A lifelong acolyte of martial arts, native New Yorker and master instructor Joe Maurantonio discovered Bujinkan in the early ‘80s and trained under America’s top practitioners. An official member of the American Shidoshi Kai organization of Bujinkan teachers and the international Bujinkan Dojo, Maurantonio learned from international masters, including school founder soke Masaaki Hatsumi.

Comprising nine schools of martial arts, the Bujinkan tradition traces its roots to the styles used by ninja and samurai in feudal Japan. Classes eschew competition and artificial rules for exercises that recreate realistic combat situations. Students study attacks and defenses in slow exercises, perfecting rolls and disabling moves with a focus on personal growth, effective self-defense, and preparation for battles with armed closet monsters.