Shihan Dante

Instructor’s Bio

Dante Dionne, PhD, is the senior instructor of the Bujinkan Seki Ryu Dojo (BJKNSR) and holds a Jū-godan (15th degree black belt a.k.a. fifth level 10th Dan), Kū-Gyō Happō Hiken Menkyo Kaiden (十段免許皆伝八法秘剣免許皆伝) full shidoshi teaching license (士道師免許皆伝) in Bujinkan Budo (武神館部度) issued by Soke Masaaki Hatsumi, Noda-shi, Chiba-ken, Japan.

Dante began his training in the martial arts in the 1970’s. Achieving a 1st degree black belt certification in Korean Tae Kwon Do and a Master teaching certificate in Golden Mantis Chi Gong by the age of 18. While teaching Chi Gong, Dante was introduced to Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi’s Togakury-Ryu Ninpo Taijutsu (1984), which was later re-organized as Bujinkan Budo. After years of training in dozens of combat arts, Dante felt that he finally found the teacher and art that resonated with his Budo spirit.

Dante trained under Shihan Peter Crocoll in Phoenix, AZ. (80’s-90’s) where he was first introduced to Soke Masaaki Hatsumi at the Los Angeles Tai Kai in 1988. In the mid-90’s, Dante took several years break (traveling musician & birth of sons), then resumed training under Shihan Andy Martin in Los Angeles, CA. (mid-00’s). Several years later, Dante was introduced to Shihan David Greenberg; whose generous guidance and playful spirit continues to provide much nourishment for Dante’s life-long passion for Budo.

After several years training under the tutelage of Shihan Greenberg, David returned to Israel and entrusted the continued dojo guidance to Dante. As senior instructor (dojo-cho) of Franklin Canyon Bujinkan under Dai Shihan Moti Nativ‘s international dojo family tree. Dante continues to regularly travel to Japan and abroad, to train with Soke Hatsumi, the Japanese Dai Shihan’s, and other chief instructors around the globe. In 2017, prior to escorting BujinkanFC students to Japan for direct training with Soke and the Dai Shihan’s, Griffith Park Bujinkan was established to provide members an additional location/day/time to train. Finally consolidating all training locations under Bujinkan Seki Ryu umbrella in 2020.

After over 30 years pursuing Dr. Hatsumi’s teachings for the sake of training, Dante came out of the shadows. To honor Hatsumi Sensei, and to share with the world, the great gift of joy and fulfillment that he has bestowed upon our many Buyu brothers and sisters across the globe.

As a complementary hobby, Dante began training prewar Kenjutsu (via Korea) in 2007 and holds the rank of 3rd degree black belt (Sandan) in Kendo. In earnest of cultivating and exercising a playful spirit, Dante enjoys travelling Internationally (Japan, Korea, and across the US) to compete in Kendo as a member of AUSKF, USKU, and SCKO Kendo federations.

Professionally, Dante holds a doctorate in social psychology with a specialization in organizational leadership. He is a global leader in technology innovation, an associate adjunct professor at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, and has served as and a visiting scholar at Tokyo University of Science, Vietnam National University and the Wentworth Institute of Technology.