THE NINJA DEFENSE: A MODERN MASTER'S APPROACH TO UNIVERSAL DANGERS

I am always on the lookout for books that teach honestly, truthfully and effectively. They have often been hard to find.  Stephen K. Hayes is well known in the Ninjutsu community and in the martial arts field and has numerous books and videos on Ninjutsu. I have read most of his books and seen several of his dvds.  I like Mr. Hayes approach and teaching methods. His coaching skills are excellent and very professional. Most importantly any good coach or instructor has to have the ability to communicate with his students and get his points across.

There are many things to like about this book. Besides the clear instructions and the color photos showing each technique, this book also includes an excellent (almost 70 minutes) DVD which reinforces the techniques and tactics explained in the book.  The book and Dvd set approaches the subject of self-defense in a unique and interesting way. Mr. Hayes has created a simple and effective method for the average person to avoid trouble and defend themselves in numerous situations by applying traditional principles of ninjutsu to the possible conflicts we may find ourselves in today’s world.

“The Ninja Defense” covers preparation for real threats and not just from a physical aspect but from a mental and psychological aspects as well , making the choice to fight, winning mentality, how danger escalates.  Also  defense postures, five phases of the fight, forward strikes and kicks, front arm captures and restraints, front body holds and restraints, captures and restraints from behind.

Mr. Hayes is open and honest that this is level one training or a beginner level and that there is more, much more to learn.  I believe this to be for anyone interested in learning a simple and effective self-defense method but also for the serious martial artist.

The material on the DVD ties in directly with what you're reading in the book and brings it to life. The DVD shows each technique numerous times and again the instruction by Mr. Hayes and his instructors are clear and concise. The teaching and coaching style again is excellent I see a lot of positive reinforcement which makes for a more productive presentation of his modern ninjutsu applications.

The last chapter deals with why the ninja approach may in our day and time be better than the samurai approach. Ninjutsu has very little to do with proving yourself the toughest guy on the block at every chance.  Mr. Hayes applies traditional ninjutsu to modern self defense as well as takes into account things like the laws we live under.  The Ninja Defense by Stephen Hayes book and DVD  is full of quality information and quality instruction and for the price is an absolute steal.

FUJITA SEIKO'S SECRET KENPO KILLING STRIKES

There is a general belief that Ninja used in close quarter combat or in the close fight several dozens of external vital points or Sakkatsu that allowed him to either kill the enemy quickly and right on the spot or completely maim or disable him. This subject never ceased to attract acute attention of ninja, right on up to the man known as the last of the living ninja, who served in assignments for the Japanese Imperial Government during the Taisho and Showa eras, Fujita Seiko.

Seiko Fujita served as an instructor at the Rikugun Nakano Gakko the Japanese Imperial Military Intelligence School, teaching Ninjutsu and Nanban Satto ryu Kenpo. Fujita's style combat was well suited for the Japanese Army's special operations and guerrilla warfare training facility. Fujita’s Kenpô can be described as an unarmed/minimally armed close combat method for fighting and killing an opponent, using ancient methods and modern methods for attacking anatomically sensitive areas.

 Fujita stressed combat NOT spiritual refinement or Kata, just CQB close quarter battle. A non koryu killing art that Fujita synthesized from the koryu he knew at the request of the Imperial Japanese Army during WWII. A 20^th century style method of killing to be used by Nakano’s Neo Ninja operatives.

Fujita led 2500 men into the Burmese jungle, their mission was to go behind the enemy's positions kill as many soldiers as possible, as quietly as possible, and to sabotage and prepare for an invasion without revealing their existence. Fujita and his elite unit stealthily eliminated the their enemies in the jungles behind enemy lines. In the end, only 14 members of this group survived the mission. It is said that during this time Fujita’s unit had over two hundred kills.

According to his autobiography, “Doronron Saigo no Ninja”, Seiko was ordered by the Imperial Japanese Government to put his expertise to further use. He was tasked to come up with a manual or hand book for the Imperial Japanese Army on Hand to hand combat. The soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army were trained in Karate and Judo or at least the basics, however, the Japanese command felt that it just wasn’t enough and was dead set on developing on shortest terms a system of close quarter combat that could kill the enemy out or put the enemy out of commission quickly and efficiently.

Fujita’s knowledge, expertise, combat experience and the research performed in service of his Government led to the publication of “Kenpo Gokui Atemi Sakkatsuho Meikai” & “Kenpo Gokui Sakkatsu Ho Zukai” (“Illustrated Secret Kenpo Killing Strikes”) Fujita’s “Kenpo Gokui Sakkatsu Ho” may have been the closest thing to an actual though modern shinobi (ninja) assassin martial art.

“Based on the result of a long term research on the Human body this book shows the right places of the most effective vital organ parts/vital points in anatomical diagrams for the secrets of killing and reviving.

This book also shows the effective way of hitting those places. If you learn the places of vital organs points and the way of hitting them you will obtain the way of Killing/taking down enemies with one stroke/strike.

 The most effective way of hitting the anatomical weak points/ vital points hinges upon multiple factors; physical application, conditioning, awareness of targets and psychological preparedness.

The right places to strike the most effective vital points for the secrets of killing/disabling/rendering unconscious/ maiming.( If you learn the way of hitting the vital organs points you will obtain the way of taking out enemies quickly and efficiently.)

The energetic transference of force needed to affect the targets:

1) Velocity: efficiency of the blow in a striking technique is determined according to the following: formula  I =MV2/2     where M- is the mass and V- is the velocity. Force is the speed: the bigger and harder the object is, the higher the speed, with which it is struck the more efficient the blow.

2) Body mechanics: all hand, hips, legs and foot movements are coordinated and fast.

3) Precision of the blow: Be right on target the strike must be executed at strictly the right angle to the target.

4) Drawing back the striking limb after the blow: (Snapping out and then back) after the blow you must pull back your hand with the same if not greater speed with which he delivered the strike be able to follow up with another. Striking should be practice in combination with withdrawals. In other words it explodes outward and is snapped back.  A violent and dynamic action.

5) The strikes are most effective/destructive when the piercing effect is combined with a revolving or snapping motion of the hand upon impact.

For the effective use of striking techniques one needs to be relaxed NOT rigid, calm, cold blooded and calculating. Strikes should be applied resolutely, fearlessly, without doubt whole heartedly and with full force based on knowledge of proper coordination of movements and distance."

Sam Lonewolf 8th degree black belt First Nations Kajukenbo

Barron Shepherd is a 7th degree blackbelt in Kenpo karate and Kajukenbo under Sam Lonewolf, First Nations Fighting Arts/Kajukenbo and a 2nd degree black in judo (USA Judo).

KENPO OUTLAWED

Sadu Kaza Uyenishi's “Textbook of Ju-Jutsu as Practiced in Japan” is one of the earliest English-language books about jujitsu. The book appeared in at least eight editions, one of the most recent being in 1952. The date of the first edition is unknown—the book itself does not bear a copyright date. From the timeline of Uyenishi's life, we can assume that the book was written between 1905 and 1921 (the latter being the date of the first dated edition). However, most put the actual date of the publication of the book in the year 1905. Textbook of Ju-Jutsu as Practiced In Japan is not only a piece of martial arts history, it is also a well-constructed introduction to the basic techniques of classic jujitsu. 

To my surprise I found a few paragraphs regarding Kenpo in this book that caught my attention. S.K. Uyenishi

“One of the styles alluded to, known as the Kempo, which may be roughly described as a Method of killing people, possessed many points of resemblance to Ju-jutsu but was totally different in practice, being a system of self-defence against sudden attack with intent to kill and replying thereto in kind. It was certainly more closely related to ju-jutsu than are Boxing (even under the old Prize Ring rules) or le savate to Wrestling. It might perhaps be best compared to that very strenuous old Greek Physical Contest, which was known as the Pancration.” 

By-the-way, I may here remark on the possible derivation of the old English phrase "Kempery man" and the Anglo-Saxon cempa, signifying "a warrior," from the Japanese Kempo. This is a point which should not be without interest to etymologists, and particularly to those who follow the late Professor Max Muller in his theory of the Indo-Germanic origin of the Anglo-Saxon Race. 

Kempo, of course, was a system of attack and defence which branched off from ju-jutsu into the paths of strenuous endeavour, but, apart from the fact that it was less scientific than, ju-jutsu, it was declared an illegal practice when the sanctity of human life was recognised under the new regime.” - Textbook of Jujutsu as practiced in Japan, S.K. Uyenishi

In 1868 a new Japanese government had emerged and the Samurai as a class was abolished and their wearing of swords was outlawed. Prior to 1868 the Samurai had the power of life and death over anyone of less rank. If they thought a commoner or peasant had offended them in anyway, they could kill that person with complete immunity. When the new Japanese Government recognized the sanctity of human life, it outlawed the wearing of swords and MAY very well have, according to the Uyenishi in his book, outlawed Kenpo as well. The outlawing of carrying weapons issued by the Japanese government was not unheard of even then. They imposed such sanctions and laws on Okinawa as well, forcing the Okinawan’s to practice and train in secret. 

 Kenpo outlawed again in WWII by the US 

Much like the U.S. Armed Forces military servicemen that trained in Combat Judo during WWI and WWII, Kajukenbo was designed to disarm, disable and destroy an opponent with fierce proficiency. According to Tony Lasit, 1st generation Kajukenbo (J. Emperado) MSgt. U.S. Air Force, Ret., WWII, Korea, Vietnam veteran and Founder of the U.S. Kajukenbo Association, “Prior to it’s known existence in 1947, the history of Kajukenbo began when the USA was at war with Japan. Before it became worldly known as Kajukenbo, we called it Kempo Karate." 

From its beginnings, Kajukenbo was an eclectic and adaptive self-defense oriented fighting method. Its sole purpose…..SELF DEFENSE. A strong and brutal streetwise fighting method, the dynamics of this hybrid self-defense system speaks for itself. Kajukenbo combines the most effective street fighting techniques from its respective disciplines, Karate, Judo, kenpo, and boxing into a no-frills self-defense system designed to take out attackers as quickly as possible. The name Kajukenbo is an acronym from the names of the martial systems that served as its basis (KA) Shotokan Karate, (JU) Judo, (KEN) Kenpo, and (BO) boxing. 

Developed in Hawaii, Kajukenbo gained its reputation for being brutally effective decades ago in the U.S. Territory of Hawaii. During World War II (1939-1945), the U.S. Territory of Hawaii was held under martial law due to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941 - October 24, 1944). Due to martial law, all martial arts except judo, wrestling and boxing were prohibited in the US Territory of Hawaii. At the time, Kenpo karate was kept secret and trained underground in China Town, Oahu. Only the elite and military were invited to these underground sessions. In the late 1940's, the Palama Settlement was a community center in a violent area of Oahu where fist-fights or stabbings were commonplace. From this environment, the founders Adriano Emperado, Joseph Holck, Peter Young Yil Choo, Frank F. Ordonez and Clarence Chang developed a fighting method that would be readily useful on the street. The emphasis on the training was on realism. The founders followed a simple rule: if a technique worked consistently on the street, then it stayed in the system; if it did not, it was discarded. This allowed the style to maintain a self-defense focus. This no-nonsense approach to self-defense has contributed to Kajukenbo’s reputation as a highly effective self-defense system.

SIMILARITIES IN SELF DEFENSE FORMS by DOUGLAS DWYER and BARRON SHEPHERD

PART ONE:

Relevance in the martial arts world is determined by a person’s ability to execute effective techniques. Resting on past laurels, teaching ineffective techniques and justifying lack of skill does not lend itself to practical application within the martial arts. Being effective requires constant training, a hard work ethic and discipline.  In order to sustain viability with technique there is no secret formula. There is absolutely no substitute for doing the work. 

Over the years Sensei Douglas Dwyer and I have never rested on our laurels or past achievements.  We have made every effort to train and have discussed at great length the similarities in our different systems. Whether it was scheduling conflicts, health issues or even ageing our training has never been abandoned. 

Over the years I have not just trained in Judo (3rd degree black belt), Kajukenbo Kenpo Karate (7th degree blackbelt) and shotokan (3rd degree blackbelt), but held various coaching credentials in Judo, boxing and Karate from different organizations. 

Master Dwyer works out daily, trains students privately (of which I am one) and continues to learn, ever moving forward. Douglas is very much a contemporary martial artist and instructor. Those who think he has slowed down or “retired” are quite frankly wrong.

Sensei chooses to stay active and continues to walk his path as an independent martial artist who remains dedicated to the way of bushido. He has long since lost any tastes for organizations and does not appreciate inferences of his involvement. When in fact there is none.

Douglas and I have maintained a friendship that has grown and flourished due to our love and devotion to the martial arts.  We have spent hours and hours on end discussing technique, history and training. Both Sensei Dwyer and I would like to once again express our heartfelt gratitude to photographer and friend, John Hendricks for offering his expertise, his time and efforts, shooting hundreds of professional quality photographs of our training and techniques for future projects.

The following is our most recent collaboration regarding taezu forms.  Most advanced taezus, which contain a combination of 7 to 9 techniques, are to be executed in a matter of a couple of seconds. Sensei Dwyer performs these taezus in the times set for each and every one. To this day he is not one to shy away from a long hard and grueling training session. He still does hundreds of blocks, striking techniques, and kicks with weighted hands and feet.

While working these techniques we realized how similar these forms in our two styles really are.  Though technically different they are very much the same and equally lethal. Both styles focus primarily on self defense, which is our combined interest; both are fluid albeit explosive hard styles.  We decided this would be an interesting example of comparing our two styles side by side.  We are both primarily concerned with the effectiveness of any techniques as it pertains to self defense.

Sensei Dwyer explains:

Taezus can be defined as: a pre-arranged combination of 7 - 9 techniques, beginning and ending with a block, performed in continuous motion for the purpose of developing speed.

Generally speaking, the Taezu forms require a mastery of basics which are essential to executing the forms correctly with maximum effect. Individual techniques must be done with precision and speed and transitioned with fluidity using the entire body dynamic and not just the upper torso.

One of several, the following is an overview example of an advanced Black Belt level Taezu Naru Waza form. In this Taezu, once the attacker is blocked and wrist grabbed, the defender never releases the primary attacking arm until the defense is complete. Self-discipline and controlled breathing is vital for success. This form should take approximately 2 1/2 seconds to perform when incorporating a takedown.

Attack: The attacker moves forward quickly throwing right and left combination punches to the face and mid-section.

Defense:

#1 Defender counters by stepping back with his right leg into a high, layout cat stance and almost simultaneously executing right high and left low, open-hand ox-jaw blocks. These are done approximately 1/10 of a second apart.

 

 

 

 

 

#2 Immediately grabbing attackers right lower arm with his left hand while stepping slightly to attackers left into a bow stance, the defender strikes the mid-section with a right hand roundhouse elbow.

 

 

 

 

 

#3 Stepping into a narrow, open-leg stance, with a firm grip on attackers right arm, he strikes the neck with a backhand hammer fist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#4 Still holding the right lower arm, defender pulls the attacker forward and continues with a groin grab while standing in a square stance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#5 Grabbing attackers collar, he's pulled off balance as defender also sweeps the left foot with his right leg as he's also turning the attacker counter-clockwise.

 

#6 Pulling attackers right arm toward defenders left thigh, he follows with a full take down still holding the right arm and controlling the fall.

 

#7 Once the attacker is on the ground, with his right arm being held and fully extended, defender bends forward and strikes the bicep with a forward knuckle fist.

 

 

#8 He follows with a flat-foot stomp to the lower, right rib cage.

Release the wrist, step back into a static defensive left lunge stance with a left low block and defender is ready for another attack.

 

IN MEMORY OF O'SENSEI RONALD DUNCAN

There has been a great void left in ninjutsu with the passing of Professor Ronald Duncan, a void which will never be filled. The likes of Prof. Duncan will never come around again. I considered him a mentor and looked for his guidance many times in the formulation of this blog.

This picture is one of my favorite pictures of Prof. Duncan. My father named me Barron which means “Noble Warrior”. I have tried to live up to that name and its meaning.  But Prof. Duncan embodied a “Noble Warrior” a Marine, a martial artist and a gentleman, he had a look and an air of nobility not just physically but in his character as well.

 His very distinctive voice set him aside from others. There was no mistaking his voice for someone elses. When he called me on the phone and said hello I knew immediately who it was he never had to say his name his unique voice always gave him away. I think he could have been a radio personality with that distinctively, unmistakable great voice of his.

I cannot help be feel great sorrow that I will never hear his wonderful strong voice again but it will resonate thru my heart and mind for the rest of my days as I am sure it will for many others as well. He often would counsel me on different situations. His insights that he shared will continue to guide me. His voice speaks even more strongly to me now than ever before. It echoes, it resonates with the things he shared and said.       

I have refelcted on how I can pay tribute to and remember Prof. Duncan and what he has done. He has
accomplished so much not just as a martial artist but as a human being.  I choose to remember how he lived, taught and shared. 

-Barron Shepherd

O'SENSEI RONALD DUNCAN 

WAY OF THE WINDS 

Born in Panama, Professor Ronald Duncan began training in boxing at the age of seven. Since Professor Ronald Duncan grew up in an area where many of the elite military forces of that country were training in jungle warfare, he learned at an early age to read the signs of nature for directions in and out of the jungle. It was the beginning of a long and very involved career in many aspects of the martial arts.

Ronald Duncan went on to serve in the United States Marine Corp where he was a member of the USMC Judo team and earned one of his earliest black belt rankings. Professor Duncan went on to earn a black belt in several other disciplines such as Hakko Ryu Jujitsu, Dai-nippon Jujitsu Ryu, Sosuishi Ryu, Kin Dai Gakko Ryu, Aikido, Aiki-Jujitsu, Kempo, Kobujitsu (weaponry), and Shinobino-jitsu (popularly known as Ninjitsu). His teachers were all legendary men; Charlie Neal, Ernie Cates, Naraki Hara, Tatsuo Uzaki, and Don Draeger.

Evolving into such a versatile practitioner of the martial arts, it is highly and widely known he was the first to practice and teach Ninjutsu in the states in the 60’s and 70’s before the ninja craze hit America in the 80's and 90's. Students from his school had great success on the tournament circuits of those days and he had already had series of articles published in the martial art magazines of the day. Professor Ronald Duncan became the first non-oriental to be publically recognized in "Official Karate" magazine as a master of martial arts weaponry.

For many years to come, Professor Duncan would thrill audiences around the world with spectacular demonstrations that would include vast assortments of traditional and non traditional weapons. Ronald Duncan was also the first to be shown catching live arrows with his bare hands on nationally televised programs such as "Thrill Seekers" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72tbio78jAQ, and ABC’s "Wide World of Sports" where he was acknowledged as the “Father of American Ninjutsu”.

Ronald Duncan has taught Special Troops, Navy S.E.A.L. Teams, law enforcement agencies, and various government agenc ies in foreign countries. Professor Duncan has not neglected modern weaponry. He is also a certified expert in firearms, and competition shooting with over 200 competition shooting awards. Having such knowledge in firearms, Professor Duncan is quite proficient in combative and gun disarming tactics.

Professor Duncan has a 6 volume Aikijujutsu instructional series and a single volume dvd on koga ryu ninjutsu available on dvd. http://espytv.com/aiki.htm

Since the establishment of his Way of the Winds™ System http://www.wayofthewinds.com/ , schools internationally are affiliated with him. He has taught in Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Panama, England and South Africa. He has also been involved with the blind, physically handicapped, and homeless inner-city youth.

Ronald Duncan is a recipient of numerous Hall of Fame awards and honors including the Professional Karate Federation in 1977, Turtull Hall of Fame in 1981, Marine Martial Arts Federation, Hall of Fame Charter Life Member in 1997, Martial Arts Masters, Pioneers & Legends Hall of Fame 1997, Tribute to the Greatest Masters of the Twentieth Century Hall of Fame (sponsored by Wesley Snipes) in 1998, and The World Head of Family Sokeship Council Hall of Fame 1999, and AFMA Hall of Fame 2000.

On Sunday, Januaury 20th,2007 at 7pm before a capacity crowd a Tribute to Grand Master Ronald Duncan was held. The Madison Square Garden Hall of Fame inductions New York City N. Y. hosted by Grand Master Aaron Banks the creator of The Oriental World of Self Defense shows and World Professional Martial Arts Organization, honored Grand Master Ronald Duncan for introducing Ninjitsu and other Martial Arts to the Western World thru this venue in 1969. The event was attended by some of the world's leading exponents of Martial and fight sciences including world boxing champions honoring Grand Master Ronald Duncan.

On June 13th, 2007 in Brooklyn N.Y. Grand Master Ronald Duncan received a Pioneering award for 50 years teaching the legendary practices of Ninjitsu and various martial arts in America. In November of 2007, Prof. Duncan was inducted to the International Association of Martial Artists Hall of Fame 2007.

Prof. Duncan was the first to practice and teach Ninjutsu in the states beginning in the 60’s before the ninja craze hit America in the 80's and 90's. Today, Professor Ronald Duncan is often acknowleged as the ”Father of American Ninjutsu” . There was a time when Ninjutsu was not being practiced publicly in this country but Ronald Duncan was one of a few individuals who dared to seek out and study the arts of the ninja. Since then, other ninjutsu practitioners and schools have emerged.

In Black belt Magazine, January 2011 issue, backed up the fact that O’Sensei Duncan was indeed the first to teach Ninjutsu in the U.S. Black belt commemorated their 50 years of publication in a 5 part series of articles in which they list the highlights from the martial arts world during Black Belt's first half century.

 Part 1  started off with a look back to the sixties  listed as one of the milestones of martial arts in the sixties Black Belt gave mention to  Prof. Ronald Duncan, and specifically stating that in 1964 "Ronald Duncan  was teaching ninjutsu in New York"

 

REMEMBERING A MARTIAL ARTS PIONEER AND A NOBLE WARRIOR

"Ron Duncan was and is a quiet, humble, polite, and extremely hard working martial artist of great ability. He cross- trained constantly. He took advice from everyone and I never heard him criticize anyone. I’m proud of the fact that I was influential in his learning process”.

“Sensei Ron Duncan studied judo, jujitsu and knife with me for 2 years. 1957-1959. He was an excellent martial arts student. He was in the same group of students at my dojo in Jacksonville, NC as Don Nagle, Jim Giles, Don Bohan, Rick Nemura, Bryan "Chick" Burk, Howard George-1960 Greco Roman Wrestling Olympic Champion. Pat Barris (who I taught from age 8-10 when he moved to the West Coast, Barris was twice Pan Am Judo Champion. All became famous in martial arts history. Ron Duncan is a pioneer in ninja history weaponry and tactics. "

- Ernie Cates

“He is a nidan in the American Ka­rate Federation, a shodan in the Ameri­can Judo and Ju-Jitsu Federation, a Shomokoroku in the Nippon Sosuishiryu Ju-Jitsukai, a godan in the Hakkoryu Ju-Jutsu Federation, and, although he doesn't call himself a Master of Ninjit­su, he's about the only one. Ronald Duncan is a man of many titles, but all deservedly earned and backed up by a multitude of talents; almost as many as the amount of weapons he is master of.”

-Official Karate Magazine August, 1971

"Ninjutsu is the art of Japans ninja warriors. It grew during the nations feudal period (13th to 17th century), when missions of espionage and assassination were often carried out against warlords. In the 1970s and 80s, ninjutsu was popularized in the West by Ronald Duncan, Stephen K. Hayes and Masaaki Hatsumi."

-Black belt magazine.com

"A marine veteran Professor Duncan was one of the First Marines back from oversea’s in the early 1950’s and returned with his skills (Nin-jitsu/Martial Arts) to Camp Lejeune, NC where Don Nagle (Isshinryu Karate), and Ernie Cates (Judo) also had based at the same time. For his great Accomplishments Duncan is inducted to the IAMA Hall of Fame 2007."

-Grand Master Gary Alexander

"He has 50 years experience and I want to have a picture of how he started his career in the racially charged years of the 1950s. Master Duncan has been a consistent, persistent presence on the martial arts scene. His knowledge of weapons and ninja practices are legend and he remains active as an instructor. I interviewed Master Ronald Duncan while I was out there. For me that was highlight of the trip. He was someone I had always wanted to meet."

-Floyd Webb “The Search for Count Dante” a documentary film

O'SENSEI RONALD DUNCAN: A LEGEND PASSES

 It is with heavy heart and great sadness that I pass along news that one of America's finest martial artist has passed away. I cannot express my sorrow upon hearing the news. My heart felt condolences go out to his family and students and those who knew him. It is a sad day and indeed a very great loss of one of the best men I know.

O'Sensei Ronald Duncan was a driving force of this blog. He repeatedly shared his insights and expressed his delight of the historical articles on my blog over the years.

O'Sensei, thank you so much for your friendship over the years and sharing your insight with me. I will dearly miss our conversations. I am so thankful to have known you even if it was for a short time. You leave a legacy and an inspiration that was imprinted on so many, especially me. God bless you and your family.

                              O'SENSEI RONALD DUNCAN
                                       6/4/1937 - 11/19/2012

TOM KELLY AMERICAN KENPO KARATE

ELVIS AND TOM KELLY 1974

THOMAS E. KELLY 9th DEGREE BLACK BELT "MASTER Of THE ART" in AMERICAN KENPO KARATE

Instructor for: Pricilla Presley, John Ritter and Peter Cetera (Chicago). Taught the children of : Buddy Hackett, Anthony Quinn, Kirk Douglas, Doris Day, Bill Cosby, Robert Gulp and Robert Mitchum. Provided Security for: Elvis Presley, Freddy Hart, Sonny James, Robert Culp and Bill Cosby.

1971-72-73 HEAVYWEIGHT "ALL-AMERICAN KARATE" CHAMPION. The first 7th Degree Black Belt promoted in the "Ed Parker System" by Mr. Parker. (1970)


The second Kenpo Black Belt to win the Heavyweight Division at the "Internationals".
Greg Baines (1969), (1972 fought 7 matches and
then Joe Lewis)

The second Kenpo Black Belt to win their weight division (same year) at the "Internationals" and the California State Championships. (1972)
(Steve Saunders was the first)

ED PARKER, ELVIS AND TOM KELLY

A member of the original "Undefeated" I.K.K.A. Black Belt Team. (1975)
(Steve Saunders - Lou Oliva - Chris Armstrong - John Henderson - Tom Kelly)


The first Kenpoist to fight on an "Open Black Belt Team" (Undefeated) in Europe.
(England and Belgium : 1975)
(John Nativada - Ron Marchini - Darrnel Garcia - Benny "The Jet" Uriqudez - Tom Kelly)

The Team Fights were made into a Movie "The New Gladiators" a documentary movie by Elvis Presley and Ed Parker centered on the fights of the United States Karate team in London, England and Brussels, Belgium. It was filmed between 1973 and 1974 but finally remastered and later released in 2002. The movie was financed by Elvis Presley. On August 16, 2009 Elvis Presley Enterprises released a new version of the film with extra footage of Presley in Karate training sessions.