This is one of my favorite little mysteries in american martial arts history
you can read it here: Motobu Choki's Visit to Hawaii (3)｜本部流
you can read it here: Motobu Choki's Visit to Hawaii (3)｜本部流
Looks like Motobu Choki's Grandson is pretty convinced Mitose learned Motobu Kenpo
- Thread starter Shugyosha
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isshinryuronin52 52
Senior Master
I've seen one source saying Motobu's visit to Hawaii in 1933 was very short, "leaving almost immediately." Even if he had time to teach anything, Mitose was in Japan during that time. Mitose did spend his youth in Japan where he supposedly learned the eclectic art of Kosho-ryu. Another source states that he never claimed to have met Motobu but admired his karate and obtained a copy of his book and his photograph. I have both of these also but admit I never met Motobu either. His notoriety is best left to his teaching Professor Chow (who had studied other MA as well) who taught Ed Parker and others who helped spread karate in the U.S.
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- #3
You should read the article.
punisher734
Senior Master
I wish I still had the old VHS tape, but lost it at some point moving. But, I used to have the Tracy's Gathering of Eagles (2001) on video that had some of the seminars.
One of them, was Chosei Motobu teaching the "12 Kumite Drills" of his father. During that seminar, he specifically says that Mitose did NOT learn from Choki Motobu.
One of them, was Chosei Motobu teaching the "12 Kumite Drills" of his father. During that seminar, he specifically says that Mitose did NOT learn from Choki Motobu.
Same Trick107 8
Master of Arts
Kentsu Yabu was in Hawaii too, and there was some emigration from Okinawa to Hawaii in early 1900’s
budojapan.com
The Two Pioneering Overseas Okinawa Karate Demonstrations 1927 & 1951 Honolulu (Hawai’i) & São Paulo (Brazil) | BUDO JAPAN - Japanese martial-arts
Information, articles and videos about Japanese martial-arts. Produced by BAB JAPAN, Tokyo
budojapan.com
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- #6
Not learning from directly=\=not learning the style. That’s cool
The Tracy’s brought him out through!
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- #7
I've read that Motobu Choki Sensei had a problem "retaining" students because his focus on jyu kumite, 1 kata, and the 12 self defense techniques. They'd quit because they got fairly proficient, pretty quickly. Also at the time I think he only had two belts white and black.
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- #8
He was basically denied entry, but was able to get a copy of My Karate-jutsu onto the island, and had a few black belts on the island ( who were the ones who invited him)
The linked article suggests, contrary to your thesis, that Mitose learned from Mutsu or Higashiona, which is what I believe. Check out this article from 2011 that draws this conclusion: A Look at James Mitose
isshinryuronin52 52
Senior Master
Very interesting article. It seems if one puts all the facts, circumstantial evidence and logical inferences pro and con regarding Mitose's grandiose claims on a scale, the balance would strongly tip to "unfavorable," as the only positive assertions seem to originate from him. His bona fides have been questioned since at least the late 1960's with nothing positive about him being brought to light from then to now, I think.
Ed Parker was well connected in Hawaii, and I imagine he may have had some inside info on Mitose. If so, he would have kept it to himself, not wanting to tarnish his own reputation and ambitions within his Mormon and MA worlds.
IMO, Mitose is best left as a shadowy minor footnote in TMA lore and a mystery I have no interest in unraveling.
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- #12
Maybe I misunderstood but weren't they black belts of his?
The blog is written by Chosei's son.
I see - that was one of the alternatives. I misunderstood what you were getting at. I agree with the alternative explanation towards the end- it is the best explanation as to how he came into posession of the books (both Motobu's and Mutsu's) and had some of the material. Based on the timeline and the body mechanics in his pictures, I don't believe he trained for an extended period of time with them.
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- #14
See I look at it a different way. Mitose was 100% a conman, my only interest is in finding out if there was a bit of truth to his lies of not. For example, it would be cool to know if there was some form of non Okinawan Kempo on Kyushu prior to the Meiji era, even if Mitose and his family had nothing to do with it
I think its cool how he was able to inspire people with something fake into becoming something real. However, I think as his students matured they started to see through his ********, that's why Chow left him.
I also wonder if the development of Kenpo in Hawaii mirrors the development of Kenpo on Okinawa
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