse Martial Arts School before it closed. Greg was a Lieutenant at a local fire department, & Jeff had joined the same fire department to work volunteer & part-time. Greg's son wanted to keep training in Budo Taijutsu, and so the opportunity to co-partner and open a training hall was proposed. After a few months of planning, Greg Sherwood & Jeff Ochester had figured out a way to open a school using their own money and the money donated by many of the students. Neither Jeff nor Greg held the Shidoshi rank necessary to open a licensed school, making sponsorship essential.
From 2000 to 2005, the Dayton Bujinkan Dojo moved to a 1500 square foot facility south of Downtown Dayton and expanded its training mats from 18 to 27 tatami. Training expanded to seven days a week, and guest instructors Dan Klug and Sean Askew taught regular seminars at the dojo. A children's program also began twice a week.
In 2005, the Dayton Bujinkan Dojo moved to a larger 5600 sq ft facility in Kettering, Ohio. With 100 mats and plenty of training space, the Dojo held 40+ seminars and 1000's of hours of training at this facility including the 2008 Midwest Bujinkan Tai Kai Event (120+ attendees). Additional adult training classes were offered in Budo Taijutsu, groundfighting & sparring classes, and firearms classes. The Children's program expanded to twice a week. The Dojo stayed at this location until 2016 when the building owner changed management.
In February 2016, the Dayton Bujinkan Dojo purchased a building and relocated to Moraine, Ohio. Renovations took four months. On May 21, 2016, the Dojo held a grand opening seminar to celebrate its move and reopening of the Dojo. The current location is 9200 sq ft and has 107 tatami training mats, a yoga room, two large changing rooms, four offices, and a kitchenette. Air conditioning too!
Since 1997, the Dayton Bujinkan Dojo has moved five times, each to to larger facilities as it has continued to grow. In 2004, Greg Sherwood retired from "running the books" at the dojo, and three new co-owners merged with Jeff Ochester: David VandenBos, Marty Dunsky, and Pam Dunsky. The four owners and volunteer instructor staff are focused on training to ensure the success of both the dojo and the students who train within it. We look forward to see what lies ahead - Banpen Fugyo!
Upon hearing their proposal for a small dojo, Kurt Rittenhouse authorized the venture under his Shidoshi credential. Shidoshi Dan Klug was also contacted and strongly supported opening a new dojo. By October 1997, a small 460 square foot studio was found and a rent agreement was signed at Lamplighter Square in Kettering, Ohio. On November 3, 1997, the Dayton Bujinkan Dojo Martial Arts School was opened with an incredible amount of help from Tony Maddin and the recreational center students. From 1997 to 2000, the Dayton Bujinkan Dojo moved twice to larger facilities (600 & 800 sq ft) in order to provide larger training space for its students. It also regularly brought in Bujinkan Shidoshi Dan Klug for special seminars in order to help senior students continue to grow in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu.
