About Busho Kai USA Martial Arts & Fitness
The Founder
Hanshi Ivan Lewis is the founder of Busho Kai Martial Arts & Fitness. He is one of the most respected martial arts instructors in the United States with over 43 years experience and a former Kumite and Kata Grand Champion. Hanshi Lewis is presently an 8th Dan black belt and certified Master Instructor in Shito-Ryu. He also holds a black belt in Goju-Ryu, Shotokan and JuJitsu.
Hanshi Lewis began his martial arts training in the U.S. Virgin Islands under the direction of Grandmaster Frank Ruiz, the founder of the Nisei Goju-Ryu Karate System. He later moved to New York City to instruct classes at the Nisei Goju-Ryu Headquarters. Hanshi Lewis received his 6th degree black belt in 1995 and this is the same year his instructor, Master Frank Ruiz passed away. In 1997 Hanshi Ivan Lewis turned to Hanshi Del Saito, a Shito-Ryu Master and Director of the Traditional Karate-Do Organization for instruction. His other instructors include Sensei Toyatoro Miyazaki and Hanshi Wilfredo Roldan.
History of Shito-Ryu
Shito-Ryu, along with Goju-Ryu, Wado-Ryu and Shotokan, is one of the major karate systems of Japan (the Japanese islands excluding Okinawa). It was founded by Kenwa Mabuni (1889-1952), who, like most of karates old masters, was descended from Okinawas so-called warrior (bushi) class or aristocracy. Members of his family served Okinawan lords for hundreds of years. Mabuni started karate training at the age of 13 under Anko Itosu (1830-1915), the man who organized early karate in the Okinawan school system. Itosu was a student of one of Okinawas most famous karate masters, Sokon Matsumura (1792-1887), the forefather of Shorin-Ryu. Itosu took a strong liking to his young pupil and Mabuni learned some 23 kata before the elder man died. Itosu death so grieved Mabuni that he built a shrine in front of the masters grave and stayed close by for a year, practicing his kata daily.
