Associate Professor Hans Ingebretsen has been practicing martial art since 1974, when he began his study of Danzan Ryu Ju Jitsu and Kodokan Judo with Sensei Ben Patterson at College of the Redwoods in Eureka, California. Continuing to study with Sensei Dale Kahoun, Hans began cross-training in a variety of other styles, eventually falling in love with kenpo. After moving to the San Jose area, Hans trained at Pacific Judo Academy with Professor Bill Montero and Sensei Brian Fitzgerald, competed as a member of the San Jose State judo team, and eventually wound up at the Pacific Coast Academy of Martial Arts, where he spent 20 years training with Shihan Russ Rhodes and Professor Sig Kufferath. He has also spent the last 18 years studying Inayan Eskrima, which he learned from Mangisusuro Mike Inay and his son, Suro Jason Inay, and the Kaihewalu family system of lua, which he has studied under “Olohe Solomon Kaihewalu. He learned the most by being uke for Prof. Kufferath, Shihan Rhodes and Prof. Kahoun for many years.

Hans holds the rank of shichidan (7th dan) Kenpo Karate, shichidan (7th dan) in Danzan Ryu Ju Jitsu, sandan (3rd dan) in Judo, godan (fith dan) in Ken Ju Ryu Kenpo Ju Jitsu, is ranked Hapa Lima Kekele’ele (fifth degree black belt) In Lua o Kaihewalu and is a kumu lua (instructor) of the art, and has instructor rank in Kadena de Mano Eskrima. Professor Ingebretsen is also the Head of the Ku’I Lima system of Kenpo.

Hans opened his own school, Shinbukan, in 1997, and continues to teach 4 nights a week at the two Shinbukan dojo sites – his home dojo, and also at the Campbell Community Center. Hans competed in judo, ju jitsu and karate tournaments for 30 years before retiring from competition. He often judges at karate and ju jitsu tournaments, and coaches the Shinbukan judo team, which gives him little time to cause trouble elsewhere.