Shihan Alfredo Castan

 

 

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“Mystical Guardians of the Divine Warrior Traditions”

 

“A river flows gently through the riverbed; neither shall we force the course of our lives”

Soke Hatsumi Masaaki

 

Tengu Verse 

We are Bujinkan Tengu

Of Hatsumi’s Dojo!

Mystical Guardians of the Divine Warrior Traditions

We Honour this

To enlighten our Souls by observing the Universal Laws

And continue our Mission

In our Quest for Peace and Development

May the Martial winds from ages past will guide us in our path

 Nin Sei Shin Jihi no Kokoro

Shiking Haratmitsu Daikomyo

Ninpo Ikkan!!

 

Alfredo Castan, Shihan

  

Dr Masaaki Hatsumi is the supreme Master and head of the Bujinkan Dojo or “Divine Warrior Sacred place of Enlightenment” and the nine Japanese warrior traditions that forms the Bujinkan System.

Trained in these warrior traditions by his own teacher Toshitsugu Takamatsu who in return had learned from his teachers Shinryuken Masamitsu Toda and Takakage Matsutaro Ishitani.

Hatsumi Sensei is the sole heir to these ancient arts and as such, is responsible to ensure that they live on in future generations.

 The techniques methods and philosophy that makes up the complete training program of The Bujinkan Tengu Dojo, and licences from from Dr Hatsumis’s Bujinkan Hombu Dojo Japan, have been handed down through the ages by the nine Japanese historical warrior traditions, and are as valid, viable and pragmatic today as when they were used as methods of survival by the Shinobi Warriors of ancient Japan.

The Bujinkan Tengu Dojo is headed by his Shihan (Master) Alfredo Castan.

 At barely 9 years of age, young Alfredo underwent a terrifying life and death experience, where he found himself abducted and taken away with knife at throat, surely this madman would have easily dispose of a little boy once he gotten what he wanted. Fortunately for Alfredo, his captor eased the knife pressure while trying to carry out a despicable act on him. Alfredo managed to push him away and run for his life! This episode triggered a chain of events that would shape and change Alfredo life’s for ever.

 Although Alfredo had escaped physically intact, he wandered how many other children might not have made it, in his mind he felt as he had let himself and his parents down as he was unable to defend, never mind overcome such a monster, and prevent him from harming others. Alfredo vowed that something like that will never happen to him again or anyone else for that matter, if he could help it, he felt such a shame, that he never told a soul about the incident until the year 2000 age 36, when he achieved Mastership of the true Warrior Traditions.

 Thereby since 1971 and in the quest for excellence and development through the Martial ways, Alfredo searched and seek out for the best instructors he could find, in many cases world champions such as Miguel Angel Palomares, Antonio Oliva, regardless of Martial Art Style. He practiced Judo, Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Boxing, Ju-Jutsu, and full-contact, becoming himself and instructor in 1984 and achieving 1^st to 4^th Dan Degree in these arts, and even entering competitions where he successfully gain first places, and realising that trophies and medals are just superfluous items that effectively feed ones ego, but rarely enriches ones soul, short lived phases of the learning process that even might provide temporary status, or good for fun. Survival is a different matter.

  At age 19 he joined the Army, as a result from his self-defence training, he was allocated as Combat Instructor in his Military base, from this he was also placed into the Military Police, and further to that he was positioned within the Security and Counter Terrorism Section of the Military Police, where he was a personal bodyguard for the Military Region’s Commander Officer. He carried out his duties and did the “job” as required, protecting Military Commanders against terrorist organisations such as E.T.A.

Alfredo also saw Military action in more than one occasion for instance when a North African country attempted to take over Afar national territory islands.

  In 1986 he was given the opportunity to become a student of the original Warrior Traditions of Japan, for Alfredo, given the chance to learn the ultimate warrior system where all Martial Arts from Japan originated, under the guidance of Dr Massaki Hatsumi Soke, was his life’s greatest honour.

  Alfredo continuously travelled overseas and far to be able to study with Soke Hatsumi and Masters which also became friends, such as Pedro Fleitas, Pedro Gomez, Svenerik Bogsater, Peter King, Arnoud Conserge, Julio Toribio. He also trained with other instructors such as Brian Mcarthy, David Evans, and others, enabling him to gain a wide vision of who  was or wasn’t real and gaining the knowledge to distinguish between the true and untrue warriors.

 Alfredo was granted the rank of Shidoshi teacher of the warrior traditions (or that one who guides the path of a warrior) in 1995 directly from Soke Masaaki Hatsumi, after successfully passing the historical Shinobi test known as “Sakki” .

At that time there were just some 400 people with equal rank world-wide.

 Alfredo continued his studies in Budo, and although being trained up to management level in his father business, he would work in any skilled or un-skilled position that would provide him with enough cash to be able to do so. 

He had opportunity to apply contemporary Ninjutsu while working within the field of Rescue-Fire fighting, Security, and Close Protection for a variety of customers and personalities such as Jack Nicholson and Naomi Campbell and members of the Saudi Royal Family such as Princess Fatima, Prince Fahat and King Abdula.

 A variety crossed section of society’s people had obtain direct Taijutsu (un-armed combat methods of Shinobi) training from Alfredo Shidoshi, including Security Personnel, Bodyguards, and Police instructors such as Don Pennel from Runcorn, thus enabling them to carry out their duties in a more efficient manner, in fact Taijutsu is the official self-defence and restriction methods system adopted for national security and military organisation, such as the S.A.S and Police, by not only the Home Office in Great Britain, but by other Governments and international organisations such as the F.B.I and Delta Force in United States, to mention a few.

 Of course there will always be members or even instructors within some of these organisations that either are not aware that what they are actually training is Taijutsu or they don’t know where it comes from or they wont admit that Taijutsu is actually just a part of Ninjutsu, however, also many Government organisations have showed their appreciation directly to Soke Hatsumi via letters, documents and plaques.

 Under the Alfredo’s guidance, many students have overcome the test of truth or “Sakki” themselves and become teachers of the Warrior Ways on their own right. Alfredo considered himself fortunate and honoured to have met and told Ninjutsu to excellent human beings, and now magnificent teachers and true friends such as Ross Brinsden, Ian Piggot, Rangsan Nawin, and Matthew Fisher, also students such as Dr Zulfakir and Paul Shambrook (Director Manchester Business Consortium), or H. Gibson, director of 22-11 Security Services, Dan Foxley (Puma Electronic Security), and associates such as Councillor Bernard Edwards or Councillor John Turner, both held Town Council Chairman positions (Mayor).

 Many of Alfredo’s students have gone on to serve this country by joining the police, the Army or the Air Force and have been or are now on duty protecting our way of life, Democracy and freedom in overseas countries such as Iraq.

The list of friends and students made thanks to Budo through the years not only in this country but abroad, is truly magnificent.

  In the year 2000, at the Holland Tai-Kai, Alfredos’ brother David, also overcome the test of truth, and became Shidoshi, but what it’s significant about David’s is that he was to be the number one thousand Shidoshi, marking the end of a period in the history of Ninjutsu, and the beginning of a new phase, unknown to us, Soke Hatsumi had fulfilled his intention to insure the survival of the warrior traditions in future generations.

As to commemorate this, Soke gave David the Golden Medal of the Tengu Warrior and a poem written by Hatsumi himself.

 Alfredo felt greatly proud and grateful of have served as an instrument for his own brother that finally brought this event to take place. From that day all Bujinkan Castan Dojo were renamed Bujinkan Tengu Dojo “Mystical Guardians of the Divine Warrior Traditions” in honour of such notorious event.

 Now, almost half a century on this planet and 36 years since the beginning of his training, Alfredo still continues his path in Budo, teaching and never stops learning with balance determination, inspiring the members of his clan to achieve enlightement, development and distinction in everything they do, and bettering themselves rather than trying to be “better” than someone else, thus achieving Excellency as human beings.

 (Documents of all the above mentioned exists and can be viewed on request)

 

 

Tengu Dojo Declaration

 

Being called a Ninja is a great Honour, like being called a great Samurai, one who seeks peace and enlightenment, not violence.

 Learning to attain this Sei Shin “the eyes and mind of God” is essential to becoming a true Shinobi.

 

We (I) therefore pledge to uphold the spirit of true Budo and never use the skills against another human being except for defence of myself, family, friends or a victim (specially children) in the instance of extreme danger or unprovoked attack, or in support of justice and honour.

 We (I) vow to uphold the historical Shinobi code of morals and just behaviour that apply not only to the fighting and military aspects, but to everyday life.

 We (I) shall foster the virtues of bravery and trustworthiness, loyalty to my clan My Soke and my Shihan.

 We (I) shall be fair minded, exposed to different ways of thinking and to the customs of different types of people.

 We (I) shall also be a person of virtue and commitment, willing to defend justice with self ness and without fear of death.

 We (I) shall not engage in petty arguments or have double standarts.

 We (I) shall understand the spirit of true Budo, and be the perfect fentleman, kind-hearted, understanding and devoting to my trining.

 We (I) shall honour my teachers, parents and elderly.

 We (I) shall earn my living honestly.

 We (I) shall express gratitude to all living creatures.

 We (I) shall uphold these codes on my honour.

 

Ninpo Ikkan.

 

 

May I include here a beautiful poem written by Bujinkan Bufu Andrew Thomas (Bujinkan Martial Arts friend)

 

My parents are the Heaven and earth.
My home is my body.
My power is my loyalty.
My magic is my training.
My life and my death are breathing.
My body is control.
My eyes are the sun and the moon.
My ears are sensitivity.
My laws are self protection.
My strength is adaptability.
My ambition is taking every opportunity with fullness.
My friend is my mind.
My enemy is carelessness.
My protection is right action.
My weapons are everything that exists.
My strategy is one foot in front of the other.
My way is Ninjutsu

Live Well and Love life

Tengu Dojo

2008

Shidoshi Ross Brinsden

 

 

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Shidoshi-Ho Ian Piggott Yondan

 

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Shidoshi-Ho Matt Fisher Sandan

 

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I began studying Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu under Shihan Alfredo Castan at the age of 13.  Before that i had tried other systems such as Taekwondo and a little Judo.  For me these other systems were fantastic and looked great, but i felt there was something missing.  Eventually I left these martial arts clubs in search of one that felt right for me.  Thankfully my brother introduced me to a martial art that i had never heard of before, Ninjutsu.  From my first session i was hooked, this art had it all for me, History, Philosophy, Kata, Weapons, Discipline and real life applications of all of these.

At the age of around 16 i was given the honour of opening up a new Dojo, aided by the other well experienced instructors in the Dojo.  Many years of training later i can now pass on my knowledge to new Budo enthusiasts in search of a Martial Art that isn't about about competition, but rather gaining the tools you need to survive any confrontation.