“At Bujinkan Santa Monica, martial arts enthusiasts can embark on a
journey of deep study and self-discovery. Located in the heart of Santa
Monica, this training center has been offering traditional Bujinkan
Martial Arts from Japan since 2003. Immerse yourself in the wisdom of
ancient Samurai and Ninja fighting techniques, and uncover the secrets
of personal empowerment and physical transformation.”
Michael Glenn began Bujinkan training in 1988. He moved to Santa Monica in 2003 and founded Bujinkan Santa Monica. Hatsumi Sensei awarded him with Dai Shihan in 2017. I teach Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu as I have learned from my teacher Masaaki Hatsumi Sensei. My ninjutsu videos show what I learn in Japan during my trips to study with Soke Hatsumi and the Japanese Shihan. You might not know this, But Hatsumi Sensei teaches Bujinkan ninjutsu through kuden, or direct transmission from teacher to student. Bujinkan taijutsu includes the skills of daken taijutsu, jutaijutsu AKA jujutsu, taihenjutsu, bukijutsu (Bujinkan weapons and even ninja weapons), and of course 忍術 ninjutsu. When he founded the Bujinkan Hatsumi Sensei brought together 9 schools that he inherited: Togakure-ryū Ninpō Taijutsu; Gyokko ryū Kosshi jutsu; Kuki Shinden Happō Bikenjutsu; Koto Ryū Koppō jutsu; Shinden Fudo Ryū Dakentaijutsu; Takagi Yoshin Ryū Jūtai jutsu; Gikan Ryū Koppō jutsu; Gyokushin-ryū Ryū Ninpō; Kumogakure Ryū
Bujinkan Instructor
Michael Glenn is a well-regarded figure in the Bujinkan community, known for his extensive experience and dedication to the art. He began training in 1988 and holds the rank of 15th dan (judan ku level). Hatsumi Sensei made him a Daishihan in 2017. Glenn frequently travels to Japan, typically 3-4 times a year, to train directly with senior instructors such as Masaaki Hatsumi, the Bujinkan grandmaster, and other prominent teachers like Nagato Sensei and Furuta Sensei[1][5][7].
He is recognized for his teaching abilities, having conducted seminars internationally, including in places like Québec, Reykjavík, Chicago, West Palm Beach, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. His seminars often cover advanced Bujinkan topics such as kamae, kyojitsu, mutō dori, and weapon techniques. Participants describe him as knowledgeable and engaging, with a focus on sharing insights from his training in Japan[3][6].
Glenn’s blog posts and writings reflect his deep understanding of Bujinkan principles and his commitment to exploring its subtleties. He emphasizes concepts like control through connection, the idea of “zero-style,” and the importance of discovering techniques personally rather than relying solely on instruction[2][3]. In online forums, he is mentioned positively for his dedication to training and his enthusiasm for sharing knowledge[4][8].
Sources
[1] Bujinkan Santa Monica https://bujinkansantamonica.blogspot.com
[2] Bujinkan Strategies of Control Part 7: 中心 chuushin https://bujinkangard.wordpress.com/2017/10/09/bujinkan-strategies-of-control-part-7-%E4%B8%AD%E5%BF%83-chuushin/
[3] What Happened During Michael Glenn’s Bujinkan Seminar in … https://bujinkansantamonica.blogspot.com/2019/08/what-happened-during-michael-glenns.html
[4] r/Bujinkan – Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/Bujinkan/
[5] BUJINKAN SANTA MONICA – Updated February 2025 – Martial Arts https://www.yelp.com/biz/bujinkan-santa-monica-santa-monica
[6] What Happened at the Michael Glenn Bujinkan Seminar in Florida? https://bujinkansantamonica.blogspot.com/2014/07/what-happened-at-michael-glenn-bujinkan.html
[7] Bujinkan Santa Monica | Welcome https://www.arizonabujinkan.com/santamonica/about.html
[8] Last Month with Nagato Sensei : r/Bujinkan – Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/Bujinkan/comments/1i7p7bu/last_month_with_nagato_sensei/