The current Chairman and So-Shihan of the Kokusai Nippon Budo Kai is Carl E. Long. He is responsible for the instruction and certification of KNBK Instructors and Dojo throughout the North America, Central America and South America, Africa, Asia, Australia and Europe.
Carl Long’s interest in Martial arts began as a teenager, when he studied Judo, Karate-do, Okinawa Kobudo weapons and other traditional Japanese martial arts. He achieved dan ranking in several of these arts before focusing his attention predominantly on Iaido (or Iaijutsu), the art of Samurai swordsmanship.His interest in martial arts began early and he began his karate training in 1968. He has since achieved dan ranks in Shorin Ryu Karate, Shito Ryu Karate, Okinawa Kobudo, Aikido, Shindo Muso Ryu Jojutsu and Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaijutsu. Long Shihan is the senior-most student of Shimabukuro Masayuki Hanshi, his highest ranked student and appointed as the KNBK designated successor by Hanshi Shimabukuro.
Hanshi Long has been unanimously confirmed as the rightful heir of this MJER line of succession by the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai Kenshoin Budo committee, the DNBK Board of Directors and DNBK Sosai – Prince Higashi Fushimi Jiko of Kyoto Japan.
Carl Long is presently ranked 8th dan Shorin Ryu Karate, 8th dan Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaijutsu, 8th dan DNBK Iaido, 6th dan Shito Ryu Karate, 5th dan Okinawa Kobudo, 7th dan DNBK Jojutsu.
Summary Timeline of Achievements and Rankings
1968- Begins training in Japanese Karate
1978- Receives Instructor License, Shobayashi Shorin Ryu Karate
1986- Receives Aikido dan certification
1989- Establishes Sakura Budokan, Kingston PA.
1992- Receives Okinawa Kobudo 5th dan, Okinawa Budo Renmei
1992- Appointed USA Director for Okinawa Budo Renmei
1993- Receives Shobayashi Shorin Ryu Karate 6th dan
1995- Appointed Eastern USA Representative Jikishin-Kai Intl.
1997- Appointed Eastern USA Hombu-Cho Jikishin-Kai Intl.
2000- Receives Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaijutsu 5th dan
2003- Receives Shobayashi Shorin Ryu Karate-Do 7th dan
2003- Receives Shito Ryu Karate-Do 6th dan, Shihan
2004- Receives Shindo Muso Ryu Jojutsu 4th dan
2004- Receives Dai Nippon Butoku-Kai Shorei Sho Award
2004- Receives Dai Nippon Butoku-Kai 6th dan Iaido
2004- Receives Dai Nippon Butoku Kai Iaido Renshi title
2004- Receives Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaijutsu 6th dan
2004- Receives Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaijutsu Renshi title
2006- Appointed Vice Chairman Jikishin-Kai Intl.
2006 – Belgium – Receives Dai Nippon Butoku Kai Yushu Sho Award
2006 – Canada – Receives Dai Nippon Butoku Kai Yushu Sho Award
2007 – Receives Shobayashi Shorin Ryu Karate 8th dan
2007 – Appointed Vice Chairman of Kokusai Nippon Budo Kai
2008 – Japan – 3rd WBS – Receives Overall Individual Yushu Sho from Prince Higashi Fushimi
2008 – Japan – 3rd WBS – Receives Overall Team Yushu Sho from Prince Higashi Fushimi
2008 – Appointed Kenshoin, International Coordinator of Iaido for DNBK
2009 – Greece – Receives Dai Nippon Butoku Kai Yushu Sho Award
2009 – Receives Dai Nippon Butoku Kai 7th dan Iaido
2009 – Receives Dai Nippon Butoku Kai Kyoshi title
2009 – Receives Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Kyoshi title.
2010 – Receives Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaijutsu 7th dan
2010 – Receives Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo 5th dan
2012 – Japan – 4th WBS – Receives Overall Individual Yushu Sho from Prince Higashi Fushimi
2012 – Japan – 4th WBS – Receives Overall Team Yushu Sho from Prince Higashi Fushimi
*2012 – August 15th, Designated successor, So-Shihan and chairman of the Kokusai Nippon Budo Kai by Hanshi Masayuki Shimabukuro
2013 – Receives Dai Nippon Butoku Kai Shihan rank/title
2013 – Receives Dai Nippon Butoku Kai Hanshi-Ho designation
2014 – Japan – Receives DNBK Iaido 8th dan
2014 – Japan – Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu, 8th Dan
2015 – Receives Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu, Hanshi
2015 – Receives DNBK Iaido Hanshi
2016 – Japan – 5th WBS – Receives Overall Team Yushu Sho
2017 – Receives from DNBK – Jojutsu 7th dan
2017 – Receives from DNBK – Jojutsu Kyoshi
*MJER Legacy confirmed and recognized by Dai Nippon Butoku Kai Honbu, Kyoto Japan on June 29, 2014.
(*Seito Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iai Heiho Keizu)
Staff Columnist for Black Belt Magazines “Cutting Edge”
Author – “Samurai Swordsmanship:The Batto, Kenjutsu and Tameshigiri of Eishin Ryu”
