International Headquarters

3161 Towerhill, Akron, Ohio, 44319
George Anderson, Executive Secretary

KMK Martial Arts Supply on the WEB

Return to USAKF Home Page

There is some evidence that Toyama's organization actually got its start earlier in the 1930's, however the federation didn't evolve into full a fledged organization until it was officially documented in 1946. Toyama had hopes and dreams of bringing all the styles of karate-do from Japan and Okinawa into one governing organization with a unified purpose and direction. This organization provided a forum for the exchange of ideas and technique. The federation became an authority for rank homologation and advancement issuing rank certification. It established a forum for competition pioneering full contact competition using bogu (modified ken-do protective equipment). Toyama was attempting to put his philosophy about karate-do into practice by creating an organization such as the AJKF. He believed there were no styles of karate-do there was only karate-do.

In 1957 or 1958 the AJKF board of directors, Mr. Sai Choko (president), Dr. Tsuyoshi Chitose (vice president), Mr. Toshi Hanaue (vice president), and Mr. Michio Koyasu (vice president) decided there was need for a symbol to represent the organization. Each member organization was asked to submit an entry for review. Michio Koyasu, one of the board of directors for the AJKF, went to the members of his karate-do organization, Soryu Kan, and had a contest. Koyasu reviewed all entries and selected the one presented by Mr. Mizoguchi. The AJKP board of directors reconvened to review the selected entries. Mr. Mizoguchi's entry was selected

The rounded shape is that of a right and left hand overlapping each other representing the concept of students of budo (budoka), having a well-rounded character. A budoka should possess great zeal, not unlike a raging fire. This is symbolized by the center circle of the symbol which is colored red. Overall, this symbol represents karate-do's spirit of humility and self respect. In other words, be strong but do not boast. The kanji character "ren mei" meaning "federation" were placed In the center circle to represent the zeal and vitality of the federation.

The ideas that gave birth to the JKF were innovative for their time and were a controversial subject for the Okinawans, The Okinawans were quite protective and secretive with their individual arts and were not ready to accept any organization of the All Japan Karate-Do Federation's dimension and caliber. Unfortunately, Toyama never realized his dream of unifying karate-do. However his "torch" still burns and efforts are still being made to make this dream a reality.

The AJKP continued to operate after Toyama's death in 1960 until 1987. There was a disagreement amongst the board of directors as to what direction the organization should take. One faction wanted to adopt a stronger sport application with more emphasis on competition. The other faction wanted to maintain the spirit and tradition of karate-do with emphasis on philosophy and a practical realistic approach to karate training. Consequently the AJKF disbanded and reorganized as a loose confederation of style specific organizations each governing themselves.

Return to top of page

Notes on the All Japan Soryu Karate-do Federation, Emblem, History And Meaning and its connection to the historic Shudokan.

At that time the All Japan Soryu Karate-Do Federation (AJSKF) was born and it represented the international concerns of Soryu Karate-Do.

The All Japan Soryu Karate-Do Federation (AJSKF) was born out of the All Japan Karate-Do Federation (AJKF) founded by Dai Shihan ((grandmaster) Kanken Toyama in 1946. T

The AJSKF symbol remained the same as the AJKF with one minor change. The kanji characters ren mei [kanji for ren mei] was replaced with the characters so ryu [kanji for so ryu] The original meaning still applies.

There are groups existing in the world today using the 'symbol of Dai Shihan Toyama's organization with some modifications stating that the symbol represents a typhoon. It seems to be the case of an organization adopting a symbol of another and applying a meaning to It other than its original intent. The main idea to remember is that this symbol originally and still does stand for the spirit of karate-do, humility and self !aspect.

Shin Ryu Kan Emblem

Shin Ryu Kan ( Dragon Spirit School ) is the name of a martial arts training facility founded by Shihan James A. Caldwell (Tatsuo Koyasu) in January 1974. Shin Ryu Kan incorporates the teaching of Soryu Karate-Do, International Okinawa Kobu-Do Association (IOKA) Kobu-Do and Jujitsu. The name Shin Ryu Kan was not used until January 1990 when sensei Caldwell opened a new dojo in Nebraska and submitted his requirements for Go Dan and Shihan which included a kata and kumite pattern that he created. The kata sensei Caldwell created was named Shin Ryu No Kata (Dragon Spirit form) after his training facility as an aid to identifying the facility. The kata demonstrated the philosophy taught at the school.

The use of the word ryu (dragon) was adopted because Shihan Caldwell was born in the year of the dragon. Shihan Caldwell has always had an affection towards the dragon and its representation. The dragon is a mystical, aggressive, and fearless creature. The fighting technique and philosophy of the Shin Ryu Kan attempt to copy the qualities of the dragon. The word ryu was also used to pay tribute to Soryu Karate-Do headquarters dojo in Japan, Ken Ryu Kan (Dragon Fist School). The head sensei of that school, Shihan Yukihiro Ikeda (Michihiro Koyasu) was also born in the year of the dragon and started karate-do training about the same time as Shihan Caldwell.

The word shin (heart, mind or spirit) was used to represent the spirit and heart of the martial arts taught at the Shin Ryu Kan. The picture of blue green colored dragon was used to represent this spirit. The dragon is one of China's most complex and multi-tiered symbols that is revered in all of Asia. This dragon is considered as a good-natured and benign creature. It is a symbol of natural male vigor and ferocity. This blue green dragon is one of four creatures of the world direction which stands in the East, the region of the sunrise, of fertility and of rain.

The In Yo (Yin Yang) symbol was used to represent the balance that each and every martial artist must work and strive to build and maintain in training, technique and every other facet of life.

The Shin Ryu Kan symbol depicts a great and fierce dragon crawling on an In Yo symbol so as to symbolize the spirit, vigor and vitality of the Shin Ryu Kan being brought into balance.

Shin Ryu Kan Emblem to be posted soon

(Logo Location)

Return to top of page

****************************************************

James A. Caldwell

James Alton Caldwell was born 20 January 1952 at the William Beaumont hospital, Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, where his father was stationed with the US Army. Shortly after his father was released from the army he returned to his home in San Angelo, Texas Jim was raised. Sports activities there were limited to the usual baseball, football, basketball, and band. Although Jim's father worked for the post office, he had a passion for music which was expressed by playing in the school band and with the 65th US National Guard Army Band. James was almost predestined to follow in his fathers footsteps in some form of music. The Caldwell family belonged to Southern Baptist church which had a fine music program and young Jim joined the youth choir at the age of five. When he turned eleven (seventh grade) he entered the junior high band as a clarinet player. The next year he switched to bass clarinet, which he continued to play while in college, at Angelo State University where he earned a spot in the First College All State Band in the State of Texas.

Since junior high school Jim Caldwell had an interest in the martial arts, especially karate and had a strong desire to go to Japan. He realized his dreams when he joined the US Navy in 1970. After his stint with navy he entered college at ASU graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Drama and German language in 1977 and a US Air Force ROTC, officer's commission. James Caldwell rose to captain, retired in 1990, and joined the Air force Reserve. He was called back to active duty during Operation Desert Storm. During Operation Desert Storm where he was worked with battle damage assessment He retired as a Major 25 May 1997.

In 1971, James A. Caldwell started his study of karate-do in Sasebo, Japan in the style Shorin Ryu under tutelage of Yoriyuki Yasuzato (Japanese for Azato) while stationed there in the US Navy. Yasuzato sensei was the grandson of the great Okinawan karate teacher Anko Azato. After studying the Shorin Ryu curriculum to Sho Dan (1st degree) he resigned from Shorin Ryu to start his study of So Ryu Karate-Do under the So Ryu Founder, Michio Koyasu. Soke Koyasu was a student of Dai Shihan Kanken Toyama, founder of Shu Do Kan Ryu Karate-Do. Later in Shihan Caldwell's career, because there was no governing organization for Soryu Karate-Do in the US., Soke Koyasu granted Sensei Caldwell permission to establish the foundation for the All Japan Soryu Karate-Do Federation, USA around 1987. Soke Koyasu felt, along with Sensei Caldwell, that establishing a US organization would help standardize the Soryu Karate-Do curriculum world wide and provide a positive direction for all US Soryu Karate-Do practitioners as well as diversify its leadership. Sensei Caldwell earned his Go Dan (6th degree) with his Shihan instructor degree on

11 February 1990. He received a special name, Tatsuo Koyasu (Tatsuo meaning Dragon person). In the name Tatsuo, Soke Koyasu used the "o" character from Michio. It is considered a great honor in Japanese culture when a person bestows a portion of his name to another. It is a sign of great devotion and closeness. As a requirement for his Go Dan Sensei Caldwell created a kata named Shin Ryu No Kata (meaning Dragon Spirit Kata). Assigning a name and the kata creation requirement were originally from the Toyama/Shu Do Kan Ryu tradition, which followed the ancient martial arts tradition. Shihan Caldwell was appointed as the chairman of the All Japan Soryu Karate-Do Federation, USA by Soke Michio Koyasu, 10 September 1991. At the same time he declared Shin Ryu Kan, Shihan Caldwell's school in Omaha, Nebraska as the US headquarters. Shihan Caldwell received his Roku Dan (6th degree ) 12 March 1992. Nana Dan (7th degree) was achieved 15 March 1995. Finally, Soke Koyasu awarded Shihan Caldwell with Shihankan (Grand Master Instructor) 25 June 1996.

Shihan Caldwell had received elementary training and exposure to Okinawa Kobu-Do in both Sho Rin Ryu and Soryu Karate-Do. Both of these styles had limited training available in Okinawa Kobu-Do. They both focused on the Roku Shaku Bo and the Sai. Primarily, they only taught kata. Shihan Caldwell always felt there was more to Okinawa Kobu-Do than what he had been exposed to. In 1982, Shihan Caldwell was assigned to Offutt AFB, Nebraska while in the US Air Force. While in Omaha, Shihan Caldwell came across Shihan Mikio Nishiuchi. Shihan Nishiuchi presented his Okinawa Kobudo as a separate martial art which went far beyond doing just kata. It included kihon, kata, and kumite as well as bunkai for the kata. Thirteen weapons were studied in the curriculum. Shihan Nishiuchi was a part of and associated with the All Okinawa Kobu-Do Association founded and headed by Shimpo Matayoshi. Shihan Caldwell contacted Soke Michio Koyasu and requested permission to study this system of kobu-do as opposed to the Soryu Karate-Do version. Soke Koyasu was excited that Shihan Caldwell had found such an organization in the US fully endorsing and stating that the All Okinawa Kobu-Do Association far exceeded anything that Soryu Karate-Do had to offer. Being enthralled at finding this association and Soke Koyasu's endorsement, Shihan Caldwell began his study of Okinawa Kobu-Do with Shihan Nishuchi 16 July 1984. Shihan Caldwell was promoted to Sho Dan (1st Degree) in Okinawa Kobu-Do 6 January 1988. Shihan Caldwell was finally promoted to Go Dan (5th Degree) 13 June 1995. Shihan Nishiuchi recognized Sensei Caldwell's long dedication by promoting him to Shihan, Instructor degree, in kobu-do 12 October 1996 being the third person in the International Okinawa Kobu-Do Association to receive the Shihan title.

Shihan Caldwell became a charter member of the original organization in 1984 and when Shihan Nishiuchi founded the International Okinawa Kobu-Do Association in 1990 he became a founding charter member.

Return to top of page