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Primary Instructor

Greg Stough - 12th Dan

Greg trains with Grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi and other high level Japanese instructors several times each year. As a Shihan (master instructor) Greg's promotions are under Hatsumi Sensei's direct supervision. Greg teaches all classes at the Bujinkan York Dojo unless he is scheduled to teach classes elsewhere, which happens periodically. 

Assistant Instructors

Fran Velazquez - 5th Dan

These assistant instructors are all good teachers and very good martial artists too. They are very dedicated to training and all but one of them have trained with Grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi at US Tai Kai seminars. Most of them have trained with Hatsumi Sensei several times. Three of these fine instructors have trained in Japan already, and all of them are planning to go to Japan in the near future to continue their training. While each of these black-belts are very skilled they train directly with all the other students (from beginners and up) during every class. During the occasional absences of the primary instructor they work together and do an excellent job of teaching the class.

Don Bankert - 4th Dan

Martin Hucik III - 3rd Dan

Patrick Haag, Jr. - 1st Dan

Associated Shibu (Training groups/Dojo)

The following people are students of the York Bujinkan Dojo, but have their own training groups or Dojo from which they train their own students. If you live close to these qualified assistant instructors and are in search of Bujinkan training we suggest attending their classes for your training needs. While these assistant instructors are teaching classes and programs, they are also actively learning new skills while improving their existing skills on an ongoing basis. This dedication to "continuous improvement" is a very good attribute in any instructor.

Chuck Thomas - 4th Dan

White Marsh, MD (Northern Baltimore)

tengu63@yahoo
443-451-4284

Bryan Dieterich - 2nd Dan

Denver, Colorado

gatelesspass@yahoo.com

Keith Lutz - 1st Dan

Danville, PA

mountainwindsbudo@yahoo.com


 

Primary Instructor - Greg Stough, 12th Dan

Greg Stough is founder and president of Tactical Self-Defense Services, Inc. a Company specializing in training programs and consulting for law enforcement, civilian self-defense, and martial art topics. These programs are presented to an array of individuals, departments, and organizations including but not limited to Federal, State, Tribal and Municipal Police, Corrections and Probation and Parole agencies; U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and Foreign Service Military Personnel; Security and Protective Services Agencies; Businesses, Corporations and Educational Institutions; and also Individuals, Private Groups and Organizations.

He is an active Municipal Police Instructor at the Senator John J. Shumaker Public Safety Center located on the campus of Harrisburg Area Community Collage (HACC) and has over 11 years of experience teaching in the Municipal Police Academy, the Lethal Weapons Program and a number of other State and privately designed programs through this institution. He is certified by various State agencies to instruct Defensive Tactics, Mechanics of Arrest, and Firearms Retention in various law enforcement programs. Greg has been certified as a Master Instructor in the State of Pennsylvania's Constable Program. This was a "train-the-trainer" position designed to teach and certify instructors who then teach the Defensive Tactics to candidates in the Constable program.

He is a Charter Member of International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA) and assisted at the 2005 convention as the "official photographer". As a member of the American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers (ASLET) and has presented workshops on defensive tactics topics at ASLET's international and Regional conventions. Greg trains hundreds of Law Enforcement, Military and Security personnel each year, in addition to private individuals too.

Below is a summary of Greg's Certifications;

Instructor-Trainer Certification (certifies people to be Instructors)

  • OCAT Pepper Spray program

  • PATH Handcuffing Techniques program

  • Monadnock's MEB Straight and Expandable Baton program

  • Monadnock PR-24 side-handle Baton program

  • Pennsylvania's ACT-1944-44 Constables' Training program (not currently active)

Instructor Level Certification

  • Pennsylvania's ACT-120 Municipal Police Academy

  • Pennsylvania's ACT-235 Lethal Weapons Training Program

  • MOAB Management of Aggressive Behavior program (upgrading to Instructor-Trainer in 2005)

  • MOAB for Public Safety Officers (upgrading to Instructor-Trainer in 2005)

  • Monadnock's MDTS Defensive Tactics System (upgrading to Instructor-Trainer in 2005)

  • Use of Force Issues

  • NRA's First Steps Pistol Orientation program

  • NRA's Home Firearm Safety Course

  • NRA's Basic Pistol Shooting Course

  • NRA's Basic Personal Protection in the Home Course

  • Greg has has a variety of other instructor level certifications in the past too.

Additional Certifications

  • NRA Range Safety Officer

  • EMT-B Emergency Medical Technician

  • Master Instructor 12th Dan - Bujinkan Budô Taijutsu

Greg's introduction into Law Enforcement training began as a result of his extensive martial arts training. After a private handgun retention lesson a certified Municipal Police officer strongly encouraged Greg to contact the Director of the Local Academy because the high level of knowledge and the training he was offering.

In the late 1970's Greg began his training in martial arts and in the mid 1980's he began studying in the Bujinkan system. In 1992 Greg became a fully licensed instructor in the internationally recognized Japanese Self-Defense system called Bujinkan Ninjutsu, currently known as Bujinkan Budô Taijutsu. This promotion and teaching authorization came directly from Grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi of Japan. Greg spends several weeks each year in Japan to continue his personal training and travels across the US to attend seminars and programs on a variety of topics on a regular basis. During his trip to Japan in the spring of 2005 Hatsumi Sensei promoted Greg to the level of Jûnidan (12th dan - this system has 15 levels of black-belt).

In addition to "normal" self-defense/defensive tactics training, Greg has attended a wide variety of firearms training programs. This has accumulated into several hundred hours of professional training with handguns and long guns. In addition to standard firearm manipulation and accuracy subjects, use of force considerations, building clearing, street and vehicle tactics are but some of the additional topics covered in this training. He has assisted during range operations and ran students through a live fire shoot house in the above programs. Greg has also been involved in American Tactical Shooting Association (ATSA) the host organization for National Tactical Invitational (NTI). He has presented programs at their Regional and National events. When his schedule permits, he attends and assists in both "range" and "self-defense" training and practice of the NTI's Tactical Study Group meetings, held monthly.

Greg's belief is that even though he is an instructor in a number of different areas regular and continuous training are very important, and allows him to continue his personal learning and refinement of all self-defense skills and related topics. These topics of study include all areas of law enforcement use-of-force and martial arts/self-defense subjects and also protective services (executive protection) too. These programs cover the complete spectrum of unarmed self-defense and defensive tactics skills, and both modern and traditional weapons. Greg believes that one of an instructor's primary responsibilities is to continuously study, learn, and evaluate a wide variety of skills, tactics, and philosophies. Learning and understanding the circumstances with which these methods are effective, and just as importantly, under which conditions they will fail, is paramount. This information is liberally passed on to each student through class participation, seminars, and discussions. To complement the training and experience Greg has acquired he is writing a very technical book on self-defense skills, methodologies and mental preparation, considerations and perspective. He has been working on this work for several years already and hopes to have it completed and published in 2007. 

As a hobby Greg enjoys learning and teaching seminars on various outdoor awareness and survival skills. He has attended several weeklong classes in awareness, observation, tracking, and wilderness survival skills offered by Tom Brown Jr., America's foremost authority on these topics. Many of the awareness skills learned through these classes are included in the self-defense programs. Awareness is vital for self-protection as it is the first step in one's ability to avoid or prevent a situation requiring the implementation of self-defense skills.

Greg has a strong interest in knots, ropes and rigging and regularly volunteers as a rigger on large mast ships. He has been involved in many other activities or personal interest too, including hiking and camping, mountain biking, swimming, repelling, and caving. Greg also enjoys partner dancing and has taken lessons in East and West Coast Swing, Ballroom, and various Latin style dancing. When he has a chance, he also enjoys reading non-fiction books most of which are technical in nature and related to his varied interests.

Greg has been involved in a variety of other professional activities over the years too. He is a certified EMT-B in Pennsylvania and has volunteered on a local ambulance. He has formal technical training in electronics with over seventeen years experience working on process control instrumentation as a Senior Service Representative. His responsibilities included service, calibration, programming of a wide variety of industrial and municipal electronic controls. He was involved in component level repair of instrumentation and overall process system troubleshooting in Industrial, Municipal, and Laboratory settings. He also has experience in servicing and repair of two-way radios and also experience with telephone company special circuits. Until his schedule became unforgiving, Greg was a paid musician. He regularly played with the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, York Symphony Orchestra, and the Spring Garden Concert Band. He enjoyed playing in the percussion section, with these organizations, for over twelve years.

Use this link to e-mail Greg Stough.

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Assistant Instructor - Fran Velazquez, 5th Dan

Francis Velazquez has been studying Bujinkan Budô Taijutsu under Greg Stough for over ten years. During Greg’s occasional absences from the Dôjô Fran has taught classes with other black belt assistant instructors and also by himself. In addition to weekly training he has also attended classes offered by a number of high ranking Bujinkan instructors including Phil LeGare, Ed Martin, and Mark O'Brien to name a few. He feels extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to attend several US Tai Kai to watch and learn from Sôke Masaaki Hatsumi and the many other excellent instructors and students of Bujinkan in attendance. Fran is planning to attend the 2002 and 2003 Tai Kai, and would like to train in Japan sometime in the future too.

In addition to Bujinkan training he has served as an assistant instructor for law enforcement classes offered by Tactical Self-Defense Services, Inc. This has included Firearm Retention, Mechanics or Arrest, and Pennsylvania Constables’ Defensive Tactics programs.  For a local junior girl scout group Fran has developed and presented a course for verbal and physical self-defense.

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Assistant Instructor - Chuck Thomas, 4th Dan

Chuck Thomas holds a Yondan in Bujinkan Budô Taijutsu and has trained with Greg Stough at the Bujinkan York Dôjô since 1997. Recently he moved to Northern Maryland (near Baltimore) and began instructing in that area. In addition to continued periodic training in York, Chuck has travels to various martial seminars, training with other high ranking Bujinkan instructors, Phil Legare, Ed Martin, Mark O'Brien and Carl Koch to name a few. He has attended several special Black Belt seminars hosted by Phil Legare. Chuck has also served as an assistant instructor at the Bujinkan York Dojo on occasions when the primary instructor is unavailable.

He has studied wilderness lore and natural living skills with Larry Neubaum and Greg Stough. Chuck has gone through Warriorship initiation with Phil Legare in Maryland. Chuck is now looking forward to a trip to Japan.

Chuck works full time in the computer industry, designing and installing computer networks. Chuck holds Microsoft and Cisco Systems certifications. In his free time, Chuck enjoys spending time outdoors, time with family, and music.

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Assistant Instructor - Don Bankert, 4th Dan

Profile to be added soon.

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Assistant Instructor - Martin Hucik III, 3rd Dan

Marty has been training in several different martial arts for over ten years. His primary interest has been under the guidance of Greg Stough and the fellow members of the York Bujinkan Dojo. In addition to training regularly at the York Dojo, Marty has trained in Japan with Hatsumi Sensei and many other Japanese Shihan. To continue his training in the warrior arts he has attended many seminars conducted by top Bujinkan Instructors. These instructors include Phil Legare, Mark O'Brien, Ed Martin, Charles Daniel and Jeff Prather to name a few.

In addition to martial arts training Marty has attended a variety of wilderness survival workshops offered by Larry Neubaum and Greg Stough, and he also finished the student version of Warriorship School headed by Jeff Prather, under the tutelage of Phil Legare.

Marty has been a self-employed construction contractor for over 15 years. He is also a certified Shiatsu Therapist. In addition to his martial arts training Marty's hobbies include nature identification, hiking, fishing, just hanging out with friends, and enjoying life.

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Assistant Instructor - Bryan Dieterich, 2nd Dan

Bryan Dieterich holds a Nidan (2nd degree black belt) in Bujinkan Budô Taijutsu and has trained with Greg Stough at the Bujinkan York Dojo since 1996.  In addition to weekly training in York, Bryan has traveled to various martial seminars across the country where he has trained with high-ranking Western instructors including Mark O’Brien, Philip Legare, Ed Martin, Dick Severence and many others. In the summer of 2000, Bryan visited Japan to further his Bujinkan training where he studied with Masaaki Hatsumi and many top ranking Japanese Shihan.  He plans to return to Japan for further training in 2004. 

Bryan has also served as an assistant instructor with Tactical Self Defense Services, aiding Greg at the Pennsylvania Municipal Police Academy as well as filling in at the Bujinkan York Dojo on occasions when the primary instructor was unavailable. 

In May of 2003, Bryan relocated to Denver, Colorado where he now oversees the Gateless Barrier Bujinkan Training Group.  Still maintaining close ties with the York Dojo, Bryan is doing his best to extend the Bujinkan training concepts he learned from Greg Stough to the greater Denver area. 

A Certified Shiatsu Therapist and Reiki Master/Teacher, Bryan has served the public since Autumn of 2000, when he launched Gateless Barrier Holistic Services.  Now located at The Healing Light Center in Central Denver, Bryan continues to treat a variety of conditions with traditional Eastern healing arts.

In addition to Bujinkan Budô Taijutsu, Bryan has studied Dao-Yin and various Taoist meditative arts, and is a member of several international Taoist organizations.   

 In his free time, Bryan enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking, camping, and exploring the backcountry.  He has studied wilderness lore and primitive living skills with Larry Neubaum and Greg Stough and has attended several international conferences on the environment and deep ecology.

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Patrick Haag, Jr. - 2nd Dan

Patrick began his training at the York Bujinkan Dôjô in early 2001. He is a very active student attending classes regularly. He has also attended many seminars taught by many skilled instructors, Greg Stough, Charles Daniel, Mark O'brien, Phil Legare, Tim Bathurst, Ed Martin, Paul Masse, Charles Collins, and Larry Neubaum teaching wilderness survival skills.

Patrick has been a professional Automotive Technician for over 10 years, and currently works for a high volume Toyota dealership. His education in this field includes, Associate of Arts Degree in Advanced Automotive Technology, ASE Certified Technician and is a Certified Technician with both Toyota and Suzuki.

Pat enjoys growing as a martial artist and a human being through this wonderful art.  He strives to be the best that he can be by always keeping an open mind and by being open to helpful suggestions from others.  He enjoys smiling and having fun while training. Patrick is a great asset to the class and is quite helpful with everyone with which he trains. When Greg is not able to teach class Patrick is one of the very good instructors that shares the responsibility of teaching classes at the York Dôjô.

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Assistant Instructor - Keith Lutz, 1st Dan

Keith Lutz holds a Shodan ranking in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu. He began training in this art in 1992. In addition to training with Greg Stough, Keith has trained with several high-ranking instructors.

In addition to training in the Bujinkan Keith has given educational lectures concerning the cultural aspects of the martial arts to elementary school students, college students, and the general public.  

Keith’s service in the Marine Corps from 1988-1992 provided many experiences that led him to training in the Bujinkan.

Keith hold’s a Bachelors Degree in Anthropology and is currently finishing a Bachelors Degree in History with plans for further education at the graduate level.

In his free time, Keith enjoys teaching fitness classes as a certified group fitness trainer. He also enjoys spending time with his family and friends outdoors enjoying activities such as whitewater rafting, camping, and hiking. 

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Last modified: February 07, 2008