Soke S. Papasan Canty was born in Brooklyn N.Y. on November 24, 1948. He began his martial arts training at the age of seven (7), after beng introduced to Professor Charles Elmore. The Professor was responsible for teaching Soke Aiki-Jiu-Jitsu, Hakko Ryu and Aiki-Elmore-Ryu Jiu Jitsu (the art founded by Professor Elomore). In 1960, Soke began studying Goju Karate under Sensei Bob Terry. In 1963, Soke became a student of Mr. William Green of tong Dojo and became competent in the art of Shotokan Karate.In 1967, Papasan joined the United States Airforce where he was privileged to be stationed in Kyushi Japan. While there, he furthered his knowledge of Shotokan Karate while a member of the Japan Karate Association under Sensei Shinobu Hachiguchi. Soke was also an active member of the PAL and Suffolk county Air Force Base boxing teams. In 1969, he reached the semi finals of the N.Y. State Golden Gloves. Soke was responsible for reviving weapons and self defense competition in tournament when he re-introduced both divisions in "Papasan's Martial Arts Classics", a series of his tournaments which were very popular in Brooklyn during the 1970's. Never the conformist, Papasan is also credited with being the first to break the wearing of white karate uniforms in competition.
In 1974, with the blessing of Professor Elmore and the late Dr. Charles Sparrow, Papasan along with Soke Haisan Kaleak and Lusayne S. Alston created Kuroshi-Do (The Way of The Black Warrior) system. Soke is presently the inheritor of Professor Charles Ewlmore's Aiki-Elomore-Ryu and was awarded tenth (10th) dan on the Professor's retirement on May 12, 1996. Soke has recently retired from the military service with the rank of Major, is in possession of a Masters degrree in Public Administration from Marist College, was formerly an undercover narcotics officer with the Drug Enforcement Administration and is presently employed for the past twelve(12) years by the Yonker Police Department. Soke Papasan still teaches daily classes at his dojo in Yonkers, where he has recently completed the first video (basic throws) in a series on the Kuroshi-Do system.
