William Durbin

Infobox martial art group

logocaption = The Kiyojute Ryu insignia, referred to as the Tomoe.
logosize =


imagecaption =
imagesize =
name = Kiyojute Ryu Kempo Bugei
(気楊柔手流拳法武芸)
aka = Kiyojute Ryu
date founded = c.1982
country = flagicon|USA United States of America
founder = William Durbin
(born 1953)
head = William Durbin
arts = "Shogei Toitsu Kempo" • "Goho Kempo Karate" • "Juho Kempo Jujitsu" • "Aikiho Kempo Aikijujutsu" • "Bukiho Kempo Kobujutsu" • "Nimpo Kempo Kobjutsu" • "Shuho Kempo Karatejutsu" • "Tsung Shih Tai Chi Chuan"
ancestor_arts =
descendant_arts =
ancestor schools = Juko-ryu • Goju-ryu • Shorin-ryu • Mobutu-ryu • Judo • Koga ha Kosho Shorei Ryu • Aikido
descendant schools=
notable pract =
website = www.kiyojuteryu.org

William Durbin founded Nihongo|Kiyojute Ryu Kempo Bugei|気楊柔手流拳法武芸|Kiyōjūte-ryū Kenpō Bugei, meaning "spiritually positive gentle person system of martial arts", a form of Kempo, in 1982. It is a Gendai Budō martial art in the James Mitose lineage intended to provide for all aspects of self defense. Its Hombu Dojo, or headquarters, is in Frankfort, Kentucky. It currently has nine dojo throughout the southern and midwestern United StatesFact|date=January 2008.

Biography

Durbin began his martial arts studies in Bardstown, Kentucky with instructor Richard Stone, originally learning Kodokan Judo. When he left for college in 1971, he along with Bob Sester (a Shotokan Karate student), and Bos Bosmar (also with the Kodokan) started Campbellsville College Martial Arts Club at Campbellsville University. [McKinney, Joah (October, 2005). [http://www.campbellsville.edu/news/images/cvilliansept05.pdf "Tiger Tracks"] . "The Campbellsvillian", p. 21] During these years, he studied a number of martial arts including; Shotokan Karate, Kodakan Judo, Goju Ryu, Shorin-ryu, Aikikai Aikido, Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido, and Tai Chi Chuan.Fact|date=March 2008

and the World Middleweight Full Contact Karate Champion. [cite book |last = Schlesinger |first = Tom |title = Fighting Strategy |date = 1982 | |isbn =0-86568-035-3 pages = 49 ] After joining Juko Kai, Durbin demonstrated his skill to Rod Sacharnoski and was granted rank in Juko KaiFact|date=January 2008 and started teaching Juko Kai using his philosophy.Fact|date=January 2008

In 1979, Durbin moved to Frankfort and began to work as an instructor of martial arts at Kentucky State University and for the Kentucky State Police.Fact|date=January 2008 He continued to work for Kentucky State University throughout the early 1980sFact|date=January 2008. In 1980, Durbin was awarded his Shihan ranking from Juko Kai in Kempo.Fact|date=January 2008 Also in 1980 he experienced what he describes as a "Tenshin Sho", a "divine illumination" where his perspective on religion and his practice of martial arts changed. Instead of being a minister who practiced martial arts, he now considered himself a "martial arts minister". [Paladin Press (November, 2004). [http://www.paladin-press.com/authormo_1104.aspx "Author of the Month William Paul Durbin Jr."] . Paladin Press. Retrieved on 2007-7-9] He was encouraged by Sacharnoski to pursue this further and began to develop a curriculum and codify his philosophies and teachings in preparations for opening his own school and founding his own system. He opened his dojo in Frankfort the next year in 1981 under the auspices of Juko Kai.

Durbin has Shihan rank in Kempo,Fact|date=January 2008 Karate,Fact|date=January 2008 jujutsu,Fact|date=January 2008 Aikijujutsu,Fact|date=January 2008 KobujutsuFact|date=January 2008 and a Sibak rank in Tai Chi Chuan through Juko Kai by Rod SacharnoskiFact|date=January 2008, and a Shihan rank in Koga ha Kosho Shorei Ryu Ninjutsu under Nimr HassanFact|date=January 2008. He also has earned a 1st Dan rank in the Budo Taijutsu of the Bujinkan under John WillsonFact|date=January 2008, and a 1st Dan rank in TaekwondoFact|date=January 2008. He also holds a 3rd Dan rank in Kodokan JudoFact|date=January 2008.

In 2001, Durbin published "Mastering Kempo", a general textbook of Kempo history, philosophy and technique. Also in 2001 he co-wrote "Judo Techniques and Tactics" with Jimmy Pedro. In 2004 he wrote "Koga Ryu Ninjutsu", a book on the history and basic techniques of ninjutsu, and in 2007 he wrote "Renzoku Ken: Combat Combinations of Kempo". Since 1989 he has also written several dozen articles for various martial arts magazines, including ten articles published in Black Belt Magazine. [Durbin, William. [http://kiyojuteryu.org:1084/soke/published.shtml "Articles by the Soke"; Kiyojute Ryu website.] Retrieved on 2007-8-9]

Creation of Kiyojute Ryu

Between 1980 and 1982 Durbin researched the history and techniques of martial arts in preparation for founding of a school, drawing on elements of each of the arts he studied, especially those arts he held Shihan ranking in. During this time, he was awarded an unaccredited Masters and Doctorate degree by Juko KaiFact|date=January 2008 through their diploma mill, the University of Oriental Philosophy in Murphy, North Carolina.

In 1982 the Zen Kokusai Soke Budo/Bugei Remmei, a board operated by Juko Kai to recognize martial arts, acknowledged him as Shodai Soke (first generation headmaster) of Ki Yang Ju Te Ryu KempoFact|date=January 2008 (In 1986, by request of Durbin, the board reissued the certification under the proper Japanese romanization, Kiyojute RyuFact|date=January 2008). In 1986, Kiyojute Ryu opened its first dojo in Frankfort, as Durbin's own dojo switched from officially being a Juko Kai dojo to being a Kiyojute Ryu dojo.

As a Baptist ministerFact|date=January 2008, Durbin has tried to create an art that reflects his spiritual and moral values, and places an emphasis on self defense, compassion for ones fellow man, and responsible use of force rather than on aggression, destruction, or hurting others. Durbin is fond of noting that historically, great martial arts masters such as Morihei Ueshiba combined spiritual training along with physical training, and that many great masters were also clergy.Or Durbin was inspired in what he describes as a "Tenshin Sho" or where he received a divine inspiration to teach the martial arts. His teachings and techniques were devised in an attempt to pass along this inspiration and as he describes it "how to love and live at peace". He describes this in his writings as "seeing the light". [http://kiyojuteryu.org:8084/soke/articles/kensho.shtml] Durbin states,Fact|date=March 2008

I know God personally. I have met him face to face. God is not something I think exists, or believe in, but 'The Source Being' with which I have a personal relationship. Jesus has been part of my life since I was seven..The Tenshin Sho which lead to the creation of Kiyojute Ryu Kempo Bugei, was a personal experience with Jesus. God sent him to give me the message upon which I had based the teachings of Kiyojute Ryu. This was a personal experience with Jesus..I created the Christian Martial Arts Association, so that the Christians who study Kiyojute Ryu could have an avenue for promoting unity and sharing Christ during the practice of Kempo..

Kiyojute Ryu Kempo is built on the philosophy developed by Durbin in the 1970's. He coined the term "Kiyojute" to describe this philosophy of martial arts. The stated goal of Kiyojute Ryu is to train person through martial arts to have a closer relationship with God, a positive and healthy outlook on life, and to be gentle and compassionate in their actions with their fellow man, hence "spiritually positive gentle hand/person".

Recognition and Endorsements

Durbin has written that he considers it very important that his students understand that he is not a "self proclaimed" Soke and that he is acknowledged by other members of the martial arts community as a legitimate headmaster of a Kempo system. To this end he has sought recognition from other prominent martial artists, especially those in the training lineage of James Mitose.

The back cover of his book "Mastering Kempo" includes quotes of endorsement from Bill Beach and Bill "Superfoot" Wallace as to the martial arts skill of Durbin. [ [http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0736003509?p=S058 link to copyright protected image] ] There, Bill Wallace is quoted describing him as "one of the leading practitioners of Kempo" and Bill Beach describes him as "I have studied his methods and worked and practiced with him for five years. His skills and abilities in the martial arts, especially Kempo, are fascinating." [ [https://www.humankinetics.com/products/showproduct.cfm?isbn=9780736003506 Mastering Kempo - Human Kinetics ] ]

Expansion

The first dedicated Kiyojute Ryu dojo was opened in 1986, and as early as 1988 additional dojo began to open with Brad Gardone going on to open a dojo of Kiyojute Ryu at the University of Louisville and later a separate dojo in Louisville away from the University. [Kiyojute Ryu Kempo Bugei Clubs of Louisville. [http://www.louisvillekempo.com/LouisvilleClub.html] "Louisville Club Dojo". Louisville Club Dojo. Retrieved on 2007-9-9] . In the 1990's several more dojo would open, including Lexington, Kentucky, Cleveland, Ohio, the University of Kentucky [cite news | author = Tom Soper | title = Club sports offer competitive options | publisher = Kentucky Kernel | date = 2002-06-06 | url = http://media.www.kykernel.com/media/storage/paper305/news/2002/06/06/Sports/Club-Sports.Offer.Competitive.Options-254952.shtml | accessdate=2007-07-08] , Urbana, Illinois, Chicago, Illinois and Cleveland, Ohio.cite news | author = Fran Henry | title = In Self-Defense Hit Your Attacker Where It Counts | publisher = The Plain Dealer | date = 1992-05-05 | url = http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/plaindealer/offers.html?url=%2Fplaindealer%2Faccess%2F100247292.html%3Fdids%3D100247292%3A100247292%26FMT%3DFT%26FMTS%3DABS%3AFT%26date%3DMay%2B5%252C%2B1992%26author%3DFRAN%2BHENRY%26pub%3DThe%2BPlain%2BDealer%26edition%3D%26startpage%3DNOPGCIT%26desc%3DIn%2Bself-defense%2Bhit%2Byour%2Battacker%2Bwhere%2Bit%2Bcounts%2BCallers%2Bto%2Bour%2Beverywoman%2Bhot%2Bline%2Bhave%2Basked%2Bfor%2Binformation%2Babout%2Bhow%2Bto%2Bprotect%2Bthemselves.%2BWe%2527re%2Bhappy%2Bto%2Boblige. | accessdate=2007-07-08] In 2002 a dojo was opened in Hendersonville, Tennessee by a martial artist that had been a regular reader of Durbin's magazine articles and books and sought him out for trainingFact|date=January 2008.

Training

The instruction is in a family atmosphere, where students train as partners instead of adversaries. Training is relatively informal, with little ritual aside from formalized bowing to begin and end class and a formal ceremony involved with belt tests and promotions. This is done with the intention of recreating some elements of pre-Meiji era martial arts schools. [Pruitt, Robert (July, 2007). [http://arawakagekan.com/ask_bob/traditionalism "Ask Bob: Is your martial art practiced in a traditional way?"] . Arawa Kage Kan. Retrieved on 2007-7-9] Part of the family atmosphere is the practice that its dojo are not widely distributed, and the Ryu does not aggressively expand, and there are only (as of 2007) around a dozen dojoFact|date=January 2008, spread throughout Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois and Tennessee. Part of the atmosphere family and mutual respect of Kiyojute Ryu includes the members of the class hugging each other after class.cite news | author = Daniel Souder| title = Kempo Club Helps with Self-Defense | publisher = The Kentucky Kernel | date = 1996-03-22 | url = http://www.kykernelalum.org/1996/spring/0322/n7.html | accessdate=2007-09-12] Kiyojute Ryu Kempo has no "tournament" or "sport" aspects, and training for competitions is never conducted. [cite news | author = Catherine LaRoche | title = Club RSOs provide something for everyone | publisher = The Louisville Cardinal | date = 2007-05-08 | url = http://media.www.louisvillecardinal.com/media/storage/paper964/news/2007/05/08/Sports/Club-Rsos.Provide.Something.For.Everyone-2896671.shtml | accessdate=2007-07-08] .

Religion

Durbin is a Baptist ministerFact|date=March 2008 and teaches Kempo from a Christian perspective and refers to his own dojo as the "Christian Martial Arts Association", which is also the name of the non-profit organization that Kiyojute Ryu is legally incorporated as. While he personally teaches from a Christian perspective, he states he is open to teaching students of any religion, quoting the style web site FAQ he explains how religion is handled:

cquote
Like most martial arts masters, at least in the classical sense, I am a very religious person. Actually I am an ordained Baptist minister. But this is no different than Morihei Ueshiba being a Shinto priest and Michiomi Nakano (So Doshin) being a Zen Buddhist priest.

However, like those masters, I teach Kiyojute Ryu Kempo openly to people of all walks of life. The only requirement I have is that a person should have a fundamental belief in God in some form. A person who just does not believe in God cannot possibly reach the highest levels of the martial arts, since they are of a spiritual nature.

In Japan the martial arts have been called Shin Ken, meaning divine fist. In Okinawa they were known as Kami Te, divine hand. In both cases the belief is that the martial arts are inspired by God. I believe this with all my heart. But I know that God loves all people in all countries, so that he has reached out in many ways to touch the lives of His children. Thus as long as a person has some concept of God, they can reach the highest levels in Kiyojute Ryu with no problem.

If you ask me my personal experience with God, you will learn about Jesus Christ, for this is how God touched me, through His son Jesus. However, we have students in Kiyojute Ryu who are of all Christian faiths, Buddhists, Hindu, Sikhs, Bahá'í, and even Wicca.

The only people who have ever had any trouble with the philosophy of Kiyojute Ryu have been people who do not believe in God at all. But in all my years, this has only been two people. So as long as a person believes in God, regardless of any other aspect of personal belief, they can easily learn and train in Kiyojute Ryu. [Durbin, William [http://Controversial.org:1084/faq/ Kiyojute Ryu Frequently Asked Questions] Kiyojute Ryu Kempo Website]

However Durbin also states, " A person who just does not believe in God cannot possibly reach the highest levels of the martial arts, since they are of a spiritual nature.". [Durbin, William [http://kiyojuteryu.org:1084/faq/ Kiyojute Ryu Frequently Asked Questions] Kiyojute Ryu Kempo Website]

The belief that Christianity is not unlike other religions such as Buddhism for purposes of the spiritual growth required for advanced-level practitioners of martial arts is not a belief unique to Kiyojute Ryu, Masaaki Hatsumi of Bujinkan has written that the spiritual goals with regards of the martial arts of Christianity and Buddhism are the same. [Hatsumi, Masaaki (1988). "The Grandmaster's Book of Ninja Training". Chicago, IL: ISBN 0-8092-4692-5, pp 48.]

Footnotes

Publications

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* ( [http://www.lulu.com/content/617266] Print on Demand/Download link)
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External links

* [http://www.kiyojuteryu.org/ Kiyojute Ryu Kempo Bugei Home Page]
* [http://www.martialarm.com/history/kempo.html Kempo Karate History]