MUGOI GIJUTSU Karate Hierarchy:
Grand Master John B. Burkhardt is the last surviving Master Instructor under Henry Slomanski. He has taught hundreds of students over the last 47+ years with the same decorum and customs as Slomanski had taught and trained him.  Burkhardt has become the Soke/Grand Master, as the Red Belt in this style, after years as a Master Instructor. Burkhardt was next in the line of succession, after the death of Great Grand Master Henry Slomanski.  With the inception of him naming Mugoi Gijutsu Karate Do to honor the method of it’s teachings, Grand Master Burkhardt has awarded the title, Senior Master Instructor, to Hanshi Lester A. Whinna. Hanshi Whinna is the highest ranked black belt in the organization as a 8th degree , under the this lineage. The name of  Mugoi Gijutsu is out of dedication to the method of Melvin Sauer’s and Slomanski’s teachings and to honor his Master Instructors because of Burkharts’s fondness for them, the respect for his Master’s and their teachings.  As with all martial arts there is nothing to be owned, only the knowledge gained and practiced can be imparted as with all traditions. The teachings continue so that it is not lost and out of respect for all who trained back to the days of Great Grand Masters. This is especially true for the ones who were awarded the title of Master Instructor by Slomanski personally.  He tested, he trained and he bestowed all of the authority and rights to his Master Instructors. The style today and it teachings have been and are partly the result of the knowledge that was transferred from Slomanski to Burkhardt.  Slomanski’s wish that one of his Master Instructor’s carry on with it teachings in perpetuity was also adhered to and realized by Burkhardt as he was directed. This desire by Slomanski in the 1960’s was passed onto Master Burkhardt, as it was with the 7 Master Instructors Slomaski made upon their being promoted to this rank and title. 

As mandated by all customs, the tradition still continues as set forth by the rules of the Great Grand Masters. While still adhering to all the ancient rules, the following took place:  Upon the death of Commissioner Henry Slomanski, 10th degree Red Belt, and the death of all other affiliated Grand Masters, the rightful Master in succession is John B. Burkhardt. He assumed the rank as Red Belt and title of Grand Master.  This is in accordance with continued ancient traditions and the continuity of the past practices in the martial arts.  Grand Master Burkhardt, by holding this rank, possesses the powerful rank and position as the legitimate Red Belt of karate in this heritage dating back thousands of years. This was the wish of the Commissioner to the successor.  He is the highest ranked person in the world under Japanese traditional style karate. Grand Master Burkhardt continues the governing of all standards, promotions, rules, and the history under the past Great Grand Masters T. Chitose and G. Yamaguchi in this lineage of 2500 years ago.

History:
Mugoi Gijutsu Karate Do was given this name to honor the teaching methods, the teachings are hard and brutal in comparision to  the martial arts of today. Mugoi Gijutsu is a blend of mastered techniques comprising of Goju Ryu, “old style” Chito Ryu, and Kempo Karate Do. The “old style” Chito was taught when Dr. T. Chitose and G. Yamaguchi were utilizing the “ki” internal breathing power. It is important to note that Great Grand Master Chitose was a fighter when he was teaching and training Henry Slomanski. This is TRADITIONALISM. If we were to remove the Kempo, the Goju Ryu, the internal breathing power, and the fighting techniques that were taught to Henry, you have what is known as Chito Ryu today.

Our philosophy is TRADITIONALISM ALWAYS BEFORE COMMERCIALISM.  This style of karate stayed pure to the teachings of the Great Grand Masters. The commercial karate of today is softened and the teachings diluted from what the Great Grand Masters learned and practiced. Today, the teachings of most styles have been modified and softened to accommodate the masses, but most notably because of teaching for profit and profession. Therefore, certain karate styles of today, are not as pure as it was originally taught. T. Chitose was quoted as saying “These ‘open hand’ techniques spread to Japan, where they were further developed. In recent years the adoption of certain rules has turned the original self-defense into a sport.”We at Mugoi Gijutsu Karate Do strictly adhere to the teachings of the Great Grand Masters and Grand Master Henry Slomanski, which is a style of historical significance – not a sport” Soke Burkhardt has enhanced the style even more but has never strayed away from it’s basic teachings as well.

We impart the same style, values, and techniques that have been taught for over 2500 years; this is called decorum and custom and it’s essence was never intended to change. Throughout the years, some of the techniques, not the essence, have been modified. These changes were made by various Masters, but they were just different methods of the lame or kill techniques. A prime example can be seen with our slight variation of the katas taught by T. Chitose as shown in his book, “Kempo Karate-do, Universal Art of Self-Defense”. Great Grand Master T. Chitose shows all the moves from a right side defensive stance. In 1965, Grand Master John B. Burkhardt’s modification was to teach the moves from a left side stance as an additional method of being extremely effective against a foe. Grand Master Burkhardt modified, enhanced and added techniques that make this style what it is today. The rationale behind this modification was so that one was trained to be expertly proficient from both sides; attacks are not just delivered one sided.

Training Technique:
This style’s sparring and training, is full contact with no protective gear. The purpose of this style is to be conditioned using “ki”. Utilizing this technique will condition the body to withstand any type of blow or kick used against you whether it is used in training, sparring, or for combat on the street. The “ki” does not negate the fact that it is necessary to protect vital parts of the body; such as your eyes and certain parts from being eviscerated. Once conditioned to that point, 95% of the technique is always from the defensive stance. Once engaged, the next step is to follow through with the vital laming or killing moves taught under this style. These techniques are in no way to be mistaken for a sport. The only justifiable reasons for the use of this style would be; to protect loved ones, to protect those who cannot protect themselves, to protect ones self when all other avenues have been exhausted.  Understand one thing, this is what Henry Slomanski learned from the Great Grand Masters and he taught this way.

Background on Henry Slomanski:
It was while Henry Slomanski was stationed in Japan that he was introduced to “old style” Chito Ryu. A Japanese style founded by Dr. Tsuyoshi Chitose.  Chito Ryu is a combination of Goju Ryu and Shorin Ryu karate. Slomanski became Dr. T. Chitose’s number one student and Henry lived with Chitose while training for several years in Japan. Dr. Chitose searched out Slomanski because of his reputation as a proficient undefeated fighter. (See third meanest man in the world page on this site CLICK TO ENTER) It is the custom that students seek out the Master in order to train, but this time the roles were reversed. After training with Chitose and mastering his skills, Slomanski competed in the matches, August 1956, where people were lamed and possibly even killed.

Henry Slomanski became the karate champion of Japan, but it was after he fought in the matches in Kokura, Japan that he earned the honor of the International Commissioner of Karate for the United States and the surrounding territories. He over saw ALL Japanese Karate and had unlimited power. To earn this title he had to defeat 126 men that were the best martial artists in the world, during that time. With this win, Henry Slomanski became the 3rd highest-ranking belt in the world under the Grand Masters and was allowed to wear a tri color belt which was black, red and white in color.  In 1957 an entirely different kind of match, less brutal and with different rules, was begun. They now had weight classes etc..

Henry Slomanski always taught the traditional style of martial arts; he left the newer version to others. Upon the death of one of the Great Grand Masters, Henry Slomanski received the red belt and became one of the two Grand Masters left in the world.  Eventually, when both passed away Henry Slomanski assumed the 10th degree red belt, along with all authority and control over the two styles that T. Chitose and G. Yamaguchi represented in the traditional arts.  In his years of teaching, Slomanski would only ever issue seven 4th degree Master Instructor Shihan certificates under him. Although all of Slomanski’s Master Instructors were notable, his most widely known and famous student was Elvis Presley. Master Ed Parker sent Elvis to be trained and tested by Slomanski. Henry issued Elvis his first legitimate black belt and subsequently his Nidan (2nd degree). Elvis received his black belts in old style Chito Ryu, Goju Ryu, and Kempo karate do. Kempo karate do and old style Chito Ryu are one in the same.

Legacy that lives on forever:
Henry Slomanski passed away on April 23, 2000, as the only International Commissioner of Karate, 10th degree Red Belt.  He left a profound legacy that was never repeated by another person for all of these years.


Written by: Grand Master/Soke John B. Burkhardt – Red Belt, Mugoi Gi Jutsu Karate Do – The last surviving Master Instructor under Commissioner Henry Slomanski