More About Soke Dr. Grandmaster I. Soto

Dr. Soto started training in the martial arts since 1956 at the age of 2 years old. At that time martial arts was unheard of in the United States of America; maybe only some war veterans from World War II. He studied Jujitsu and Judo under Grandmaster Rudy Jones and Grandmaster Charlie Sparrow. He also studied Shotokan Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Wing Chun, Pa-kua Hsing Yi, Tai Chi Ch’uan, Korean Moo Du Kwan Karate, Hap Ki Do, Kung Fu and many other arts. Gung Fu was not popular at the time since it was only taught to those of Chinese descent. He was a martial arts champion since his early teens. In 1965, he won the Open Championships of Grandmaster Aaron Banks’ Oriental World of Self-Defense and went on to win the World Kumite Championship in Japan (1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980). He later went on to win the Universal World Title of the World Kickboxing Championships in the Welterweight Division and Light Heavyweight Division in Europe. He has also been World Kickboxing Champion in the United States and Japan.

In his late teens he continued his studies of the martial arts in Japan. He spent the next 18 years of his life traveling back and forth from Japan and the USA under Grandmaster K. Yamamoto in the Art of Atemi Kaguchi Waza. He has also had the great opportunity and privilege to meet with Gogen Yamaguchi from Goju karate known as "the Cat" and meet with the founder of Aikido, Morehei Ueshiba.

He is a 10^th Degree Black Belt and founder of the Art of Atemi CobraJujitsu Te. He is the World’s Top expert in the Art of Atemi Jitsu and Atemi AikiJitsu and Atemi Cobra Jujitsu Te. He has attained the title of Meijin-Wajusa as a Samurai Daimyo in the Art of Atemi Jitsu and Atemi Aikijitsu—He holds the highest rank and is the highest authority and last heir to the Art of Atemi Jitsu and Atemi AikiJitsu.

Among his achievements are: