Carl E. Long 22nd SoShihan MJER (1956 – )
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.
He achieved high dan ranking in several of Okinawan and Japanese gendai arts since 1968.
In 1993 he began focusing his attention predominantly on Iaido (or Iaijutsu), the art of samurai swordsmanship. He began his primary sword study under the tutelage of Miura Takeyuki Hidefusa and Shimabukuro Masayuki Hidenobu.
His interest in martial arts began as a child. His first introduction to martial arts started with karate training in 1968. Since then he has attained dan ranks in Shorin Ryu Karate, Shito Ryu Karate, Okinawa Kobudo, Aikido, Shindo Muso Ryu Jojutsu and Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaijutsu. Carl E. Long Hanshi was/is the senior-most student of Shimabukuro Masayuki Hanshi. He is Shimabukuro’s highest ranked disciple in Karate, Iaido, Jodo and was appointed as the designated successor by Hanshi Shimabukuro in 2012 prior to his death.
Hanshi Long has been unanimously confirmed as the rightful 22nd heir of the Oe-Masaoka-Narise-Miura-Shimabukuro 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 E. Long is presently ranked:
8th dan Shorin Ryu Karate,
8th dan Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaijutsu,
8th dan DNBK Iaido,
8th dan Nihon Kobudo,
6th dan Shito Ryu Karate,
5th dan Okinawa Kobudo,
7th dan Jojutsu.
He has received following Shogo Titles from the Dai Nihon Butoku Kai Hombu Board of Directors, Kyoto Japan:
Iaido – Hanshi ??
Nihon Kobudo – Hanshi ??
Jojutsu – Kyoshi ??
MJER Iaido – S? Shihan ???
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 – Appointed DNBK USA Representative
2017 – Receives DNBK Jojutsu 7th dan
2017 – Receives DNBK Jojutsu Kyoshi
2018 – Japan – Appointed DNBK USA Shibu Representative
2023 – Japan – Receives DNBK Nihon Kobudo 8th dan
2023 – Japan – Receives DNBK Nihon Kobudo Hanshi
2023 – Japan – Receives Governors Award of Kyoto Prefecture
2025 – Japan – Receives Kyoto Shinbun Award
2025 – Japan – Recieves ??? Title MJER Iaido, Nihon Kobudo
*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”
