American Goshin Budo and Kobudo or AGK is a name given by the late Shogo Kuniba, Soke.  It includes a kata program for Goshin Budo, Okinawan Kobudo, and Mu Gai Ryu (Hyo Do) Iaido.  We also utilize the old Motobu ha Shitoh Ryu kata format.

     AGK promotes in four areas: Karate do, Goshin Budo, Japanese/Okinawan Kobudo, and Mu Gai Ryu Hyo do Iaido.  All have separate rank structures.  AGK has one of the largest weapons programs in the USA --all thanks to Shogo Kuniba, Soke.

   All AGK shihans, sensei, and students take great pride in preserving the teachings of the late Shogo Kuniba.  We all have accountability to each other to maintain and keep the highest training standards for all that are accepted into the AGK system.

Overview of Shogo Kuniba and AGK History

    Shogo Kuniba, Soke, from Osaka, Japan was with no doubt the greatest Motobu ha Shi toh ryu Master of modern times. His knowledge of Goshin Budo (Goshi as he used to call it), Iaido/jutsu, and Kobudo had bounds that exceeded the most legitimate martial artists. He was a Masters teacher. He had a lot of training ideas that were never fulfilled, mostly by financial short falls and no one interested in a new way to teach waza. This was especially true with him in the 70’s.

     In the early 70’s, even with his struggling language, he could relate with people he did not know, and use the martial arts to gain their friendship, even if they were not martial artists themselves.

     Contrary to popular belief, he had a mission that started earlier than the 70’s, that would launch him to be identified with a new type of martial art that would blend with his heritage Shi toh ryu. That would be his Goshindo. It’s too bad he did not live longer to revise more than the 5 kata. In the late 70’s he said Japan would never buy the longer version of Goshin Budo and the Kobudo kata structure. Most of the people that trained with him in the middle 80’s had no clue that there was an earlier set of Goshin Budo kata, nor did they know about a Kobudo kata structure.

     At one time it was thought that Kuniba, Soke changed a Japanese ryu called Hakko ryu to his Goshin Budo. Most people got the idea from a time when Seishin Kai and Hakko ryu operated out of the same headquarters. In the 60’s the organization was known as HMAF (Hakko ryu Martial Arts Federation). The Federation’s patch had both the Hakko ryu and Sei Shin Kai emblems.

     Another reason was Kuniba, Soke taught a parallel to the Hakko ryu waza early in the 70’s. Also the Aikido waza was used. His friend Shioda, Gioza (He referred to him as Shiodasan) was a big help to his arrangement of waza and especially the Te waza. He did not change Hakko ryu to Goshin Budo. The fact was, if you knew the basics of Hakko ryu or Aikido, at least through yon dan level, you had a guide for learning Goshi waza. This made the upper levels easier to learn and you always had a reference point for upper level learning. This made the bunkai levels of Shi toh ryu kata more practical and easier to understand. You learn kata 5 ways. They are, Giden, Chuden, Joden, Okuden, and Menkyo/Keiden. Luckily, in the 70’s, there was a large number of Black belt students that managed to keep and preserve most of the format, either by VHS, or collective notes, and still actively practice.

     Another waza training link in the goshi waza was the split hand. I coined the term, because I couldn’t get use to saying Hante waza (sometimes tehan). Soke told me that this was the beginning of the upper level waza and only certain high level individuals had them. I can only guess it came from Shioda Sensei. I compared it to the Hakko ryu (of which I have the waza format through Kaiden), and nowhere are these hand techniques found. I also checked with Roy Jerry Hobbs, Judan-Hanshi of the Sekai Dentokan Bugei Renmei, who trained in Japan and earned the rank of Shihan in Hakko Ryu and Kaiden in KoKoDo (Yasuhiro Irie's Hakko Ryu derivative). He confirmed that they are not there. He also does some of the split hand waza.

     To preserve that earlier format, Shogo Kuniba, Soke designed an organizational patch that says American Goshin Budo and Kobudo. The original idea of the gi patch came from setting the weapons on the floor and taking a picture of them standing in a chair. A copy of his sketching is still well guarded. He did the basics in his own handwriting, the order, and where they were applied. There was a set of waza and kata for each level through nana dan for the Goshin Budo and Kobudo. The Iaido/jutsu through Rokku dan, and designed a menjo in his own handwriting. Even my name was written in his own handwriting on the menjo. He also made a video specifying who would be the Kaicho of the Seishin Kai Goshin Budo and Kobudo, which later became American Goshin Budo & Kobudo Kai.

     Shogo Kuniba, Soke demonstrated the Motobu ha Shi toh ryu kata structure on video in ‘78 to have another reference to his teachings, and is taught under the organization American Goshin Budo & Kobudo. AGK did not copy the international kata structure after the change in Japan in ‘83/‘84. The Motobu ha karate structure is taught under the heading of AGK. Soke made the amendment to the menjo, but no where does it say Motobu ha, nor Kuniba ha. That was done in ‘82 via mail from Japan.

     In the near future, excerpts and clips of Kuniba, Soke’s teaching will be available to the general public. At present, only AGK people have access to his Goshin Budo & Kobudo kata. Some training requires an oath.

     No one really knows why Shogo Kuniba, Soke wanted a separate organization from Seishin Kai. Some say he knew what was coming in the future and wanted to give something to a certain group of people that truly loved his art. No one will ever be sure, but his teaching will always be preserved for other dedicated students.

     It is always interesting to hear what Kuniba, Soke left other ranking martial artists and their lineage with him. So far I have only found one other person that has a similar position and the paperwork that goes with it. And that was 14 years after the AGK was formed. Also, the Sunday before he died, he told me who would guide the Seishin Kai Martial Arts, and why. As I understand it, that gentleman has his own ryuha now.

     What ever anyone wants to believe about the legacy of Shogo Kuniba, Soke and what he did years ago is history. The difference is, we have the documentation, both for AGK and Seishin Kai Goshin Budo & Kobudo. Most importantly, AGK has the best training format for the Goshin Budo, Kobudo, and Iaido/jutsu. Since 1974, I have had some constant help keeping His teachings in order and preserved.

Upcoming DVD releases:

Ananku kata - Butch Velez and Robert.Hart

Yon dan kata Goshin Budo kata - Shogo Kuniba, Soke and Ken Jackson, Shihan

Unsu kata - Donna H. Velez and Shogo Kuniba, Soke

Kosoken Sho kata - Donna H Velez and Shogo Kuniba, Soke

Pinan Shodan kata and Bunkai - Butch Velez and Shogo Kuniba, Soke

Iaijutsu - Butch Velez and Shogo Kuniba, Soke 4 levels: shin, den sha, yu empty hand sawate, Iaihiza, and tachi and saya waza

Goshi ryu waza - Butch Velez and Ken Jackson Shodan level,Nidan, Sandan, and Yondan

Kosho dai Sai - Butch Velez and Andrea Velez

AGK members are discounted $25.00 each. Non members add 300%

Shihan Level (non member) Student price and Organization price - Starts at $1600.00.
A few sensei will never learn those basics at any cost.

    One small note, according to Shogo Kuniba, Soke, there will never be an American Soke of his style. Must be blood relative, and that is handed down through his family. Kaicho is the senior rank and only takes orders from a Soke. When the Soke dies, the Kaicho is not converted to Soke.

     Butch Velez
     Kaicho
     AGK