By Master Kohno, Yoshikatsu, Advisor to Kempo-Jutsu. Master Kohno trained under the legendary Master Wang Shu Jin, and Master Wang lived with Master Kohno when he was younger. Master Kohno shared some photos from his personal collection for this article.
Master Wang Shu Jin (now deceased) was
the first person to transmit orthodox Chinese martial
arts in Japan and his accomplishments in the spread of
these arts in Japan deserve special mention. According
to the school entrance information which Master Wang
himself wrote, he learned Hsing I Chuan and Ba Gua
Zhang at a young age from Zhang Zhan Kui. He learned
Hsing-I Chuan and Bagua Zhang from his teacher friends
and Li Cun Yi and Xiao Hai Po. (Photo of Master Wang
Shu Jin on the left)
When Zhang Zhan Kui died, Wang Su Jin went on to learn Great Achievement post standing from Wang Xian Zhai and after which he crossed over to Taiwan with the Nationalist Party and he met Chen Pan-Ling who was also studying Hsing I under Li Cun Yi (in the photo above).
Chen Pan-Ling had been Vice-president of the Central National Martial Arts Center in Nanjing and was a leading figure in the Nationalist Party. He is said to have known a great deal about different kinds of Martial Arts (Including Tai Chi) and had published numerous books. Chen and Master Wang worked hard by competing with each other. They created original Tai Chi. Wang Shu Jin was the third-highest figure in a Taoist Sect called the Constant Path(Yi Guan Dao), this religion forbade him from eating meat or fish. Hsing I Chuan, was created by Ji Long Feng. He is said to have met a hermit on Zhong Nan Mountain and from this hermit he received martial teachings,which over the years he perfected.
According to what I heard from my
teacher Master Wang, as a young man Master Wang went
to an aging Zhang Zhan Kui, who said to him and Hsing
I Chuan takes 5 years to learn thoroughly. I have
grown old and am weaker than I used to be. I can
probably teach for another 5 years, but beyond that I
do not t know. You shall be my last student. With
this, he closed his doors and Master Wang becoming his
last student. After Zhang Zhan Kui died and Master
Wang learned Great Achievement Boxing from Wang Xian
Zhai.( Black and White Photo of Master Wang Shu Jin on
the left)
I studied under Master Wang for six
years after he came to Japan in 1976. My teacher
(Master Wang Shu Jin) appointed me as Fourth
Generation (Inheritor) of Bagua under ceremony, when I
was 18 years old. (The photo on the left shows Master
Wang Shu Jin with a young Kohno, Yoshikatsu, soon to
be the next inheritor of Master Wang) During this time
my teacher lived in my house in Harajuku, Tokyo and my
mother cooking his vegetarian meals. At this time I
was studying kata in my garden in the morning and in
early in the evening. I heard many explanations in
relation to the Bunkai of Kempojutsu other times. In
respect of direction I received the real feeling of
his technique. I had great damage. And it was heavy
training (very hard training) however the training was
a good experience for me.
Note: While talking about the Bunkai of Kempo Jutsu I believe Kohno Sensei is referring to the hard style of Kempo Jutsu and the Jissen, or street-wise self defense techniques of Kempo Jutsu. In the later years, when he first met Professor Kimo, Kohno Sensei could see the relationship between his hard training and the hard training of Kempo Jutsu. Below is how Kohno Sensei describes his art and Kempo Jutsu.
"Since Professor Ferreira say I am devastator. I feel it is over praise"
This is the end of the article written by Master Kohno, Yoshikatsu. The photo on the left is of Master Kohno, Yoshikatsu today.
Here is some information that Kohno Sensei had sent me about Master Wang Shu Jin that was not included in the article Master Kohno wrote.
I would like to notify that 1 Name of style of Master Wang Shu Jin is Bagua Zhang ,Xing Yi Quan, and Tai Qi quan.( three method of Nei Jia Quan ( Internal boxing). When I was 18 years old, I lived with him about 6 years as an apprentice. Master Wang Shu Jin, fought with Joe Louis and Jack Dempsey. Theory of Bagua Zhang is Yi/Jing. This method is no punch and employs only palms. I hit the middle of the eyebrows by palm and I scratch face and I pull ears.
