Gakko Keito

James Mitose (1916-1981)
 

James Masayoshi (Masakichi) Mitose, was born in Kailua-Kona, North Kona District, Hawaii, on December 30, 1916. At the age of three (October 22, 1920), young Masakichi, was sent to Kyushu, Japan, to be given a formal education and upbringing with family living there. While there in addition to his normal school work, Mitose, trained in his ancestors' art of self-defense (Kempo), a direct descendent of the original Chuan Fa. James, studied this art for 16 years under his uncle, a Kempo master, returning to Honolulu, Hawaii, on February 25, 1937. Ultimately, the Professor, began teaching publicly, instituting the "Official Self-Defense Club" at the Brestania Mission, Honolulu, in 1942. Mitose, gave the style he taught a number of different names during his lifetime, including Shorinji Kempo, Kempo Jiujitsu, and Go Shin Jitsu, but over time, settled on the name Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo. Professor Mitose, eventually promoted five students to black belt. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, Mitose, had to come to terms with the fact that he was Japanese by birth but American by citizenship, accordingly, he enlisted in the National Guard, and began training fellow servicemen and civilians, expounding upon the merits of his Japanese, Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo. Much of what is now Kempo/Kenpo came from Mitose's Kosho Shorei Ryu. Professor James Mitose, passed away in California, on March 26, 1981.


William (Thunder bolt) Chow (1914-1987)
 

William Kwai Sun Chow ( William Ah Sun Chow Hoon ), cultivated the seeds of American Kempo/Kenpo. It is generally accepted that young William, studied several types of martial arts as a young man, likely boxing, wrestling, Jiujitsu, and Karate. Though he stood 5'2" tall, he was well known for his breaking techniques.   Mr. Chow, eventually would come to study Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo, under James Mitose. As he progressed, it is said that he often took his techniques to the streets and tested them on the US military personnel. Mr. Chow's Kenpo, was a quick, vicious style developed as a response to the violence that was commonplace in pre-statehood Hawaii. Chow, was a prolific street fighter, but did not often run afoul with the law. William Chow, would go on to be one of five people awarded black belts under Professor Mitose. It is interesting to note that while Chow, was an instructor under Mitose, his actual black belt certificate was signed by Thomas Young, Mitose's senior student and instructor. In 1944, Chow, began teaching what he called "Kenpo Karate" at Nuuano YMCA in Honolulu. As Mitose, had never related his Kosho Shorei Ryu, with Karate, this was a departure for Chow. Despite his heavy influence on the martial arts in the United States, and his many notable students, Chow, never had a Dojo of his own, often taught in the park, and lived his life in near poverty much of the time. To the Professor, Kenpo was a war art ; it was pure Martial Arts. The Professor, understood there is no sport in a street fight ; there are no rules, no referees, no time out. His concept for self defense: simple, direct, fast, powerful, effective. Some twenty years later, Professor Chow, renamed his system Chinese Kara-Ho Kempo Karate.  Professor Chow, died in Honolulu, on September 21, 1987.
 

Edmund Parker (1931-1990)
 

Great Grandmaster Edmund K. Parker, 10th degree black belt, is the undisputed Father of American Kenpo Karate. A native of Honolulu, Parker was already a black belt in Judo at age 16, when he began studying Kempo, with Frank Chow, in Hawaii. Parker, quickly learned everything Frank, could teach him, and Frank, soon arranged for his brother, William K.S. Chow, to help Parker, reach a higher level. After only two years of training, Parker, earned his brown belt. Like Mr. Chow, Parker was a street fighter and adapted what he learned to fit with the type of fighting he encountered on the streets, and Chow, imparted in Parker the necessity for change in the Kempo system to meet the modern needs of the American people. Parker, organized every technique and movement into a format that could be broken down into levels for all students and renamed it "American Kenpo Karate." When Mr. Parker, moved to Provo, Utah, to attend Brigham Young University, he opened his first studio. After graduating in 1956, with a B.S. in Psychology and Sociology, Parker, moved to California, opened his second school and founded the International Kenpo Karate Association. By 1964, when he held his first tournament, Parker, had become a household name in Hollywood, teaching his art to the likes of Elvis Presley, and Steve McQueen. Mr. Parker, passed away in 1990, at the age of 59, in Honolulu.
 

Nicholas Raymond Cerio (1936-1998) 

A legend of the martial arts, Professor Cerio did more than just continue the lineage—he truly made an indelible mark on it. Throughout his illustrious career he brought the lines of Kenpo back together from potential splits that could have damaged the system. It all began in 1962, when Professor Cerio, began training under George Pesare, in Karazenpo Go Shinjutsu. By the mid-1960’s he had opened his first studio. He studied Chung Do Kwan, under Ernest Lieb ( Grand Master Lieb, introduced Professor Cerio, to Master Tadashi Yamashita, of Kobayashi Shorin Ryu Karate Do /Okinawa Zen Kobudo, who awarded the Professor, a 4th degree black belt in 1970 ) , Hakkoryu Jujutsu, under James Benko and Larry Garron, and American Kenpo, under Master Ed Parker; and assisted in running the New England branch, of the International Kenpo Karate Association. In 1966, he began studying under Professor William K.S. Chow; and in December of 1971, received his 5th Degree black belt from Professor Chow. In August of 1973, Kung Fu Master Gan Fung Chin (Sil Lum Kung Fu), awarded Professor Cerio, an 8th degree Black Belt and the title Sifu, in Kuo Shu ( the first of only three certifications by Chin ). In March of 1983, Ed Parker awarded Professor Cerio, a 9th Degree Black Belt in the International Kenpo Karate Association, and the title of Shihan (Master). On April 22, 1989, Shihan Cerio, was awarded his Professorship by Professor Thomas Burdine, of the Kokonryu Bujutsu Renmei Association. And, on September 23, 1989, the World Soke Counsil, awarded the Professor the title Kaichi Yudansha Shihan “above Ranking Status” which elevated him to 10th Degree Black Belt. Professor Nick Cerio, passed away on October 7, 1998. His passing marked the end of a monumental life.

Mark Sheeley

Grand Master Mark Sheeley, began his martial arts training in Tae Kwon Do, earning his Black Belt at the age of twelve under Grand Master Paul T. Cho. In the early 1980s, Grand Master Sheeley, started training in American Kenpo Karate, and ultimately, in 1987, committed to the study exclusively with Professor Nick Cerio. By the mid 1990s, Grand Master Sheeley, had trained hundreds of Black Belts, and served as Master Instructor to several Kenpo Jiujitsu Karate schools in New England. During this time, Grand Master Sheeley, won numerous competitions in both open hand and weapons forms. He was nationally rated in competition for three years in a row and was the first Kenpo stylist to achieve #1 in ranking. He has been inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame, 12 times. And 13 National Champions have trained under him. Grand Master Sheeley, is the founder of Kensho Ryu International, and is currently the director of 18 schools. Grand Master Sheeley, holds a 10th Degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate awarded on August 21, 2011, by Senior Grand Master George Pesare (February 18, 1939 – October 14, 2012), of Karazenpo Go Shinjutsu, with a 7th Degree Black Belt in Komushin Ryu Jujitsu, and a 6th Degree Black Belt in Nick Cerio's Kenpo Jiujitsu Karate.