Instructor Profile

Instructor Profile

Graham Clunan

Joined The Bujinkan: 1993

Current Rank: 7th Dan Shidoshi

Martial Name: Oni Ko

Brief Biography:

I've had a varied Martial Arts background starting when I was about 5 years old, being taught basic blocks and strikes by family members because I was too young to attend a class.

I started Karate but lost interest until I started Shotokan Karate under Jimmy Brennan in 1986. I trained under him and other instructors (Frank Brennan and Andy Sherry) for nearly 7 years. I received my Shodan by the late, great Enoeda Sensei in November 1990.

During that time I also tried Kung Fu, Tae Kwon Do and Muay Thai plus Okinawan Kobudo (eg Nunchaku, Tonfa, Sai). In late summer 1993, I was invited by my friends to the Ninjutsu club they had joined, and have trained in the Bujinkan ever since. I was named "Oni Ko" (little demon) by several black belts at the time, as I had a fighting style similar to the Tazmanian Devil!! Not long afterwards, I left (or was politely asked to leave!!) all my other martial arts as I found myself using my newly learnt Taijutsu and was told I wasn't "sticking to the rules".

I was graded to Shodan in 1996 and when I was awarded my Nidan in 1998, I opened my own Dojo under the guidence of my Instructors at the time. I named my Dojo "Oni-Ko Dojo" using a play on with the Japanese kanji, (giving it the meaning of " the training hall of devil children")

 I received my Sandan in 2001. and was graded to Yondan by Ste Boulton in 2002. During a trip to Japan in april/may 2005 i took the sakki test and was awarded my Godan. I travel and train with as many instructors as i can to increase my understanding and experience of the Bujinkan and other martial arts. I regularly enjoy cross training because I feel it stops people becoming too complacent or stagnant in their training.