For the most part training with Hatsumi Sensei took place in the evenings. During the mornings and afternoons Greg got in extra practice at a local sport center where he was befriended by practitioners of a variety of Japanese martial arts. He took full advantage of these opportunities to test out and refine his skills with training partners outside of the Bujinkan. His training and sparring partners included a former all-Japan #1 fighter in Shito ryu, the #2 fighter in the 1989 Shorinji Kempo International Championships, Kick-boxers, Judoka and many others. Before long he was in fact, "adopted" into the Shoseikan dojo, a Chiba Prefecture Goju Ryu Karate federation, as well as the Chiba city Shorinji Kempo team.

In short order he became a well-known figure in local and regional point-karate shiaii and even at the local bare-knuckle tournaments. What began as friendly cross-training for some extra practice evolved into his fighting as a team member and finally as Taisho (captain) of teams representing Chiba prefecture in Goju ryu Karate championships, as well as a member of the three-man Prefectural Championship, Shorinji Kempo team. His time in the sport center was also used to further his knowledge of the Sword and Naginata, with private lessons in Iaii-do and membership in the Satsuki-kai Naginata-do dojo. Although it may not have been "life on the battlefield" the situation made for many opportunities to take the lessons of the nights' classes with Dr Hatsumi, work with a variety of other quality martial artists the next day. And most important, to then go back to Dr. Hatsumi and the other instructors with fresh observations and questions for immediate feedback.

Greg was already thirty years old when he moved to Japan having already led a rather interesting life with a good deal of martial arts and life experience. As a result he brought with him a keen (and jaundiced?) eye for practicality and effectiveness and took full advantage of his time with Dr Hatsumi, digging past "tourist versions" and getting closer to the heart of the teachings. While the focus of his move to Japan was to learn from the Grandmaster himself, Greg was of coures exposed to training with several of the senior instructors of the Bujinkan at classes with Dr. Hatsumi and in their personal classes. Manaka Sensei, Ishizuka sensei, Seno sensei, Nagato sensei, Shiraihshi sensei and many others were his teachers, training partners and mentors.

Special thanks go to Muramatsu sensei, head of the Bujinkan/ Myo Fu An dojo, who along with Dr. Hatsumi and others, helped him to understand so much, in spite of the countless cultural and language differences that so often mislead even the most sincere in their efforts to learn this complex art.