Angel Lemus began studying the martial arts at the age of 11 in Miami, Florida in the art of Judo. Over the years he competed in Judo tournaments on local, regional, and national levels and became a life member of the United States Judo Association (USJA). He remained active in Judo competitions until the age of 21 and attained the rank of Shodan (black belt 1st degree).

At the age of 16 while continuing his training in Judo he began an informal study of Karate at a local community center working with Coral Gables police officers who had organized a martial arts study group and offered women’s self defense classes. At age 19 he joined the Sansei Gojuryu Karate Association under Manny Saavedra, and competed heavily in the southern Florida tournament circuit. He attained the rank of Sandan (black belt 3rd degree) under this style.

When he was 23, he decided to look into other styles and switched to Shorin-Ryu Karate under his long time (unofficial) mentor Tim Rodgers, who had founded the Miami Seibukan Dojo. Sensei Lemus has continued training in Kyan-Ha Shorinji-Ryu Karate, and in 1996 attained the rank of Sandan under the International Seibukan Karatedo Association (ISKA).

In 1996 Sensei Lemus left the ISKA and became a co-founder of the Okinawa Shorinji-Ryu Zentokukai Tode alongside Tim Rodgers, Jim Pizii and Walter Dailey. Sensei Lemus currently holds the rank of Hachidan in the Zentokukai and is the Association’s Vice President working to promote Shorinji-Ryu and Okinawan arts and has introduced the art in Italy with the Assistant of Bruno Ballardini Sensei and now there are several Dojos in Italy, Germany, Peru and Colombia.

Angel Lemus sensei

In early 2013 Lemus Sensei became aware of the rare Kojo-Ryu style through Chris "Kazuo" Hoshiyama Sensei and began studying this ancient style which is considered Okinawa’s oldest family style going back to the 1700’s. Kojo is the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese name "Csai", the Okinawan Hogen pronunciation is "Kogusuku" or "Kochiro", this family is catalogued as one of the famous 36 families who traveled to Okinawa in 1392 to establish cultural ties when Okinawa became a vassal to China. Lemus Sensei is the Kojoryu Karate Kobudo Association’s Vice President and holds the rank of Rokudan (6th Dan) and continues to practice and teach the style to a select few across the world.

In 2017 after previously meeting several members of the ZKKR, Lemus Sensei met Hanshi Greg Lindquist during a trip to Hawaii. During this trip friendships were formed and Lemus Sensei began his study of Oyakata Kobujitsu and thus became the first (outsider) member of the Okakata Kobujitsu division of the ZKKR and continues to learn and teach this ancient Kobujitsu style. Lemus Sensei came to Oyakayata Kobujitsu with many years of Kobudo experience and holds rank in both Matayoshi-Ryu and Yamanni-Ryu Kobudo.

In addition to his devotion to Okinawan arts, Lemus Sensei has studied other arts such as Aikido, Jujitsu, and Chen Style Taichi Chuan.

Sadly Angel Lemus sensei passed away suddenly on May 02, 2023

Originally from zkkrkarate.com with grateful thanks to Judy Lemus

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