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Kraiguar

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Choo Choo as he was called was originally a student of Willie Short studying Shotokan. When Mr. Shorts school closed Choo Choo whose real name is Gerald Mayes along with his brother Charles, Ernest "Madman" Russell, Ricky Heath Jr., Gary "Rabbit Goodman, Nathan Cruise, the Robinson family, Eddie Horton and others joined the legendary 103rd Street BKF school in South Central Los Angeles. Choo Choo passed away several years ago.
~Peace and Blessings~
 

Doc

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Choo Choo as he was called was originally a student of Willie Short studying Shotokan. When Mr. Shorts school closed Choo Choo whose real name is Gerald Mayes along with his brother Charles, Ernest "Madman" Russell, Ricky Heath Jr., Gary "Rabbit Goodman, Nathan Cruise, the Robinson family, Eddie Horton and others joined the legendary 103rd Street BKF school in South Central Los Angeles. Choo Choo passed away several years ago.
~Peace and Blessings~

What many don't know is the bulk of the "original" young group of competitors of the B.K.F. received their basics training from other styles and teachers. Primarily from "hard" Japanese Styles like the "Kobayashi-Ryu" as taught by William Short, Shorin-Ryu at the community PASLA Center in South L.A., and the Zendo-Ryu teachings of Phil Skornia and Steve Fisher out of Inglewood. "Choo Choo" Mayes was a product of the hard school training who improved his sparring and became a fierce competitor. Most were already brown and black when they switched over. Along with Kraiguar Vontre Moss, Lenny Fergerson, and others, these young men became some of the best tournament point fighters in the world. But what was unique was these guys were kids in their mid-teens who refused to fight in their own age group. They fought with and against mature men, and many of there opponents were war veterans of the Viet Nam era, and they still won. This was the golden age of competition in general and B.K.F. Competition in particular. It is also the reason why the generations that followed never lived up to the levels these pioneers had established. One of these days, I'm going to write a book on the real history of the period.
 

Doc

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Now I would enjoy that book. I could see if and where you were stretching the truth.....LOL

:eek:

But if I'm writing the book ... How would you know? :) Truthfully I have some great memories and have known some really great people, (you included: choke) over the years. I'm blessed with almost a photographic memory and recall. They were good times, and the social component was just as important as the hard training. No hand or foot pads and only the sissies wore shin-guards, and cups. Man were we crazy.
 

Kraiguar

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The "Quick Kick" as it was called was used to break the cup and we would attempt to do just that. I remember fighting Darnell Garcia in the finals of Mr. Parker's 1972 Pasedena Open and was successful in cracking his.
Two of the crazy men and pioneers of that era that Doc mentioned who would not wear cups while sparring quick kick specialists like me and others were Joe Lewis and Ron Chapel. ~Peace and Blessing~
 
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Goldendragon7

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But if I'm writing the book ... How would you know? :)

Because..... I'm the "GoldenDragon" I know these things..... or have means to find out.......... hee hee....... YOU should know better than to make such a statement........ shame on you..

No Bar-B-Q for U next time .... Only Chinese Buffet!

:whip:
 

Doc

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Because..... I'm the "GoldenDragon" I know these things..... or have means to find out.......... hee hee....... YOU should know better than to make such a statement........ shame on you..

No Bar-B-Q for U next time .... Only Chinese Buffet!

:whip:

You know you are REALLY hurting me by sending me to the Chines Buffet. Hurt me, hurt me.
 
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Goldendragon7

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You know you are REALLY hurting me by sending me to the Chines Buffet. Hurt me, hurt me.

Hey.... BTW ... what are you doing invading "MY" Q & A Thread...... go start your own...... geeze can't keep people out of your backyard these days...................... lol

:apv:


Ok now that that is settled........ any new questions...... anyone?
 

Touch Of Death

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Hey.... BTW ... what are you doing invading "MY" Q & A Thread...... go start your own...... geeze can't keep people out of your backyard these days...................... lol

:apv:


Ok now that that is settled........ any new questions...... anyone?
What is the average yearly rainfall in the Amazon Basin?
Sean
 
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Goldendragon7

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After teaching lock out, what are some methods you use to break the habbit of locking out?
Sean

Never had that problem yet. I teach to lock out, thrust, snap, whip, etc... with equal control... If the student is having a problem.... practice practice practice.....

:yinyang:
 

Tames D

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Kenpo is one of the more highly technical martial arts systems. Having said that...Can an Autistic child really overcome his handicap to be an effective Kenpoist?
 
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Goldendragon7

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Kenpo is one of the more highly technical martial arts systems.

IMHO ... Kenpo is no more technical than any other martial art should be. Ed Parker did bring awareness and Logic to the table. Thus, many innovations and concepts were implemented into his system that separate us today from the traditional systems.

Having said that...Can an Autistic child really overcome his handicap to be an effective Kenpoist?

To fully overcome a handicap may be very difficult task. I'm not sure if Kenpo is the total answer. What I do know is that given a skilled instructor (Just like Anne Sullvan did for Helen Keller) and a student or person with the capability to accept the lessons presented can make "measurable progress in reasonable" time towards his/her goal.

I am working with a young man right now that is really doing well.

:supcool:
 

Touch Of Death

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Never had that problem yet. I teach to lock out, thrust, snap, whip, etc... with equal control... If the student is having a problem.... practice practice practice.....

:yinyang:
So you just tell them to flow and they just flow without any bad habbits popping up or mechanical timing concerns. Remarkable!
Sean
 
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Goldendragon7

Goldendragon7

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So you just tell them to flow and they just flow without any bad habbits popping up or mechanical timing concerns. Remarkable!
Sean

No....... timing, balance, penetration or other issues are not what I consider a 'bad habbit'.... any issues that need to be addressed ... are... when necessary. All apart of the "process".... you know that.

:high5:
 

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