Gary Hillesheim
Professor
Gary Hilleshiem is a seasoned martial artist, instructor, and founder with decades of multidisciplinary experience spanning Japanese jujutsu, judo, traditional ninjutsu, shurikenjutsu, catch wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Taekwondo. Dedicated to both the physical mastery and historical preservation of his arts, he leads multiple training groups in Iowa.
Founder & Head Coach: Des Moines Catch Club
Branch Instructor: Iowa Bujinkan — 師範代 / 導師補 (Shidoshi-ho / Instructor)
Coach: Iowa Meifushinkage Ryu Shurikenjutsu Keikokai (明府真影流 稽古会)
Grappling, Catch Wrestling, MMA & Wrestling
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: 2nd-Degree Black Belt (2nd Dan), earned under Coral Belt Erik Paulson.
Catch Wrestling & MMA: Level 10 CSW (Combat Submission Wrestling) Certified Practitioner (2023) and MMA Student Level 3.
Organization: Founder of the Des Moines Catch Club, promoting high-level submission grappling and catch-as-catch-can wrestling in Iowa.
Amateur Wrestling: Competed scholastically at Wings Park Middle School and Starmont High School from 1993 to 2000.
Judo (柔道)
Rank: Nidan (二段 / 2nd Degree Black Belt), awarded under Rokudan Bret Parkhill Sensei.
Focus Areas: Specializes in 関節技 (Kansetsu-jutsu / joint locks), 受身 (Ukemi / safe breakfalls), 型 (Kata / formal exercises), and Kosen Judo (高専柔道) competition rulesets.
Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu (武神館武道体術) & Kotō Ryū (虎倒流)
Rank: Nidan (二段 / 2nd Degree Black Belt), studied under Mark Roemke Sensei and Noguchi Yukio Sensei (Current 宗家 Soke of Kotō Ryū Happō Biken / 虎倒流捕法).
Role: Serving as the Shidoshi-ho (指導師補 / Assistant Instructor) for the Iowa Bujinkan.
Meifushinkage-ryū Shurikenjutsu (明府真影流手裏剣術)
Rank: Ikkyu (一級 / 1st Brown Belt / 2026), studying Shurikenjutsu (手裏剣術), Kusari-fundo (鎖分銅 / weighted chain), and Shōko (小鉤) under 宗家 Soke Otsuka Yasuyuki (大塚安之), the current Grandmaster of Meifushinkage-ryū.
Role: Coach for the Iowa Meifushinkage Ryu Shurikenjutsu Keikokai (明府真影流 稽古会).
Taekwondo (태권도 / 跆拳道)
ITF Taekwondo: 1st-Degree Black Belt (2000), trained under Grandmaster Woo Jin Jung (우진정 / 9th Dan) and Hyoung Choi (7th Dan, Korean Tigers Team Captain).
Competition Record: AAU National Champion in Men's Heavyweight Full Contact Sparring (2000); Silver Medalist (2001).
WTF Taekwondo: 1st-Degree Black Belt from Kukiwon (국기원 / World Taekwondo Headquarters) (2003), earned under Jaewoo Soel (설재우 / 6th Dan).
Sport Kendo (スポーツ剣道)
Background: Practiced without rank from 2000 to 2004 under Yasuhiro Nakayama (中山泰裕).