Sensei

Oliver Martin

My martial journey began at Dartmouth College in 1994 learning Danzan Ryu Jujutsu.

But I always had Hatsumi Sensei’s ninjutsu in the back of my mind since I was a child...

I was eager to learn more about Hatsumi Sensei's ninja martial art!

So I headed to Dayton OH for the annual Shadows of Iga ninja festival in 1995 to see if I could begin to find out how to grasp some ninja taijutsu. 

In 1996, I took a big step and traveled all the way to Tokyo, Japan to attend a training seminar with the one and only Grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi.

It was a life-changing experience that further solidified my passion for this art.

From that moment on, I was hooked, and my love for Bujinkan Budo martial arts only grew from thereon out as I continued to attend numerous Taikais with Hatsumi Sensei in places like Sweden, Germany, Arizona, New Jersey, and attended seminars with well known US instructors.

I was lucky enough to be exposed to true representatives of the art like Daishihan Greg Kowalski in CT and Daishihan Jack Hoban in New Jersey throughout the late 90s.

They had master level taijutsu along with truly valuable insight into ninjutsu.

But my training didn't stop there.

In 1999, I ventured to Boulder, CO where I had the opportunity to learn about Liu He Ba Fa and chi kung while living there.

These teachings added a new dimension to my martial arts practice, and I was grateful for the chance to expand my knowledge.

I finally took the plunge in the summer of 2000 and returned to Tokyo with a singular goal in mind: to study ninjutsu under Grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi. 

While attending Sophia University in Tokyo, I had the privilege of training with both Hatsumi Sensei, Nagato Sensei and many other great Bujinkan Daishihans. 

Every week, I would travel several hours on the train to Chiba and Saitama to gain firsthand experience from the masters.

Being one of the select American instructors to receive week in and week out training in the birthplace of ninjutsu for 3 years has been one of the great highlights of my life.

I returned to the US and with my new knowledge, skills and experience, I opened Bujinkan Maten Dojo in New York City in 2005.

It was in these years that I honed my skills and training experience as a ninjutsu instructor testing and refining what I had learned while living in Japan. 

I teach in person in both Vermont and New York City, as well as through online classes that anyone can join from anywhere.

Every year, I make the journey back to Tokyo with groups of my students to continue learning and studying with my teachers.

I love sharing what I've learned with students all over the US and incorporating traditional techniques with modern training methods to help them reach their full potential.

I’ve loved meeting, training, and teaching many people who’ve come through my doors over the years and exposing them to Hatsumi Sensei’s Budo.

We’ve had lots of great training over the years and I truly do continue to refine my methodology of how to bring people firmly up to speed in this dynamic and powerful martial arts system that's lasted for thousands of years.

Now I’m obsessed with how to better expose people to the full spectrum of what Hatsumi Sensei gifted us with through his teaching from the very basic basics in my weekly online classes to the most joyfully sublime of moments exploring different variations that come up in the moment.

Now I’m finally in a position to build a Budo Dojo that can expose students and instructors alike to the full breadth of Ninpo that I sought so many years ago when I started my musha shugyo martial quest.

It's a quest that never stops for me as Hatsumi Sensei’s lessons haven't stopped blossoming in my practice and so I will continue to move and learn with the martial winds that continue to feed the magic of our practice here at the Dojo.

Join me on a journey of discipline and self-discovery in ninjutsu.

Let's unlock your inner warrior and reach new heights in your martial arts practice together!