AboutJoe Maurantonio Expertise I can answer questions about ninja and samurai history, tradition, philosophy and training. This includes queries about ninjutsu skills, taijutsu (unarmed lessons), budogu (weapons lessons), warriorship, and my personal experiences with the martial arts. [Please, No Private Questions.]
Organizations
Bujinkan Dojo Shidoshi Kai Instructors Association (1991 - present)
American Shidoshi Kai (see www.shidoshikai.com ) (1997 - present)
Publications
Ninja Magazine [Writer] (1986)
Sanmyaku USA [Associate Editor] (1992-1997)
Ninpo: Wisdom for Life [Book Publisher, available Amazon.com] (1998)
Kihon Newsletter (1999-2003) [Writer, available kihon.com/newsletter]
Education/Credentials
Bachelor of Arts Degree
Master of Arts Degree
Awards and Honors
Shidoshi Instructors license (1991)
Shihan title (2003)
Question hello joe.. i am a 29 year old male from northern ireland and i have been training in genbukan ninpo for 6 months.. i am considering taking a year out to travel and would love to spend that year training full time in that martial art.. i am finding it hard to find anywhere that i can do this.. i was wondering if u could give me some advice on any place in the world that i could achieve this.. thanks
Answer Ronan,
Firstly, I am a member of the Bujinkan, so while I'm not an expert in the Genbukan, I may be able to point you in the right direction. IF you are going to take one year off to travel and train then the BEST place to do so would be Japan. Though there are immediately some issues that arise like money (travel, training, lodging and meals), immigration issues (passport, visa), and then introductions (you usually need a letter of introduction to visit a Japanese Genbukan school).
The place to begin would be by discussing the subject with your current instructor. Once you have his permission, you'll want to contact (he may have to do this for you) the Genbukan hombu in Japan to get permission to train there for the time you are interested.
