Sensei Dennis Estes

Sensei Estes in his Jobu Shin Kan dojo

Dennis J. Estes is the Sensei and school head of the Jobu Shin Kan dojo in Eureka, CA. Dennis holds a black belt in Dan Zan Ryu Jujitsu that is recognized by both the American Judo and Jujitsu Federation, and the Kodenkan Yudanshakai, as well as a blackbelt in Daito Ryu AikiJutsu. Dennis began training in 1959, at the age of six years old. He and his father Art Estes began training with Jay Moynahan in Pullman,Washington. Moynahan Sensei trained in Japan in both Kodokan Judo and Shudokan Karate and in the San Francisco Bay area in Dan Zan Ryu Jujitsu under Prof. Ray Law. While a teenager, Dennis assisted his father (who was his sensei) in teaching classes at SouthWestern Oregon Community College as well as in the dojo.

After graduating from High School, Dennis went into the USAF. While in the states, Dennis worked in JUDO and THAI BOXING while in Thailand. Dennis is certified in both Utah and Idaho as a Police Instructor, and while in Idaho he taught at the Police Academy. Dennis has taught both basic recruit and in service classes. Dennis is a certified instructor in PR-24 Baton, Kubotan, Arrest and Control Techniques, Self Defense, and Lindell Method of Handgun retention. Dennis has received National Certification as a Police Self Defense Instructor. After moving to Utah in the early 1980's, Dennis and his father opened the Estes Bushido Jutsu Kan in Lehi Utah in 1982. A year later Art left this dojo and started Yamanaka KodenKan in Pleasant Grove Utah. Dennis continued as Sensei of the Bushido Jutsu Kan. While instructing here Dennis had 5 students reach the rank of black belt. This school has been turned over to Robert Hodgkins and Tom Greenwood.

In 1986 Dennis moved to Eureka, Ca. and within six months had started a new dojo. This one he named JOBU SHIN KAN which translates as School of the Strong Spirit. This school has produced 11 blackbelts, 4 of which were charter members. In the past several years, Dennis has had several students win AAU National Jujitsu Championships in the Kata, Free Style and Randori divisions. Dennis rejoined the American Judo and JuJitsu Federation in 1983 and after waiting the mandatory one year, took and passed their Shodan certification exam. This was 1984. In 1986 Dennis was promoted to Nidan, in 1990 to Sandan and in 1995 to Yodan.

In recent years, Dennis has been a student of Prof. Tom Ball and an ongoing student of Prof. Robert C. Hudson.

The Jobu Shin Kan homepage is www.jobushinkan.com

This page maintained by George Arrington

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Text and graphics Copyright © 1999, Dennis Estes.
Used with permission.