
Soke Ruiz 1972-73 Black Green Gi – Photo Courtesy of Hanshi Ricky Adams

From the Seishin Kai Days – circa 1973

Richard Baillargeon, Shogo Kuniba and Joseph Ruiz circa 1972-73 in Valdosta, GA.

Soke Ruiz from circa 72-73

Seishin Kai Group Leadership Photo Early 70’s Summer Camp – Photo Courtesy of Judy Kuniba

Shogo Kuniba and Soke Joseph Ruiz – Mawashi Geri – SKKU Camp 1974

Shogo Kuniba and Soke Joseph Ruiz – 1974

SKKU Summer Camp Small Group Photo with Soke Joseph Ruiz – 1974

Newspaper Article from circa 1975. Shared via Charles Stanley.

1976 NJKU Clinic featuring Soke Joe Ruiz

Soke Ruiz at Six Flags over GA 1975

Shihan Joseph Ruiz from a NKJU News Bulletin 1979

Zen ShotoKai Logo – Soke Joseph Ruiz 4th Dan days. Shared via Kaicho Ricky Adams of the TKA.

Bo Ni. Shared via Kaicho Ricky Adams of the TKA.

5th Dan White Gi. Shared via Kaicho Ricky Adams of the TKA.

Thomas Bentley, Richard Baillargeon and Soke Joseph Ruiz. Shared via Kaicho Ricky Adams of the TKA. Shared via Kaicho Ricky Adams of the TKA.

5th Dan Black Gi. Shared via Kaicho Ricky Adams of the TKA.

Oil Painting – Now resides in the Tora Shin Dojo


Soke Joseph Ruiz from the 5th Dan days – Crane pose with Kamas. Shared via Kaicho Ricky Adams of the TKA.

Director Bio from the Early 80’s NKJU Yearbook

Soke Joseph Ruiz accepting his 6th Dan from Shogo Kuniba

Soke Joseph Ruiz, Shogo Kuniba and Hanshi Tola Lewis

Hanshi Tola Lewis, Soke Richard Baillaregeon, and Soke Joseph Ruiz

Baillargeon and Ruiz of the NKJU

Bio from Out Of Print Taikyoku 7-10 Book

Out of Print Taikyoku 7-10 Book

Zenkoku Koga-Ryu Kobudo Reimei – Bo Manual by Soke Joseph Ruiz

Zenkoku Koga-Ryu Kobudo Reimei – Tonfa Manual by Soke Joseph Ruiz. Shared via Kaicho Ricky Adams of the TKA.

Zenkoku Koga-Ryu Kobudo Reimei – Nunchaku Manual by Soke Joseph Ruiz. Shared via Kaicho Ricky Adams of the TKA.

Zenkoku Koga-Ryu Kobudo Reimei – Sai Manual by Soke Joseph Ruiz. Shared via Kaicho Ricky Adams of the TKA.

Zenkoku Koga-Ryu Kobudo Reimei – Kama Manual by Soke Joseph Ruiz. Shared via Kaicho Ricky Adams of the TKA.

Soke Richard P. Baillargeon and Soke Joseph Ruiz from 1980

Soke Richard P. Baillargeon and Soke Joseph Ruiz from 1980

Soke Joseph Ruiz Drawing by Steven Johnson

Nippon Katsu-Ryu Kempo Reimei – Instructors Guide

Nippon Katsu Ryu Federation Patch

Soke David Cook and Soke Joseph Ruiz. Shared via Soke David Cook of the Tsu Shin Gen.

Nippon Katsu-Ryu Kempo Logo from 1980

Katsu-Ryu Kempo Diagram from the early 1980’s depicting the 12 Animal Forms

Welcome To My Dojo

Soke Joseph Ruiz in the Squad Car

Soke Ruiz Teaching Katsu-Ryu Kempo 1

Soke Ruiz Teaching Katsu-Ryu Kempo 3

Soke Joseph Ruiz performing a Ki Break

Soke Ruiz Teaching Katsu-Ryu Kempo 2

Neck Break



Does This Hurt?

Nippon Katsu Ryu Kempo Reimei






Kobudo Demonstration

Reinforcing the Line


Effort Kanji by Soke Joseph Ruiz – NKJU

Soke Joseph Ruiz with Kyoshi Richy Huneycutt

Zenkoku Koga Ryu Reimei Logo

ZENKOKU KOGA RYU KOBUDO Logo

Back: L-R Sensei Azem, Wehrhon, Baillargeon, Ruiz, Stroud Front: L-R Sensei Lewis, Knoblock, Casey, Kelley, Semmes, Tran Circa: 1981-ish

Soke Joseph Ruiz at the 1983 NKJU Camp – Back: L-R Sensei Azem, Wehrhon, Soke Richard Baillargeon, Joseph Ruiz, Doc Stroud

1980 NKJU Impressive Line-Up with Richard Baillargeon, Shogo Kuniba and Soke Joseph Ruiz




L-R: The now Hanshi Tom Bentley, the late Soke Richard Baillargeon, and the now Soke Joe Ruiz (early 80’s). Photo from Hanshi Tola E. Lewis, Jr.


Early 80’s lineup – Soke Ruiz, Soke Richard Baillargeon, Sensei Werhahn, Doc Stroud

Saiko Shihan Joseph Ruiz

Vintage IKKU Patch – circa 1989

Soke Ruiz and Bulldog Kelley after promotions in Orlando, FL late 80’s.

IKKU Honbu Dojo Patch from the late 80’s

IKKU Sr Dans Mid 80’s – Back – Richard “Bulldog” Kelley, Soke Ruiz, Renshi Sensei Ron Queen. Hanshi Ron Downton shown in seiza.

Vintage IKKU Passport

IKKU Student Manual circa 1989

Katsu-Ryu Kempo Demonstration 1 circa 1989

Katsu-Ryu Kempo Demonstration 2 circa 1989

Katsu-Ryu Kempo Demonstration circa 1989 – Praying Mantis

Katsu-Ryu Kempo Demonstration 3 circa 1989

IKKU Katsu-Ryu Kempo Manual

Katsu-Ryu Kempo Late 80’s Early 90’s

Vintage IKKU Seminar Flyer 8/18/90

Soke Joseph Ruiz presenting Soke Said Cook a new Menjo on Promotion Day. Shared via Soke David Cook of the Tsu Shin Gen.

Soke Ruiz Seminar Flyer

IKKU Kotosu-Ha Shito-Ryu Video Tape from 1993


IKKU Kotosu-Ha Shito-Ryu Patch


Soke Ruiz and Hanshi Dave Domer

IKKU Executive Leadership Early 2000’s

IKKU Kotosu-Ha Shito-Ryu Head Instructors Manual

Iaido Lineup at Clinic

Soke Cook and Soke Ruiz. Shared via Soke David Cook of the Tsu Shin Gen.

Soke Joseph Ruiz and Kyoshi-Sei Larry Griffin at a World Head of Sokeship Council Event

Teaching Bo in 2012 / 7-21-12

Soke Joseph Ruiz working Eaku at IKKU Winter Camp

Soke Ruiz Teaching Katsu-Ryu Kempo

Line-Up during Summer Camp

Soke Joseph Ruiz leading a small group in Ten Sho Kata

Soke Teaching Superenmpai Kata



Line Up at the 2015 IKKU Summer Camp

Soke’s Rickshaw

Soke in Transit during Summer Camp

Soke’s Bokken

Soke Joseph Ruiz Autographed Gi

Soke Ruiz Teaching at the 2015 Iaido Clinic

IKKU Obi / Gi Patch

Bowing In at the 2016 IKKU Kobudo Clinic

IKKU Fighting Breast Cancer

Hanshi Lenny Jordan, Soke Joseph Ruiz and Kyoshi-Sei Larry Griffin

Soke Ruiz at a TKA Event in Florida 2017

Soke Ruiz after the 2017 IKKU Christmas Clinic at Suansu Karate Kai

2018 Ruiz teaching Niseishi Bunkai