Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo

Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempō is the original system of Kenpō.fact|date= July 2008 It is based upon the teachings of Buddhism [book: "True and Pure Karate and Kempo", p.33, Mitose, James M., 1981] . James Mitose is credited as the man who originally brought Kempō of Japanese origin to Hawaii in 1936. Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempō is the martial art within the parent art Kosho Shorei Ryu, which was founded in Kyushu, Japan in 1235. As an art of Sohei Warrior Monks, this art is primarily one of spiritual development and holistic self-cultivation, and secondarily one of self-defense. There is no offensive martial aspect of this art traditionally. It is only used to protect life. Tragically, as the art has been taught since 1953 in the United States, most teachers and organizations of "Kenpo" offer no training or insight into any of the philosophical, energetic, healing, or cultural aspects of the original Japanese art.fact|date= July 2008 This is not true of all groups, however.

Kosho Shorei Ryu 古松奨勵流 means "Old Pine Tree School of Encouragement to Spiritual Diligence." According to Mitose's teachings [?: Sei Kosho Shorei Kai International, Bruce Juchnik, Headmaster] ,fact|date= July 2008 the art is defined by the practice of [http://oldpinetree.com/kssk/index.php?option=com_content&Itemid=57&id=18&task=view oldpinetree.com: eight arts] . These arts are:
# Energy Cultivation
# Healing Arts
# Kosho Shorei Yoga & Jumping Arts
# Escaping Arts
# Philosophy
# Folding Arts
# Meditation
# Arts of War

Kempō is a term which combines the Japanese characters Ken 拳 which means "Fist", and Ho 法 which means "Natural Law", natural methods, Truth, Dharma". Ho is pronounced "po" when used after Ken/Kem. The Eastern philosophy of Natural Law, specifically as expounded by Buddhism and Taoism informs the deepest Kempō training. There has been some controversy regarding whether Kempō is actually spelled with an "n" or an "m". Either spelling is a correct romanization of the Japanese 拳法. Kempō martial arts are comprised of arts number 4, 6, and 8. Escaping Arts are primary, and considered the highest level arts, because they follow the Buddhist tenet of never harming another human being. Folding Arts are considered the next best moral option. These include joint locks, chokes, throws and pins, which are aimed at controlling an attacker's movements without injuring him. The lowest form of Kempō is the War Arts. Although Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempō is committed to causing the absolute minimum harm necessary to protect life, employment of this art may require harming another human being, and so it is used only as a last resort. The secret higher-level aspects of the Eighth Art include Kyūshojutsu, the art of pressure point striking, done in a specific way which follows Natural Law. This potent, highly-refined aspect of the art is informed by the Healing Arts (Art number 2), powered by Energy Cultivation (Art number 1), and morally informed by Arts number 7 and 5, Meditation and Philosophy. Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempō uses Kyūshojutsu attacks which can sometimes be undone after knocking an attacker out, using specific application of the healing arts taught in this style, although this teaching is rare.

One prominent organization of Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo today is the Sei Kosho Shorei Kai International, out of Sacramento, California. [ [http://www.collectivesociety.com/skski collectivesociety.com: Sei Kosho Shorei Kai International] ] This organization was founded and is headed by Bruce Juchnik, who learned from Mitose towards the end of Mitose's life while he was incarcerated in Folsom Prison. By that time Mitose had become a Christian minister. Mitose was there because, out of Buddhist and Christian compassion, he took responsibility for something his student did. Hassan Namir, then named Terry Lee, had committed murder while trying to steal money the victim owed Mitose. Mitose died in 1981. He was described as a saintly man, loved by all who knew him [?: According to the personal account of Prison Guard George Santana] fact|date= July 2008, even in a maximum security prison. This is evidenced by the fact the warden of the prison gave Mitose free reign of it, and made him his house caretaker [?: According to the personal account of Prison Guard George Santana] .fact|date= July 2008 The man who introduced Juchnik to Mitose was George Santana, a prison guard at Folsom at the time. Santana practices and teaches quietly still from his home outside of Sacramento.

Another organization is noted for teaching the entire parent art Kosho Shorei Ryu, in an effort to retain the original essence of the art as a complete philosophical and self-cultivation study with a martial component. This organization, [http://oldpinetree.com/kssk/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1 Kosho Shorei Shin Kai] , was founded by David LoPriore of East Lyme, Connecticut, who was a Shihan under Juchnik. (He renounced that title when founding his organization) LoPriore is a Licensed Acupuncturist who founded the organization in order to emphasize the philosophical, healing and other arts in addition to the Kempō, and to be sure acupuncture and shiatsu antidote techniques are taught alongside the dangerous Kyūshojutsu of Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempō. The traditional approach of teaching all eight of the arts is what informs higher-level practices of Kempō with the use of ki internal energy, Kyūshojutsu acupuncture points striking arts, philosophy and healing arts.

The current Sōke of Kosho Shorei Ryu is under dispute by Thomas Mitose, James Mitose's son, and Bruce Juchnik, one of James Mitose's final students. Each claims that James Mitose named him his successor prior to his death. James Mitose may or may not have said to his son, "unless one comes from the blood line of a Grandmaster they will never have full knowledge of that art." [http://www.kosho-ryu.com/22nd_grandmaster/Great-Grandmaster_Thomas-Mitose.html kosho-ryu.com: Mitose Kosho-Ryu Kenpo] ] But traditionally, Kosho Shorei Ryu was passed on to the practitioner who best embodied the philosophies and principles of the art, and who also possessed the technical skills within all of the eight arts to embody and teach them effectively. Because of this controversy, and because neither teacher has emerged as clearly embodying both the philosophies and comprehensive technical skills in all eight of the arts, other organizations have sprung up with their own styles of this art. These organizations include ones headed by recognized senior teachers George Santana, David LoPriore [ [http://oldpinetree.com/kssk/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1 oldpinetree.com: Kosho Shorei Shin Kai] ] , and Nimir Hassan.

Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo is, in a sense, an eclectic study. Much of the martial practice is based upon principle, concept, and philosophical understanding, largely based upon the teachings of Buddhism, but also influenced by Taoism, Shinto, Karate, Aikijujutsu, Tai Chi, Qigong, Acupuncture, Shiatsu and other philosophies and traditional Asian arts. The martial practices of the art do not limit one to any particular discipline but instead stress adherence to Ho, "Natural Law."

Mitose lived in Hawai'i (pre-statehood) until around the age of four, and then went back to Japan (thought to be in October, 1920) to study the family art of Kosho-Shorei Kenpō. He may have been taught by, among others, his grandfather Sukuhei and his uncle, legendary karateka Choki Motobu.fact|date= July 2008

Mitose returned to Hawai'i on February 23, 1937. The day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Mitose joined the Hawai'i Territorial Guard. The Guard was disbanded in 1942. Mitose opened his school in 1944 [book: "True and Pure Karate and Kempo", p.18, Mitose, James M., 1981] , calling it the "Official Self-Defense Club." In this Dojo, Mitose is likely to have taught this art to the public for the first time we know of in history, including to members of the American military.

In 1953, Mitose retired from teaching and gave the Dojo to Thomas Young, one of his 6 original black belts.

References