Kuniba-Ryu of Myrtle Beach

James (Jimmy) Revell, Shihan (Senior Teacher/Practitioner) began his training in March 1973 with Joe Strickland, Sensei in Florence, S.C.  Sensei Strickland was a student of one of Kuniba, Soke's first American students, Albert C. Church.

Originally, Revell, Shihan began his training in the system created by Church, Sensei and taught by his students, which Church called Tetsuken-Ryu.  This method was largely based on what he had learned from Kuniba, Soke, although it contained elements of other Martial Arts Church, Sensei had been exposed to during his military service.  After training in this art for 9 years, Revell, Shihan wanted to pursue further training with Kuniba, Soke and became a full-time direct student of Kuniba, Soke in the Seishin-Kai Karate Union.

Revell, Shihan's first dojo was in Charlotte, N.C., which he founded in 1982.  Because of his job with U.S. Airways, Revell, Shihan was able to travel frequently to Kuniba, Soke's Hombu Dojo in Portsmouth, Va. for training.  In 1985, Revell, Shihan moved to Myrtle Beach, S.C., where he still resides, and founded the Myrtle Beach Kuniba-Ryu Dojo.

After teaching in a variety of locations around Myrtle Beach, the Myrtle Beach Dojo was moved to its present, full-time location in 1992.

In 2004, Revell, Shihan travelled to Japan to train further in Iai-Do and Chi Gung** with Kobayashi, Shihan ( a senior student of Kuniba, Soke).  During this trip, he was promoted to 1st Dan in Iai-Do after an extensive testing with a gathering of the top sword masters in Japan.  The setei-gata, or basic kata used throughout Japan by all major sword styles, formed the basis for the test.  An interesting note here is that the setei-gata are used by all practitioners of different sword styles regardless of individual styles practiced, and that these kata were put together by all of the major Sensei who taught sword arts in Japan in order to have a common ground for training and testing.

In recent years, Revell, Shihan has made several trips to both Japan and China for further training in Iai-Do and Chi Gung.  As a result, Revell, Shihan has become certified and accredited in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM),  Massage Therapy and Restorative Techniques (Tui-Na), and Chi Gung.

Revell, Shihan is noted for the teaching methodology he learned under Kuniba, Soke and some of Kuniba, Soke's early students.  He believes in teaching small groups rather than large numbers of people and has maintained this philosophy throughout the years.  We here in Myrtle Beach and Chikubu-Kai are lucky to have him.

**(Chi Gung is training of internal energy through breathing techniques that enhance and change the character of the physical body. Revell, Shihan also teaches classes in Chi Gung, which shares many characteristics of Tai-Chi and Yoga.  Please refer to the Chi Gung section of our website for more information)**