I'm from Massachusetts, and remember back to the martial arts craze of the 70's when Fred Villari just broke away from Nick Cerio and began opening up dojos across New England with a string of them in Canada. He parted company with Professor Cerio in 1971. Now, this post is not intended to discredit Mr. Villari in any way. In a sense I will point out some things that I now see in retrospect that may seem supportive to him BUT before anyone gets on my case for that, remember, I left that organization over two decades ago due to political differences then and I still have them now. However, that does not cloud my judgement if I see hyprocisy and feel someone is getting a raw deal even though on other issues I don't agree with them at all. In other words, I can be quite unbiased and just deal with the facts and circumstances of each indivividual situation. That being said let me get to the meat of this matter!
Way back then, Villari was under scrutiny and highly criticized for several things. First, and I have these quotes right from the old karate mags from other instructors of that time period. Here's one: "He advertizes Kung Fu but teaches Karate". The Villari schools advertized Karate-Kung Fu-Ju Jitsu...............now that I know the history & lineage, may I say, Hello? Isn't his martial art a subsystem of Karazenpo Go Shinjutsu which is a direct subsystem of Kajukenbo......Hello again to these past critics. Isn't Kajukenbo an acronym for Karate-Judo/Ju Jitsu-Kenpo-Chinese Boxing(KungFu). These same critics are now advertizing the same eclectic blend in regards to their styles, as a matter of fact, it is accepted today to promote 'eclectic' blends of martial arts, true? Look at the heat he took then because some people didn't know what the heck Kajukenbo was!
Next, He took all kinds of heat for breaking from tradition to be independant of his original teacher, develop his perspective of this kempo and eventually take the title of 10th dan. WOW, he took a vicious beating for that one! Those that know me or know of me also know that I am an avid martial arts historian. Well, let me say this. Do you know how many so-called 10th dans at that time we either self promoted, bought their promotions or were promoted through very questionable circumstances? Not to mention, started their own styles? Many! Check it out! I have an article in an old karate mag stating three Americans, I think they were shodans, no more than nidans but I think shodans, I'd have to check it. Regardless, they drank Saki with a renowned Okinawan master on a visit to Okinawa, at the end of the night, all drunk, the master promoted them to 8th Degree black belts. When the master sobered up in the morning he realized what he had did and was embarrassed. He got a hold of them and told them in the U.S. they may claim 8th dan but in Okinawa, they may only claim 3rd. This mag is about 15 or so years old and at that time it stated two of these guys are 9th now and one is claiming 10th. By now, I'm sure the other two are 10th also. Did you ever hear the statement: "He got on the plane in Okinawa as a brown belt and got off the plane in the United States as a high ranking black belt?" I have, reported in the same magazines. My point? Here's what Villari did wrong that the others did right (tongue in cheek). Mr. Villari sh.t in his own back yard. He trained in Rhode Island, lived and worked in Massachusetts and eventually set up shop in New England. His background, although a legitimate Cerio black belt, could easily be verified as a probationary 2nd dan when he left Professor Cerio. Should he have studied in Okinawa, Japan or Hawaii , he probably would have went unquestioned back then or at least not to the extent that he was.
Now, he was also chastised because here's this guy who only went up to 2nd dan (on the books he's listed as a shodan because he didn't complete his probation period with Cerio) and he has the audacity to start his own system. Well, guess what? In my study of martial arts history, do you know how many of his vehement critics and others did the same exact thing? Check it out!
Finally, the expansion that has been referred to as the McDojo schools. Do you know who had that idea? I'm not sure exactly what the date was but at one time that was Mr. Ed Parker's dream-to open up a large chain of American Kenpo schools on the lines of a franchised operation like MacDonald's where one could study quality martial arts at affordable rates. Some of Mr. Parker's close associates were not in favor of this idea and from what I was told spoke to him about it. Many of Parker's people today refer to these schools as McDojos! I wonder what they would have said back then if Mr. Parker had made that dream come true?
My total point of this post is dealing with hypocrisy and facing the truth along with people in glass houses that shouldn't be throwing stones! I do not support the Villari schools and have had nothing to do with them since the beginning of February 1981 and I stand by my political differences with, let's say, their 'quality control'.
My point is that I am just being unbiased and honest as I look back at that era now in 2003. So, will the real 10th degree Black Belt please stand up?
What say you?
Respectfully submitted, Shihan Joe Shuras
