IN MEMORY OF: Grandmaster Ron Duncan

I remember when I was younger, there was a martial arts documentary called The Warrior Within. It featured many MA masters such as Dan Inosanto, Chuck Norris, and Prof. Ron Duncan.

For those who don’t know who Grandmaster Ronald Duncan was, here’s a photo from the Black Belt archives. He’s the man on the left. (It’s not the best shot, but it’s all we could find on such short notice.)

Mr. Duncan’s history in the martial arts went way back. In our January 1965 issue, the Instructor’s Profile department listed the 27-year-old as head instructor at the Bushido School of Self-Defense in Brooklyn, New York. He had a background in hakko-ryu jujitsu and numerous other Japanese and Okinawan arts.

In the ensuing years, Mr. Duncan would become known as the “father of American ninjutsu.”

 

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GRAND MASTER RONALD DUNCAN
American Ninjitsu

Born in Panama. Professor Ronald Duncan began training in boxing at the age of seven. Since Professor Ronald Duncan grew up in an area where many of the elite military forces of that country were training in jungle warfare, he learned at an early age to read the signs of nature for directions in and out of the jungle. It was the beginning of a long and very involved career in many aspects of the martial arts.

Ronald Duncan went on to serve in the United States Marine Corp where he was a member of the USMC Judo team and earned one of his earliest black belt rankings. Professor Duncan went on to earn a black belt in several other disciplines such as Hakko Ryu Jujitsu, Dai-nippon Jujitsu Ryu, Sosuishi Ryu, Kin Dai Gakko Ryu, Aikido, Aiki-Jujitsu, Kempo, Kobujitsu (weaponry), and Shinobino-jitsu (popularly known as Ninjitsu). His teachers were all legendary men; Charlie Neal, Ernie Cates, Tatsuo Uzaki, and Don Draeger. 

Evolving into such a versatile practitioner of the martial arts, Professor Ronald Duncan became the first non-oriental to be publically recognized in "Official Karate" magazine as a master of martial arts weaponry. For many years to come, Professor Duncan would thrill audiences around the world with spectacular demonstrations that would include vast assortments of traditional and non traditional weapons. Ronald Duncan was also the first to be shown catching live arrows with his bare hands on nationally televised programs such as "Thrill Seekers", and "Wide World of Sports". 

Ronald Duncan has taught Special Troops, Navy S.E.A.L. Teams, law enforcement agencies, and various government agencies in foreign countries. He is also a certified expert in firearms, and competition shooting. Having such knowledge in firearms, Professor Duncan is quite proficient in combative and gun disarming tactics. Since the establishment of his Way of the Winds™ System, schools internationally are affiliated with him. He has taught in Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Panama, England and South Africa. He has also been involved with the blind, physically handicapped, and homeless inner-city youth. 

Ronald Duncan is a recipient of numerous Hall of Fame awards and honors including the Professional Karate Federation in 1977, Turtull Hall of Fame in 1981, Marine Martial Arts Federation Hall of Fame Charter Life Member in 1997, Martial Arts Masters, Pioneers & Legends Hall of Fame 1997, Tribute to the Greatest Masters of the Twentieth Century Hall of Fame (sponsored by Wesley Snipes) in 1998, and The World Head of Family Sokeship Council Hall of Fame 1999, and AFMA Hall of Fame 2000. 

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