Dojo History: The Atlanta Bujinkan Dojo is the original school for authentic ninjutsu in the Western Hemisphere. The Atlanta Dojo was founded in the mid 70's when Stephen Hayes brought the art back from Japan. Mr. Hayes relocated to Ohio in the late 70's and has since gone on to found the To Shin Do martial system. Bud Malmstrom took over the responsibility for the Atlanta dojo after Stephen and was the head of the Bujinkan Atlanta Dojo for many years. Bud has now retired from active teaching, but remains involved in the art through seminars and private training.
When Bud retired, he passed on the responsibility for the training to his senior student, Roy Wilkinson. Mr. Wilkinson is now the Chief Instructor for the Atlanta Bujinkan Dojo, and is honored to have been entrusted with the responsibility for this lineage. Mr. Wilkinson is a direct student of the Grandmaster, Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi, and is one of the very few senior-most instructors of this art outside of Japan.
Bujinkan: The Bujinkan system consists of 9 traditional martial schools. The origins of these 9 ryu are shrouded in history, the oldest tracing its lineage back to the 11th century. Though the art is 1000 years old, and we are 7000 miles from its birthplace, ninjutsu is as effective and practical today as it was in ancient Japan.
The Bujinkan system contains the last surviving lineages of authentic ninjutsu in existence today. It is collectively referred to as Bujinkan Ninjutsu, Ninpo Taijutsu, or Budo Taijutsu.
The Grandmaster, or Soke, of the Bujinkan is Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi. Dr. Hatsumi lives and trains today in the area of Tokyo, Japan. Mr. Wilkinson travels regularly to Japan to train with the Grandmaster and other senior instructors of the art.
'Ninjutsu, A Living Art': This martial art is not a static art. It continues to grow and build on its knowledge base as the world changes and evolves. The techniques, skills and principles that have been handed down from generation to generation are the core of the art. The bearers of this knowledge were the ones who made it home from the battlefield to teach their children. In contrast, techniques that were ineffective or less effective may not have survived to be passed on.
Atlanta Bujinkan Dojo ninjutsu practitioners train in these field-tested techniques and principles, as well as applying the same concepts to protecting themselves in today's world. As new technologies are developed and new dangers appear in the future, they will become part of this living art also - just as it has been done for centuries.
What is a "Ninja"?: When most people hear the word "Ninja", they might think of mutant turtles, evil assassins, anime cartoon characters, or masked minions in comic books. The name often conjures up images or stereotypes created by movies and literature. Although these images may be entertaining, reality is quite different.
Historical ninja were monks, intelligence agents, bodyguards, the 'special forces' of their day, or simply farmers, defending themselves from someone else's war.
Modern students of ninjutsu are cops, soldiers, artists, programmers - people from all walks of life - practicing to protect themselves and their families from today's dangers. All in all, not so different from the people of the mountainous Iga region of Japan, who were persecuted and marked for extermination, forcing them to defend themselves all those centuries ago.
Who I'd like to meet: Roy Wilkinson, Chief Instructor
Roy Wilkinson is currently in his 30th year of martial arts training in Bujinkan Ninpo Taijutsu, and is one of the senior-most Bujinkan Master Instructors and practitioners outside of Japan. He began as a student of Bud Malmstrom's at the Bujinkan Atlanta Dojo, and has continued to train with Bud, as well as with other Master Teachers from Japan and elsewhere, including the Grandmaster of the art, Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi. When Mr. Malmstrom retired from active teaching, he passed on the responsibility for the training in Atlanta to Mr. Wilkinson. He is honored to have been entrusted with this responsibility and is proud to carry on the tradition of the first authentic ninjutsu school in the Western Hemisphere.
After 10+ years in the art, Roy successfully passed the sakki test for Godan (5th degree Black Belt) & was awarded the title of Shidoshi (Teacher of the Warrior Ways of Enlightenment) by the Grandmaster. He is also one of a limited number of recipients of the prestigious Bujinkan Gold Medal, awarded personally by the Grandmaster, for his outstanding contributions to the art. Mr. Wilkinson is currently a 15th-degree Black Belt (Judan Kugyo) and is responsible for the Atlanta Bujinkan Dojo.
Mr. Wilkinson has given numerous seminars around the United States and Europe over the years, both within the Bujinkan and for other martial systems, and continues to teach and train regularly at the Atlanta Bujinkan Dojo, where he is the Chief Instructor. He has trained current and former law enforcement, security, and military personnel, in addition to civilians from all walks of life. Roy has presented self-protection and women's self-defense programs for both professional and collegiate audiences. He has appeared in several European and American martial arts magazines, and has been interviewed for a national television special on ninjutsu. He was also recently the subject of a documentary on the art, entitled "Heart, Sword and Perseverance".
