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Grandmaster
Chris Spruiell
Recognized by the "World Head
of Family Sokeship Council"
A World Wide Council of 9th and 10th degree Grandmasters and Heads of
Systems
Isshin - Jujitsu
May 25th 2007
Congratulations to Master Chris
Spruiell. Master Spruiell was
reviewed and tested by the World Head of Family Sokeship Grandmaster
Council Testing Committee on May 26, 2007 in Orlando,
Florida
. Master Spruiell was put
through a rigorous oral and physical test, requiring him to
demonstrate numerous techniques and martial arts skills under various
combative situations using his system called Isshin-Jujitsu. By a
unanimous vote of the Council Master Spruiell was named Founder of
Isshin-Jujitsu, and awarded the rank of 10th Degree black
belt, Grandmaster (Soke) of that system. Furthermore, Grandmaster Spruiell
was inducted as a member and now serves on this elite Grandmaster
Council. Isshin-Jujitsu is based on the combative fundamentals of
Isshinryu Kata, Muay Thai Boxing, and several styles of Jujitsu.
Grandmaster Spruiell combined the combative techniques of these arts,
based on more than 35 years of training experience, into this unique
combative flow training system called Isshin-Jujitsu. Grandmaster
Spruiell began his training at the age of five with his father under
the late Grandmaster Harold Long who brought Isshin-ryu Karate to
Knoxville
in late 1950’s. He continues to train in Isshinryu Karate under
Grandmaster Phil E. Little 10th Dan and serves as
Executive Vice President of the USIKA (
Unites
State
Isshinryu Karate Association). Grandmaster Spruiell holds the rank of
8th Dan Isshin-Ryu Karate, and 8th Dan Neko-Ryu Goshin
Jujitsu and is a rank examiner for Shingitai Jujitsu. He has trained under
Professor Ernie Cates, Grandmaster Danny Glover, and Master Peter Ragner.
In addition to owning and operating his dojos, Grandmaster Spruiell
is a Professor at
Pellissippi
State
Technical
Community College
. He has used his training and instructional experience to develop college Karate
and Jujitsu classes for both credit and non-credit coursework, designing
them to be taught to students with backgrounds in many martial arts
styles To aid in this teaching process, he has authored a textbook
entitled “The Encyclopedia of Combative Flow –A Dojo Training Manual
and Mixed Martial Arts Handbook”. He has taught and
developed the system of Isshin-Jujitsu over the past 17 years and has
successfully used this system to teach college students, martial arts
students with various backgrounds, his personal dojo students,
various law enforcement agencies, and has presented this system in
seminars across the country. Congratulations once again to the Soke
of “Isshin-Jujitsu”, Grandmaster Chris Spruiell!
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Congratulations to all who participated in the
"Circle of Masters Tournament" and Shiai. The sportsmanship and
demonstration of technique was in keeping with the highest traditions of
the martial arts, your Dojo and the Shimabuku Way. Above left,
Rickey Cobb, Right, Nancy Anderson
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(L) Gary Long (C) Hanshi Little (R) Rick Long
Hanshi Little poses with the sons of the late
Grandmaster Harold Long in a ceremony honoring their fathers lifetime of
achievements. Hanshi Little, who was given this memorabilia for safe
keeping, returned it to the Long sons who will create a museum to showcase
their father's achievements and promote the Shimabuku Way. This way all
students of Soke Shimabuku can experience the history of Grandmaster Long,
a pioneer in Isshin-Ryu Karate.
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Master Spruiell's students pose with (from left front to right)
Master Laney, Master Hovey, Master Spruiell, Roku-Kyu Kyle Rawn,
Hanshi Little, Master Glover, and Master Keko. Congratulations to all who
competed in the "Circle of Masters Championship" and Shiai and
those who supported the dojo by attending. Great Job!
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A life time of achievements and awards entrusted to Hanshi Phil Little
by the late Grand Master Harold Long, were returned to sons ,Rick and Gary
Long, to be used to create a traveling display to be shared with all
those who follow the Shimabuku Way.
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