Featured School

Interview with Darrell Collins of Shorinji Tetsu-Ken Kamishin Ryu – Hombu Dojo

1. Who is the dojo’s founder and what prompted him/her to build the school? Is there any rich history behind its making?

This dojo is the hombu (home) school for the Shorinji Tetsu-Ken Kamishin Ryu Kempo-jutsu system and the Nippon Kobudo Rengokai organization in which I inherited.

2. What forms of Japanese martial arts do you teach in your school? Can you please share with us the history behind them?

The styles I teach are Kempo and Jujutsu. The style I inherited did not originate in Japan but China. The art over the years went from China to Korea and eventually to Japan. While in Japan, the art was reviewed by the Zen Nippon Karatedo Renmei and the Zen Nippon Kobudo Renmei and recognized as a hard/soft art likened to modern day Hapkido. The head-master by succession, Albert Church, received recognition through Shogo Kuniba, Soke, Motobu Ha Shito Ryu. The system was broken down into Ryugi of Kempo (Fist Methods) and Jujutsu (Take-down / Throwing Methods).

We also teach Iaido based on Mugai Ho Kuniba Ryu. This system of Iaido is based on Shogo Kuniba’s teachings of Mugai Ryu Iaido as learned from Ishii Gogetsu, Soke, Mugai Ryu.

3. What are the principles and concepts that you uphold and try to instill in your students?

As a Christian Minister and Martial Artist, I believe that the principles of traditional martial arts overlap well with the moral code of Christianity (as well as most religions). As such, I teach the moral code that must be learned in order for a martial artist to be able to have the proper reasoning to know when to use his martial arts in defense. From a physical point of view, our art conceptually relies on the use of the circle and the angle. The use of these physical concepts teaches an underlying principle to the student of evasion (angle) and deflection (circle). This being said, if the student finds him or herself in a bad situation, the art teaches us to evade or deflect the situation before it escalates. If necessary though, our art is self-defense, and to that end a student is taught to use whatever is necessary (but only that) to defend themselves.

4. Why do you think it is important for people to learn martial arts?

Traditional Martial Arts, besides being self defense, has an underlying effect on the practitioner of self-development. This being said, the most important obstacle that most students face is their own self-limitations. The traditional martial arts can be a great tool to help a student overcome these self-imposed limitations and begin to believe in their own ability to achieve seemingly impossible tasks and goals.

5. What difficulties and obstacles have you encountered so far with regards to teaching martial arts and how did you overcome them?

I really have not had many difficulties in teaching. I do not teach the martial arts from a business perspective, so I do not have the trouble that some schools have. As a traditionalistic style, my only goal is producing quality martial artists that are willing to help ensure this system continues in the future.

6. What advice and/or insights can you share with our readers who want to pursue their interest in the Japanese form of martial arts?

The traditional martial arts can be a great way to learn great martial skills as well as life skills. Check out the dojo you are looking to train at and its reputation. Check out the background of the instructor and the style of martial arts that is being taught. There are many great places to train at but in the same way there are many schools that are not what they claim. Do a little research and ask questions of the students at the dojo in order to make a good decision on the school.

7. Can you please give a short biography of your dojo’s instructor(s)?

I began informal training in 1979 within Isshin Ryu Karate which began my love for the martial arts. After joining the US Army in 1986, I began concentrated studies of the martial arts, earning a black belt in an “Americanized” style of Karate. It was during this time that I was first introduced to Jujutsu at the local YMCA (I was later graded to the Shodan – 1st degree Black Belt – level in that art).

After returning to South Carolina in 1989, I began training in the family art of Shorinji Tetsu-Ken Do Kanda Ha Kamishin Ryu under the Kamishinkai International.

Over the past 20 years, I have trained with numerous Shihan of Kamishin Ryu most of which were trained directly by Church sensei. During this training, I earned several gradings in the separate teachings (Kempo – Jujutsu) to the Shihan levels.

In 2003, I began private instruction with the inheritor of the system, Harold Martin. In 2006, I was named by Harold Martin, Soke as the next generation inheritor of Shorinji Tetsu-Ken Kamishin Ryu and Kaicho (president) of the Nippon Kobudo Rengokai organization.

Related posts:

1. Interview with Dan Fujikawa-Greig of New Zealand Mugai Ryu Iai Hyodo Dojo
2. Interview with Nicklaus Suino of Japanese Martial Arts Center
3. Interview with Richard Ray of Genbukan Makoto Dojo LLC
4. Interview with James Huss of Suenaka Zenzan Dojo
5. Interview with Jonathan Bannister of Tsubomi Seishin Kan Dojo