Caldwell's Shin Ryu Kan Profile

Shin Ryu Kan (Dragon Spirit School) is the name of a martial arts training facility founded by Shihan James A. Caldwell (Tatsuo Koyasu) in January 1974. Shin Ryu Kan incorporates the teaching of Soryu Karate-Do, International Okinawa Kobu-Do Association (IOKA) Kobu-Do, Bai Shin Ryu/Kwan Mu Kan Jujutsu International. The Name Shin Ryu Kan was not used until January 1990 when Sensei Caldwell opened a new dojo in Nebraska and submitted his requirements for Go Dan and Shihan which was a kata and kumite pattern he created. The kata Sensei Caldwell created was named Shin Ryu No Kata (Dragon Spirit form) after the training facility in order to aid in justifying and identifying the facility. The kata demonstrated the philosophy taught at the school.

The use of the word ryu (dragon) was adopted because Shihan Caldwell was born in the year of the dragon. Sensei Caldwell has always had an affection towards the dragon and what it represents. The dragon is a mystical, aggressive and fearless creature. The fighting technique and philosophy of the Shin Ryu Kan try to imitate the qualities of the dragon. The word ryu was also used to pay tribute to Soryu Karate-Do headquarter dojo in Japan, Ken Ryu Kan (Dragon Fist School). The head sensei of that school, Shihan Yukihiro Ikeda (Michihiro Koyasu) was also born in the year of the dragon and started karate-do training about the same time as Sensei Caldwell.

The word shin (heart, mind or spirit) was used to represent the spirit and heart of the martial arts taught at the Shin Ryu Kan. The picture of blue green colored dragon was used to represent this spirit. The dragon is one of China's most complex and multi-tiered symbols that is revered in all of Asia. This dragon is considered as a good-natured and benign creature. It is a symbol of natural male vigor and fertility. This blue green dragon is one of four creatures of the world direction, which stands in the East, the region of the sunrise, of fertility and of rain.

The In Yo (Yin Yang) symbol was used to represent the balance that each and every martial artist must work and strive to build and maintain in training, technique and every other facet of life.

The Shin Ryu Kan symbol depicts a great and fierce dragon crawling on an In Yo symbol so as to symbolizes the spirit, vigor and vitality of the Shin Ryu Kan being brought into balance.