Who We Are

Sasamori Junzo

(May 18, 1886 – February 13, 1976)

16th Generation Headmaster of Ono-ha Itto-ryu. Japanese politician, educator, Kendo 8th Dan Hanshi. After studying the Ono-ha Itto-ryu that had been passed down within the Hirosaki Domain at the Hokushindo Dojo, he studied kendo in the Waseda University Kendo Club under Takano Sasaburō. In addition to becoming the 16th Soke of Ono-ha Itto-ryu, he also inherited the schools of Shin Muso Hayashizaki-ryu Iaijutsu and Chokugen-ryu Naginata-jutsu. Author of This is Kendo, with Gordon Warner; Kendo, Tosenkyo: Exegesis; and Secrets of Itto-ryu.

Sasamori Takemi

(May 10, 1933 – August 15, 2017) 

17th Generation Headmaster of Ono-ha Itto-ryu. Born in Aomori Prefecture as the third son of Sasamori Junzo, he was also the soke of Chokugen-ryu Naginata-jutsu and Shin Muso Hayashizaki-ryu Iaijutsu. Operating out of the Komaba Eden Church, he performed duties as both a protestant minister and Executive Director of the Japan Kobudo Kyokai. Author of Bushido and Christianity; Kami e no michi; Kami kara no michi, and others.

Yabuki Yuji

18th Generation Headmaster of Ono-ha Itto-ryu. Born in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, he entered the Metropolitan Police Department in 1992. In 1995, he studied kendo and Ono-ha Itto-ryu at the Metropolitan Police Department’s Martial Arts’ Specialty School. Held positions as assistant kendo instructor in the Kitazawa Police Station, the Police Academy, the 7th Riot Squad, and the General Education Division of the Metropolitan Police Department. In 2019, he was promoted to instructor in the Kendo Instruction Office, a position he holds to this day. Promoted to Kendo 8th Dan in 2024. Author of Ono-ha Itto-ryu Patriarch’s Repository: Sword and Document Compendium 

Mark Hague

Mark Hague is an instructor at large in the United States who brings authentic, mainline Ono-ha Itto-ryu to dojo around the world. He is the highest ranking non-Japanese member of the art in the western hemisphere and leads classes and seminars in the United States, Canada, and Europe on behalf of the 18th soke, Yabuki Yuji, and the Reigakudo. He helped start and currently mentors multiple study groups throughout North America. When he is not traveling, he can be found teaching classes at the Martial Arts Preservation Association in Central Pennsylvania.

Randy Manning

Randy Manning is the leader of the Ono-ha Itto-ryu Study Group at the Martial Arts Preservation Association in Central Pennsylvania.  He trains in Ono-ha Itto-ryu with Mark Hague in the United States and senior instructors at the Reigakudo in Japan.  The Reigakudo is the world-wide headquarters for Ono-ha Itto-ryu.  He has also attended seminars and trained with Yabuki Yuji, 18th Headmaster of Ono-ha Itto-ryu in Japan and the United States.

Gary Burkett

Gary Burkett is the assistant instructor of the Ono-ha Itto-ryu Study Group at the Martial Arts Preservation Association in Central Pennsylvania.  He began training in Ono-ha Itto-ryu in 2020 at the Reigakudo, while he was going to school in Japan.  He has assisted instructor Mark Hague in leading seminars in the United States.  He has also trained and attended seminars with Yabuki Yuji, 18th Headmaster of Ono-ha Itto-ryu in Japan and the United States.