Sosa family teaching Koga ryu in CA?

[Jim_Jude]

I was down at Ken's Trading in Rancho Cucamonga and a little Mexican guy came in wearing gi pants with ankle wraps and tabi. I asked the guy handling my order if he was a gardener or something (^_^) and he replied "Oh, no. He's a ninja." Insert sarcasm.
I talk to the guy and he gives me his business card:

Jorge Sosa Jr
Menkyo, 9th Dan Karatedo
Shito-Ryu Sosa-Kai
World Union Budo Sosa-Kai
22790 Wimpole St
Moreno Valley CA 92553
(951) 653 5648
BudoSosaKai@yahoo.com
http://www.shitoryusosakai.net

So... anyways, he told me that in addition to Shito Ryu he also practiced Koga Ryu Ninjutsu from Fujita Seiko and Kenei Mabuni (?). I can't read most of the Spanish on the sight, does anyone know if this Kenei Mabuni and thus the Sosa family could be a legitimate source for Koga Ryu? Thanks.

[Conde Koma]

According to Plasma, Kawakami said that there are no teachers of Koga-ryu in the US at all. Not sure about Hispanic-Americans, but there was mention of a Juan Hombre who claims lineage, "but he only trained with them several times, he is not a deshi [student], and does not have a certificate to teach."

Koka-ryu Ninjutsu At Drew University - No BS MMA and Martial Arts

[Jim_Jude]

According to Plasma, Kawakami said that there are no teachers of Koga-ryu in the US at all. Not sure about Hispanic-Americans, but there was mention of a Juan Hombre who claims lineage, "but he only trained with them several times, he is not a deshi [student], and does not have a certificate to teach."

Koka-ryu Ninjutsu At Drew University - No BS MMA and Martial Arts

These guys claim lineage through this shito ryu guy Kenei Mabuni, not directly from Fujita Seiko. Who knows? One ninjer saying that there are no other ninjaz around? Isn't that the Ninjer Code?

[Goju - Joe]

Beware he could be Kaiser Sosa - you don't want to mess with him

[Styygens]

I was going to post from memory, but I'm glad I waited to check my sources...

The best existing source in English on the details of Fujita Seiko's life is Fujita Seiko: The Last Koga Ninja, by Phillip T. Hevener. It's available on Amazon, and if you have a burning desire to get into the details I don't cover here, I recommend it.

The whole thrust of the book is that Fujita Seiko said himself that he did not pass on his Wada-ha lineage of Koga Ryu Ninjutsu. The book also examines whether or not there is evidence to the contrary. It shows he had several opportunities to pass the lineage, but nothing indicates he did. Any other book I have mentioning Fujita Seiko says the same thing: he was the last of his line.

As an aside, the current issue over Kawakami's claim to Koga Ryu appears to involve a different branch of the Ryu unrelated to Wada-Ha Koga Ryu.

However, the story you present has some interesting and possibly legitimate connections to Fujita Seiko.

Mabuni Kenwa, founder of Shito Ryu Karate was friendly with Fujita Seiko. He recommended one of his top students, Iwata Manzo, train with Fujita Seiko.

Fujita was not only a ninjutsu practitioner, but held the position of headmaster in three other martial arts: Nanban Satto Ryu Kempo, Shingetsu-Ryu shurikenjutsu, and Daien-ryu jojutsu. None of these were related to Koga Ryu Ninjutsu. Iwata Manzo became Hanshi of Shito Ryu Karate, but he also inherited the headmastership of all three of Fujita's bujutsu (and non-ninjutsu) ryu.

This has caused some speculation that Iwata Manzo secretly inherited Wada-Ha Koga Ryu. However, he never claimed this, and it goes against Fujita's own declaration that ninjutsu would die with him. No one has presented any serious, independent evidence that Iwata Manzo inherited anything in secret.

That's the story as I know it. There is a connection between Shito Ryu and Fujita Seiko. I can't say whether or not Shito Ryu continues to pass along any of the techniques from Nanban Setto Ryu, Shingetsu Ryu, or Daien Ryu, but maybe some branch does. But even then, it's not Koga Ryu Ninjutsu.

I also don't know if Shito Ryu hands out Menkyo or 9th dans; especially to people who think it makes them ninja... That alone might make this guy MABS worthy...

[Jim_Jude]

Thanks guys! lots of info & I've been out of the Ninjer loop for awhile... which brings up another point: if a MOD thinks this should be in another forum, pls move it, I won't be offended. It just seemed there were too many links to legitimate ryuha to put it anywhere else for quick verification.

[skythere]

Cheers!
Valikie
Out of the many posts, this one attract my attention. I believe it is possible for anyone to participate.
Excellent ! I like it very much.
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[Jim_Jude]

Cheers!
Valikie
Out of the many posts, this one attract my attention. I believe it is possible for anyone to participate.
Excellent ! I like it very much.
__________________
Systems for document scanning service and software | Scan document services companies and solution | Imaging document services company

What?

[Yoj]

He said "read my spamming sites"

[Jim_Jude]

He said "read my spamming sites"

Oh. Figures. Mods: check this guy out? Thanx!

[meinmachine]

I am pretty sure we had a guy in Lethbridge Alberta Canada by the same name teaching "ninjitsu", his sons moved on when their bullshido wasn't the money maker they hoped for.

The fellow I met must of been Jorge Sosa Sr. He claimed lineage from Japan but had a fellow from S. America come up for seminars. A real flakey bunch. I am not to much of a follower of the ninja crappolla but I can't help but wonder if there is a connection to the turds in Canada to the turds in the States?

[Jim_Jude]

I am pretty sure we had a guy in Lethbridge Alberta Canada by the same name teaching "ninjitsu", his sons moved on when their bullshido wasn't the money maker they hoped for.

The fellow I met must of been Jorge Sosa Sr. He claimed lineage from Japan but had a fellow from S. America come up for seminars. A real flakey bunch. I am not to much of a follower of the ninja crappolla but I can't help but wonder if there is a connection to the turds in Canada to the turds in the States?

In my experience most turds are connected in one way or another, whether by name or by nature...

[meinmachine]

This is the link for the Sosa who taught in Canada http://www.sosa-kai.com/asp_pages/tora.asp

Same name, seems like they are the same bunch of nutters. They never really gained much of a following in my home town. I think maybe because Judo and Kickboxing were so popular, or maybe it was because the Sosa version of English was so bad that you needed a translator to understand the English/Spanish/ Japanese hybrid being spoken.

I remember one parent telling me that the old guy hit their kid with a stick for not understanding what he was supposed to be doing. They quit moments later.

Not missed in Lethbridge, seems like they are someone else's problem now.

[meinmachine]

I missed the web link at the beginning of the thread, sorry, these are for sure the same folks.

[ShadowRaven]

Oh lovely. This is not filling me with much confidence. Both of my sensei study iaido and ninpo under a Menkyo Sosa from Lethbridge. Good people both, and well respected in the area martial arts community. I would hate to think they are being decieved.