Midwest Taikai
16th Annual Midwest Bujinkan Taikai
August 9th - 11th 2024
Saint Louis, Missouri
Midwest Taikai
16th Annual Midwest Bujinkan Taikai
August 9th - 11th 2024
Saint Louis, Missouri
THEME: Kamae is the position from which all movement is made and the attitude in which all techniques are delivered...
“The body postures of taijutsu are more than utilitarian stances or formal ways of positioning the trunk and limbs. The kamae of ninjutsu can be best described as the physical embodiment of the mental outlook.
In any living or fighting situation, the body and the consciousness it houses are constantly being subjected to the ever-progressing development of a series of present instants. In order to be the most effective in any of these situations, the mind and body should be totally in tune with each other to prevent
inappropriate actions or reactions.
In actuality, “mind” and “body” are mere arbitrary terms that we apply to made-up divisions of one single entity. When properly applied, the kamae reflects the ninja’s heart. This means that our physical nature conforms to our intentions, and there is no division between our interior and exterior aspects. This state of integrated mind and body action is totally natural, and can be observed readily in the movements of the movements of animals as they interact with their environment.
Only human beings seem to develop the need to be trained in a natural body motion.
The kamae themselves are mere guides or suggestions for the most effective use of the body weapon. As such, they are physical attitudes, and are by no means to be adhered to in precise imitation. Each individual body, with its unique configuration of muscle and bone alignments will naturally determine it’s own pragmatic and comfortable variations of the basic fighting postures. As the student progresses, the kamae become less and less significant as specific poses, as they are gradually assimilated into the character of the individual.
Once these fundamentals are internalized, the most advanced fighting posture becomes a ‘no fighting posture’.” - Masaaki Hatsumi, Soke
Instructors
Kevin Millis, DaiShihan (Illinois)
Kevin Millis’s martial arts began with high school wrestling and continued with Kung Fu San Soo, JKD/Jun Fan Gung Fu, Wing Chun, and the concepts of the Philippine and Indonesian Martial Arts, ultimately entering the Bujinkan with Shidoshi Stephen Hayes.
In 1990 he received the Bujinkan Golden Dragon medal and has been presented with the Presidential Sports Award of Excellence for his contributions to physical fitness and health. He is also an expert technical rock climber, Master scuba diver and Divemaster.
Commissioned by Dr. Hatsumi in 1987 to establish the first Bujinkan Dojo in Southern California, Mr. Millis has taught the martial arts for nearly four decades and continues that commission producing instructional videos, lecturing, writing and conducting seminars in support of the Bujinkan Dojo International.
Rick Spangler, DaiShihan (Decatur, IL)
Dai-Shihan (Ninjutsu Senior Master Instructor) Rick Spangler, Jugodan (15th Dan, 2014 ) established the Illinois Bujinkan Dojo in 1989, & will always consider himself a student of this style. We are part of the International Bujinkan Dojo (over 900 years of tradition). The Bujinkan Dojo is run by the 34th generation Leader ( Soke ), Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi of Noda City, Japan. Our purpose is to provide authentic, traditional ninja training to good-hearted people. General disclaimer: not all books, websites, or articles necessarily reflect the views of this dojo or its instructor. Practice at your own risk and do not train without proper instruction.
Rick Spangler Dai-Shihan, officially began his martial arts training in 1981 & he passed the Godan test in 1993, administered personally by Hatsumi Soke of Japan. Spangler now as a 15th degree blackbelt (highest rank possible) provides training in various locations across Illinois & special seminars out of state. He also holds various ranks, titles, and or additional qualifications in Tang Soo Do, wrestling, archery, survival, police firearms training, Criminal Justice, certified private pilot, skydiver, certified scuba diver, certified 1st Aid caregiver. He also teaches VIP protection tactics, women’s self-defense groups, children’s groups, and security teams.
Michael Asuncion, DaiShihan (Ann Arbor, MI)
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.improving their physical fitness, learning self-defense skills, or simply having fun. We strive to instill discipline, respect, and confidence in all of our students.
Pat Lee, DaiShihan (O'Fallon, MO)
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.
Mike Jones, Shihan (Chicago, IL)
Michael Jones has over 45 years martial arts training, with blackbelts in Judo, Tae Kwon Do and Jujutsu. He has extensive training in Chi Kung, Wing Chun, Capoeira and Aikido. He began training in the Bujinkan in the late 80's, in 2002 he passed his Godan test with Hatsumi-Sensei and was promoted to Judan in 2022. He has been teaching for over 35 years with backgrounds in training different outfits, ranging from military to civilian. Born in the year of the Dragon, and he is a vegan.
Charles Gelm, Shihan (Dayton, OH)
Charles is a Lead Instructor at the Dayton Bujinkan Dojo. He started training in 1994 and has visited Japan since 2001 to train with senior Bujinkan instructors. Charles passed the Godan test at the Bujinkan Hombu in 2007. In 2021 Charles was promoted to Jugodan. Charles currently teaches Tuesday & Friday adult classes at the Dayton Bujinkan Dojo.
Brian Johnson, Shihan (Jackson, TN)
Brian Johnson began training in martial arts by studying Taekwondo, kickboxing, and Gracie Jujitsu for several years. He later became bored with sport oriented martial arts and began looking for something different. He started training in the Bujinkan in 1995 and never looked back. In the spring of 2005 he passed his godan test under Hatsumi Sensei in Hombu dojo and was promoted to Shihan in 2014. Brian is the head instructor at West Tennessee Bujinkan Dojo and also works as a lineman for AT&T.
Kentucky Phil Williams, Shihan (Lexington, KY)
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.
Thomas Warfield, Shihan (St Paul, MN)
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, Shidoshi (Yorksville, IL)
Joey started training in the Bujinkan in 2008 and passed his Godan in 2017. Joey believes that you have to have a good heart to gain true skill in Taijutsu. Our art can be very serious and sometimes dangerous, so its important to balance this with laughter and having a good time.
Zoe Jetson, Shidoshi (Madison, WI)
Zoe began her study of Bujinkan in 2007 with Michael Russell. In 2014, she passed her Godan test administered by Noguchi sensei. Zoe has been the lead instructor/owner of Bujinkan Madison Dojo since 2019.
Charlie Harrison, Shidoshi (Elgin, IL)
Charlie Harrison began martial arts as a high school sophomore in 1973 training with adults on an air force base. At one time I had black belt ranking in Tae Kwon Do and Shiren Ryu Karate, plus experience in boxing, kick boxing, escrima and aikido. I began budo taijutsu training under James Morganelli and his instructors in 2008. I received my Godan in 2016 and my 7th Dan in January 2022.
Dane Spaulding, Shidoshi (Collinsville, IL)
Dane started training in 2002 with Dave Barger at the Collinsville Bujinkan Dojo. He has been traveling to Japan since 2018 to keep improving. He currently teaches at his private dojo several nights a week. He has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and works as a health and safety specialist at a refinery. In addition to martial arts Dane enjoys wood working, Japanese folk lore, the outdoors, and spending all his extra time with his family.
Alexandra Attilli, Shidoshi (New York)
Alex started training with her dad when she was little. She has been going to Japan for training since 2014. Alex passed the Godan test at the Bujinkan Hombu Dojo in 2019 and visits Japan as often as possible to train with the Japanese Shihan. She is also a full-time student at the UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law in Concord, NH.
