The Ely Dojo
The Ely Bujinkan dojo was established in the summer of 2009. Currently, the active membership is approximately 20 students with half of these having previous experience in Ninjutsu and/or other martial arts.
The club is fully equipped with training mats and weapons. The only thing a new student needs is some loose fitting clothing (normally a t-shirt & tracksuit bottoms). Anyone over the age of 15 is welcome, for those under 15 we would prefer to talk to their guardians before enrolment. Female students will be taught the kunoichi (female ninja) syllabus as well as the regular lessons.
No previous martial arts experience is required, although students of other arts are welcome.
Dojo Cho Rick Pridmore
The Ely Bujinkan dojo is run by Rick Pridmore. Rick has 15+ years experience in martial arts and is a personal student of Jake Sharpstone (Bujinkan Cambridge).
Jake Sharpstone
Shihan Jake Sharpstone 11th Dan has practiced Martial Arts since 1973, age 8. Starting with Judo, winning medals at championships. He received his Black belt in Judo from the world famous Joe Robinson at the Brighton Martial Art Centre in 1981.
Jake then studied Judo and various other martial arts until he discovered Grandmaster (Soke) Massaki’s Hatsumi’s Bujinkan Budo Tai-jutsu (Ninjutsu) from an Instructor in Brighton in 1989. He has trained constantly with the Bujinkan since, training every year with many top Shihan (Master instructors), from around the world and at most Tai-kai’s (international seminars run by Grandmaster Hatsumi) when they were taking place.
He first travelled to Japan in 1994, to train with Soke Hatsumi and the Japanese Shihan and has done so most years since.
In December 1995 Jake started the Bujinkan Cambridge Dojo, which runs weekly classes and organises international seminars.
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