Kaiso Shawn Cephas is the founder of American Shorinji-Te/Nio Warrior Priest scientific martial arts. He has black belt rank in several different Shorinji and Aiki-jujitsu systems, though his martial art training commenced as a child under his father, Willard A. Cephas, Sr.  Kaiso Cephas is also experienced in several different C.M.T. Shiatsu techniques, acupressure massage therapy and Seifukujitsu healing arts.

Kaiso is one of the co-founders of Cephas Karate-jujitsu, and has rank and training in Wado Ryu Karate Do, Shorinji Toraken Do, and Chi-Kara Puma Streetfighting Karate/Jujitsu. He was a member of the Kokusai Budoin International Martial Arts Federation as well as the World Shorinji Kempo Organization, located in Japan, and is in good standing with Olohe Solomon Kaihewalu, Founder and Headmaster of the World Professional Black Belt Martial Arts Organization.

Kaiso Cephas has more than 40 years of experience in the martial arts and healing arts. Kaiso Shawn Cephas is the illuminative founder and Supreme Priest Master of the Modern American Shorinji-Te/Nio Buddhist Warrior Priest Martial Arts. He has received the following awards and recognitions throughout his career:

He is an authorized and certified member of the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame, having been recognized for “Outstanding Contribution” in 1996.

He was also awarded the “Sanuces Ryu – Mushaba Force Silver Life Achievement Award” for the International Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 1998, and was inducted again in 2000 and 2003.

He was recognized with the I.K.K.I. Master Hall of Fame Pioneer Award in 2004.

The Hawaii Martial Arts International Society Hall of Fame presented him with the “Living Legend Award” in 2005.

He has hosted seminars for San Jose Gasshuku training camp and Camp Danzan Ryu in 1995, 1996, and 1997, and in 2003 and 2005 the Allen Kempo Jujitsu Academy hosted Kaiso Shawn Cephas’ seminar on “Interlocking Joint Circles”.

He was a featured guest at the Shuyokan Ryu Martial Arts 25 year Celebration.

He has contributed articles such as “The Root of Warrior Priests in the Martial Arts”, Shaolin Kung Fu (Winter 1994) and has appeared in media such as Small Circle Jujitsu™ International’s Hawaiian Convention Video Series #1 (1997) with “Seminar on Modern American Shorinji-Te Yamabushido Martial Art”, “Vampire Assassin” (IMDb 2005), “Shadow Warrior 2″, as well as numerous hip-hop magazines, television, radio broadcasts and more showcasing his martial arts system.