Meet Brian Johnson | Sensei

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brian Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brian, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Well I started training in 1995 and trained under Jim Geary for ten years until he passed away suddenly. His passing affected me greatly as it did everyone who had trained with him. I was one of the most senior students and I was already an assistant instructor at the dojo. People were looking towards me to help them continue their training. None of us wanted to quit because we loved the art too much. So I stepped up and kept it going. Sometimes that meant driving or flying across the country or across the ocean just to continue my own training. This way I could pass things down to the others and we could all benefit from other instructors I had trained with. So I don’t think it was really a question as why I would try and teach others. It was just the path I was on took me towards these places.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Other than teaching and training in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu I work for AT&T. I began working for BellSouth in July of 2000. I first started in the repair side of the company. Later I moved to construction and became a lineman. A few years after that we were bought out by AT&T. I have seen a massive change in the telecommunications industry during my career. When I started everyone wanted extra phone lines for their computers but now almost no one has a home phone. Fiber optics has change the industry forever. The world moves a faster rate and everyone wants more. I guess you can say this doesn’t only apply to telephones and data. The old days of people taking their time in life are gone.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well we live in a fairly small town and there isn’t a lot of excitement around here. I would take him to a few local restaurants. We could drive to Nashville and take in a Titans game or to Knoxville and see a vols game. Our Saturdays are currently occupied with my son’s High School band competitions. I suppose he could tag along for that.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are just too many people to list. I have been blessed to have several people in my life to help me with my training. Several American instructors across the country. The Japanese instructors of course were a huge influence to me. I would have to say all of these great people were inspired by one individual. Soke Massaki Hatsumi. He was the head of the art for decades. His way of teaching his art really changed a lot of people. His kind smile, art work, calligraphy, and his martial art inspired people all over the world.

Website: Westtennesseebujinkan.weebly.com

Facebook: West Tennessee Bujinkan