James R Gaines Soke- Founder Hakutsuru Kai Ten Shin no Shin Nagare Ryu Goshin Jutsu
James R. Gaines first studied under Hohan Soken on Okinawa while serving with the U.S. Marine Corps. In 1982 he was awarded the title of Renshi, “Karate Master”,with the rank of 6th Degree black belt. In 1990, Hakutsuru Kai was chartered under Yuichi Kuda and Mr. Gaines was accepted as a personal student in order to further his knowledge of White Crane Kempo. Gaines sensei was born September 20, 1944, in Mt. Vernon, IL. He began his studies of the martial arts, namely Kodokan Judo, in 1960 under C.C. Franklin in Carbondale IL.
He studied the throwing art for two years and then began his studies of Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu karate in San Diego, California while continuing in Kodokan Judo with Bill Hodge for another two years. In 1964 Gaines sensei continued martial arts training, as a Marine on Okinawa, with Kanei Uechi and Eizo Shimabuku. He studied for two years and attained the rank of Nidan in Shorinji Ryu, or Sukunaihiyashi Ryu, as it was sometimes called. 1967 brought Gaines sensei to mainland Japan where he studied Jiu Jitsu and Goju Ryu with Siyoga Kuniba and Shihan Iwata respectively. From 1967 – 1973, he studied JKA Shotokan with Jack Schneider sensei and Vito Rollo. Gaines sensei was also assigned as Midwest representative for Motobu-Ha Shito Ryu and Goshin Jutsu at this time.
In 1980 Sensei Gaines was accepted as a student of the Matsumura Seito art of Shorin Ryu by Fuse Kise and awarded the rank of Rokudan. In 1982 Gaines sensei was accepted at Renshi level by Yuichi Kuda of Matsumura Kempo, and now attains the rank of Rokudan in that art. As of September of 1994 Gaines sensei holds the title of Soke, or “head of family” for his founding of Hakutsuru Kai Ten Shin no Shin Nagare Ryu Goshin Jutsu. Although Gaines sensei is the founder of Hakutsuru Kai, or Soke, he claims rank no higher than Hachidan (8th degree black belt). www.centraliamartialarts.com