An unbroken line from the Grandmaster in Japan to Colorado Springs. Every technique taught here traces directly back to its source.
In traditional martial arts, lineage is everything. It establishes that what you're learning is authentic — not invented, not diluted, not someone's interpretation of a YouTube video. The Kashiwa Bujinkan Dojo has a direct, documented lineage from Grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi through three generations of dedicated instructors.
Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi is the 34th Grandmaster of Togakure-ryū Ninjutsu and the founder of the Bujinkan Dōjō, the international organization that preserves and transmits the nine traditional fighting schools (ryūha) of the system.
Born in 1931 in Noda City, Japan, Hatsumi Sensei inherited the lineage from his teacher Toshitsugu Takamatsu — known as "The Last Combat Ninja" — who trained him for fifteen years before passing on the complete transmission of all nine schools.
From his hombu (headquarters) dojo in Noda, Sōke Hatsumi has taught thousands of students from around the world, ensuring that these ancient combat traditions survive into the modern era. Every Bujinkan practitioner on the planet traces their training back to this source.
Shidoshi Jeffrey Russell began training in the Bujinkan as a teenager under Shidoshi Jeff Duncan of the Roanoke Valley Bujinkan. After earning his Shodan (black belt) in the United States, he traveled to Japan and trained there for over four years, immersing himself in the art at its source.
In 2001, Shidoshi Russell earned his Godan (5th degree black belt) directly from Sōke Hatsumi. He returned to Colorado Springs and established the Kashiwa Bujinkan Dojo, passing on the complete and unaltered teachings he received in Japan.
Shidoshi Russell's sole student was Bryan Garner, to whom he entrusted the continuation of the school in 2005.
Bryan Garner has trained in martial arts since age five, earning black belt ranks across multiple disciplines including Karate, Kenpo, Aikido, Eishin Ryu Iaido, Kendo, HEMA, and MMA before dedicating himself fully to the Bujinkan system.
He became the sole pupil of Shidoshi Jeffrey Russell and took over instruction of the Air Force Academy's Ninjutsu Club in 2004. After teaching martial arts at the high school level for over two years, he opened his own dojo and has been the head instructor at Kashiwa Bujinkan ever since.
In 2008, Shidoshi Garner traveled to Japan and earned his Godan directly from Grandmaster Hatsumi — the same test his teacher Jeffrey Russell passed seven years earlier. He currently serves as the Kenjutsu instructor at Synergy Sword Arts Fencing School in Colorado Springs, and competes in HEMA and fencing events.
Beyond the dojo, Shidoshi Garner is a certified ASP and REDMAN instructor, a firearms instructor, and has spent over eighteen years in corporate protective security as an armed security professional.
Both Shidoshi Russell and Shidoshi Garner made the pilgrimage to Noda, Japan to train directly under Grandmaster Hatsumi at the Bujinkan Hombu Dojo. This is the ultimate test of authenticity in the Bujinkan world — to stand before the Grandmaster and demonstrate your understanding of the art.
The Godan test is legendary in martial arts circles: the student kneels with eyes closed while the Grandmaster stands behind with a raised sword. The student must sense the killing intent and evade. Both of our lineage holders passed this test.
