Tetsu Shin Ryu (Way of the Iron Spirit) Kempo, grew out of fighting arts first developed in the kingdom of Wei, which was located in what is now Honan Province of northern China.

It began sometime in the late 1300's when, it is said that, after the Manchu tribes of Mongolia overran most of China, a number of Warlords hiding from the Manchu armies took refuge in the temple. The monks were peaceful and offered no resistance to the warlords and the warlords caused no harm to the monks.

Sometime during this period the warlords began to teach a system of fighting to young men of the temple, based on the long staff and fist /foot techniques. The warlords also began to take up teachings of the peaceful monks and even their manner of dress. Whether this was because they were at first using this as a disguise or because they truly became to believe in the ways of the monks could only be conjecture at this stage, possibly some of both.

Dr. Albert C. Church

The monks traveled from one temple to another across China, and, according to some sources, so did the warlords-now an internal part of the group; the hands of both were held in a peaceful way-the open left hand covering the right fist. The warrior-monks were both to protect the peaceful monks from outlaws and to spread their teachings and knowledge of fighting techniques to others who wanted to resist and drive the Manchu from China. The traveling groups would often be attacked by bandits or Manchu warriors. When some of the monks began to fight with great ability, the word began to spread that all of these monks were fierce warriors.

This style, which is known by many names was first called Sau-Lin Szu Chin-Chen Chau-Fa (Young-Forest Temple Respectful-Fist Method). Around 1600 C.E. (Common Era) or A.D. (Anno Domini-in the year of our Lord) if you prefer. During the period of the Tang dynasty many peopled fled China including the Soji (heir) who took the system to Korea where it remained for many years and was enriched by Korean techniques of the period. During the mid 1800's the armies of Japan began to occupy Korea, bringing with them the arts of Jiu-Jitsu and Okinawa Te which further enriched the ancient style.

Dr. James Ronald Cherry

In 1956 the style moved from Korea to Japan where Kim C. Whang (in Japanese-Kin Chi Kooh), the family head (Soji) sought medical treatment which was not available in war-ravaged Korea. The style added additional Japanese techniques and continued to grow. In the Japanese language the style came to be Shorinji Tetsuken Ryu, which later became known as Kamishin Ryu. An already accomplished martial artist who was a fifth degree black belt, Dr. Albert C. Church Jr. (at the time an American serviceman serving in Japan) began to study under Soke Kooh. When his tour of duty was over in 1962, Dr. Church returned to his home in Charleston, SC.

In 1967, Master Kin Chi Kooh was dying. He called Dr. Church back to Japan where, along with the presentation of a 30 foot long scroll, Master Kooh passed the nearly 600 year old style on to Dr. Church. Dr. Church remained in Japan for two more years study before returning to the States.

In 1980 Dr. Church died at the young age of fifty. Without its leader, the system split leaving Dr. Ron Cherry to form the American Kempo-Karate Association under which Mr. Tommy Seigler continued his training. Mr. Seigler stayed in the organization until 1981 when he resigned and then formed the Tetsu Shin Ryu System (Way of the Iron Spirit) with the American Kempo Association as its Christian based governing body. He then opened a small school in Augusta, GA.

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