Hamon

hamon	破門	“broken gate” expulsion
ryūha	流派	a school of martial arts

Loosely translate, hamon means “broken gate.” In the martial arts, if a person behaves in a severely inappropriate manner hamon can be the result. The person receiving the hamon is denied access to training, the name of the person is removed from the registration of the school and the person is stripped of all ranks and qualifications. Any claim of rank or qualification made by the individual who has received notification of hamon are false claims. Clearly, hamon is very serious.

Who Decides?

A ryūha is a classical school of martial arts. It is not a democratic organization.  It is the personal property of the highest representative.  Kōburyū is a ryūha. The highest representative of Kōburyū is Sōke Kaichō Kinjō , who is not only the highest representative but also the creator of the ryūha.  He decides.

Criteria

The cause of the hamon must be documentable and based on the rules of the organization to which the individual agreed by becoming a member of the organization.

The Kōburyū organization is Okinawa Kōburyū Karatedō Kobudō Kōbukai. The rules of this organization are clearly spelled out in the Kōburyū Kaisoku (rules and regulations) document. Grounds for hamon are found in Section 11.2 of the Kōburyū Kaisoku. Any individual who did harm or continues to harm the reputation and growth potential of Kōburyū in the US is subject to hamon. Lesser grievances can be dealt with by expulsion from the organization.

Prior to the creation of Kōburyū in the year 2000, the individuals were subject to the rules of the Kōnan Ryū organization, upon which the Kōburyū Kaisoku was patterned. The grounds for hamon are the same.

Notices of Hamon That Have Been Issued

Tim Snyder of Lincoln, Nebraska USA

In April of 2019, Sensei Tim Snyder withdrew from Okinawa Kōburyū Karatedo Kobudo Kōbukai.  In November of 2019, Sensei Tim Snyder received notice of hamon from Kinjō Kaichō, the highest representative and also the creator of Kōburyū. Not only is Sensei Snyder not a member of the Okinawa Kōburyū Karatedō Kobudō Kōbukai, he no longer bears any rank or titles previously issued by Sōke Kaichō Kinjō, including his advanced dan ranks up to and including hanshi jūdan. Any promotion certificates previously issued by Sōke Kaichō Kinjō are no longer valid and can be considered fraudulent.

Sōke Kaichō Kinjō has requested that all members be made aware of the hamon and the events surrounding it.  While a document summarizing the events that led to hamon can be viewed upon request, it is our hope that this sad chapter be put to rest.

Johanes Wong of New South Wales, Australia

In November, 2023, Johanes Wong of Toongabbie, New South Wales, Australia, was issued a notice of hamon by Sōke Kaichō Kinjō for his blatant disregard of the rules of membership in the Okinawa Kōburyū Karatedō Kobudō Kōbukai, as spelled out in the Kōburyū Kaisoku (会則), effective 1996. Johanes Wong failed to to pay Kōbukai membership fees for himself and his students for many years, such fees as required by Chapter 5 of the Kaisoku. In addition, again for many years, no percentage of test fees as required by Chapter 13 of the Kōburyū Kaisoku was paid to the Okinawa Kōburyū Karatedō Kobudō Kōbukai by Johanes Wong, as promotion sponsor.

For egregious non-payment of Kōbukai fees and remunerations while still claiming membership in the Okinawa Kōburyū Karatedo Kobudo Kōbukai and association with Sōke Kaichō KinjōTakashi, Johanes Wong has been issued a notice of hamon.Johanes Wong no longer bears any rank or titles previously issued by Sōke Kaichō Kinjō, including advanced dan ranks. Any promotion certificates previously issued by Sōke Kaichō Kinjō are no longer valid and can be considered fraudulent.