Albert C. Church, Jr., sensei began training in Shorinji Tetsu-Kempo (at this time called So Rim Sa Churl Kwon Bup (Do)**) in Korea while stationed there for the Korean conflict in 1950. At this time the system was a small self-defense discipline similar to Hapkido of today. Church sensei earned the equivalent to a Sandan in So Rim Sa Churl Kwon Bup before returning to the U.S. in 1952.
** Note: The art of So Rim Sa Churl Kwon Bup has also been known as So Rim Sa Churl Kwon Do. Some of the reason for this change was attributed to the Japanese occupation of Korea in 1910, effectively stopping the teaching of all Kwon Bup styles in Korea.
Church sensei re-opened his Jujutsu dojo and included So Rim Sa Churl Kwon Bup there-in. Between the years of 1952-1956, Church sensei steadfastly taught the arts of Jujutsu and Churl Kwon Bup in America. In 1956 Ki-Oh sensei advised Church sensei of his relocation from Korea to Japan due to medical treatment available to him. From 1956 to 1967 Church sensei continued to instruct Ki-Oh sensei's art (now called Shorinji Tetsu-Kempo in Japan), making several trips to Japan for training with him. In 1967, Church sensei named his senior-most student, Harold Martin as Hombu Dojo-Cho (home school chief instructor) and left the daily running of his school to him. Church sensei then traveled back to Japan at the request of his instructor to once again train. Then in a surprise move, Ki-Oh sensei, due to personal illness and inability to continue teaching his discipline, officially appointed Church sensei as his lineage succesor "Soke Dai" (Inheritor Elect).
During this time period (1967-1969), Church sensei also trained with Ryuho Okuyama, Soke, Hakko Ryu Jujutsu, Teruo Hayashi, Kaicho, Seishinkai and Shogo Kuniba, Soke in his inherited art of Motobu Ha Shito Ryu Karate-do and earned the rank of Godan and the Shihan title.
Kuniba sensei was allowed by Church sensei to review his densho (scroll of succession) and decided to personally sponsor Church sensei and his formally awarded discipline of Shorinji Tetsu Kempo-jutsu before the Zen Nippon Karate-Do Renmei in order to insure world-wide recognition. In 1968, as per the Seishinkai Shihan Committee, Kuniba sensei prepared a scrollrecognizing... "Nippon Kobudo Kamishin Ryu, Soke, Albert C. Church..." and a license as the founder-President (Kaicho) of the martial ways organization named Nippon Kobudo Rengokai. The term Kamishin Ryu was derived from the scroll of succession and added to receive acceptance as a "Japanized" martial system, and presumably to not be confused with the more popular Shorinji Kempo arts. Ko-budo in this text means "ancient martial ways". All techniques utilized in it's three ryugi (sub-styles) were continued on from the Shorinji Tetsu-Kempo with the only exceptions being certain Kata forms introduced into the ryugi of Kempo, influenced by Ryukyu Karate-do; specific techniques of Daito/Hakko Ryu Aiki-jujutsu introduced into the ryugi of Jujutsu and certain sword techniques of Kuniba Ha Mugai Ryu Iaido into the ryugi of Buki-jutsu (weapons) as Mugai Ho Kamishin Ryu Iaijutsu. In May 1969, Church sensei returned to the United States where he promptly set forth to develop the organizational structure of the Nippon Kobudo Rengokai. In 1969, Church sensei named Harold Martin sensei as his Ichi Bon Deshi (#1 Student) and "Soke Dai" (Next Generation Head-Family) of Shorinji Tetsu-Ken Kamishin Ryu. This was done since Church sensei had no son to leave his inherited art to. In 1971, due to his relationship and later marriage to Church sensei's daughter, Robert Kelly was given a document of lineage inheritance of Shorinji Tetsu-Ken Ryu / Nippon Kamishin Ryu. In 1976, due to personal / famlial reasons, Albert Church dismissed Robert Kelly from the Kai.
In 1975, Ron Cherry was named by Church sensei as his system Chief Examiner. Shihan Cherry continued in this capacity until Church sensei's death in 1980.
In 1977, Church sensei named Harold Martin as next generation head-master over the Nippon Kobudo Rengokai and the art of Shorinji Tetsu-Ken / Nippon Kamishin Ryu (This fact is not only documented but witnessed by the senior instructors who were still active at that time). At this time Church sensei created his Kamishinkai International and taught his personal art of Shorinji Tetsu-Ken Do Kanda Ha Kamishin Ryu (Some people still debate over Kai structure documents provided but they all ignore the testimonies of the senior instructors present during the reconstruction of the Kai). In 1980, Church sensei died and the art of Kamishin Ryu went into a further time of disarray. At this time, Catherine Church, Church sensei's 2nd wife, assumed responsibilities over Church sensei's Kamishinkai International organization. Harold Martin removed his Nippon Kobudo Rengokai organization as to no longer associate his NKR with the KSKI. In 2002, Catherine Church passed the Kamishinkai International and the art of Kanda Ha Kamishin Ryu to Don Phillip. In 1995, Robert Kelly sponsored Ted Petit to carry on his teachings of Kamishin Ryu now known as the Shindenkan. Today there are many arts taught that claim lineage to Kamishin Ryu. In 2006, Harold Martin named Darrell Collins as inheritor by lineage succession of his Nippon Kobudo Rengokai organization which includes the Shorinji Tetsu-Kempo / Nippon Kamishin Ryu. As you can see, the art of Kamishin Ryu has a past filled with changes and divisions as do most arts when it's head-master dies prematurely. Unfortunately, these divisions and factions continue to this day.Nippon Kobudo Rengokai The Nippon Kobudo Rengokai or "NKR" was officially founded by Church Sensei in Japan, in 1968 to act as a "covering" organization of his inherited art. The NKR has several active instructor level seniors, who were trained by Church sensei, helping Collins sensei as a Kai Instructor board. This board helps Collins sensei by giving input to ensure the system is being carried on in the manner in which Church sensei was instructing. The Senior Technical Advisors are Harold Martin, Dai-Soke, Shorinji Tetsu-Ken Kamishin Ryu-NKR, Ron Cherry, Kaiso, Shorinji Toraken Ryu-AKKA and Toni Annesi, Kaiso, Takeshin Ryu-Bushido Kai. The senior student/instructors include black belts such as Charles Stanley, Kyoshi-Shichidan, George Newkirk, Kyoshi-Shichidan, Tom Laquiere, Renshi-Rokudan and Jim Murphy, Shihan-Godan.