soke Jeff Hall
Founder
Soke Jeff Hall has been shooting for over 50 years and has been a student of firearms combatives for 40 years. He has over 25 years of military and police experience, with a strong emphasis on SWAT. He has also studied traditional arts for 40 years, holding ranks of 3rd Dan in Kobudo, Ia Tate Do, and Jiu-Jitsu; 5th Dan in Shudokan and and Gosoku-Ryu; and 10th Dan in Hojutsu. He is an NRA Distinguished Shooter, one of 25 Handgun Combat Masters in the world, a law enforcement Master Instructor, and currently studies Iaido and Arnis. Hall is a retired Alaska State Trooper lieutenant who spent nineteen years on the pistol team and 12 years on the SWAT team; he has used the techniques he teaches in combat. Hall travels across the U.S. and teaches nationally for several professional training associations. He has published numerous articles and has written several training manuals. He is an NRA certified instructor in handgun, shotgun, submachine gun, carbine, and precision rifle.
Hall shot competitively for many years and studied many styles and techniques in developing Hojutsu, after finding the military and police training inadequate. However, Hall's focus on shooting is to survive lethal encounters. He prefers the Weaver Stance (the Modern Technique). While some styles of shooting may do well in competition, Hall prefers what is proven in real combat. Additionally, there should be commonality in all training- the way we fight with empty hands should flow to sticks to knives to handguns, long guns, and back to empty hands. In developing Hojutsu, we believe that "He is Best who trains in the Severest school"- we train hard so we can fight easy.
In 2007 he was inducted into the US Martial Arts Hall of fame, recognized as the soke, and recognized as a Ju Dan (10th Dan) and martial arts grandmaster. Numerous other Halls of Fame have also done so.
Hall is currently training for the Four Weapon Combat Master test, and to become the second ever to pass the Handgun Combat Master test with a revolver.
soke-dai Rod Kuratomi
Sensei - Glendale, CA Dojo
Kuratomi has been an instructor for 10th Dan Grand Master Soke Tak Kubota since 1981. He is a 7th degree black belt in Gosoku Ryu karate and has the title of Kyoshi and So-Shihan Dai, which makes him Master Kubota's successor. He is also a plank owner and Soke Dai of Hojutsu with a rank of 4th dan. He has a 4th dan in kobudo (traditional weapons), a 1st dan in Kubojitsu, and is a certified Kubotan, NRA, and DOJ instructor. Kuratomi was International Grand Champion of both heavyweight sparring and weapons forms at the IKA 2000 World Cup Tournament. He has distinguished graduate rankings from Front Sight Firearms Training Institute in the use of the handgun, rifle, and shotgun.
Dave Grossman
Sensei at Large
LT. COL., U.S. Army (Ret.) Director, Killology Research Group www.killology.com
Lt. Col. Dave Grossman is a former West Point psychology professor, Professor of Military Science, and Army Ranger who is the author of many books, including On Killing (which is on the USMC required reading list), On Combat (also USMC required reading), Warrior Mindset, and Sheepdog! Meet Our Nation's Warriors, a book for protectors of all ages.
Col. Grossman’s research was cited by the President of the United States in a national address, and he has testified before the U.S. Senate, the U.S. Congress, and numerous state legislatures. He has served as an expert witness and consultant in state and Federal courts, and served on the prosecution team in UNITED STATES vs. TIMOTHY MCVEIGH. He helped train mental health professionals after the Jonesboro school massacre, and was also involved in counseling or court cases in the aftermath of the Paducah, Springfield, and Littleton school massacres.
Col. Grossman was called upon to write the entry on “Aggression and Violence” in the Oxford Companion to American Military History, three entries in the Academic Press Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace and Conflict and has presented papers before the national conventions of the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Today he is the director of the Killology Research Group (www.killology.com), and in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks he has written and spoken extensively on the terrorist threat, with articles published in the Harvard Journal of Law and Civil Policy and many leading law enforcement journals.
Since his retirement from the US Army in 1998, he has been on the road almost 300 days a year, for over 18 years, as one of our nation’s leading trainers for military, law enforcement, mental health providers, and school safety organizations. His hobby is shooting. He has a black belt in Hojutsu, and in 2014 he was inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
Robert Boothe
Sensei - Spokane, WA Dojo
Boothe is a senior police officer with the Spokane police department, serving as a S.W.A.T team sniper. He is also a master firearms instructor and master Defensive tactics instructor with the Washington State Criminal Justices Training Commission. Boothe is also lead instructor at the Basic Law Enforcement Academy, teaching firearms, defensive tactics and use of force. He is a 2nd dan in Taekwon-do, 1st dan in Hojustu, and a 1st dan in Hakka-Ryu Jujitsu.
Charles Scott
Hanshi – Fairbanks, AK Dojo
Scott holds a 9th dan in Shudo-Kan, 8th dan in Gosoku-Ryu, 6th Dan in Aikido, 5th Dan in Jujitsu, 4th Dan in both Moo Doo Kwan and Tae Kwan Do, 3rd Dan in Iaido, and 2nd Dan in Hojutsu and plank owner. He has over 42 years in the Martial Arts, a PHd in Oriental philosophy, and is a Hall of Fame Grandmaster.
Eric Adams
Kyoshi - Estes Park, CO Dojo
Adams holds a 6th Dan in Gosoku Ryu Karate; 5th Dan in Shudo-Kan Karate; 4th Dan in Hojutsu, Yoshinkan Aikido, and Okinawan Kobudo (traditional weapons); and 1st Dan in Hakko Ryu Jiu Jitsu. He is also a certified law enforcement instructor in defensive tactics and firearms.
Doug Tangen
Plank Owner - Burien, WA Dojo
Tangen has over 25 years of experience as a police officer and instructor. He is a master defensive tactics instructor, full-time firearms instructor at the Idaho POST academy, 2nd dan in Tae Kwan Do, 1st Dan in Arnis, and first Dan and plank owner of Hojutsu.
Steven M. Ryan
Sensei – Boise, ID Dojo
Ryan is a retired Police Officer with 22 years experience. A former SWAT Team Commander, Mr. Ryan continues to teach firearms and S.W.A.T. to law enforcement and military agencies. His martial arts background includes a black belt in KoKonDo Karate, a brown belt in Jokedo Judo, and study in several other arts. Mr. Ryan was one of the original black belt plank owners in Hojutsu. He is currently a private security contractor in Iraq.
Greg Lawson
Sensei - Austin, TX Dojo
Lawson is a detective with the Travis County Sheriff's Office. He has taught pistol, shotgun, rifle, impact marksmanship and tactics, and is a police defensive tactics instructor. He is a former S.W.A.T. team member, Army Paratrooper, Navy Operations Specialist, and Air Force Firearms Instructor. Lawson is a 1st dan in Taekwon-do, 1st dan in Hojustu, and 1st dan in Hakka-Ryu Jujitsu.
Scott Adams
Currently a Sergeant with the Fairbanks Police, Adams has been with the department since 1996. He is a Field Training Officer, Lead firearms instructor, and is dual tasked as S.W.A.T. Sniper Sergeant and Entry Team Member. Adams is a certified instructor in handgun, shotgun, patrol rifle and submachine gun. He is a 1st dan in Hojustu and currently studies Karate under So-Shihan Charles Scott.
Verlin Rector
Sensei - New Mexico Dojo
Shihan Rector is a deputy sheriff in Farmington, NM. Rector has over 40 years of Martial Arts background. He is an NRA certified Instructor and Life Member, New Mexico CCW Instructor, and Active Gunsite Alumni, including pistol ,shotgun, carbine, and scout rifle. He is currently a 7th Dan TaeKwon-Do ( H.C.Kim's System of Albuq. N.M .), 2nd Dan Hojutsu, and a Bailiff at a State District Court.
Fabio M. Federico
Based in Rome, Italy. Hojutsu 1st dan. NRA Law Enforcement Tactical Shooting, Select-Fire Instructor and Life Member. Kapap Instructor; Glock 18, Steyr AUG operator; Bushmaster, Smith & Wesson MP, and Glock Advanced Armorer. NMIA, IALEFI, IACSP, ILEETA member. IDPA, GSSF competitor. CCW in AZ, CT, FL, ME, NH, NV, PA, UT, VA.
Scott Denning
Denning is a Deputy Sheriff in Idaho with over 18 years experience. He is a certified law enforcement instructor in Defensive Tactics, SWAT, Firearms, Ground Fighting and Impact Tools. He is also a certified military instructor in Combatives and firearms. Denning has served as a US Marine Scout Sniper and is certified as an advanced LE Sniper. He is an NRA Law Enforcement Tactical Shooting Instructor for rifle, shotgun and pistol. Denning has over 25 years experience in martial arts and holds a 1st dan in Pangai-Ryu Karate, Taekwon-do and Hojutsu-Ryu. He also holds a Brown belt in Kodenkan Jujutsu.
Steve McDaniel
Sensei - Anchorage, AK Dojo
37 years martial arts experience in the art of Shito-Ryu. Current owner and operator of Alaska Tactical Firearms Academy. Alaska State certified firearms instructor. Current adjunct instructor Thunder Ranch. Current firearms instructor YFA – Louis Awerbuck. Former adjunct instructor Gunsite Training Center. Certified Law Enforcement instructor NRA on Sub-gun, Select fire, tactical handgun, tactical shotgun, patrol rifle and tactical shooting. Certified instructor edge weapons.
Norman Hood
Sensei, South Bend, IN Dojo
Norman Hood retired as a Command Sergeant Major from the US Army after 24 years of service, and then spent six years with the Alaska State Troopers before entering Government Security Contract positions. Norm has more than 35 years of experience in operational law enforcement, training, logistical and support planning for private security companies, military and state police organizations, as well as 28 plus years conducting rifle, pistol and shotgun training, including Concealed Carry courses as an independent contractor with a private firearms academy in Alaska and as a former adjunct instructor at Blackwater Worldwide, Inc. Norm is an NRA instructor and holds the “NRA Distinguished Expert Pistol” rating. He is a member of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA) and is certified by the State of Indiana as an Emergency Medical Responder, the State of Illinois as a Certified Firearms Instructor, GLOCK Professional as a GLOCK Armorer, and FEMA as an Active Shooter Responder Trainer. Norm is Shodan, 1st Dan (Black Belt) in Hojutsu-Ryu (the Martial Art of Shooting).
Gary J. Glemboski
Sensei, Savannah, GA Dojo
Hanshi Glemboski has studied karate for over 45 years. Gary is currently a 9th dan black belt (Shihan) in Shorinken Karate, 3rd dan Hakko Ryu Ju Jitsu and 3rd dan in Hojutsu-Ryu. Hanshi Glemboski has won several grand championships and over 100 awards for fighting, kata, and weapons competition. A police officer for 40 years (24 years as a SWAT officer/Commander), he is also a certified law enforcement Defensive Tactics Instructor and has trained the presidential security personnel in Bogota, Columbia. He graduated from the Rogers Shooting School with certifications in both handgun and shotgun and has trained with many well-known martial artists and firearms instructors. He is an NRA certified instructor in handgun, shotgun and precision rifle and several other disciplines.
Jim Lentz
Jim attended the University of Cincinnati majoring in Criminal Justice. Jim served 6 years in the United States Marine Corps Reserves as a Military Policeman. Jim has 20 years’ experience in Martial Arts, Self-Defense and personal protection.
Jim is certified as an NRA Instructor, and has achieved the rank of Nidan in Kenpo Jui Jitsu. He is also a Shootfighting instructor, Hojutsu instructor, and women's self-defense lecturer.
Joe Mills
Joe attended the Columbus State University and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Management. Joe is a retired 18 year veteran of the Department of Justice, and was a member of the Special Operation Group for 8 years. Joe is also Purple Heart recipient.
Joe is an NRA pistol, rifle, and shotgun Instructor. Joe is also a certified Executive Protection Specialist and Women’s Self-Defense Instructor. He has earned the Rank of Shodan (1st degree black belt) in Hojutsu-Ryu, and studies Kenpo Jui Jutsu.
Kurt Fuhrmann
2nd Degree Black Belt Hojutsu-Ryu, 6th Degree Black Belt Taekwondo, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Certified Instructor, NRA Certified Pistol Instructor
Larry Walsh
Sensei, New Jersey Dojo
Retired Chief Inspector Conrail PD with twenty five years service. Duties included Armorer and Chief Firearms Instructor. Training: FBI Firearms Instructor, Smith & Wesson and Ruger Armorer, and NRA Police Firearms Instructor. Competitive shooting: PPC and Department Pistol Team. Current NRA Certified Pistol Instructor and Range Safety officer. Adjunct Professor at Montclair State University and former Director of Graduate Criminal Justice at Saint Joseph's University. Larry holds the rank of Shodan (1st degree black belt) in Hojutsu Ryu, and trains in Goju Ryu.