Karazenpo said:
Hi guys. yeah, I shouldn't have implied that you guys are getting conned by Juchnik, like I said before I have heard many positive things about him but I just get a little fustrated when this subject comes up and here's why. I was never a Mitose detractor. I took what I was told as the the histroy and passed it on to my students. Then, many began to question this history. I didn't want to be like others I knew in the arts over the years that would pass out misinformation and perpetuate myths and have my students think I was full of sh-t when the truth came out!, lol. So, I began to dig for the truth or at least as close to the truth as one can get when researching history. The reason of my fustration and why I mentioned the 'con' thing was that if you have information that can put this to rest once and for all, please let's have it! Share it! Even Gary, whom I respect, now alludes to the fact Mitose had training in Japan but it's 'secret squirrel', a reliable INFORMANT! Gary, in all due respect, this isn't a narcotics investigation, it's a search for the truth about our roots! Why be secretive about who has evidence that can clear this up? Your statement only makes us more cynical about the whole thing. If you've got something, please put it out there. John and I have pulled no punches about our sources. Everyone knows our information is connected to the A&E investigation, John was the first to break it! No mystery there. If you have something that shows Mitose studied in Japan, let's have it! If it's factual and the evidence stands undisputed I for one will be behind it 100 per cent. As a matter of fact, I still have information posted on my walls at the school that connects Mitose to Japan as the 21st decendant of Kosho ryu, i even have his picture up and why? because I'm holding out as long as I can if it can be proved that this is true! Please believe me, I won't be all disappointed if it turns out to be true. It will be a lot easier for me, I won't have to re-write everything I have posted at my school, lol. So, guys, I apologize if I offended anyone, I just got a little fustrated because John, myself and others are kept being told that you guys have the evidence but no one, none of the powers to be of Kosho, come out and simply present it! Let me go to my documents and post what I have up in my school and you will see it puts the Mitose history according to the Kosho people in a very positive light, so believe me, I'm not your enemy, I hope you guys prove it but how much longer do I have to wait? Let me go to my documents and post it here and then you can tell me if anyone thiunks I'm not being fair to the Kosho Shorei Ryu organization. Respectfully submitted, Professor Joe Shuras
Okay, here's what I have posted at my school originally, I did add a last paragraph later that stated Mitose also received training form Nabura Tanamaha of the Choki Motobu lineage of Okinawan Kenpo.
Great Grandmaster James Masayoshi Mitose
21st Descendant Kosho Ryu Kempo
As many of you know, I have been doing a pretty comprehensive background check on the history of James M. Mitose and his contributions to our Kempo/Kajukenbo systems. I have been trying to be totally objective and I was never, originally, a Mitose detractor. I became disenchanted with the Mitose history when it just wouldn't hold up to scutiny, not in the least bit. In my quest, I have found some answers. Nothing will ever be totally clear and objective when it comes to the history of any martial art but what I am looking for is some factual evidence, some circumstantial evidence, a little logic and a basic framework of the man's legacy that makes sense. I have had my ups and down on it and my investigation is still not complete but here is what I feel is reasonable so far:
Let's start with Jinshi Eison, fact or fiction? Well, yes and no. Don't get me wrong I have a definite answer on that but it has a little explaining. Jinshi Eison lived in just the right time period we are looking at, circa. 1200. He studied in China, his Buddhist name was Kosho Bosatsu. So, it looks legit, right? Wrong. The Kanji used for Kosho in this case did not mean 'old pine tree'. It's like the kanji used for kara in karate. It can mean China (Tang) or empty. Eison's life was extremely well documented and nothing lined up and matched.
However, according to Mitose, Kosho ryu is a sect of Zen Buddhism based on the Rinzai Zen which was introduced into Japan in 1191 by the priest Eisai. Mitose considered Eisai, and for that matter Rinzai (lin chi) and Daruma himself as being his ancestors. This is something he prided himself on. Jinshi Eisan was a misinterpretation of Mitose's words (his English was poor). 1191 was when the religious Rinzai sect (lin chi) Kosho Shorei Ryu was founded. The martial art, Kosho Ryu wasn't developed until about 350 years later, around 1560. The Tracy's begin their lineage (which I will get to shortly) at 1232 AD with Zenko Yoshida. Not only is that the wrong clan but you couldn't possibly have 21 descendants to Mitose in that time period. Martial art ryus weren't developed that early on, those were the religious rinzai sects that started around circa.1200, the martial art came much later. They're about 350 years off!
The Yoshida lineage leads to dead ends and where did Kosho come from? Mitose had three grandfathers. Records provided to Shihan Michael Brown, the Sei Kosho Shorei Kai historian, shows three families from Japan. 1) the Mitose family (his father's side), 2) the Yoshida family (his mother's biological father), and the Kosho family (his mother's biological mother). Mitose's maternal grandparents were not married. His mother was raised by her biological father (Mr. Yoshida) until she was 17 years old, then she was adopted by her biological mother who had married into the Kosho family. Besides the obvious connection with the name Kosho, this was the only grandfather alive when Mitose arrived in Japan in October of 1920.
James Mitose's maternal grandparents were Yoshida Sakuhei (the father of Mitose Kyoka).
Kosho Toju (the mother of Mitose Kiyoka). Mitose's grandmother was not the wife of Mr. Yoshida. Kiyoka was the result of an affair. This is in the family record.
The Tracy Yoshida lineage to Kosho ryu has no merit. They do not go back to the family art of Kosho. Thje Kosho art goes back 21 generations. Mitose's grandfather that he learned the family art from was Kosho Kyohei. This is recorded in the family records although there is no written proof that he trained at the Shaka In Temple as of yet and may never be. There are records there mentioning the term Kosho ryu. A local historian, whom I do not have his name as of this posting, stated martial arts was being practiced there up until just before WW2. The Tracy's are barking up the wrong tree, lineage tree that is! They traced the wrong grandfather, Yoshida Sakuhei. He wasn't even alive when Mitose was 4 years old.
Shaka In temple. Kosho monks and martial arts: truth or fiction? Documents provided and further research to confirm this on the internet into historical records shows that in October of 1588 the warrior monks of Shaka In clashed with the forces of Konishi Yukinaga. The battlefield is perserved to this day.
I gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Shihan Mike Brown, historian of the Sei Kosho Shorei Kai for his tireless and unselfish efforts in researching this' tangled web'. All that I have learned in this post came from Shihan Brown's research and I take no credit for it other than my continuing efforts in a search for the truth on this enigma. Respectfully, Shihan Joe Shuras
*More information and further confirmations will be posted when made available.
artyon:
. Going on 42 years now, who would of thought when kicking doors and other objects?:idunno: 
