I was searching over the internet some information about ninpo, and I discovered a ninjutsu instructor called Shannon Kawika Phelps, the Headmaster of the Temple of the Full Autumn Moon in San Diego. You can find more information about him and his dojo here - http://www.tfam.com/headmaster/index.htm ; does anyone know somethign about this ninjutsu instructor?

"...A 10th degree black belt in the Japanese family art of Shorinjin Ryu Saito Ninjitsu, Kawika Sensei is the only non-Saito in the 1,000-year history of this art to be granted the rank of Saito Ninjitsu Master..."

My only thought was related to the photo of him and Soke Hatsumi on his Bio page, so I wonder if what he is teaching has anything to do with the Bujinkan system?

I had to deal with this guy when I was in San Diego. So far no connection with Sensei. He was here once in Japan but the appearance was quite embarrassing. Don't want to go into too much detail, but he is one to avoid. I know people who have verifed his existence on Navy Seal teams but the rep is not good.

That's all. Avoid the weirdos.

Cheers

Others may be able to tell you more about this guy and his Ryu. If I remember correctly he claims that the secret weapon of this ryu is a Katana size Naginata type weapon.I don't think he has any connection to the Bujinkan but has met Soke on at least once by the photo. I belive he is from Hawaii and i think there have been threads on Kutaki about him before , so it might be worth a search.

Have a look on e-budo (snort, chuckle, guffaw)... much to see there.

GV

If it appeals to you, you should go study it. :)

Me personally. I am holding out for Sinnanju.

Spotting the fake ninpo instructors is easier than finding Wally (or Waldo, if you're a yankee)

Eric said,"Me personally. I am holding out for Sinnanju."

Sinanju as you all know is where all the other arts came from and of course they can not hold candle to it. To visit the "sunsource" of all martial arts, go here:http://sinanju.com/
Barry

Thanks Red...


OMG!!!

I looked on E-budo and spent four hours.. reading laughing at the contents, i was hooked in disbelief but i noticed a theme in all the sites of the 23yr old sokes etc. they were all the same. The all had unrealistic claims ie 24 blackbelts in 10years etc even one who had been training for four months and teaching for two months!!

I'm sure these sites are set up as jokes to enrage/ attention seek from the budo community and i'm sure they read with gleem the response they get on the BB's.

On the other hand it all could be true... maybe the dark side is the quick and easy path...........LOL

Gary

His lineage page list Bow Sim Mark as one of his teachers. She's a pretty well known teacher in the Chinese martial arts world. How did this guy get to train with her? I wonder how she feels being connected with some rather questionable martial art content.

Well its not his Chinese martial arts that are in question. I have actually met Mr. Phelps and he was a very nice person. He sat down and spent a while talking with me and had very positive things to say about the Bujinkan. He encouraged me to continue training in the Bujinkan by saying that I was already training in something that was quite a gem. I am not supporting the validity of his "ninjitsu", as this is indeed questionable. However I do not feel this is any reason to slander him as a person. All in all he was a pretty nice guy and an accomplished martial artist at least in the Chinese traditions he studies.

Thanks,

Alex Bushman