| In the late 1960's, after studying various Japanese | | | | are continuing to teach Senso Aikijutsu today in |
| martial arts and disciplines, Richard Behrens felt | | | | one form or another. In 1979, he and his family |
| that something was missing. Every martial art had | | | | moved to South Florida where he continued |
| its benefits. Some focused on grappling, some on | | | | teaching. In 1983, Ted Hanulak began his studies |
| toe-toe fighting, some on weapons, some on | | | | under Master Behrens. Training was very rough |
| projections or throws, etc. He believed that if you | | | | back in those days. Classes were 2 hours, 3 days |
| combined some of these styles, you could come | | | | a week and then 3 hours on Sunday. You were |
| out with one all encompassing martial art. On top | | | | required to attend every class. Ted Hanulak |
| of this, the main focus was to be full contact | | | | trained under Behrens Shihan for 8 years. |
| training dealing with realistic attacks and a strict | | | | In 1992, Hanulak Sensei began teaching, opening |
| adherence to meditation. He called his mixed | | | | the first Coral Springs Florida Dojo. He added the |
| marital art "Senso Aikijutsu". Senso Aikijutsu | | | | "Ryu" to the name making it "Senso-Ryu |
| loosely translates to "battle art of spirit and | | | | Aikijujutsu". "Ryu" meaning "style" or "school". |
| harmony." He felt that the term "Senso" or | | | | Taking his experience from being a decorated |
| "Battle" was appropriate because of the | | | | Police Officer and head of security / bouncer in |
| aggressive nature of the system. | | | | various nightclubs in South Florida for many years, |
| Master Behrens was not the first nor the last | | | | Hanulak Sensei continue to evolve the art into a |
| person to combine or modify existing martial arts | | | | modern system of self defense. At the same |
| to create a new system. Many famous systems | | | | time he knew the importance of continuing to |
| such as Judo and Aikido started the exact same | | | | teach it in a traditional fashion. Senso-Ryu had |
| way. MMA or "Mixed Martial Arts" are very | | | | become the perfect blend of old and new. In |
| popular today. What set Senso Aikijutsu apart | | | | 1999 he and his family moved to Indianapolis, |
| from some of the other composite arts was the | | | | Indiana and opened the 1st. Indianapolis Dojo on |
| aggressive non-sport style of training, the | | | | the south side of the city. In 2002, he moved the |
| meditation, and the higher level techniques. Great | | | | dojo into his home on the north side of town |
| emphasis was placed on how the student | | | | where it continues today as the Sensokan Dojo. |
| attacked his fellow student in training. In a lot of | | | | Behrens Shihan, now retired, is the author of a |
| martial arts, the attacks were very static and | | | | number of books, both fiction and non fiction. |
| predictable. In Senso Aikijutsu, the attacks were | | | | Hanulak Sensei continues to teach Aikijujutsu in |
| wild and much more realistic. | | | | Indianapolis, Indiana. There are currently licensed |
| Master Behrens began teaching in Long Island, | | | | Sensokan Dojo and study groups in Indiana, New |
| New York in the early 1970's. He taught many | | | | York, Florida, Maryland, and Puerto Rico. The |
| people during this time including Police Officers | | | | Sensokan continues to evolve and grow and |
| from the NYPD. Some of these students who | | | | owes a great debt of gratitude to its founder, |
| trained under Master Behrens back in the 1970's | | | | Master Richard Behrens. |