The History of Shoju-kempo ryu

This Traditional Japanese Ryu is a Combination of 3 Major Ryu's (styles) Sho-Shotokan, Ju- Aikijujitsu, and Kempo. Founded in the year of 1980 by Soke Martin after winning the New England Middleweight title in Kickboxing, Soke Martin was sick of the one style training, so he and 3 of his Black Belt Students came up with the Ryu called Shoju-kempo ryu

Teaching traditional Shotokan Karate-do & Okinawan Kempo as the foundation of Shoju-kempo ryu, adding Combat Aikijujitsu as the finishing touch. This 24-year-old Ryu has made its way into the lives of many Rhode Islanders and has spread to N. Carolina, Conn., Delaware N.J. and Romania.

I have trained with many well known Grandmasters in my time, men like Grandmaster William R. Gregory of the Kajukenpo Pai Lum System, Grandmaster Daniel K. Pai founder of the Pai Lum System, Grandmaster Nick Cerio of the Nick Cerio Kenpo Jujitsu System, Grandmaster George Pasere of the Karazenpo Goshin Jitsu System, Grandmaster Ed Parker of American Kenpo, Grandmaster Kali K. Griffen of Kajukenpo Pai Lum, Maestro Guseppi Guaraldi of the JKA Shotokan Karate-do, Shihan Earnest St. Laurent Sr. of Shotokan Karate-do, Shihan Lee Getty of the Kyokushinkai Karate-do, Master Richard Chun of Moo Duk Kwan Taekwondo, and Sensei Joe Fri of Goju-kan Karate-do. These Martial Art Masters were the force behind me to form the Shojukempo ryu System.We practice more (Kata) forms then (Kumite) fighting, and for this reason, Kata teaches you the Basic's of fighting. The more Kata you practice the better you get in Kumite, Master Funakoshi believed in Kata practice 1000 to 5000 times or more! We follow the teachings of Master Gichin Funakoshi to the book! Some Kata we practice are from Chito-ryu, Shindo-do Ryu, Goju-ryu & Okinawan Kempo, there is about 50 Kata in the Shojukempo System. All classes are taught in the traditional Japanese manner! But if any Shojukempo student is backed up against the wall they will fight to win!

Shoju-kempo ryu teaches discipline, respect, honor, and academics. All Shoju-kempo ryu students’ academics must be an A+ or a B+ in order to advance to the next rank! We don't give our rank you have to earn it the hard way!

The founding members of Shoju-kempo ryu are Sokedai Larry S. L. Martin 10th Dan., with 41 years of Martial Art training, Kyoshi Robert M. Handley 9th Dan., with 40 years of Martial Arts training, Shihan Raheem Darden 8th Dan., with 38 years of Martial Arts training, Sijo Samadhaqq Darden 9th Dan., with 39 1/2 years of Martial Arts training. 

Some of you are saying to yourselves, another Karate System? But Shojukempo Karate-do is not just another Karate style or System. It’s the 3 Ryu’s (styles) of Traditional Martial Arts that makes this Ryu different from other Ryu's. We Practice the old Way of Master Gichin Funakoshi.

Shoju-kempo ryu you can say was formed the same way. We have both of his arts together, his old way and his new modern way.

Shoju-kempo ryu students’ practice the old Kata, which Funakoshi learned in his home land of Okinawa. Most of the Kata are Chinese influenced with Chinese names. Our students learn Okinawa Kempo version and the Japanese version. It is so cool to see the students practice the old and the new way.

Okinawa Kata Pinan, Chinto, Koshokun, Jitte and Passai, are from the Shorin-ryu Style. Naihanchi, Jion and Wanshu, are from the Shorei-ryu Style.

Now the Japanese Version are the same but with a slight change Heian, Chinte, Tekki, Bassai-dai, (Bassai-sho), Kanku-dai (Kanku-sho), Jitte, Jion, Jiin and Unsu, Empi, Soshin, Nijushiho, Gojushiho-dai (Gojushiho-sho), Gankaku, Hangetsu, Wankan, Meikyo, Ju-no Kata (ten no Kata) and Taikyoku. Now these 4 Kata were put together by Master Funakoshi's Son.

We are the only dojo in the Country that still practice the Taikyoku Kata. The Taikyoku Kata are the introductory Kata for the beginner student, in the other dojo's they start with the Heian Kata as an introductory Kata.

In my last article I said that we practice Shotokan Karate-do to the book. When I mean to the book its;

1. Kihon (meaning basic's)

2. Kata (meaning forms)

3. Kumite (meaning fighting)

Students and Hanshi Larry S. L. Martin (right)

Professor Nick Cerio, Master Martin. Shihan Restrepo, and Hanchi Bruce Judnick

The History of Shoju-kempo ryu
Part 4

Kata of Shoju-kempo ryu

the last time we talk I was explaining the Okinawan, Japanese Ryu's such as kata the kata we are going over are as followed

Okinawan Kata / Japanese kata

Okinawa Kata Pinan, Chinto, Koshokun, Jitte and Passai, are from the Shorin-ryu Style. Naihanchi, Jion and Wanshu, are from the Shorei-ryu Style. these kate were introdused by Yasutsune Azato,Yasutsune Itosu, Sokon "Bushi" Matsumura these Masters were responsible for the kata that are being tought today.

Now the Japanese Version are the same but with a slight change Heian, Chinte, Tekki, Bassai-dai, (Bassai-sho), Kanku-dai (Kanku-sho), Jitte, Jion, Jiin and Unsu, Empi, Soshin, Nijushiho, Gojushiho-dai (Gojushiho-sho), Gankaku, Hangetsu, Wankan, Meikyo, Ju-no Kata (ten no Kata) and Taikyoku. Now these 4 Kata were put together by Master Funakoshi's Son Gigo.

Shoju-kempo ryu kata

the following kata are from the Shoju-kempo ryu system

the kata that are practiced at Shojukempo dojo were Introduced by Master Larry S.L. Martin. at Shoju-kempo ryu Dojo, we practice kata from Prof. Nick Cerio ( Cat 1 kata ) ( Cercal of the Tiger ), GM William R. Gregory ( Short form of the Tiger, Movements of the Tiger, Twist of the Tiger, Fist of the 5 Ansesters. ) Master Martin Introduced his own kata sush as Tigers Defense, Dragons Defense, Cercal of the Dragon, Parker Lum Pai, Juryuku-uke no kata 3 versions, Chunfa 1, Gojuryuku-dai. the other kata we practice are from the Okinawan & Japanese Ryu's. the 5 Pinan's,3 Naihanchi's, Passai, Koshokun,Chinto,Jion, & Wanshu. 3 Taikyokus, 5 Heians, 3 Tekkis, Bassai-Dai / Sho, Kanku-Dai / Sho, Jitte, Jion, Jiin, Chinte, Unsu, Empi, Soshin, Nijushiho, Gojushiho-Dai / Sho, Gankaku, Meikyo, Wankan, Hangetsu,Ten no Kata. altogether the Shojukempo kata list is 58 now Shotokan students learn Shotokan kata and Kempo students learn Okinawan kempo kata. we do not mix the kata! If any person is looking for a real good dojo, you should check out the Instructor and his studio and ask question about what he teches, how he teaches, there are a lot of studios that teach there student to compet in sport Karate Tournaments around the country. And there are afew hand full of Instructors that teach Traditional Karate-do as a discipline mainly they use the 3 K’s Kihon, ( Basic’s ) Kata ( Forms ) and Kumite as ( Sparring ) if you find a real good Instructor learn the right way.