Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi

Born in 1931. After progressing through various martial arts, he found his life's mentor, Takamatsu Toshitsugu, and studied under him for the next fifteen years, becoming 34th Grandmaster of Togakure-ryu Ninjustu and eight other arts, which he unified into the Bujinkan system. While traveling the world, teaching thousands of individual students as well as law enforcement agencies, he received numerous accolades from politicians and spiritual leaders of many nationalities. He has also worked as a professional osteopath, acted in a popular television series, and as the author of many books on Ninjutsu, was for many years Chairman of the International department of the Japan Literary Artists' Club.

Shihan Michael Asuncion

Sensei Asuncion started training in the Bujinkan martial arts in 1985, having first studied the martial arts of the Philippines at the age of ten. He also studied both western boxing and wrestling while at USNA.  As the head instructor of the UM Bujinkan since 1994, he very frequently travels to Japan to continue his personal training with Hatsumi Sensei. Michael Asuncion is also a trusted and dedicated student of Nagase Hiroshi Sensei (15th Dan) of Nagareyama, Chiba-Ken Japan.
Michael Asuncion passed the 5th Dan sakki test from soke  in 1995.  In May of 2000 he received the 10th Dan from Hatsumi Sensei and the 15th Dan, the highest rank in the Bujinkan, in August of 2006. As a 15th Dan, he has also administered the godan  test in Japan with Hatsumi Sensei in attendance.  Besides his pursuit of budo, he dedicates himself to the studies of both Macromolecular Science and Engineering and Japanese (Language, Literature, and Culture).

NMU Instructors

Classes are taught by Todd Stephens, and Michelle Wietek-Stephens, in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu. Sensei Wietek-Stephens began training since 1992 with the University of Michigan dojo. She received 4th Dan in 2004. Sensei Stephens began training in 1999 and received 6th Dan in 2004. Both train under Shihan Michael Asuncion of the University of Michigan Bujinkan. The dojo is affiliated with the Bujinkan Honbu Dojo in Japan under Soke Masaaki Hatsumi through the U of M Budo Taijutsu Club. Sensei Stephens and Wietek-Stephens are fully licensed to teach by Hatsumi Sensei and the Bujinkan Honbu Dôjô.

Training includes:

Unarmed Combat, which includes:

-Taihenjutsu (Body Movement Skills) - rolling, hitting the ground properly, escapes, etc.
-Dakentaijutsu (Striking) - tsuki, keri, etc.
-Jutaijutsu (Throwing and Grappling) - Seoi Nage, Tomoe Nage, etc.

Armed Combat:

-Weapons both traditional and modern, (see below for a list of weapons)

No Prior Experience necessary.

Fees:

Class: Free

Annual Membership Fee: $35.00

Gi (Uniform), recommended after 1 month of consistent training: $35.00

Training weapons: Vary in price depending on quality and are strictly optional purchases. (include: Wooden bokken/bokuto, hanbo, jo, rokushaku bo, wakizashi, tanto, naginata, and edakoppo, jutte, kusari fundo, kyoketsu shoge, tanto, hand claws, shinai, and bo and senban shuriken)

Misc. items, including patch, tabi boots, etc.: Also vary in price