Gregory Huff was born in Kingston, Tennessee in 1957 and moved to Morristown, Tennessee at the age of 13. He began to develop a fascination with things Japanese and, although Morristown was a small town, he found a Seibukan Shorin Ryu karate class which was being taught at the local Boy's Club by Dr. James Ford. He joined this class and continued to train in this style for a few years. After high school he enlisted in the Navy and served from 1976 to 1980.
While in the service serving in San Diego, he met Arashiro Tomohiro Sensei of the Ryuei Ryu style of Okinawan Karate. Arashiro Sensei had just arrived in the U.S. and had come to the states to teach Ryuei Ryu. Mr. Huff became one of Arashiro Sensei's first students and trained with him for several years, eventually earning his current rank of nidan in 1986. He is still a student of Arashiro Sensei and continues to practice and teach Ryuei Ryu karate.
In the early 1980s, Mr. Huff had become interested in the Japanese Sword and looked for an instructor in swordsmanship. At that time, such instructors were very rare but he eventually began training with Dale S. Kirby from Gallatin, Tennessee. Although Mr. Kirby's claim to fame was his dynamic tournament routines, he also had a solid background in traditional Iai techniques and was affiliated with Dr. Sugino of the Katori Shinto Ryu and also with Yamaguchi Katsuo Sensei of the Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu.
After several years, Mr. Huff realized that he would have to go to Japan in order to make further progress in Iaido so in July of 1987 he reenlisted in the Navy and arranged for an assignment in Japan. He stayed in Japan for 12 years studying the Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu style of Iaido, first under Hon'ami Sensei (Hanshi, Hachidan) of Kamakura and for the last several years under Maruyama Sensei (Hanshi, Judan) of Saga City.
Mr. Huff earned his All Japan Iaido Federation rank of Rokudan Renshi in Kyoto in May of 2002 and his Seitokai Hachidan Hanshi rank in July of 2006.
Mr. Huff retired from the Navy in May of 2003 and currently lives in Sylva, North Carolina. Anyone interested in Iaido may contact Mr. Huff by e-mail.
Gregory Huff was born in Kingston, Tennessee in 1957 and moved to Morristown, Tennessee at the age of 13. He began to develop a fascination with things Japanese and, although Morristown was a small town, he found a Seibukan Shorin Ryu karate class which was being taught at the local Boy's Club by Dr. James Ford. He joined this class and continued to train in this style for a few years. After high school he enlisted in the Navy and served from 1976 to 1980.
