Grand Master Ronald Duncan

O'SENSEI RONALD DUNCAN

06/04/1937 - 11/19/2012
Born in Panama. ProIessor Ronald Duncan began training in
boxing at the age oI seven. Since ProIessor Ronald Duncan grew
up in an area where many oI the elite military Iorces oI that
country were training in jungle warIare, he learned at
an early age to read the signs oI nature Ior directions in and out
oI the jungle. It was the beginning oI a long and very involved
career in many aspects oI the martial arts.
Ronald Duncan went on to serve in the United States Marine
Corp where he was a member oI the USMC Judo team and
earned one oI his earliest black belt rankings. ProIessor Duncan
went on to earn a black belt in several other disciplines such as
Hakko Ryu Jujitsu, Dai-nippon Jujitsu Ryu, Sosuishi Ryu, Kin
Dai Gakko Ryu, Aikido, Aiki-Jujitsu, Kempo, Kobujitsu
(weaponry), and Shinobino-jitsu (popularly known as Ninjitsu).
His teachers were all legendary men; Charlie Neal, Ernie
Cates, Tatsuo Uzaki, and Don Draeger.
"Ron Duncan was and is a quiet, humble, polite, and extremely
hard working martial artist oI great ability. He cross- trained
constantly. He took advice Irom everyone and I never heard him criticize anyone. I`m proud oI the Iact that I
was inIluential in his learning process. 'Sensei Ron Duncan studied judo, jujitsu and kniIe with me Ior 2
years. 1957-1959. He was an excellent martial arts student. He was in the same group oI students at my dojo in
Jacksonville, NC as Don Nagle, Jim Giles, Don Bohan, Rick Nemura, Bryan "Chick" Burk, Howard George-
1960 Greco Roman Wrestling Olympic Champion. Pat Barris (who I taught Irom age 8-10 when he moved to
the West Coast, Barris was twice Pan Am Judo Champion. All became Iamous in martial arts history. Ron
Duncan is a pioneer in ninja history weaponry and tactics. "
Written by, Robert A. Zellner
Founder and Chief Master Teacher
Ra'zel X-Treme Tactical Defense Systems
www.razeltactical.com
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Ernie Cates
Evolving into such a versatile practitioner oI the martial arts, it is highly and
widely known he was the Iirst to practice and teach Ninjutsu in the states in the
60`s and 70`s beIore the ninja craze hit America in the 80's and 90's. Students Irom
his school had great success on the tournament circuits oI those days and he had
already had series oI articles published in the martial art magazines oI the day.
ProIessor Ronald Duncan became the Iirst non-oriental to be publically
recognized in "OIIicial Karate" magazine as a master oI martial arts weaponry.
In an article by OIIicial Karate Magazine in August oI 1971 the magazine
recognizes Sensei Ronald Duncan.
'He is a nidan in the American Ka-rate Federation, a shodan in the Ameri-can
Judo and Ju-Jitsu Federation, a shomokoroku in the Nippon Sosuishiryu Ju-
Jitsukai, a godan in the Hakkoryu Ju-Jutsu Federation, and, although he doesn't call
himselI a Master oI Ninjit-su, he's about the only one. Ronald Duncan is a man oI
many titles, but all deservedly earned and backed up by a multitude oI talents;
almost as many as the amount oI weapons he is master oI. - OIIicial Karate
For many years to come, ProIessor Duncan would thrill audiences around the world with spectacular
demonstrations that would include vast assortments oI traditional and non traditional weapons. Ronald
Duncan was also the Iirst to be shown catching live arrows with his bare hands on nationally televised
programs such as "Thrill Seekers" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v72tbio78jAQ, and ABC`s "Wide World
oI Sports" where he was acknowledged as the 'Father oI American Ninjutsu.
On Black Belt magazine's website http://www.blackbeltmag.com/styles/ninjutsu Black belt credits Ron
Duncan Ior his eIIorts with Ninjutsu.
"Ninjutsu is the art oI Japans ninja warriors. It grew during the nations Ieudal period (13th to 17th century),
when missions oI espionage and assassination were oIten carried out against warlords. In the 1970s and 80s,
ninjutsu was popularized in the West by Ronald Duncan, Stephen K. Hayes and Masaaki Hatsumi."
Ronald Duncan has taught Special Troops, Navy S.E.A.L. Teams, law enIorcement agencies, and various
government agenc ies in Ioreign countries. ProIessor Duncan has not neglected modern weaponry. He is also
a certiIied expert in Iirearms, and competition shooting with over 200 competition shooting awards. Having
such knowledge in Iirearms, ProIessor Duncan is quite proIicient in combative and gun disarming tactics.
ProIessor Duncan has a 6 volume Aikijujutsu instructional series and a single volume dvd on koga ryu
ninjutsu available on dvd. http://espytv.com/aiki.htm
Since the establishment oI his Way oI the Winds System http://www.wayoIthewinds.com/ , schools
internationally are aIIiliated with him. He has taught in Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Panama, England
and South AIrica. He has also been involved with the blind, physically handicapped, and homeless inner-city
youth.
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Ronald Duncan is a recipient oI numerous Hall oI Fame awards and
honors including the ProIessional Karate Federation in 1977, Turtull
Hall oI Fame in 1981, Marine Martial Arts Federation, Hall oI Fame
Charter LiIe Member in 1997, Martial Arts Masters, Pioneers & Legends
Hall oI Fame 1997, Tribute to the Greatest Masters oI the Twentieth
Century Hall oI Fame (sponsored by Wesley Snipes) in 1998, and The
World Head oI Family Sokeship Council Hall oI Fame 1999, and AFMA
Hall oI Fame 2000.
On Sunday, Januaury 20th,2007 at 7pm beIore a capacity crowd a
Tribute to Grand Master Ronald Duncan was held. The Madison Square
Garden Hall oI Fame inductions New York City N. Y. hosted by Grand
Master Aaron Banks the creator oI The Oriental World oI SelI DeIense
shows and World ProIessional Martial Arts Organization, honored
Grand Master Ronald Duncan Ior introducing Ninjitsu and other Martial
Arts to the Western World thru this venue in 1969. The event was
attended by some oI the world's leading exponents oI Martial and Iight
sciences including world boxing champions honoring Grand Master
Ronald Duncan. On June 13th, 2007 in Brooklyn N.Y. Grand Master
Ronald Duncan received a Pioneering award Ior 50 years teaching the legendary practices oI Ninjitsu and
various martial arts in America. In November oI 2007, ProI. Duncan was inducted to the International
Association oI Martial Artists Hall oI Fame 2007. "A marine veteran ProIessor Duncan was one oI the First
Marines back Irom oversea`s in the early 1950`s and returned with his skills (Nin-jitsu/Martial Arts) to Camp
Lejeune, NC where Don Nagle (Isshinryu Karate), and Ernie Cates (Judo) also had based at the same time. For
his great Accomplishments Duncan is inducted to the IAMA Hall oI Fame 2007."
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-Grand Master Gary Alexander
An upcoming martial art documentary entitled "The search Ior
count Dante" by Floyd Webb http://thesearchIorcountdante.com/
will include an interview with ProI. Ronald Duncan. Webb the
Iilm maker oI the documentary had this to say oI his meeting with
Sensei Duncan: "He has 50 years experience and I want to have a
picture oI how he started his career in the racially charged years
oI the 1950s. Master Duncan has been a consistent, persistent
presence on the martial arts scene. His knowledge oI weapons
and ninja practices are legend and he remains active as an
instructor. I interviewed Master Ronald Duncan while I was out
there. For me that was highlight oI the trip. He was someone I
had always wanted to meet." Addressing Duncan's critics who
seem to Irequent the internet Webb commented that "the critics
can say what they will about Duncan." Webb then went on, "all I
can say is they have no idea oI Duncan's skills and experiences. I
will leave it at that." http://johnkeehan.blogspot.com/ Dayn
Derose oI Drew University, who hosted the Jinichi Kawakami
Banke Shinobiden seminar on June 26th,27th and 28th oI 2009 and had this to say oI ProI. Duncan.
"ProIessor Ronald Duncan who is aIIectionately called O-Sensei by his many students deserves a special
mention due to the Iact that without his help this presentation would not have been possible."
Kawakami showing respect and admiration taking O'sensei Duncan's hand reIerred to him as the Great one.
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