Lee E. Richards got his thirst for the Life Protection Arts back in grade school in the 70's when he saw a Karate banner hanging in front of the local Y.M.C.A. He begged for the chance to train, but his Mother felt it was too dangerous and enrolled him in baseball instead. He didn't quite give up and checked out every single book related to the arts he could find at his local elementary school. A few years later he was able to get a friend in to give him a basic introduction to Bushidokan, without his family's knowledge.

 

In the late '80s, he was working in retail security and was tasked to put together a regional seminar on handcuffing. A referral led him to Shihan Michael Waddell who was then a student of Taika Seiyu Oyata, running an Oyata's Ryukyu Kempo Dojo in Gladstone, Missouri with Tony K. Skeen. Shihan Waddell was also a police officer and handled much of the defensive tactics training for the North East area of Greater Kansas City. Lee was so impressed with the tactics of this seminar that he joined Oyata's Ryukyu Kempo which later evolved into RyuTe Ren Mei.

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In 1992, Lee joined the Kansas City Missouri Police Department where he worked until 2018. Here he learned many other Defensive Tactics systems as well as gained a certain 'perspective' that shows in his books in relation to Tuite. He is a National Trainer with the National Law Enforcement Training Center and has been involved with that organization since 1998. He additionally received certifications in the Rapid Rotation Baton and Monadnock® Baton Systems. Training in the Law Enforcement circles has given him exposure to many other training partners and styles, such as Judo and Jiu Jutsu, which combined have greatly influenced the way he teaches.  After retiring from the Kansas City, Missouri Police department he obtained a job teaching at the Warrensburg, MO Police Academy at UCM as well as the Sedalia, MO Police Academy located within SFCC.  He additionally teaches a 6 day instructor certification at the Kansas City Regional Police Academy each year via N.L.E.T.C.  In 2020 he became a board member and then President of N.L.E.T.C.

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After attaining Ikyu in RyuTe Ren Mei, he was blessed when asked by Taika Seiyu Oyata to start training at RyuTe Headquarters. Upon the retirement of Shihan Waddell in 1997, Lee and Tony opened this dojo in South Kansas City, Missouri, under the name of Kenshūkai, which means "Research and Training Club". On August 31, 2010, Taika honored Lee by renaming the school RyuShinKan. Ryu is short for Ryukyu, as in "the Ryukyu Kingdom" and the first character of Taika's art while he was alive, RyuTe® Ren Mei. Shin is heart or soul. Kan is simply school. Taika gave this school a name he said meant, "The Soul of RyuKyu". This was a great and unexpected honor. Lee continued training with Taika at his dojo and home until his death in 2012, and now attempts to carry on the traditions he was given.

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Lee trained directly under Taika Seiyu Oyata in his dojo as well as Taika's home, several times a week until Taika's death and continues to pass the knowledge he was given directly.