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Shorinji Tekken RyuTM
was formally presented to Albert C. Church, Jr. as it's 5th Lineage Inheritor.
Based on Church's Tekken Ryu inheritance and after review of his soden (scroll of transmission) the new art of Nippon Kobudo Kamishin Ryu was founded in the Kanagawa prefecture of Japan in 1968 by Albert C. Church with sponsorship by Shogo Kuniba, Head Family, 3rd lineage generation successor of Motobu-ha Shitoryu.
See scroll
of "sponsorship".
Note:
The kanji for the system name would
read as follows:
Shorinji / Tetsu / Ken Ryu
When written or spoken as one name,
TetsuKen becomes TekKen respectively.
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Albert C. Church, Jr.
Shorinji Tekken Ryu /
Nippon Kobudo Kamishin Ryu
Head Family
1930-1980 |
Lineage Heritage
This martial art was founded in the 1700's by Master Chin yong-ho (1717-1796) and was named "Shaolinsi Chin Ba Mingquan" (Young Forest Temple - Chin Style - Eight - Illuminating - Fists). The foundational teachings Chin trained in, were originally developed in the Henan province of China during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The art eventually moved from China to Korea. There, the art blended with the native Taekkyeon, (jump/kick and fist methods). In Korea, the art was known as "Sorimsa Cheol Gwonbeop", (Young Forest Temple, Iron Fist Method). The system absorbed the Five Commandments (moral codes), known as "Sesok Ogye", authored by the monk Won'gwang Popsa. These commandments are often associated with the Hwarang warriors. The Chinese hand forms were blended with the Korean Taekkyeon forms creating a strong system of self-defense.
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At that point in time, the head family, Kim ji-koh, lived in the area known as Yeongdeungpo, near Seoul, the present capital city of South Korea and was trained in Taekkyeon and later other arts such as Tang Su (China Hand), Chang Mu Kwan and Kong Soo. The armies of Japan occupied Korea, in the late 1880’s, bringing with them the art of jujutsu, which was later used by Master Kim to enhance this style.
In 1950, as a member of the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, Albert Curtis Church, Jr., met and began studying Kim's Sorimsa Cheol Gwonbeop. Church sensei was rotated stateside in 1952 where upon he began teaching Kim's art.The style moved to Japan, Mishima-shi, Shizuoka-ken, in 1956, when Kim sought medical treatment which was not available in the battle torn Korean nation. In the Japanese language, the system was then called Shorinji Tekken Ryu.
In May 1967, Master Kim called for Church sensei to study with him in Japan. Late in 1967 Church was named the art’s successor and upon Kim’s death, received the soden, scroll of transmission and became the next lineage Soke/Soji/Head Family of Shorinji Tekken Ryu, and related arts.
Nippon Kobudo Kamishin Ryu
While living and training in Japan, Church sensei became close friends with Shogo Kuniba, Soke (by succession), of Motobu-ha Shito Ryu Karate-do. Kuniba sponsored Church before the Zen Nippon Kodudo Renmei and Zen Nippon Karate-do Renmei of Kyoto and Osaka after reviewing the Shorinji Tekken Ryu Soden that Church received. It was decided at that time that the art of Shorinji Tekken RyuTM should be restructured and renamed as Nippon Kobudo Kamishin Ryu. Therefore, the newly founded name of this art was officially released in Japan in 1968.
A special scroll was prepared by Kuniba and presented to Church, in Japan, in 1968.
In 1969, prior to Church's return to the United States, Kuniba presented him with a kanban, (formal teaching authorization sign).
After receiving the authorization and support of Shogo Kuniba, Church returned to the United States to teach the newly renamed art of Nippon Kobudo Kamishin Ryu. It was Church's goal for his students to train within the teachings of the "martial way".
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When Soke Church returned stateside, this time as Kamishin Ryu's new head family, the system's hierarchical structure began taking shape. At that time, Church named Robert Kelly, his future son-in-law, as the system inheritor and as a soke-dai. Kelly sensei received a document of lineage transmission in 1971. |
Robert Kelly, Shorinji Tekken Ryu
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Shorinji Tekken Ryu
The organization Church sensei began shaping eventually flourished with over 7,000 registered students. Then in the mid 1970’s-time frame after a series of events, the organizational structure began to falter. When the dust settled, events found the hombu (headquarters school) dojo closing, and the entire upper level of the organization
hierarchy being removed. Church had literally become inaccessible and was not seen for approximately one year. During this time, a number of top-level students stepped away from the art. However, once Church was back on the scene and the hombu re-opened, the residual effects from the confusion that started in the mid 1970's never seemed to disappear.
Then unexpectedly in 1980, Church sensei died.
Ted Petit sensei began his training within Nippon Kobudo Kamishin Ryu / Shorinji Tekken Ryu in 1971 (Albert C. Church, Jr., Head Family). He first trained under one of Soke Church’s black belt instructors then eventually under Church and Shihan Kelly directly. At that time Robert Kelly was Soke Church's documented inheritor.
It was Church's goal for his students to train within a combined martial structure,
therefore, during the 1970's, Petit earned separate black belt rankings under
the Kamishin Ryu system.
By 1979 Petit moved to
Texas. In 1980, he received a late night phone call from Robert and Linda Kelly
informing him of Church's death (Linda Kelly is Church's oldest daughter).
In 1995, Robert Kelly, shihan, signed and sealed a letter of lineage transmission to him giving Petit full sponsorship, permission and backing to carry on the Shorinji Tekken Ryu lineage teaching as Head Family.
Since that time, and to this day, Petit has trained in various arts to enhance his martial, cultural and philosophical knowledge:
OmoteSenke Chanoyu (Japanese Tea Ceremony)
Nakamura Ryu Batto Do - Guy Power
Matayoshi Kobudo - Franko Sanguinetti / Bob Johnson
Gracie Jujutsu - Kazeka Muniz
Wu Style Tai Chi - Harry Phillips
Petit has authored the first of a three-volume book set (Shorinji Tekken Ryu - The Iron Fist System Today) about the Shorinji Tekken Ryu system and its influences from China, Korea and Japan which is available on Amazon.com.
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Robert Kelly, for personal reasons, has chosen not to publicly teach the art that he was named inherior of 1971. In late 1995, Kelly signed and sealed a letter of lineage transmission through him giving Petit full sponsorship, permission and backing to carry on the Shorinji Tekken Ryu lineage teaching as Head Family. |
Ted Petit
Shorinji Tekken Ryu
Kokusai Shorinji Tekken Ryu Renmei
Head Family |
Lineage Documentation
No copies of the original scroll from Master Kim have been produced. However, the scroll itself has been translated by an Asian Studies Professor at the Center for Asian Studies, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado.
Displayed below is a partial image of the scroll created by Kuniba sensei and given to Soke Church as seen directly below.
…and Kuniba sensei’s certificate of support for Soke Church’s inherited art and the newly founded Kamishin Ryu art seen below.
1. 證
2. 八段 宗家
3. アルバート・C・チャーチ 殿
4. 私は是に日本武道聖心館-聖心館
5. 国際総合武道連盟の合衆国に於る
6. 唯一の米国支部として日本古武道連
7. 盟USAを許可し左記武術を指
8. 導する目的の組織代表者である
9. 事を承認する。
10. 聖心館柔術 Seishinkan Jujutsu 居合道 Iaido
11. 柔道 Judo 神心流唐手道 Kamishin Ryu Karatedo
12. 拳歩術 Kenpo Jutsu 少林寺鉄拳流 Shorinji Tekken Ryu
13. 昭和四十六年六月一日
14. 聖心館国際武道連合会長
15. 国場将豪
Direct Translation:
1. Certificate; proof; evidence
2. Hachi Dan Soke [8th dan Head of House]
3. Mr. Albert C. Church, Jr.
4. I [Kuniba], of this Japan Kobudo Seishinkan and Seishinkan
5. International Combined Budo Federation in America
6. Only one American Chapter, Japan Kobudo Federa-
7. tion USA [and] is authorized/licensed the left [below] bujutsu te-
8. ach [teach] for the purpose as organizational representative
9. and such is acknowledged/recognized.
10. Seishinkan Jujutsu Iaido
11. Judo Kamishin Ryu Karatedo [note the use of 唐Kara/China]
12. Kenpo Jutsu [wrong kanji used should be 法 ~po] Shorinji Tekken Ryu
13. Showa 46th year [1971], June the 1st
14. Seishinkan International Budo Federation Chairman
15. Shogo Kuniba [official seal stamped]
Standard English:
Certificate
8th degree black belt, Soke/head of family
Mr. Albert C. Church, Jr.