Gendai Teki Ninpo

Please Take a moment to learn more about our Instructors and Staff of the Kage Dojo.

Dojo-Cho Michael Francis

Born in Columbus Ohio in 1966 Michael W. Francis graduated from St. Charles Prep High School. He then went on to college at Franklin University to study business management. He joined the United States Marine Corps Reserve and served his country while attending college. Mr. Francis has a martial arts background that includes studying Tae Kwon Do, Judo, Shorin-Ryu Karate, and Iron Claw Kung Fu.

He began studying Ninjutsu in 1990 with Mr. Thomas Maienza at the BujinKan Kage Dojo. After a six-year respite from training, Michael returned to training in 2001.

In September of 2003 Michael was awarded his Shodan 1^st degree black belt. February of 2005 Nidan 2^nd degree was awarded to him. Michael also has the honor of being awarded his Sandan 3rd degree black belt in Sankaze Ryu Aiki Jutsu in January of 2011. Michael is now the Program Director, and owner of the Kage Dojos located in Gahanna, Ohio, and in Beavercreek, Ohio

Sensei Thomas DeWitt

Thomas DeWitt(Quad B)  was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1985, moved to Wisconsin in 1986 and in 1997 moved to Westerville, Ohio.  Thomas graduated from Westerville North High School in 2003 and is currently studying for a double major in Japanese and International Business at The Ohio State University.  In 2003 he started training at The Kage Dojo and Oct 22nd earned the rank of Nidan.

Sensei Carmeda Harrington

Born October 1959 in Binghamton New York, Carmeda was raised in upstate New York and moved to Columbus in 1993. She is currently a supervisor at United Parcel Service. She began training in Ninjutsu in Oct 2004. She obtained a rank of shodan on Feb of 2008. One of Carmeda’s life goals is to aid other women in learning to protect themselves and their loved ones. Carmeda is the instructor for the Women’s Only Class held on Sunday evening at the Kage Dojo.

 Sensei Darren Sharpe

Bio: Sensei Darren Sharpe, MBA

            Darren was born in Ranson, WV in 1974; he stayed there until he went off to college in 1992.  He moved to Huntington, WV in 1995 where he earned his bachelor’s degree from Marshall University then moved to Columbus, Ohio in 2000.  He continued his education while working and earned his Master’s degree in business in 2009 from Ohio Dominican University.  He started his training in 2003, and in October of 2010 earned the rank of Nidan.