My Martial Arts Lineage Project.

Genealogy, 

I am doing it, 

My genealogy...

Okay, so, I'm not talking about my Family History (which I am also doing by the way). What I am talking about it my Martial Arts Lineage! I've learned a lot since the time I started this project, I've seen how I connect to some of the founders! for example, my Shotokan lineage is really short and It looks kinda like this, directly.

 Adam Farley --- David Baize Sr. --- Hidetaka Nishiyama --- Gichin Funakoshi.

As you may or may not know, Gichin Funakoshi is the founder of what is know as Shotokan. I've always learned a lot about him, and I know a lot about my Sensei, David Baize Sr. But I never knew who his Sensei was. and there is no way to ask him now seeing as he is dead. So, I began to search.

I found a collaboration website where a group of people are working to bring a lineage of all martial arts and martial artists together. it's kind of like the Ancestry.com of martial arts. I decided to check it out.

I found that a lot of the work for Sensei Baize had already been done. I also saw a bigger picture than I had though I would find. I was able to see who Sensei Funakoshi trained under, and who their Sensei were etc... I found a lot of other historical information on some of these other martial artist who have gone on before.

I decided to again trace my lineage back with Isshinryu, (a style I am studying now). I had to ask my Sensei for a little help on this one because I have not really learned a lot about my Isshinryu history yet. I got enough information from her to make some connections, and got a direct line from me to the founder.

Adam Farley --- Jeanne Altstatt --- Dennis Lockwood --- Tom Lewis --- Tatsuo Shimabuku.

Tatsuo Shimabuku is the founder of Isshinryu. I also found who his Sensei were and from what sources his pulled to establish Isshinryu

It has been a really cool experience, I am still learning more and more about my martial arts lineage as I work on this project.

Not only do I get to work on mine lineage information, but I can help out with others! I know a thing or two about other lineages, and have been able to contribute to them as well! For example, I looked up many of the other famous martial artists like Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Chuck Norris, etc... (Yes, I'm kinda a geek about martial arts... I know... But don't tell me you wouldn't have done the same!) When I was looking at Chuck Norris I noticed that in his list of students, he was missing some students that I knew of! These students where the Osmonds (Yes I'm talking about Donny and his siblings)! So I was able to contribute that information to his lineage.

It has been a fun and educational experience for me to see this unfolding of history! I look forward to continued learning, not only in and about the martial arts, but also my martial arts heritage!

If you are interested and would like to look up your style, your lineage or you would like to get involved, you can go to this website: www.malineage.com

If you would like to see my lineage you may find it at this link: http://www.malineage.com/martial-artists/M-Adam-Farley

Feel free to comment or ask any questions. please be courteous and respectful though.