BKB Lineage

Bushido Karate Budokan · Rooted in KBI – World since October 1977.

Mahadevan Kannan · KBI - World Journey

Mahadevan Kannan joined Karate Budokan International (KBI – World) in October 1977 and holds the rank of Nanadan (7th Degree Black Belt). He is the Supreme Instructor of Bushido Karate Budokan (BKB), with classes in India, Bahrain, the USA and Canada.

Founder Grand Master Chew Choo Soot personally appointed Mahadevan Kannan as the Grand Master’s Representative in India. Mahadevan currently serves as Country Head for Bahrain, the USA and Canada.

BKB strictly follows the KBI system for grading and promotion. Kata from other karate styles are also taught to broaden students’ personal knowledge and prepare them for competition. BKB students receive only KBI certificates.

His KBI – World journey forms the main foundation of this lineage. Additional training in other traditions and participation in seminars are recorded separately below. Further details of his KBI teachers, gradings and appointments will be added as the record is completed.

Provisional · Version 1.3 · 24 October 2026
Based on Mahadevan Kannan’s firsthand training account. Details pending where indicated; this page will be updated as the record is completed.

Additional training and teaching lines

Shito-ryu · Direct teaching

Moses Thilak
Teacher of Nazarudeen; Alan-Thilak Shito-ryu connection.
↓
Nazarudeen Shahul Hameed
Direct Shito-ryu instructor of Mahadevan Kannan.
↓
Mahadevan Kannan
Nidan and Sandan history is recorded below.

Seibukan · Direct teaching

Earlier Seibukan lineage: details pending.
Sarath Chandrakumar’s teacher and earlier lineage have not yet been supplied.

Sarath Chandrakumar
↓
Mahadevan Kannan
Direct training up to the Shodan syllabus. No grading examination taken; no Seibukan Dan rank claimed.

Mahadevan Kannan → Bushido Karate Budokan

Mahadevan Kannan is the Supreme Instructor of Bushido Karate Budokan. His direct Shito-ryu and Seibukan training are separate branches. The connection to BKB represents leadership and transmission through teaching.

The organization was originally named Martial Arts International. Grandmaster Chew Choo Soot later named it Bushido Karate Budokan, as recalled by Mahadevan. The naming history is recorded below.

Special training, seminars and affiliation

Moses Thilak

One-day special training, separate from Mahadevan’s main instruction under Nazarudeen. Date, venue and subjects: details pending.

Rajashekar, Madurai

One-day Shito-ryu kata seminar in which Mahadevan learned Seipai. Full name, branch, date and venue: details pending.

Zenpo Shimabukuro / Jamal Measara

Later Seibukan seminar training. Dates, venues, durations and whether these were one or separate events: details pending.

KBI - World affiliation

Mahadevan Kannan joined KBI – World in October 1977 and holds Nanadan (7th Degree Black Belt). Personally appointed by Founder Grand Master Chew Choo Soot as the Grand Master’s Representative in India, he now serves as Country Head for Bahrain, the USA and Canada. Direct Budokan teachers, grading authorities and appointment dates: details pending.

Training and grading record

“Confirmed” in this record means reported directly by Mahadevan Kannan. Dates, examiners and certificate details can be added as they become available.

Direct Shito-ryu training

Instructor: Nazarudeen Shahul Hameed.
Personal teacher–student training.

To complete: start and end dates, dojo and venue.

Nidan · 2nd Dan

Received while Nazarudeen was under Alan-Thilak Shito-ryu of Moses Thilak, as reported by Mahadevan.

To complete: year, examiner(s), awarding authority and certificate.

Sandan · 3rd Dan

Received after Nazarudeen moved to Inoue-ha Karate, as reported by Mahadevan.

To complete: year, examiner(s), awarding authority and certificate.

Seibukan syllabus training

Instructor: Sarath Chandrakumar, Kerala.
Direct training up to the Shodan syllabus; no grading examination taken and no Seibukan Dan rank claimed.

To complete: training dates, dojo, venue and instructor lineage.

Special one-day training

Instructor: Moses Thilak.
Direct special instruction for one day.

To complete: date, venue and technical content.

One-day kata seminar

Instructor: Rajashekar, Madurai — Shito-ryu.
Seipai kata learned directly during the seminar.

To complete: full name, Shito-ryu branch, date and venue.

Later Seibukan seminars

Instructors: Zenpo Shimabukuro and Jamal Measara, Germany.
Seminar training reported by Mahadevan; no additional rank is inferred.

To complete: dates, venues, durations, syllabus, and whether these were one or separate events.

Affiliation and instruction are recorded separately

Nazarudeen’s move to Inoue-ha is an organizational change. Mahadevan explains that Nazarudeen’s other named master-level training consisted of short courses or seminars; a sustained apprenticeship under Yoshimi Inoue is not asserted.

Mahadevan’s one-day instruction from Moses Thilak is separate from his main training under Nazarudeen.

The name and its heritage

From Martial Arts International to Bushido Karate Budokan, as recalled by Mahadevan Kannan.

Martial Arts International

The original name Mahadevan Kannan gave his school.

Founding date and place: details pending.

Named by Grandmaster Chew Choo Soot

Our beloved Founder Grand Master of Karate Budokan International, Chew Choo Soot, fondly named our school Bushido Karate Budokan, recognising in us the values of Bushido.

Date and place: details pending.

Bushido Karate Budokan · BKB

The name given by the KBI founder is part of the organization’s personal heritage. This record is titled BKB Lineage.

The handwritten Japanese katakana

Mahadevan recalls that Grandmaster Chew Choo Soot personally wrote the Japanese katakana for him. A copy of the original handwriting, exact characters and date are details pending. The handwritten text has not been reconstructed.

Details pending for the full BKB lineage

The following sections remain open so that the record can be completed without guessing missing relationships.

Earliest training

First instructor, initial style, starting year, dojo and location: details pending.

Shodan and full Dan progression

Current rank: Nanadan (7th Degree Black Belt). Shodan details outside Seibukan, if applicable; Nidan and Sandan dates and examiners; and the dates, examiners and certificates for subsequent grades: details pending.

Budokan personal teaching line

Direct teachers, periods of training, special courses, grading panels and certificates. Any personal instruction from Chew Choo Soot, Richard Chew or other KBI – World teachers: details pending.

BKB establishment and naming

Original founding date and place; date and circumstances of the name given by Grandmaster Chew Choo Soot; original handwritten katakana; and early instructors: details pending. Both school names are recorded above.

KBI - World affiliation

Joined KBI – World: October 1977. Appointments: Grand Master’s Representative in India, personally appointed by Founder Grand Master Chew Choo Soot; current Country Head for Bahrain, the USA and Canada. Appointment dates, further details of current appointments and affiliation records: details pending.

Seibukan lineage and seminars

Sarath Chandrakumar’s full identity and name spelling, teacher and earlier lineage; training dates; and Zenpo / Jamal seminar particulars: details pending. Direct syllabus training is established by Mahadevan’s account; no grading was taken.

Other instruction and technical exchanges

Additional karate, kobudo or other martial arts teachers, seminar duration and specific material learned: details pending.

BKB teaching branches

Senior students, instructors and branch heads to include, with dates and direct teaching relationships: details pending.

Record basis and revision

Prepared from Mahadevan Kannan’s firsthand account. The naming account records the founder’s personal involvement; it does not imply approval of this lineage document.

The wider KBI – World formation chart remains a separate historical record. Once the missing details are supplied, this provisional record can be revised into a fuller edition.