SHIHAN JAMES CALDWELL
Biography
7742 Greenleaf Dr.,
La Vista, NE 68128
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Practice Location:
731 N. Frontier Dr., Papillion, NE 68046
402.339.0667
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James Alton Caldwell was born at the William Beaumont hospital, Fort Bliss; El Paso, Texas on 20 January 1952 while his father was stationed at Ft. Bliss with the U.S. Army. Shortly after his father was released from the army and returned to his home in San Angelo, Texas where the young Jim Caldwell was raised. There was a limit of available activities to participate except for the usual and traditional activities, baseball, football, basketball, and band. Sensei Caldwell's father worked for the post office but had a passion for music in that he had played in the band in school and had spent time with the 65th U.S. National Guard Army Band. This was almost a predestiny for the young Jim to follow in his father�s footsteps in some form of music. The church the Caldwell family belonged to was Southern Baptist and had a good music program for all ages. Jim was signed up in the youth choir as start in his music training at the age of five years of age. When the young Caldwell was old enough which was age eleven in seventh grade he enrolled in junior high band starting on the clarinet. In the eighth grade he changed instruments to the bass clarinet which he stayed with all the way through college. While in college, at Angelo State University (ASU), Jim earned a place in the First College All State Band in the State of Texas.
As far back as junior high school Jim Caldwell remembered having an interest in the martial arts. He always had a fascination with karate and Japan and had a strong desire to go there. It was not until He joined the U.S.Navy in 1970 that this became possible. After his stint with navy he entered college at ASU graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Drama and German language in 1977. To supplement his income while attending college sensei Caldwell taught karate-do at the university he attended. While in college He enrolled in the U.S.Air Force R.O.T.C., receiving a commission upon graduation. Lieutenant Caldwell went on to serve in the air force on active duty until 1990 when he was discharged as a Captain where he subsequently entered into the Air Force Reserves and was called back to active duty during Operation Desert Storm. During Operation Desert Storm Captain Caldwell's responsibility was battle damage assessment. He finally retired as a Major 25 May 1997.
Shihan James A. Caldwell started his study of karate-do in Sasebo, Japan in the style Shorin Ryu under tutelage of Yoriyuki Yasuzato (Japanese for Azato) in 1971 while stationed in the U.S.Navy. Yasuzato sensei was the grandson of the great Okinawan Karate teacher Anko Azato. After studying the Shorin Ryu curriculum to Sho Dan (1st degree) he resigned from Shorin Ryu to start his study of So Ryu Karate-Do under the So Ryu Founder, Michio Koyasu. Soke Koyasu was a student of Dai Shihan Kanken Toyama, founder of Shu Do Kan Ryu Karate-Do. Later in Shihan Caldwell's career, because there was no governing organization for Soryu Karate-Do in the US., Soke Koyasu granted Sensei Caldwell permission to establish the foundation for the All Japan Soryu Karate-Do Federation, U.S.A. around 1987. Soke Koyasu felt, along with Sensei Caldwell, that establishing a U.S. organization would help standardize the Soryu Karate-Do curriculum world wide and provide a positive direction for all U.S. Soryu
Karate-Do practitioners as well as diversify its leadership. Sensei Caldwell earned his Go Dan (5th degree) with his Shihan instructor degree on 11 February 1990. He received a special name, Tatsuo Koyasu (Tatsuo meaning Dragon person). In the name Tatsuo, Soke Koyasu used the "o" character from Michio. It is considered a great honor in Japanese culture when a person bestows a portion of his name to another. It is a sign of great devotion and closeness. As a requirement for his Go Dan Sensei Caldwell created a kata named Shin Ryu No Kata (meaning Dragon Spirit Kata). Assigning a name and the kata creation requirement were originally from the Toyama/Shu Do Kan Ryu tradition. Soke Michio Koyasu appointed Shihan Caldwell as the chairman of the All Japan Soryu Karate-Do Federation, U.S.A., 10 September 1991. At the same time he declared Shin Ryu Kan, Shihan Caldwell's school, as the U.S. headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. Shihan Caldwell received his Roku Dan (6th degree) 12 March 1992. Nana Dan (7th degree) was achieved 15 March 1995. Finally, Soke Koyasu awarded Shihan Caldwell with Shihankan (Grand Master Instructor) 25 June 1996. The International Shudokan Association recognizing Shihan Caldwell�s hard work in getting proper recognition for both Kanken Toyama and Michio Koyasu promoted him to Hachi Dan (8th Degree) and issued a proficiency title of Kyoshi on 18 January 2003.
Shihan Caldwell had received elementary training and exposure to Okinawa Kobu-Do in both Sho Rin Ryu and Soryu Karate-Do. Both of these styles had limited training available in Okinawa Kobu-Do. They both focused on the Roku Shaku Bo and the Sai. Primarily, they only taught kata. Shihan Caldwell always felt there was more to Okinawa Kobu-Do than what he had been exposed to. In 1982, Shihan Caldwell was assigned to Offutt AFB, Nebraska while in the U.S. Air Force. While in Omaha, Shihan Caldwell came across Shihan Mikio Nishiuchi. Shihan Nishiuchi presented his Okinawa Kobudo as a separate martial art, which went far beyond doing just kata. It included kihon, kata,
and kumite as well as bunkai for the kata. Thirteen weapons were studied in the curriculum. Shihan Nishiuchi was a part of and associated with the All Okinawa Kobu-Do Association founded and headed by Shimpo Matayoshi. Shihan Caldwell contacted Soke Michio Koyasu and requested permission to study this kobu-do as opposed to the So Ryu Karate-Do version. Soke Koyasu was excited that Shihan Caldwell had found such an organization in the U.S. fully endorsing and stating that the All Okinawa Kobu-Do Association far exceeded anything that Soryu Karate-Do had to offer. Being enthralled with finding this association and Soke Koyasu's endorsement, Shihan Caldwell began his study of Okinawa Kobudo with Shihan Nishiuchi 16 July 1984. Shihan Caldwell was promoted to sho dan (1st degree) in Okinawa Kobu-Do 6 January 1988. Shihan Caldwell was finally promoted to Go Dan (5th degree) 13 June 1995. Shihan Nishiuchi recognized Sensei Caldwell's long dedication by promoting him to Shihan, Instructor degree, in kobu-do 12 October 1996 being the third person in the International Kobu-Do Association to receive the Shihan title. Shihan Caldwell became a charter member of the original organization in 1984 and when Shihan Nishiuchi founded the International Okinawa Kobu-Do Association in 1990 he became a founding charter member.
Shihan Caldwell initially received Jujutsu training with Yoriyuki Yazusato in his Shobukan dojo in Sasebo, Japan. This was in conjunction with his karate-do and kobu-do training. Sensei Yasuzato nage waza (throws, sweeps and takedowns) more in line with the Kito Ryu system of Jujutsu. When Sensei Caldwell changed styles and schools from Sensei Yasuzato to Sensei Michio Koyasu (Kiro Nagayama) at the Soryukan dojo in Sasebo, Japan he continued his Jujutsu training in the Nagayama family�s Bai Shin Ryu Jujutsu. Bai Shin Ryu Jujutsu emphasizes kansetsu waza (joint technique) and is circular and flowing. It is an Aikijutsu based system.
Shihan Caldwell was promoted to Go Dan (5 Degree) with a Shihan instructor degree 11 February 1990. Hanshi George Anderson issued a rank homologation from the Kwan Mu Kan International. With Soke Koyasu�s blessing and because of a strong friendship with Hanshi Anderson Shihan Caldwell aligned his Bai Shin Ryu Jujutsu system with Hanshi George Anderson and the Kwan Mu Kan International Association 20 March 1992. Shihan Caldwell was promoted to Roku Dan (6th Degree) on 20 March 1992 and was recognized with a Renshi proficiency title 10 July 1992. Shihan Caldwell was next promoted to Nana Dan (7th Degree) on 16 July 1995. He was recognized with a Kyoshi proficiency title 10 January 2000. On 18 March 2000 Shihan Caldwell was promoted to Hachi Dan (8th Degree)