Pagoda Ryu Committee

Pagoda Ryu was founded and developed by Grandmaster Dr. Shorty Mills, PhD, ScD. Certified and tested, as a martial arts system by the World Martial Arts Federation and World Soke/Sokeship Council, the Pagoda Ryu system consists of Shorin Ryu Karate, TKD, Kenpo, Aikido, and JiuJitsu. 

Kenpo was originally known in China as Chuan Fa. It eventually spread to Japan where it was known as Kenpo, which means fist (ken) law (po). It was first introduced to the United States in Hawaii around the time of World War II. The art of Kenpo soon became very popular in the United States as an effective fighting system.

Aikido is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba (often referred to by his title ‘O-Sensei’ or ‘Great Teacher’). On a purely physical level, it is an art involving throws and joint locks that are derived from Jujutsu and Kenjutsu. Aikido focuses on using an opponent's own energy to control or throw them. Aikido places emphasis on motion and the dynamics of movement.

Karate, as we know it today, originated on the Ryukyu Archipelago, more commonly known as the island of Okinawa, Japan. The major sites were the villages of Naha, Shuri, and Tomari. Shobayashi Shorin-Ryu originated in Shuri, Okinawa as Shuri-Te and is one of the major branches of modern Shorin-Ryu.  

In 1955, this art was created given the name Tae Kwon Do by a board of instructors, historians, and prominent leaders, including General Choi Hong Hi. Tae means foot, Kwon means hand and Do means art. 

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Jiu-Jitsu and Judo became popular in the U.S., when President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt, the 26th U.S. President, learned Judo.  This gave Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo (originally termed "Kano Jiu Jitsu"), the international acceptance the art needed. Kano Jiu Jitsu was further refined in Brazil by Mitsuyo Maeda and the Gracie family to form Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (or "Gracie Jiu Jitsu").