Jeff Ochester

Jeff Ochester (Bujinkan Daishihan) is a volunteer instructor at the Dayton Bujinkan Dojo. He began his Bujinkan training in Dayton, Ohio, in 1992, primarily studying with Kurt Rittenhouse, Dan Klug, and Sean Askew in the United States throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. Jeff has consistently visited Japan since 1997 to attend classes with senior Bujinkan instructors, including Hatsumi Soke, Nagato Daishihan, Noguchi Daishihan, Someya Daishihan, and others. His progression in the Bujinkan began with earning his Shodan in 1994. In 1999, he passed the Godan test under Hatsumi Soke at the Hombu Dojo. He subsequently attained the ranks of Judan in 2004 and Jugodan in 2010, and in the years that followed received the Golden Dragon Award (2011), the Shin Gi Tai Bufu Ikkan Award (2013), Yushuu Shihan (2015), and Daishihan (2018).

A long-standing volunteer for major Bujinkan events, Jeff has contributed and taught at numerous Bujinkan workshops, seminars, and Midwest Tai Kai. He has also served as a core team member supporting Nagato Daishihan during his 2021 and 2025 U.S. Tai Kai tours to Dayton, Ohio.

Jeff is a founding member and co‑owner of the Dayton Bujinkan Dojo, established in 1997. He teaches on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings, and leads theme-based workshops. Jeff also manages the dojo’s website, student portal, and student training curriculum. In his spare time, he enjoys photography (www.jeffo-photography.com).