About South County Self-Protection

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My approach to self-protection has been shaped by a lifetime of learning—through martial arts, athletics, education, teaching, and experience.

I began playing football at age seven and wrestled before beginning my formal martial-arts training in Okinawan Shorin-Ryu. In 1997, I began exploring a wide range of martial arts and combat disciplines, looking for the principles and ideas that different traditions could teach me. In 2000, I began my study of Ninpo Budo Taijutsu, which became the foundation of my martial-arts practice.

Beginning in 2002, my studies expanded further through independent exploration, including European martial arts and surviving medieval manuscripts, Qi Gong, traditional weapons, strategy, and other martial traditions. Much of that learning has come from following questions wherever they lead rather than limiting myself to a single system.

My education and professional life have shaped my teaching as well. I earned a BA in Anthropology and Secondary Education, magna cum laude, with a minor in History, and taught subjects including history, philosophy, psychology, and criminal justice. I also spent 15 years working at South County Hospital, including in radiology, where I encountered an extraordinary range of human anatomy through X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound, and other imaging.

I don’t believe anyone masters everything. The longer I study, the more I realize how much there is still to learn.

What I try to do is bring together what I’ve learned and make it useful to ordinary people—not simply to teach them how to fight, but to help them become more capable, aware, adaptable, and resilient.

Keep going, learning, adapting. and becoming better.

Click for more: why I teach the way I do

Ninpo Taijutsu: Movement, Strategy, and Practical Self-Protection

In our program, you will learn how to harness your body weight and gravity to enhance every technique, focusing on efficiency, control, and safety. Through a combination of physical technique and strategic thinking, you will understand how to protect yourself both physically and legally, while cultivating respect and discipline for your newfound abilities.

Ninpo Taijutsu, known as The Way of the Enduring Spirit Warrior, is a reality-based battlefield martial art. The 33rd Grandmaster of Togakure Ryu described it as “the art of winning: achieving what you need while making the world a better place.” Our training adapts the time-honored principles of this ancient art into a modern Rhode Island context, while maintaining a world-class standard of practice.

The Togakure Ryu tradition, with over 900 years of history, is rooted in the knowledge and techniques developed by the legendary mystic warriors of Japan—the Ninja, or Shinobi. The system draws from nine schools: five are battlefield Samurai Jujutsu schools, three are shadow schools, and one was created by a former war general, a woman, who designed techniques for a smaller or weaker individual to overcome a larger, stronger opponent. These techniques are particularly beneficial for women, the elderly, or those recovering from injury, but they are effective for all.

With this rich heritage, you will gain practical skills, mental clarity, and confidence in a system that has stood the test of time, adapted for the realities of today.