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 - Florida
Mark Barlow, Hanshi, is the Senior Instructor of Akayama Ryu Jujutsu. He started training in judo and jujutsu under Akayama Ryu founder Alex Marshall in the mid-70s. He has also studied jujutsu under Toshi Takikawa, Aikido with Karl Geis and Tetsuro Nariyama, and Muay Thai with Riki and Terry Chamkow. He has 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 holds black belt ranks in Tomiki Aikido, Seki Ryu Jujutsu, Jikishinkage Ryu Jujutsu, and Judo.
Richard Worthington - Hachidan - Alabama
Richard Worthington, Hanshi, has been training in martial arts for over 40 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.
Mark Burton - Shichidan - Louisiana
A former Marine Corps Judo Team member, Mark Burton, Kyoshi, 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.
Ed Byers - Shichidan - Indiana
Ed Byers, Kyoshi, 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.
Chris Dewey - Shichidan - Wyoming
Chris Dewey, Kyoshi, started training in martial arts in 1969, and has gone on to earn a seventh 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 owned his own martial arts school from 1996 until 2012. Chris now makes his residence in Laramie, WY.
Mark Wathen - Rokudan- Alabama
The senior student of Worthington Sensei, Mark Wathen has over 2 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.
Doug Bedsaul - Godan - Mississippi
Doug Bedsaul actively competes in Judo (4th Dan) and Taekwondo (4th Dan), and is a nationally certified coach. He has taught martial arts for local schools, non-profit organizations, and businesses. A Godan in Akayama Ryu, Doug operates Downtown Martial Arts Academy in Starkville, where he advocates practical self-defense training for all.
Tim Knight - Godan - Alabama
Tim Knight is a retired detective with the Gulf Shores Police Department. He is also the dojo cho of Gulf Coast Jujutsu. He holds black belts in Taekwondo, Tomiki Aikido, and Akayama Ryu Jujutsu.
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 - Alabama
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.
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.
Larry Camejo - Nidan - Ontario
Originally from Trinidad, Larry Camejo now heads Mu Shin Kan Dojo in Toronto. Along with holding the rank of Nidan in Akayama Ryu, Larry is also a Tomiki Aikido black belt and instructor.
Matt Hudson - Nidan - Arizona
With over ten years as a federal law enforcement, including serving as a Defensive Tactics Instructor, Matt Hudson is a Nidan in Akayama Ryu Jujutsu. In addition to training in Akayama Ryu for over sixteen years, he is also a Shodan in Kokoro Aikido.
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.
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 - Florida
Mark Barlow, Hanshi, is the Senior Instructor of Akayama Ryu Jujutsu. He started training in judo and jujutsu under Akayama Ryu founder Alex Marshall in the mid-70s. He has also studied jujutsu under Toshi Takikawa, Aikido with Karl Geis and Tetsuro Nariyama, and Muay Thai with Riki and Terry Chamkow. He has 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 holds black belt ranks in Tomiki Aikido, Seki Ryu Jujutsu, Jikishinkage Ryu Jujutsu, and Judo.
Richard Worthington - Hachidan - Alabama
Richard Worthington, Hanshi, has been training in martial arts for over 40 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.
Mark Burton - Shichidan - Louisiana
A former Marine Corps Judo Team member, Mark Burton, Kyoshi, 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.
Ed Byers - Shichidan - Indiana
Ed Byers, Kyoshi, 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.
Chris Dewey - Shichidan - Wyoming
Chris Dewey, Kyoshi, started training in martial arts in 1969, and has gone on to earn a seventh 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 owned his own martial arts school from 1996 until 2012. Chris now makes his residence in Laramie, WY.
Mark Wathen - Rokudan- Alabama
The senior student of Worthington Sensei, Mark Wathen has over 2 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.
Doug Bedsaul - Godan - Mississippi
Doug Bedsaul actively competes in Judo (4th Dan) and Taekwondo (4th Dan), and is a nationally certified coach. He has taught martial arts for local schools, non-profit organizations, and businesses. A Godan in Akayama Ryu, Doug operates Downtown Martial Arts Academy in Starkville, where he advocates practical self-defense training for all.
Tim Knight - Godan - Alabama
Tim Knight is a retired detective with the Gulf Shores Police Department. He is also the dojo cho of Gulf Coast Jujutsu. He holds black belts in Taekwondo, Tomiki Aikido, and Akayama Ryu Jujutsu.
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 - Alabama
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.
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.
Larry Camejo - Nidan - Ontario
Originally from Trinidad, Larry Camejo now heads Mu Shin Kan Dojo in Toronto. Along with holding the rank of Nidan in Akayama Ryu, Larry is also a Tomiki Aikido black belt and instructor.
Matt Hudson - Nidan - Arizona
With over ten years as a federal law enforcement, including serving as a Defensive Tactics Instructor, Matt Hudson is a Nidan in Akayama Ryu Jujutsu. In addition to training in Akayama Ryu for over sixteen years, he is also a Shodan in Kokoro Aikido.
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.
Other Akayama Ryu Jujutsu Black Belts include:
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Michelle Alexander
Frankie Bey Florence Bradley Ron Buford Ron Burcham* Frankie Canant II Ricky Carruth John Cotton Janet Dewey Les Ernst Wade Filmore |
David Fowler
Steve Gillespie* Ken Jones Sabrina Knight Al Lambert* Carter Lowery Joseph Lumpkin David Lyons Bob Montgomery Karl Mueller Jackie Robinson |
Patsy Rose
Elizabeth Seuferling Foster Smith Hal Songer Jay Standley Chris Stevens Ron Stevens* Teresa Thorne Eric Welch Robert Wheeler Zack Wills *Deceased |