Professor and Sensei Steve McLaughlin started his martial art studies from his father, M.SGT Art McLaughlin, Carlson’s 2nd  Marine Raiders Battalion, USMC (the first United States Special Operations Force).

In 1972 after returning from Southeast Asia, Steve started classes at the Sparks Judo & Jujitsu Club under Sensei LaGue. He studied and taught there for 21 years. During this time he was a senior instructor at the club as it evolved into the Bushidokan.  Sensei McLaughlin studied, Kenjitsu, Savate, Small Circle Theory, and attained ranks in Judo, Jujitsu, Hawaiian Karate, Aikijutsu, and Arnis de Mano.

In the early 70’s he developed the Mizu Jitsu Underwater Safety Course, from a NASA requirement. Steve worked for a Body Guard business in Las Vegas in 1975, eventually owning it, developing it and selling it in 1977.

In the 1980’s he was employed as a master locksmith and pistolsmith. Steve has several “patents pending” for firearm designs, and ammunitions. He has written many articles on black powder, knife throwing, knife making as well as giving demonstrations throughout the United States and writing for leading magazines.  While in Las Vegas for 4 years he owned and ran the Sunrise Kodenkai, out of the Sunrise Recreation Center.  Steve earned a Massage Therapist license in Las Vegas and worked as a Locksmith.

Retiring from the Bushidokan, and finishing his Degree in Advanced Computer Graphics and Typography in 1992, Steve moved back to the DZR fatherland , Oahu, Hawaii in 1993, he started the Hawaii Jujitsu Kodenkai, in a Hula school. In 1994 he created the first, oldest, and continuous martial arts academy website on the Internet. As the director of marketing for many years, he went on to create a web presence and email communications for the AJJF and several of the most prominent schools and professors.

In 1995 as a newly certfied scuba dive professional and a PADI certified Rescue Diver, he successfully promoted the Mizu Jitsu course to the local Park Ranger and Police Environmental agencies.
 

Sensei McLaughlin was appointed Hawaii A.A.U. JuJitsu Chairman in 1994 and held the chair until 1996. 
 

1998 Sensei McLaughlin finished his degree in the Computer Sciences (University of Hawaii).  Authored of several articles in leading Computer magazines.

1999 Sensei McLaughlin was invited by the State of Hawaii to research its crime databases for crimes against women, and he got the chance to interview 11 rapists in the Hawaii Prisons. This lead to a complete re-write of the Okazaki Women’s Self Defense course and was renamed the Kupale Women’s Assault Prevention Course. It has been the single most successful Womens Self Defense Course in Hawaii from that time to present.

2001, Professor Lamar Fisher flew to Hawaii to teach Steve McLaughlin, and host Bruce Rainey Shingin No Maki. In attendance was Prof. Fisher, Professor Jack Wheat, Prof. Imi-Okazaki Mullens, Prof. Tom Ball, Bruce Rainey and Bob Reish.

2003 Steve was promoted to Godan in the AJJF.
    2004 He was promoted to Professor by the Bushidokan Federation.

2008 Sensei McLaughlin spun off the Hawaii Jujitsu Kodenkai into a separate school and gave it to a few of his previous black belts, retired for a year, and then began the new Hawaii Zenyo Jujutsu Kai, in one of the oldest Shinto Temples outside of Japan, up above Honolulu.

2012  - Masters Degree in the Science of Oriental Medicine
             (Institute of Clinical Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine – Honolulu, Hawaii)

Sensei McLaughlin graduated from 5 years of medical college in Oriental Medicine and is currently a licensed and practicing physician of Acpuncture, Herbology, Massage Therapy, Nutrition Counseling, and several other healing modalities. 

He is writing a book on DZR Seifukujutsu and the linking arts of traditional Chinese Medicine.

Since 1972 Prof McLaughlin, under Prof. Herb Lague has trained and/or promoted 14 black belts. In Hawaii since1993 Prof. McLaughlin has promoted 22 black belts, in ranks up to Yodan.

As a hobby Prof. McLaughlin restores and races vintage Indian Motorcycles. He currently owns and drives daily a 1946 Indian Chief Bonneville Roadmaster.