Shuri-Ryu Karatedo

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Comment by Michael Izatt 1 day ago

A recent photo of Mr. James McLain, Shuri-Ryu, Tennessee, compliments of Mr. H. Eugene Talbott, Indiana.

Comment by Michael Izatt on December 12, 2009 at 4:56pm

Colleagues: I'm sorry for my poor typing. My sentence below

"At that time, the Chief Instructor patch was a normal *blank*-on-forest-green Shuri-Ryu yudansha Pine-Tree patch with a Red Sun embroidered to the right."

should read

"black-on-forest-green."


I'm sorry.

Comment by Michael Izatt on December 12, 2009 at 3:42pm

Messers Steve and Forrester: James McLain is one of the most storied martial artists in the Shuri-Ryu system. He was a direct student of Messers Koeppel and Trias, and back in the 60s, he was a de-facto “traveling ‘chief’ instructor” of the Shorei (later Shuri) system. He was generally acknowledged to fight out of Peoria, Illinois, Phoenix, Arizona, and -at one time - Ft. Wayne, Indiana. He is now living in Tennessee.

McLain was a phenomenal physical specimen, superlative athlete, ferocious fighter, and the finest kata practitioner of his day -- still is. I suppose one factoid about Mr. McLain is that in the late 60s, he had the distinction of being the highest-ranking karate-ka for his age; after a visit by an Okinawan contingent, Mr. Trias was directed to grade McLain as Godan at age 27 at a time when there weren’t that many Godan karate-ka in the world, and most certainly not of that young age. There was no outrage for the simple reason that there was consensus that he was worthy. Remember, McLain had traveled throughout the country, living out of the back of his car, teaching karate and competing. We all travel now, but at that time, McLain was an American original.

After Mr. Konishi directed Mr. Trias to codify the Shuri-Ryu system through Sandan rank, Mr. Trias created the Chief Instructor corp. At that time, the Chief Instructor patch was a normal blank-on-forest-green Shuri-Ryu yudansha Pine-Tree patch with a Red Sun embroidered to the right. (Now of days Chief Instructors wear a Pine with a red circular border -- no border in those days, just the Red Sun) Mr. McLain was designated an “Assistant Chief Instructor,” which was a less-formal designation than exists now of days whereby Assistant Chief Instructors are named and listed. Mr. McLain wore a “half sun” on his black Pine. This was the state of affairs from say 1972? to say 1979? Again, this was an informal (bona fide, but informal) designation. Throughout the 80s and 90s, the Chief Instructor designation became more formalized and the lists thereof became more stable and managed, but in the early, fluid days of the growth of the USKA and Shuri-Ryu’s national following, Mr. McLain, along with Messers. Victor Moore and Robert Bowles, was perhaps the most well-traveled and accomplished practitioner of Mr. Trias’ system.

Note that, to my knowledge, the first “Half Sun” holders Post-McLain would have been Messers. Hutchcroft and Pachivas in…1983? (Let’s see, was our dear Mr. Abele a Half Sun for a short period of time? I believe so.) These two (three?) gentlemen were chosen by Mr. Trias to prepare themselves within the Shuri-Ryu knowledgebase to be named Chief Instructors. Again, Mr. McLain’s designation was much less formal than the process undertaken by Messers. Hutchcroft, Pachivas, and Abele, and was awarded in acknowledgement of his de-facto status as a public face, along with Messers. Moore, Bowles and Rabino, of the Shorei-to-Shuri system transition.

Comment by Eric Eubanks on November 29, 2009 at 12:16am

Several different conversations going on in this list. :O) Snider Sensei's comment about the choice on certain kata within our system interests me. Having studied under instructors who teach from older curriculum of Master Trias and also having began my study of Shuri-Ryu under a student of Sensei Abel, I have been able to experience the flow of development of our style from it's earlier manifestations into what is currently being taught. Even the kata as we know them have earlier versions from which they were developed. The names of some, as seen in a post of mine on another group discussion, have changed over the years. For instance, Gopei sho and Dan Enn Sho were once called Gopei Chon and Dan Enn Chon. There were also kata that I have heard of no where else such as Sei-then and Sei-Dan. Some of these forms are quite beautiful as well. Looking back over the history of our system, some of our current Sho and Dai forms were not originally so.
As for those that do carry those designations, All I can speculate is that his choices are probably due to his influences during the time they were incorporated into his teaching. I am sure that as huge as the USKA was in it's prime that he had access to hundreds of kata from any number of systems.
When the question was asked about Te-Gatana/ Te-Katana, was it concerning the Sai kata by that name or the technique of "Sword Hand Cover Position"? I have heard the hand position called and written both ways in several places. I am not sure which is the most correct in that instance, but was explained to once that it was pronounced differently in certain situations of Japanese grammar.
The weapon kata by that name is spelled the same in both Trias' 1988 "Pinnacle of Karate",and Dr. Trias-Kelly's edited 2000 edition as Te-Katana as well as Te Kata Na. In Hanshi Bowles' "Shuri-Ryu, A Path To Enlightenment" it is spelled Tekatana. These are the only ways I have ever heard or seen this form written.

Comment by James M. Gray on May 17, 2009 at 3:14pm

Anyone wanting to contact Victor Moore visit G.M.Victor Moore @ www.victormoore.org he should have all of the paper on file he has an orgazination for the preservation of Shuri-Ryu Karata. Tell him that James M. Gray sent you we are friends. I am a Black Belt member of this organization.

Comment by James M. Gray on May 17, 2009 at 3:06pm

Friends

On November 1, 2008 Ernest Dukes Received his 9 dan belt from 10 dan red belt Victor Moore (a student of Robert A. Trias). Victor Moore is now living in Lumberton N. C. Earnest Dukes trained with him there. Victor Moore will be at the tournament in Concord, N. C. on June13, 2009

Comment by Jonathan Forrester on January 7, 2009 at 4:43pm

James Mclain is one of the senior members of the USKA, but I am not aware that he is one of the Chief Instructors in our system. I checked the latest lineage chart from Hanshi Abele and he isn't listed at all.

Comment by Steve on January 2, 2009 at 4:56pm

Anyone know who James Mclain 8th Dan Tennessee is? He is listed as a chief instructor of Shuri Ryu on the wikipedia site.

Comment by Steve on December 10, 2008 at 6:53am

Carol, I would suggest that you buy a Pinnacle. I think Hanshi Bowles recently published a book with the advanced requirements in it as well. I wonder why the senior students/instructors at your school never committed any of this information to pen and paper or own a Pinnacle?

Comment by Carol on December 9, 2008 at 8:09pm

Different subject: Does anyone know where i can get a printed form of the 16-30 Kihon Kumites and 16-26 Ippon Kumites? Seems to be a difficult item as our school doesn't offer them, nor does our parent school.

thank you!

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