My name is Calvin and I love my lesson with my Sensei and my Sempai. I can't wait until I am blackbelt.
Calvin Kendall, 7 years old
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Grandmaster Shoto Tanemura Sensei
Grandmaster Shoto Tanemura Sensei was born on the 28th August 1947 with the given name of Tsunehisa. However, he later took the name "Shoto" meaning "the law of the sword". He was born in the town of Matsubushi in Saitama Prefecture, where he continues to live and operate the Hombu Dojo.
He began his martial apprenticeship at the age of 9 under the guidance of his father, Sadatsune Tanemura, and his father's uncle, Kakunosuke Yamazaki. Sadatsune Tanemura was the 17th family head of a Samurai line, with historical links to the Emperors Uda and Seiwa, and blood ties to the famous daimyo of the Sasaki and Takeda families, and was an expert in the martial arts of Kenjutsu (art of the sword), Jukenjutsu (art of the bayonet) and various schools of Jujutsu (Shizen Ryu system) and Ninjutsu (Takeda system). Kakunosuke Yamazaki was an 8th Dan in the Onoha Itto Ryu system.
Tanemura Sensei's training regime was very hard and strict, as it was very traditional. At fifteen years of age Tanemura Sensei began to study Shindo Muso Ryu Kenpo from the renowned Master Seishiro Saito. He also gained entrance into the famous Asayama Ichiden ryu taijutsu along with Takagi Yoshin ryu jujutsu, Gikan ryu koppojutsu and other ancient schools of bujutsu (Japanese martial arts). Such was the focus of his training at that time that he received his menkyo kaiden (full mastership) in Shinden Fudo ryu and Kukishin ryu at twenty years of age.
Tanemura Sensei was introduced to Dr. Kinbei Sato whilst he was still at University. Very few people at this time knew that Dr Kinbei Sato had trained with Takamatsu Sensei, and this included Tanemura Sensei.
However, It was to be twenty years later that Tanemura Sensei would meet with Dr. Kinbei Sato again. Tanemura Sensei was given special kuden (secret oral teachings) and by the winter of 1989, Dr. Kinbei Sato named him as the next Soke (Grandmaster) of Takagi Yoshin ryu, Bokuden ryu, Gikan ryu, and Kukishin ryu.
At Hosei University he majored in law and after graduation he joined the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department at the age of twenty-two. This career choice would allow the Grandmaster to use his training in order to help and protect others. He was called upon to use his training on many occasions, and it did not fail him.
This led to him becoming a member of Japan's elite Kidotai Police Unit as well as being involved in hostage, rescue and security operations. Tanemura Sensei's amazing skills brought him to the attention of his superiors, and he was allowed to teach Ninpo and Jujutsu to other police officers at a special martial arts club.
After fifteen years of service, he felt in his heart the need to preserve the true Japanese martial arts, and so he resigned his job as a Lieutenant to carry out this mission. Soon after leaving the police department, he founded his Genbukan Ninpo Bugei Dojo and organised the Federation.
On November 28th, 1984, Grandmaster Shoto Tanemura started with just a handful of students in his Matsubushi dojo. Now his black belt instructors teach thousands of dedicated martial arts in over 30 countries as well as the Grandmaster having personally taught seminars worldwide.
Jason Hindley - Dojo Cho, Kinkan Dojo
Jason is the Dojo Cho (Chief Instructor) at the Kinkan Dojo and teaches in the East London area with the permission of Grandmaster Shoto Tanemura Sensei.
Jason was a late starter to martial arts, beginning his martial arts career at the age of 14 with Kyokushinkai Karate. However, after seeing a demonstration by his initial Genbukan instructor, Andy Welch, Jason immediately knew that he wanted to dedicate himself to these amazing martial arts. Jason completed the round trip from Romford, Essex to Brighton, East Sussex twice a week to train with Andy.
Andy inspired Jason to train hard and work through the kyu grade syllabus, and in August 1999 Jason passed his Ninpo Shodan test. Shortly after this Jason began teaching his own classes in Hornchurch, Essex.
Jason became a personal student of the Grandmaster after his first trip to Japan in May 2001, on this trip Shoto Tanemura Sensei graded and passed Jason for Jujutsu Shodan. The Grandmaster gave Jason the Dojo Name of "Kinkan", which means "the Sun's Corona".
Jason has made frequent trips back to Japan as often as he could to train at the Grandmaster's personal dojo. He also attended both of the Genbukan Japan Taikai's (training seminars) to date. Jason has also travelled to the USA, Canada and Europe to attend Taikai's taught by the Grandmaster in order to further his own knowledge.
The martial arts have led to other opportunities for Jason, serving as a security consultant, providing Close Protection for people such as His Holiness The Dalai Lama. Jason has also taught self protection courses for organisations such as Sainsburys Supermarkets and the Body-Wise Gym Franchise. He has also taught women’s self defence strategies as part of the Havering Adult Education Syllabus, covering topics such as maintaining personal space, understanding criminal intent and reading survival signals.
Jason has also completed the ITEC Therapeutic Masseur qualification and Sports Massage Therapist qualification. He is also First Aid qualified and fully CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) vetted.
Jason's continuing aim is to support Shoto Tanemura Sensei’s goal of teaching these true martial arts to all people, helping them to achieve their potential as human beings in today's world.
Jason's Current Rankings:
- Ninpo Taijutsu Yondan (4th degree blackbelt)
- Kokusai Jujutsu Yondan (4th degree blackbelt)
- Gyokko Ryu Kosshi-Jutsu Tanemura-Ha Shoden Menkyo
- Koto Ryu Koppo-Jutsu Tanemura-Ha Shoden Menkyo
- Togakure Ryu Ninpo Tanemura-Ha Shoden Menkyo
- Shinden Fudo Ryu Daken-TaijutsuTanemura-Ha Shoden Menkyo
- Tenshin Hyoho Kukishin Ryu Jujutsu Shoden Menkyo
- Shinden Tatara Ryu Taijutsu Shoden Menkyo
- Asayama Ichiden Ryu Shoden Menkyo
- Bojutsu Shokyu
- Biken-jutsu 5th kyu
- Hakkesho 3rd kyu
Edward Winter
Edward has been a student at the Kinkan Dojo since 1998. He has been training in the martial arts since the age of 14, and formally began training at the Dojo from the age of 16. Edward is a member of both the Genbukan Ninpo Bugei and the Kokusai Jujutsu Renmei and is currently Jason’s longest serving student.
Edward made his first trip to Japan to train at the Grandmaster's Dojo in 2003, and again in 2006 with his teacher, Jason Hindley. On this trip Edward was honoured to be tested for his Ninpo Shodan (first degree blackbelt) by the Grandmaster.
In November 2008 Edward attended the UK Taikai in Brighton, where he successfully tested for his Ninpo Nidan certification (2nd degree blackbelt), and also for Shinden Fudo Ryu Daken-TaijutsuTanemura-Ha Shoden Menkyo.
Edward still continues to train and teach at the Kinkan Dojo as and when his work commitments allow.
Gideon Forbes
Gideon has been a student at the Kinkan Dojo since 2005. He trained in other martial arts, including sports kickboxing before finding his way to the Kinkan Dojo. Gideon became a dedicated student, training and helping out at the dojo 4 times a week. Even whilst studying at University Gideon kept training regularly, and he tested successfully for his Ninpo Shodan in front of the Grandmaster in October 2010.
Despite his ongoing studies at University, Gideon still continues to train and regularly teaches the children's classes at the Dojo as well as helping with the adults classes. Gideon has the following ranks:
- Ninpo Taijutsu Shodan (1st degree blackbelt)
- Shinden Fudo Ryu Daken-TaijutsuTanemura-Ha Kirigami
- Koto Ryu Koppo-Jutsu Tanemura-Ha Kirigami
- Tenshin Hyoho Kukishin Ryu Jujutsu Kirigami
- Togakure Ryu Ninpo Tanemura-Ha Shoden Menkyo
