Taikidojutsu/Shinobi MMA/American Academy of Martial Arts

**Prince Vlad** · Posted On: 9/29/2010 8:41am

"9th degree blackbelt in Ninjutsu
9th degree blackbelt in Taijutsu"........ wtf?

I take it this simply means 9th dan in BUjinkan Budo Taijutsu. The misleading part of this is separating the two. I'm almost surprised not to see them list all 9 schools with 9th dan beside them.

***DerAuslander*** · Posted On: 9/29/2010 1:49pm

Originally Posted by DuckofDeath

From the looks of this, it would appear that a "Travel Marshal" is one who has completed a course offered by an outfit called "America in Defense":

http://www.totaldefenseinc.com/aboutus_ourstaff.htm

Google "'America in Defense" travel marshal" and you'll come up with similar hits.

World Black Belt - Aviation in Defense program

So what we have here is a private company that offers combatives training for flight attendants. Evidently they are the official trainers of American Airlines. However, we've contacted American Airlines through official channels, and as mentioned, they have no comment.

Pictures of AID Training

Looks like typical RBSD.

So, are the Elrods certified trainers in this system? Why the title "Travel Marshal"? I find no reference to this being the title conferred upon completion of training. Researching the WBB site, the only references I can find about "Travel Marshals" are on two of the bios of WBB members.

9-11 Flight 93 Memorial

Sifu Mark Gerry

Are they certified to teach this system? Are they actually employed by American Airlines? Do they have any sort of official status with the airline, because everyone I've talked to with TSA & the Air Marshals haven't even heard of this program.

***DerAuslander*** · Posted On: 9/29/2010 1:55pm

Originally Posted by Prince Vlad

"9th degree blackbelt in Ninjutsu
9th degree blackbelt in Taijutsu"........ wtf?

I take it this simply means 9th dan in BUjinkan Budo Taijutsu. The misleading part of this is separating the two. I'm almost surprised not to see them list all 9 schools with 9th dan beside them.

Yeah, that one is kind of a blatant "Duh".

**Raging Monkey** · Posted On: 9/30/2010 10:16am

Originally Posted by DerAuslander108

From what I understand, they were under Bud Malstrom. I don't know if they still are. I don't think they're Toshindo. As far as I know, they were completely McDojo Bujinkan up until about 4-5 years ago when they became an MMA school.

They did move uder Bud sometime around 1999 - 2000. Honestly can't remember when.