History and Our Story

Koga Ha Kosho Shorei Ryu is a very old martial art system that traces its beginnings to a Buddhist monk called Bohidharma, or Daruma (Tao Mo). This Buddhist monk (28th Patriarch) trained monks in the True Self Defense at the Shaolin Temple in China. In Japan, the art of Shaolin Chuan Fa was translated to Shorin Kempo. Shorin is Japanese for Shaolin and the Koshoji monks of Japan combined the Shaolin Chuan Fa system from China with the Japanese martial arts system of Jiujitsu.

Fifteen hundred years ago, a Mitose (Shinto Priest) who had studied, taught, and mastered many sciences and different martial art systems, established a school, and called his style the "Mitose System".

In the 13th century, a descendant of Grand Master Mitose changed his religion to Buddhism and for many seasons prayed and meditated under an old pine tree. It is said that a "system" of escaping from attackers with no body contact was revealed to him. This Buddhist/Shinto system became the Koga Ha Shorei Ryu Kempo Dance/Escaping Arts, and was taught to the priest/monks in the Kosho Temple, training them in medicine, mathematics, ethics, and health.

There are eight forms/systems in the Koga Ha Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo system: 

-Push/Pull
-Kempo Arts
-Japanese Yoga
-Nutrition/Healing Arts
-Meditation
-Energy Collection
-Philosophy
-Temple Dance/Escaping Arts

The highest form of the Mitose family's system is the Temple Dance/Escaping Arts, because it encompasses all the forms. This true self defense Temple Dance/Escaping Art system has been passed down from father to son and Grand Master to Grand Master through 21 descendants. These systems, in conjunction with the Coat of Arms and Motto have been passed down and taught to the Honorable Head Master, Menkyo Hanshi Nimr R. Hassan, by the Great Grand Master James M. Mitose, 21st descendant of the system.

Nothing Added, Nothing Taken Away

Enter the Canadian Mountain Division

In the early 1990’s, a self defense practitioner and martial artist by the name of William Daniel Megill who was currently already a 3th Dan in various Kempo Jiujitsu Systems… was furthering his studies in true and pure Kempo. He sought out and contacted Hanshi Nimr R. Hassan and arranged a seminar at a local dojo in Whitby, Ontario. This was where Hanshi Nimr Hassan and some of his students came up to Canada for the first time to share the System. Upon meeting with Hanshi Hassan… Now Menkyo Renshi Dan Megill recognized immediately what he saw and began his studies under Hanshi Nimr Hassan and the Koga Ha Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo Systems. Menkyou Renshi Dan Megill from 1990 to 2010 taught multiple students and programs within the Ontario secondary school systems. In 2009, Menkyo Renshi Dan was granted his school charter for the Koga Ha Kosho Shorei Kempo System under the “Temple of Peace” Division.

As the system in Canada continued to grow under the tutelage of Hanshi Nimr Hassan… another Canadian and accomplished martial artist by the name of Richard Bear (now a Menkyo Renshi) became the first Sgt. At Arms under Hanshi Hassan to oversea the Ryu.

In 1996, a young man by the name of David Scarano in his early twenties, under the supervision of Menkyo Renshi Dan Megill and Menkyo Renshi Richard Bear, Sgt. At Arm’s began his studies with the Koga ha Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo Systems. Travelling from Canada to Philadelphia the Canadians continued to learn and grow the Ryu. In concert with Hanshi Nimr Hassan, Menkyo Dan Megill, Menkyo Richard Bear, Menkyo Connie Humphrey, Menkyo Mike Megill and Sempai (student) David Scarano helped to establish the Canadian Mountain Division in 2006.

In 2010, David Scarano received his full Menkyo Sensei Certificate and School Charter and is currently head of the Canadian Mountain Division.

In 2012 Menkyo Sensei David Scarano was nominated and awarded Self Defense Instructor of the Year by the World Head of Family Sokeship Council.

He continues to travel yearly with his students and currently studies directly under Hanshi Nimr Hassan as one of his Menkyo Sensei’s teaching the Mitose System and True Self Defense.




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Great Grand master James Masayoshi Mitose

Credited with introducing Kempo to Honolulu, Hawaii, North America in 1942

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Hanshi Nimr R. Hassan

In 1974, Menkyo Hanshi Hassan was issued a Master Instructor’s License and presented with the Mitose family crest by the Great Grand Master James Mitose. This honor bestowed upon Hassan allows him to teach the wondrous art of Koga Ha Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo. Hassan has maintained the complete art taught to him and teaches it under the full title of Koga Ha Kosho Shorei Ryu Kempo. This title reflects all three arts designated on the family crest.