CRKA
In 1974, Master Motokatsu Inoue designated one of his students, Sensei Shane Higashi, as the leading authority of Kobujutsu in Canada. Sensei Higashi travelled throughout Canada to conduct training seminars and clinics. Along with Sensei Michael Delaney and a number of interested students, he created the Canadian Ryukyu Kobujutsu Association in 1996. Max Wolfe accepted the position as the first president. The CRKA is dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Ryukyu classical martial arts in Canada. The Canadian Ryukyu Kobujutsu Association is associated with the Ryukyu Kobujutsu Hozon Shinko Kai.
Sensei Kisho Inoue
Sensei Kisho Inoue is the current head of Ryukyu Kobujutsu and Yui Shin Karate. He is the son of the late Master Motokatsu Inoue. The Ryukyu Kobujutsu Hozon Shinko Kai preserves and promotes the 42 weapons kata, along with the Kihon, Kumite, and Kata Bunkai Kumite for each weapon.
Sensei Inoue was awarded 4th Dan and Shidoin of Yuishinkai and Ryukyu Kobujutsu in 1978. He was appointed vice president of Yuishinkai & Ryukyu Kobujutsu in 1981. He received his Shihan of Yuishinkai & Ryukyu Kobujutsu in 1983. He was awarded Menkyo Kaiden Hanshi of Yuishinkai & Ryukyu Kobujutsu in 1988.
In 1993, Sensei Inoue was appointed as President of Ryukyu Kobujutsu Hozon Shinko Kai and Yuishinkai at the AGM and continues to date. He teaches in Japan and travels the world giving demonstrations and seminars.
Sensei Noel Blais
In 2022, Sensei Shane Higashi retired as technical director of the CRKA. Sensei Noel Blais was appointed Canadian Branch Chief of Kobujutsu. Sensei Blais holds the rank of 6th Dan and the title of Renshi in Chito-Ryu Karate and the rank of 4th Dan in Kobujutsu. Sensei Blais and his wife, Sensei Guylaine, operate out of the Chito-Ryu Longueuil Karate Club. He is current president of the CRKA, the director of Kobujutsu for Quebec, and a member of the Quebec Technical Committee for Chito-Ryu Karate.
Karen Besso
Also in 2022, Sensei Derek Ryan retired as Director of Kobujutsu in Newfoundland. Karen Besso is the current CRKA director for Kobujutsu. Karen holds a 2nd Dan in Chito-Ryu Karate and a 1st Kyu (Brown Belt) in Kobujutsu. She is a student of Sensei Derek Ryan and operates of out of Avalon Karate.
