KOMON (顧問)- ADVISOR
In Memory of Caylor Adkins
Caylor Adkins began practicing judo in 1957. When he witnessed the first official demonstration of karate to the American public given by Mr. Tsutomu Ohshima at the 1957 Nisei Week Exhibition and Tournament. Mr. Adkins started to practice Karate in October 1957 and under the direction of Mr. Ohshima. A very serious practitioner, he was one of six members to be awarded the rank of shodan (first degree black belt) in 1959 at first dan test in SKA.
During his early Shotokan karate training, Mr. Adkins attended California State University, Long Beach in 1961 and formed the school’s first karate club. CSULB Shotokan Karate Club became the second university karate club to be established in the United States. However, the club dissolved in one semester. That same year, Caylor traveled to Japan to study karate at Waseda University. At Waseda University, Caylor met and trained with senior and captain Sadaharu Honda. Upon his return, he opened his Long Beach dojo with John Ogden’s Judo dojo.
In 1968, Caylor came back to CSULB, along with Don DePree, and re-established the karate club at the University.
The organization grew rapidly and the Southern California Karate Association (SCKA) was formed. SCKA was the first Shotokan Karate organization in the United States and eventually was renamed Shotokan Karate of America (SKA ca. 1971).
Caylor became the President of Shotokan Karate of America, National Chairman of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) karate committee (1975-1977), and first vice president of World Union of Karate-do Organizations (1975-1977). His dedication and active involvement in karate had carried him all over the world and he has been known for his many feats in the martial arts arena in the 1960s and 1970s. During the last 30 years he has concentrated on studying a wide range of martial arts beyond his original training in Shotokan Karate.
Caylor was recommended by Mr. Ohshima to recieve his Godan in 1976 in a special dan (black belt rank) promotion personally administered by Senior Kamata-Watanabe during the 20th Anniversary Celebration of Shotokan Karate of America.
Mr. Caylor Adkins has become recognized for his leadership and contribution to martial arts in the United States.
Mr. Adkins moved to Pittsburgh in 2003 and regularly instructs training sessions. Mumon Shotokan is fortunate to draw on his extensive training and interpretation of combat arts.
