PLIMSHOF Inductee #27
Grandmaster Richard Van Donk
Who is Grandmaster Richard Van Donk?
Grandmaster Richard Van Donk was born in Stockton, California on July 15, 1950. Warrior names: Kofukuryu (Happy Dragon) and Kintora (Golden Tiger.)
Grandmaster Richard J. Van Donk is the founder of Bushindo Martial Arts System and its developing Enlightened Living University. He is also the director of the American Bujinkan Ninjutsu Dojos with affiliations worldwide with its International Hombu Dojo residing in northern California, USA. His mission is developing warriors with heart and a peaceful joyous world.
He is married to his lovely wife, Linda, a 7th dan (master level) in Bushindo and in Bujinkan Ninjutsu (granted by Soke Hatsumi). She is the current president of Bushindo.
MARTIAL ARTS EXPERIENCE
Richard feels very privileged to have been a close personal student of 3 well-respected Grandmasters over the last 35 years. His martial arts journey and quest for knowledge has taken him worldwide with 25 trips just to Japan for training.
Ninjutsu- Master Van Donk is one of the highest-ranking Bujinkan Ninjutsu Instructors outside of Japan receiving (12th dan menkyo shihan shidoshi) directly from Grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi, of whom Richard is a direct personal student.
Van Donk has received the Golden Dragon award, the arts highest honor.
Van Donk was instrumental in codifying the nine ninja systems into a structured curriculum for Ninjutsu students to follow worldwide.
Eskrima - Inheriting Grandmaster of DeCuerdas Eskrima from the late Grandmaster Gilbert Tenio. Richard began his Eskrima studies in 1981 studying the DeCuerdas, Cabales Serrada, Largo Mano, Doce Padres, etc. Eskrima systems mostly from Grandmaster Tenio also granted him the rare title of Prof. (Master) in DeCuerdas Eskrima.
Iaido, BattoJutsu - Richard is the Senior Shihan outside of Japan for the Enbukan schools of Grandmaster Machida which include Takeda Aikido, Enshin Iaido and several Battojutsu schools.
Richard is the highest ranking non-Japanese student of Ten Shin Ryu Iaijutsu. He also holds Black Belt levels or above Jujitsu, Aikijutsu, Karate, Tae Kwon Do, and Aikido.
Several Grandmasters who have witnessed his martial arts personally say that Grandmaster Van Donk has the most incredible flow and precision of technique they have ever seen.
The American Bujinkan Dojo™ and Bushindo University™ have been founded to further his martial arts teachings around the world and to provide students an unbroken transmission of “Ancient Arts for Modern Times”.
Richard has developed and produced over 25 videos and books on Martial Arts, Life Enhancement and Spiritual Development.
Master Van Donk is dedicated to achieving World Peace and inspiring personal transformation for every individual in our world family.
Member of the prestigious WHFC World Head Of Family Sokeship Council, in Sept 1996 he was awarded Grandmaster of the Year. Grandmaster Van Donk is profiled in Who’s Who in Martial Arts, World’s Most Elite Martial Arts, and Who’s Who in America publications.
