ADVISORY BOARD
The Zen Ei Kan International organization is fortunate to have an exemplary board of advisors, each of whom help oversee the organization and guide both its growth as well as technical development. The board is comprised of senior instructors from Japan and Korea.
SENIOR ADVISORS
SANG COOK KIM
After earning a black belt in MooDukKwan, Sang Cook Kim began studying Chung Do Kwan TaeKwonDo and rose to the rank of senior student of Woon Kyu Uhm, President of the Kukkiwon and Vice President of the World TaeKwonDo Federation. Over the ensuing years, Kim received a black belt in Judo from the Yudo College.
As a ChungDoKwan specialist, Kim heard about a developing martial art (Hapkido) and started to practice at the Yu Sool Kwan school with students who had originally brought the art from Taegue City to Seoul. Kim was always primarily interested in self-defense or “real” application of fighting techniques.
Kim served as the President of the Korean Hapkido Federation from 1977-1985 and as President of the World Oriental Martial Arts Federation from 1986-2015. In 2021, Kim passed Ju Sool Kwan system of Hapkido to Michael Martyn with full rights and responsibilities to continue to expand the system and safeguard the lineage.
TADAYUKI SATOH
Tadayuki Satoh began his study of Budo at an early age. His father, Gohatiro Satoh, was an 8th Dan in Judo, a peer of Jigoro Kano and a contemporary of such famous judoka as Mifune, Nagaoka and Kenji Tomiki.
Satoh’s father sent Tadayuki to study at Waseda University and learn from Tomiki. When he first enrolled in Waseda, Satoh trained in both Judo and Aikido, but in his second year of college he made the decision to focus solely on Aikido. From the time of his enrollment to Tomiki’s death in 1979, Satoh would spend Sundays having tea and training with Tomiki.
Satoh was appointed to be Shihan of Aikido at Waseda University in 2007, a post that had been vacant for over 20 years since Tomiki’s death. Satoh is a 7th Dan and a Professor of Budo and Humanities at Waseda University.
KUNIKAZU YAHAGI
Yahagi Kunikazu, the second headmaster (soke) of Ryushin Shouchi Ryu, was born in Kastsushika-ku, Tokyo in 1948. Yahagi was introduced to kendo by his uncle at the age of 10 and commenced his kendo training in elementary school. He also trained in Judo from the age of 12, an art in which he later went on to earn the rank of 2 DAN at the Kodokan.
At the age of 30, he entered the NCR dojo (now the Nihon Zaidan Building) in Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, which was then under the authority of Kawabata. After nearly 30 years of diligent training under the tutelage of Kawabata, Yahagi was licensed by the International Martial Arts Federation (IMAF) as a Kobudo Hanshi 8 DAN and later succeeded in becoming a director for IMAF. In 2008 Yahagi became the second headmaster of the Ryushin Shouchi Ryu.
In addition to his Ryushin Shouchi Ryu training, Yahagi continues his studies in Kendo and currently holds the rank of Kyoshi 7 DAN from the All Japan Kendo Federation.
TECHNICAL ADVISORS
YASUYUKI MUNETA
Yasuyuki Muneta is a 2x World Champion, 3x Asian Champion and World University Champion. Muneta was a member of Kodogakusha Dojo and Setagaya Gakuen High School, where he won both the All-Japan High School Championships and the Inter-High Tournament.
Muneta attended Meiji University and during his time was the youngest winner of the Kano Cup (1999 and 2001). In addition, he was elected as the “most excellent player” 4 years in a row at the All-Japan University Judo Championships. Only 5 athletes (including Yasuhiro Yamashita and Masaki Yoshimi) in the history of judo have accomplished this feat. Muneta also holds the record for 15 times qualifying for the All Japan Judo Championships, one of three major turnaments for Japanese Judo along with the Olympics and World Championships.
Mr. Muneta is currently employed at the Japanese National Police Academy and holds a 7th Dan in Kodokan Judo. He conducts an annual summer camp at headquarters for Zen Ei Kan and graciously gives of his time to provide technical direction and oversight of the Judo requirements.
KOJI KOMURO
Koji Komuro is a 3x IJF Veteran World Champion and the 2010 Kata World Champion with Takano Kenji in Katame no Kata. Former member of the Japanese National Team and Instructor for the Kodokan, Komuro has taught at Zen Ei Kan headquarters and provides technical advice on our newaza curriculum.
Taught by kosen judo master Kanae Hirata, Komuro is a newaza specialist known for his use of sutemi waza such as variations of tomoe nage, and submission techniques like jujigatame and sode guruma jime. He is the author of a book and DVD series dedicated to ground techniques, Judo Newaza of Koji Komuro Komlock.
Koji Komuro also trained in brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) and obtained in 2005 a black belt under Yuki Nakai who was another former student of kosen judo master Kanae Hirata. Komuro is currently a coach at a high-school connected to Waseda University. He holds a 6th dan in Kodokan Judo.