Mitose & Chow Kempo/Kenpo Documents link

Reviews, Videos, and Everything Else Bullshido.ORG Martial Arts Encyclopedia Discussion
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For y’all who have been trying to sort facts from fiction when considering the early days of Hawai’i line American kenpo/kempo, there are finally a number of resources available to you–free, or moderately priced.

The following link leads to the documents and articles page of the San Jose Kenpo website, including many scans of items related to James Masayoshi Mitose and William Chow:

http://www.sanjosekenpo.com/articles.htm

The discussion forum follows the progress made concerning many of he document postings and articles, mostly Tracy’s kenpo folks:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/326583

For an affordable and easy to access copy of the Mitose v People transcript, John Bishop offers a cd-rom on the following site for 20.00 (scroll down to bottom):

http://www.kajukenboinfo.com/kajukenbo_products.html

…look around John’s site for more neat Kajukenbo and kenpo stuff, including an interview w/ Adriano Emperado and footage of William Chow in action.

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I found this thirteen page thread on the The Original Curiculum of Kajukenbo/Karazenpo. A lot of good stuff form John Bishop and other Kajukenbo and Karazenpo guys:

http://www.martialtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19177

I’ve spent more than a year in Bruce J’s Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo style and it really makes me wonder…

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Thank you Pat, you’re always informative.

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ttt 12

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sooo…based on what Chow said in the interview, does that mean that Mitose was in protective custody and not charged with anything?

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no, he was charged and convicted.

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Well, sure, there will always be those pissing matches. However, Parker has some very legitimate points about the old school, highly stylized Japanese karate techniques. To a street fighter or someone with a more complete background, those techniques ARE very impractical and do expose you to a lot of danger unnecessarily.

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Of what? just curious. con artist?

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“I was unaware of how far American Kenpo has actually diverted from Kenpo until James Ibrao and I gave a seminar with Al Tracy in August 1997. As we watched a high ranked American Kenpo black belt go through his moves, Ibrao and I both saw the same thing.” I know James Ibrao personally and that’s basically what he said too.

I also know John too, and he’s quite knowledgeable when it comes to the old history although him and I don’t neccessarily agree with the complete lineage.

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http://www.martialtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17480&page=3

is several experienced mas (Professor Joe Shuras John Evans John Bishop etc) talking @ Mitose/Tracy/Chow/Parker/Juchnik American Kenpo, Kajukenbo, Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo and so forth.

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http://www.thebelt.com/

This is slightly better than when I bought rank…but, only slightly.

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I don’t understand your comment…

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Everyone knows I’m as hard on American Kenpo as anyone and I agree with a lot the stuff I read in those articles, but after a while it just seemed someone was trying to hard to bash a dead man.

Parker had not so nice things to say about Mitose too, and did so in Volume I of his Inifinite Insights into Kenpo.

Contrary to some of the claims that have been made in publications, I was NEVER a student of James M. Mitose. However, he did visit me at my home and Kenpo school in Pasedena, California during the early 1970’s. His visits extended over a five month period. Each time I saw him, he was dressed as an ordained minister. Many of our conversations lasted hours on end, touching upon an array of topics as well as his proposed money raising topics. He was knowledgable about the evolution of Kenpo, revealing many interesting historical facts. On occasion, he would take off his shoes, walk on the mat area (of my Pasadena School), demonstrate self-defense techniques and discuss Kenpo princples with some of my Black Belt students.

I noticed, after Mitose demonstrated techniques, that my students would look at me hoping to detect from my facial expressions some reaction confirming or condemning Mitose’s performance. As I gazed into their faces, I could detect telltale expressions of bewilderment and disappointment. Many Mitose’s moves leaned heavily toward impractical methods of application. They seemed to lack continuity and forethought and left him dangerously exposed.

Pissing matches are nothing new in martial arts, and that’s all I see this as.

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I’m including a email that was to me from lou Klaff. It shows some of the links between martial arts people and I like the comment, “Most people don’t realize that all these guys crossed trained in the 40’s through the 60’s with each other.”

Nice to hear from you, and gracious of you to write me. Based on your background, and living in Hawaii, I am sure you know about as much as I do. Hanshi Juchnik is a common link for both of us, and most of my information on Mitose is through Hanshi Juchnik. But there is a bit more. When Mitose was in prison, Hanshi Juchnik befriended him, and learned much about Mitose and his style of Kosho Ryu. However, there were 3 others who also went to Mitose with Hanshi. One is Grandmaster Rick Allemany who does Shaolin Kempo, and studied in Hawaii in the 60’s with Professor Ralph Castro and Brother Abe Kamohamoha. He became a great tournament fighter here in the states when he moved to San Francisco. Grandmaster Allemany awas give a Kosho Teaching License from Mitose.He currently lives in Wainei or Makaha not sure which. One of Grandmaster Allemany students at the time, was Professor Eugene Sedeno. Professor was born in Hawaii, trained with Professor Walter Godin(who trained with Chow and Joe Emperado)and Sijo Adriano Emperado. He also strained with Martin Buehle [sic] (Buell) and many of the legends of Kajukenbo and Kempo. Much of my history and information comes from him. He also got a Teaching License from Mitose. Between Hanshi and Professor Sedeno I have gotten much information, but I am betting you probably already have. Professor Sedeno introduced me to alot of Kajukenbo people, and one was Thomas Mitose Jr., and I got his interpretation of things as well… His interpretation is a bit biased toward Kajukembo I believe. Along the way, I also met Professor Kimo Ferriara, who trained with Walter Godin and others in Hawaii, I believe he trained with Professor Buehle as well. He is somewhat of a controversial figure in Hawaii but has some great archives, and notes from the early days in Hawaii. I have gotten much information from him as well, though sometimes its the flip side of the coin, still though good to see another perspective. So I am more ‘Hanai’ an adopted Haole, so thats how I get my information. I study with Hanshi, but am mainly a Jujutsu school, however am a Shihan in Okinawan Karate as well. So my background is really varied which puts me in touch with many different styles and Sensei. Most of the information is based from knowing these people. I had the opportunity in Hawaii to train and talk with one of Okazakis last original students, Professor Libert O’Sullivan. I spent about 4 hours just talking with him. He gave me a copy of his notes, which included a Kempo section and Lua(Hawaiian native art)section, and you should see how they approach their Kempo. Most people don’t realize that all these guys crossed trained in the 40’s through the 60’s with each other. One of Okazakis top students, was John Chow Hoon, William Chows brother. Not only did he have Jujutsu but Kempo from his brother and Kung Fu from his Dad. His interpretation is really neat to see. Professor James Muro has shared much information with me on this subject.

I have not written any formal articles yet. Hanshi Juchnik has asked me along with one of his students Sensei Rem Scherzinger, to write articles about History for his Kai. I am currently doing a series of articles on Martial Arts in Hawaii, but am currently focusing on Lua and its roots. There are others I am sure who have more information on Chow and Mitose, Professor Sedeno being one, John Bishop(Kajukenbo)being another. I don’t know how much of a help I can be, but would be glad to send you what information I have or lead you to someone who has it. I think if you could get to see Hanshi, he always asked for questions, and you could get an insight there.
Here is my web site
www.yumedojo.net
I have some links on their that will give you some information. right now ,on Professor Kimo’s web site he has an article about Mitsoe and his relationship with O’Sensei Ueshieba of Aikido. Some Kosho sites have history as well.
Let me know if there is anything in particular you would like, and I see what I can do.

                                       Shihan Lou Klaff
                                       Shizen Ryu Jujutsu
                                       Yume Dojo
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[QUOTE=hoodedmonk;1938205]Of what? just curious. con artist?[/QUOTE]

He was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and extortion.