Paul Richardson - Shidoshi

Joined The Bujinkan: 3rd November 1985

Current Dojo: Bujinkan Lincoln Dojo

Current Rank: Shidoshi

Previous Instructors: Danny Redden (BBD Nottingham)1985 -1991, Sven Eric Brogsater, Peter King

Brief Biography:

I started training under Danny Redden (he was a 7th Kyu at the time) in Nottingham on 3rd November 1985. At that time I was studying Aikido. Each week I would travel with one other from Lincoln. The Nottingham Dojo was a member of Bo Munthe's European Bujinkan Ninjutsu Society, this organisation later broke up and our dojo remained under Brian McCarthy in the Bujinkan Brian Dojo (BBD). After myself and my firend recieved 9th Kyu in 1986 he stopped traiing. In early 1991 I was asked by Danny to open a Dojo in Lincoln. The Bujinkan Lincoln Dojo was established in 12th April 1991, when I was only a 2nd Kyu. Previous to that there was limited Bujinkan training in Lincoln - all arranged by myself. From 1985 to 1991 apart from about 5 others in the city I was the only Bujinkan member in the city of Lincoln for several years (the others lasted no more than a few weeks to a few months). Since 1991, I have overseen all Bujinkan training in our Dojo. IN August 1991 I left the BBD and moved to the mainstream Bujinkan.

I attended the Swedish Taikai in August 1991. While there I receiving my 1st Dan and Shidoshi-ho from Peter King. Upon returning to the UK I left the BBD to train under the mainstream Bujinkan (Sven Eric Brogsatar and Peter King), I also attended the 1991 UK Taikai the following week. In 1992 I received my 2nd Dan after returning from the Luxembourg Taikai, also attending the Swedish Taikai in 1992 and received 3rd dan a week later at the UK Taikai.

At this time I was studying under several instructors such as Peter King, Sven Eric Brogsater, Chris Roworth, Dave Heald, and Keith Porter.

In 1993 I was asked to visit Germany to teach. Since that time I have now visited 25 times seminars in several cities in Germany. It was also during 1993 I released my history book on the schools of the Bujinkan Dojo.

1994 I attended the UK Taikai and passed my 5th Dan. Read about my test here I also visted the USA training in New York.

2000 saw Neil Richardson and myself join a small group of black belts that Graham Ramsden chief instructor at the Bujinkan Butoku Dojo (Manchester) had formed to demonstrate at the Japan festival which was held in the Millennium Dome in London (Demo in the Dome). Neil and I did some of the Takagi Yoshin Ryu - Omote Gata

2001 I received my 8th Dan. October 2001 I taught at the Missouri Bujinkan Dojo USA.

Since 1993 - 2007 I have taught as many as 60 seminars in the UK, Slovenia, USA, Germany, Sweden and South Africa. At least 70% of these have been outside of the UK.

2006 promoted to 10th Dan

2007 I taught my first seminar in South Africa and during March 07 while teaching in California USA I recieved an award for 'Outstanding IBDA contributions' from the IBDA (USA)

2008. This was my 2nd Visit to Prague in the Czech Republic but the first time that I have taught a seminar there. Other overseas trips include teaching a seminar in Estonia and also going to Japan to train with Soke and the shihan.

Currently working on a Japanese history book, working title is 'Sengakuji and the Chushingura'. The book on Bujinkan Kihon Gata has been postponed while this project is finalised.

email Paul Richardson