My name is Chris Norman and I began my Martial Arts training with Okinawan (Shorei Ryu) and Chinese Kempo (including their internal/Qi Qong aspects) and I was awarded my 4th Dan in Kempo Jutsu and Tuite/Chin Na by Danny Connor of the Bushindo Kai Martial Arts Institute and Qi Qong Research Institute in late July 1999. In November 2008 I was awarded my Godan (5th dan) Renshi by the World Ju-Jitsu/Aiki-Bujutsu Federation and Samurai Ju Jitsu Association International and Kamishin Kai International Instructors licence along with my Menkyo Renshi by the European Samurai Ju Jitsu/Aiki Society.

I have also trained in and hold Yudansha grades in the martial arts of Kempo Karate Jutsu & Goshin Kempo Ju Jutsu, a coaching qualifications from the National Ju Jitsu Council, and a refereeing qualification from the BNMA and have acted as a grading officer sitting on panels for both Karate and Ju Jutsu organisations and as an advisor on panels for Independent Aikido Groups.

I have over the years had the opportunity to gain some practise in the Japanese arts of Aikido, Kendo and Iaido and the Okinawan styles of Goju Ryu, Matsumura Shorin Ryu and RyuTe Karate and the Chinese arts of White Crane Gung Fu and Chi Kung along with the more therapeutic arts of Shiatsu (Zen, Macrobiotic, Tibetan) and Kung Nyay.

My academic qualifications include a Law degree from the University of East London and a Masters degree in Medical Anthropology from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.

Martial arts has for a long time been part of my life, I first began studying the Martial Arts in the 1970's and had began running my own Kempo Dojo in the 1980's when I also became more deeply involved in the grappling aspects of the Kempo styles that I had studied. I was specifically interested in the grappling that is said to be found in the Bunkai of many Karate techniques and which may have provided a glimpse into an ancient Okinawan martial art known as Tuite often more commonly known and simply described as a form of Te (As in Tegumi) or Ti/di (as in Toudi). In Japanese the equivalent term for Tuite is Tori-Te (Taking or capturing hands) which is the name given to a precussor of Japanese Ju Jutsu and which is regarded by some as a form of Taiho Jutsu (restraining and controlling art).

In the late 1980's to early 1990's I was affiliated to and trained within two modern British Ju Jutsu Organisations, both of which had past links to the Association of Oriental Fighting Arts that had practised Fudoshin Kempo. One of these Ju Jutsu organisations emphasised a number of Kempo techniques within its syllabus and was at the same time affiliated to the British Kempo Association and its President Shihan Brian Walsh. The other Ju Jutsu organisation with which were associated and trained with the most was headed by a former student of Bob Lawrence in Fudoshin Kempo. This latter mentioned organisation also veered towards a more towards a traditional style of Ju Jutsu and had a number of different styles of Ju Jutsu within its organisations membership. I have throughout my involvement in the martial arts also had the opportunity to come into contact with and gain some familiarity and appreciation of Kendo, Tanjo and various forms Aikido and Iaido.

My own investigation into the grappling aspects of Kempo Jutsu, the Tuite had led me to look both more deeply at Ju Jutsu including the influence that Ju Jutsu has had on the the grappling aspect of various Karate styles and how these styles have in turn, like Aikido and Judo, influenced many modern Ju Jutsu styles.

Between 1994 and 1997 I had the opportunity to train in Kempo Jutsu, Ju Jutsu and Kobu Jutsu under Brian Walsh, President of the British Kempo Association and one time member of the IOMAU who held a Shihan grade in Shorinji Tetsuken Kempo a style of Kempo that is influenced by Kamishin Ryu based Te. It was during the same period that I had the opportunity to become acquainted with the late Danny Connor of the the Qi Qong Reserach Institute and the Bushindo Kai Martial Arts Institute.

At the same time, between 1994 and 1997, I and my students shared the Shin-te Do Dojo based at Devon House in Anchor Street Chelmsford with Mick Powell, who was duirng this same period to become a senior student of Mark Bishop's Sogo Bugei No Kai and its Te. Mr Bishop was a regular visitor to Shin Te Do and encourged a blend of Ti which included Seitoku Higa's Bugeikan Te and Seikichi Uehara's Motobu Udun Te with the therapeutic aspects of Martial Arts Techniques including Shiatsu or Anma, a form of therapeutic massage, the Chinese version of which is known as Tuina.

In 1998 I began my MA in Medical Anthropology at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London which I successfully completed in 2000. In 1999 I was awarded by Yon (4th) Dan by Danny Connor of the Bushindo Kai Martial Arts Institute.

By the mid 1990's the journey that I had began in the mid 1980's had also provided me with the opportunity to return to the all too often forgotten, but nevertheless important, therapeutic aspects of the martial arts and included the study and practice of:

Chi Kung (Especially Crane style),
Japanese Shiatsu (Koho, Zen & Macrobiotic, So-Rigpa),
Oki-Yoga (Makko Ho)
Syozin Ryori (Macro-biotics)
Kung Nyay (Tibetan Yoga similiar to Taoist Yoga)
Tibetan Healing Methods (So-Rigpa).

The above image was designed and drawn by  James Bishop who maintains copyright on this image

My training and experience has led me to the realization that although the techniques of Japanese martial arts such as Aikido, Aiki Ju Jutsu and Ju Jutsu,and Okinawan arts such as Shuri Te and Tuite as Mutou (Okinawan Aiki Ju Jutsu) and the Chinese art of Chin Na though differing in emphasis their principles are similar in kind. The body dynamics found in all of these arts is notably the same as those which are found in the Japanese arts of Shiatsu, Anma, Kuatsu, Kiatsu and Chinese Tuina

Nihon Go Shin Kage Ryu and Hakuda Ryu Kempo are members of the following organisations:

The British National Martial Arts Association (A member of Combat Sports Worldwide)

Bushindo Kai Martial Arts Institute (Established by Danny Connor)

We also have recognition and affiliation with the following organisations:

The World Ju Jitsu/Aiki Bujutsu Federation

European Samurai Ju Jitsu Aiki Society 

Samuari Ju Jitsu Association International/Kamishin Kai  International

We also maintain good relations with the Okinawan Martial Arts Association (formerly the British Bugeikai).