My first introduction to the martial arts was Aikido in 1958 while stationed at 29 Palms, California. Our instructor, S/Sgt. Candellerio taught the hard form which he learned while in Hawaii. It was extremely painful to learn and of the thirty that started, only two were still standing three months later … my partner, Jesus Ramirez and myself. We continued learning for another seven months. As most Marines end up on Okinawa, our sensei told us we would not find Aikido or any type of Jitsu there … only Judo and Karate.

How true his statement! Transferred to Okinawa in 1959-60, I looked all over the island for either Aikido or some form of Jutsu. In vain, I took up Judo and a couple forms of Karate, but my love was in Aikido or something close to it. Teaching what I knew from Aikido to a few interested individuals, it continually kept my techniques fresh. Returning to the States, I re-enlisted and was back on the island some eight months later where I found the art of Shobudo in the late fall of 1960. Under Soke Nakasato and Shihan McGale, classes were small, intense, one on one, averaging three hours each and six days a week. Having the experience of Aikido, I excelled quickly, was Shihan McGale's first Shodan and teacher as well as Soke Nakasato's second teacher. Like McGale sensei under Soke Nakasato, I rarely missed a class from 1961 till late November 1964.

Since 1961, I have been actively learning, promoting and teaching the art and I am the first to introduce Shobudo to the United States upon my return at El Toro, California in 1965. I taught Shobudo at each command I was stationed during my 27 years of service. My last duty station was the 4th Marine Division in New Orleans, LA in 1985. As nothing about the art was ever written down due to the low profiled ways of Soke Nakasato or a training requirement syllabus of instruction established, I have devoted myself in this endeavor as well as continued teachings. I returned to Okinawa for duty as well as learning, teaching and training in 1977-1982 and again briefly in 1993 and 2000. Through these efforts, I have striven to improve and refine the system in order that others may learn the art of Shobudo more efficiently, systematically and proficiently. I have done this in a manner as not to take away the original qualities as taught to me in their pure form.

This LOGO represents the combined meaning of our art as follows: The word "ITAI" is the pain of reality that we train with. The mountain represents the Jutsu or Jitsu arts from Japan and the island (Okinawa) is where the combined arts were taught. The three white dots on the flower seal represent Nakasato Shoshu (founder and Soke), Vincent J. McGale and myself, Robert B. Morton who were the first generation teachers under Soke Nakasato. This Logo is on our membership T-shirt along with variations of it on administrative documents! The flower (below) is the Official Seal of Shobudo, designed by Soke Nakasato.

IMPORTANT NOTE: CLAIMING LINEAGE!

Through one's search of the web you will come across (at present) three variations of Shobudo with lineage associated to Nakasato Shoshu and Shobudo BuJitsu JuJitsu. For detailed explanation and clarification please see, Shobudo Breakup.

Respectfully
In Budo,

Robert Morton
Kaicho
SHOBUDO BUJITSU KAI