Don Schmidt has been involved in the Martial Arts for about 28 years. He spent nearly half of that time exploring styles such as Kenpo Karate, Aikido, Kung Fu, and Jujitsu until he began training with Mr. Francois Petit in 1991. With Petit Sensei’s guidance, Mr. Schmidt earned a Shodan in Sankukai Goshindo Karate/Jujitsu, a system Petit Sensei developed from his extensive experience in Hakko Ryu Jujitsu, Karate, and Judo.
Schmidt Shihan was first introduced to Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu in 1993 by Jeffrey Forest and trained under Forest Sensei until 1994 when Mr. Forest moved overseas to study. Between 1994 and 1996, Mr. Schmidt continued to train with other members of the group that Forest Sensei had assembled. At this time, Mr. Schmidt also began supplementing his training by attending lessons at the Bujinkan Ohoko Dojo under the leadership of Shihan Ronald Blackwood. It was through Blackwood Shihan that Mr. Schmidt was introduced to Shihan Phillip Legare. Mr. Schmidt began training with Legare Shihan in 1996 when he accepted work in the Washington, D.C. area. He trained regularly as a member of the Taka-Seigi Dojo in Maryland until his return to the Los Angeles, California region in 1999. Mr. Schmidt continues to train on a regular basis by teaching students of his own, visiting Blackwood Shihan’s Ohoko Dojo, attending seminars, and by annual trips to the Hombu Dojo in Japan. Mr. Schmidt maintains a close affiliation with Legare Shihan as member of the Taka-Seigi Dojo.