Martial Arts Bio of Sensei Rittersporn
My name is Stephen Rittersporn. I’m a professional Computer artist. The images on this site were created with Adobe PhotoShop. All Illustrations are copyrighted by Stephen Rittersporn.

I’ve been involved in martial arts for over twenty–seven years. My first style of study was Shotokan Karate under Sensei Vincent Butta; our dojo at the time was located across the street from the Armory on Kingsbridge Road in the Bronx. I was with Sensei Butta for over two years. Due to my job, I was unable to continue my study of Shotokan.

At New York University’s Coles Sports Facility, Shiro Oishi found me practicing kata. He invited me down to his Friday afternoon Judo Class. Sensei Oishi enjoyed toying with me during Randori. He liked to sit on my lungs during Ne waza. Oishi always told his students “throw him (me) harder, he one tough sun of a gun.” Thanks a lot Shiro. Also, his students enjoyed having some fresh meat to abuse. Judo made me much stronger in the upper body. Due to this new found strength, Joe, a vicious fighter in my Shotokan class was unable to intimidate me.

One evening at Coles, I found this guy (Sensei Michael Blackhurst) teaching thirty students from the dental school. I observed that his style of karate was different from Shotokan. The stances were narrower and therefore more maneuverable. Also, I noticed that their first kata, Seisan (Hangetsu in Shotokan) was far more advanced than the Heian katas that I knew. At that time, Shorin-ryu taught Seisan first. They did this to weed out the weak minded students.

I was hooked, hook, line and sinker. I had to get in this class. At their very next class I was struggling with a new style of Karate. I wasn’t the baddest, the strongest, nor was I the fastest. But, for some reason or another our class got smaller and smaller until it was me and Sensei Blackhurst. Sensei Blackhurst helped make me the martial artist that I’m today. Before leaving the New York area, Sensei Blackhurst tested me for Shodan.

After that, I became a martial arts gypsy. I was involved in Isshin-ryu under Sensei Tony Schiffano, American Goju under Sensei Sam Lewis, and Matsubayashi Shorin-ryu with Sensei Scott Ashley. Soon, I became Scott Ashley’s assistant instructor. Our class was doing very well, until Sensei Ashley’s pro kick boxing career took off. I went on vacation, came back and discovered that three people including myself were present on the floor. I asked, “where is everyone?” Apparently, Sensei Ashley was sparring with too much contact for the civilians. I wasn’t there to take the beating for them. Soon after, Sensei Ashley moved to Miami Florida.

At New York University, Chris Jurak formed the Martial Arts Science Collective. I became their faculty advisor for this group. Our group had people from several styles getting together and exchanging techniques. Our demos made NYU’s Tae Kwon Do class look bad. Due to politics with the NYU administration our group dissolved.

It was during this time I found myself at the Bi-Wako dojo for a Model Mugging graduation. Allison (a Model Mugging graduate) saw me practicing Karate at Coles and invited me to their graduation. I had arrived early and found the place to my liking. I’ve been there since.

I continued my studies of Okinawan Shorin-ryu Karate. I studied with Sensei Jerry Gould of Renton, Washington; he promoted me to Nidan. October, 1993* I finally meet and train with Hanshi Shimabukuro Eizo; he tested and promoted me to Sandan. I spent several days with Grand Master Shimabukuro. He was very concerned with the philosphy and historical lineage of Okinawan Shorin Karate. Grand Master Eizo Shimabukuro is very concerned about maintaining our kata’s purity. Don’t change the kata.

The goju kata Seiyunchin means to control, pull and attack. It refers to controlling an opponent and then pulling him off-balance (kuzushi) while attacking him at the moment of weakness. So one can see why Jujutsu and Karate go hand in hand. Jujutsu has opened my eyes in the traditional Shorin-ryu kata that I practice. Upon further examination, my katas are not just blocking, kicking, and punching. The old masters were too smart for that. There are several throws and joint locks in the traditional Okinawan Karate katas. I know I’m not the first, nor am I the last person to discover that traditional Okinawan Karate katas are Jujutsu. It is amazing to me that many black belts and sensei alike have no concept of bunkai. Why do kata - if you can’t use it. This is why I believe Bruce Lee referred to the traditional Karate kata as a “classical mess.”

Sometimes one has to step outside his or her art to understand their art. This is what I’ve done. Jujutsu has brought me to the door. Jujutsu has left me with the key to unraveling the inner teachings of karate. Without the inner teachings of karate one can’t carry on the teachings of the old masters of karate. The most important thing that comes to mind is, as one investigates other martial arts, one learns the same thing from different perspectives. Now I don’t have all of the answers, but at least I have some of the questions. Jujutsu gives the practitioner the ability to control or destroy their opponent as he or she deems fit.

Grand Master Eizo Shimabukuro promoted me to Rokudan during his 2005 tour of the USA.

Lineage of Author
 *Studied Okinawan Shorin-ryu Karate under Grand Master Eizo Shimabukuro

** I'm not sure if Sensei Butta officially had his club listed or recognized by any of the main JKA groups
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