“The study of martial arts should be a necessary and pleasant part of one's life –
not an all consuming passion that erodes away one's true identity."
– Donald Munro
We support these courageous endeavors:
• Meow Aid
Donald is a Vegetarian and remains committed to
Animal Welfare and Rescue efforts.
“The Greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
– Mohandas Gandhi
Medical
Career
Munro began his medical career as an EMT-P (Emergency Medical Technologist – Paramedic) in the Advanced Life Support Ambulance Division of the Calgary Fire Department, He continued his career with the Calgary Emergency Medical Services Department upon it's inception. After a decade of service as a Critical Care Paramedic, he resigned his civil position to continue his martial arts career and further his pursuit of underwater exploration and education.
He has continued to instruct critical care personnel throughout North America (including; Physicians, Paramedics, Nurses, and Military Personnel) in ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support), PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support), ITLS (Advanced International Trauma Life Support) and BLS (Basic Life Support). At 20 years old, he gained notoriety for developing less conservative, cutting edge instructional methodologies in the delivery of each of these training programs, in order to reduce candidate stress and maximize correct candidate performance and skill retention in classroom and clinical settings.
Underwater Exploration &
Diving Medicine
Donald is a 25-Year instructing member of PADI (The Professional Association of Diving Instructors). He is a PADI Course Director (Instructor-Trainer), former PADI Instructor Examiner, DSAT (Diving Science and Technology) Instructor-Trainer, DAN (Divers Alert Network) Instructor-Trainer, and former ANDI International (American Nitrox Divers International) Instructor-Trainer. In 1991 he assumed the post of Chief Training Officer at PADI Canada College, and during this time was responsible for training and examining PADI Scuba Diving Instructors throughout Canada.
Donald has trained diving instructors in specialized areas of diving that include: Underwater Crime Scene Investigation, High Altitude Diving, Deep Diving, Diver Propulsion Vehicles, and Ice Diving. In the 1990's he became one of the early Canadian proponents of Instructor training and exploration in the areas of Technical Diving, Trimix Diving, Gas Blending Technology, and Rebreather Diving. In 1989, he was certified as a Handicapped Scuba Association Instructor and undertook the training of divers with physical disabilities. As a Surveillance Submarine Pilot Instructor Trainer and ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) Instructor, Donald trained personnel from several countries in the use of these vehicles for research and counter-terrorism purposes. He also continues to teach courses in several venues of Emergency Diving Medicine.
In addition to his involvement in environmental training and research, Donald has served in the Canadian Armed Forces Infantry.
Film & Television
Production
Donald is a member of the Directors Guild of Canada and pursues his present career in the film and television business as Production Manager, Producer, Director, Composer, and Electronic Cinematographer. His profile can be viewed on the International Movie Database.
Donald Munro
MAU Founder & Chief Instructor
Donald Munro is a 14th Degree Black Belt Shihan (Master Instructor) in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu and Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu. The martial name given to him by Sōke Masaaki Hatsumi in 1995 is Mu Ryu (The Dream Dragon), owing to his early work as a stunt performer in the film and television business.
He began his training in Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu in the late 1980’s, by studying with practitioners including Jayson Creasey of Canada, Stephen K. Hayes of the United States, Wayne Roy of Australia, and Robert Bussey of the United States. He continued training in the art, and in 1992 was granted his first teaching license by Sōke Hatsumi.
In 1995, Hatsumi Sensei granted Munro his Shidōshi (Senior Instructor) license in Japan, after passing the Godan (5th Dan) Sakki (Killing Spirit) Test administered by Sōke Hatsumi himself. Since that time, Munro has been considered one of Hatsumi Sensei's personal students and has traveled to Japan and many other countries to continue his own training.
Martial Arts
Background
As a result of being relentlessly bullied as a child, his father enrolled him in the Korean martial art of Taekwondo at the age of 12. He continued on competing extensively in the sport well into adulthood. In the late 1980's he pursued the study of Hapkido as a more practical and effective means of self-defense, feeling that it was imperative to acquire self-protection skills for use in his work in the field of Emergency Services.
Through the pursuit of Hapkido, he was able to connect with a scattered handful of Ninjutsu practitioners throughout North America who had received training in Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu from Sōke Masaaki Hatsumi. After attending his first Ninjutsu seminar with Stephen K. Hayes and Jayson Creasey in 1988, Munro made his decision to pursue only those martial arts that are housed within the nine schools of the Bujinkan.
© 2009 Martial Arts University / Munro Bujinkan Dojos
“The pursuit of the modern Ninja should be one of patience, compassion, and endurance, coupled with the willingness to come to the aid of those in need."
– Donald Munro
14th Dan Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu Certificate – Donald Munro
Dr. Massaaki Hatsumi administering the Sakke Test to Donald Munro
– Japan 1995
Donald Munro teaching at the Munro Bujinkan Dojo Victoria – 1992
Munro with Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi – 34th Grandmaster of the Togakure Ryu
Sensei’s Stephen K. Hayes,
Jayson Creasey, & Wayne Roy
– 1988
Munro teaching in the Martial Arts University – 2007
