Happy 70th Karate Anniversary Soke!

And Happy Birthday Too!

A Legacy of Seven Decades: Celebrating Soke Joseph R. Ruiz

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

2025 commenrates a year in the world of martial arts honoring of a milestone few ever achieve—the 70th Karate Anniversary and Birthday Celebration of Soke Joseph R. Ruiz, 10th Dan and founder of the International Karate Kobudo Union (IKKU). For over seven decades, Soke Ruiz has carried the torch of traditional Okinawan and Japanese martial arts, preserving ancient teachings while forging new paths for future generations.

Born in Hawaii in 1943, Ruiz began his karate training in 1955 at the age of twelve. His journey led him from the dojos of Sensei Tommy Morita to the influential tutelage of Kyoshi Kiyoshi Aihara, founder of Zen Shoto Kai Karate. Ruiz’s martial pilgrimage later took him to Japan, where he studied under Kanki Izumikawa in Goju Ryu, and furthering his studies in Koga Ryu Kobudo, and Katsu Ryu Kempo. This direct connection to the masters of Okinawa and Japan placed him firmly within karate’s living lineage.

In the 1970s, Ruiz relocated to the mainland United States, where he became aligned with Soke Shogo Kuniba of the Motobu-Ha Shito Ryu Seishin Kai. Through these masters, Ruiz not only gained recognition as a senior teacher, but also helped bring authentic Shito Ryu Karate and Kobudo into new communities. By 1986, he established the IKKU, uniting his decades of experience into a single organization dedicated to Kotosu-Ha Shito Ryu, Koga Ryu Kobudo, and Katsu Ryu Kempo.

Today, Soke Ruiz stands recognized as a 10th Dan Hanshi-Sei, with mastery spanning Karate, Kobudo, and Kempo. His titles reflect more than rank—they represent a lifetime of loyalty, perseverance, and leadership. From his early days training in Honolulu, to his years teaching across America, and his influence as a senior figure in the global karate community, Ruiz has dedicated his life to the Way of the Empty Hand.

Ruiz’s founded style of Kotosu-ha Shito-Ryu Karate represents a unique synthesis within the Shito-Ryu family, embodying the kata depth of Mabuni, Aihara & Kanki Izumikawa, the combat-tested realism of Choki Motobu, and the organizational vision of Kosei Kokuba and Shogo Kuniba. Emerging as a modern lineage branch, it honors both Okinawan tradition and Japanese evolution, integrating Koga-Ryu Kobudo, Katsu-Ryu Kempo, and the expanded kata and bunkai catalog. Where other Shito-Ryu groups emphasize kata preservation or sport, Kotosu-ha prioritizes holistic martial development: kata, kumite, kobudo, philosophy, and reverence for masters. Its kanji symbology reinforces this mission, projecting strength, direction, and balance. In essence, Kotosu-ha Shito-Ryu is not merely a sect of Shito-Ryu but a living bridge—uniting Okinawan roots, Japanese refinement, and global expansion.

Please help us in Celebrating Soke’s Milestones and Achievements at the 2025 IKKU Annual Black Belt Exam scheduled September 27 in Social Circle, GA!

This is your chance to get up close and lean from the best kept secret in the world of traditional martial arts.

Happy Birthday, Anniversary, and Congratulations Soke!

Wishing you the best and many more to come.

Please be sure to view our IKKU Photo Gallery of Soke Joseph Ruiz where you can view decades of historic photos!

Additional IKKU Information:
For information about joining the IKKU—International Karate Kobudo Union—please visit our IKKU Registration Page. We welcome new members to our organization and have 6-10 scheduled events each year. This will allow you direct access to Soke Joseph Ruiz, the founder of the IKKU, and other High-Dan Instructors from the IKKU.

For a complete listing of upcoming scheduled sessions, please visit our Events Page. Here we showcase our upcoming Clinics, Camps, and other opportunities for engagement with the IKKU.