Looking for old Chuck Norris black belts...

[FrontKick-Jab-Punch]

I took TSD as a kid in the 1980s, and am wondering how many of you come from the same era/style. For all I know, we were in classes together! Does anyone remember Rick Prieto, Bob Baumann, or Darryl Coombs? Mr. Coombs has passed away, sadly, and I haven't heard anything about Mr. Baumann for 20 odd years now, but I know Mr. Prieto teaches in Texas for Mr. Norris. Hm... other instructors included Dean Minnerly, Jerry Trimble, and... er... Gershon or some such? Maybe I'm remembering it wrong. I was a little kid, you know. Any memories from that time period? For me, it was a golden age in martial arts - not enough studios around to be so customer-oriented, not mainstream enough to be cliched... our instructors used to knock on our shins with a bamboo stick if our stances weren't strong enough - can you imagine an instructor getting away with that today? I'm not saying it was good necessarily! Just that times sure have changed. ; )

FKJP

 

[nipc44]

Hey FKJP,

I was also a kid during that time frame and was taught by Rick Prieto and Jerry Trimble in Studio City. I don't recall someone named Gershon but I do remember a Mr. Johnson (don't recall his first name). I never got bamboo to the shins but I did get swept a few times when my stance was not perfect and my toes cranked if they weren't pointing the right way when holding out a kick. No mats back then so the sweeps and knuckle pushups were interesting.

 

[Hapa]

I took TSD as a kid in the 1980s, and am wondering how many of you come from the same era/style. For all I know, we were in classes together! Does anyone remember Rick Prieto, Bob Baumann, or Darryl Coombs? Mr. Coombs has passed away, sadly, and I haven't heard anything about Mr. Baumann for 20 odd years now, but I know Mr. Prieto teaches in Texas for Mr. Norris. Hm... other instructors included Dean Minnerly, Jerry Trimble, and... er... Gershon or some such? Maybe I'm remembering it wrong. I was a little kid, you know. Any memories from that time period? For me, it was a golden age in martial arts - not enough studios around to be so customer-oriented, not mainstream enough to be cliched... our instructors used to knock on our shins with a bamboo stick if our stances weren't strong enough - can you imagine an instructor getting away with that today? I'm not saying it was good necessarily! Just that times sure have changed. ; )

FKJP

Sensei Minnerly was my instructor based in Studio City. We participated in a tournament at Encino and Sensei Prieto was there. I have some photos of it.

 

[The Bearded Norseman]

I took TSD as a kid in the 1980s, and am wondering how many of you come from the same era/style. For all I know, we were in classes together! Does anyone remember Rick Prieto, Bob Baumann, or Darryl Coombs? Mr. Coombs has passed away, sadly, and I haven't heard anything about Mr. Baumann for 20 odd years now, but I know Mr. Prieto teaches in Texas for Mr. Norris. Hm... other instructors included Dean Minnerly, Jerry Trimble, and... er... Gershon or some such? Maybe I'm remembering it wrong. I was a little kid, you know. Any memories from that time period? For me, it was a golden age in martial arts - not enough studios around to be so customer-oriented, not mainstream enough to be cliched... our instructors used to knock on our shins with a bamboo stick if our stances weren't strong enough - can you imagine an instructor getting away with that today? I'm not saying it was good necessarily! Just that times sure have changed. ; )

FKJP

I’m same era and same style. Bob Baumann was my instructor. Just looked him up and he’s alive and well in Agoura Hills. I also remember Rick Prieto taught a few classes. I was with Bob from 1986 until around 1992 or 93. I remember bamboo to the shins very well as well as bamboo spanks on your birthday. If you were in those classes let me know and we’ll see if we know each other. It’s funny how life works. I’m 44 now and my 12 year old daughter wanted to take Krav Maga so we’re now doing that and my memory has triggered with looking into my old history of Tang Soo Do.