HANSHI PROFESSOR IRVING SOTO

Introduction

Irving Soto is considered the foremost authority on the art of Atemi jujitsu. The art was passed down to him by his respected teacher Hanshi koshimitsu Yamamoto of Japan.Soke Irving Soto became proficient in the martial arts of Atemi –Jujitsu; and is one of the first American to be granted mastery in Atemi –Jujitsu. Hanshi Prof. Irving Soto is undisputed world Kumite Champion /10th degree black belt. Irving Soto is a winner of numerous championships And the last person to be taught Atemi Jujitsu Aiki-jujitsu, he has been studying and teaching the martial arts of Atemi jujitsu for the last 50 years; Irving Soto he has traveled all over the world to demonstrating his Techniques and has been teaching the Armed Forces like the U.S.A military. Irving Soto has been in numerous commercials such as MTV, NBC, Phil Donahue Show Live TV, Inside Edition, New York, Newsday, Barbra Sang live TV network show. Aaron Banks Show of World Oriental Show and Hong Kong Television by Raymond Chow he has appeared in sports TV ESPN Sports Martial Arts Channel and Grandmaster Aaron Bands live martial arts show. Irving Soto is member of the law enforcement community he has taught the special force over sea and the United States and the federal police, New York Sheriffs federal correctional facilities and NYPD tactical defense for US Treasury, DOD police academy and the department in Aberdeen Maryland and military army.

Irving Soto has received accommodations from former Mayor Susan Golding of San Diego, CA former Mayor Dinkins of New York City and Mayor of Hollywood CA Johnny Grant, Brigadier General, US Army Commanding Rodger A Nadeau, US Army Aberdeen Proving Grounds Colonel US Army Deputy Installation Commander John T Wright for his hard work in teaching the US armed force 2002.2003,2004,2005, 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2013. Irving Soto still teaching and training.

I was born in Bronx in 1954, 1956 my mother moved to Brooklyn, New York at the age of (2 years old). I started to train in the martial arts of jujitsu. One of my first professors that I trained with he was Japanese man called Tashioshi. Tashiosh taught me in jujitsu; I received my first-degree black belt at the age of 14-year-old; the first time I when to Japan was went Tashioshi took me for a tournament in Japan. I fought the internationals Japanese open at the age of 16 years old. I became the open tournament champion open in Japan. Tashioshi moved away in the early 1970’s, I continued my thirst for martial arts science knowledge of jujitsu.

I continued to further my instructions with a group of masters from the neighborhoods of Brooklyn New York City. In 1973 I was invited by the Japanese association to compete in the open kumite championship in Japan upon winning the championship 1973. I was invited to the humble dojo of koshimitsu Yamamoto and to compete in a open kumite after winning kumite championship. I was asked to be under the guidance of Yamamoto to further my instructions in the advance technique Atemi Aiki-Jujitsu.I continued to further my instruction by traveling back and forth from Japan and USA. In 1990 I receive my 10th degree black belt in Atemi -Aiki jujitsu upon my teacher death I was awarded full sokeship to continue the work. I won the kumite for 8 years and for 8- times from the of 1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978,1979,1980 World kumite champion.

I would like to pay my special thanks to some of the masters who took out time teach me the martial arts science of ju -ju-jitsu,

1.Grandmaster- Charlie Sprrow-jujitsu 2.Grandmaster- Rudy Jones-jujitsu 3.Dr. Moses Powell- jujitsu 4.Master Saigon Ellis Evans-ji koshimitsu-jujitsu 5.Master Danny McEddy-Nin jujitsu –kempo. PROF.RODALD DUNCAN;S DUSHIDO SCHOOL OF SELF DEFENSE _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SOKE GRANDMASTER IRVING SOTO 10TH DEGREE BLACK BELT WORLD CHAMPION

The art of atemi was developed in Asia more than 200 years ago, along with the science of acupuncture. The Chinese practiced the art of dim mak, or death touch. In Japan the touch of death is called atemi. Atemi focuses on striking one of the 365 points in the central nervous system. It was valued as a treasure of the masters for many centuries. The art is so deep and complex that it requires a mastery of human physiology. To this day, scientists cannot understand why a single strike to the central nervous system can kill a man. Ancient Tradition

By tradition, practitioners were not allowed to teach atem,i only a highly skilled master within the family could teach the art of atemi. The bushido code required that a warrior must learn enlightenment and the five principles of earth, water, fire, wind, and void and that a warrior also acquire the five skills of accuracy, timing, ki or chi (internal energy), mind control, and instinct in order to become a proficient warrior.

As atemi continued to develop through the centuries, the Chinese divided the art into 81 points; each point was based on one of the five elements or principles. Atemi continued to be tested for thousands of years in remote regions of China. As the Chinese and Japanese cultures continued to evolve and intermingle, the art of atemi was passed to Japan. Soon the mystical science of mind was added to atemi and its power went to a new level.

Stories began to circulate around Asia about wise masters who could kill a person without touching him; this was atemi at its highest level. Other Systems

Atemi became extremely popular during the 15th century. At the same time, ninjutsu began to flourish and grew throughout Japan for the next four centuries. In the 16th century wing chun was developed by a Buddhist nun. Both wing chun and ninjutsu incorporated atemi into their systems, While other systems attempted to include elements of atemi to increase and augment their techniques' potency in judo, for example there are three major division. The third and final division is known as atemi-waza, ate waza, or simply atemi.

Jigoro Kano made atemi-waza, or vital point striking techniques, an important part of judo after learning them from gichin funakoshi; atem-waza is so deadly that it is not allowed in judo competition, and is taught only to high-ranking belts. Other examples of systems that use atemi are Tatsu Tanaka,s modernized from of jujitsu calledgoshin-jutsu part of the modernization included an emphasis on atemi-waza.Yet another form of jujitsu known as Hakko -ryu atemi strikes and touches based on the principles of koho shiatsu kenpo, too, emphasizes various methods of striking the anatomicalvital points; However, very few people gained a complete understanding of atemi, the true atemi master went underground, becoming even more stringent and selective about the students with whom they shared their knowledge.

By the 1940s, the complete art of atemi was known only by one master, Grandmaster koshimitsu Yamamoto , who had been taught by Soke Sokaku Takeda. Grandmaster yamoamoto selected ten ninth-degree black belt out of 200 student to whom he would teach the atemi art. Only one of those ten students was non- Japanese, an American named grandmaster Irving Soto who had been adopted and raised from infancy by Chinese in New York’s Chinatown. This gave him an insight into asian culture and intensive martial arts studies was possessed by very few non-Asians.

With time Grandmaster Irving Soto became Grandmaster koshimitsu Yamamoto's best student. He became so proficient at the art of atemi that he was given the title warlord by Grandmaster koshimitsu Yamamoto. Yamamoto gave Grandmaster Irving Soto his ancient samurai swords and his tenth degree black belt/cover red belt. When Grandmaster koshimitsu Yamamoto Yamamoto died, he left Grandmaster Irving Soto as head of the international bushido federation, the first non-Japanese, TO HEAD THE ORGANIZATION.

Before his death,GM koshimitsu Yamamoto made one final request to his best student that he would make sure the art of Atemi lived on into the twenty-first and beyond. With the blessings of his master, Grandmaster Irving Soto opened the first dojo in New York to make this wish a reality. Soto named his system Atemi aiki juitsu which stands for the life force, also known as chi flow, that everyone possesses, chi flow is not only vital to physical health and generating power, it also permeates and enhances all facets of life, especially spirituality. The "do" stands for the way that an individual chooses to walk in life following in the footsteps of the masters such as Jigro Kano, Morihei Ueshiba, and Gogan yamamgucchi, Grandmaster irving Soto broke from tradition and brought the most secret and powerful art from Asia to the west. Grandmaster Soto, trained in Japan for 18 0f his 55 years in the martial arts, which emphasizes the principles of honor,respect, and discipline, and because the atemi art

Soto constantly reminds his students that power and humility are interlocking forces that balances each other.Atemi strikes are aimed at key areas of the body: nerve endings, arteries running close to bone, organs, sensitive and vulnerable joints like elbows and knees. These strikes can be made with virtually any part of the body, open hand, fist, fingers, elbow, toes, heel, knee, even your head - all are viable tools for attacking an aggressor's key atemi points.

Explaintion Atemi aiki jujitsu Talsho Prof. Soto Atemi was developed in Asia thousands of years ago. In China it became known as dim mak, (death touch) while the Japanese, called it Atemi; a system of strikes and painful joint holds aimed at one of the central nervous system's 365 "pressure points." Paradoxically many of these points are also used in the healing art of acupuncture, which began its development at about the same time. For many years it remained exclusively in China but as Chinese and Japanese cultures intermingled, the art migrated to Japan. The early masters spent many hours researching human anatomy in their quest for atemi perfection. They toiled over anatomical charts and experimented on prisoners of war and criminals. They immersed themselves totally in this learning, committing to memory their secret knowledge, refining it as they progressed and keeping the secrets of Atemi within the confines of their immediate families or clans.

During the 15th century, the samurai warriors began to assimilate Atemi strikes into their systems of battlefield unarmed combat - the martial arts. Atemi strikes gave them several advantages: Atemi strikes require no flamboyant stances, no flashy movement, they are direct and decisive. The samurai could employ a fatal blow quickly to end a life threatening confrontation or a use a quick disabling strike that would render the opponent helpless but alive for interrogation. - power, little effort and maximum effect. Various modern jujitsu, karate and ninjitsu systems employ atemi strikes however, very few people have a complete understanding of the original art. The true masters were very selective about the students with whom they shared this knowledge.

Today's masters of Atemi are just a hand full, one of the top grandmasters of atemi jujitsu systems is Grandmaster irving soto. could administer an atemi strike at the body, by focused ki or chi at one of the vulnerable pressure points fell down knockouts the person. In some instances once struck, the student felt nothing and then fell down several days later. the student wood fill pain and had to gon to the hostial to be checkout? There are a limited number masters who claim to know or possess this skill, of atemi. Soke Grandmaster Irving Soto as master mind atemi jujitsu system.

SOKE GRANDMASTER IRVING SOTO HALL OF FAME/ GRANDMASTER AARON BANKS 2005 -2011 A martial arts Grandmaster with the Directorate of Law Enforcement was inducted into the World Professional Arts Organization’s 2005,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011

Hall of Fame during a ceremony at New York's Madison Square Garden Jan. 7.Officer Irving Soto, a Grandmaster 10th degree black belt, has been studying the martial arts for 55 years. He is a world champion kick boxer and grappler as well as a champion in Kumite, a form of extreme Japanese fighting.In addition to his regular duties as an federal police officer, Soto has provided self-defense instruction to students in the APG Police Academy, and he currently conducts Jujitsu classes for Morale, Welfare and Recreation 6 p.m. on Tuesday nights at Russell Gym."He's done so much for this program, it's good to see him getting some recognition," said Charles Heinsohn, MWR program specialist.Heinsohn said that Soto's class is popular among the installations' Soldiers, Airmen and Marines, and that it numbered 70 students before the Exodus leave in December."Everyone who starts sticks with it," Heinsohn said,noting that Soto receives no compensation for his time."He gives so much of himself for this program.We are fortunate to be able to offer training by a true Grandmaster," Heinsohn said.Soto said his motivation is his love and compassion for youths and their future."As a role model, you have to be able to set the example for children and even adults to look up to," Soto said. "I strive to be that example."

The students who attend his Tuesday evening sessions agreed that they are growing as they learn.Shaundra Scruggs, a contractor with the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, said that she enrolled in the class to learn self-defense."I like it a lot, it's fast paced, but easy to pick up,"Scruggs said.Sean Nelson, an Army contractor with Nelson Vending, takes the class with his son, Cameron, 15."We saw the [MWR] flyer [advertising the class]and thought it would be a good way to spend quality time together," Nelson said."I've always been a disciplined person, but this has a way of providing even more," he said. Nelson's son, Cameron, an Edgewood High School sophomore, added that the self-control principles Soto teaches are helpful in daily life."His teachings stay with you," he said. "You can take [them] and apply[them] to situations when you have to be ready to cope. "It's always in the back of your mind, ready for when you need it." "The best part of the program is that it's an actual opportunity to test yourself,"added Arthur Belden, a CHPPM civilian."I've surprised myself with what I've learned," he added. "Now I do it for the enjoyment."APG police officer inducted into Martial Arts Hall of Fame Story and photos by Yvonne Johnson APG News With all of his accomplishments,

Soto said he continues to strive to achieve more. As a teacher and innovator of the martial arts he has helped many find direction and achieve personal success and happiness through hard work and dedication.Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Soto began early instruction in the martial arts learning Jujitsu as a young child studying different styles simultaneously. At age 14, he visited Japan where he became a Kata Champion in fighting and weaponry. By age 16 he was accomplished in Kung Fu.Soto is a former sheriff's deputy with the New York State Sheriff's Department. For three years, as the Senior Tactical Defense Instructor, he trained deputies in tactical defense.Soto is an eight-time World Kumite Undisputed Champion.

He is the founder of the present system of Atemi Aiki-Jujitsu and the present system of Atemi-Jujitsu Te.He is a five-time winner of Japan's Full-Contact Bare Knuckle Championship.Soto has had more than 279 fights and 279 knockouts during his career as a fighter, which spanned from the early 1970s to the late 1990s.Lifetime achievements Soto's many achievements in the martial arts and in other areas are too numerous to mention.Some of them include:Received a National Sports Award from President Bill Clinton, 1996.President, Founder, andExecutive Director of the 1st International Martial Arts Hall of Fame in San Diego, Calif.,during which he received a Letter of Commendation from the Mayor of San Diego,Susan Golding and a Letter of Commendation from the Mayor of Hollywood,Johnny Grant, Shihan Richard Reyes,Secretary of the International Martial Arts Hall of Fame, presented Soto with a doctorate in the martial arts decree by international and local martial artists during the Golden Global International Martial Arts Hall of Fame in San Diego, Calif., Nov. 28, 1998,for his dedication to the communities youths and to the homeless.Soto is the author of the martial arts books:"Atemi-Jujitsu - Poison Hand Technique," 2000;"

Atemi- Jujitsu" 1998; and "Atemi the Forgotten Art," 1997. Ranked one of the top 10 martial artists in the world Soto holds three red belts for achieving Grandmastery in three arts, Atemi-Jitsu, Aiki-Jujitsu,and Ninjitsu, and he is the last heir to and the highest authority of the complete art of Atemi Aiki-Jitsu and the present system of Atemi Cobra Jujitsu Te.One of the youngest to achieve grandmastery at the age of 32 Trained members from many branches of the federal government departments in tactical defense including the Treasury Department, U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navy Seals Team. He has appeared on nationally televised programs such as Donahue, Inside Edition and NBC's Today Show. As an actor, he starred in the Latin American movie,"A Cry in the City" produced by Columbia Pictures in the 70s and consulted on two other films

for the same company.He choreographed many movie fight scenes for Remo Williams, and did the stunts for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie.He is an expert in all types of weapons from firearms to explosives. He is an expert in both traditional and modern weapons including Budo, Bojutsu,Tantojutsu, Sai, Nunchaku, Kendo, Iaido, Kyudo, and more.Grandmaster Irving Soto"AAs a role model, you have to be able to set theexample for children and even adults to look up to. I strive to be that example."During his Jujitsu class in Russell Gym on Jan.18, Grandmaster Irving Soto, right, a police officer with the Directorate of Law Enforcement and Security, instructs Shaunda Scruggs in a hold technique on her fellow student, Sean Nelson.Grandmaster Irving Soto demonstrates an agonizing leg twist on Sean Nelson.Grandmaster Irving. Soto observes closel as two students grapple their way through an exercise.