Yagyū Shinkage-ryū
Buyens is among a select number of Westerners who hold authentic Japanese credentials in koryū martial arts. Buyens currently holds the ranks of 6th dan in Shitō-ryū karatedō (from Ken’ei Mabuni) and of 6th dan/chūden in Hontai Yōshin-ryū. He is one of only three Belgians with verified authentic Japanese koryū credentials, the other two being Serge Mol (Enshin-ryū and Hōki-ryū jūjutsu) and Dr. Carl De Crée (Tenjin Shin’yō-ryū of the Inoue Keitarō-lineage and Owari-ha Yagyū Shinkage-ryū).