A Little History of Shito-Ryu Karate-Do and its Factions

The Beginning of Shito-Ryu:
First, it should be noted, "Shito-ryu" is one of the four major styles out of Japan and too, of the World Karate Federation, the world governing body of Karate. Shito-Ryu was founded by Kenwa Mabuni (1887-1952), an Okinawan born descended of the "Bushi" (warrior) class. After Master Mabuni death in 1952, "Shito-Ryu" remained alive among his students, but in five different origanizations or associations. They are as follow: Shito-kai, Seishin-Kai, Kuniba-Kai Intl, Itosu-kai, Kempo-kai and Shuko-kai.

Kenei Mabuni, the eldest son of Kenwa Mabuni, along with his younger brother Kenzo Mabuni, formed "Karate-do Shito-kai" in Japan. This organization seems to be the largest Shito-ryu organization spreading mainly in Asian countries with International Headquarters in Malaysia under sensei Naser Anwar and in Singapore under sensei Wong, forming the Asian Shito-Ryu Karate Federation (ASKF). Later Kenzo Mabuni formed his own organization "Nihon Karate-do Kai Seito Shito-Ryu" teaching "original Shito-Ryu" from his father's 1929 syllabus. In the USA, Shihan Rudy Crosswell (of Arizona), a former student of the Seishin kai organization, formed the "International Shito-Ryu Karate-Do Federation" in colaboration with Kenzo Mabuni. Another student of Kenwa Mabuni, Manzo Iwata also established an organization called "Shito kai".

The Motobu-ha Seishin kai Organization was formed by Master Kosei Kokuba (father of Kuniba, Soke) in 1943, then called "Seishin Kan," teaching Motobu-ha Shito-Ryu Karate-Do. After his death (Oct 1959), "Shogo Kuniba, Soke" (his son), and Teruo Hayashi co-led the Seishin-Kai Organization. In 1968, he became Kaicho of Seishin-Kai, relieving Hayashi Shihan. Later, Master Hayashi established his own organization "Hayashi-ha Shito-Ryu Kai" teaching Hayashi-ha Shito-Ryu spreading mainly in the US. Master Hayashi is now the Chairman of the technical committe of the World Karate Federation (WKF).

(Shogo Kuniba, Soke) A New Faction Begins (Kuniba-Ha Shito-Ryu):
Kuniba, Soke - began his karate training at the age of 5 in his father’s dojo. At the age of eight he was sent to study with Tomoyori Ryusei of Kenyu Ryu. Master Kuniba wanted his son to be a true samurai as were his ancestors and, as a true samurai, at 8, Shogo also began to study judo in an Osaka Dojo. He continued his training in Judo for ten years and earned a sandan rank. In 1947 at the age of 12, he bagan training with Master Mabuni in Shito-Ryu and was soon promoted by Mabuni Sensei to Shodan in Karate. In 1950 he was promoted to Nidan by Master Mabuni and Master Tomoyori and in 1952 earned a Sandan rank.

In 1955 he was promoted to Yondan by Tomoyori Sensei. During that year he was also promoted to Sandan in Iaido and Yondan in Kobudo. In 1956 he traveled to his father’s homeland of Okinawa where he trained with Master Nagamine Shojin in this style of Shorin-Ryu. While in Okinawa, he studied Kobudo with Taira Shinken and Nakaima Kenko of Ryuei Ryu. With Yamaguchi Junko, he studied the use of the tonfa. In 1958, he was promoted to the rank of Godan. After his fathers death (17 Oct 1959), "Kuniba, Soke" and Teruo Hayashi co-led the Seishin-Kai Organization. In 1968, he became Kaicho (President) of  the Seishin-Kai Organization. In 1966, he was promoted to the rank of Nanadan and in 1973, to the rank of Hachidan (8th Dan).

In 1983, Shogo Kuniba, Soke opened the USA Honbu-Dojo of Seishin kai, in Portsmouth, VA. (now, Kuniba-Kai International) teaching Motobu-ha Shito-Ryu, in which he later changed and formulated a new style of martial arts which he called "Kuniba-ha Goshin-Budo," then later to "Goshin-do." In 1984, he was again promoted, to the rank of Kudan (9th Dan).

On the morning of 14 July 1992, Kuniba, Soke passed way. Though he left us to mourn his passing, he too, left us with the hope and obligation of passing on his teachings to the next generation and with this - new factions have come into being, sprouting new life from his teachings, into the system of Shito-Ryu and Goshin-Budo. Kuniba, Soke was awarded the rank of Judan (10th Dan), posthumously, by the Japanese Karate Federation (JKA).

The Beginning of A Newer Faction of Shito-Ryu (the ShuHaRi Shito-Ryu groups):
 One of Kuniba, Soke's students, Frederick I. Thomason, formed the "Ging-Ryu (Silver Dragon) Karate-Do Shito-Ryu Union" in Portsmouth, Virginia. First teaching Motobu-Ha Shito-Ryu, then later, Kuniba-ha Shito-Ryu.
In 1991, just before the passing of Kuniba, Soke; Thomason, Kyoshi - after much dialog and support from Kuniba, Soke formed the system of "Shu Ha Ri Shito-Ryu Karate-Do," under the Ging-Ryu Karate-Do Union.
[Photo. Thomason, Kyoshi and Kuniba, Soke.]

 It's from this system of "ShuHaRi Shito-Ryu", that Mike Lewis, a 24 year student of both Thomason, Kyoshi and Kuniba, Soke - Founded and established the "Seishin-Do Karate Seishoku-Kai" in May of 2003, teaching the system "Kirisuto Kyoto-ha ShuHaRi Shito-Ryu" and "Kirisuto Kyoto-Ryu Goshin-Budo," in Norfolk, Virginia. This system stems from Thomason, Kyoshi's "ShuHaRi Shito-Ryu Karate-Do" and "Kuniba-ha Goshin-Budo." [Photo. Thomason, Kyoshi and Lewis, Sensei (1992).] 

  Lewis-Shihan, became a student of Thomason-Kyoshi in Augest of 1980, this makes him a 24 year "Nidai" student, Sensei, and friend, of  Thomason-Kyoshi of the
"Ging-Ryu ShuHaRi Shito-Ryu Karate-Do system." Because of their close relationship of teacher and student, moreover, the promise he made to Thomason- Kyoshi, to continue on with his teaching. He's now the Founding Kaicho and Sensei of the Kirisuto Kyoto-ha ShuHaRi Shito-Ryu Karate-Do system, at the 
Seishin-Do Karate Seishoku-Kai, Tabernacle Church of Norfolk. Norfolk, Va.


It should be noted that, this Christian faction (system) of Shito-Ryu Katate-Do, is the first faction of its kind, because it’s a "Evangelical Christian Ministry Org." In short this means, the system is a "Ministry" of the Christian church, teaching Christian Doctrine. In December of 2003, Lewis-Sensei completed and received his Certificate of Continuing Studies Award, in the course of study, Teaching the Bible to Others from Master’s Divinity School. His purpose, to strengthen his Theological knowledge, provide sound Biblical teaching in ministry, and further his commitment to God, church, and this new Christian Karate-Do Ministry Organization.

On 18 Sep 04, he was promoted to the position and rank of Fuku-Kaicho (Vice-President), 
7th-Dan, and appointed Head of the Yudansha Ranking Board for Karate for Christ Int'l by Kaicho (President), Dr. (Pastor) Daryl R. Covington, 7th-Dan, and Joseph Lumpkin-Soke,
8th-Dan, CEO of Karate for Christ Int'l.