Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu or Ninjutsu is over 900 years old and is the original mixed martial art. One of the last true complete warrior arts, Budo Taijutsu incorporates strikes, kicks, grappling, and a myriad of weapons into one organic, intuitive system that utilizes timing, distance and flow in place of speed and strength. The Bujinkan USA Yamaneko (Mountain Cat) Dojo in Tucson was founded in 1990 by Shihan (Master) Jeffrey Prather and is the oldest, most authentic Ninja School in Arizona. Others may teach Bujinkan Budo in Arizona now, but originally they all studied with Prather Shihan. Prather Shihan started Budo in Chito-Ryu Karate-Do in 1967 under the late Dometrich Shihan. He earned his first black belt in 1975, also training with Dometrich Shihan's teacher Chitose-Soke, who in turn was trained by Soke Gichin Funakoshi, the father of modern karate-do. Prather Shihan was one his first students in 1980. In 1982 Prather Shihan met and trained under Bujinkan Soke (Grandmaster) Masaaki Hatsumi Soke during his first US visit. In 1984 Prather Shihan traveled to Noda, Japan where Soke Hatsumi made him his personal student. In those days there was no Hombu (headquarters) dojo nor gokugaijin deshi (foreign students). Prather Shihan also trained with the first non-Japanese Bujinkan student, Doron Novon. Prather Shihan stayed with Soke and the other Japanese Shihans' in their homes, and his classes back then were one on one. As ushi deshi (inside student) Prather Shihan has an intimate relationship with Hatsmi Soke that those who later followed in the hundreds will never experience. Hatsumi Soke has only trusted a very few senior Shihan to host his annual, worldwide Taikais (Grand Gathering) where six hundred students from throughout the US and world would gather to train with the Grand master. Now he no longer travels abroad. Prather Shihan has twice hosted Soke's USA Taikai, first in 1995 then in 1999. Prior to Taikais some of the Japanese Shihan would in turn stay in Prather Shihan's home. Shihan Prather has been inducted many times into the US Martial Arts Hall of Fame, as well the Shinja Martial Arts Hall of Fame, is published and featured in both U.S. and Japan’s most prestigious martial arts magazines, and his books and DVDs sell worldwide, and in past years were a staple in Army Air Force Exchange Stores. He has trained tens of thousands of US military, intelligence and police in combatives, sometimes as many as six hundred at once. Shihan Prather was awarded a second tenth dan rank by Soke Hatsumi in Shinkengata (real life combat) and has been awarded the prestigious Dragon Gold Medal by Soke twice. He was third in the US to receive Jugodan (15th degree black belt) rank from Soke. Hatsumi Soke has awarded Prather Shihan many times but none is perhaps more important than the one of a kind, Bujinden (Throne) Guardian Spirit menkyo to guard and preserve the true teachings of Bujinkan Budo!
