Grandmaster Fusei Kise

Grandmaster Fusei Kise is the direct successor through Grandmaster Hohan Soken to Shorinryu Matsumura Seito. He has visited our dojo to conduct training every year since 1985. Hanshi Kise was born in Okinawa on May 4, 1935, and began his study of karate in 1947 under his uncle Master Makabe. In 1955 Hanshi became a student of Master Nobutake Shingake and received his Shodan. In 1958, he began studying under Grandmaster Zenryu Shimabuku and received his Yondan. The same year he also became a student of Master Hohan Soken, the third successor of Shorinryu Matsumura Seito (Orthodox), and in 1960, he began training under Shigeru Nakamura, Okinawan Kenpo Karate-do Federation. Thus in the early 1960's, Hanshi was practicing and teaching Shorinji-ryu while simultaneously studying Shorinryu and Okinawan kenpo. On January 1, 1967, Hanshi Kise passed the examination for 7th Dan under Grandmaster Hohan Soken, Shorinryu Matsumura Seito Karate-do Federation. Shortly after this Hanshi Kise switched completely over to Shorinryu Matsumura Seito Karate-do. On January 3, 1972, he received the title "Hanshi" by passing the 8th Dan examination held by Grandmaster Hohan Soken and Master Makabe, and on September 1, 1976, Grandmaster Soken promoted him to 9th Dan. In 1977, Hanshi Kise founded the Shorinryu Kenshin Kan Karate and Kobudo Federation, based on the techniques and principles taught him by Grandmaster Soken.

The definition of Kenshin Kan is as follows:

Ken: Empty hand or the Okinawan art of self defense.

Shin: The truth, reality, human nature, humanity.

Kan: A place, mansion or palace.

Kenshin Kan: A place in which to study karate-do for the essence of human nature or humanity.

Master Shigaru Tamae promoted Hanshi Kise to 10th Dan on October 25, 1987. In 1990, Grandmaster Kise was recognized by the Okinawan Prefectural Government and by a panel of scholars from Ryukyu University as the successor to Master Soken and as the head of Shorinryu Matsumura Orthodox karate.