MITCHELL RATCHIK SENSEI
(柳風)

ASAYAMA ICHIDEN RYU – NIDAN (二段/2nd DAN)

MUSO SHINDEN RYU (FEI) – NIDAN (二段/2nd DAN)

RYUSHIN SHOUCHI RYU – GODAN (五段/5th DAN)/SHIDŌIN

HEKI-RYU BISHU CHIKURIN-HA (尾州竹林流の基本) – PRACTITIONER

US NAGINATA FEDERATION – SANKYU (3rd KYU)

Sensei Mitchell Ratchik joined New York Budokai in 2005 and helped evolve the dojo into a not-for-profit 501(c)-3 organization. He is currently one of the senior instructors, president of the board and helps manage the dojo daily affairs as acting dojocho.

He began his training in 1996 in Hapkido under Sabumnim Herbert David at the World Martial Arts Center and then briefly studied Aikido at the Bond Street Dojo.

He currently holds several ranks from different systems, most notably in Iaido/Kenjutsu – Godan (5th Dan) and teaching license, Shidōin (指導員) in Ryushin Shouchi-Ryu (RSR), Nidan (2nd Dan) in Asayama Ichiden Ryu (AIR), a Nidan (2nd Dan) in Muso Shinden-Ryu through the FEI, Kyudo (Heki-ryu Bishu Chikurin-Ha), as well as Naginata (3rd Kyu) under the GNYNF and the USNF.

Having taught for the past 17 years, he has also helped establish affiliated dojos across the United States, in Asia, Europe, and Latin America. In 2022 he started the Pratt Iaido Club at Pratt Institute, his alma-mater, the first college iaido/kenjutsu program in the USA. In 2024 he helped establish the Pratt Naginata team as well as the Pratt Budo Club. 

He has continued teaching online since the covid pandemic and continues to support his online students from all over the world. 

Professionally he works as a creative director in advertising and lives with his family in Brooklyn, he has also been an active member of the Park Slope Food Coop since 2017 and enjoys “cutting the cheese”.

Follow him on Instagram at @BudoMitch