ARTS REPRESENTED

CHINMOKU KAZE RYU BATTO BUJUTSU

EIKOKU - RYU TAI JUTSU

HAKUTSURU RYU KARATE , KOBUDO / JUTSU

KENSHIN RYU KARATE

MOTTO CHI TE RYU KEMPO JUTSU

A Brief history of James Cheatham of the

Sen Karate - Do Ryu

(Motto Chi Te Ryu)

and the

"Crest Of The Bent Arm"

By Donald Jeffrey, Soke / Head Family

Prior to founding Chito Ryu Karate,  Dr. Chitose had been teaching a martial art he called Kempo Karate Do. On the cover of his book which was first published in 1957 one can read the title signifying the same with the " Crest Of The Bent Arm".

Note: Circa 1950 Master Yamaguchi had founded the Goju Kai or Japanese Goju as opposed to the original and much older Okinawan Goju Ryu that was founded by Chojin Miyagi. Weather this was a hijacking of an art or not, I will leave up to the readers own opinion.

Note: Circa 1952 that Both Masters Chitose and Yamaguchi founded and became officers in the International Karate Federation. Master Yamaguchi being the president and Dr. Chitose was the Chief Officer.

(Master Yamaguchi and Dr. Chitose)

During late 1940's through the 1950's Chitose and Yamaguchi trained together and shared ideas as to the founding and or improvement of their arts that came to be known as Chito Ryu and Goju Kai Karate. Noting that  Kempo Karate Do was heavily influenced by Shorin Ryu (Okinawan Te and Karate)  that their students were trained in and received their grades.

It should be noted here that both Dr. Chitose and Master Yamaguchi both received their Red Belts from the Emperor of Japan.  They both received these titles , not because they were 10th dans, or Soke of a certain style but because of their martial arts skills.

This is how it was, regardless as to today's age to grade requirements in the Japanese Budo arts. Something I am sure the Japan Karate Association is not too proud of. (A sort of do as I say, not as I do attitude).

(Gitchen Funakoshi and Dr. Chitose)

  Later, under Dr. Chitose. The Kempo Karate Do had changed so much that it's shadow didn't even reflect it's new aspects as he renamed it Chito Ryu. The old art was just to tough for most to learn and he knew the art would have to change drastically in order for it to flourish.

This left the old Kempo art with no name that is still being taught to this very day with the nickname of "Old Chito Ryu or Kempo.

Original 1957 book                     Reprint and translated

This is the book that Dr. Chitose had worked on for what was said many years prior to having it published . Note the title of the translated / reprinted version simply says Kempo Karate Do.  Not Chito Ryu although when it was printed in 1957 the book does make mention of Chito Ryu in it, but nothing about the  old style. It is as if the old style was erased from history.

Also note the "Crest Of The Bent Arm" on the cover (Palm facing in towards the arm in this variation). This is the second time this crest was known to have  appeared. This crest is not used in for any other martial arts system including Chito Ryu.

The book is the second time that the bent arm crest was used. The first being on the certificates that Chitose had issued. There the fist of the bent arm was originally positioned with the back of the hand facing outward.

There is an additional thing one should know about the book or rather what , or who is inside it. Master Kuroki Senjo who is in this book doing technique with Dr. Chitose. The book has him listed as being a Godan, but in what ? It sure wasn't the new Chito Ryu, Chitose did not have permission to promote anyone higher then fourth dan in the "Old System" or Goju Kai. As for the  new Chito Ryu, the art  was not even sanctioned at that time. Dr.Chitose was not allowed to promote anyone in it at that time. The only answer could be that he was a godan in an other art / way.   

Here is the crest reshaded and enlarged.

Back in the early 1970's I had stopped Judo training which I had began in the late 1960's and began karate training. I had studied under Art Harris in Iselin, N.J. The certificates that were issued there had yet another modified " Bent Arm Crest ".

 Note the kanji has changed from Kempo to Karate and the fist is now with the palm facing outward.

 Art Harris's highest graded student is Edward W.B. Thomas for which both had instructed me.  Sensei Harris's Sensei was James Cheatham was a Sandan and who had died while learning to fly, back in the 1966. James Cheatham's Sensei was Wallace Reumann who held a Yondan in the old art and a Godan in Chito Ryu. Sensei Ruemann's teacher was Hank Slomanski who had learned directly from Chitose. 

Note this however, Regardless as to what variation the crest is, it is still the crest of an old school art that is bordering extinction. An art that is said to be as tough as nails and those that trained in this art had to be as well, or they were not trained in it.

Master Rueman left the military and returned to New Jersey where he began teaching both the Old Style and the New Chito Ryu. This is very evident that he continued using and teaching the stuff that works, the "REAL KARATE" due to his hard line students who took the tournament circuit by storm. They were Prentice Newton and James Cheatham. 

 Master Ruemann  opened up what is reported to be a total of 27 schools. One of his schools was in Trenton, New Jersey which is where James Cheatham was taught.

While learning under Master Ruemann, James Cheatham had become a ferocious fighter winning almost all tournaments he entered. This in its self is a testament that Master Ruemann continued to teach the old art.

There are those that may have some doubt as to Master Ruemann teaching Sensei James Cheatham the "Old Art" therefore I submit proof. Page 35 of American Judo Digest Vol. 1 # 4 printed by Card Publishing Company 1961.

On the lower half you can clearly read that Master Ruemann had promoted Sensei Cheatham to a Nidan in Goju Karate. If Sensei Cheatham had only learned the Chito Ryu, Master Ruemann would have never promoted him in Goju.(Remember, Goju and Kempo Karate was the old art).

List of known members of the 1963 Canadian Karate Championships held in Toronto.

THIRD ROW (BACK ROW) FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ARE.

There are 13 individuals

Tran Quan Ba  ( Montreal Chito Ryu Dojo)

The next eleven are unknown.

Shane Y. Higashi. (Tsuruoka Dojo, Toronto)

SECOND ROW  ( Middle Row) FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ARE.

1. is William J. Dometrich (Kneeling)  ( U.S. Chito Ryu Covington, Ky.)

2- 7 Unknown.

8.  is Prentiss Newton ( New Jersey Dojo of James Cheatham)

9. is unknown.

FIRST ROW (FRONT ROW) FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ARE.

1. is unknown.

2. is Alverado Sensei (Shorin Ryu – U.S. Military)

3. is Glen Prearu (Shorin Ryu – U.S. Military)

4. is San Pearson (Shorin Ryu)  

5. is Masami Tsuruoka (Chito Ryu – Canada)

6. is unknown.

7. is James Cheatham (Chito Ryu – New Jersey)

8. is John Keenan (Later to be known as Count Dante)

If anyone can tell me who the unknown individuals are it would be greatly appreciated.

It was reported and may only be a rumor that Master Ruemann had thrown James Cheatham out of his association called the American Karate Federation due to his ties with the Nation of Islam.

To put this to rest I am going to print word for word Mr. Peter Wesler’s own words..

“It was Broad Street in Newark.  As best I remember I was there from sometime in 1963 through sometime in 1966.  My green belt certificate from Cheatham is dated 6/28/65 and my Alan Lee Kung Fu ID is dated 12/29/1966.  Cheatham must have crashed his plane late in 1965  I remember that he said he was going to give me my brown belt but then died before he could.  After that Alan Lee took over the school and I stayed there until Alan opened his school in NYC where I was the Saturday instructor.

 I don't remember the names of anybody other than Newt (Prentice Newton) and Bill, the two top instructors under Cheatham.”

 James Cheatham’s Karate Inc. – 913 Broad Street, Newark

 On the school’s Nation of Islam association:

“I knew the school was Black Panther when I went there but I was not impressed with that.  The other students did not want me there.  I remember one guy complaining to Cheatham saying why was he letting a white guy in.  Cheatham was having none of that and said I was welcome as long as I wanted to learn.  For a while some of them tried to dissuade me from staying by being unnecessarily rough in our fights but after I started to beat some of them, they changed their minds and accepted me.  I don't know whether Cheatham had connections to the Nation of Islam but he definitely was not a racist. You couldn't have found a nicer all around good guy.”

 On George Cofield’s school:

“He was the sensei of a Brooklyn school.  His school was the only competition for Cheatham's school in terms of fighters who could compete with one another.  As I remember our school won most of the fights.  During the time Cheatham's fighters were banned from local and regional competitions for excessive violence, we used to stage competitions with Cofield's school because they were "excessively violent" too and were up for the competition.”

James Cheathams business card. Note the Dojo address change. This was the original location of the Dojo prior to moving up one block.

( Special Thanks to one of Sensei Cheatham's top students, Grand Master Karriem ABdullah)

Peter Wesler.

 Sensei Cheatham had others as well. One being a Nidan named Art Harris who began teaching me in Iselin, N.J. in the early 1970's.

Peter Wesler’s I.D. card signed by Sensei James Cheatham

1963 A poster designed by Sensei James Cheatham that had adorned the walls of his school. Sensei Cheatham is responsible for the redesigning of the crest and the name " Sen Nihon Karate".

( Special Thanks to one of Sensei Cheatham's top students, Grand Master Karriem ABdullah)

Peter Wesler’s school (System) ring custom made by James Cheatham.The ring was available to all students of James Cheatham.

                                          New (2009) custom made ring for Donald Jeffrey

(Rings are available for 140.00 for those who can prove they are from this "Old School"  Cheatham system. Contact Donald Jeffrey at kdasoke@comcast.net)

James Cheatham's Sandan Certificate signed by Wallace Ruemann

It Should be noted here that after Sensei Cheatham began teaching on his own, he had developed a fighting system that was just as tough as the old Chito Ryu or Kempo Jutsu. Of course it was heavily influenced by them as well. It’s what he knew. This is why the crest was changed slightly.

 The arts main goal for kyu levels was pinnan katas, and“ Aggressive Fighting Technique” ( Multiple Step Kumite Techniques) as well as basic kicking, punching, striking and throwing and self defense techniques.

Of course there were no mats, just a wooden floor. The art was and still is only for those who can tuff it out in order to reach the higher levels of the art. A  Shodan (First Degree)black belt in this art still means something. It means you are a man, it means you can kill if you wanted to, with only your bare hands. Compare that to the  8 year old black belt in taekwondo (or for that matter, even the adult taekwondo black belt) that is so common place in today's martial arts....

My ID card from 1972

 Student grades were white, green and brown belt. No stripes, no purples or oranges. I myself stayed at a white belt for two years before reaching green belt and that was going twice a week, every week.

 It was a tough school, back then I had entered a tournament at 13 years of age and beat a 27 year old man for 3^rd place green belt. (There was no weight, age restrictions, nor any protective equipment)

 For an unknown reason, Art Harris retired from teaching as a Sandan. Since there was no one to grade him above Nidan, he had received it from outside the system. This, since being on his own allowed him to grade his top student, Edward W.B. Thomas to Nidan and a few years later when he retired he had signed over his third dan to Edward Thomas, who had passed it on to me years later.

Note the bent arm crest and the older way of writing the word "Ryu" shows the lack of transmission of customs that was very prevalent in the old days. My last name was also misspelled due to it's simplicity.

 Do to the originality of the system and the passing of the system head to another it was accredited as a martial arts system in it’s own right by the Soke Menkyo Kai Head Family members. Naming me as heir to the system which was incorrectly issued as a Soke Godai and should have been a Soke Yondai. The art officially named “ Motto Chi Te Ryu”. Meaning Original Chinese Hand Way/ Discipline / Family. 

 It is unknown as to why Master Ruemann moved to California, but it is said that it was there that he began to sell Karate courses and training dummies through the mail. Many have ridiculed him for this, however, He was doing what was and is all of our goals, to spread the martial arts teachings and keep his schools a float.

In other words, it was wrong for him to do it then, but it's ok for thousands to do it now. Offering courses through the magazines and internet advertisements. 

Master Ruemann did nothing wrong, he never embarrassed anyone, nor brought any shame to  the Chito Ryu or " Old School Style".

It was and still is a group that wants this history of martial arts, the history of  the Bent Arm Crest to go away. They only want people to know about Chito Ryu Karate Do and nothing of these great masters.

 This is, again, martial arts politics at it's dirtiest.... 

 While in California, Master Ruemann either gave in to the ridiculing or for some unknown reason (maybe even the ghosts of his military past)Master Ruemann was Special Forces and seen a lot of bad stuff go down over his military career. We will never know for sure, but while still in California, Master Ruemann just fell off the face of the earth.

Wallace Ruemann 5th Dan inChito ryu and a 4^th Dan Black Belt , Master Instructor  in the “Old Chito Ryu” or Kempo Jutsu and Goju Kai

James Cheatham

 Sensei Art Harris                                            Sensei Edward .B. Thomas

here are not many individuals that can lay claim to any form of lineage that can be traced back to Commissioner Slomanski, Dr. Chitose and the " Bent Arm Crest".

I also wanted it to be duly noted here AGAIN.  Master Ruemann never really was into teaching anything but the old art. Sure Master Ruemann did have 27 schools and did teach the new Chito Ryu to the kids and adults who would never last in the old system..  However, how much of what we regard as Chito Ryu today could they have known ? after all, it was sort of thrust upon them.

I want to reiterate something here that most people today don't understand. Back then " In the day" a " Black belt" really meant you can defend yourself, hell, it meant you could " Kill". There were no such thing as a five year old black belt, nor a ten nor even a fifteen year old. You had to be a man, a real man !

In this old Kempo art that when one received a black belt in, you received it in Kempo Jutsu and Goju Kai. It was both, there were very little kata, very little Japanese terminology. It was the techniques and the hard, very hard training. That's why for the longest time it was only taught in the military. A regular civilian could not muster the strength to even last a class.  

 This included hard Ki breathing* exercises that would allow one to take full force strikes to various parts of the body was the standard.

·        Getting back to the " Hard Ki Breathing" exercises. I want it known right here that all the combat Ki breathing started in the Old School. It may have been developed from a form of iron shirt Kung Fu via Okinawan Te arts hundreds of years earlier, but the Ki breathing that allows you to take full force strikes to the body was first taught right here in this system. ( Not the watered down Chito Ryu or any other Ryu). It all came from here. The " Old School”  System. 

I myself had learned hard Ki breathing techniques and was able to take full force strikes to various parts of the body. But it was master Jim Morell who had introduced me to the visualized breathing Ki energy which later through 15 years of research lead to the founding of the Ki Development Association.

James Cheatham's legacy also continues. Though he had parted ways with Master Ruemann. He added techniques, changed the " Bent Arm Crest" ever so slightly and built an art as tough as the original art. This art survives today as Motto Chi Te Ryu.

Sensei James Cheatham's Fingertip Break 1963

 For more information on the Old Art and Master Ruemans instructor. 

 http://www.tracyskarate.com/Stories/was_elvis_really_a_black_belt.htm

http://www.chito-ryu.com/military.html

For more information on Ki ( Internal Energy)

http://www.ki-development.com 

O' KANDO IKIRU - RYU KEMPO JUTSU

O' KI RYU JUTSU

SENAI SEISSHINRYU SHIHANDDOKAI'

KARATE-DO JUTSU & BUDO-JUTSU

The above system (Ryu) was officially created and developed by Professor Alan S Thornton, Soke Shodai (10^th Dan) on 5^th October 1998 in England, UK.  This was after twenty-five years of study, grading and experience in the martial arts.  It was created as a result of his combined vision, interpretation and personal expression of all that he had learned up to that date.  The system is now a blending of Okinawan Isshinryu Karate-Do, Budo-Jutsu, Goshin-Jutsu, Kempo-Jutsu, Judo and Western Boxing.  The name ‘Senai Seisshinryu Shihandokai’ loosely translates as the ‘Spiritual Way of the One Heart Masters Association’.

  The system’s philosophy of martial arts training is very traditional in its approach for ‘quality rather than quantity’ – always stressing the highly essential value of a good respectful attitude towards self, fellow martial artists (students/instructors/masters) and society in general.  As the student gradually progresses and develops through training and studies – he/she should ultimately become a well balanced, self-disciplined, focused, respectful individual and attain full harmony in body, mind and spirit. 

  Emphasis is primarily placed on the student developing his/her overall character, self-potential, self-confidence, self-esteem and self-respect.  The student’s reasons for wanting to learn this system (or any martial arts system) often reflects their long term goals, maturity and motivation for studying this multi-disciplined art.  When accepting students, the Soke must always take into account the moral and ethical responsibilities he owes to self, the reputation of the art, the welfare of the student and to society as a whole.  It is also a way for the student to gradually learn a devastating system of unarmed combat for their overall health, fitness, vitality and personal safety.

  The practice of any martial arts system should ‘add years to your life and life to your years’.  It is not necessarily the color of the belt (obi) worn around the waist that makes a true martial arts master – but a very disciplined, respectful, humble, gentle, firm and controlled attitude towards self and others.  With ‘power comes great responsibility’ – that is very much instilled into the student  as he/she constantly strives to become mature, responsible, disciplined and respectful at all times throughout life.  Likewise, the physical combat skills taught to the student must only be used as a very last resort when all other options fail.  In such cases, he/she must act swiftly and effectively without anger – but never use more force than is necessary for moral, compassionate and legal reasons.       

  Thornton Soke has never awarded himself any grades whatsoever within his system or any other arts.  All grades have been officially awarded by various distinguished external international Sokes, grandmasters, councils and organizations.  These awards also include official Japanese titles/licenses (Menkyo’s) such as ‘Professor, Shihan-Dai, Shihan, Renshi, Hanshi and Soke Shodai’.  The elite ‘10^th Dan’ (Red Belt) rank was awarded by Professor J Abregana 10^th Dan (Soke Nidai) and personally signed by many distinguished international Sokes and grandmasters of 8^th, 9^th and 10^th Dan rank.  Likewise, his ‘Soke Shodai’ (1^st Generation Founder/Headmaster) license was officially awarded by Dai-Soke D Jeffrey, 10^th Dan, Kaiden (Head Family).      

  Over the past thirty-six years (1973-2009), Thornton Soke has received ‘Dan’ ranks in various martial art systems from several of his internationally recognized peers and their organizations.  They include ranks from the following:- Professors’ R Hedrick Jr 10^th Dan (Hanshi), Dai-Soke D Jeffrey 10^th Dan (Soke Godai), L Whitney 10^th Dan (Soke Nidai), J Cuevas 10^th Dan(Soke Sandai), J Abregana 10^th Dan (Soke Nidai), J Moclair 10^th Dan (Soke Shodai), M Pesic 10^th Dan (Soke Shodai), K Schuhmacher 10^th Dan (Soke Shodai), C Diaz 10^th Dan (Soke Shodai), B Hohle 10^th Dan (Soke Shodai), P Holley 10^th Dan (Soke Shodai), A Lye 9^th Dan (Soke Shodai) and M Tianero 10^th Dan (Soke Shodai).  Also ‘Dan’ ranks from Drs’ K Prakash 5^th Dan (Shihan), R Diaz 6^th Dan (Shihan) and R Pallones 5^th Dan (Shihan).  Other early teachers include S Gouldson 5^th Dan (Sensei) and D McKeown 2^nd Dan (Sensei). Additionally holding two 5th dan's in Isshinryu Karate  do & Shoshin Kempo Bujutsu as well as four second or Nidans in San Do Kempo Jutsu, Goshin Jutsu, Kendo Jutsu and Judo.

  Has also held memberships within several elite martial arts organizations, has been inducted into various international ‘Martial Art Halls of Fame’ (2002-2008), included in various international Who’s Who in the martial arts, books and other publications over many years.

 SHIZENKI  RYU  BUJUTSU

SHOSHINDO RYU KEMPO JUTSU