Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Ochester.
Hi Jeff, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
The Dayton Bujinkan Dojo martial arts school, located in Dayton, Ohio, traces its roots to Moraine and a dedication to Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu martial arts from Japan. The Bujinkan, or “Warrior Spirit Hall,” is led by Masaaki Hatsumi Soke of Noda City, Japan, and draws from nine historical martial traditions. The practice focuses on natural movement, striking, joint locks, and weapons, with an emphasis on developing adaptability and self-protection skills based on sound, fundamental techniques.
The Dayton Bujinkan Dojo officially opened on November 3, 1997, but its instructors began training earlier. Senior instructors, including Jeff Ochester, started training as early as 1992 under Bujinkan instructors Kurt Rittenhouse and Dan Klug, who trained extensively in Japan with Grandmaster Hatsumi Soke and other high-ranking Japanese teachers. In 1997, a group of students from Dayton started a training group in a small, 460 square foot facility in Kettering, south of Dayton. Since then and due to a growing student membership, the dojo expanded in size and relocated five times.
The Dayton Bujinkan Dojo Martial Arts School moved to its current location in 2016 at 3180 Kettering Blvd, Moraine, Ohio 45439 USA. The current facility features 9,200 square feet of space, over 107 tatami training mats, a 30-mat yoga room, a striking room, a kitchenette, and changing rooms for members. The Dojo has roughly 70 active members and has held numerous events and workshops for guest instructors, including hosting a large event in Dayton in 2021 that drew over 370 attendees.
With over nine volunteer instructors, including Jeff Ochester, David VandenBos, Marty Dunsky, and Pam Dunsky, the Dayton Bujinkan Dojo continues to train students in the core tenets of Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu. Students and instructors regularly travel to Japan to train with senior Japanese instructors and share these experiences in Dayton. The Dayton Bujinkan Dojo’s core goal is to better its members and the surrounding community. It achieves this by studying Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu to improve essential personal attributes like discipline, respect, responsibility, and focus.The Dayton Bujinkan Dojo Martial Arts School is a private facility but accepts inquiries year-round for its martial arts training programs for adults and young adults. More information is available at www.daytonbujinkan.com.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
A core principle of the Bujinkan martial art is the concept of “just keep going.” This idea is rooted in the understanding that change is inevitable and should not be a surprise. Over the years, the Dayton Bujinkan Dojo has faced various challenges, including space limitations, instructor availability issues, health impacts, and time constraints. These are natural elements of life. By embracing the mindset of “just keep going,” practitioners learn to move with the flow of things, especially when training becomes difficult or the path is not smooth. This perspective ultimately strengthens discipline, adaptability, and resilience, helping members become better, more contributing members of the community.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Dayton Bujinkan Dojo Martial Arts School?
The Dayton Bujinkan Dojo Martial Arts School stands apart in Dayton, Ohio, due to its unique combination of traditional Japanese martial art, world-class facilities, and volunteer dedication. The school is one of the few places in the region that teaches Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu, an integrated system drawing from nine distinct ancient lineages, which emphasizes natural movement, weapons proficiency, and principle-driven self-protection, focusing on non-competitive mastery of the body and mind. Furthermore, the school’s strength comes from its staff: all instructors and staff are volunteers who maintain their own fulltime careers outside of the Dojo. The Dayton Bujinkan Dojo exists not as a commercial venture, but is instead fueled by the collective passion for this martial art, the discipline required for rigorous training, and a sincere desire to better the community through the tenets of the Bujinkan. This unique structure enables the Dojo to operate a 9,200 square foot facility and regularly host major international events, providing students with an authentic connection to the art’s Japanese Grandmaster, Masaaki Hatsumi Soke, and his senior teachers.
What does success mean to you?
Studying Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu defines success not merely by physical achievement, but through the confidence built by consistently persistent study. The art’s focus on non-competitive, long-term personal refinement means that true confidence emerges from the continuous application of effort and the realization of one’s own progress. By faithfully showing up, grappling with difficult techniques, and embodying the “just keep going” principle, practitioners develop a deep, quiet self-assurance that their capabilities are rooted in disciplined, persistent action—a confidence that extends far beyond the training mats and into all aspects of life.
Pricing:
- $90 a month for adults
- $62 a month for young adults
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.daytonbujinkan.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daytonbujinkandojo/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaytonBujinkan
