Doshi Richard Van Donk
Founder and Director of the International Bujinkan Dojo Association and Bushindo University. Godan 1987 · Shidoshi · Ju-Godan 2004 · Golden Dragon Medal 1991 · Shin Gi Tai Award 2014 · DaiShihan.
Ancient Arts for Modern Times
Doshi Richard Van Donk began informal martial arts training at age 11 and formal training at 17. He is the Founder and Director of the IBDA / American Bujinkan Dojos (Ninjutsu) and Bushindo Martial Arts University, with students in over 110 countries and its International Dojo Headquarters in Middletown, Northern California.
He is one of the highest-ranking Bujinkan Ninjutsu Shidoshi outside of Japan – 9th Dan in Ninpo Taijutsu and 15th Dan in Budo Taijutsu from Grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi – and an internationally recognized Eskrima Grandmaster, the personal student and inheriting Grandmaster of the late DeCuerdas Grandmaster Gilbert Tenio.
He also holds black belt levels or above in Karate, Jujitsu, Tae Kwon Do, Muso Tenshin Ryu Iaijutsu (Yondan), Aikido, and Enshin Ryu Iaido and Battojutsu (from Grandmaster Kenshinsai Machida). In 1996 and 1997 the World Head of Family Sokeship Council named him Grandmaster of the Year for his contributions to the martial arts.
His wife, Linda Van Donk, also a Bujinkan DaiShihan (15th dan), is the Assistant Director of Training.
Personal Student of Grandmaster Hatsumi
Doshi Richard Van Donk has been a personal student of Ninjutsu Grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi of Noda City, Japan, training with him at least twice a year since 1985 – when he received his 2nd-degree black belt (Nidan) and Shidoshi-ho junior teaching license directly from Soke Hatsumi, who also made him a personal student in a special ceremony at Shihan Ishizuka’s dojo.
In early 1987 he passed his 5th-degree test in Japan in front of a panel of Japanese Shihan – told at the time he was only the 9th non-Japanese person to receive this rank in the art’s history.
In 1991 he received the Golden Dragon Award for his contributions to the Bujinkan. Soke Hatsumi awarded him his 10th-degree Menkyo license on December 2, 1995 (Soke Hatsumi’s birthday), 11th dan in March 2000 (Takamatsu’s birthday), 12th dan on March 28, 2001, 13th dan on December 2, 2002, 14th dan on April 2, 2004, and his Menkyo Kaiden Ju-Godan (15th degree) on December 2, 2004. Beyond rank is the Shin Gi Tai Ichi Award.
Doshi pioneered ranking structures now used by many Bujinkan instructors worldwide, and he continues to lead the IBDA and the IBDA Master Council long after Hatsumi-Sensei’s retirement.