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The 1990's
Sensei Herrington had to drop Control of A.K.B.B.A. It just became too much for him. I had spent time as State, Asst. Regional, and Regional Rep., but was unable to pick up on it now. So, others attempted to run the region. I never heard anything about A.K.B.B.A. in the area again.
They weren't Sensei Herrington. Sensei was made for that kind of work, and it was Sensei that made it work. Everyone loved him. He was just so personable and friendly. You knew he was a Martial Artist that could be trusted. If he suggested it, it was good. Regardless of what it was.
Changes in tournaments caused me to pull my people away from the majority of events. This was quite different for an association that had been all over the U.S. and Canada the last twenty years.
But, I had begun seeing things that I didn't like. Things that did not reflect the spirit or the purpose of the Martial Arts. Tournaments were becoming like our public school systems, "Outcome Based".
Minimums in Kata scores, toy weapons, and the increasingly blatant show of bad attitude by Black Belts was making mediocrity a standard.
The days were gone when Master Trias would stop a competitor in mid kata and ask them to explain the last four moves. Or not allow a competitor to run their form because their weapon was too small or light.
Less and less responsibility was being placed on the student to know and do things that only a few years previous had been considered necessary. Plain simple manners in children were becoming a thing of the past. Parents were becoming less of an example of good sportsmanship, and more obnoxious with every tournament.
Most tournaments no longer held the opportunities for my students to learn and grow in areas that I felt necessary. Without that it's just a wasted afternoon out putting money in the pocket of a stranger.
We restricted ourselves to attending the "Cleveland City Championships" every other month. I liked the rules especially "no minimums in Kata". If nothing else my students could get a good work out at a long established tournament where plenty of people we knew went.
Sensei Herrington was now beginning to loose ground in his personal battle. A couple of large strokes, operations and procedures to normalize blood flow. It was a very tough time for him. His fight to remain self-sufficient was courageous and showed me a strength I had never seen in him before.
September 22, 1991, Sensei called me and asked me to come to the hospital that evening. He asked me to write up a paper that would assign any of his rights in the Association and our Tournament ventures over to me.
I did as he requested and showed up with a Black Belt that we both had trained Sensei Mike "Sarge" Bally. Also, in attendance was Sensei's father-in-law Mr. Watson Beal. Sensei and I signed the document and Sensei Bally witnessed it.
We all talked a bit longer, Sensei Bally and I left to go back to the school. As we rode I kept visualizing Sensei Herrington at different points in our relationship. I had seen my mother die over a period of time. The night my father died there wasn't enough time for me to get to him, so when I got the call he had passed, I went out on the floor and taught class. I had seen the pattern, and I knew that Sensei was starting that slow slide that would eventually end where it always does.
Year's later Sensei Jim Endrizzi would tell me that Sensei Herrington had a meeting with a number of his Black Belts at his apartment. He told them then that he was going to be passing the association over to me. This news was greeted with mixed feelings among the group. I know why he did this.
The devotion of Sensei's Black Belts was never a question then or now. They were all willing to do the "hell and high water routine" for him at any time. I should know, I'm one of his Black Belts.
Some expressed more of a spark for leadership than others did. Yet, not one individual, at that point in time, had shown that they were able, or willing to sacrifice enough to keep a school going beyond a minor level and only for a short time.
When given the opportunity to shine by running Sensei's classes during his period of illness, most of them did. Still, some could never rise high enough to offer the students anything beyond a constant sparring class.
In reality there was never a doubt between Sensei and I from the day we started the association that I would take over upon his retirement. I was his
protégé since 1968; I was his partner and co-founder of the whole thing as well as our tournaments and awards banquets. I named the thing, and originally talked him into starting it. There was no way anyone else would get it.
The reason he told the others he was turning the association over to me was so that they would hear it from his mouth. These were his wishes. This is how he wanted it to be. It would save me problems in the future.
February 8, 1992 I remember as a very bright day. It was more like a yellow summer sun, not the washed out light you are use to seeing in the winter. There was a little snow on the ground and a normal cold temperature for February.
It was a quiet midwinter day. One of those days where it seems like everything stopped. Being a Saturday everyone must have decided just to stay home, stay warm, and relax.
I was very tired. I had spent all night awake with my wife's father in the hospital. They had him on a breathing machine. The members of the family were taking turns staying with him around the clock as moral support. I left the hospital and went directly to the dojo.
Class time hit and no one was there. Unusual, but it happens from time to time. In any event, I wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. I knew no one was going to be down that day, so I closed up the school. I was going to call my wife at work and tell her I was going home, then ask her to call me and wake me up at 1:30. I would clean up and go visit Sensei Herrington at the VA Hospital. But I couldn't get through on the phone. So I decided to stop in since it was on my way home.
When I got there she told me that Sensei Endrizzi had just called. He couldn't reach me at the school, so he left a message with her to have me call him back. He told me that the hospital had been unable to reach me so they called him. Sensei Herrington had died at 10:00am from a brain hemorrhage.
I made the 40-minute drive home in silence. Thoughts whirring around in my head. I changed into an old GI I wore around the house, made a cup of coffee, sat down in front of the TV, and cried like a baby.
He was a gentle soul who spent his time trying to please others. He had an almost child like innocence that left him vulnerable to those around him who he loved but were willing to abuse him and take advantage of his loving heart.
His Black Belts did all they could to protect him. God knows that he certainly had the ability to protect himself, but not the nature. In the end his life was shortened, he stepped forward a willing sacrifice to the self-centeredness of others.
That's all I'll say about that.
I looked back and thought; "God, this has got to be two miles long". Cars of every make and color made up the longest funeral procession I had seen in my life. The gravesite couldn't accommodate them all, spilling numbers of them out and quite a ways down alongside the road to park. People were still arriving from the procession after the service started.
Sensei's two days at the funeral home had brought out almost everyone. I know a few of us put forth a concerted effort to reach as many people as possible. It was good to see most of the old family. Others quickly refreshed a faded memory of why we were glad they were gone. Just like a normal family gathering I guess.
A particularly touching moment was when Sensei Dale Dandrea, a Black Belt who had been as student with us since he was nine years old, Entered in his U.S. Army dress uniform, walked to the casket, and saluted Sensei Herrington as a show of respect from one soldier to another. It was a moment of pure heart.
It's very hard to say good-by
By March 1st we would be leaving the 720 address. The headquarters school was in dire need of repair. We did what we could, but the bulk of responsibility, which fell upon our landlord, was unattended. Water was dripping onto the training floor when it would rain. The ceiling was falling. Lights were coming loose.
Sensei Mike Moorman had approached me months earlier and sparked my interest in finding a new building. It was a scary move for me. This place had been home for eighteen years. Overhead was constant, everything was predictable. My situation was comfortable like an old robe. And just about as full of holes. So in December of 1991 I had set forth to find another building to operate out of. And move me out of my apathy.
I found our new place in short order. Just five doors South of where we were. Same side of the street, same block, and same neighbors we had for all those years. A silk screening business was moving out, so we decided to take over. Three floors and a basement. Plenty of room to expand and grow.
The second and third floor had not been used for years and needed to be cleaned. Walls on the first floor needed to be torn down and an office put up. The heating ducts in the floor needed to be moved along with the first floor bathroom, a crate full of other projects waited in the wings.
I got the new building rent free from December 1, 1991 up until February 29, 1992. I had to finish enough projects by that time to move in and start paying rent. So we began work December 1st.
This move came at the perfect time. With the death of Sensei Herrington and my acquisition of the association so recent, this move caused me to delay any plans for organization or reconstruction of Ohio Ji Do Kwan. I touched nothing. I changed nothing. I contacted no one. I worked on my headquarters project while I waited, watched, and listened.
I will leave the construction of the new headquarters here to move forward with the object of this history, the development of the association. However, I would be inconsiderate if I did not at least mention the fact that every single one of my students of all ages and ranks volunteered and worked as if they were building a pyramid on the Giza Plateau.
At times they would be on all four floors scraping, painting, constructing. Or cleaning garbage out of both buildings. We even tore down the offices and locker rooms in the old school, then removed all nails from the 2x4's so we could reuse them in the new school.
This went on for the first year and a half of our occupation and is an accomplishment that I could never forget or give enough praise to. They are an amazing, wonderful group of loyal people. I honor them.
Sensei Endrizzi had joined my school before Sensei Herrington's death. He would prove to be of invaluable help during the transition since he was close to Sensei Herrington before the end. He could brief me on who or what was correct as far as Sensei's last relationships in the arts.
The first people to contact me shortly after Sensei's death seemed to come out of the wood work all at the same time. Every single conversation with them started the exact same way. "I just wanted to check and see if there were any papers for me". "Master Herrington promised to promote me before he died". Some of these people hadn't talked to Sensei in over a year. Who did they think they were kidding?
Sensei Endrizzi had brought me all of Sensei Herrington's A.K.B.B.A., and Professional Karate Society papers. Masters Niskey, Mathna, Lombardi and I went through these page by page and never found any mention of promotions.
The day of Sensei's funeral, I and a group of Black Belts went back to Sensei's Endrizzi's house and dispensed a small number of certificates Sensei Herrington had left to be given out at the time of his death. These were all for Ohio Ji Do Kwan Black Belts. That was it.
I had decided that I would welcome any Ohio Ji Do Kwan Karate Association Black Belt who expressed a desire to become or remain a part of the association. I would do the same with any school or club that was or had been involved with us.
At that time I had two stipulations. First, they had to contact me. If they were not interested enough, or felt they were too important, to contact me, I didn't want what was obviously going to be a problem.
Second, they had to attend Black Belt classes I would hold once every three months. This would help to keep us all on the same page.
I also alluded to the possibility that two to three years down the line, I would be charging a fee of $25.00 a year for Membership.
Once we had gone with A.K.B.B.A., Sensei Herrington never used Ohio Ji Do Kwan Rank Certificates for any promotions. He simply signed up everyone in the association he was representing and used that as his promotion certificates. In time he came to do the same thing with patches. As a result, he had no overhead expenses for Ohio Ji Do Kwan.
As far as the schools were concerned, they had each been ordering their own Ohio Ji Do Kwan Karate patches and certificates from their own suppliers, if they used them at all. Nothing actually came from headquarters.
So here is what I was faced with attempting to do. Actually create a self sustaining, even profitable Martial Arts organization, where all information, certification and logo paraphernalia came from headquarters, twenty years after it had been started, among the people who had been allowed to be part of it for free. While at the same time I would be instituting requirements, rules, restrictions and traditions that heretofore had been ignored or unheard of.
Sensei Herman Horn had asked to be part of the organization before Sensei Herrington's death. Sensei Herrington eventually left that decision up to me. Sensei Horn had a school in Bayview, Ohio where he had converted a gas station into a very nice dojo.
He had broken off from the Sandusky school after the death of Sensei Cooper. He and the current head instructor could not see eye to eye, so I guess mutual agreement had Sensei Horn leaving.
Sensei Horn was the first outside of my school to learn that if he were to train with me, he and his entire student body would be studying my style, "American Ji Do Kwan Karate". He was agreeable and has been with me as one of my Black Belts and association school owners since.
A few of Sensei Herrington's Black Belts made it around to check in. I always invited them to be part of what was going on. We'd talk and they might stop back once or twice, but that was the extent.
Sensei Tom Yerace called me regarding the Wellington, Ohio school. Sensei Yerace had been around since the 70's. We had traveled to the Texas City Championships together along with Sensei Herrington. I had helped him with technique when he was a green belt. I knew him to have a wonderful personality and be a straightforward trustworthy individual.
He had opened the school in Wellington, but was now living in Hudson, Ohio and was unable to make it into the area. Sensei David Brattoli had taken over before Sensei Herrington's death. He wanted to tell me Sensei Brattoli was an "alright guy" and I should give him a chance. I told him to have Sensei Brattoli call me.
Brattoli began in Karate at age 11 under Sensei Clyde Hoover. Then he trained in Su Chi Kung Fu in Germany, and in Shorinryu Karate with Sensei George Baker here in the states. I knew Sensei Baker well, and I knew that any student of his was determined, well trained, and hard as nails.
A call from Sensei Brattoli lead to a visit. I found him to be out going and eager to be part of what I was trying to do. He began coming in on a weekly basis for regular workouts. He, like Sensei Horn, has remained as one of my Black Belts and school owners in the association.
I worked with these Black Belts whenever they could make it to my dojo. At times I would travel to their dojos and teach clinics to their students on Waza, Kata, or Self-Defense.
I Video Taped every Seminar, Clinic, and Black Belt Class I taught starting in 1993. This included everything from Weapons to Women's Self-Defense through Tai Chi to Karate. There would always be the possibility of editing any of the tapes for teaching or sales purposes. Also, if anything happened to me there would not be a dispute over how I had wanted things arranged and executed.
From the past Sensei Clyde Hoover came into the school. He went way back as a friend and a Black Belt of Sensei's. Actually, in the early days Sensei Hoover drifted back and forth between Sensei Herrington and Sensei Larry Lunn. Sensei Lunn was a very accomplished Black Belt from the old blood and guts days of Karate. Now he was also a very accomplished knife maker. I understand he's now in Colorado.
Sensei Hoover wanted to work out at the Lorain dojo, become part of Ohio Ji Do Kwan, teach and move up through the system. He was seriously looking for a home in which to practice his Martial Arts.
He had always been Ohio Ji Do Kwan, no doubt. Now he became a regular sight at the daytime workouts. Getting in shape and learning the forms our way. Stick fighting and doing Tai Chi. It was good to see him back in the swing of things. He had spent many years as a police officer and is a big guy. I couldn't help but look at him and see thirty years back.
Speaking of Police Officers, it was about this time I was introduced to Master Richard "Mack" McCormack. He was a legend in Lorain, Ohio. A Police Officer for forty-three years, "Mack" had walked a beat in the worst areas of the city for his entire career. His badge number was "1", and he had refused any promotions that would take him off the streets.
His big reputation was for his ability at hand to hand combat in real situations. A true "Master" of the Choke-out, "Mack" had actually choked-out bad guys with one arm while bringing them into position to apply the choke.
One morning he walked into my dojo and introduced himself. It seems a public relations move to make citizens feel safe on downtown streets had resulted in him walking a daytime beat on the main street of Lorain.
I had heard stories of this guy for the past nineteen years, pro and con. I wasn't sure about the attitude of who I was meeting. But after all these years in the same city it was time we met and got to know each other.
Master Richard McCormack turned out to be one of the finest men and Martial Artists I have ever met in my life. The stories about him in police work can be answered with the understanding that he always gave the individual the opportunity to cooperate. If not, then that was the individual's choice. The situation was handled as necessary.
In Martial Arts, he is a premier instructor with understanding and patients. His first and last thoughts are always for the safety of his students. His technical expertise is unsurpassed. I also admire the fact that everyone he teaches is a certified ground fighting, neck choking, arm locking monster.
Master McCormack became my Judo and Ju-Jitsu instructor. His street adaptations and instruction in general have helped me to "Beef-Up" my requirements. He and his wife Master Patricia McCormack, also a marvelous Martial Artist, began teaching clinics for my Black Belts on "Choking" and "Arm Locking".
This went hand in hand with the knife fighting clinics my knife-fighting instructor, Grandmaster Emmanuel deLeon was teaching. I had been involved with him since the late 70's, and the hand patterns I learned from him figured highly in my plans for my system.
He was another of these Martial Artists who are so good they are "Scary". His speed and pure body hardness are almost unreal. His humility is a lesson. He is very giving of himself and his art "Serrada Eskrido".
Sensei Endrizzi had to leave the association. His long drive to work along with his personal situation made it impossible for him to meet requirements at my dojo. We also had a few disagreements, which I felt needed to be worked out before continuing a relationship in the same school. Nothing drastic or major.
I began teaching regular Black Belt classes for all of the Black Belts in the association. One every three months.
Out of the twenty-six Black Belts in class the majority had trained at my school and had come up under me from day one. They knew what I wanted and they knew my expectations. I told all of the other Black Belts that regardless of what they may have heard about me, good or bad, just take some classes under me, see if what I have to teach you makes sense, and above all, works. Then make the decision for themselves regarding my ability and knowledge and if they wish to stay.
Class structure was that the first half of class was devoted to a specific rank level and how the techniques, requirements, and kata were taught and executed at that level. The second half of class was directed to working on things specifically for the Black Belts.
Classes moved along well, but not perfect. Things were going good, but something was missing. If you included the classes and the clinics my Black Belts were getting instruction of the highest level. We were all together, but not all together. I just couldn't put my finger on it.
I had joined "Unity Martial Arts" in 1994 because I felt that we needed to be aligned with a rank certifying Martial Arts Organization. As a side benefit this association's headquarters was close by. Master Ted Hines, a Shito-ryu stylist, runs it. Sensei Hines is the perfect individual to be the head of a certifying association. He cares about what is good for the Martial Arts, not money. Although he is in his forties, he still competes in Pankration tournaments.
A true traditionalist, he's an old style hard guy. From Kata right on down to weapons through to empty hand. I admire his sincerity and honesty.
I signed up all of my Black Belts and some of my students in Unity. Master McCormack and Master deLeon did the same. To help Unity get members we started the "Four Masters Tour". Masters Heins, McCormack, deLeon, and Fuzy. We would teach a seminar for 3 hours. Each of us would take a turn and teach our specialty. The cost was $35.00. Those in attendance got a one-year membership in Unity, plus large rank certificate and I D card.
It was fun, and the people got their money's worth. All four of us enjoyed working with each other. It all fit together very nicely.
I was watching the Black Belts warming up for class. I don't remember which class. I could go back and review tapes but it really isn't important . What is important that I discovered how to get us all together.
We bowed in. I had them sit down and I told them that for some, I had always been their Sensei. From the day they took their first stance, up to Black Belt and beyond. For others I wasn't the Black Belt they started with. I knew that your first Sensei was always something special.
There was no way I could go back in time. I wasn't trying to replace anyone. And it wasn't fair to me to offer me less than full loyalty or trust because I came along at this point in their lives. Now I was teaching them, Now I was their Sensei, and I expected them to follow me fully or not at all. They had to make that decision and stand behind it.
I was making it a requirement that over the next six months, each and every Black Belt in the Association had to certify all of their kata, from white belt to Black Belt, move by move in front of me. No exceptions, no excuses. Who ever didn't was out of the association. For a school to retain a Black Belt I kicked out meant that the school was out also. This included all Masters and Black Belts at all Ohio Ji Do Kwan Karate Association Schools.
I told them that I would work with any of them any time they wanted to come to my school and work. I would come to their schools and work when I could. They could certify any kata any time they wanted as long as they make the deadline.
Needless to say I spent a lot of time working on kata with people. Making corrections in stances, preparation points, line of execution. No one was very far off from most of what I wanted, but little differences even in Bunki, explanation of moves, had us worlds apart on some things.
The Black Belts for the headquarters school had learned their forms from me. During their Black Belt tests we spent at least four to five hours going over all of their forms in depth. Including making every move work against attackers. Therefore, most problems were little personal idiosyncrasies that tend to creep in over time, and most instructors correct as they arise.
The Black Belts from the other schools had learned their forms from someone who did not understand my system or what I was after. Though we were close, a change is a change. These Black Belts had to literally learn their forms and Bunki a new way.
This brought us closer. As you work together you begin to understand and know if you can believe the person you're working with. You gain or loose respect depending upon the sincerity of the teaching and the work. They had taken that big step and allowed me to change what they had known as truth for so long. Then they worked their bottoms off to make it right. They were, and wanted to be part of Ohio Ji Do Kwan.
Some days I didn't have any time to myself. But it was worth it. All but two people made the deadline. Those two didn't even certify one form. They never even gave themselves or me a chance. They had excuses for being pulled away from whichever school they were part of. Personal troubles, work problems, physical trouble, that kind of thing. They both dropped out.
Now at Black Belt class we looked like an association. They had two main things in common, the base of their system, and the Chief Instructor they all trained under. You could tell through the execution of technique and the enthusiasm in the workouts that we were all from the same place.
I received a call one afternoon from someone I hadn't seen in eighteen years, Sensei Paul Ornowski. Sensei Herrington and I had taken over the NASA Karate Club from Sensei Ornowski back on the 70's. He was in the Canton, Ohio area and wanted to come visit me. We set up a day.
Sensei Ornowski had been my training partner back in 1968. Paul, an airborne Infantryman had returned from Viet Nam and signed up at Lakewood Judo and Karate Association around the same time that I did.
Being close in height and weight we paired up in class when required. Soon we began working together on our Martial Arts before, after, and in between classes. When the split came, Paul became Sensei Moore's Protege' and I became Sensei Herrington's.
The last time I had seen him was around 1979 at the 720 Broadway address in Lorain. He had taught me Moore's version of the Kata: Empi, Jion, and Kan Ku Sho. After that work out he just disappeared.
I offered Sensei Ornowski the opportunity to be part of the association. He had not had an instructor or promotion since Sensei Moore, although he had continued to train and continued to teach.
Paul was like a lot of Martial Artists. Their Sensei had long since died, quit, or moved on leaving them to find new teachers or train themselves. Yet, here thirty years later he was still on the path, he still kept the faith.
For twenty-one years straight I had been with one man on a regular basis, I was lucky. My sensei looked after me; he took care of me. Yes I trained and learned other arts with other people, but was always loyal to one man, Master Curtis Herrington.
On my behalf I will say; "Whatever I was given I have earned". My continual day after day, year after year, decade after decade involvement can not be disputed. As others fell to the wayside one after another and quit, I still remained.
And here before me was my old friend, my training partner. A spirit from the past come forward through time. Like a Ronin, he had made the trip alone. What an admirable individual.
Sensei Ornowski was a window to the past. His Martial Arts were unchanged. It was all there, the power and strength. His movement mirrored the early days. The time where Martial Artist looked to execution of technique and control instead of covering their bodies in foam rubber gear.
You could see the variation from what he was doing to where I had taken us. Some things I was doing he might have seen but had not done before. I had brought the circle into play within the upper kyu ranks of the system, whereas Sensei Ornowski was all straight line.
He also proved to be a real historian regarding the Martial Arts. People their instructors, their systems, their forms and the roots of their forms. He was very impressive.
As he got ready to leave, I told him to give me a call and let me know what he wanted to do about joining the association. He said that he had made up his mind already. He bowed and called me Sensei. I was very uncomfortable with that. I told him so. We both understood why it was strange for me. We both also understood why it was necessary.
One day Master McCormack asked me if I would like to have a seminar from a top Martial Artist. We could have it at my place. The police and my people only. "Sure"; I said. So Master McCormack set it up. It turned out to be Master Philip Porter, "The Father of American Judo", and "Highest Ranking Man in the Western Hemisphere". "Chairman for the U.S. Olympic Judo Committee".
What a personality. Like Master McCormack, he's in his 70's, and also like Master McCormack he works out like he means it. You work in his seminars. You work hard.
We had all of our Black and Brown belts from the association, the Lorain SWAT team, plus various officers from local departments and the local prison.
I have found that when they refer to people as "The Father Of" something, they are usually dynamic, highly intelligent, and focused individuals. Also, not caught up in their own importance. No exception here.
I am very fortunate to have met and gotten to know Master Porter. He truly is a great man. His accomplishments could fill a book. People of his knowledge and ability do not come by very often. They are inspiring to train under. They are walking history.
At the end of the clinic, Master Porter elevated my Judo rank, and asked Master McCormack to work with me, but Porter would be my Sensei. His organization "The United States Martial Arts Association" certified my other ranks. He gave me that title of Director/Master of "American Ji Do Kwan Karate" for the USMA Board.
I made it mandatory that all Masters and school owners in the Ohio Ji Do Kwan Karate Association join USMA. Any other students that wanted to join could. By this time Unity Martial Arts had recognized "American Ji Do Kwan Karate" as a specific art.
At the next Black Belt class I set up the structure for the Association's board, Black Belts, and why I had made the decisions regarding Unity and USMA.
Now all Masters and Black Belts were members of Unity Martial Arts. All Masters and school owners were also members of The United States Martial Arts Association. Any of them could leave me at any time and still have a body of authority to certify their various ranks and give them timely promotions.
In other words, they were not tied to me for reason of promotion. There was no way that I could hold anything over their heads in order to get them to stay as my students. If they stayed, it was because they believed in me.
Also, if anything were to happen to me, they and their students would all be looked after by these two organizations.
The board of our association would be comprised of all Black Belts who owned schools, all association Masters, (6th degree Black Belt and above), and two Masters outside of our association acting as advisors.
It's only common sense that the people who operate and own the schools have something to say about our direction. Anyone that has remained with the association long enough to reach sixth Dan Master rank has a right to take part in the decision making.
The first advisor picked was; Grandmaster Muhammad Sallahudin, founder of Oshirokan Budo Bujutsu. The second picked was Grandmaster Emmanuel deLeon, founder of Eskrido.
The advisers were there to offer wisdom, guidance, and advise to the board in the event that something happened to me that would keep me from my duties permanently or temporary but long term.
As far as Black Belt chain of command; All Black Belts are association Black Belts, but they are not all mine. Black Belts who train and teach at my dojo are directly responsible to me, as are all current associated school owners/Head Instructors. The Black Belts at the associated schools are directly responsible to the owner/Head Instructor of the school that they train and teach in.
Should an associated school owner have one of their Black Belts break off and open their own associated school, that Black Belt is still directly responsible to them.
I require that all Black Belts attend my classes because I am the Chief Instructor for the association, and it's a class outside of their school with information from its source. Also, if you have the chance to train directly under the founder of a system, why wouldn't you? I will train all of the Black Belts, but I will not insert myself between a teacher and their student.
All Black Belts are certified directly by me to teach "American Ji Do Kwan Karate". They have to be certified on a yearly basis. Certification is dependent on them attending Black Belt classes and their conduct during the previous year. Any school using a non-certified Black Belt to teach regular classes is out of the association.
Certification costs $25.00 a year. It includes certificate of "Certification to Teach" or "Master Instructor", which is posted at their school, A letter of authorization, an association Black Belt Membership card, and all Black Belt classes during the year.
Schools that certify all of their Black Belts automatically receive a certificate of "School Charter".
All certification may be revoked at any time.
In today's world the fee of $25.00 a year for certification, membership and classes is nothing. But for me it is a start of bringing the association to a point where it is self-sustaining. Eventually I also intend to charge a reasonable fee for certification of rank. Being the head of a system this is only right.
A rule I instituted is "If you teach, you work out". I do not allow any strutters. I've seen to many Black Belts reach a point where they slap that belt around their waist and do nothing but strutt around a class year after year. Eventually they're out of shape, and look it. A halfhearted workout would throw them into cardiac arrest. Three or four kicks and the veins are sticking out in their foreheads like rope. They allow their technique to reach a point where they are embarrassing to watch.
Now, being in my fifties I understand that the body changes quite a bit after the mid forties. Eyesight, the legs go, old injuries act up frequently, joints ache. But you look at Master Porter, or Master McCormack still going at it in their 70's. Another friend of mine Sensei Dave Ard an Isshinryu practitioner was entering empty hand and weapons forms in tournaments at 60. There are plenty of examples.
The people in our Black Belt classes range in age from their late teens, (I do not promote to Black Belt before 16), to their late fifties. We have everything from vibrant undamaged bodies, to old worn out bags of flesh sporting things like bad knees or hips, or shoulders, whatever. Rank includes everything from 1st Black to 10th Black with a good number of high ranking Black. No one sits on his or her butt in class.
Perhaps we all cannot work to the same level. Perhaps we do not work with the same intensity. There might even be a few things that all of us can't do. But, we all work. We all put forth the effort.
My goal is to have an association where any of our students can go into any Ohio Ji Do Kwan Karate Association school or club and get the exact same high quality instruction at each. Techniques, Kata, everything taught the same. An association where if we exchanged teachers, classes would progress without missing a beat. An association where when it was time for me to step down, I could hand over an organization that was completely set up, running smoothly, paying for itself, with a salary for the Director.
My belief is that everything comes from the top. If the rules don't apply to the highest ranks, they apply to no one. If the attitude of the highest ranks is bad or found lacking, so is everyone's. The Masters are the example to the Black Belts, the Black Belts to the students, and so on down the line to the new people coming through the door.
So, Black Belts and teaching is where we attack our inconsistencies.
What a strange feeling it was to take the section, "Requirements for Yellow Belt" out of the instruction manual on the training floor, and replace it with the new one I had just completed.
Requirements had remained unchanged, in written form, since Sensei Moore wrote them down in 1962. To replace them felt almost like a sacrilegious act.
However, it was time. I imagined that Sensei Moore, wherever he was at, would agree. I hadn't changed much. I had added a few things here and there. The same process was in store for the next section I was working on, "Requirements for Blue Belt". Just a few additions here and there, some reworking.
As a matter of fact there wasn't a section where I took anything out. The real changes, were all additions. Additions inserted in at Green Belt, more at Purple Belt, more again at the first two of the three Brown Belt sections.
Some of the changes are totally new for the students. Some of the changes are developments that I have made over the years and have been using. Others are advancements and upgrades of techniques and theory that were never touched on beyond basic concept, even at advanced levels. Four new kata over time were inserted in kyu ranks alone. This brings the total of fifteen forms from white belt to Black Belt.
1st, 2nd, and 3rd Black also have additions in technique, kata and weapons. I have plans for rank changes and organization above that level, but first things first. I must finish putting down the program on paper from white belt through to and including 1st brown.
This re-organization of the Ohio Ji Do Kwan Karate Association and institution of the complete style of American Ji Do Kwan Karate, could not be done without the full backing and agreement of all of the Black Belts of the association.
We all want something better than what we had. We have seen the proof in the quality of our students and the improvement of ourselves. To learn new things and work to perfect old things. Since 1992, each school has moved to expand and is better off than before.
Lorain Family Martial Arts was a little school about two blocks down the street and around the corner from me. Sensei Bonnie Szarek and Sensei Lydia Gonzalez owners, ran the dojo a few nights a week. It was on the third floor of the building, had a wooden floor most instructors would die for, a very nice layout for changing rooms and offices, and an office for Master John Lambdin, their Master, and my friend from the old OJKA and Karate World days. I believe Master Lambdin trained under Master Larry Lunn in Tae Kwon Do, and Dr. Maung Gyi in Bando.
We had supported each other in various undertakings and even threw a "Training Tournament" together with three other schools in the area.
It was a Saturday afternoon in February 1998, and Master Lambdin was having Master Porter in for a weekend seminar. I could only make this one class, but had the honor of being Master Porter's "uke".
"Gentle Way", Judo is everything you have heard of when someone like Master Porter is throwing you. You float, you feel nothing. It truly is gentle. Even as you hit the mat.
I was having a wonderful time but had kind of a dull headache coming on. I mentioned to Grandmaster deLeon and Master Patricia McCormack that the right side of my neck felt a bit swollen. They told me that it looked as if it were. I finished out the session, and a week later I began treatment for an infected lymph node with my family doctor.
We continued for quite a while trying first one than another antibiotic in an attempt to get the swelling under control. Eventually at the urging of my wife, I made arrangements to have a surgeon remove the lymph node.
The first Friday in November 1998, while I was feeling just great, the doctor told me that I had Cancer, Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cancer was all I really heard.
I won't go into the entire story of everything. My cancer isn't the subject here anyway. But first a Radical Neck Dissection to remove the muscles of the right side of my neck and shoulder along with 47 lymph nodes.
My Black Belts began to mobilize. At the time there were fourteen of them teaching at the headquarters school. They ranged in rank from 7th Degree Black Belt to 1st Degree Black Belt.
Radiation treatments began. After two they had to increase them. I am not a big individual, but thirty-two years of training had left the remaining muscle in my neck and chest dense. The head of the radiation department told me that I probably received the largest dose of head and neck radiation they had given.
My wife, Master Mary Kay Fuzy was spending her time at work and with me, but would check on the school regularly. Master Ed Mathna 7th Dan coordinated and taught evening classes and Master David Lombard 6th Dan, coordinated and taught day classes. They kept in constant contact with each other regarding the school and it's coverage.
I thought I had prepared for radiation by gaining twenty pounds and moving up to 185 pounds. But the intensity of the treatment so burnt my throat and esophagus that they ulcerated and swelled. The skin on my shoulders split. By the end of the treatments I was at 128 pounds.
The Black Belts each picked two times a week to be at the school. Some were there three times. Sensei Mike Moorman, Sensei Dale Dandrea, and Sensei Jason Smith taught day classes. Dandrea and Smith also contributed to covering Saturday classes.
I went from Easter Sunday Morning 1999 to September 21, 1999 living off one to two Ensure milkshakes a day. When I could force it I drank three. I was unable to swallow the smallest pill, much less food. Even puree' wouldn't go down.
Sensei Holly Tutor, Sensei Mike Bally, Sensei Jim Roberts, Sensei Bernard Zagar, Sensei Ivan Zagar, Sensei Robert Klein, and Sensei Christina Long taught evening classes. Sensei Roberts and the Zagars also covered Saturdays.
I missed teaching one association Black Belt class but that was all. It is my responsibility to attend all Black Belt tests at my school. When I was at my lowest in weight and energy, Sensei Matt Born was testing for his 1st Black.
He had tested three hours each on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I couldn't attend. He rested Friday, and was to complete his test with a thirteen-hour section on Saturday.
During that section I showed up to start and led the test. I rested periodically then would lead sections like the Kata portion, which lasted around four hours. I made it through the test.
My Black Belts were impressed with the power and focus I displayed while executing technique from kata against attackers. Especially in that condition. They told me they were amazed. I felt as if I were performing as always, but needed to hear that.
On September 21, 1999 contact with a name on a cancer web site, Don Lechance, put me in touch with the man who would teach me to eat again and turn my life around.
It is now over a year later and I am stabilized at 152 pounds. I eat all I like yet; I'm still working on getting it down. Just recently I have been able to drink coffee and carbonated beverages.
I teach Tai Chi classes and seminars, occasional Karate Classes, all association Black Belt Classes, and work out enough to move progress slowly. I still have around two of three years of healing to go. To over do would set me back months.
I'm almost a year and a half out of radiation, and my throat is still swollen. I have lots of scar tissue in my throat down into my lungs.
I have virtually all motion, power and snap I ever had. My energy level is high but depletes very quickly. A radiation-damaged thyroid gland contributes to that. Eventual correct dosage of thyroid medicine will help pull things together.
No Cancer has been detected.
Forward • 1960's • 1970's • 1980's • 1990's • 2000 and beyond...... • Acknowledgements
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