377 years of experience in the fighting arts backed us up.

Dr. Jigoro Kano, founder of modern Judo, was born in the seaside town of Kikage near Kobe in the Hyogo Prefecture, on October 28, 1860 he move with his family to Tokio in 1871. As a pacifist, he studied martial arts to find a way to live in peace with other human beings. In his youth Kano studied Jujutsu under a number of different senseis. Sensei Teinosuke Yagi was his first teacher, but at the age of 18 he entered the dojo of Sensei Hachinosuke Fukuda. he studied the Kito tradition under Sensei Iikubo. By his mid- twenties, Shihan Kano had been initiated into the secret teachings of both ryus. Kano's search for a unifying principle for the techniques he learned led him to the first principle of Judo. One should use the energy of one's opponent to defeat his aggression. To propagate his new art Kano founded the Kodokan Judo in 1882.

Kano built his system around three sets of techniques:

Throwing techniques (nage waza), were divided into two:

1. Standing techniques (tachi waza): hand throws (te waza), hip throws (koshi waza) and foot throws (ashi waza).

2. Sacrifice techniques (sutemi waza): full sacrifice throws (ma sutemi waza) and side sacrifice throws (yoko sutemi waza).

Groundwork techniques (katame waza), were divided into three:

1. Pinning techniques (osaekomi waza).

2. Joint locks (kansetsu waza).

3. Strangulations (shime waza).

Striking techniques (atemi waza) they were taught exclusively to high ranks. They include fists, elbows, hand-edges, fingers, knees and feet as striking points. Atacks to the upper (ude ate) and lower (ashi ate) limbs.

To complete the transition from jutsu (martial art) to Do (way of life), Shihan Kano added a strict code of humanitarian philosophy and ethics to his newly created system. Kodokan instructors and students were expected from the beginning to be outstanding examples of honest conduct, sincerity and good character. Among all the students that judo created we are going to focus on Masahiko Kimura as part of our lineage..

Masahiko Kimura was born on September 10, 1917 in Kumamoto, Japan. At the age of 16, after 6 years of judo, he was promoted to 4th dan. He had defeated 6 opponents (which were all 3rd and 4th dan) in a row. He obtained his 5th dan in judo at the age of 18. He stood 170 cm (5'6") tall and weighed 84 kg (185 pounds). In 1935 at age 18 he became the youngest godan (5th degree black belt) ever when he defeated 8 consecutive opponents at the Kodokan Judo Institute. At the age of 29 he obtained his 7th dan in judo, he is undoubtedly the greatest Judoka ever lived. In 1937 at the age of 20 Masahiko Kimura won the All Japan Championship. And for the next 13 years he was undefeated before he retired.

Ko-Sen Judo Championship Competition team (1936).

In October 1935 Kimura won his first major title, the All-Japan Collegiate Championships. Kimura was the first student allowed to compete in the professional division at the All Japan Judo Championships held in October 1937. All-Japan Champion (1937-1939).

Ten-Ran Shiai Champion (1940). The Ten-Ran shiai was a tournament held in the presence of the Japanese emperor.

West Japan Judo Champion (1947).

3rd National athletic judo tournament Champion held in Fukuoka (1948).

All Japan Judo Champion (1948).

All Japan Judo Champion (1949).

Shortly after defending his All Japan Judo title in 1949, Kimura accepted the position as chief Judo instructor for the metropolitan police in Tokyo. The commencement of the position would begin in April 1950. Professional Judo Champion (1950).

Masahiko Kimura learned legitimate Catch-As-Catch-Can while working as a Professional Wrestler for Rikidozan in the early 1950s. Later Kimura would go on to beat Helio Gracie with the bread and butter hold of catch wrestling, the double wrist lock, in judo this lock is known as Ude Garami, and the brazilian jiu jitsu practitioners name it the kimura

 Vale tudo champion in Brazil defeating Helio Gracie (1951). 

In July 1951 Kimura and two other fellow Japanese Judoka were asked to compete in Brazil. Kimura at age 34 was accompanied by a 240 pound (110kg) college champion Yamaguchi (6th degree black belt at the time) and Kado (5th degree black belt). It was to be a Judo/Jiu-jitsu fight.

Kado accepted a challenge from Helio Gracie -- Brazilian champion for 20 years. The loser was determined by tapping out due to a choke or armbar, or by being knocked out of commission. Ippon (clean powerful throws) or Osaekomi (pinning) would have no effect on the results of competition. During Kado's fight he threw Gracie several times. Gracie, who was in excellent condition, demonstrated Ukemi, breaking the throws with little injury. After 10 minutes of frustration, Kado decided to apply a choke. However, the masterful Gracie applied his own choke rendering Kado unconscious. With Kado's passing-out, Gracie was declared the winner and became a national hero of Brazil!

Weeks later, Gracie challenged the remaining two team members, either Yamaguchi or Kimura, to a match. Yamaguchi refused for fear of injury, however Kimura accepted the challenge. There were 20,000 spectators present. A coffin was brought in by Gracie's followers. Presumably, Kimura was to be killed by Gracie. On the day of the match, the President and Vice President of Brazil attended at ringside.

During the fight, Kimura threw Gracie repeatedly with Ippon-seoinage (one arm shoulder throw), Osoto-gari (major outer reap), and Harai-goshi (sweeping hip/loin). He also included painful suffocating grappling techniques such as Kuzure-kamishiho-gatame (modified upper four corner hold), Kesa-gatame (scarf hold), Sankaku-gatame (triangle hold). Gracie proved to be a formidable opponent refusing to surrender after 12 minutes of grueling fight. Kimura then took Gracie down with an Osoto-gari followed by Kuzure-kamishiho-gatame. During the battle that followed, Gracie bridged out of the pin and right into Kimura's Ude-garami (chicken-wing arm lock). The arm bar must have been painful but when Gracie refused to surrender, Kimura applied yet more pressure, and as a result Gracie suffered a broken left elbow.

Even with the broken elbow, Gracie still refused to give up, so his corner "threw in the towel". Kimura was declared the winner by TKO. Although Kimura won the actual fight, it was acknowledged that Gracie had great fighting spirit and will. Kimura later applauded Gracie's tremendous will to win.

Helio Gracie: Any way, a fearful throw by Kimura remains vivid in my mind. It was very impressive to see that Kimura made the opponent KOed with one throw." "----,but I was in his control as soon as we stood close to each other. I had no time to even hold or grapple him..----I was then taken to the ground, and I got choked at first. It was difficult to breathe- "If Kimura had continued to choke me, I would have died for sure. But since I didn't give up, Kimura let go of the choke and went into the next technique .Being released from the choke and the pain from the next technique revived me and I continued to fight."

In March 1955, Masahiko Kimura went to Mexico to do pro-wrestling matches and to teach judo. (In this moment he meet Master Daniel Hernandez and became training partners and teacher).

Valetudo Champion in Brazil (1959).

Kimura returned to teach Judo at Tokushoku University in 1960. He trained a few world-class Judokas, Douglas Rogers (Canadian, silver-medallist at Tokyo Olympics), Masaki Nishimura (bronze-medallist at Munich Olympics), and Kaneo Iwatsuri (All Japan champion 1970). Masahiko Kimura Sensei, the greatest Judo Legend passed away on April 18, 1993 of Lung Cancer at the age of 75.

Grand master Daniel Hernandez was born in the city of Cordova, Veracruz Mexico on May 12, 1926. Grand Master Hernandez is considered the Father of the martial arts in Mexico. He was the first black belt in Mexico. Grand Master Hernandez presently holds an eighth degree black belt in his style. He has the highest degree internationally. Grand Sensei Daniel Hernandez was student of Sensei Masahiko Kimura. Sensei Masahiko Kimura was a Japanese champion for 13 years, which has never been repeated by another martial artist in the world. Sensei Hernandez was a pioneer for Kendo on Mexican television in 1952. He also helped with the promotion of Kung Fu in 1958 and Karate Do in 1962. He contributed to the promotion of Aikido in Mexico. He was the first to bring the fourth Pan-American games of Judo to Mexico and the sixth World Championship of Judo in 1969. He is member of the Mexican Hall of Fame. O sensei Daniel Hernandez learned most of his Ju-Jutsu from his grandfather and father in the fields of Cordova, Veracruz. At an early age, O Sensei Hernandez learned Jiu-Jitsu from the masters of Japan. O Sensei Hernandez was a superb athlete. He won many judo, karate, and Greco Roman, free style and catch-can wrestling matches. In Mexico, and abroad, he was selected to represent his country in the Olympic games of Helsinki. O Sensei Hernandez brought most of the organized martial arts to Mexico. He opened the first dojo for martial arts in Mexico City. Thanks to O Sensei Daniel Hernandez, hundreds of capable Ju-Jutsu, Judo, Aikido, and Karate Do black belts own schools in Mexico. O Grand Sensei Daniel Hernandez possesses more than 60 years of knowledge in the art of Ju-Jutsu. Unfortunately, he is still relatively unknown in the world. He is one of the true living masters in the world. He has expertise and knowledge in combative Jiu-Jitsu. Unfortunately, very few are benefiting from his knowledge. The United States Martial Artist Association inducted O Grand Sensei Daniel Hernandez to the Hall of fame on July 31, 1999.

Lifetime achievements:

First in organize a national federation.

Founder and president of the first Mexican federation of judo and jujutsu (1957).

President of the first black belt association in Mexico.

Treasurer and vice-president of the Pan-American judo association.
First in organize national and states championships in Mexico.

In 1958 he travel to Brazil to compete for Mexico at the Judo Pan-Americans.
Member of the French Judo federation since 1961.

He organizes the fourth Pan-American Judo championship in Mexico in 1960.

In 1969 he organize the VI world judo championship with Mr. Robert Kenny.

In 1993 the Mexican Judo Federation grant him the 8 dan red belt.

He has all his grades recognized by the world judo federation.

He is recognized at the hall of fame for his great teachings in the Mexican sports confederation.

He gave martial arts instruction to the Mexican army, police and government agencies.

His biggest pride is to be the teacher of the best Mexican martial arts teachers among them just to name a few are:
Rafael Navarro 7º Dan Professor del IPN.
Carlos Espinoza Professor de la UNAM
Adolfo Sosa Professor del IMSS
Profr. Gabriel Golshmied President of the Judo Mexican federation.

Antonio Márquez López President of the Okinawa Karate Do clubs

Hanshi Luis Zavalza Reyes honorary president and founder of Sei Shin Kan.

Rigoberto López founder of Lima Lama in Mexico.

Francisco Rojas President of the Samurai organization.

 Hanshi Luis Zavalza Reyes (A mixed martial arts genius) was born on August 4, 1934 in Mexico City, Mexico. He started his martial arts career training Ju-Jutsu, Greco Roman, Free Style and Catch-Can-Wrestling in 1962 with Master Daniel Hernandez. In 1967 he started learning Tegumi, Full Contact karate and Kobu-Do under Hanshi Isao Ichikawa. After 6 years of wrestling and Ju-Jutsu he graduate as a black belt in 1964 and after 6 years of Tegumi, Full Contact Karate and Kobu-Do training he graduated as a black belt in 1973. Hanshi Luis Zavalza became the top student and teacher in Mexico under Hanshi Isao Ichikawa. On May 12, 1988 Public Accountant Luis Zavalza Reyes, Doctor Guillermo Reza Trocino, Doctor Ottmar Gosebruch Herdocia, Attorney Salvador Peña Zavala and Master Sergio Diaz del Rio founded Sei-Shin-Kan a martial arts institute dedicated to teach and learn all aspects of martial arts and weapons training from the Asian fighting systems including Judo, Ju-jutsu, Tegumi, Full Contact Karate, Muay thai, Kobudo, kyusho-jutsu, Kali (sectoring, trapping, nerve hitting), Wing-chung, Aikido, Kendo, just to name a few, to the Western disciplines including Boxing, Greco, free style and catch-can-wrestling. French Savate, kettlebells, Tactical gun fighting, Tactical Knife fighting, and Impact Weapons was also thought. From all his martial arts knowledge and the blending of the arts to make them become one and the same, Hanshi Luis Zavalza developed the Counter Assault Tactical System and was voted president and representative of Sei-Shin-Kan for life. He was promoted to Shihan 8th dan in Mexico City at the age of 69, and on April 12, 2008 he was promoted Hanshi 10th degree red belt in Mexico City, the highest rank our association honors. 

 He has trained thousands of Mexicans and hundreds of them have become Black belts graduating with honors under his tutelage. Some of his students are top secret service agents, bodyguards, professional soldiers and some of his non-military students have become national champions in Judo and Full Contact Karate. He has even trained some Olympic athletes in Judo, Greco Roman and Free Style Wrestling.

For all of his effort and hard work through out the years, we as his students want to dedicate this website to him and his legacy. Thank you for all your care, love, patience, honesty and bravery. Hanshi Luis Zavalza we love you, admire you, and respect you.