MEETING MARTIAL ARTS MASTERS

Those who are 'martial arts' enthusiasts are often confused as to certain issues surrounding many who appear in various ways as masters of some particular martial arts, system, or more likely, a variety of such things and so do not make connections that are necessary for them personally....

Schools and training in 'WAY OF THE WARRIOR'  sometimes make extravagant claims or suggest things to students to keep them dependent for a number of reasons and the history of martial arts around the world shows ample examples of these 'conflicts' and 'splits' as well as feuds including 'watered down' arts, 'fraudulent arts', and mish-mashes and other difficulties for those who wish to be 'warriors' and much of this is devoted to outright 'fantasy' or 'multiple fantasies' fueled by media and books and magazines as well as 'masters' and 'systems' as we well know or should realize, but without 'throwing the babies out with the bath waters' or giving up our interests and enthusiasms, if any, for martial arts.

Tenuous or temporary connections with masters are often taken to extremes to bolster claims and contacts, we all do this in many ways, subtlely  or overtly...but the truth is that strong impressions and the like can prove lasting and most significant if you really are awake and aware...

But actually, the WAY OF THE WARRIOR is often a way of solitude and not comradeship. Many cannot endure the suffering and solitude, the loneliness and this is why the martial arts are often connected to THE WAY OF THE MONK or THE WAY OF THE FAKIR and occasionally to THE WAY OF THE YOGI.

थे फाठेर ऑफ़ अमेरिकेन ते क्वों दो

GRANDMASTER JHOON RHEE is considered by most these days to be THE FATHER OF AMERICAN TAE KWON DO since his efforts are well known and his achievements and accomplishments considerable. I met and studied TAE KWON DO in Washington,DC, at the JHOON RHEE INSTITUTE and my immediate instructor was Mr. Kwon Rho and my introductory instructor was Mr. Jack Dutcher. The classes were evening ones. Mr. Rhee would come in and give us instructions now and then and also oversee the groups. At the time, Mr. Rhee was experimenting with safety equipment for tournaments which he later improved and utilized. Although many other Tae Kwon Do instructors and masters came to the US and promulgated the Korean Arts, Mr. Rhee is certainly the more well-known and recognized Pioneer in the US for many reasons. I have in the Philippines most of his early books on the forms,etc. which hopefully the termites have not consumed as yet.

THE FATHER OF MODERN ARNIS

As I have stated in other blogs,etc. the late REMY(REMEGIO) AMADOR PRESAS is considered the FATHER OF MODERN ARNIS,which essentially means,THE FOUNDER OF MODERN ARNIS. HIs contribution to the world-wide dissemination of Philippine Stick Fighting or Arnis cannot be minimized and this meant that people could safely learn the methods of stick fighting and defense safely and in an organized manner. I have discussed some of my meetings with him elsewhere.

THE FATHER OF AMERICAN KENPO

Kenpo, sometimes spelled kempo, started basically in Hawaii and from there spread to the US Mainland, where today it is widespread and varied in methodology,etc. The FATHER OF AMERICAN KENPO (sometimes called Kenpo Karate) is ED PARKER, author of many books on the subject and who made this art popular and efficient and effective on the mainland. His contributions to this martial art have been described and noted many,many times. I corresponded briefly with him from the Philippines and later met him twice in Manchester,New Hampshire,where he gave seminars. He graciously autographed his book(s) for me which I have in my library. I later donated his book on the Nunchaku to the Hawaii Karate Museum.

THE FATHER OF AMERICAN KARATE

The title FATHER OF AMERICAN KARATE goes to ROBERT A. TRIAS, who founded the UNITED STATES KARATE ASSOCIATION(USKA) whom I met some years ago,after joining the USKA,while in the Philippines. At my suggestion and 'invitation' the late Bob Trias brought his championship team to the Philippines as they were on a tour to Japan,Korea, and Okinawa. While there we met with various Filipino, Chinese and Japanese Masters, instructors and practitioners. Bob started teaching karate in the US shortly after returning to the US after World War II and his dojo is certainly the oldest one on the continental US. Of course, some kungfu/Chinese martial arts preceded karate, but modern karate on the US Mainland took a long time, although Hawaii had practitioners,etc. before this. Later, I hope to describe the USKA visit to the Philippines and other things that may be pertinent.

THE FATHER OF PHILIPPINE JUDO

I met THE FATHER OF PHILIPPINE JUDO, Mr. Pedro Balingit when he was still alive and also at the Philippine Institute of Criminology. The author of a judo book that went through several editions and revisions, Mr. Balingit studied in Japan and kept judo going during WWII and was also very active after the war. When I visited him at his house and home dojo, he did a head stand for me and showed me a number of things and we had a great discussion of things to be sure. I regret not being able to visit him after that time but he graciously autographed my book which I still have in my library.

THE FATHER OF PHILIPPINE AIKIDO

I met the "FATHER OF PHILIPPINE AIKIDO' Benjamin Galarpe in Manila some years ago and visited his club on the corner of RIZAL AVENUE. The late Antonio V. Mendoza and also Grandmaster Amante P. Marinas,Sr. studied aikido there as did many others too numerous to mention. Some persons,those I met at FEU claimed that there were other practitioners and pioneers of aikido before Benjamin Galarpe but they could not give me any specific names at the time.