Our Instructors
Merek Dorf Sensei
YONDAN (4 DAN) / JUN SHIDOIN – RYUSHIN SHOUCHI RYU
BLUE BELT – BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU
QI GONG - LEVEL 1 INSTRUCTOR
Merek started Santa Cruz Todokai under the direction of Phil Ortiz Sensei in 2016. He has had the opportunity to achieve Iaido ranks in New York, Vancouver, Canada, Barcelona, Spain and Portland, Oregon. Professionally he works in the agricultural field for over 15 years. If he is not in the dojo, Merek can be found surfing or dipping into some high alpine lake in the Sierra Nevada.
PHILIP ORTIZ SENSEI
KYOSHI (6.5 DAN) / SHIHANDAI – RYUSHIN SHOUCHI RYU
SHICHIDAN (7th DAN) – MUSO SHINDEN RYU
TEACHING LICENSE – KYUDO
As the chief instructor for the New York Budo Association, Sensei Phil Ortiz has studied martial arts for over 40 years. Beginning his career in Shorin-Ryu Karate under Sensei Ansei Ueshiro and Sensei James Wax, Shotokan Karate under Sensei Kurt Blackwood and Judo under Sensei Carl Jameson.
He began to study iai under Otani Sensei in 1972. Currently, he holds the rank of Shichidan (7th-degree black belt) in Muso Shinden Ryu and Kyoshi (intermediate rank above 6th-degree black belt) (Shihandai) in Ryushin Shouchi-Ryu under Yahagi Sensei. He has also helped establish most of the affiliated dojos across the United States, Canada, and Mexico – including California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Toronto, and Mexico City.
Phil Sensei runs our study group in SHINTO MUSO-RYU JODO under the guidance of the Ken Zen Institute. He also has a teaching license in Kyudo under Kanjuro Shibata Sensei and teaches Kyudo at NYBA. He also is a student of Yabusame (流鏑馬) (horseback archery) as well as practicing shuriken, tanjo, and tai-chi.
Throughout all his years of studying many budo arts he has made frequent trips to Japan refining his practice skills. Consecutively with his Iaido practice and study, Sensei Ortiz began a comprehensive study of Kyudo in 1975. He worked under the tutelage of Shigagi Sensei in NYC and later with Kanjuro Shibata Sensei and Sensei Don Simanski. Presently he is working with Zen Archery under the guidance of Sensei Rick Beal in California.
During his visits to Japan he also had the opportunity to work with the Takeda Kyubado (horse archery) near Kamakura. In the United States in Fort Dodge, Iowa, he studied with head archers Kyueki and Misa Tsuyoshi of the Takeda Kyubado.
Under the guidance of Rick Beal Sensei he teaches Zen Archery in NYC.
Phil Sensei helped orchestrate the creation of Santa Cruz Todo Kai and visits frequently to hold multi-week seminars in Santa Cruz.
KUNIKAZU YAHAGI SENSEI
2nd SOKE, KOBUDO HANSHI (9th DAN) – RYUSHIN SHOUCHI RYU
HACHIDAN (8th DAN) – IMAF (INTERNATIONAL MARTIAL ARTS FEDERATION)
SHICHIDAN (7th DAN) – ALL NIPPON KENDO FEDERATION
NIDAN (2nd DAN) – KODOKAN JUDO
Originally from the Katsuka district in Tokyo, Yahagi sensei began practicing Kendo at the age of 10 and holds a rank of 7th Dan from the All Nippon Kendo Federation.
He also studied Judo at the age of 12 and now holds the rank of 2nd Dan from the Kodokan school. He joined Ryushin Shouchi-ryu (at the time Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu) when he was 30, under Kawabata sensei.
Yahagi sensei is now the Soke of Ryushin Shouchi-ryu and is accredited a rank of 8th Dan from the IMAF (International Martial Arts Federation) and is also an active board member.
Santa Cruz Todo Kai studies Ryushin Shouchi-ryu directly under Yahagi Sensei, who guides our training. We usually attend annual RSR seminars in New York, Portland, and Europe.