Born in Lebanon (1973) Kyle Kamal Helou began his studies of Japanese traditional arts in the United States of America in January 1997. He began his training in Karate with Mr. John McClary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Shortly after, he started formal lessons in Shakuhachi with Mr. Steven Rowland in Princeton, New Jersey. Mr. Rowland is a senior student of Mr. Ralph Samuelson. In September 2001, Kyle moved to Japan and began full time Karate and Shakuhachi studies.
Residing at the Teikyo University (T.U)dormitory for Karate students, in Hachiyoji, Tokyo, he trained with the T.U Karate Team for six months under the instruction of Mr. Masao Kagawa. T.U is known for its toughest training and strongest Karate team in Japan. In addition, he began weekly private Shakuhachi lessons with Mr. Christopher Yohmei Blasdel, studying the Kinko-ryu Shakuhachi of Mr. Goro Yamaguchi. He also began private lessons in Shakuhachi with Mr. Kinya Sogawa, studying the Doukyoku Shakuhachi of Watazumido and Yokoyama Katsuya, in addition to lessons in the making of the instrument.
In March 2002, having decided to remain in Japan, Kyle relocated close to the Headquarters of the Japan Karate Shoto-Federation (JKS) where he trained during the regular members classes until March 31st, 2005.
Having started a family late in 2002 and after four very trying years of combined university training and JKS Headquarters training leading up to the examination for the Instructor Training Program Candidacy, Kyle was admitted as a three-year Instructor Trainee (Shugyosei) on the JKS Instructor Training Program.
On April 1st, the beginning of the 2005 fiscal year, along with Shinji Nagaki and Takuro Nihei, 9 years his juniors, Kyle began his training as an Instructor Trainee of the JKS under the tutelage of JKS Technical Director Mr. Masao Kagawa. Three years later, to the day, April 1st, 2008, Kyle completed and graduated from this program.
In August 2008 Kyle received his Associate Master of Shakuhachi from the Chikumeisha Shakuhachi Guild under the tutelage of Christopher Yohmei Blasdel.
Appointed by Mr. Kagawa as the Director of JKS Middle East, Kyle is now in Lebanon establishing his own JKS Shotokan Karate Dojo. The name for his Dojo is Shinkukan. Daily classes in Karate are available for children and adults, women and men of all ages.
One of his tasks and personal goals is to build a strong JKS in the Middle East by developing the true spirit and techniques of Karate-do taught at the JKS Headquarters Dojo in Tokyo, Japan. He invites all regional countries to contact him for organizing seminars at which he will teach the way of Mr. Kagawa and all the JKS Headquarters Instructors, in preparation for their arrival to the Middle East to teach at the various training camps currently in the planning.
Kyle is also teaching and performing a combination of both styles of Shakuhachi that he studied in Japan, including the Watazumido style of Mr. Sogawa and the Kinko-ryu style of Mr. Blasdel.
He can be contacted directly at:
Listen to Daha
recorded live at Hikarigauka Park, by
Kyle Kamal Helou