Akayama Ryu Instructors
Founder - Alex Marshall
Alex Marshall, Hanshi, held advanced rank in Kodokan Judo, Tomiki Aikido, Shinin-Ryu Jujutsu, and Jikishinkage-Ryu Aikijujutsu before creating Akayama Ryu Jujutsu. Beginning his study of the Japanese grappling arts shortly after World War I, Sensei Marshall continued to seek out and train with some of the finest instructors in the world. Time after time, black belts were awarded to him, only to be left in his bag when he entered a new dojo seeking further training. Sensei Marshall's primary instructors were Okabayashi Sensei, Shishido Sensei, and Toshiaki Takikawa, all very talented judo and jujutsu Sensei.
Along with teaching Judo at various YMCAs, colleges, and community centers, Sensei Marshall taught self-defense to police cadets for almost 20 years as the Defensive Tactics instructor for the Birmingham Police Academy. He also taught a handful of senior students jujutsu at his home on weekends. This core group of students and the intense training sessions provided the foundation for Sensei Marshall's development of Akayama Ryu. Until shortly before his death in 1994 at the age of 87, he was the first on the tatami and the last to bow out. It was his strength of character and his exceptional ability that forged the system we teach today.
Mark Barlow - Hachidan
Mark Barlow, Hanshi, was the Senior Instructor of Akayama Ryu Jujutsu until he passed in 2024. He started training in judo and jujutsu under Akayama Ryu founder Alex Marshall in the mid-70s. He also studied jujutsu under Toshi Takikawa, Aikido with Karl Geis and Tetsuro Nariyama, and Muay Thai with Riki and Terry Chamkow. He taught Defensive Tactics since the 1990s, including a week-long session on bladed weapons defense at the Alabama SRT Conference. In addition to Akayama Ryu Jujutsu, Mark held black belt ranks in Tomiki Aikido, Seki Ryu Jujutsu, Jikishinkage Ryu Jujutsu, and Judo. You can read his MAYTT interview here.
Richard Worthington - Hachidan - Alabama
Richard Worthington has now been training in martial arts for 50 years, including many as a direct student of Alex Marshall, the founder of Akayama Ryu. He has earned the rank of Hachidan in Akayama Ryu Jujutsu, Sandan in Judo, and Nidan in Aikido. He continues to teach at Trussville Martial Arts in Alabama.
Chris Dewey - Hachidan - Wyoming
Chris Dewey started training in martial arts in 1969, and has gone on to earn an eighth degree black belt in Jujutsu, sixth degree in Judo, fourth degree in Taekwondo, and third degree in Hapkido. Chris has been a national-level competitor, coach, and referee in Judo. He now operates Third Pathway Martial Arts in Laramie, WY.
Ed Byers - Hachidan - Indiana
Ed Byers has over thirty years of federal law enforcement and counter-terrorism service, including the National Park Service, U.S. Customs Service, and the Department of Homeland Security, where he also served as a Defensive Tactics instructor. He holds a 7th Dan in Akayama Ryu Jujutsu, 4th Dan in Judo, and 3rd Dan in Jujutsu (USJA). He has been certified as an instructor, coach, kata instructor, and referee. Ed also founded the LadySafe Society, promoting free self-defense seminars for women.
Mark Burton - Shichidan - Louisiana
A former Marine Corps Judo Team member, Mark Burton received his initial martial arts training while stationed in Japan in 1973, before training in Akayama Ryu Jujutsu. He has trained local, state, and federal law enforcement officers and is a retired federal law enforcement Senior Special Agent. Burton Sensei also holds the ranks of Shodan in Judo and Ikkyu in Tomiki Aikido.
Doug Bedsaul - Rokudan - Mississippi
Doug Bedsaul actively competes in Judo (4th Dan) and Taekwondo (4th Dan), and is an internationally certified coach. He has taught martial arts for local schools, non-profit organizations, and businesses. A Rokudan in Akayama Ryu, Doug operates Downtown Martial Arts Academy in Starkville, where he advocates practical self-defense training for all.
Mark Wathen - Rokudan - Alabama
The senior student of Worthington Sensei, Mark Wathen has over two decades of training in Akayama Ryu and is equally adept with sticks or blades. He has been a source of guidance and inspiration for lower ranked yudansha as they work to perfect their kata.
Janet Dewey - Godan - Wyoming
Janet Dewey has been training in the martial arts since 1988. She joined Akayama Ryu in 2005. In addition to her Akayama Ryu rank, she holds a 4th Dan in Judo and is a former competitor, referee, Judo rank examiner, and certified instructor of several Judo kata. Janet’s current martial arts home is in Laramie, WY.
Jim Hunt - Yondan - Mississippi
Jim Hunt is an accomplished Judo competitor and referee. In addition to his Yondan in Akayama Ryu Jujutsu, he is also a Godan in Judo with over twenty-five years of experience. He opened Gulf Coast Judo in Ocean Springs, MS, in 2000.
Donald Paul - Yondan - Mississippi
Holding black belts in Judo, Karate, and Akayama Ryu Jujutsu, Paul Sensei has been a tournament champion many times as well as serving as an auxiliary Police Officer. He has been a student of Akayama Ryu since the 1990s, and runs Pascagoula Akayama Ryu.
Nathan Williams - Yondan - Louisiana
Nathan Williams began his martial arts training in 1992 under the instruction of Mark Barlow Sensei. He received his Shodan in 1996. Upon returning to Birmingham, AL, Nathan studied under Richard Worthington Sensei for several years before moving with his family to Louisiana. For four years, he studied and earned a first-degree black belt in American Kenpo.
Chris Blanton - Yondan - North Carolina
Chris Blanton holds 6th Dan in Kodokan Judo, Kenpo Jujitsu, and USJA Jujitsu; and 3rd Dan in Karate and Taekwondo. He started training in Iwayamaryu Jujutsu under Shihan Jack Oliver in 1971. He is the former chief instructor of Kodenkan Martial Arts Institute with schools in Colorado, Nebraska, and California. His specialties are teaching tactics against multiple armed attackers, traditional bunkai to black belts of other arts, and break-falls.
Jason Lynch - Sandan - Florida
Having trained extensively with Mark Barlow and Richard Worthington since 1994, Jason Lynch is now a Sandan. He has run Akayama Ryu clubs at Woodlawn Beach Middle School and Pace High School.
Matt Hudson - Sandan - Texas
With over fifteen years in federal law enforcement, including serving as a Defensive Tactics Instructor, Matt Hudson is a Sandan in Akayama Ryu Jujutsu. In addition to training in Akayama Ryu for over twenty years, he is also a Shodan in Kokoro Aikido.
Larry Camejo - Nidan - Panama
Originally from Trinidad, Larry Camejo now heads Human-X Academy in Boquete, Panama. Along with holding the rank of Nidan in Akayama Ryu, Larry is also a Tomiki Aikido black belt and instructor.
Rob Thornton - Nidan - Tennessee
Rob Thornton is a Sandan in Judo and Nidan in Akayama Ryu. With over 20 years of experience, he is the Chief Instructor for the Tiger Judo Club at the University of Memphis. He also teaches the Judo classes at Border Martial Arts Academy in Collierville.
Daniel Boutwell - Shodan - Alabama
Training under Mark Barlow since 2006, Daniel Boutwell earned the rank of Shodan in 2014. He moved to Shoshone, ID, and started Akayama Ryu Shugyo dojo. He has since returned to Alabama, and is currently a lieutenant in the Silverhill Police Department.
Michelle Alexander - Shodan - Mississippi
In 2007, Michelle began her martial arts training in Hapkido under Master J. R. West in Ridgeland, MS. During her time there, she was designated as the Beginners Instructor and eventually achieved the rank of 5th Dan. In the midst of her training in Hapkido, Michelle befriended Doug Bedsaul who attended a USKMAF seminar and in turn, she attended an Akayama Ryu training Camp…which she continues to do to this day.
Other Akayama Ryu Jujutsu Black Belts include:
Alex Marshall, Hanshi, held advanced rank in Kodokan Judo, Tomiki Aikido, Shinin-Ryu Jujutsu, and Jikishinkage-Ryu Aikijujutsu before creating Akayama Ryu Jujutsu. Beginning his study of the Japanese grappling arts shortly after World War I, Sensei Marshall continued to seek out and train with some of the finest instructors in the world. Time after time, black belts were awarded to him, only to be left in his bag when he entered a new dojo seeking further training. Sensei Marshall's primary instructors were Okabayashi Sensei, Shishido Sensei, and Toshiaki Takikawa, all very talented judo and jujutsu Sensei.
Along with teaching Judo at various YMCAs, colleges, and community centers, Sensei Marshall taught self-defense to police cadets for almost 20 years as the Defensive Tactics instructor for the Birmingham Police Academy. He also taught a handful of senior students jujutsu at his home on weekends. This core group of students and the intense training sessions provided the foundation for Sensei Marshall's development of Akayama Ryu. Until shortly before his death in 1994 at the age of 87, he was the first on the tatami and the last to bow out. It was his strength of character and his exceptional ability that forged the system we teach today.
Mark Barlow - Hachidan
Mark Barlow, Hanshi, was the Senior Instructor of Akayama Ryu Jujutsu until he passed in 2024. He started training in judo and jujutsu under Akayama Ryu founder Alex Marshall in the mid-70s. He also studied jujutsu under Toshi Takikawa, Aikido with Karl Geis and Tetsuro Nariyama, and Muay Thai with Riki and Terry Chamkow. He taught Defensive Tactics since the 1990s, including a week-long session on bladed weapons defense at the Alabama SRT Conference. In addition to Akayama Ryu Jujutsu, Mark held black belt ranks in Tomiki Aikido, Seki Ryu Jujutsu, Jikishinkage Ryu Jujutsu, and Judo. You can read his MAYTT interview here.
Richard Worthington - Hachidan - Alabama
Richard Worthington has now been training in martial arts for 50 years, including many as a direct student of Alex Marshall, the founder of Akayama Ryu. He has earned the rank of Hachidan in Akayama Ryu Jujutsu, Sandan in Judo, and Nidan in Aikido. He continues to teach at Trussville Martial Arts in Alabama.
Chris Dewey - Hachidan - Wyoming
Chris Dewey started training in martial arts in 1969, and has gone on to earn an eighth degree black belt in Jujutsu, sixth degree in Judo, fourth degree in Taekwondo, and third degree in Hapkido. Chris has been a national-level competitor, coach, and referee in Judo. He now operates Third Pathway Martial Arts in Laramie, WY.
Ed Byers - Hachidan - Indiana
Ed Byers has over thirty years of federal law enforcement and counter-terrorism service, including the National Park Service, U.S. Customs Service, and the Department of Homeland Security, where he also served as a Defensive Tactics instructor. He holds a 7th Dan in Akayama Ryu Jujutsu, 4th Dan in Judo, and 3rd Dan in Jujutsu (USJA). He has been certified as an instructor, coach, kata instructor, and referee. Ed also founded the LadySafe Society, promoting free self-defense seminars for women.
Mark Burton - Shichidan - Louisiana
A former Marine Corps Judo Team member, Mark Burton received his initial martial arts training while stationed in Japan in 1973, before training in Akayama Ryu Jujutsu. He has trained local, state, and federal law enforcement officers and is a retired federal law enforcement Senior Special Agent. Burton Sensei also holds the ranks of Shodan in Judo and Ikkyu in Tomiki Aikido.
Doug Bedsaul - Rokudan - Mississippi
Doug Bedsaul actively competes in Judo (4th Dan) and Taekwondo (4th Dan), and is an internationally certified coach. He has taught martial arts for local schools, non-profit organizations, and businesses. A Rokudan in Akayama Ryu, Doug operates Downtown Martial Arts Academy in Starkville, where he advocates practical self-defense training for all.
Mark Wathen - Rokudan - Alabama
The senior student of Worthington Sensei, Mark Wathen has over two decades of training in Akayama Ryu and is equally adept with sticks or blades. He has been a source of guidance and inspiration for lower ranked yudansha as they work to perfect their kata.
Janet Dewey - Godan - Wyoming
Janet Dewey has been training in the martial arts since 1988. She joined Akayama Ryu in 2005. In addition to her Akayama Ryu rank, she holds a 4th Dan in Judo and is a former competitor, referee, Judo rank examiner, and certified instructor of several Judo kata. Janet’s current martial arts home is in Laramie, WY.
Jim Hunt - Yondan - Mississippi
Jim Hunt is an accomplished Judo competitor and referee. In addition to his Yondan in Akayama Ryu Jujutsu, he is also a Godan in Judo with over twenty-five years of experience. He opened Gulf Coast Judo in Ocean Springs, MS, in 2000.
Donald Paul - Yondan - Mississippi
Holding black belts in Judo, Karate, and Akayama Ryu Jujutsu, Paul Sensei has been a tournament champion many times as well as serving as an auxiliary Police Officer. He has been a student of Akayama Ryu since the 1990s, and runs Pascagoula Akayama Ryu.
Nathan Williams - Yondan - Louisiana
Nathan Williams began his martial arts training in 1992 under the instruction of Mark Barlow Sensei. He received his Shodan in 1996. Upon returning to Birmingham, AL, Nathan studied under Richard Worthington Sensei for several years before moving with his family to Louisiana. For four years, he studied and earned a first-degree black belt in American Kenpo.
Chris Blanton - Yondan - North Carolina
Chris Blanton holds 6th Dan in Kodokan Judo, Kenpo Jujitsu, and USJA Jujitsu; and 3rd Dan in Karate and Taekwondo. He started training in Iwayamaryu Jujutsu under Shihan Jack Oliver in 1971. He is the former chief instructor of Kodenkan Martial Arts Institute with schools in Colorado, Nebraska, and California. His specialties are teaching tactics against multiple armed attackers, traditional bunkai to black belts of other arts, and break-falls.
Jason Lynch - Sandan - Florida
Having trained extensively with Mark Barlow and Richard Worthington since 1994, Jason Lynch is now a Sandan. He has run Akayama Ryu clubs at Woodlawn Beach Middle School and Pace High School.
Matt Hudson - Sandan - Texas
With over fifteen years in federal law enforcement, including serving as a Defensive Tactics Instructor, Matt Hudson is a Sandan in Akayama Ryu Jujutsu. In addition to training in Akayama Ryu for over twenty years, he is also a Shodan in Kokoro Aikido.
Larry Camejo - Nidan - Panama
Originally from Trinidad, Larry Camejo now heads Human-X Academy in Boquete, Panama. Along with holding the rank of Nidan in Akayama Ryu, Larry is also a Tomiki Aikido black belt and instructor.
Rob Thornton - Nidan - Tennessee
Rob Thornton is a Sandan in Judo and Nidan in Akayama Ryu. With over 20 years of experience, he is the Chief Instructor for the Tiger Judo Club at the University of Memphis. He also teaches the Judo classes at Border Martial Arts Academy in Collierville.
Daniel Boutwell - Shodan - Alabama
Training under Mark Barlow since 2006, Daniel Boutwell earned the rank of Shodan in 2014. He moved to Shoshone, ID, and started Akayama Ryu Shugyo dojo. He has since returned to Alabama, and is currently a lieutenant in the Silverhill Police Department.
Michelle Alexander - Shodan - Mississippi
In 2007, Michelle began her martial arts training in Hapkido under Master J. R. West in Ridgeland, MS. During her time there, she was designated as the Beginners Instructor and eventually achieved the rank of 5th Dan. In the midst of her training in Hapkido, Michelle befriended Doug Bedsaul who attended a USKMAF seminar and in turn, she attended an Akayama Ryu training Camp…which she continues to do to this day.
Other Akayama Ryu Jujutsu Black Belts include:
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Frankie Bey
Joel Brown Florence Bradley Ron Buford Ron Burcham* Frankie Canant II Ricky Carruth David Close John Cotton Abigayle Crump Ted Dickerson Eddie Drake Les Ernst Greg Faulkner Wade Filmore |
David Fowler
Chad George Steve Gillespie* Karl Grebner Eric Hite Ken Jones Sabrina Knight Al Lambert* Carter Lowery Joseph Lumpkin David Lyons Jeff Martin Bob Montgomery Forrest Morgan Karl Mueller |
Paul Mueller
Mike Overman Jackie Robinson Patsy Rose Elizabeth Seuferling Jim Sherbrook Foster Smith Hal Songer Jay Standley Chris Stevens Ron Stevens* Teresa Thorne Eric Welch Bryan Webb Robert Wheeler Zack Wills *Deceased |