James Alton Caldwell was born 20 January 1952 at the William Beaumont hospital, Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, where his father was stationed with the U.S. Army. Shortly after his father was released from the army he returned to his home in San Angelo, Texas Jim was raised. Sports activities there were limited to the usual baseball, football, basketball, and band. Although Jim's father worked for the post office, he had a passion for music which was expressed by playing in the school band and with the 65th U.S. National Guard Army Band. James was almost predestined to follow in his fathers footsteps in some form of music. The Caldwell family belonged to Southern Baptist church which had a fine music program and young Jim joined the youth choir at the age of five. When he turned eleven (seventh grade) he entered the junior high band as a clarinet player. The next year he switched to bass clarinet, which he continued to play while in college, at Angelo State University where he earned a spot in the First College All State Band in the State of Texas.

Since junior high school Jim Caldwell had an interest in the martial arts, especially karate and had a strong desire to go to Japan. He realized his dreams when he joined the U.S.Navy in 1970. After his stint with navy he entered college at ASU graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Drama and German language in 1977 and a U.S.Air Force R.O.T.C., officer's commission. James Caldwell rose to captain, retired in 1990, and joined the Air force Reserve. He was called back to active duty during Operation Desert Storm. During Operation Desert Storm where he was worked with battle damage assessment. He retired as a Major 25 May 1997.

In 1971, James A. Caldwell started his study of karate-do in Sasebo, Japan in the style Shorin Ryu under tutelage of Yoriyuki Yasuzato (Japanese for Azato) while stationed there in the U.S.Navy. Yasuzato sensei was the grandson of the great Okinawan karate teacher Anko Azato. After studying the Shorin Ryu curriculum to Sho Dan (1st degree) he resigned from Shorin Ryu to start his study of So Ryu Karate-Do under the So Ryu Founder, Michio Koyasu. Soke Koyasu was a student of Dai Shihan Kanken Toyama, founder of Shu Do Kan Ryu Karate-Do. Later in Shihan Caldwell's career, because there was no governing organization for Soryu Karate-Do in the US., Soke Koyasu granted Sensei Caldwell permission to establish the foundation for the All Japan Soryu Karate-Do Federation, U.S.A. around 1987. Soke Koyasu felt, along with Sensei Caldwell, that establishing a U.S. organization would help standardize the Soryu Karate-Do curriculum world wide and provide a positive direction for all U.S. Soryu Karate-Do practitioners as well as diversify its leadership. Sensei Caldwell earned his GoDan (6th degree) with his Shihan instructor degree on 11 February 1990. He received a special name, Tatsuo Koyasu (Tatsuo meaning Dragon person). In the name Tatsuo, Soke Koyasu used the "o" character from Michio. It is considered a great honor in Japanese culture when a person bestows a portion of his name to another. It is a sign of great devotion and closeness. As a requirement for his GoDan Sensei Caldwell created a kata named Shin Ryu No Kata (meaning Dragon Spirit Kata). Assigning a name and the kata creation requirement were originally from the Toyama/Shu Do Kan Ryu tradition, which followed the ancient martial arts tradition. Shihan Caldwell was appointed as the chairman of the All Japan Soryu Karate-Do Federation, U.S.A. by Soke Michio Koyasu, 10 September 1991. At the same time he declared Shin Ryu Kan, Shihan Caldwell's school in Omaha, Nebraska as the U.S. headquarters. Shihan Caldwell received his Roku Dan (6th degree ) 12 March 1992. Nana Dan (7th degree) was achieved 15 March 1995. Finally, Soke Koyasu awarded Shihan Caldwell with Shihankan (Grand Master Instructor) 25 June 1996.

Shihan Caldwell had received elementary training and exposure to Okinawa Kobu-Do in both Sho Rin Ryu and Soryu Karate-Do. Both of these styles had limited training available in Okinawa Kobu-Do. They both focused on the Roku Shaku Bo and the Sai. Primarily, they only taught kata. Shihan Caldwell always felt there was more to Okinawa Kobu-Do than what he had been exposed to. In 1982, Shihan Caldwell was assigned to Offutt AFB, Nebraska while in the U.S. Air Force. While in Omaha, Shihan Caldwell came across Shihan Mikio Nishiuchi. Shihan Nishiuchi presented his Okinawa Kobudo as a separate martial art which went far beyond doing just kata. It included kihon, kata, and kumite as well as bunkai for the kata. Thirteen weapons were studied in the curriculum. Shihan Nishiuchi was a part of and associated with the All Okinawa Kobu-Do Association founded and headed by Shimpo Matayoshi. Shihan Caldwell contacted Soke Michio Koyasu and requested permission to study this system of kobu-do as opposed to the Soryu Karate-Do version. Soke Koyasu was excited that Shihan Caldwell had found such an organization in the U.S. fully endorsing and stating that the All Okinawa Kobu-Do Association far exceeded anything that Soryu Karate-Do had to offer. Being enthralled at finding this association and Soke Koyasu's endorsement, Shihan Caldwell began his study of Okinawa Kobu-Do with Shihan Nishuchi 16 July 1984. Shihan Caldwell was promoted to Sho Dan (1st Degree) in Okinawa Kobu-Do 6 January 1988. Shihan Caldwell was finally promoted to Go Dan (5th Degree) 13 June 1995. Shihan Nishiuchi recognized Sensei Caldwell's long dedication by promoting him to Shihan, Instructor degree, in kobu-do 12 October 1996 being the third person in the International Okinawa Kobu-Do Association to receive the Shihan title.

Shihan Caldwell became a charter member of the original organization in 1984 and when Shihan Nishiuchi founded the International Okinawa Kobu-Do Association in 1990 he became a founding charter member.

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Major James Caldwell, USAF (Ret) USJJF General Secretary Regional Representative for Nebraska

Major James Caldwell, USAF (Ret)
USJJF General Secretary
Regional Representative for Nebraska