Gary Chang has been a dedicated practitioner of Japanese Swordsmanship since 2000. With decades of training in kendo, kenjutsu, and iaijutsu, his martial journey has spanned multiple ryūha and disciplines. He helped co-found Bushido Tanren Kenkyukai (武士道鍛錬研究会, Bushido Research Group), an organization focused on preserving and advancing traditional Japanese sword arts.

Seeking to explore the practical application of classical techniques through live sparring and pressure testing, Gary began offering classes through SoCal Swords, where his teachings found resonance among HEMA practitioners. These experiences ultimately led to the founding of Shinko-ryū Shinkenjutsu (神狐流真剣術), a system that blends traditional swordsmanship with modern combat exploration, grounded in both technical discipline and spiritual reverence.

Jieyu Wu is a modern-day Miyamoto Musashi, a wandering swordsman who travels across the nation to test his skill in open tournaments against the best fighters from multiple disciplines. Tireless in his pursuit of excellence, he has spent the last 15 years actively competing across a wide range of combat sports, including Kendo (3rd dan), Naginata (3rd dan), HEMA, Light Saber Fencing, and Mixed Weapons Fencing. His deep understanding of timing, distance, and pressure application has made him one of the most versatile and formidable swordsmen in the modern competitive scene, earning him a place in the top 1% of longsword fencers worldwide. His extensive accolades include:

• Combatcon Advanced Longsword 2023: 1st place

• Highest Longsword Hema Ranking Achieved top 1%: 71 out of 11360 fighters (March 2025), Rating: 1740.8

• Highest Saber Legion Light Saber Fencing Rank Achieved: 3 out of 180 fighters (April 2024)

• Multiple time gold medalist in Kendo, Longsword, Naginata, Light Saber Fencing tournaments.

• Made it to Longsword Open finals at Legend of the Lake using a Katana with top 1% Hema rated Fencers

• Made it to the finals using Shinai in Kendo Vs. Naginata Tournament against Dutch National Team Members

Alexandre Trinh is a kenjutsu instructor with over fourteen years of Japanese swordsmanship experience. He began his training in the classical schools of Kashima-Shinryū and Ittō-ryū, where he learned the core principles of posture, precision, and intent that define the art of the sword.

Seeking to test these classical teachings in live contexts, Alexandre spent seven years engaging in full-contact sparring with practitioners of both HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) and JSA (Japanese Sword Arts). This experience refined his understanding of distance, timing, and adaptability under pressure, bridging the structure of traditional kenjutsu with the realism of combat.

He views swordsmanship not merely as technique, but as a study of decision-making, reading intent, and efficiency: principles relevant beyond the dojo. His historical research into classical texts such as Heihō Okugisho by Yamamoto Kansuke deepened his insight into kenjutsu as a living combat system shaped by reflection and scholarship.

Alexandre aims to preserve the spirit of classical Japanese swordsmanship in his instructions, unclouded by the mysticism often surrounding the Japanese sword, while ensuring it remains practical, relevant, and alive. This pursuit led him to Shinko-ryū during his ongoing search for pressure-tested swordsmanship. After months of exchanging ideas with the founder of Shinko-ryū and testing its techniques in bouts where they prevailed against top-ranking HEMA fencers and skilled JSA swordsmen, he became fully convinced of Shinko-ryū’s mission and effectiveness, and resolved to help spread its teachings himself.

Alexandre will oversee the operations and expansion of Shinko-ryū in Europe.