Shoshin Ryu Yudanshakai began as did many of the present day organizations -- by a single dojo and sensei. Michael Chubb, who had taught at several dojos in Los Angeles and Orange Counties as a student of Prof. Bill Randle, began a new school in Fountain Valley, California. This school, along with classes at Downey YMCA, began to grow as Chubb's students formed a core of Black Belts who would themselves go out and open schools throughout California, Nevada, Arizona and other states.
Within a few years, the number of schools created by Chubb's students increased dramatically, and in 1987 the name was changed to Shoshin Ryu Yudanshakai to reflect that it had indeed become a Black Belt organization in its own right. In 1988, Prof. Carl Beaver, a student of Prof. Okazaki, joined Shoshin Ryu and in 1991 formally became its Technical Director.
Prof. Chubb and Shoshin Ryu Yudanshakai is credited with several contributions to the Danzan Ryu jujitsu community. In 1990, Shoshin Ryu Yudanshakai created and hosted OHANA '90, a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Prof. Okazaki where all of the major Danzan Ryu jujitsu organizations met in friendship and "kokua." This celebration has been repeated in 1992, 1994 and 1996, with OHANA '98 now scheduled in Santa Clara, California.
In 1991, the Danzan Ryu Jujitsu Hall of Fame was created to honor those jujitsu practicioners, past and present, who have made significant life contributions to the art, without regard to their organizational affiliation. The first inductee to the Hall of Fame was Prof. Juan Gomez, student of Prof. Okazaki, sensei to Profs. Wally Jay and Antone Gonzales, and one of the charter officers of the American Jujitsu Institute. Shoshin Ryu continues to administer this program, and accepts nominations to the Hall of Fame from all Danzan Ryu organizations.
In 1993, Shoshin Ryu Yudanshakai created the H.S. Okazaki National Invitational Jujitsu Kata Championships to honor the memory of the founder of Danzan Ryu jujitsu. It has been hosted every year through the joint sponsorship of Shoshin Ryu and the American Jujitsu Institute of Hawaii, and has been expanded to include karate kata competition.
In 1995, Shoshin Ryu Yudanshakai merged with the American Jujitsu Institute of Hawaii, and now administers its Mainland jujitsu operations. Prof. Chubb, now 8th degree, continues to teach in his hometown of Boulder City, Nevada.
This page maintained by George Arrington.
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