Issue #2 Meeting Mitose

The Teacher That Wasn't Dead

To the reader: What I am about to share with you is more than history. It is the beginning of a journey that changed everything I thought I knew about the martial arts. I ask that you read this not just with your eyes, but with your heart. Feel what I am telling you. If you cannot do that, then these words will mean nothing.

The Discovery

When I first met James Mitose, I had a student named George Santana. I was teaching in Sacramento, and we were discussing history. I had this book called "Karate's History and Traditions" by Bruce Haines, and I explained to George that this is where Kenpo came from. I showed him a picture of James Mitose. George asked me, "What happened to him?"

I said, "Well, he's dead."

George replied, "I don't think he's dead, sir. Look at me. I see him every week."

What? Where is he?

This student of mine happened to be a prison guard at Folsom Prison. My first thought was that Mitose was right here in the Sacramento area. All this time.

So I made contact with James Mitose through letter, saying that I wanted to visit because I wanted to learn things about Kempo that I never knew. I received a letter back from him saying he would see me. That is how it started.