Kamishin Ryū
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Kamishin Ryu is a type of Japanese martial arts.
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[edit] History
During the period from 1967 to 1969, Albert C. Church had traveled to and lived in Japan at the request of his instructor, Kim Ki Whang of the Shorinji Tekken Ryu. Late in 1967, Church was named by Whang as the arts successor and received a soden, or "scroll of transmission".
While living in Japan, Church became close friends with Shogo Kuniba, Soke (by succession), of Ryūkyū Karate-do Motobu-ha, Nippon Karate-do Shito Ryu. Kuniba sponsored Church before the Zen Nippon Kodudo Renmei and Zen Nippon Karate-do Renmei of Kyoto and Osaka after reviewing the soden that Church received. A special scroll was prepared by Kuniba recognizing Albert Church's position as head of the Kamishin Ryu system of martial arts. This scroll was presented to Church in 1968. In 1969, prior to Church's return to the United States, Kuniba also presented Church with a kanban, (formal teaching authorization sign).
When Church returned stateside the system's hierarchical structure began taking shape. Church named Harold Martin and Robert Kelly as soke-dai (future inheritors). Kelly received a document of lineage transmission in 1971. The organization Church began shaping eventually flourished with over 7,000 registered students. Then in the mid 1970's after a series of events the organizational structure began to falter, the headquarter school closed, and Church himself was absent from the organization for approximately one year during which time a number of his top-level students left the organization. Although Church returned a year later from his unexplained absence the damage was already done, and the organization never fully recovered. During the late 1970's (77-78) Church named Harold Martin as system inheritor and Kaicho (President) of the Nippon Kobudo Rengokai. During this time Church also named Thom Brandon as a Soke-Dai and sponsored him to continue his own Kamishin Ryu teachings.
Ted Petit began his training with Albert C. Church, Kamishin Ryu, Head Family in 1971, first training under one of his black belt instructors then eventually under him and Robert Kelly directly. It was Church's goal for his students to train within a combined martial arts structure, therefore, Petit sensei earned separate black belt rankings under the Kamishin Ryu system. Petit moved to Texas in 1979. In 1980 Albert Church died, leaving Robert Kelly as head of the Kamishin Ryu system of martial arts. In 1995, Kelly signed and sealed a letter of "lineage transmission" giving Ted Petit full sponsorship, permission and backing to carry on his Kamishin Ryu lineage teaching as Head Family.
Darrell Collins began training in 1979 in Eishin Ryu Karate-Do. Later, after joining the US Army, Collins trained in an "Americanized" style of Karate/Kickboxing and later in a modern style of Jujutsu. After returning to South Carolina in the late 80's, Collins began training in the art of Shorinji Tetsu-Ken Kamishin Ryu. After almost 20 years of training with various masters which were trained directly under Albert Church and eventually training directly under Harold Martin as his personal student, Martin signed and sealed a letter of lineage succession to Darrell Collins as Head-Family of Shorinji Tetsu-Ken Kamishin Ryu and next generation president of the Nippon Kobudo Rengokai.
[edit] Description
Shindenkan Budo Renmei, was organized in the year 2000 to promote the art of Nippon Kobudo Kamishin Ryu. Kamishin Ryu's teachings are jujutsu in nature and consist of a cohesive blend of Japanese based martial arts. The art emphasize's the control, joint locking, chocking, throws and fluidity of jujutsu with effective atemiwaza. Atemiwaza requires that the student develop proper body mechanics to establish an effective "delivery system". Once this foundation is developed, the student extends the body mechanics into wider spheres of principle based application. These spheres of application require that the student learn the principles behind what makes technique work, therefore, mere emulation of technique will not allow the student to become an effective martial artist.
A few of this system's principles are briefly listed below:
- rotational escape - teaches the foundation of mechanical leveraging.
- to/from - always draw to and proceed from points of strength.
- duality - keep in/yo active within everything.
- decaying power - channeling aiki flow - dissipate power naturally, not abruptly.
- ebb and flow of power - projecting/redirecting.
- in/yo-no-kamae - the dual nature of postures.
Kamishin Ryu traces part of its modern heritage back through Church's association with Okuyama, of Hakko Ryu martial arts. Hakko Ryu as a traditional martial art has direct lineage influences from Daito Ryu. It combines the grappling skills of ancient Japan, with striking nerve/meridians within the body. Within Japan, jujutsu is the largest traditional soft style martial art today. Jujutsu uses principles of countering an attack by using the opponent's strength against himself. Striking techniques (atemiwaza) based on pressure points, are used along with joint manipulations and throws to subdue and control an opponent. The fundamentals of jujutsu are very simple to learn and truly is a martial art for all ages. On the other hand, the advanced methods of jujutsu take years of dedicated study. While living in Japan in the late 1960's, Church trained at the Hakko Ryu hombu dojo with Okuyama. The Kamishin website includes archival photography during this time frame.
[edit] Nippon Kobudo Rengokai
The Nippon Kobudo Rengokai was founded by Albert C. Church in 1968 as an organization to pass on the teachings of his newly inherited art of Kamishin Ryu. These teachings were broken down into Ryugi (groupings) of Kempo (Fist Methods), based on the Tekken Ryu (Iron Fist) teachings of the inherited art, Jujutsu (Soft Arts) based on Daito/Hakko Ryu which were used to enhance the Jujtusu-like teachings of the inherited art and various weapons taught to support these empty hand teachings. In the 1977 time frame, Church named Harold Martin as the new president of the Nippon Kobudo Rengokai and head family of Shorinji Tetsu-Ken Kamishin Ryu. After the unexpected death of Church, Martin chose not to publicly teach his inherited art.
In 2006, Harold Martin passed the Nippon Kobudo Rengokai and his art of Shorinji Tetsu-Ken Kamishin Ryu to Darrell Collins. Today, the NKR continues with several top level students that were trained by Albert Church and Harold Martin who act as an advisory board for Mr. Collins.
[edit] Kamishin Ryu Karate Do (Kameyama Ha)
In addition to the A.C.Church Stream of Shorinji Tekken Kamishin Ryu Budo there is another Karate system bearing a similar name, [not uncommon in classical Ryu] and is understood to have been established during the 1960's by one Kameyama Eiichi. Although eclectic in establishment and limited to a "family-style" approach to study, the system takes a classical Japanese standpoint in both training methodology and technique, with little or nothing given over to the modernist sporting approach.
System content is transmitted by technique execution, Kata study and application practice of which there are three formally recognisable levels of execution, Ge, Chu and Jo. Randori kumite is also practised however, the focus is inherently on the old feudal method of "blueprinting" and skills establishment by virtue of the myriad of flow drills associated with this system.
A technical syllabus exists to Godan with a not dissimilar method to that of some elements of Shito Ryu with a proportion of the formative focus found in the Shuri stream and the more advanced elements residing in the Naha approach.
Not restricted solely to percussive techniques, Kamishin Ryu Karate Do also makes use of the recognised grappling and joint techniques to be found in classical Karate Kata and additionally places an emphasis on vital point disruption. Recently this element of the martial arts has come into vogue, however it has always been practiced as part and parcel of this system.
As far as can be reasonably established, no obvious link between the two Kamishin Ryu systems exists, although there are clearly many commonalities in approach.
One of the current exponents of this system is Phil Snewin who is based in the UK and who studied during the 1980's with one of Kameyama Sensei's students, Kamimoto Hiroshi Sensei. Kamimoto came from a noble family whose name was usually associated with that of classical Japanese swordmanship, and it was during a secondment to the British arm of his company that he assisted in the establishment of the system in the UK. This is now well established and this organisation seeks to preserve and proliferate the teachings of Kameyama Sensei and Kamishin Ryu Karate.
