Professor Hans Ingebretsen
Ku'i Lima Kenpo
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 became enthralled with the endless possibilities of martial applications and 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, training with world champion Mike Swain & Olympic silver medalist Kevin Asano as his two team captains, 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 many 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. Hans also has studied judo with both Professor Charlie Robinson and Sensei Dave Long, Kenpo with Sensei Mark Milstead, Shotokan Karate with Sensei Chris Beere, Aikido with Sensei Richard Koahili, and Kashima Shin Ryu Kenjitsu with Shihan Richard Pietrelli, and was on the Jacobs Jr. High wrestling team as a youth. 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) in Kenpo Karate, shichidan (77h dan) in Danzan Ryu Ju Jitsu, yodan (4th dan) in Judo, godan (5th 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 Inayan Kadena de Mano Eskrima. Hans is recognized as shichidan in the Pacific Jujitsu Alliance and as rokudan with the Hawaii Martial Arts Society. Professor Ingebretsen is also the Headmaster of the Ku’i Lima system of Kenpo. Over the years, he has brought 50 people up to the rank of black belt.
In 1993 he was awarded a Renshi grade teaching license in Danzan Ryu by Professor Kufferath. He has received numerous awards, including the Platinum Award of Special Recognition and the Ming Lum Award from the Hawaii Martial Arts Society, the Master Instructor Award and the Leadership Award from the World Head of Family Sokeship Council, the Francisco Limbago Spirit of Kokua Award from the Shoshin Ryu Yudanshakai , the Kufferath Award and the President’s Award from Kilohana, induction into both the U.S.A. Martial Arts Hall of Fame and the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame (two different groups), as well as induction into the Action Martial Arts Hall of Fame and the International Kenpo Karate Association Masters Hall of Fame, and in 2014 he was recognized by the Masters Hall of Fame with their Golden Life Award, recognizing him for his 40 years spent in the martial arts. Hans has also received a commendation for helping to preserve Hawaiian martial arts from the Governor of Hawaii, Benjamin Cayetano, in 1999. He has taught throughout the United States, as well as in Mexico, Europe and the Middle East.
Hans graduated from Professor Kufferath’s Okugi class in 1993, and was one of the instructors for Kilohana’s Ku’I Lima Okugi class in 2008. He is a life member of both Kilohana and the United States Judo Association. He is a certified judo coach through the U.S.J.A., and has been trained as a referee by the American Jujitsu Institute, Jujitsu America and the United World Martial Arts Federation. Hans is the President of Kilohana, a member of the Kilohana Standards Board and the Kilohana Historical Board, and also served as Vice President for the first 11 years of Kilohana’s existence. He is a Technical Advisor for the International Organization of Kenpo Jujitsu and a Senior Advisor for the Pacific Jujitsu Association. He also served as Secretary for Professor Joe Halbuna’s Unified World Martial Arts Federation for many years.
Hans opened his own school, Shinbukan, in 1997, and continues to teach 5 days a week at the two Shinbukan dojo sites – his home dojo, and also at the Campbell Community Center. He is one of the founding members of the Kilohana Martial Arts Association, one of the founding members of Mushinkai Judo Club, the former director of the San Jose Gasshuku Training camp, is on the teaching staff at Camp Bushido Judo Camp, and has been hosting his own tournament, the Mokomoko Invitational, since 2005. As a promoter he has also hosted the Kilohana Kufferath Masters Seminar and the Kilohana Deep Roots seminar for many years, and also assisted Leslee Kufferath in putting on the 100th birthday celebration for her father, Prof. Kufferath, which was attended by over 500 people. Hans also helped put on ‘Ohana 2014, which was attended by close to 600 people.
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.
