Our Japanese heritage starts with Zenko Yoshida (Approx. 1235)
This would establish the Yoshida clan's tie to the Renzai sect of Zen and Kenpo/Kempo/Kosho

After Zenko Yoshida
There were  18 Generations of Yoshida Kenpo/Kempo/Kosho Great Grand Masters whose lineage would also come through the Rinzai (Zen) sect. The Yoshidas would eventually build their own family (Rinzai) temple on Mt. Kinkai. Each generation passed on its knowledge to the next Yoshida Blood line. Yoshida Females were also taught the complete system. At any given time there might be the Great Grand Master, and several Grand Masters. It was not uncommon for many of the Great Grand Masters to simply pass their authority to the next in line. They would give up their “worldly position”, retire to a Zen mountain temple and devote the remaining years of their lives as “Zen Priests” taking all the full vows of priesthood.

(There is a misconception that the lineage was passed down through the priests - priests do no marry so there is no bloodline through which it can be passed on.

BELOW IS WHERE WE WILL START OUR MODERN HISTORY
(When time permits we will try to fill in the missing genealogy)

19th Great Grand Master of Kenpo/Kosho

Jiroku Yoshida (1818-1890)

20th Great Grand Master of Kenpo/Kosho

Sukuhei Yoshida (1853-1936)

Sukuhei Yoshida was the father of Kiyoko Yoshida (1890-1943/44),
and the Grand Father (and teacher) of Masayoshi Mitose (James)

21st GREAT GRAND MASTER                      JAMES M. MITOSE (1916-1983)

William K.S. Chow

Edmund K. Parker

Ray Arquilla

#3 Master Directly under James Mitose

Al Tracy

Al Tracy

Nidan

Sandan

Yodan

Godan

Rokudan

Shichidan

Hachidan

Kudan

Judan

2nd  Black

3rd  Black

4th   Black

5th   Black

6th   Black

7th   Black

8th   Black

9th   Black

10th Black