Central Ohio Bujinkan Dojo

Tim Halbakken is a Shidoshi in the International Bujinkan Dojo who began the training in 1992. Prior to training in the Bujinkan Mr. Halbakken studied various forms of self-defense with the main emphasis on grappling. Mr. Halbakken was a Minnesota High School League State Wrestling Champion, Freestyle state wrestling champion and Greco-Roman state wrestling champion.

Mr. Halbakken currently works as a police officer in the state of Ohio. Mr. Halbakken spent approximately eight years as a uniformed officer, one and a half years as a detective and currently serves as a full time trainer. Mr. Halbakken is a hostage negotiator, police defensive tactics instructor, and firearms instructor. Mr. Halbakken also works in the field of executive protection and sports coach. Mr. Halbakken also holds a sixth degree black belt in Taiho Jutsu.

Shawn Lingofelter began studying martial arts at the age of eight when his father enrolled him in combat karate. In 1991 he began Bujinkan training under the tutelage of Kyle Hayes in Indiana. Mr. Lingofelter was promoted to black belt in 1995 making him one of the youngest Bujinkan shodan in Indiana. In 1999 Mr. Lingofelter moved to Columbus Ohio and opened the Central Ohio Bujinkan Dojo with his longtime friend and training partner Tim Halbakken. Together the traveled to Japan and were honored with the title of Shidoshi of the Bujinkan dojo by Grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi. Today, Mr. Lingofelter serves as a five-year veteran of a central Ohio police department as a patrol officer and defensive tactics instructor. He also specializes in advanced patrol techniques as well as firearms; high line assault and rope rescue and holds current certification as a Danger Zone Defensive Tactics instructor.

Wayne Dumolt has trained in various martial arts for the last 25 years including Aikido, Alii-Kane TaeKwonDo (black belt at age 18), Northern Shaolin Kung Fu, Olympic TaeKwonDo with Olympic medalist Greg Baker and Arnis. He began his Bujinkan training in 1994 through seminars until 1997 when he began training at the Stephen K. Hayes Dayton Quest Center. He then found his home in Bujinkan training at the Central Ohio Bujinkan Dojo in 2000 under his instructors and friends Sensei Halbakken and Sensei Lingofelter. Mr Dumolt is a fully licensed Shidoshi in the Bujinkan Dojo under Soke Masaaki Hatsumi and journies to Japan when able to train with Soke Hatsumi and senior japanese instructors.

Mr. Dumolt has been a certified Law Enforcement officer in south east Ohio since 1992. Current duties include Patrol, Defensive Tactics Instructor and Use of Force trainer for his department. He is also an OPOTA Certified Police Academy and Corrections Academy Instructor having taught hundreds plus officers from all over south eastern Ohio in Defensive Tactics and Use of Force as well as Expandable Baton, Mace/OC, Taser and Scenario Based training. Mr. Dumolt has been invited to give self defense workshops for Professional Companies and Public Service Agencies in the south eastern Ohio region and has developed what is now called the "Surviving A Violent Encounter" (S.A.V.E) program for men and women of all professions dealing with becoming more aware of what it takes to actually survive a life threatening encounter.

Andrew Russell began training in the Bujinkan Dojo in 1985 in Merseyside, UK. Russell moved to the US, joined the Army in 1988, and served as a Military Police Officer for 4 years. Assignments included S.R.T., Counter-Sniper, Protective Services, and Patrol - Most of the time serving in and around Central America. Upon leaving the U.S. Army, Russell moved to Ohio and became a full-time civilian Police officer for a central Ohio city, serving for over 12 years. Russell is a state certified Instructor in Defensive Tactics, S.W.A.T., Carbine, SMG, Pistol, Shotgun, Less Lethal, ASP, OC and Patrol procedures. Russell is currently serving as his Department's Special Response Team Leader, Special Topics Instructor and Patrol Officer. Shidoshi Russell, currently leads the Fairfield Country Bujinkan Dojo - Contact (740) 215-6444

Tony Leo is the instructor for the Little Warriors Ninjutsu kids program. He is a Certified Fitness Trainer and Specialist in Adaptive Fitness with the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA). In addition to the ISSA and the Bujinkan, he is a current member of the International Society of Sports Psychology and the World Future Society.

Andy Babb joined the Central Ohio Bujinkan Dojo in 2000. During this time, Mr. Babb has attended several seminars in Ohio, Indiana, Georgia, and California. Hosted by some of the top shihan from around the world, these seminars have focused on various aspects of the art including taijutsu, muto dori, tantojutsu, rokushako bojutsu, and firearms (hojutsu). Each year since 2004, Mr. Babb has been fortunate to travel to Japan for classes at the Hombu Dojo with the top Japanese instructors.

Outside the dojo, Mr. Babb works for the computing services department of a local university. His duties include securing computer labs and ensuring students secure their personal computers.