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Professor Joe Souza began
his martial arts studies in 1957 under the late Professor
John Cahill. After his death in 1962, he assisted Professor
Willy Cahill with the opening of the Cahill Judo Academy
in San Bruno California where it still flourishes today
as one of the most prominent Judo and Jujitsu Schools in
the country.
In 1959 Professor Wally
Jay introduced the Cahill Judo Academy to Olympic style
judo competition where we became members of the Hoka Yudansha-Kai
or Northern California Judo Association. Professor
Souza competed for 12 years as an aggressive competitor
in Northern California. He received his Shodan from
the Kodokan in 1964.
In the early days we were
members of the AJJF and later became active with the AJI
of Hawaii. Professor Souza received his Nidan in 1967
and Sandan in 1969 from Professor Sam Luke Sr. The AJI was
trying to reunite the mainland and Hawaii based association
and Professor Luke was the person challenged with this task.
Due to Professor John
Cahill passing away at such a young age he had made a special
request to his first black belt Professor Bill Montero.
He asked Professor Montero to take his senior students and
complete the Danzan Ryu system by holding an Okugi. At this
request several of us traveled to his dojo in San Jose every
Saturday for 3 months to learn Shinyo, Shin Gin and Seifukujutsu
along with Kapo and Katsu. Those who attended the
1963 Okugi were Willy Cahill, Fred Cahill, Francis Cahill,
Mike Warren, Meg Warren, Clearance "Blackie" Hin and Joe
Souza. Although there were no certificates presented
there indeed was a 1963 Okugi.
Professor Souza opened
his first dojo in 1964 at the Highland recreation Center
in Sam Mateo Ca. In 1965 he began teaching classes
for the Pacifica Recreation Department at Oceana and Terra
Nova High Schools as well. The recreation department
did not support the judo program as promised so Professor
Souza along with two of his black belts, Jim Powers and
John Antenesia opened Coastside Judo and Jujitsu in Pacifica
Ca. where it continued for 12 years.
After some surgery Professor
Souza decided to venture out and continue his martial arts
training so he began studding Ed Parkers Kenpo Karate from
Vinton Koklich. He received his black from Professor
Koklick in 1997. The addition of Kenpo Karate to his Judo
and Jujitsu completed the circle of three disciplines and
inspired him to incorporate them into what he calls Kensujitsu.
The Ken represents Kenpo Karate; the Ju represents Judo
and Jujitsu and the Su represents Souza the founder.
The foundation of Kensujitsu is Danzan Ryu Jujitsu
with a Small Circle Jujitsu influence. Kensujitsu
brings the full understanding of balance from Judo, the
high pain compliance, joint manipulation and transitional
flow from Jujitsu along with the principles and concepts
of American Kenpo Karate to deliver maximum power and efficient
use of energy.
Professor Souza is the
founder of Kensujitsu and has been given the title of Sr.
Grand Master of Kensujitsu and the rank of Judan 10th Degree
from Professor Willy Cahill and Professor Wally Jay.
He holds the rank of Shichidan 7th Degree in Jujitsu with
Jujitsu America, Sandan 3rd Degree in Judo with the USJA
as well as Shodan 1st Degree in American Kenpo Karate.
He was inducted into the Jujitsu America Hall of Fame in
1999, instructor of the year in 2001 and serves as first
VP on the board of Jujitsu America, a member of the standards
board as well as the Council of Professors. Professor
Souza is cofounder and Sr. Grand Master for the Professional
Martial Arts Alliance (P.M.A.A.).
Professor Souza can be
contacted via email at joenat@sbcglobal.net
or by phone at (209) 664-1949.
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