Albert C. Church Jr., Jusandai-Soke (13th generation head-family), began studying Aiki-jujutsu and Judo in 1939 at the age of nine years old. Seven years later in 1946 at the age of sixteen, Church sensei opened his first Jujutsu school at the Birmingham Alabama athletic club.

   Four years later at the age of twenty, Church sensei joined the U.S. Marines and left for a two year tour of duty in Korea. It was here in Korea during the Korean war that Church sensei met and began training with Kim Chi Wang in So Rim Sa Churl Kwon Bup.

   In 1952 Church sensei returned to the United States and re-established his Jujutsu school, this time adding the teachings of Wang sensei's (Wang sensei used his Japanized name

Kin Ki-Oh in Japan) Churl Kwon Bup to his curriculum. Church sensei continued teaching these arts and training in other arts such as Shito Ryu and Hakko Ryu as well.

   In 1967, at the age of thirty-seven, Church sensei received word that Ki-Oh sensei was very ill. Ki-Oh sensei requested that Church sensei come to Japan to be with him (Ki-Oh sensei moved to Japan in 1956 for medical treatment). Church sensei moved his family to the Kanagawa area of Japan in 1967. While there he trained with several Japanese Masters including his sensei, Kim Chi Wang (Kin Ki-Oh) in the "family" art of Shorinji Tetsu-Kempo (Japanese name of style), Kuniba Shogo, Motobu Ha Shito Ryu Karate-do, Hayashi Teruo, Seishinkai Jujutsu and Okuyama Ryuho, Hakko Ryu Jujutsu.

   In Nov.1967 Ki-Oh sensei died, passing on the inheritance of Shorinji Tetsu-Kempo to Church sensei. In 1969 Kuniba sensei prepared a scroll of recognition of Church sensei as Head-Family (Soke) of Shorinji Tetsu-Kempo / Nippon Kamishin Ryu and Kaicho of the newly founded Nippon Kobudo Rengokai.

  Church sensei moved his family back to the U.S. in late 1969 and began formalizing the teachings of his art of Shorinji Tetsu-Kempo / Kamishin Ryu. In 1977, Church sensei created the Kamishinkai International and passed the Nippon Kobudo Rengokai to Harold Martin, Soke-Dai.

  In 1980, at the young age of fifty, Albert C. Church Jr. died.

  Church sensei's memory lives on through the many students he touched during his life (and the lives of those he touched through his art even after his death).