History of Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo

History of Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo

History of Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo: The art of Kosho Ryu Kempo is a very unique form of martial arts. It is an art form that is conceptual in nature. In Kosho Ryu, the student does not just learn techniques in which they practice to defend oneself.


But they learn concepts and principles that make those techniques work properly. The Kosho Ryu practitioner learns how to manipulate the balance and structure of an opponent. Thus taking away their ability to operate efficiently in a confrontation.


History of Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo


One of the unique aspects of studying Kosho Ryu Kempo is that the practitioner will be trained in such a well rounded manner. The student will be educated first in the Escaping/Repositioning Arts. Which will allow the practitioner to either totally escape harm from their attacker. Or reposition themselves to gain a more strategic angle in which to engage and destroy an opponent.


The Escaping/Repositioning Arts lay the foundation for all the other sub-arts contained within the system.

The student will then learn how to use the Throwing Arts, Joint Locking Arts, and the Striking Arts. Each of these sub-arts are very valuable and effective in their own right. But more importantly each can be used to augment and set up the other sub-arts


History of Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo


The Kosho Ryu Kempo student’s study is not just confined to the martial or fighting aspects contained in the system. The Kosho Ryu practitioner is also educated in the cultural arts such as Shodo (Japanese calligraphy), Sumi (Japanese painting). As well as martial arts history, and eastern philosophy, and meditation. The student will also learn basic healing arts such as Shiatsu (Japanese Pressure Point Massage).


Kosho Ryu classes are a blend of physical workout and mental challenge. The idea is to build and strengthen the body while making the mind sharper and clearer. Thus working to make the student evolve into the best martial artist and person that they can be. Martial arts classes have so many positive benefits that are a by product of a persons training.


Some of these benefits are stress reduction, better physical fitness, weight loss. Plus increased flexibility and range of motion, and enhanced focus and concentration. Philosophy and the understanding of conflict that exists in our daily life also lends to a happier, healthier individual.


History of Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo


The History of Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo must begin with a short history of the temple where Kosho was developed. In the year 778, Shozen Daishi was born. He was so bright that he was called the Child of God. When he was thirteen years old he decided to become a monk. Therefore he shaved his head and began his studies of Buddhism at Yakushi temple at the foot of Mount Ikura, in Kyushu, Japan.


One day he climbed Mt. Ikura and was very impressed with the mysterious clouds over Mt. Kinkai. Eventually, he built a home there. When he was twenty-one years old he enshrined a statue of Shaka, a Buddhist deity in the house. A few years later he rebuilt the house and called it Shaka-In.


At that time Kanmu, the emperor of Japan, became very sick and called for the monk to heal him. He was successful, and the emperor gave him the official title Shozen Daishi.  Which is a title of high mastery generally reserved for Samurai. Importantly was almost never given to anyone of lower stature. In addition, the emperor contributed huge rice fields and a large territory to Shaka-In. Shozen Daishi died in 835, at the age of 57.


Around this time, the temple may have had close to 100 buildings in all. We know that in the year 850 Shaka-In caught fire and many of the then 75 monks’ houses burned. Later, in the 1100's, fire again ravaged part of the temple area in an attempt by marauders to destroy the temple.


History of Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo - First Ancestor


Around the year 1235 a priest whom James Mitose called his first ancestor became enlightened to what we call Kempo. According to Mitose, this man was a martial arts master and a Buddhist priest. He was studying at Shaka-In who found it difficult to be both master and priest.


His religion taught him pacifism; his martial art taught him destruction. He needed something in between. He decided to meditate on this apparent contradiction under a big old pine tree on the temple grounds. A few years earlier, a fire in the Buddha house had forced the spirit of the Buddha out of the building and into the nearby pine tree. Many monks would go there to meditate so they could be close to their god. After meditating there for a long time he finally, “with the help of god”, came up with something amazing.


History of Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo - Natural Laws

The monk came to an understanding of natural law which gave him a perfect method of defense and escape. He believed that true self-defense involved no body-contact. His methods postured him toward opponents in such a way as to make subsequent attacks continue to put the attacker further and further at a disadvantage. 


Using his illuminated strategies, the monk could make the attacker undo his own attack. And this could be done in a way that allowed for both to remain uninjured. The Octagon would be used as a symbol for a method of movement. That in which jumping to particular angles based on timing and combative-distancing allowed strategies to be employed. Of which confused and off-balanced the opponent. Reforming his opponents to become contributing members of society was his main goal. "Showing the attacker his wrong doing."


He and succeeding generations of his family members developed the art of Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo as we know it today with all of this in mind. The monk chose this name for his art to reflect its spirit and its origins. Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo means The Study of the Old Pine Tree School of Encouragement.


History of Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo - Sho Chiku Bai


History of Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo

History of Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo: The famous Sho Chiku Bai, which is the Pine-Bamboo-Plum family crest, is centered over an octagon. And is still in use today as the symbol of Kosho Shorei Ryu.  Read more about the Sho Chiku Bai Mon breakdown from the button below.


Sho Chiku Bai Mon

The monk wore a version of this crest. Kosho Ryu Bujutsu, the wartime arts as Mitose referred to them, as well as all other aspects of Kosho Ryu. Which are based on the revelation received by the monk under that old pine tree over 750 years ago.


Kosho Ryu Bujutsu was a separate area of Kosho Ryu which was studied only by the Sohei. The Sohei were warrior monks whose job it was to protect the temple and its territory.


And as well as to fight in wars supported by the temple. They typically wore normal monks’ robes during peace time and carried a short staff known as a Jo.


During war time, they would wear armor under their robes, and ninja-like masks covering their faces. Their primary weapons during battle were a large halberd known as a naginata, as well as a typical Japanese long sword known as a tachi. The Sohei of Kosho Ryu were skilled in escaping arts, which were explained earlier; controlling arts, which are similar to, but older than, jujitsu or Aikido. And this as well as destructive arts, which are similar to, but older than, karate.


Let continue with the History of Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo


History of Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo - James Mitose


James Mitose said that at one time there were over 400 monks living and studying at the temple. These warrior-monks were a potential threat to the political control held by Konishi Yukinaga, the Daimyo of Kyushu at the time. It was for this reason that in the year 1588, Konishi sent 5000 samurai to destroy the temple.


The 400 Sohei at Shaka-In were defeated by the overwhelming mass of samurai, but still somehow managed to protect some of the most precious temple artifacts, documents, and the sacred old pine tree itself. Konishi confiscated all of the temple’s territory and burned down many of the monks’ houses, as well as the 49 branch temples in the area.


Thirty-two years later, the son of Kato Kiyamasa and a great samurai in his own right named Kato Tadahiro rebuilt the temple. From that time on the martial arts of Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo became what Mitose called secret. They were taught only to family members in order to maintain tradition.


History of Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo - Hanshi Bruce Juchnik


* Bruce Juchnik

Kosho Shorei Ryu martial arts were passed on in secrecy for 21 consecutive generations until James Masayoshi Mitose handed the art to the first non-Japanese in its history, an american named Bruce Juchnik. James Mitose hated the martial arts for what they did to people, but he knew that he could not let his family tradition die. Thus handing the art to Mr Juchnik.


Although numerous people were introduced to Mitose through Mr. Juchnik and may have received some philosophical or psychological knowledge from Mitose. However there is no doubt to anyone who was present at that time that Bruce Juchnik is the only one who learned Mitose’s family secrets concerning Kosho Ryu.


Meeting Mitose


And who received knowledge of the true art of Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo. These facts are attested to by many people who were present during the time Mr. Juchnik studied with Mitose. And these include George Santana (the man who introduced them), Eugene Sedenio, Rick Alemany, and students and associates of Juchnik Hanshi at the time.

Importantly some of whom appear in two videotapes available through SKSKI called Controversy and The Truth behind the Controversy.


I want to thank you for taking time to read the history of Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo. The information used her comes from Hanshi Bruce Juchnik a man I personally call teacher. I encourage anyone interested in learning more about Kosho to contact either myself of the Sei Kosho Shorei Kai International.


I have myself been involved in the study of Kosho Ryu since late 2000. There are many who claim direct teaching from Mitose, however these claims have not been substantiated.  And the history of Kosho Ryu was one of the reasons I created the Preservation of History and Styles here at the World Budo Alliance. If we do not know where we come from we will not know where we are going. 


Thank you for reading History of Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo. History is a very important part of the arts. Without it, learning and teaching it, the martial arts will disappear.


If you do not know where you come from your cannot know where you are going. 


Thank you for your time and have a wonderful day! Keep Learning!

Vă mulțumesc pentru timpul acordat și o zi minunată! Continua sa inveti!

Al vostru în arte,
Mare Maestru Art Mason

Grand Master Art Mason
World Budo Alliance