More Sad News - GM Abad passes

[kajumike]

On behalf of Upland Kajukenbo our heartfelt condolences to the Abad family. GM will surely be missed greatly and his influence will be felt for many years to come. Kajukenbo will forever be blessed by his passion and dedication. RIP GM Abad.

                                                                          Kajukenbo Forever !!!!!!!!

[Isaguirre]

I spent time with Shi-Zu Allen Abad the last weekend of March.  He had come to San Diego to have a black belt meeting and seminar.  The whole weekend was full of love and laughter.  He watched the seminar and taught us right from his wheelchair!  At times he was ready to jump out of it and show us some techniques.  He even scolded the children by yelling, “ A fist is a fist is a fist!”

The night after the seminar, we sat and reflected on the whole weekend.  Shi-Zu was so excited how everyone and everything came together.  My students and I had a few moments to speak with Shi-Zu before he left to Arizona and I will never forget everything he said that night.  Of all the things he has ever said, these words I remember the most, “don’t just be the best martial artist, but be the best human being you can.”

Thank you Shi-Zu for believing in me.  You will never be forgotten.  Your spirit lives on all of us.

Thank you Abad family, Sigung Girlie, and AMAI-KA for making this last weekend so special, that Shi-Zu was so happy, and spoke about it a week later.

All our prayers and hearts go out to you. We all know that Shi-Zu took comfort in knowing that his family, his students, and his life’s teaching will be taken care of.


Sifu Ronnie Isaguirre

[sigun laguna]

Our condolences to GM Abad's family from Lugo's kajukenbo Professor Guillermo Lugo sr his wife Rosa Lugo,Sigung Guillermo Lugo jr, Sifu Juan Pablo Lugo, Sifu Javier de la Torre

[Burt Vickers]

Our KSDS group wishes to Extend Our Condolences to the Abad family. It sadden s our heart to hear our seniors are passing on.  Our prayers go out to the Abad family, God Bless you GM Alan Abad. 
Burt Vickers - Kajukembo Self Defense Systems of Houston.

[internlchi]

How Very unfortunate for the Kajukenbo family, and the Abad Family.   I give you my deepest condolences.  I am truly sorry for all the loss this past week, this saddens me.  We will hold a moment of silence at my Dojo every class throughout next week for the loss of two great men.

in Spirit
Adam Yasso

[travler773]

            My condolences to all the family of Shi-Zu Allen Abad who passed away Monday April 6 my thoughts and prayers are with you.I know his last days were filled with Love and Happiness from all his Immediate family of as well as his extended family of AMAI-KA.We will all miss him very much.It's my honer and pleasure knowing Shi-Zu Allen,and being a part of the loving family at AMAI-KA.As for myself knowing Shi-Zu, training in his seminars, spending time with him,his family,and the members of his organization AMAI-KA makes me strive to be a better person.When spending time with Shi-Zu and family during Christmas,it was not the martial arts talk that stood out,It was the love,friendship and compassion that everyone felt.The legacy he left behind will live on forever.

God Bless to all.
Sifu,
James Story
Kai Ling Do affiliated with AMAI-KA

[Nick M.]

Our respectful condolences to the Abad family and friends GM Abad.  He will be greatly missed by all us.
Much Respect, Nick
 

[sifu]

Our deepest condolences to the family Abad.
From all schools in the AKCM Castilla la Mancha (Spain) and their instructors and students.
Sigung     Manuel Villaseñor
Sifu         Jose    García
Sifu         Jose    Vallehermoso
Sibak       Félix    Redondo
Sibak       Rebeca  S. Torrero
Sibak       Javier  Esteban

[Paul Ford]

My sons and I had the opportunity to meet Shi Zu Abad in March, when he came to San Diego for the Black Belt Seminar (I was the one watching the door during the Green Belt training).  As the black belts came outside to continue their training Shiz Zu also came out.  For the short time that I saw him outside he had a glow about him.  As what has already been described by others, I too saw that he had an itch to get out of that chair and train with his family. 

It was wonderful to see him light up when the children came out to meet him. 

Afterwards I had the opportunity to talk with some of the black belts that had trained with Shi Zu.  I have been training for 8 months now and the stories that I heard stoked, even higher, the fire in me to learning more about this wonderful world of Kajukenbo and Kai Ling Do. 

I will never forget what he told the new black belts (I am paraphrasing) “Having a black belt doesn’t mean anything if you are not the best human being you can be.”  These words will continue to stick with me.  I will strive everyday to be the best human I can be. My sons and I consider ourselves fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet and shake the hand of Shi Zu Alan Abad.   

[GM Bobby Rimando]

When I first read this post days ago I was taken back. Two great men in a short period of time. They will both be missed. When I think back and reflect on G.M. Abad I remember his smile, his sweet nature, and his willingness to help others. I recently had spent time with Sifu Myron Abad at Sifu Kalani Castillo's school here in Las Vegas. I can see that Myron is just like his brother. He's very skilled in his craft, displays humility, and love. I can see the family legacy carrying from generations through family and his students.
The Rimando family; professor Al, John, and Bobby Rimando, along with both Rimando Kajukenbo clubs in San Jose California, as well as  Las Vegas, Nv. send their deepest condolences to the entire Abad family as well as their extended ohana. With much love and respect, Sigung Bobby Rimando and family

[lairkenpo]

May God hold the family and loved ones in His hands, and grant them strength.

I have one of the last Kajukenbo Crest Necklaces sold by GM Abad. It was always a treasure, and will now always remind me of his contributions to our art.

[Trent Sera]

On behalf of Sera's Kajukenbo, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the Abad family.  We spent some time with GM Abad at last year's KOA event in Las Vegas.  He was a good example of a good martial artist AND a good man.  He was sincere, humble, and caring in his energy and he showed us some excellent techniques like "Opening the Window", etc.  We will definitely miss GM Abad. 

Sifu Trent Sera
Sera's Kajukenbo
Maui, Hawaii

[DANGFU]

After receiving news of Shi Zu Abad’s passing from Professor Rodney Alo on April 6th, I am still soaking in the shock and sadness as my heart weighs the loss and impact of not only our Founder, Sijo Emperado, but also the only Kajukenbo teacher Sifu Remy and I have been fortunate and blessed to have ever had. Where do I begin to respectfully pay homage to a man who truly touched not only personal lives, but challenged us everyday to become not only great martial artists, but to a higher degree, better human beings within ourselves and to others.  In the Kajukenbo world where Shi Zu Abad was so revered for his great martial art skills, Shi Zu’s drive for completeness was more about simplicity in his craft and his views on life.  Shi Zu approached this ideology to help not only guide others, but in the quest of his lifelong goals, Shi Zu Abad never chased or demanded personal glorification, rank, financial gains, and or celebrity status.  Shi Zu Abad’s only path of glory was to be a wonderful human being who continuously strived to be a great father, husband, friend, mentor, and friend who graciously accepted everyone’s downfall and ill-fated dilemmas and turned every situation into a positive one. 

As I look back at all of Shi Zu’s accomplishments, every person should be afforded one opportunity to be empowered by someone GREAT.  Shi Zu Abad was that great individual and teacher, whom I’ve try to emulate not only in martial art skills, but also in my life skills (I’ve only succeeded in the life skills, but that is what Shi Zu sincerely would want).  Shi Zu Abad’s approach to human kindness, personal humbleness, and the care he had for all of his students has solidified my philosophy in how I now teach this art to others and how I carry myself and live my life on a daily basis.  Everything that I’ve done from the day I stepped in front of Shi Zu as a student some 20 years ago was to mirror Shi Zu Abad.  My school flags bear his name, my school t-shirts honors his legacy, my students will know of his kind heart as my very own heart has been filled with his spirit.  Shi Zu Abad was the only man to have wrapped Kajukenbo belts around my waist, as he will forever be the only man to be considered my Teacher.

As we continue to mourn, let’s realized that Shi Zu Abad lived his life wonderfully and had done so many things on earth and I’m sure he’ll do much more in heaven. I will forever be grateful to have known Shi Zu Abad, and to remember all of Shi Zu’s stories, with the underlying message being, “be the best martial artist and the best person that you can be.”   In Shi Zu’s time in San Diego, all the memories we all have of Shi Zu will forever be cherished, remembered, honored, and although Shi Zu is no longer with us, his spirit will forever embrace our hearts. 

Shi Zu is in heaven now with Sijo, looking down upon all of us, guiding our “repetitions,” takedowns, and our hammer strikes, and backfists to perfection.  This is not the time for us to grieve his passing, but to begin to celebrate his life.  So as we are about to lay his body to rest, let’s all think back and remember how Shi Zu has touched all our lives.  Tears, heartache, and pain will exist for some time to come, but when we reflect back upon our teacher, Shi Zu Abad, there will be many moments for us to be thankful that we were all given the chance to have known this great individual.   Shi Zu Abad will forever be missed, but I know when it’s the right time, we will all join Shi Zu again and be touched by a true Angel.

On behalf of my students, Sifu Remy, Sibaks Chuck and Shaman, our heartfelt condolences go out to the Emperado and Abad family, friends, and current and former students.  To the Abad girls, let the strength and guidance of your father help with the challenges in life that will be ahead of you.  Continue to be the kind people that your father once was and never forget your Kajukenbo O’hana, as I will stand to his side forever to fight the good fight and stand behind him in respect, honor, and commitment to his cause.  To those who echo the O’hana love and spirit in Shi Zu’s name, be mindful that as you preach those words and the true meaning behind “family” for all to hear, LIVE by them.  The true integrity of which is spoken is how Sijo envisioned his art and how Shi Zu Abad would want his message to be TRULY carried out.  To these words I now live upon, as I pay my last tribute and respects to Shi Zu Abad (“Down one knee, pay respects”).   Shi Zu Abad, rest in peace and know that I will do my part to carry on in your honor.  Mahalo  .   

From this day forward, my school and I will honor these two great individuals every April 4th and April 6th respectively.  I encourage all of us within the Kajukenbo community to do the same, as well as for all of our past teachers.   

Things may change us, but we start and end with family.

Anthony Brandt

[chuckfu]

The first week of April was a difficult week for those who had the opportunity to meet Sijo and GM Abad, especially the fortunate few who were able to train with either man.

I had the privilege to meet Sijo back in the early 1990s when we all went up for our Blue Belts. It was a little surreal to say the least. Don't get me wrong, it was not like "rock star" status. It was more like being in the presence of a great thinker, innovator, or inventor. And even though he no longer moved about like a young man, you still had the sense that he could put a "hurtin" to someone if need be. Sijo blessed our blue belts and that is very special.

When we first started training with GM Abad, he was Sigung Abad (7th degree). When Sifu Phil & Sifu Remy started up the school again, I told my wife (who previously trained with GM) that Sigung is now a GM. However, when we brought up GM in conversation, we both at different times said Sigung. Sigung means teacher's teacher (or grandfather) and that is how I most remeber GM. GM was there to show his students (grandchildren) the proper basics of the Kaju system. As he nurtured us along, he added more flavor of his style to our learning and training. The remarkable thing was that the end result was always a beautiful thing.

A Few GM Stories:
Meeting GM
When we first started to train with GM his school was above a laundrymat near the University of San Diego. The room was probably half the size of the training facility at Lopez Ridge. Sifu Phil arranged for us to go and meet GM, check out a class and see if we were interested. At the time I was more excited about the idea of training old school above a laundrymat, while Orousha was excited about the monkey line that was going on in the class that we were observing. When the class was done, we chatted with GM for a few minutes and decided to start training that week. What sold us was two things that he said: 1) I don't have a lot of trophies at my school because trophies can't help you when you need help and 2) all a karate belt is good for is holding up your gi in class. That was it for me. We decided to train right then and there.

Beach Training
When we were still white belts (before our gis arrived) there was a training with the Ken Ka Kung Fu club down at the beach. We lined up in our ranks (Sifu Phil & Sifu Remy) about waist deep in the water and myself in the way back about ankle deep. By the time we finished Sifus were up to their necks with waves basically wiping the first two lines out every 10 seconds and me in the back now waist deep in water. When we finished we all sat down for some good BBQ. All the Hawaiians took refuge in some shade, while my white butt decided to sit in the sun. After five minutes, GM came over and told me something along the lines of "look at all these dark hair, dark eyes people sitting in the shade and look at you pale as a ghost sitting in the sun." Basically he saved me from probably a very bad sunburn that day.

Being a Good Dummy Man
GM always stressed the importance of being a good dummy man. I think he stressed it as much as, if not more, than doing the self defense techniques. We were training at Canyonside Recreation Center and that particular day not only was I not being a good dummy man, but I was not paying attention while I was waiting in the monkey line. GM called me to come out to the center. He told the class that he wanted to do a variation of grab art #1 and told me to grab him like I meant it. My finger tips were about an inch away from GM's gi and he snapped kicked me so hard and so fast in the sternum I almost cried. Down to both knees I went. I thought he broke me. I could not breathe, it hurt to move my arms and I felt like I was going to vomit. Lesson learned. After that I always tried to be the best dummy man for my training partner and I always paid attention in line.

It was a pleasure knowing him and it was a pleasure training with him up to my brown belt. Without a doubt he was the builder of my foundation in Kaju which I am forever grateful.