The following is a brief history of the American lineage of Jiyu no taki ryu jiu
jitsu, traced down from the first instructor to immigrate to the U.S. (on whose
style our art was originally based) to the Oklahoma City school's founder, Shethar McGuire.
Please understand that any style of martial arts instruction is only as good as
the skillset and instructional ability of the teacher standing in front of you,
so at the end of the day, the history of any particular style may or may not
carry through to what you see in the dojo. The same is true of titles and
belts--the teacher can either handle himself in a confrontation and instruct or
he can't, and neither title nor belt mean much in reality. Students
frequently ask, however, so we've included the information regarding our history
here. While we retain all of the specific moves taught in the original style, we have modified them when we believed it appropriate and added to the style extensively based on what we've learned from attending other Dojos and from what other trained martial artists and athletes brought with them when they came to train at our dojo. We are both still learning, and hope to continue to, and neither of us pretend to have the skills or knowledge of the masters that have come before. We enjoy the art, love to teach, and love to learn even more. If others have additional information on any other practitioners or correction to any of the below information, please email the information to hmerchen@gmail.com.
Soke Shogo Kuniba
Soke Shogo Kuniba, 10th Dan, was the head of the Motobu Ha/Kuniba Ha Shito Ryu, Seishin Kai Karate Union, headquartered in Osaka, Japan. Since the IKKU grew from Seishin Kai and later from the NKJU, it is important that we know something about him. Shogo Kuniba was born at Fugi-Yoshida City, Yamanashi Prefecture, on February 5,1935. His father was Kosei Kokuba (Japanese/Kuniba), who had studied karate with Choki Motobu and others. In 1940, the older Kuniba opened a karate dojo in Osaka. It taught the Motobu Ha Karate Do and was called later, the Seishin Kan dojo. Shogo Kuniba began his karate study at his father's dojo that same year at the age of five.
Kenwa Mabuni and Ryusei Tomoyori who taught there in return for room and board joined the dojo. Mabuni sensei is the founder of Shito Ryu karate. By 1947, after the hardships of the World War, Shogo Kuniba achieved his black belt. He was awarded his shodan by Master Mabuni. After three more years of study, he earned his nidan from Master Mabuni and Tomoyori. He was fifteen.
In 1952, he was promoted to sandan by Master Mabuni and began to diversify his studies. He went to Sakai City where he studied Mugai Ryu Iaido with Soke Ishii Gogetsu. In 1955, at age 20, after fifteen years of study, he earned his yandan from Master Mabuni. In that same year, he went to Naha City, Okinawa, where he began training at the Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu dojo of Master Shojin Nagamine. While in Okinawa, Soke Kuniba undertook serious study of kobudo. With Master Shojin Kosha, he studied the use of the bo and nunchaku. With Master Junko Yamaguchi he studied the tonfa.
By 1958, Shogo Kuniba had achieved 5th Dan in Motobu Ha Karate Do, 4th Dan in Iaido, 6th Dan in Kobudo and been awarded the position of first office manager for the Zippou Karate Do Rengokai. He was 23.
But not all went well for Master Kuniba. On October 17,1959, his father, Kosei Kokuba, died. Shogo then became Soke for Motobu Ha Karate Do by secession. In 1962, Soke Kuniba was promoted to 6th Dan in the Nippon Karate Do Rengokai, 6th Dan in Iaido and 7th Dan in Kobudo. In 1966 he became 7th Dan in Karate. In 1968, he relieved Shihan Teruo Hayashi as the head of Seishin Kai. By 1973, at the age of 38, Soke Shogo Kuniba had achieved 8th Dan in karate, Iaido and Kobudo. He was the youngest Master to have won such prestige. His career has also included many other achievements, including his 1978 appearance in a classic demonstration on Japanese martial arts. In 1983, Soke Kuniba moved his base of operations to Portsmouth, Virginia where he opened the USA Honbu Dojo. There he concentrated his efforts on spreading his style of martial arts throughout the world. Charles Neil studied under Soke Kuniba during this period.
In 1984, the Rengo Kai promoted Shogo Kuniba to the rank of Kudan in karate. At that time, he held the highest rank of any Japanese martial artist living outside Japan. On July 14, 1992, Soke Shogo Kuniba died of stomach cancer, but before his death, he had renamed the Motobu Ha system to Kuniba Ha Shito Ryu. After his death, he was awarded Judan (10th dan) by the Japan Karate Federation. This was a final tribute to one of the most highly esteemed masters of the martial arts in the world.
CHARLES NEAL
As recalled by Shihan Julio Zarate:
The founder of the original Kindai Ryu style was the late Grand Sensei Mr.
Charles Neal. The dojo was located in the City of Portsmouth, VA at the YMCA. It
is unfortunate that information about his childhood or private life is minimal
because he did not talk much about himself or his family.
Sensei Neal had a son practicing Judo and some Jiu-Jitsu in mid-1980. I
practiced with many great Jiu-Jitsu practitioners in his dojo. Sensei Neal was
faithful to Jiu-Jitsu throughout his life. Jiu-Jitsu was his life’s passion.
However, Jiu-Jitsu was one of the dinosaurs of the martial arts. It was
threatened by extinction because there were few practitioners who remained
faithful to the true origins of the style.
The following excerpts are contained in a letter to Shihan Julio Zarate from James S. Herndon, Ph.D., Ed.D. , Seishin Kai Shihan, USA Honbucho:
Sensei Charles Neal (1927-1988) was a friend. I knew him since 1969. He began his formal training in the 1940's under Professor K. Nakae (see http://www.amazon.com/Jiu-Jitsu-Complete-K-Nakae/dp/0818400455) receiving his black belt in 1944. He studied knife techniques under John Styers (see http://bowieknifefightsfighters.blogspot.com/2010/10/bowie-knife-fighter-john-j-styers.html) and Judo under Frank Hubbard, while in the Marine Corps. In 1955, he trained under Matsumoto and Ohashi, instructors of the Japan Maritime Defense Force. He also studied Judo and Jiu-Jitsu under Hiroshige Yoshida; Hakkoryu Jiu-Jitsu under Clement Riedner (see http://www.usadojo.com/biographies/clement-riedner.htm)
; and, Tae Kwon Do under Akio Mitake and Nebuhiro Hayashi. He met Richard Baillargeon and affiliated with Seishin Kai Karate Union (SKKU) in the late 1960's. His first meeting of Soke Shogo Kuniba (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sh%C5%8Dg%C5%8D_Kuniba) was in 1979, in Portsmouth, VA. From Kuniba-Soke, Neal-Sensei learned techniques of Goshin Budo (blend of Aikido and Jiu-Jitsu). He never studied with Kuniba-Soke in Japan; only in Virginia, as Kuniba-Soke became a resident in 1983 (he died in 1992). As you know, Neal-Sensei passed away in 1988. So, he might have trained with Kuniba-Soke from 1979-1988, sporadically. Neal-Sensei opened the Authentic Judo Club in Portsmouth, VA, after leaving the military. The club closed in 1977. Neal-Sensei's senior students in the late 60's and early 70' were Willie Hunter (who died this year) and Harold Hankins. Neal-Sensei held a 3rd Degree black belt in Judo (U.S. Judo Association); a 6th degree black belt in Jiu-Jitsu (American Budo Martial Arts Federation); a 3rd degree black belt in Seishin Kai Goshin Budo; and a 2nd degree black belt in Shito Ryu Karate-do (SKKU). The memory of Charles O. Neal can best be served by accurately reporting the facts of his martial arts history. Errors and distortions (such as calling him "Soke") only bring discredit upon him. He was a humble man and would not want to receive undeserved honors. I hope you find the foregoing useful. It is meant as a positive statement about Neal-Sensei.
James S. Herndon, Ph.D., Ed.D. , Seishin Kai Shihan, USA Honbucho (1980-1982) Sources: Firsthand knowledge., Masters, Founders & Leaders of American Martial Arts (1983), page 124., Funeral handout/bio, January 24, 1988."
When Sensei Neal passed away, some of the most able black belts took over the school and many problems developed among them. As a result, the school (dojo), completely disappeared. Like many other wonderful schools in the past, instead of progressing with the knowledge that a Master left as a legacy of his lifetime, Kindai Ryu Jiu-Jitsu became segmented into a number of different styles, each under a different instructor. Jiyu-no taki ryu jiu-jitsu was one of those segements.
sensei DANIEL HERNANDEZ
Sensei Daniel Hernandez was born in the city of Cordova, Veracruz
Mexico on May 12, 1926 and is considered
the Father of the martial arts in Mexico and Central America. He was the first
black belt in Mexico and holds an eighth degree
black belt in his style. He was student of Sensei Mazahiko Kimura, a Japanese champion for 13 years. Sensei Hernandez was a pioneer for Kendo on Mexican television in 1952. He also helped with the promotion of Kung Fu in 1958 and Karate Do in 1962. He contributed to the diffusion of Aikido in Mexico and he was the first to bring the fourth Pan-American games of Judo to Mexico and the sixth World Championship of Judo in 1969. He is member of the Mexican Hall of Fame. He learned most of his Jiu-Jitsu from his grandfather and father in the fields of Cordova, Veracruz.
He opened the first dojo for martial arts in Mexico City and organized the Republic of Mexico to be part of the International Jiu-Jitsu Federation. He also represents Mexico and Central America in “La Communidad IberoAmericana de Jiu-Jitsu”. The United States Martial Artist Association inducted Grand Sensei Daniel Hernandez to the Hall of Fame on July 31, 1999. Sensei Hernandez is also the Vice President for the North American Jiu Jitsu Union, a union of Jiu Jitsu practitioners from USA, Mexico, and Canada.
Shihan JULIO ZARATE
Shihan Julio Zarate studied under Master Hernandez in Mexico City from December
1967 through April 1980. He came to the United States in 1980 and joined the
Navy in 1983. Between 1983-1995, he was stationed in California, Texas and
Virginia. During these years, he continued to train and teach whenever possible.
In 1995, Shihan Julio Zarate moved to Bethesda, Maryland and founded his combat-oriented Jiu-Jitsu dojo in the spring of 1995, believing that tradition and knowledge should take precedence over commercialization and business. He believed that competition and achievement of “belt” and “rank” were overtaking devotion, dedication, and love for the traditional arts.
His form of Jiu-Jitsu instruction adhered to the traditional style taught by Grand Master Daniel Hernandez (see above). Shihan Julio Zarate has been teaching private classes and group classes for over 25 years in Mexico City, Virginia, California, Texas, and Maryland. Shihan Zarate represents the United States of America in the La Comunidad Ibero-americana de Jiu-Jitsu. He worked with Mexican and American representatives to form The North American Jiu-jitsu Union between Canada, Mexico and the USA. He holds the first International License for Judges in Jiu-Jitsu in the United States.
Shihan Zarate has been honored with the following inductions:
The United States Martial Artist Association Hall of fame on July 31, 1999
The United Martial Arts inducted him on 11th August 2001
The World Wide Martial Arts Hall of Fame June 9th, 2001
The Latin American Martial Arts Hall of Fame on November 24th, 2001 in Puerto Rico
The Latin American Martial Arts Hall of Fame in June 2007, in Puerto Rico.
Shihan Julio Zarate presides over the following schools and systems: Ryujin Jiu-Jitsu, Ryujin for women, Hernandez Ryu Jiu-Jitsu - select techniques from Hernandez Jiu-Jitsu System, Ryujin Karate School for youth- a mix of Jiu-jitsu and Shotokan karate.
Shihan GREG GONZALEZ
Greg Gonzalez began his study of the martial arts almost twenty years ago as
a high school student. He continued his training while attending college and
later joined the United States Army as a commissioned officer. His first duty
assignment was in Korea where he earned black belts in both Tae Kwon Do and
Hapkido in 1989. Following his return to the U.S., he put his martial arts
skills to use as a member of the Guardian Angels in El Paso, Texas. After completing the U.S. Army Ranger, Airborne, and Air
Assault schools, he left military service with the rank of Captain to pursue his
lifelong love of the martial arts. Shihan Gonzalez became a founding member of the Heart of Texas Defensive Tactics Institute which trained and certified law enforcement officers in unarmed defensive tactics throughout Central Texas. While living in Texas, Shihan Gonzalez earned a black belt in Wu Wei Gung Fu and a brown belt in American Kenpo Karate. It was during this period that he became a full time instructor and he went on to teach Hapkido, Gung Fu, and Tae Kwon Do before finally dedicating himself to the study of Ryujin Jiu-Jitsu (then known as Kindai-Ryu). Shihan Gonzalez had the privilege to train directly under Shihan Julio Zarate at the National Naval Medical Center while living in Maryland, during which time he developed and implemented a women’s self defense class as part of the school’s curriculum. Shihan Gonzalez also pioneered a martial arts program for adolescent inpatients of the psychiatric ward of the National Naval Medical Center.
Shihan Gonzalez was awarded the rank of fourth degree black belt on September 4, 1999, the same year he was inducted into the United States Martial Artist Association Hall of Fame as the Jiu-Jitsu Instructor of the Year. He was awarded the rank of Shihan in 2003 and is the highest ranking practitioner of Ryujin Jiu-Jitsu under Shihan Zarate.
SENSEI SHETHAR MCGUIRE
While serving in the U.S. Army Shethar "Mac" McGuire was
requested frequently to teach hand-to-hand combat to his unit's soldiers
(Combatives), in which he advanced the current unit's teachings from his
experiences from training for Special Forces Selection (SFAS) while on tour in
Bosnia during 1996-1997. While on tour with the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), in Fort Drum New York, Mr. McGuire had the privilege to study under Mr. Gregory Gonzalez, a Martial Arts Hall of Fame instructor and an outstanding teacher and student of the martial arts. Mr. McGuire quickly gained an interest in the style, and after much training and teaching earned his 1st degree black belt. After leaving the Army, Mr. McGuire served as the Assistant Instructor to the Combatives Course at Fort Drum where he and Mr. Gonzalez taught Fort Drum Infantry soldiers advanced hand to hand combat techniques and methods of survival effective not only on the battlefield, but also in day to day life.
Shethar McGuire was later stationed in Oklahoma City and founded the present school. Due to legal conflict with former students of Sensei Neal, the name "Kindai Ryu" became contested and Sensei McGuire adopted the style of Jiu No Taki Ryu from his prior instructor, Shihan Greg Gonzales. That style later merged with Ryujin under Shihan Zarate, but the Oklahoma City school retained the name and style of Jiyu No Taki Ryu as Sensei McGuire's instruction had added various styles and techniques that differred from its origins. His student, Heath Merchen, has continued Sensei McGuire's work in expanding the style to include additional core moves from Brazilian Jiu jitsu, Judo, traditional wrestling, boxing, and a variety of other systems learned from students who have attended the dojo. Sensei McGuire later entered flight school and was ultimately promoted to Captain and he currently serves his country as a helicopter pilot.