The history of how this Manual of the Lost Techniques was developed is an interesting one. For those who know my other writings on Kenpo topics will know that I normally do not give much personal details or ‘name-drop’. However, the people involved with the background of this material are very notable. It is hopeful that practitioners of Kenpo from the 1960s and 1970s will experience nostalgia, and the new practitioners of our art will get inspired from how we trained in the developmental days of Kenpo in America.

Part 2 – The Ronin Years – 1980 to 1983

Gary Avery had moved back to California and worked as a guard at San Quinton prison in Vacaville, where my grandmother lived. It was in Vacaville that Gary would train fighters at the same gym where Eugene Ray produced a new world champion, Dennis Alexio. Gary was always into realistic full-contact fighting, and his method had proven a success. Ironically, it was probably due to the attitude of realistic fighting that our Louisville school suffered financial loss. The intimidating heavy hitters of our school scared off the casual students who were seeking belt promotions. Yet, these students were the ones who paid the bills for the studio.

Gary had told everyone to seek me out to continue with the tight-knit group that was left orphaned when our school closed. Over the next three years I had set up many different training locations to train with those who wished to continue - from country clubs, city parks and even my basement. Many of the guys who were never promoted past blue belt in the 1970s, became interested in finally gaining the rank that they never earned. Nearly all of them had competed regularly in the black belt division, and while the studio was open, they did not desire to train technique. One of the problems that developed out of the 1970s school was a split of focus. Opinions were split between the necessity of sparring, self-defense techniques, or kata. My specialty was all three. I always sought to balance these areas. So when the ‘fighters’ wanted rank, they sought me out for instruction. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s many of these ‘old-timers’ would seek me out to learn the system. Even today, I run into some of the guys who still want to train as we did in the 1970s.

Although my main focus of study in high school was science and math, I entered the University of Louisville, School of Music majoring in percussion. I studied on the World Premier Timpanist James Rago. Mr. Rago would often compare the fine motion of striking percussion instruments to the shock wave of a karate strike. It was also at the school of music where I played with other musical greats; like James Kottack (drummer for Kingdom Come and The Scorpions), and Tyrone Wheeler (the world’s greatest bass player). We all played in a small group called “The Utopian Futurist Society”. James played set, Tyrone played bass and I was mallets, vibraphones and multi-percussion. We made a recording, performances and radio concert. James went on to start Kingdom Come. Rehearsal, performances and practice would normally make a 7:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. day, leaving only the weekends to practice Kenpo. So in 1983, I had to make a decision between music and Kenpo. I chose to change my major to the same that Gary Avery and Jim Stewart had their degrees in – chemistry and physics.

In 1983, I attended a Joe Lewis seminar in Southern Indiana. Joe Lewis was instrumental in promoting Tracy’s Studios in the 1970s. So, when he asked for a volunteer to spar with him with a ‘left lead’ I jumped in. I was wearing my powder blue Tracy’s shirt, hoping that he would take notice of me. He announced that we were going to do some ‘controlled sparring’. Joe was 6’0” – 200 lbs. I was 5’7” – 140 lbs. So ‘controlled sparring’ sounded great. After we tapped in and squared off, Joe executed an invisible jab. I never saw him move. All I remember was my head snapping back and wondering if I were standing up or flying. One girl in the group said, “I thought you said ‘controlled sparring’”. He said, “I did. I controlled him.” Then he bowed out and continued with the seminar on ‘set-point’ control. I sported a ‘Marlboro Man’ shiner for the next two weeks. After the seminar, I stayed around to talk with Joe. We talked about Tracy’s and he inquired what happened to our school. Before we left, he told me to contact Al Tracy and gave me his phone number. Joe has photographic memory too, and remembered his number off the top of his head.

 

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