HANSHI, PROFESSOR DR ALAN S. THORNTON, SOKE SHODAI, 10^TH DAN

SENAI SEISSHINRYU SHIHANDOKAI KARATE-DO JUTSU & KOBUDO JUTSU

Background and Lineage of Head Founder and System / Ryu

Hanshi, Professor Dr Alan S. Thornton, Soke Shodai, 10^th Dan (Born 10^th November 1960) has been training in various martial arts for over thirty-three (33) years now. He initially started his early martial arts training in 1973 when he studied general self-defence for three years with a close friend who was in the military. His primary goal at that time was to focus on achieving a basic level of personal safety, development, awareness, confidence, discipline, skill and overall fitness. He had no interest whatsoever in attaining any belts or grades over this three years period.

In 1976 he was studying various Chinese Kung Fu systems including Pak Mei, Preying Mantis and Tai Chi Chuan. At the same time, he also studied the art of Western Boxing of which he incorporated into his already developed martial arts experience over the following three years. By 1980 he began an in-depth study of Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate-Do under Senseis’ S. Gouldson, 4^th Dan and R. Herbert, 4^th Dan. Likewise, he also studied the Japanese art of Judo under Sensei D. McKeown, 2^nd Dan.

After studying the arts of Goju Ryu Karate-Do and Judo for several years, he was introduced to the unique Okinawan Isshinryu Karate-Do system (a blending of Goju Ryu, Shorin Ryu and Kobudo) in 1983 by Grandmaster R. Hedrick, Jr 9^th Dan Isshinryu and Kobudo. From that point forward, Grandmaster Hedrick became Professor Thornton’s most senior Grandmaster and mentor until 1997. After advancing through the student (Kyu) and Black Belt (Dan) ranks in Okinawan Isshinryu, he was respectfully awarded the rank of 5 ^th Dan (Godan) Black Belt in 1994. This was after many years of training, commitment, study, theoretical / written / philosophical knowledge on all aspects of the art and above all, inner spiritual development and enlightenment. In 1985 he was awarded the rank of 1 ^st Dan in Goju Ryu Karate-Do from Sensei Mark Davis, 3^rd Dan.

By 1998(after a total of twenty five (25) years of training) he felt that he had enough experience, qualifications and combined skills in several arts to develop and create his own martial arts system. Professor Thornton consulted Professor J. Moclair, 9 ^th Dan (O-Hanshi) who was both his senior Grandmaster and friend of several years. Professor Moclair’s martial arts lineage and impeccable reputation was highly respected by his peers on an international basis from Okinawa, Japan, USA, etc. O-Hanshi, Professor Moclair’s lineage to Okinawa was directly through his Grandmaster Professor R. Sacharnoski, 10 ^th Dan (Soke), who, in turn, was directly connected to the world-renown Professor Dr S. Toma, 10^th Dan (Soke) of the Okinawan Seidokan Ryu in Okinawa, Japan.

As a result of these in-depth conversations about creating a new personal system/style/ryu; Professor Thornton was officially accepted and promoted to the rank of 6^th Dan (Rokudan) and also awarded the the elite Japanese titles of ‘Shihan and Professor’ by Professor j. Moclair, 9^th Dan (O-Hanshi) and Professor Dr R. Sacharnoski, 10^th Dan (Soke) of the Bushi-Kai Kokusai Renmei International (UK) and the Juko-Kai Kokusai Renmei International (USA, Okinawa and Japan). This was also signed, recognised and authorised by Professor Dr S. Toma, 10^th Dan (Soke) of the Okinawan Seidokan in Okinawa, Japan. He also received full recognition of being the legitimate 1^st generation ‘Founder / Headmaster’ of his own personal Karate-Do Jutsu and Kobudo Jutsu system / ryu called ‘Senai Seisshinryu Shihandokai.’  

The ‘Senai Seisshinryu Shihandokai’ Karate-Do Jutsu and Kobudo Jutsu system was officially on 5^th October 1998. It is a thorough traditional  blending of Isshinryu Karate, Kobudo Jutsu, Goju Ryu Karate, Judo, Atemi Jutsu, Goshin Jutsu, Kempo Jutsu and Western Boxing, etc. The unique name of the system can be translated as follows:-  SENAI = (Fighting Will / Spirit):  SEISSHIN =  ( Mind / Heart / Soul):  RYU =  (School / Method / Style):    SHIHAN =  (Master / Teacher):  DO =  (Way / Path):  KAI =  Association / organisation). Roughly translated into English as:-  ‘The Fighting Spirit / Heart / Mind / Way of the Master Teachers Association.’

Since its creation and inception in October 1998, both Professor Thornton and his personal system / ryu have been fully acknowledged, accredited, accepted and recognised by several fully legitimate ‘Asian Accredited Head of Family Sokeships / Associations / Organisations and many other Martial Art and Sokeship Councils throughout the world. He has likewise been inducted into several elite and distinguished world martial art Halls of Fame. He has been included in several highly elite and distinguished International Who’s Who Directories of World Professionals, several world ‘Who’s Who in Isshinryu’ Karate and other books and has had feature articles in several martial arts magazines. He is also a highly respected member of many martial art and Sokeship Councils.

In the Millennium year 2000 Professor Thornton was officially awarded the rank of Soke (Founder / Headmaster) of his system by Professor K. Schuhmacher, 10 ^th Dan (Soke) and a select board of international Sokes / Grandmasters from Europe, USA, Canada and Japan. They also awarded him the rank of 7^th Dan (Schichidan).

In 2001 he was awarded the rank of 1^st Dan in the San Do Jutsu Kempo system by Professor P. Holley, 10^th Dan (Soke) and was officially appointed as the European and UK Director / Representative for Soke Holley’s United Sokeship Alliance. In 2002 he was officially awarded the rank of 1^st Dan in Goshin Jutsu from Professor D. Jeffrey,

10^th Dan (Dai-Soke), appointed the European and UK Director / Representative for both the United States Martial Artist Association and the Hawaii Martial Arts International Society and inducted into several World Martial Art Halls of Fame. Professor Thornton was officially awarded the rank of 8 ^th Dan (Hachidan) from Professor Dr M. Pesic, 10^th Dan (Soke) of the Supreme International Sokeship Council and its Board of Sokes.

On passing the very strict requirements for full Asian Recognition and acceptance, he was awarded the rank of Soke Shodai directly from Professor D. Jeffrey, 10^th Dan (Dai-Soke) President of the highly elite and distinguished Soke Menkyo Kai Licencing Association. Dai-Soke Jeffrey is literally only one of a handful of legitimate ‘Asian Approved / Head of Family’ Sokes in the world today who again, like Professors’ J. Moclair and R. Sacharnoski, can trace their traditional lineage directly back to the distinguished Professor Dr S. Toma, 10 ^th Dan (Soke) of the Seidokan in Okinawa, Japan. On being promoted to Soke Shodai by Dai-Soke D. Jeffrey, he was officially appointed as the Europe and UK Director / Representative for the elite Soke Menkyo Kai Licencing Association.

Again in 2002 he was awarded the high rank of 9^th Dan (Kudan) from Professor Dr L. Whitney, 10 ^th Dan (Soke Nidai – Head of Family) President of the Sekai Kenshin Ryu Karate-Do and Kobudo Renmei. He was then officially appointed as a Board Director and Europe and UK Director Representative for Soke Whitney’s Renmei. Finally in 2002 Professor Thornton officially received the ultimate supreme accolade of being awarded the rank of 10 ^th Dan (Judan) Red Belt from Professor Dr J. Abregana, 10^th Dan (Soke) President of the Hawaii Martial Arts International Society and the HMAIS Sokeship Council collectively. This legitimate and rare accolade was fully approved, sanctioned, signed and endorsed by over twenty-six (26) internationally distinguished 10 ^th Dan Sokes and Grandmasters from Europe, USA, Canada, Japan and Okinawa. He was also appointed as a HMAIS Board Member and European and UK Director / Representative too. Literally speaking, this makes Professor Thornton one of the youngest fully legitimate ‘Soke Shodai and 10 ^th Dan’ Grandmasters in the world today. In 2003 he was inducted into two more elite Martial Art Halls of Fame.

In 2004 he was officially recognised by Their Royal Highnesses the Princes’ of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by being inducted into the elite Princes Security Council, Special Operations Council as a senior council member. He also received the Princes Council Award for international achievement in the martial arts and sports. He was inducted into several other Sokeship and research organisations, and received the highly elite US Presidential Champion Award and Medal from the US Presidential Sports Department and personally signed by the US President George W. Bush, Jr. He was also inducted into two more elite Martial Art Halls of Fame. 

Again in 2004 Professor Thornton was awarded the official Japanese title / licence (Menkyo) of ‘Hanshi’ (Master Teacher) directly from Dai-Soke D. Jeffrey of the Soke Menkyo Kai and the rank of 1^st Dan in Kendo Jutsu and Senior Examiners Licence from Professor B. Hohle (Soke Nidai). Likewise, he was awarded the rank of 2^nd Dan in Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate-Do (Shinbukai) from Dr K. Prakash, 5^th Dan (Shihan) and also awarded the rank of 1^st Dan in Judo from Dr E. Maranon, 5th Dan (Shihan) and several other distinguished world Judoka collectively.

In 2005 he was officially appointed as the International UK Director / Representative for WOMA and appointed as a member of both the World Presidency Council and International Council of Higher Martial Arts Education by Professor Dr M. Tianero, 10^th Dan (Sijo). He also received 10^th Dan (Honorary) recognition from Professor Dr A. Lye (Soke) President of the Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate-Do Seiwa kai and International Goju Ryu / Goju Kai Karate-Do Renmei.    

Besides studying the martial arts, Professor Thornton actively pursued his academic / educational career over many years and eventually earned his BSc and PhD degrees in Naturopathic Studies. He also became a fully ordained Minister and later received an Honorary Doctor of Divinity (DD) degree in universalism. Professor Thornton holds professional memberships in several diverse organisations including British Mensa Society, Member of the Philosophical Society, Fellow of the Theosophical Society, Fellow of the Alternative Education Association and Fellow of the International Institute of Holistic Therapies. He was a Freemason for twenty years and retired in 2002 with the official high ranks of Past MIllSGIG 33 and Past RWDeputy GM in the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite, York Rite and Grand Lodge collectively.  In 2003 he received the high rank of IP (X) in the OIand has membership in the elite G.L. Rockefeller.