Originally posted by jbkenpo
The person I'm referring to is Mr. Ron Braughton. He's an 8th under GM Dave Hebler in American Kenpo and got his first BB in Kenpo in 1971. He did 3 tours in Vietnam, but didn't meet TS Otto there from what I understand. It may have been while stationed in Germany. Mr. B is a retired Navy Seal and from reading about TS Otto he did train some of the special forces, but once again I'm not quite sure when they got together. He speaks very highly of his experience with him when he was alive, and would be considered pretty "old school" being 50+ yrs old. He spent 7 yrs stationed in the Philippines training in stick and knife so he's played with most the old school stick players or at least their people. His base system is IMUA Kenpo, a mixture of Kuntao/Silat principles and American Kenpo. He is the acknowledged Grand Master of this system by Mr. Hebler and the OAKKA (a Kenpo organization).
Sounds like my kind of person. Maybe you can introduce me to him sometime
I have wondered about the training relationship between Willem de Thouars and the van der Groen family. Any information would be enlightening.
Well, my info is very peripheral and sketchy. Any mistakes are mine alone and I apologize up front for any errors to Uncle Bill, the van der Groen family, and their students.
I'm not sure when Uncle and Otto met. But, from what I understand, they knew each other for quite a while and were very close. Uncle speaks
very highly of Otto and his Imua Shantung system (which I misspelled in an earlier post -- one of those errors I'm apologizing for up front).
As I understand it, Uncle and Otto considered their arts (both Kuntao Silat arts) to be fraternal to each other and when Otto died, Uncle became a sort of foster parent to the organization (or, at least, some of its members).
One of the Imua Shantung guys I know is Marcelo Reinero (I hope I spelled his name right). He's originally from Guadelajara. Marcelo came to know Uncle when they had him and Otto in for seminars. After Otto's death, Marcelo moved to Denver, CO where he taught Imua Shantung and began training directly under Uncle Bill. With Marcelo's background in Imua Shantung (something like 20 years), Uncle accepted Marcelo as a Senior Student of Kun Tao Silat de Thouars. Currently, Marcelo is in the army and I'm not sure where he is in the world. Marcelo is a great guy and an incredible martial artist. I've enjoyed quite a bit of time playing and sharing with him.
I've also met a guy named Enrique (also from Guadelajara) and Jimmy, Martin, and Martin from Norway. All of them are Imua Shantung players. I met them at one of Uncle Bill's Family Gatherings a few years ago. They were all great guys and very good martial artists.
Based on what I've heard from Uncle Bill and what I've seen from Marcelo and these other Imua Shantung guys, I have nothing but the utmost respect for the system and, by extension, its founder.
I also hope we get a chance to work together again at some point. You were on my list...your name is the last one, but considering the other names I don't think you'd mind.
Are you kidding? I'm honored to be mentioned
anywhere in such a fine list of notables.
Mike