Nicklaus Suino Sensei
JMAC'S DIRECTOR OF TRAINING
Suino Sensei didn't start out as a promising martial artist. He was a small child, often sick, and often talked his way into trouble. He grew up in a turbulent neighborhood, and fought his way home from school on many occasions. His parents, fearing for his safety and feeling that he could use more personal discipline, enrolled him at the Ann Arbor YMCA in 1968. It was a decision that would shape the rest of young Nicklaus' life.
He fell in love with judo instantly, and never looked back. After early success in judo tournaments, Suino vowed that he would always pursue martial arts. Beginning in 1979, he took up karate and aikido at the Asian Martial Arts Studio in Ann Arbor. He excelled and became a member of the AMAS Instructors Training Program.
SET SAIL FOR EXOTIC SHORES
In 1988, Suino-Sensei decided to see the homeland of Bushido. He sold his belongings, bought a plane ticket, and moved to Yokohama, Japan. Between 1988 and 1992, he practiced judo, jujutsu (jujitsu), iaido (swordsmanship), and kyudo (archery). He studied iaido at the home dojo of the late Yamaguchi-Katsuo, one of the greatest of the WWII generation swordsmen. In 1989, he was appointed secretary to the Foreign Department of the International Martial Arts Federation, Tokyo HQ. He was four-time All-Tokyo forms champion in iaido at his rank level between 1989 and 1992, and represented the Kanto region in the All-Japan tournament in Kyoto in 1992. He continues to visit Japan regularly, visiting and training with some of the world's most respected instructors of aikido, iaido, judo, jujitsu, karate, and koryu bujutsu.
THE PATH TO MASTERY
He is widely published in the martial arts, having sold over 60,000 copies of his books, including The Art of Japanese Swordsmanship, Practice Drills for Japanese Swordsmanship, Arts of Strength, Arts of Serenity, and its revised version, Budo Mind and Body, and Strategy in Japanese Swordsmanship. He is President and Managing Director of the Shudokan Martial Arts Association and a Michigan Regional Director for the US branch of the International Martial Arts Federation (IMAF-Americas). He was director of ITAMA Dojo in East Lansing, Michigan, from 1993 until 2003. In 2006, he returned to Ann Arbor to open the Japanese Martial Arts Center, offering classes in jujutsu (jujitsu), judo, iaido (swordsmanship) and karate for kids.
Suino Sensei has been called "one of North America's foremost martial arts teachers." His personal mission is to master the most profound aspects of Japanese heritage martial arts and offer the true Japanese budo experience to his students. He believes that proper practice of Japanese martial arts can have a profound positive effect on people's lives. Since 2009, he has been consulting for businesses and individuals who want to improve their effectiveness using the physical, mental, and intangible principles of mastery.
Learn more about how Suino-Sensei helps people overcome personal obstacles and sculpt spectacular lives at Permission - The Event.
Article on Nicklaus Suino from the Ann Arbor Observer
Part I of an Interview with Suino Sensei at Ikigai
Part II of an Interview with Suino Sensei at Ikigai
CURRENT RANKS
Shihan, 8th Dan – Iaido Division: Shudokan Martial Arts Association (SMAA)
6th Dan – Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu Iaido: Eishin-Ryu Traditions Association
Shihan, 6th Dan – Judo Division: Shudokan Martial Arts Association (SMAA)
5th Dan – Iaido Division: International Martial Arts Federation (IMAF)
5th Dan - Jujutsu Division: Shudokan Martial Arts Association (SMAA)
Fuku Shihan - Jujutsu Division: Shudokan Martial Arts Association (SMAA)
4th Dan – Jujutsu Division: International Martial Arts Federation (IMAF)
3rd Dan – Judo Division: International Martial Arts Federation (IMAF)
3rd Dan – Karate Division: Shudokan Martial Arts Association (SMAA)
1st Dan – Aikido: Shudokan Martial Arts Association (SMAA)
1st Dan – Kyudo: Yokohama Wakabakai
APPOINTMENTS
Managing Director: Shudokan Martial Arts Association (SMAA)
Director – Judo Division: Shudokan Martial Arts Association (SMAA)
Co-Director – Iaido Division: Shudokan Martial Arts Association (SMAA)
Regional Director: International Martial Arts Federation (IMAF – Americas)
PUBLICATIONS
Books
2014 Success Sandbox. Master and Fool Press: Ann Arbor, Michigan.
2013 SEO and Beyond: How to Rocket Your Website to Page One of Google!
Master and Fool Press: Ann Arbor, Michigan.
2013 The Drinking Game. Master and Fool Press: Ann Arbor, Michigan.
2012 101 Ideas to Kick Your Ass Into Gear.
Master and Fool Press, Ann Arbor, Michigan
2007 Strategy in Japanese Swordsmanship
Weatherhill/Shambhala: Boston
2006 Budo Mind & Body: Training Secrets of the Japanese Martial Arts
Weatherhill/Shambhala: Boston
1996 Arts of Strength, Arts of Serenity
Weatherhill/Shambhala: Boston
1995 Practice Drills for Japanese Swordsmanship
Weatherhill/Shambhala: Boston
1994 Art of Japanese Swordsmanship
Weatherhill/Shambhala: Boston
Articles
2006 “Te-No-Uchi: Gripping the Sword in Iaido.”
Journal of Asian Martial Arts, May
1994 “Self-Defense Techniques of Nihon Jujutsu.” Inside Karate, December
1994 “How to Watch Iaido.” Journal of Asian Martial Arts, August
1994 “How to Hold the Japanese Sword.” Iaido Newsletter, March
1993 “Comments on Iaido History” Iaido Newsletter, March
Awards
1992 Champion, Yondan Div: All Kanto Iaido Forms Tournament, Tokyo
1991 1st Runner Up, Yondan Div: All Japan Iaido Federation
Nat’l Tournament, Kyoto
1991 Champion, Sandan Div: All Kanto Iaido Forms Tournament, Tokyo
1990 Champion, Nidan Div: All Kanto Iaido Forms Tournament, Tokyo
1989 Champion, Shodan Div: All Kanto Iaido Forms Tournament, Tokyo
If you'd like to train with Suino Sensei or the other extraordinary black belts at JMAC, call (734) 720-0330
or email us today to set up your appointment!