Our Instructors’ decades of experience teaching and training allows us to provide a logical system of learning with proven step-by-step curriculum.
Sensei Brian Simmons
Sensei Brian Simmons is the Head Instructor of Shin Gan Dojo, dedicating over 30 years to the daily study and teaching of traditional Japanese martial arts. His journey began around 1990, leading him to the disciplined world of Ninjutsu and the authentic Ninpo training at Yamato Dojo under his teacher and life mentor, Sensei Chadwick Minge, starting in 1991.
Brian’s early years were marked by intense, immersive training, often one-on-one with Sensei Minge, honing his physical skills and deep understanding of Taihenjutsu (rolls and falls). This dedication earned him trusted status, becoming an Uke (Assistant) and mastering the crucial balance of committed attack and controlled technique. His commitment was formally recognized in 1994 when Sensei Minge awarded him Sho Dan, a rank personally affirmed by Tanemura Sensei, who honored him as an “American Samurai.”
As his abilities matured, Sensei Brian embraced teaching, leading private and public classes for adults and children from 1995 onward. He discovered that teaching deepened his own understanding of Ninpo. In 2004, following his teacher’s footsteps, he opened his own martial arts school, Shin Gan Dojo, in Sparks, Nevada, which successfully operated for 15 years.
In 2019, Sensei Brian and his wife Gigi moved to Panama, continuing to share their passion, opening a school in Boquete that operated for 1 year. In 2020 they returned to the United States, establishing their current training facility in Liberty Hill, Texas. They opened the doors in Texas in February 2021 and continue at this location to this day.
Under Sensei Minge’s continuous guidance, Sensei Brian has achieved the prestigious rank of 4th Level Instructor’s License in Ninpo Tai Jutsu. This comprehensive rank encompasses high black belt levels in several traditional Japanese Ryu Ha (disciplines), including:
- Asayama Ichiden Ryu Ju Tai Jutsu
- Takagi Yoshin Ryu Ju Tai Jutsu
- Shinden Fudo Ryu Ju Tai Jutsu
- Kukishin Ryu Daken Tai Jutsu
- Koto Ryu Koppo Jutsu
- Gyokko Ryu Kosshi Jutsu
- Kukishin Ryu Bo Jutsu
- Kukishin Ryu Ken Jutsu
Sensei Brian passionately shares his deep knowledge and wisdom, truly believing martial arts is a lifelong pursuit. He continues to learn, grow, and share his profound gifts with the community, guided by the foundational principles handed down directly from Japan: from Shoto Tanemura Sensei, to Sensei Chadwick Minge, to him.
We take training seriously, and we insist on having a good time too!
Sensei Gigi Simmons
Sensei Gigi Simmons is a dedicated instructor at Shin Gan Dojo, a traditional Japanese martial arts school located in Texas, USA. Her martial arts journey began in 2008 under Sensei Brian, and by 2015, she embarked on her path as an instructor, eventually leaving a career in corporate Human Resources to devote herself full-time to the dojo.
With 17 years of extensive study and a decade of teaching experience, Sensei Gigi’s expertise spans the comprehensive curriculum of Ninpo, including disciplines such as:
- Jujutsu: Focusing on joint locks, throws, takedowns, chokes, and strikes.
- Daken Tai Jutsu: The art of punching and kicking, complementing Jujutsu.
- Koppo Jutsu: Destructive techniques aimed at the skeletal structure.
- Kosshi Jutsu: Applying precise pressure points for effective self-defense.
- Taihenjutsu: The crucial art of rolls, breakfalls, and ground fighting to save oneself.
Her training also encompasses specific Ryu Ha (traditional schools) including Asayama Ichiden Ryu Tai-Jutsu, Kukishin Ryu Daken Tai-Jutsu, Kukishin Ryu Bo Jutsu, and other Japanese traditions, all learned directly from her husband, Sensei Brian Simmons, and complimented by regular attendance at seminars taught by Sensei Chadwick Minge.
The dojo upholds a strong foundational lineage, with principles handed down from Shoto Tanemura Sensei in Japan, through Sensei Chadwick Minge, to Sensei Brian to Sensei Gigi Simmons.
Sensei Gigi continues her personal martial arts development with a deep commitment to the art. She is excited to further her understanding and training in Asayama Ichiden Ryu Ken Jutsu & Bo Jutsu during a planned visit to Japan in September 2025. Her passion lies in guiding students of all ages and abilities, helping them to not only master practical self-defense skills but also to cultivate discipline, mental fortitude, and true confidence.