As happens so often, the history of a martial style or system is confusing, conflicting and sketchy. What follows is meant to be accurate, but since the history has been passed down by word of mouth, it will undoubtedly contain a few errors.

This particular branch of Goju-Shorei started in the middle to late 1950’s. Robert Huggins was stationed in Okinawa, during the Korean Conflict, and learned Goju-Ryu from Gogen Yamaguchi, as well as some other of that nation’s empty hand styles. Returning to St. Louis, Sandan Huggins started teaching a karate style that he called Goju-Shorei to Donald Baker. After a few years of instruction, Mr. Huggins left for Chicago never to be heard from again.

Donald Baker, who also had a background in Kong Soo Do, Judo and Jujitsu, began teaching Goju-Shorei to the just discharged Marine, Stanford McNeal, in 1963. Grand Master Baker remained the head of Goju-Shorei until his retirement in the 1980s, at which time the leadership of Goju-Shorei was passed on to Mr. McNeal.

Grand Master Alexander Archie started his martial arts training in 1951, studying Kodakan Judo. He later broadened his studies to include Kodenkan Jujitsu, Goju-Ryu Karate, TaeKwon Do, Kung Fu and Kenpo Karate. In 1968 he began his studies of Shudokan Karate and Goju-Shorei Karate under Grand Master Stanford McNeal. In 1999, Grand Master McNeal founded the Kifaru Jitsu Academy of Martial Arts (K.J.A.M.A.).

In 2001, Grand Master McNeal appointed Grand Master Alexander Archie as head of Goju-Shorei Systems. Master Dave McNeill was named the head of Goju-Shorei Weapons.