www.robertbussey.com
Robert Bussey was born in the summer of 1961. He began his martial arts training as a youngster growing up in Nebraska. By the time he reached High School, this young black belt prodegy was running multiple academies throughout the Midwest.
Using money he saved from teaching, Bussey made the first of what would become many treks to Asia. He became the first non-Korean man in history to earn a black belt in YongBiKwan Hapkido, a system dating back 28 generations.
In Japan, his skill level was instantly recognizable and he was awarded several black belts, some of which he respectfully declined (most notably by the great Mas Oyama of Kyokishinkai Karate). After searching out Masaaki Hatsumi, 34th Soke of Togakure Ryu, he began his journey in the Ninja arts, training exclusively with the Grand Master and other leading master teachers including Fumio Manaka, Shoto Tanemura, and Toshiro Nagato.
In 1980, Bussey pioneered the art to American audiences and by the mid 80’s was running the largest Ninja training facility in the world. His 10,000 square foot academy was the equivilant of a modern gym, complete with weight equipment, heavy bags, climbing ropes, hundreds of training weapons, and all the necessary mats and customized apparel. Bussey’s facility and his legendary Ninja summer camps drew people from all corners of the globe.
As his personal style evolved, he wrote numerous articles for magazines such as "Fighting Stars", "Inside Kung Fu", "SWAT", "Black Belt", "NINJA Magazine", and others. A deeply spiritual man, Bussey was guided by a personal code and questioned certain ancient traditions and techniques.
By rejecting the politics and false sense of security that was rampant in the arts, Bussey pioneered a new and progressive approach and became the poster boy for the contemporary American Ninja warrior.
