Shidoshi George Doyle-Bedwell, Hachidan, Dojo Co-Owner and Senior Student/Instructor. George began training in the martial arts when he was 12 in 1979 with Chito Ryu Karate Do at the Atlantic Karate Club in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In the summer of 1984 he met his hero, Shidoshi Stephen K. Hayes in Dayton, Ohio. In March of 1985 George traveled to Toronto to train with then Shidoshiho Bud Malmstrom at a seminar sponsored by the Toronto Bujinkan Dojo – then called the Shadows of Iga Toronto Shibu. In 1985 George began studying as a personal student of Shidoshi Edward Brown, co-founder of the Toronto Dojo with Shihan Cortland Elliott and Shihan Greg Tremblay. In 1986 after attending Shidoshi Stephen K. Hayes Ninja Festival, George gave up Chito Ryu Karate to dedicate himself entirely to the Bujinkan. George has done just that, after 31 years in the martial arts and 25 years in the Bujinkan, George firmly considers himself a student. George also holds two Undergraduate degrees in Biology (B.Sc.) and Sociology (B.A.Hons.) as well as two Master’s degrees in Sociology (M.A.) and Counselling (M.Ed).
Shidoshiho Patricia Doyle-Bedwell, Yondan, Dojo Co-Owner and Senior Student/Instructor. Patricia began studying the martial arts under Hanshi Jim Maloney-Sensei of the Uechi Ryu (Maloney) Dojo in Halifax in 1981. She studied for about year until life circumstances caused her to leave the system she loved. Patricia remembers asking Sensei Maloney if she could wear a black gi and he responded clearly ‘no’. Perhaps her wanting to wear a black gi was an inkling of her future in the Bujinkan. In 1986 Patricia had her son Mike who was (and is) the centre of her world. Patricia went to school at Dalhousie University to earn an Honours B.A. in Sociology and Social Anthropology. In 1990 she met and starting seeing George Bedwell who introduced her to Bujinkan Ninjutsu while they were both studying at Dalhousie. Patricia has not looked back since. She trained with George for five years during his early teaching career and endured his process of learning to teach. During those early years she earned her first kyu ranks and helped organize the first seminar of what was to become the Bujinkan (Doyle-Bedwell) Dojo when we invited George’s teacher Shidoshi Edward Brown to Halifax to instruct Gyokko Ryu and Koto Ryu. Not only did Patricia and George train together during those years but they married and joined their names in 1992. She finished an L.L.B (1993) and an L.L.M. (2002) at Dalhousie University. Patricia has worked for women’s rights diligently during the whole time she was in University eventually becoming the Chair of the Advisory Council on the Status of Women. She began teaching at Dalhousie in 1994. She earned her tenure and promotion to associate professor at Dalhousie in 2006. During all this time of study, Patricia had experienced some bouts of injury. All during this time, when she could, she came to classes George was teaching, trained privately, and watched literally 1,000s of hours of video of Soke Hatsumi-Sensei and his students. Patricia came back to training full time in 2006 and in 2007 earned her Shodan as recommended by both Shidoshi George Doyle-Bedwell and Shihan Arnaud Cousergue. Patricia had found away to work with her injuries and really shine in the Bujinkan practice. She credits Shihan Sheila Haddad’s Ukemi DVD for giving her the clues to work with her in injuries in rolling. In December of 2007 she earned her Sandan in Japan and in 2009 was promoted to Yondan by Shihan Arnaud Cousergue. Patricia has published many articles on aboriginal women, law, and leadership.
Shidoshiho Nathan Craig Under Construction...Coming Soon Shidoshiho Edward Switzer Under Construction...Coming Soon Shidoshiho Trevor Schellinck Under Construction...Coming Soon Shidoshi Daniel Schreiber Under Construction...Coming Soon
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