Thomas Barro Mitose, Soke
Kosho-Ryu Kenpo
22nd Generation Descendant


1940 Honolulu, Hawaii James M. Mitose has a son. His first, and this child would grow up surrounded by mystery, obstacles, and controversy. Life for a normal child is happy and prosperous. However, it was not to be, for the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and the lives of the Mitose family would change forever. Unfortunately in times of war it effects families and this did not leave out the Mitose family. Father and son separated, and it was not until Thomas was six years old that he would see his father, and sadly would not even know it was his father.

Unknowing to Thomas, was that the Barro family has adopted him through an arrangement made by the midwife who had delivered him. This was done due to hard times of the Mitose family and being such it was thought that by having Thomas adopted by a family that was not having the struggles as the Mitose family was having. Thomas could live in comfort and would have the chances in life to prosper.

As young Thomas was growing up, he found out through a schoolmate that he was adopted. Finding this out he would not believe what he heard, so went to his parents to seek the truth. Arrangements were made and Thomas was to meet his real mother, who was by this time separated from his real father. His real mother in talking and explaining the circumstances of the time informed him who his real father was and that he had left the islands.
Years passed and Thomas Mitose grew into a young man who left the islands to seek his fortune in life. Settling in the San Francisco area, Thomas became interested in the art of Kajukenbo, his instructor being Mr. Joe Halbuna.
It was at the age of twenty that a relative of a close friend informed Thomas that his true father was residing in Los Angeles, California. It was just a short time later that Thomas would take off and meet his true father. Meeting his father has been described as a heart felt and emotional reunion. With father and son reunited, Thomas commenced his training under his father, the 21st Great Grandmaster of Kosho Ryu Kenpo.

Thomas eagerly absorbed the knowledge of the family's art in all aspects of the philosophies and techniques, as handed down from generation to generation. Constantly sharpening his skills and understanding of the concepts that make the art one of the most thorough martial arts of today.

Unfortunately, again father and son would separate, this from a personal family matter. It was not until James Mitose was imprisoned at Folsom State Penitentiary that father and son would reunite putting differences aside. Thomas in visiting, with his father, would discuss the future of Kosho Ryu. James would talk of coming out of retirement and with Thomas open a school to teach the family art of Kosho Ryu again.

It has been thought way hasn't the son of James Mitose ever been awarded certificates in rank for the knowledge passed on to him by his father? This was once brought up to the Great Grandmaster by Thomas and others, and with a smile he replied, "you do not need any certificate because you have my blood in you, being my son." There are instructors that claim to know everything in a style, however, James Mitose disagreed with this, stating that "unless one comes from the blood line of a Grandmaster they will never have full knowledge of that art." To have one-hundred percent of a family art only the blood descendants know all.
Many would think that the most dedicated of students would surely gain the trust and love of a Grandmaster and in doing so gain all the knowledge of the art. However, there is a belief among masters from china and Japan. As the story is told, the reason for this practice was that if a Grandmaster taught all of his art to a student, this student could cause trouble for that Grandmaster. This would present problems, which at times was hard to control. So it is said that outsiders where never taught all of the art and in this way no difficulties would arise. For blood does not turn on blood in the whole of life.

During conversations and letters with his father, James Mitose would urge his son to reclaim his family name. To him, this was a way of correcting the wrong he had done his son. So it was that Thomas legally regained his correct family name, keeping the Barro in honor of his adopted parents memory of raising and giving him the chances in life to grow and prosper.

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