Roy Wilkinson, Chief Instructor
Roy Wilkinson has been training in Bujinkan Ninpo Taijutsu for 44 years, and is one of the Bujinkan’s most senior Master Instructors outside of Japan. He began as a student of Bud Malmstrom’s at the Bujinkan Atlanta Dojo, and continued to train with Bud, as well as other Master Teachers from Japan and elsewhere, including the Grandmaster of the art, Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi. When Mr. Malmstrom retired from active teaching, he passed on the responsibility for the training in Atlanta to Mr. Wilkinson. He is honored to have been entrusted with this responsibility and is proud to carry on the tradition of the first authentic ninjutsu school in the Western Hemisphere.
After ten years in the art, Mr. Wilkinson took and passed the sakki test for Godan (5th degree black belt) and was awarded the title of Shidoshi (Teacher of the Warrior Ways of Enlightenment) by the Grandmaster. He currently holds the rank of Judan Kugyo (15th degree black belt) and is the Chief Instructor for the Atlanta Bujinkan Dojo. He is also one of a limited number of recipients of the prestigious Bujinkan Gold Medal, awarded personally by the Grandmaster, for his outstanding contributions to the art, and was one of the first few recipients of the even rarer ‘Shin Gi Tai’ award, formally presented by Grandmaster Hatsumi in Japan in 2011. He was twice awarded ‘Yu Shu Shihan’ status, and has been designated ‘Dai Shihan’, or ‘grand master instructor’, by Hatsumi Soke.
Mr. Wilkinson has given numerous seminars around the United States and Europe over the years, both within the Bujinkan and other martial systems, and continues to teach and train regularly at the Atlanta Bujinkan Dojo. Roy is known for having a wealth of knowledge, skill, and experience that’s hard to match for quality and effectiveness, and for the powerful heart and spirit that he brings to the art. He has trained current and former law enforcement, security, and military personnel, in addition to civilians from all walks of life. Roy has presented self-protection and women’s self-defense programs for both professional and collegiate audiences. He has appeared in several European and American martial arts magazines, and has been interviewed for a national television special on ninjutsu. He was also featured in the groundbreaking documentary on ninjutsu, Heart, Sword, Perseverance.
Justin Felker, Instructor
Justin Felker has been training in the Bujinkan for 30+ years. Justin began his martial arts experience as a student of the Bujinkan Atlanta Dojo. Justin currently holds the rank of Hachidan (8th degree black belt) and provides assistance in instructing new and advanced students alike at the dojo. Justin has trained with senior instructors in Japan and continues to further his training by attending various training groups and seminars hosted by Instructors from around the country.
David Clifford, Instructor
David Clifford holds the rank of Godan (5th degree black belt) and began studying taijutsu in October 1994. David took leave from the dojo in 2002 to serve in US Army Special Forces and then transitioned in 2007 into Department of State High Threat Diplomatic Protection until his departure from the field in 2017. During his time away, he still attended the dojo when his schedule permitted, although limited. Now that he has returned permanently to the Atlanta area, his focus is again on the core fundamentals of taijutsu and brings with him a willingness to share his 15 years of recent tactical experience from high threat environments.
Gary Cavender, Instructor
Gary has studied a variety of martial arts since the 1970s. He started training in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu in 2004 and currently holds the rank of Godan (5th degree black belt). Gary has a military and police background including special operations training, counter terrorism/hostage rescue, S.W.A.T., K-9 and executive protection. Gary is currently retired from a major metropolitan police department where he supervised the protective services and security operations for government facilities and employees. Other areas of interest include playing music, art, philosophy, and outdoor/survival skills.
John Rusca, Instructor
John was first introduced to the Bujinkan in 1984 as one of the original youth class members in the Atlanta dojo. In 1986 John graduated from high school, left for college, and was then employed out-of-state. In 1998, having returned to Atlanta, John rejoined the Bujinkan. Upon Bud Malmstrom’s retirement from commercial training, Roy Wilkinson accepted John as his student. John currently holds the rank of Yondan (4th degree black belt).
Alex Jerrold, Instructor
Alex started training in martial arts at the age of five in karate. He instructed karate for several years and as a teenager he trained in the Bujinkan out of Virginia. Alex took time off for college and kids and returned to the Bujinkan at the Atlanta Bujinkan Dojo, starting over, in 2018. Alex holds the rank of Shodan (1st degree black belt). Information Technology is Alex’s profession and personally he loves to camp, hike, read, and spend time with his wife and kids.
Emeritus Instructors
Tom Reilly, Instructor
Tom Reilly has been training since 1999, and is currently a Godan (5th degree black belt). He has trained in Japan as well as dojo around the southeast. He has participated in TaiKai in Japan and Atlanta, and in Atlanta, he was both a student and a staff member. Tom has a military background and has held certifications as an Emergency Medical Technician 1 and Life Guard. Additionally, Tom has provided executive security during national events, held in the Atlanta area. Tom’s other interests include Alpine Mountaineering, Hiking and most things outdoors.
Bret McKee, Instructor
Bret McKee has been training off and on for about 16 years, and currently holds the rank of Yondan (4th degree black belt). He has trained in Japan, Germany and at various schools in the US. Bret studied German at Georgia State University, and afterwards was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to teach English in Germany. He currently works in the film / television industry as a set dresser. In Sept 2011, Bret began working with the Stadtstheater in Konstanz, Germany, to learn costume and stage design for German theater. Bret is also a Certified Technical Tree Climbing Instructor. His other hobbies include drawing, painting, photography, digital art, music, reading philosophy and psychology.
Paul Phillips, Instructor
Paul Phillips began his training in the spring of 1995 at the Bujinkan Atlanta Dojo under Bud Malmstrom. Following a 5 year hiatus, he returned to the Atlanta Bujinkan Dojo in January 2003 under Roy Wilkinson, and has been studying consistently since. He currently holds the rank of Yondan (4th degree black belt). By day, Paul works in the Information Technology industry as a Business Analyst and Technical Writer, focusing on process analysis and process improvement. He enjoys all things outdoors and is an avid hunter, camper, hiker, and backpacker.
Dan Peter, Instructor
Dan started training in taijutsu in 2013 and currently holds the rank of Yondan (4th degree black belt). He had previously studied Hapkido for a short time as a college student but left his martial arts studies for a number of years before finding the Bujinkan. When not training, Dan is a Sr. Analyst for a local capital management firm. Outside of his professional work, he enjoys training in both urban and wilderness survival, hiking, woodworking, and non-fiction literature.
David Quinn, Instructor
David has been involved with the martial arts since his adolescent years. He studied Taekwondo, Boxing and Hwarangdo before finding the Bujinkan. He has been involved with the Bujinkan for over 10 years and currently holds the rank of Shodan (1st degree black belt). When not at the dojo, David works in the finance industry for a big 4 accounting firm, specializing in the telecom industries. His other hobbies include science fiction, gadgets, video games and kettlebells.
Louie Dang, Instructor
Louie has been training at the Atlanta Bujinkan Dojo for over 5 years. He previously studied Kung Fu before finding the Bujinkan. Professionally, Louie is an engineer with an international firm. He currently holds the rank of Shodan (1st degree black belt).
Nisah Mohammed, Instructor
Nisah has been a member of the Atlanta Bujinkan Dojo for over 5 years. She currently holds the rank of Shodan (1st degree black belt). Nisah has in the past studied Tae Kwon Do and Kung Fu before coming to the Bujinkan. When not training, she works in the medical field as a Doctor in Physical Therapy.
