Shin-Toshi

Shin-Toshi is an American hybrid martial arts style. The National Shin-Toshi Association claims that it is the first American martial arts style and also the first hybrid martial arts style. This new style of martial art was born in Texas and founded by a martial artist named Mickey Fisher.
Shin-Toshi is a hybrid of traditional Korean, Japanese, Okinawan, and Chinese martial arts. In its original form, it combines the kicking and striking techniques of Korean Tae Kwon Do and Tang Soo Do, the fluid circular movements of Chinese Kempo and Kung Fu, the power-redirection techniques of Judo and Aikido/Hopkido, and the kicks and stances of Japanese Karate-do. Since its inception, Shin-Toshi has continually evolved and incorporated fundamentals of most every major martial art, including Muay Thai Kickboxing, Jiu Jitsu, and the Asian weapon styles of Kobudo and Bojutsu.
History
Karate Shin-Toshi was established in 1963 and is the first American martial arts style (predating Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kun Do by several months) and also the first hybrid martial arts style. This new martial art was born in Texas and founded by a prominent martial artist of the time named Mickey Fisher.
Fisher began his study of the Martial Arts during what is considered the Traditional Era of American martial arts (1940s - 1960s). His original style was Chung Do Kwan (a specific style of Tae Kwon Do) and in 1962 he was the first American teenager to receive his Tae Kwon Do Black Belt from Jhoon Rhee, a Korean immigrant who brought his Korean art to America and became “The Father of Tae Kwon Do in America.” After receiving his Chung Do Kwan Black Belt, Fisher studied several other styles of Martial Arts: Japanese/Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Karate, Chinese Kenpo, Korean Tang Soo Do, and Chinese Kung-Fu.
Between 1962 and 1963 Fisher was teaching at the traditional Tae Kwon Do schools of Allen Steen, while also instructing his own group of students in the basement of the Dallas County Juvenile home. This intimate group of about fifteen students was trained in the art of Chung Do Kwan as well as additional techniques of Chinese and Japanese origin. Through this process of trial and error various strengths and weaknesses of each style began to emerge in the mind of Fisher and he set out to form a unique style that incorporated the strengths of each art. Accordingly, Fisher set out to adapt and combine the fluid techniques of the “softer” arts with the powerful techniques of the “harder” styles; creating the distinct techniques that make up what is now known as Shin-Toshi Karate.
The Shin-Toshi style began prominently emerging in the martial arts competitions of the 1960s, and with the continual success of Fisher and his students Shin-Toshi began to catch the eye of many of the top names in American Martial Arts at the time.
Name origin
The official name of the style is "Karate Shin-Toshi" which stands as a symbolic representation of the art form.
The Japanese word "shin" () means "new". The word "toshi" was derived from the old English word "", which means "unaffiliated with any other style". Combined together the phrase "Karate Shin-Toshi" translates as “a new way or new form, unaffiliated with any other style, of the art of empty hand.”
Shin-Toshi emblem
The Shin-Toshi emblem consists of two hands surrounded by olive branches and is the symbolic embodiment of the Karate Shin-Toshi style.
The right hand is closed into a fist—representing the straight-line “hard” styles of martial arts that are included in Shin-Toshi. The left hand is held open—symbolizing the “soft” fluid styles of martial arts that are included in Shin-Toshi.
The olive branches stand as a universal symbol of peace and harmony. The yin and yang between the olive branches represents the harmony in nature between opposing forces—also exemplifying the seemingly “opposing” styles of which Shin-Toshi is comprised.
The Chinese/Japanese characters surrounding the branches translate as Shin-Toshi Kara-te. The top right character reads “shin,” the top left character is the phonetic representation of “toshi,” the bottom left character reads “kara,” and the bottom left character represents “te.”

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