Kevin Pell Hanshi

ISHIN RYU JU-JITSU

Born in 1958 in Edmonton, North London, Pell Hanshi began his martial arts career in October 1966. During his 40 years of training to date he has studied the arts of Judo, Karate, Ju Jitsu, Kung Fu, Shorinji-Kempo, Kickboxing and most recently Iaido and Kendo.

In 1982 his fascination of the striking and locking arts took him to Japan to study the art of Shorinji-Kempo at the Honbu Dojo.

In January 1990 he opened the very first Ishin Ryu school of Ju-Jitsu based in his home town of Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, in the United Kingdom.

Since early 1990, Pell Hanshi has received invitations to teach worldwide his no-nonsense style of Ju-Jitsu, attracting international attention from many of the world's leading close protection agencies and military Special Forces.

Pell Hanshi has served with the Royal Marine Reserve and the Royal Military Police. He also served as a dog handler in The Parks Police completing his service at the rank of Sergeant. From 1996, Pell Hanshi worked for six years as a professional close protection officer, having been personally invited to join an elite team drawn from Britain's Special Forces, being primarily responsible for the personal security of leading members of the United Arab Emirates.
His Ishin Ryu Ju-Jitsu clubs have had numerous television appearances both nationally and internationally. They have appeared on The James Whale Show, London Weekend Television's prime time challenge program "You Bet", The Link, Sky and Cable Television. Pell Hanshi has also appeared as an instructor in Andy McNab's highly acclaimed survival video "The S.A.S Survival Guide" where he assisted in the instruction of combat survival, and arranged the escape and evasion sequences.

Pell Hanshi appears regularly in martial arts magazines and publications both here and abroad including the internationally acclaimed best seller "The Ultimate Book of Martial Arts" in which a 32 page section is dedicated to Hanshi's Ishin Ryu school of Ju Jitsu.

On Saturday the 6th of October 2001, Pell Hanshi was inaugurated into Combat Magazines "Black Belt Hall of Fame". Pell Hanshi was presented the award by Combat Magazine's editor, Mr. Paul Clifton, in recognition of his "outstanding contribution to the Development of Martial Arts in the United Kingdom and around the world".

Pell Hanshi appeared on the front cover of the April 2002 edition of Combat Magazine, (Europe's largest martial arts publication) featuring a six page article about Pell Hanshi and his school of Ishin Ryu Ju-Jitsu covering the training philosophy, the clubs founding and the building of the Honbu Dojo.

On the 25th of October 2003, Pell Hanshi was invited to Combat Magazine's "Hall Of Fame" for a second time. During the evening's events, Mr Paul Clifton, the editor of Combat Magazine, presented Hanshi with a special award inscribed with the words "Guardian of the Martial Arts".
On the 2nd of October 2004, Pell Hanshi received a life membership to "Jutsu Akademie Harms" also known as the "Brotherhood of Martial Arts Instructors" acknowledging his recognition as the Founder and Chief Instructor of Ishin Ryu Ju-Jitsu.

In 2005, Pell Hanshi became an author when he was signed up by publishers "Barnes and Nobel" to write a book and a series of self defence cards on the subject of Ju-Jitsu. This publication, entitled Martial Arts basics - Ju-Jitsu went on to become an extremely successful training book internationally and is now enjoying its second re-print.
On the 20th of June 2008 Pell Hanshi was a made a Fellow of the institute of martial arts and sciences at Wigan, England and awarded a professorship (FIMAS) and has been invited to submit a written paper on "The history and development of martial arts, and their continued relevance in contemporary society" at this years conference.
On the 18th of September 2008, Pell Hanshi was awarded his Kudan by "The American Teachers Association of the Martial Arts" and "The International Teachers Association of the Martial Arts" via Dr. Crimi Hanshi.
Pell Hanshi also sits on the "Masters Council" of Great Britain appearing in Combat magazine on a regular basis highlighting various elements of the martial arts, from training to advice on locating a reputable club. In January 2008 Pell Hanshi wrote his second book under “Grange Books” this time a paper back entitled Martial arts basics: Ju-Jitsu which has gone on to be written in several languages. On the 25th of April 2009, Pell Hanshi received his Doctorate in Martial Science from FIMA and was elected on to the board of faculty.