Shihan Sean Askew

Shihan Askew first met Hatsumi Sensei at the 1986 Tai Kai.In 1989, after meeting Sensei for the second time, he made it his goal to move to Japan and study Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu full time.From 1990 to 2001, Shihan Askew lived and trained in Japan.He studied under Hatsumi Sensei, Manaka Shihan (now of the Jinenkan), and Noguchi Shihan on a regular basis.With Hatsumi Sensei's permission, Shihan Askew began studying Japanese competitive arts such as Kosen Judo & Shooto in the mid-1990s.This included training with the late Hirata Sensei of Kosen Judo, and Ensen Inoue of shooto.For three years Shihan Askew competed in more than 60 amatuer tournaments in Japan.He also studied different branches of the Kukishin Ryu & Takagi Yoshin Ryu, focusing on understanding the differences between these ryu-ha and their relationship within the Bujinkan.

In 1993, Shihan Askew passed his Godan test at Ayase Budokan in Japan.In 1995, he graduated from Japan's Sophia University with a major in Japanese History & Culture and a minor in Japanese Religions.Shihan Askew became a regular translator for Hatsumi Sensei during his weekly classes while living in Japan.He speaks, reads, and writes Japanese fluently.

In 2001, Shihan Askew returned home to New York State, and eventually moved to Dayton, Ohio.
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Shihan Askew's teaching method is meant to force a student to continue polishing one's skills, and reach new awareness levels of what it is to be a Bujinkan deshi.We thank Shihan Askew for sharing his Budo with us, and look forward to "stealing" what it is he chooses to share with the Dayton Bujinkan Dojo.