I-run body…
If you ever talk to a western sensei and he tells you that he is a recognized Soke (grandmaster) in Japan or even Okinawa, then your evaluation of his integrity should have to go no further. The Japanese just try and “keep it at home” when it comes to conferring Sokeship. The Okinawans are the same, and will always pass on Grandmaster status to family members or senior Okinawan students. I don’t even think that there is one Mainland Japanese Okinawan Karate Soke, let alone a Gaijin (foreign devil).
As for his relationships with the various Sensei pictured on the TLC program; well for one Fusei Kise, recognized by many Matsumura Seito practitioners as being the unofficial head of Matsumura Orthodox Shorin Ryu, as far as I know, never trained this guy for any significant length of time. True, Shorin does teach Iron Body, but it is a small part of the overall training. There are many Goju styles that do a harder form of Iron Body, but I doubt that their systems entail training for the sole purpose of being the invincible uke (defender).
Most of those pics were of the “Hey great seminar, can I get a picture with you sir” variety, and not the “Master with trusted disciple” type. My sensei was a senior student of Fusei Kise in the 60’s-80’s and he laughs when I tell him this cats antics and claims. This “soke” and George Dillman must be long lost brothers. They present a superficial understanding of Chi Gong and pressure points as an all encompassing fighting form. Just think about it…
As for the science behind Juko-Kai. Black Jack and others have commented on the strength and technique behind the performance of blows on uke. The human body is quite resilient when it comes to taking physical punishment. Ever seen that “Backyard Wrestling” video advertisement? Pain acclimation (desensitization)can teach a person to tolerate most single strikes to even a vital point. How many of the attackers were raining blows on the defenders from odd angles and with pinpoint techs like nukite (spear to front of throat), occlusion of just the carotids with even the thumb and forfngers, middle- or one-knuckle strikes to the temple or mastoid process, armbars, rear-naked chokes with constant pressure for prolonged periods, side- or treading kicks to the front of the knee, or a myriad other single or multiple strikes to places like under the chin (fracturing the hyoid bone and swelling the soft tissue, occluding your airway)?
He’s playing on the publics lack of MAs conditioning knowledge. Anyway most Grandmasters don’t go around saying they are Grandmasters, you just know they are, especially if they’re any good at what they have mastered. This dude probably got a first degree BB in Goju Ryu or something, and saw how the Hojo Undo (supplementary training) could be utilized as a new slant on traditional karate training (gimmick=$$$). You would think that if most of his students were BBs in other styles before switching to Juko-Kai (especially in Shorei or Shorin) they would have a clue. Guess that’s the state of MAs.
I know for sure he is not a Matsumura Seito Shorin Yudansha (BB), so when I saw him posing with Kise I laughed. Then I told my instructor, and he laughed. Oh well, at least in the USA he won’t have a shortage of Sado-Masochists to continue paying his bills.
In summary: I would be very suspicious of this guys motives. I’ve heard of the art of fighting without fighting, but not fighting by getting beat up. You might not last that long in the ring or the real world with the attitude of being a human makiwara.