Leon A. Major (Hanshi)
Major Sensei was born in New York in 1974 and moved to Puerto Rico. at the age of three. He has been involved in the martial arts for 25 years. He began Studying Martial Arts at age ten. He first took up Kuk Sool Won under Master Joe Figueroa and later he studied Shorin Ryu Karate under Felix Rodriguez Sensei. In 1992 he began Studying Nindo Ryu Gendai Ninjutsu and Iaijutsu under Arnold D. Vargas Sensei and a year later he continued his Gendai Ninjutsu training under Ignacio R Moreira Sensei. In 1994 Sensei Major was given permission to start a study group at the rank of 1st. Kyu, and a few months later he tested for Shodan in Gendai Ninjutsu and Iaijutsu. That same year he began Studying Nindo Jujutsu under Moreira Sensei Achieving the rank of Shodan a year later. In 1995 Major Sensei began training in Kobujutsu and Tantojutsu under Nindo Ryu Founder, Carlos R. Febres O’Sensei. Since his Days training in Karate, Major Sensei became active in point fighting competition. But after training for some time in the Nindo Ryu, he focused more on self defense demonstrations and weapons forms.
In 1998 Major Sensei moved to New York where he currently resides. He regularly travels to continue training under Moreira Sensei and Febres O’Sensei. Since he moved to NY, Major Sensei has trained under Professor Ronald Duncan, the late Sijo Bob Smith, Shoto Tanemura and Ausberto Ariza. In addition he trains with Joseph Rebelo who has shared his extensive knowledge in Kenpo, Chin Na, Philipino arts, Kobujutsu and other arts. He has also been influenced by Masters such as Michael DePasquale Sr. (Yoshitsune Jujutsu), Michael DePasquale Jr. (Yoshitsune Jujutsu), Moses Powell (Sanuces Ryu), Bill McCloud (Sanuces Ryu), David James (Vee Arnis Jutsu), David German (TAI System) and many others. Major Sensei has demonstrated in events such as The Asian World of Self Defense, Action Magazine’s Hall of Fame event, Ronald Duncan’s Cross Training Summit and The Manjiro Festival.
In 2002 Major Sensei was recognized as head of the Goshin Jujutsu division of Nindo Ryu by Carlos R. Febres O’Sensei. In 2010 Major Sensei recieved his promotion to the rank of Kudan in Nindo Ryu Gendai Ninjutsu and Nindo Ryu Ninpo by O'Sensei Carlos R. Febres. In addition to Nindo Ryu, Major Sensei has trained in several other systems including Kempo, Karate & Toudi. He has continued to study and research the Okinawan arts, specially the various branches of Shorin / Shorinji Ryu. In 2015 Major Sensei was able test and was granted the rank of godan in Shorin Ryu under the US Kobukai Shorin Ryu Karate Do Federation. Under the mentor-ship of Angel Lemus, Kyoshi of the Zentokukai and Darel Chase, Kaiso of the Goshinkan, Major Sensei has been motivated to establish the Okinawa Te branch of Nindo Ryu with the blessings of Dai Shihan Febres.
Major Sensei holds the following ranks:
• Nindo Ryu Goshin Jujutsu - Kudan (9th degree)
• Nindo Ryu Gendai Ninjutsu - Kudan (9th degree)
• Kokan Nindo Jujutsu - Kudan (9th Degree)
• Nindo Ryu Jujutsu - Hachidan (8th degree}
• Nindo Ryu Iaijutsu - Rokudan (6th degree)
• Nindo Ryu Okinawa Te - Godan (5th degree)
• Nindo Ryu Kobujutsu - Yondan (4th degree)
• Nindo Ryu Tantojutsu - Sandan (3rd degree)
• Nindo Ryu Nihon Kempo Atemi Jutsu - Shodan (1st degree)
• Nindo Ryu Taiho Jutsu - Intermediate Level
Teaching Licenses and appointments:
• Nindo Ryu Gendai Ninjutsu - Menkyo Kaiden
• Nindo Ryu Ninpo - Menkyo Kaiden
• Kokan Nindo Jujutsu - Menkyo Kaiden
• Nindo Iaijutsu / BattoJutsu - Menkyo Kaiden
• Kagetora To Jutsu - Menkyo Kaiden
• Nindo Ryu jujutsu - Menkyo
• Member of The House Of Febres
• Modern Warrior Arts Union - President
• Jihi Bujutsu Kai - Council Member
• Shishikan Bujutsu Kai - Technical Advisor
Ranks outside of Nindo Ryu
• Kagetora To Jutsu - Nanadan- (7th degree)
• Nisei Yoshu Ryyu Kempo - Karate - Godan (5th degree)
• Nisei Jujutsu Ryu - Godan (5th Degree)
• Shishikan Kempo Jujutsu - Goidan (5th Degree)
• Makoto Ryu Jutsu Te - Nanadan (7th Degree)
• Shorin Ryu Karate Do USKSKF - Godan (5th degree)
• Kagetora Ha Koga Ryu - Sandan (3rd degree)
• Okinawan Kempo - Karate OKKF - Sandan (3rd Degree)
• Way Of The Winds / Koga Ryu Ninjutsu - Nidan (2nd degree)
• Genbukan Ninpo Goshinjutsu - Nidan (2nd degree)
• Shao Choy Hung Chin-Na - 2nd Degree
Instructors:
• Arnold D. Vargas - Nindo Ryu Gendai Ninjutsu, Nindo Ryu Iaijutsu
• Ignacio R. Moreira - Nindo Ryu Jujutsu & Nindo Ryu Gendai Ninjutsu
• Carlos R. Febres - Nindo Ryu Bujutsu, Kagetora Budo, Nisei Yoshu Ryu
• Darel Chase - Shorin Ryu Kempo Karate Goshinkan
• Felix "Zepy" Rodriguez - Okinawa Shorin Ryu Karate Do Kobukan
• Ronald Duncan - Way Of The Winds System
• Joseph Rebelo - Nindo Ryu Kobujutsu, Kenpo and TAI
• Hanshi Jose Caban - Nisei Jujutsu Ryu
• Grandmaster Shoto Tanemura - Genbukan Ninpo Bugei
• Sijo Bob Smith - Shao Choy Hung Chin Na
In 1998 Major Sensei moved to New York where he currently resides. He regularly travels to continue training under Moreira Sensei and Febres O’Sensei. Since he moved to NY, Major Sensei has trained under Professor Ronald Duncan, the late Sijo Bob Smith, Shoto Tanemura and Ausberto Ariza. In addition he trains with Joseph Rebelo who has shared his extensive knowledge in Kenpo, Chin Na, Philipino arts, Kobujutsu and other arts. He has also been influenced by Masters such as Michael DePasquale Sr. (Yoshitsune Jujutsu), Michael DePasquale Jr. (Yoshitsune Jujutsu), Moses Powell (Sanuces Ryu), Bill McCloud (Sanuces Ryu), David James (Vee Arnis Jutsu), David German (TAI System) and many others. Major Sensei has demonstrated in events such as The Asian World of Self Defense, Action Magazine’s Hall of Fame event, Ronald Duncan’s Cross Training Summit and The Manjiro Festival.
In 2002 Major Sensei was recognized as head of the Goshin Jujutsu division of Nindo Ryu by Carlos R. Febres O’Sensei. In 2010 Major Sensei recieved his promotion to the rank of Kudan in Nindo Ryu Gendai Ninjutsu and Nindo Ryu Ninpo by O'Sensei Carlos R. Febres. In addition to Nindo Ryu, Major Sensei has trained in several other systems including Kempo, Karate & Toudi. He has continued to study and research the Okinawan arts, specially the various branches of Shorin / Shorinji Ryu. In 2015 Major Sensei was able test and was granted the rank of godan in Shorin Ryu under the US Kobukai Shorin Ryu Karate Do Federation. Under the mentor-ship of Angel Lemus, Kyoshi of the Zentokukai and Darel Chase, Kaiso of the Goshinkan, Major Sensei has been motivated to establish the Okinawa Te branch of Nindo Ryu with the blessings of Dai Shihan Febres.
Major Sensei holds the following ranks:
• Nindo Ryu Goshin Jujutsu - Kudan (9th degree)
• Nindo Ryu Gendai Ninjutsu - Kudan (9th degree)
• Kokan Nindo Jujutsu - Kudan (9th Degree)
• Nindo Ryu Jujutsu - Hachidan (8th degree}
• Nindo Ryu Iaijutsu - Rokudan (6th degree)
• Nindo Ryu Okinawa Te - Godan (5th degree)
• Nindo Ryu Kobujutsu - Yondan (4th degree)
• Nindo Ryu Tantojutsu - Sandan (3rd degree)
• Nindo Ryu Nihon Kempo Atemi Jutsu - Shodan (1st degree)
• Nindo Ryu Taiho Jutsu - Intermediate Level
Teaching Licenses and appointments:
• Nindo Ryu Gendai Ninjutsu - Menkyo Kaiden
• Nindo Ryu Ninpo - Menkyo Kaiden
• Kokan Nindo Jujutsu - Menkyo Kaiden
• Nindo Iaijutsu / BattoJutsu - Menkyo Kaiden
• Kagetora To Jutsu - Menkyo Kaiden
• Nindo Ryu jujutsu - Menkyo
• Member of The House Of Febres
• Modern Warrior Arts Union - President
• Jihi Bujutsu Kai - Council Member
• Shishikan Bujutsu Kai - Technical Advisor
Ranks outside of Nindo Ryu
• Kagetora To Jutsu - Nanadan- (7th degree)
• Nisei Yoshu Ryyu Kempo - Karate - Godan (5th degree)
• Nisei Jujutsu Ryu - Godan (5th Degree)
• Shishikan Kempo Jujutsu - Goidan (5th Degree)
• Makoto Ryu Jutsu Te - Nanadan (7th Degree)
• Shorin Ryu Karate Do USKSKF - Godan (5th degree)
• Kagetora Ha Koga Ryu - Sandan (3rd degree)
• Okinawan Kempo - Karate OKKF - Sandan (3rd Degree)
• Way Of The Winds / Koga Ryu Ninjutsu - Nidan (2nd degree)
• Genbukan Ninpo Goshinjutsu - Nidan (2nd degree)
• Shao Choy Hung Chin-Na - 2nd Degree
Instructors:
• Arnold D. Vargas - Nindo Ryu Gendai Ninjutsu, Nindo Ryu Iaijutsu
• Ignacio R. Moreira - Nindo Ryu Jujutsu & Nindo Ryu Gendai Ninjutsu
• Carlos R. Febres - Nindo Ryu Bujutsu, Kagetora Budo, Nisei Yoshu Ryu
• Darel Chase - Shorin Ryu Kempo Karate Goshinkan
• Felix "Zepy" Rodriguez - Okinawa Shorin Ryu Karate Do Kobukan
• Ronald Duncan - Way Of The Winds System
• Joseph Rebelo - Nindo Ryu Kobujutsu, Kenpo and TAI
• Hanshi Jose Caban - Nisei Jujutsu Ryu
• Grandmaster Shoto Tanemura - Genbukan Ninpo Bugei
• Sijo Bob Smith - Shao Choy Hung Chin Na