The Formation of National Karate Jiu Jitsu Union (NKJU)

This blog is certain to raise a few eyebrows, and may stir some controversy. Below are the FACTS as related to me by Richard P. Baillargeon and witnessed by myself as I was actually there.

It was 1974 shortly after the Seishin Kai Karate Union Summer Camp, held in Keezletown, VA that year, when Sensei Thomas L. Bentley received a letter informing member dojo of the dismissal of Richard P. Baillargeon as USA Honbucho of Seishin Kai Karate Union. Baillargeon had held that position since he returned to the USA in 1964. It was Baillargeon who had began the USA Branch of Seishin Kai in the first place. He had given Soke Shogo Kuniba $10,000.00 USD for the right to organize Seishin Kai Karate Union in the USA. It was Baillargeon who grew the USA organization to over 5,000 members in a few short years.

It seems Soke Kuniba had come to the USA in 74 and was doing a tour of the Seishin Kai Dojo. He had just finished teaching a summer camp and was visiting dojo in the Northwest US when he decided to make the change of Honbucho. Evidently, as it turned out, Soke Kuniba wanted to raise the O-menjo (certificate) fees from the USA, Baillargeon, being the USA Honbucho refused. Soke Kuniba dismissed him! However, Soke Kuniba sent letters to all head instructors, but not Baillargeon.

Baillargeon had a meeting at his home in Valdosta, GA..... Present at the meeting were:

Richard P. Baillargeon
Joseph R. Ruiz
Barbara Ruiz

Thomas L. Bentley
Ben Parker
John Anderson
Ricky A. Adams (ME)

It was decided that Baillargeon was more accessible than Kuniba to the USA, he was a legitimate Rokudan (6th Dan) in Karate, Yondan (4th Dan) in Jiu Jitsu and all of us had witnessed Baillargeon turn down Nanadan (7th Dan) a few weeks prior at summer camp. Curiously, during the meeting, Baillargeon received a phone call from Kuniba with an interpreter to which we were all privy to. Soke Kuniba said he had made a mistake in replacing Baillargeon and wanted him to retain his position as Honbucho Baillargeon refused, as his confidence in his instructor had been damaged by his actions. Later in time Kuniba and Baillargeon would reconcile and their two organizations would work together in the USA.

At the time Baillargeon had another organization called the National Jiu Jitsu Union (NJJU). It was decided to call  the new organization the National Karate Jiu Jitsu Union (NKJU). Approximately 50% of the USA Dojo affiliated with the Seishin Kai Karate Union left and joined the NKJU. Joe Ruiz was appointed as Kata/Weapons Advisor and Thomas L. Bentley was appointed as Chief Training  Officer. Baillargeon was one of the "Ten Most Influential Martial Artist in America" (designated by "Official Karate Magazine" 1973.

This is how NKJU came into being.