HANS INGEBRETSEN BIOGRAPHY

Sensei Ingebretsen has been practicing martial art since 1974, and holds the rank of rokudan (sixth degree black belt) in both Danzan Ryu Ju Jitsu (through Kilohana Martial Arts Association) and Kenpo Karate (through the American Jujitsu Institute). He is ranked Hapa Lima Kekele’ele’ele (fifth degree black belt) in the Kaihewalu family lua system, and is a kumu lua (instructor) of the art. Hans also has the rank of godan (fifth degree black belt) in Ken Ju Ryu Kenpo Ju Jitsu, received from Shihan Russ Rhodes, founder of the Ken Ju Ryu System. Hans is recognized as godan in the Pacific Jujitsu Alliance, and as rokudan in the Hawaii Martial Arts Society. He has received an instructor's certificate in Inayan Kadena de Mano Escrima from Suro Jason Inay, the head of the Inayan System of eskrima, and also has a sandan (third degree black belt) in Kodokan Judo. In 1993 he was awarded a Renshi grade teaching license in Danzan Ryu by Professor Sig Kufferath, the Headmaster of the system, with whom he trained for 14 years. He is the president and one of the founders of Kilohana Martial Arts Association, and served for 11 years as vice president of Kilohana. Through his martial arts marketing business, Zanshin Enterprises, Hans promotes many seminars and tournaments. A former member of the San Jose State varsity judo squad, as well as other teams, he now coaches his own judo team, and is also active in promoting sport ju jitsu competitions. His own tournament, the Mokomoko Invitational, has been held annually since 2003, and includes competition in karate, ju jitsu and eskrima. Hans is a certified instructor in Danzan Ryu Ju Jitsu, Ken Ju Ryu Kenpo Ju Jitsu, Kodokan Judo, Kenpo Karate, Hawiian Lua and Inayan Kadena De Mano Eskrima.

Hans began his training in judo and ju jitsu in 1974 under Sensei Ben Patterson at College of the Redwoods in Eureka, California. He continued his ju jitsu training with Sensei Ed Peterson in Eureka, then with Sensei Dale Kahoun in Eureka, Crescent City, Campbell, Aptos, and Santa Cruz. He also trained for many years with Shihan Bill Montero and Sensei Brian Fitzgerald at the Pacific Judo Academy in San Jose. He studied for 14 years under Professor Sig Kufferath, the inheritor of the Danzan Ryu system, first at the Pacific Coast Self Defense Institute, then at the Pacific Coast Academy of Martial Arts. His judo coaches have included Sensei Dale Kahoun, Sensei Lonnie Honda, Sensei Jim Pennington, Sensei Charlie Robinson and Sensei Dave Long, and he also learned judo from Sensei Mike Swain (world champion) and Sensei Kevin Asano (Olympic silver medalist), his team captains while on the San Jose State judo team. Karate instructors include Shihan Russ Rhodes (Kenpo), Sensei Chris Beere (Shotokan), and Sensei Mark Milstead (Kenpo). He learned Aikido from Sensei Richard Koahilli and is ranked kiri gami in Kashima Shin Ryu Kenjitsu under Shihan Richard Pietrelli. Eskrima instructors include Mangisursuro Mike Inay and his son Suro Jason Inay, and his Lua instructor is Olohe Solomon Kaihewalu.

Hans has taught at many clinics and camps, including Camp Danzan Ryu, Camp Kilohana, Camp Bushido West, Camp Yama Bushi, the Kufferath Masters Seminar, The AJJF National Convention, The ATAMA National Convention, The Hawaii Martial Arts Society Legends of Hawaii Seminar, The International Kenpo Karate Day of the Masters Seminar, The De Thouars Family Gathering, The Kajukenbo 50-year Anniversary Celebration, The International Martial Arts Collective Gathering, The Unified World Martial Arts Federation Convention, The Kilohana European Gasshuku, The Lua Halau O Kaihewalu Gathering, The Kenpo International Family Gathering, The Mazatlan Internationa Martial Arts and Police Training Seminar, the Mizu Ryu Ju Jitsu S.M.A.R.T. Camp, the Bob Krull Memorial Benefit, The Skirmish at the Lake, Wally Jay’s 90th Birthday Seminar, The Mid-California Tae Kwon Do Summer Camp, The Koryukan Danzan Ryu Clinic, Training for Company A, 5th Battalion of the 19th Special Forces Airborn Group,The Kenpo/Kempo Lo Kahi Associaion Connection, and the Danzan Ryu Ohana, as well as at the San Jose Gasshuku, which he created and hosted annually between the years of 1992 and 2001.

Hans is affiliated with the following organizations: Kilohana Martial Arts Association, The Pacific Jujitsu Alliance, The United States Judo Association, The American Ju Jitsu Institute, The Lua Halau O Kaihewalu, The Pro Black Belt League, Jujitsu America, The Inayan Training Organization, The Kodenkan Danzan Ryu Alliance, California Judo Incorporated, Kempo International, and the Hawaii Martial Arts Society. Hans is one of the co-founders of Professor Sig Kufferath's Kilohana Martial Arts Association, and continues to work with this organization as his primary group. Hans was also an integral part of Professor Joe Halbuna’s Unified World Martial Arts Federation for many years, serving as secretary and promoting many sport ju jitsu events through that group.

He competed in judo tournaments for many years for Mushinkai Judo Club, then for Pacific Judo Academy, and later as a member of the San Jose State University judo team. He continues to coach his team at judo, ju jitsu and karate tournaments, and also to judge at karate and ju jitsu tournaments.

Hans is a graduate of the 1993 Okugi (inner secrets) class taught by Professors Sig Kufferath and Tony Janovich, and is certified in Seifukujitsu Restoration Therapy, having graduated from Kufferath and Janovich's massage school, the Kodenkan Restoration Center, in 1992. Hans also graduated from the American Judo and Ju Jitsu Federation Massage Program in 1984, and from Professor James Muro’s Chow-Hoon Goshin-jitsu Association advanced massage therapy course in 2001. He has also taken massage classes with Sensei Dale Kahoun, Sensei Jack Carter, Professor Jack Wheat, and Sensei Al Ikemoto.

In 2003 Sensei Ingebretsen was one of the teachers at the Kilohana Okugi class, along with Professor James Muro, Sensei Dale Kahoun, Professor Michael Esmailzadeh and Sensei Richard Pietrelli. At the Okugi class instructors in the Danzan Ryu system of ju jitsu are taught the higher black belt arts. Hans continues to help teach the annual Kilohana black belt classes. He is also featured in the set of Danzan Ryu instructional tapes made by Professor Willy Cahill and marketed by Tiger Claw.

In 2000 he received Congressional recognition from Hawaiian Congresswoman Patsy Mink and also recognition from Hawaiian Governor Benjamin Cayetano for promoting and preserving Hawaiian martial arts. In 2001 he was inducted into the International Kenpo Karate Institute Masters Hall of Fame, and also that year received a lifetime achievement award from the Unified World Martial Arts Federation. In 2002 he was inducted into the Hawaii Martial Arts Society Hall of Fame, and received an award from the Society for the San Jose Gasshuku, as seminar of the year. The Ming Lum award was given to him in 2003 by Grand Master Ming Lum. Also in 2003 he was the recipient of the Henry S. Okazaki Danzan Ryu Ju Jitsu award. In 2004 he was the recipient of the Master Instructor of the Year award from the World Head of Family Sokeship Council, and also received the Ohana award from the European Kilohana Martial Arts Association. In 2005 he was the inducted into the Action Martial Arts Association Hall of Fame. The Professor Francisco Limbago Spirit of Kokua Award was given to Hans in 2006 from The Shoshin Ryu Yudanshakai, and the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame inducted him in 2007 as Ju Jitsu Leader of the Year.

Sensei Ingebretsen's dojo is named Shinbukan, and is located in Campbell, California. The curriculum there includes instruction in Ju Jitsu, Judo, Kenpo, Hawaiian Lua and Kadena de Mano. The Shinbukan website address is www.Shinbukandojo.com

Hans has a B.A. in Mass Communications from San Jose State University, and is also a graduate of College of the Redwoods in Eureka, California, where he grew up. and has been a painting contractor for many years, having started his own business after graduating from Eureka High School.

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