Carl E. Long, Hanshi

Carl E. Long KNBK 22nd SoShihan

Carl E. Long, KNBK 22nd SoShihan

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 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

2016 – Japan – Receives ‘Kokusai Butoku Sho (Intl. Martial Virtues Award)’  from Prince Higashi FushimiA

2016 – Japan – Appointed DNBK USA Representative

2017 – Receives DNBK Jojutsu 7th dan

2017 – Receives DNBK Jojutsu Kyoshi

2018 – Japan – Appointed DNBK USA Shibu Representative

*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)

Past Columnist for Black Belt Magazines “Cutting Edge”
Author – “Samurai Swordsmanship:The Batto, Kenjutsu and Tameshigiri of Eishin Ryu”