Grandmaster James Mitose

Grandmaster James Mitose was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. At the age of 4, he was sent to Japan to study the Mitose's family art of Kosho. After fifteen years of studying the family art in Japan, he returned to Hawaii. It was at this time that Grandmaster Mitose decided to teach his family art (Kosho Ryu Kenpo) to people of all races.

Grandmaster Mitose first six students of the Self-Defense Club to have received rank were: Jiro Nakamura, Thomas Young, William Chow, Paul Yamaguchi, Arthur Keawe, and Edward Lowe.
In the 1930's, Grandmaster James Mitose introduces the art of Kenpo in Hawaii. He has been listed in several of publications as the 21 descendant of Damo (Daruma). It is written that the Mitose clan traces their lineage/art of Kenpo directly back to Priest Daruma and his descendents. Grandmaster Mitose later passed away in 1981 in California. The Mitose family art of Kenpo has been passed down to his son, grandmaster Thomas Barro Mitose who resides in Antioch, California.