Professor Dennis Estes
The SENSEI and school head is Prof. Dennis J. Estes. Prof Estes holds a black belt in
DanZan 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. Prof. Estes began training in 1959, at the age of six years old. He and
his father Art Estes began training with Jay Monahan in Pullman, Washington. Monahan
Sensei trained in both Kodokan Judo and Shudokan Karate and in the San
Francisco Bay area in DanZan 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, he went into the United States Air
Force. While in the states, he trained in JUDO and he trained in 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 the 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, Prof. Estes and his father opened the
Estes Bushido Jutsu Kan in Lehi, Utah. This was 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 he had
5 students reach the rank of black belt. This school has been turned over to
Robert Hodgkin 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
Martial Spirit. This school has produced more than 21 blackbelts, 5 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 in
1984. In 1986 Dennis was promoted to Nidan, in 1990 to Sandan, on to Yondan in
1995 and to the rank of Godan in 1998. In March of 2001, at the National
Covention of the American Judo and Jujitsu Federation he was promoted to the
rank of Rokudan and awarded the title of Professor.
In 2003 Professor Estes left Eureka, California and moved north to Gresham,
Oregon where he opened JoBu Shin Kan Hoku. The original dojo was left in the
care of Sensei Jon Sylvia and Prof. Estes carried the name with him adding Hoku
(north) to differentiate between the two schools.
Dennis' current Sensei is Prof. Robert C. Hudson and he has been a student
of Prof. Tom Ball.
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