ARTICLES

23 April 1929 -  23 April 2000

Who is Henry Slomanski

and the legend of the Crest Of The Bent Arm"

By Donald Jeffrey, Soke / Head Family

There has not been enough articles written about Henry Slomanski, his military and martial arts career has been kept silent for too long. Just who is this man. Born in Evansville, New Jersey,   had joined the U.S. Army at 18 and in approximately 20 years of service as a Special Forces Green beret and Airborne Ranger.  Fought in two wars (Korea and 3 tours in Vietnam). Awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and 3 Purple Hearts. Reached the grade of Command Sergeant Major. Also had issued Elvis Presley his first and second degree black belts, and was the first to become the "World Karate Black Belt Champion" and "Commissioner of Karate". 

It was back in the early 1980's through my old martial Arts Master, James Morell of Lakehurst / Toms River N.J. I had first heard of Henry " Hank" Slomanski and his great military and martial arts achievements. Not knowing until the 21st century and the internet that I was some how linked to this great man.

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 one can read the title signifying the same with the " Crest Of The Bent Arm" this is the first time the crest has ever been known to exist.

This is the book that Dr. Chitose had worked on for what was said many years prior to having it published . Note the title simply says Kempo Karate Do.  Not Chito Ryu. Also note the "Crest Of The Bent Arm" on the cover (Palm facing in towards the arm). This crest is not used in for any other martial arts system including Chito Ryu.

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.

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.

( Circa 1955 ?) Hank had been studying Karate at a police station in Japan for some time and had become unbeatable. It was with his growing reputation that Dr. Tsuyoshi Chitose (Who later founded the Chito Ryu Karate system) had searched him out for special training. Under  Chitose's tutelage Henry Slomanski literally flew through what was then the standard ranking structure in an art known as Kempo Karate Do and Goju Kai.    

(Master Yamaguchi and Dr. Chitose)

During those days 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 Chito Ryu was heavily influenced by Shorin Ryu as was the Kempo Karate Do that Henry was trained in.

(Gitchen Funakoshi and Dr. Chitose)

When Hank had trained under these revered Grand Masters, he received his grades in Kempo Karate Do and Goju Kai.  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. Thus leaving an old Kempo art with no name that is still being taught to this very day with the nickname of "Old Chito Ryu" That was influenced with Shorin Ryu, Goju Ryu and Chito Ryu for which Hank eventually received a formal grade in Chito Ryu as well.

August 1956 World Karate Black Belt Championships. Japan. It was the event that shook the entrenched mindset of a 2,500 year martial arts tradition to its very core. These were not just any Karate matches. They were sanctioned by the International Karate Federation (Japan).

These tournaments were like any other back then, there were no protection equipment, no weight or rank divisions, other then the lowest ranked started first.  One additional important point to make here was that the matches were known as

 " Lame - Kill Matches".

The rules were simple, anything went, you won when your opponent was incapacitated, unconscious or dead! If you won, you stayed and fought until you lost. The winner got no rest.

The first day of the matches Hank entered at the 4th Dan level. The Japanese saw his type before. A big 6' 2" 230lb yank who could only hold his own for a short time before being used to wipe the floor with.

At the end of the approximately 4  1/2 hours, he was undefeated. Still standing. This in itself became a political embarrassment for the Japanese who spent the night searching out high ranking karateka they could schedule into the tournament the next day in order to defeat this big yank.

At the end of the second day, Hank was still undefeated. Defeating 119 men. A witnesses account at the tournament said the average time per match for Hank was seven seconds. Bow in, defeat the opponent, bow out. Bow in immediately, defeat the next and bow out. No breaks except for his 6 broken ribs from the first day.

Hank was then awarded the title of World Karate Black Belt Champion. With this also came the third highest belt anyone at that time could obtain. Presented by both Master Yamagchi and Dr. Chitose was the multi colored (Red, Black and White belt) naming him a fifth dan (The highest grade anyone could receive and the title of commissioner of Karate.

A WORK IN PROGRESS. TO BE CONTINUED

Budo Vs. Bujutsu..........

                            The Soke Menkyo Kai has several issues that are enforced so as to remain within true traditional guidelines of the martial arts & ways.

First off, the Budo arts in general, they are identified as " Martial Way " Not martial art. The Budo way's came into being several hundred years ago in Japan.

The goal of one studying the Budo way's was and is for one to reach spiritual enlightenment through the study of a Budo way. These " Way's " were founded during peace time in Japan. After 800 years of warring states, peace was brought via a unified government that wanted to ensure it remained thus they encouraged the study of Budo way's over the older combative Bujutsu  (Jutsu) arts that the Bushi ( Samurai ) had studied his entire life and made use of on the field of battle.

It is because one studies a Budo way in hopes of achieving spiritual enlightenment and self improvement in their overall lives that grades were issued not only on skill and time in the previous grade, but one's age also plays a major role in one advancing in the systems grade structure as well.

In the Budo systems, it is also what you have learned outside of the Dojo through life experience as well as meeting the systems requirements for grade advancement.

It is believed that since one is seeking overall self improvement and spiritual enlightenment through the study of a Budo system ( The Way ) age must play a great deal in regards to lessons learned through life experience.

This is why there are strict age restrictions on grades one earns in the Budo systems.

In the Bujutsu or combat systems that have been around since before recorded history. One only has to be proficient in his / her techniques and meet all requirements put before them for that particular rank advancement.

Herein lies the one problem that many martial artists that are uneducated to the difference between Budo and Bujutsu have.

In one association it is required that one be at least 40 years of age with an additional time in grade in order to reach fifth dan ( 5th degree black belt ).

While in another association there is 22 year olds who began training at age 8 and are now Godans (5 th degree black belt).

There is no controversy, it is simply that one association teaches a budo way and the other teaches a jutsu or bujutsu art. ie: the art's and way's. The association that requires one to be in their forties in order to receive a fifth degree black belt teaches a budo system / way. The other with no age to rank requirements teaches a bujutsu art.

The S.M.K./ requires that any and all applicants applying for accreditation as a Soke Shodai     (founder) must have a combat  system of martial (military) fighting arts. Not budo.

It should however be noted that the S.M.K. does allow a system to be a mixture of both budo and bujutsu as long as it is clearly understood what part of the system represents what. That includes the age to grade requirements are not required because of it's " Bujutsu " influence.

THE  HISTORY OF SHIZENKI RYU BUJUTSU

          Shizenki Ryu Bujutsu was founded in 1920, by the late Kenwi Tasuki. Tasuki was born August 20, 1885 and died July 16, 1955. Tasuki was born to parents in poverty. His father, Itagui and mother made their living from farming. Kenwi being the only child, his duties were to help his parents with the farming. Kenwi’s father was introduced to the fighting art of Tomari-te and was a student to Karyu Uku.

 Louis Fried started his training under Kenwi Tasuki in Shizenki Ryu karate in 1941. Louis was Kenwi’s only American practitioner. Louis opened a small dojo in North Tonawanda, New York in 1964. Avelino R. Mayoral was introduced to Louis in January of 1965. After the death of Louis Fried in 1991, Avelino R. Mayoral being Louis Fried’s top ranking practitioner became his successor. Today, Soke San Dai Mayoral is Shizenki Ryu Bujutsu’s top ranking authority.