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From Victim to Martial Arts Master:


The Journey of Steve Joseph and the Birth of ShinKenDo.

 

In the sprawling tapestry of human experience, stories of resilience and transformation stand as testament to the indomitable spirit of individuals. The narrative of Steve Joseph, a young boy raised as an ethnic minority in London's East End, is one such remarkable tale. His journey from victimhood to becoming a martial arts master and founder of ShinKenDo, a unique form of jujutsu, is a testament to the power of determination, defence, and a commitment to fostering the virtues of martial arts.
 

Growing up in the vibrant but often tumultuous East End of London, Steve Joseph faced the harsh realities of racial prejudice and discrimination from an early age. His life took a fateful turn when, at the tender age of 12, he found himself under attack by a group of far-right neo-Nazi skinheads. In a bid to protect his son, Steve's father introduced him to karate, a martial art that would soon become not only a means of defence but also a lifelong passion.
 

After dedicating himself to rigorous training in karate, young Steve Joseph encountered another life-altering event. Following a training session in London's East End, he was set upon by a gang of ten neo-Nazi extremists. Although he successfully defended himself using his karate skills, this encounter revealed a crucial lesson – strikes alone were often insufficient in the face of real-world street attacks.
 

Determined to equip himself with a broader range of skills and techniques, Steve embarked on a journey of exploration and self-discovery. He delved into the study of numerous martial arts, combative techniques, and defence systems. This extensive training laid the foundation for the creation of his own martial art form, which later became named ShinKenDo.
 

The name ShinKenDo is rich in meaning. "Shin" signifies truth or real, "Ken" refers to the fist  and "Do" embodies the way or method. Thus, ShinKenDo represents the pursuit of authentic and effective martial arts techniques for real-world applications.  This JuJutsu like form encompasses,  strikes, join locks restraints, strangulations, take downs throws  weapons defence and the use of everyday articles as weapons of opportunity.
 

In 1984, at the age of 20, Steve Joseph began teaching ShinKenDo to others, sharing his knowledge and experience with students eager to learn practical defence methods. His dedication and passion soon led to the establishment of an International Organisation in 2000, with a mission to propagate the art worldwide.
 

Over the last 35 years, Steve Joseph has been an influential figure in the martial arts community, impacting the lives of over 12,000 students around the globe. Today, his art is even being taught to British law enforcement officers and security personnel, emphasising its practicality and effectiveness in real-life situations.
 

Steve Joseph's journey has taken him to a new home in Hokkaido, Sapporo, Japan, where he aspires to expand the reach of ShinKenDo Jujutsu to the Japanese public. His goal is not merely to teach defence but also to instil the core martial arts values of discipline, respect, honour, and integrity in his students. In doing so, he seeks to contribute to a safer and more harmonious society, where individuals can protect themselves while upholding the virtues that transcend combat and adversity.
 

In the story of Steve Joseph and the birth of ShinKenDo, we find an inspiring example of how one individual's determination, forged through adversity, can lead to the creation of a meaningful and impactful legacy in the world of martial arts. His journey reminds us that even in the face of hatred and violence, the human spirit has the power to rise, transform, and inspire others to do the same.

 

Who Can Learn?

Whether you are a beginner or already studying the martial arts training is open to all.

Beginners will find explanations simple, and direct with techniques useable from the start and their strength general fitness will increase. 
ShinKenJuJutsu techniques are practical and was meant for the everyday individual.
Techniques are based on real world application and are non sport.
There is no training in traditional weaponry . Students are taught how to use weapons of opportunity. There is nor fighting in ShinKenDo but rather self defence, emphasising a martial art that is within the LAW.

Whether you are a student looking to improve on your self defence repertoire or a Black Belt  there is something in ShinKenDo JuJutsu for everyone.
The syllabus has been divided into simple stages from beginner  to intermediate to advance.