West Michigan Budokan

Welcome to the West Michigan Budokan website. West Michigan's premier source for authentic Japanese Martial Arts located in Kalamazoo. Please enjoy your visit! This site is best viewed with 1280 x 1024 resolution.

Creative Growth Is Unending, But Ever Satisfying.

The Yearly Bujinkan training theme for 2010 will be TACHI & "ROKKON SHOUJOU" and according to Mikkyo and Shinto doctrines, refers to Sensory Purification. Within the Bujinkan densho there are teachings referred to as "Rokujin Ho" and also regard training the mind. We will be using a Tachi in order to train in this year's theme. Another great year to belong to the WMB as sword skills are a very strong area for our dojo and everyone should have a strong foundation in Bikenjutsu after the past couple years!

The West Michigan Budokan offers an outstanding traditional martial arts experience with a friendly, relaxed and noncompetitive atmosphere. We are offering several martial arts systems designed for self-protection and self-development, not sporting events. Our dojo offers realistic self-protection and awareness skills through an extensive and highly effective curriculum while transmitting the authentic warrior traditions of Soke Masaaki Hatsumi and Soke Kenshinsai Machida. Members of our dojo can take pride in their training knowing they have truly earned the kyu and dan ranks they achieve. We follow the formal ranking systems set by Soke Hastumi and Soke Machida. We also offer students International rank certification and memberships from the Grandmasters in Japan . We offer instruction in true samurai jissen kobujutsu as taught by Grandmaster Machida and true ninpo as taught by Grandmaster Hatsumi. These arts have not been changed and are taught at the WMB as they are taught in Japan.

Our Chief Instructor is Shihan Robert Bessler, 10th Degree Black Belt in Bujinkan Ninjutsu / Budo Taijutsu. He also holds the traditional rank level titles within the Shin Bu Ryu Enbukan of "Mokuroku" (5th Degree Black Belt) in Enshin Itto Ryu Battojutsu, "Shoden Kiri Gami Oku" (4th Degree Black Belt) in Kashima Shinden Jigen Ryu Battojutsu and "Shoden Oku Jo-i" (4th Degree Black Belt) in Takeda-ha Aiki-no-Jutsu and "Chuden Jo-i" (5th Degree Black Belt) in Fudo Ikken Ryu Battojutsu. Robert is an active teacher and practitioner of the Japanese Warrior Ways. He is a member of the Bujinkan Shidoshi-Kai Instructors Guild and student of Bujinkan Soke Masaaki Hatsumi and Enbukan Soke Kenshinsai Machida. Robert has been training in the martial arts and meditative arts for over 25 years, traveling extensively throughout the United States and Japan . He travels to Japan twice every year for extended training directly with the Grandmasters, Shihan Bessler acts as a direct link between the Grandmasters of Japan and the students of the West Michigan Budokan. In 2003, Robert was awarded the great honor of being the first representative of the Shin Bu Ryu Sogo Budo Enbukan Dojo in the United States and currently oversees the training and development of the Enshin Itto Ryu Battojutsu, Kashima Shinden Enshin Jigen Ryu Battojutsu, Fudo Ikken Ryu Enshin Battojutsu, Aizu Mugai Ryu Kodachi, Takeda-ha Enshin Ryu Aiki-no-Jutsu, Yagyu Shingan Ryu Enshin Heijutsu, Yagyu Shingan Ryu Enshin Bojutsu and Asayama Ichiden Ryu Jujutsu Samurai traditions, under the direct guidance of Soke Kenshinsai Machida and So-Shihan Takeshi Machida in Japan. The Enbukan teaches various schools passed on through the Machida family, Soke Kenshinsai Machida is the 2nd Soke of the arts listed here along with others that were passed on to him from his father. Soke Kenshinsai Machida holds Sokeship in many of these arts and Menkyo Kaiden in the others that he teaches. The following are the martial arts systems taught at the WMB...

ENB UKAN SHINBU RYU SOGO BUDO: Soke Kenshinsai Machida

Enshin Itto Ryu Battojutsu

Fudo Ikken Ryu Battojutsu

Kashima Shinden Jigen Ryu Battojutsu

Aizu Mugai Ryu Kodachi

Takeda-ha Aiki-no-Jutsu

Yagyu Shingan Ryu Hei-Jutsu

Yagyu Shingan Ryu Bojutsu

Asayama Ichiden Ryu Jujutsu

BUJINKAN BUDO TAIJUTSU / NINJUTSU: Soke Masaaki Hatsumi

Shinden Fudo Ryu Dakentaijutsu

Gyokko Ryu Kosshijutsu

Kukishinden Ryu Happo Bikenjutsu

Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu

Koto Ryu Koppojutsu

Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu

Gikan Ryu Koppojutsu

Gyokushin Ryu Ninpo

Kumogakure Ryu Ninpo

Enjoy your visit to our website and your Budo / Kobujutsu training with us in the authentic martial arts traditions of the Ninja and Samurai of Japan at the West Michigan Budokan ! We have been serving the Kalamazoo area since 1995. Treasure every breath! Enjoy every moment! Keep going!

West Michigan Budokan * 3975 Gull Rd. Kalamazoo, Michigan 49048 * USA * 269-349-3676