What is going on in the Chuan Fa section?

[Prof. Ben Fajardo]

I thought that there would be somebody in the section to open up and share their experiences in Chuan Fa? There are many old timers from the Cali. days and early Colorado days to cover the training, and what was going on??? I know from talking to a few of the old timers if was alot of monkey line and sparring, and street reps. Not much requirements just alot of fighting and blood lol Anyone care to add there experiences in the old Kajukenbo Chuan Fa or Chuan Fa-WHKD ? methods..Sigung Ben

[Pat Regan]

Ben (or anyone else),

When and where did Leonard Endrizzi do his training and receive his Instructors certification in Ch'uan-Fa Gung Fu under Sifu Dacascos?

Also, can anyone tell me when Bill Owens was promoted to Black Belt by Sifu Dacascos?

VBR,

Pat

[sleddog]

Leonard Endrizzi was a student under Sifu Al in Denver, Colorado. Wayne Welsh was a friend of his there. His original Kajukenbo training, in Denver, was under Dennis Roe but that changed when Sifu Al moved there about 1970. He moved from Denver to Burlington, Vermont in 1977, then Trois Rivieres, Canada a while later after marrying Louiselle Rousseau. She was a black belt under him. they had a WHKD school there until they moved to Portland, Oregon.

Leonard was around as the Chuan Fa evolved into the WHKD. He often said that the difference was rather slight. More in application than technique. As far as his position in the Chuan Fa hierarchy is concerned, both he and Bill Owens were given the responsibility of running the system by Sifu Al at the rebirth of the IKA in the early 90's.

As far as Bill Owens' black belt, Sifu Al says 1969 (he has you listed as 1967). Ted Sotelo has a lot to say about this. If you want to know what it is you should contact him.

Isn't history fun?

[Pat Regan]

Thank you, Philip.  Is there anywhere I might see a picture of Leonard: if possible, taken back in the 70's; but if not, then at any time during his career?  I've searched the Internet without luck.  I'd like to associate the name with a face, to know if we met when I worked with Al in Denver during 1973. 

[cirillo]

My information from the WHKD lineage updated circa 1992 shows Sifu Owens as Black Belt in 1969 and Sifu Regan also in 1969 (with an * to indicate inactive at the time).  Sifu Endrizzi is listed as Black Belt in 1971 in this same document.  I haven't had the chance to look at more recent versions of the lineage to see whether changes/corrections have been made.

In terms of pictures of Sifu Endrizzi, I have some, but will have to look for them.  The earliest they would be are around the mid-80's though, not quite as early as you are asking for, sorry.  I will look for what I have and try to get one in a form I can post it, though I think I have seen one or two of him on the net somewhere recently.  Yes, I remember, if you have access to FaceBook, you can look at pictures in the 'Great Martial Artists' section of Sifu Julia Nelsioni.  Let me know if you have problems finding them, but I am pretty sure she posted a few.  Here is a link to one of them, I don't know the date: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/photo.php?fbid=443956861911&set=a.443891236911.245838.519571911

He is the larger man on the left and names are not shown on the picture.

[Pat Regan]

Thank you, Jeff.  Muchly appreciated.

I pasted the link into my browser and opened the picture.  If I met Leonard in Colorado back in 73, I'm afraid I don't remember him.  I remember the school on West 38th; the house in Lakewood; the green Porsche Malia bought Al; guys like Mike Sandoz and Ken Lambert; a tournament in Colorado and another in St. Louis; being there with Eric Lee when we heard Bruce had died; nightclubs like the Lemontree Lounge and After the Gold Rush where some of the guys worked as bouncers; and so on.  But if I met Leonard, I don't recall.  My loss.  I hear he was a great guy, and did a lot for Ch'uan Fa.

Regarding the genesis of Kajukenbo Ch'uan Fa: it's been the subject of many inaccurate and contradictory published histories and Family Trees.  There is a need to set the record straight.  I'd like to communicate with those surviving practitioners to see what can be done in that regard.  My biggest obstacle at this moment is available time.  However, I plan to retire from my "day job" this year, and then I'll be able to devote more energy to the subject. 

Meanwhile, I've activated your Friends Request at Facebook (thank you); and I'm also connecting with others from our shared lineage.  Hopefully, some good will come of it.

VBR,

Pat

[sifutimg]

Pat, looks like you were able see a picture of Sifu Leonard however I did find one here.  He is the man in the middle.  I have to say he was one incredible man.  He was a big man and yet remember him doing forms, getting low, and making it look effortless.  So powerful he was.  I know some folks who trained with him here in Oregon and he was definitely no nonsense old school.

Anyway found the pic and thought I would share.

With Respect,
Tim

[frank w.]

I guess I'm a pack rat, especially when it has to do with Kajukenbo and its history. I remember Sifu Endrizzi well. That was at the IKA Annual Meeting/Seminars in August, 1990 at Sifu Bill Owen's kwoon.
So, find the IKA Newsletter, Volume 1 #4 September/October 1990 and on pages 3 and five there a good pictures of Sifu E. and others! Oh, on the cover, too..way to the right! Scary, but Im in reflected in the mirror on page 5 looking towards Sifu E. And onpage six...I still use him as an inspiration to those "not so lean" students, stating that I saw Sifu E "float" across the room. No lie!!! Frank

[Pat Regan]

Thanks All.

It seems I hijacked this thread.  Sorry Ben!

Getting back to the original questions: even from the beginning, Al's system has always been progressive.  We started with Kenpo and Kempo Karate; added Northern and Southern Chinese influences to produce what was called "Kempo Gung fu"; that became Ch'uan-Fa Gung Fu, and eventually morphed into Wun Hop Kuen Do.  Those style changes are reflected in the various names of the schools Al had through the years, and also on our certificates of training.

And yes, we had a curriculum that included squatting exercises, punch counters, grab counters, kick counters, combinations, forms, multi-man, repetition, chi sao, sparring, and so on.  It went through some changes, but much of what's being practiced today is similar to what was being done back then.  I still have the Instructor's Book of techniques and requirements from those days; and yes, proficiency in all of that was a prerequisite for promotion.

I think some of the "blood and guts" stories have probably been embellished a bit over the years, but there is some truth there.  The training did result in numerous injuries, but we just accepted that as coming with the turf.  

Some said we weren't exactly "sportsmanlike" in tournaments; and accused us of not exercising proper control.  One should remember: these were "barnstorming days" when we were fighting to establish ourselves in a World dominated by hard-stylists who weren't inclined to recognize our techniques; and also competing against the classical Kung Fu people from San Francisco Chinatown, who were still pretty closed about their art, and looked at us with considerable suspicion at first.  Plus, there were always non-martial artists who wanted to try us out simply because we were involved with Karate, Gung Fu, and so on.  So yeah, we spilled a little blood.  That's just how it was back then.

VBR,

Pat

[Prof. Ben Fajardo]

Thank you all for all of the information, I signed up at the 38th street school in 1974. I still have the Chuan Fa/WHKD requirements from the redbook and you are right Sifu Pat they have not really changed much over the years. But, I do see Sifu Dacascos moving away more and more every year from the Kajukenbo Base techniques. We dont teach the Squatting drills any more or the cat walking, many of the Right hand punch counters are being replaced with more up to date methods. Like GM Dacascos 16 count buzz saw flow drill.

 We are still teaching alot of the Kajukenbo Base techniques, but there have been some techniques dropped do to out dated movements. He has developed a more modern system called Dacascos Tactical Systems. Which I see, are mostly all of the new material that he has been adding over the years to our WHKD base. I spent 10 days in Hawaii at his home going over the material and seeing where he wants to take the new DTS method. He is very innovative and creative. I can show him things that I have picked up over the years and within minutes he is countering or adding to it to make it better! That is why he is one of the most talented martial artist GM of Kajukenbo system

 To get back to the Chuan Fa, I am very interested in the Chuan Fa methods,I am always looking for information on the old Chuan Fa methods of training. I trained with Sifu Bill Owns many times at seminars, and have notes of all of the Chuan Fa training drills. His information was very valuable to my understanding of where alot of the WHKD movement came from. I did have the experience of meeting and training with Sifu Endrizzi, many times in my younger years, at the school on Broadway. In my adult years, when I visited Portland we would trained in his living room, alot of what I remembered from the training was Sifu Endrizzi used Southern Chuan Fa with a Wing Chun type Chi Sao flow. He developed the squatting drills into a type of Chi Sao flow and would get to any technique within the system through it.  I remember him opening up my eye with a wooden knife in his personal Chi Sao method. His training was not for the weak of heart, he demanded that you always give your all in everything. His forms where very beautiful and well practiced. He was a big man, but could move like a lion. He always made you pay for your training by doing a horse stance for long periods of time and would walk around with a bamboo sword and hit you if you moved out of your stance. He was a skilled martial artist, and gained alot of knowledge by going back through all of the basics and developing them into usable skills for his personal method of self defense.

PS.
When I trained at a seminar 1993 with Sifu Bill Owens in Idaho, he taught me a 18 count flow drill. I still teach this drill in my classes. I have found out that there was an 18a-b - 19a-b count Chuan Fa drill that was developed by Sifu Bill Owns.I got my hands on the dvd with all of this information, and I teach them as well. I can see where all of our movement came from the mind of great martial artists within Kajukenbo WHKD. Sifu Bills Owens did make and put out a video training program for the Chuan Fa method. There are a still a few who have the video, if you are lucky you may find it? I hope to get my hands on it someday?  My influ. has been from these skilled martial artist: Grand Master Al Dacascos, Simo Malia Ribiero, Sifu Gil Trancosa, Sifu Ben Dacascos, Sifu Art Dacascos, Sifu Bill Owens, Sifu Wayne Welsh, Sifu Mike Radulavitch, Sifu Leonard Endrizzi, Sifu Dave Errigo, Sifu Narin Latthitham and Sifu Richard Elizondo

[Prof. Ben Fajardo]

This is my notes from a Chuan Fa seminar I attended in 1993 with Sifu Bill Owens.

History of Kajukenbo Characteristics
To be truely Kajukenbo, you must not have any characteristics of Kajukenbo.

History of Kenpo Characteristics
Master Ed Parker's American Kenpo carries with it the rebounding concepts, or some would say slapping art, because it sometimes looks like they hit themselves as must as the opponent. That is a characteristic. Tae Kwon Do with ther high kicks, Karate's low Japanese Stances. In Kajukenbo Chuan fa you should study all the characteristics of each art for programed training reactions. You will be able to tell who they studied with and what style they are, by watching their preprogramed movements and stylized set patterns.

History Kajukenbo Ch'uan Fa
Sifu Al's school was called Kajukenbo Chuan fa. Once Prof. Emperado seen it. He said to call it soft style Kajukenbo. The term Sifu was started while at tounaments, students called Sifu Al "Sifu" other students began to ask questions about the difference in the art, which was that Kajukenbo Chu'an Fa filled the gaps between Kajukenbo techniques. Combining Northern and Southern styles of Kung Fu.

Philosophy- Ch'uan Fa
The concepts of Kajukenbo Ch'uan Fa is to not give the attacking techniques the respect that it is asking for. Intercept it, Absoreb it, redirect it, When you make up your mind to fight or defend yourself you must go all out, above all don't give any attack the respect the opponent is trying to hurt you with. When they give you take when they take you give it back and ever let up until they are on the ground down and out! There is no half way it's all or nothing. We will attack (offense) in a preventive manner, so as not to be put into a siuation of defending or protecting.

Drills that cause characteristics
The different ways that a student trains will develop their characteristics of movement within their chosen art. Watch the way they move and do their techniques. Monitoring what they are doing, how they are standing, how they are counterattacking, what they are attacking with hand techiques or feet techiques or what ever Look for their Strenght and weaknesses.

Four levels of Self Defense
#1 Block and strike #2 Block and strike similtaneously #3 Block becomes strike
#4 strike then block movement (conscious thought) to defend with right principles.
Kajukenbo Ch'uan Fa will use concept's #2 #3 and #4

The two levels the Kajukenbo Ch'uan fa techniques are more influenced by:
Block and strike simultaneously using opponents attacking movements, snapping techniques, that flow together. Strike than block, using timing to beat the opponent to the draw, and angulation and upper body movement.

Drills from level #3
Using partner throwing left and right punching attacks. "Block becomes the strike"
1. outward block, finger jab 2. inward block, finger jab
3. upward block, finger jab 4. downward block, finger jab
Using cross-over inward and outward blocks with finger jabs, coming from outside to inside. Using timing and interception.concepts with angulation and body movement.

Drills from level #2
Using partner with throwing left and right punching attacks "block and strike sametime"
1. outward block, chop 2. inward block, chop
3. upward block, chop 4. downward block,chop
You can also add the concept of leg checking and low kicking.

Just touch it principle:
Using partner throwing left and right punches at your chest area, for safety. Beginning with right hand, you will practice slapping the punches or just touching them. Working on the inside first, practice slapping inward and outward the punches. then inward-inward, outward-outward. outward-inward. upward-downward. Remembering if you can touch a block as it is coming out, you have robbed it of it's power by 70%. If you can touch it you have blocked it, but must be followed up with a counter strike and using angles. Their strike becomes your block and your reaction to their attack. You must completely subdue your attacker.

How the Ch'uan Fa blends to Kajukenbo
Ch'uan fa is only a style when blended with Kajukenbo. Kajukenbo is the foundation Ch'uan fa is the bricks. Kajukenbo Ch'uan fa fills the gap's between the basic moves. When we do we save time and energy by using less movement, by working between the techniques.

I hope this gives you a better understanding of Kajukenbo Ch'uan fa, These information was taught to me by Sifu Bill Owens, who is in charge of the Dacascos method of Kajukenbo Ch'uan fa section.

Kajukenbo Chuan Fa

The 4 levels of Self Defense
1. Block and strike
2. Block and strike at the same time
3. Block becomes the strike
4. Strike then Block
Kajukenbo Chuan Fa will use concepts 2-3-4, with conscious thought to defend with right principles as follow ups.

The 2 levels the Chuan Fa tech.'s are more influenced by:
The concept of Blocking and striking at the sametime. Using the opponents attacking motion to enter and strike using snapping techiques. Developed timing to beat the opponent to the draw with upper body angulation and body movement. Is the concept of strike then block.

Drills from level 3: using a partner with punching attacks block becomes strike.
1. Outward block w/eye jab 2. inward block w/eye jab 3. upward block w/eye jab downward block w/eye jab. Cutting attacking arm with inward and outward blocks w/eye jab, using timing and angulation and body movement.

Drills from level 2 using a partner with punching attacks/block and strike sametime
1. Outward block w/chop 2. Inward block w/chop 3. uoward block w/chop 4. downward block w/chop. You can also add the concept of leg checking and low kicking stop kicks

The go forth principle, don't stop action meet it and redirect it back to the opponent. Follow it in and finish.

Just touch it principle, If you can touch it you have blocked stop 80% of their force. But you must follow by countering w/strikes and using angles. Their strike becomes your block and your reaction to their attack. You must develop combinations to completely subdue your attacker.

Chuan Fa Drills to enhance flow, and spontaneity, Reflex. 18 count drill
Use in close range
1. Backfist* to temple/fist 2. Heel palm* 3. Uppercut 4. Lt. eye* rake 5. Rt. reverse backfist/or rake to temple/eyes. 6. Lt. heel palm to ribs 7. Righ eye jab* 8. Left backhand to groin 9. Rt. eye rake* 10. Lt. eye rake* 11. Rt. upward finger thrust to throat 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. Rt. Elbow 17. Lt. spin elbow to temple 18. Rt. elbow/or ridgehand to head.

* note:
You should be able to apply these techniques for offensive & defensive. Use applications for defending or attacking in each move. Each technique blocks the other and counters the next, and flows into multi-technique applications.

This is a drill to enhance flowing inside as well as outside, for inside a left punch or outside a right punch. But you have to get in first with a trapping, low line kicking, destruction etc.

The Philosophy of Chuan Fa is; Don't give the attacking technique the respect that it is asking for:
Intercept it absorb it. redirect it. Break it.

When you make up your mind to fight to defend yourself. You must go all out. Above all don't give any attack, the respect the opponent, is trying to hurt you with. When they give, you take when they take, you give, it back. And never give up until they are on their back and out. There is no halfway it's all or none. We will attack (offense) in a preventive manner so as not to be put into a situation of defending or protecting.

Sigung Ben Fajardo 7th Degree

ps. All of the above: this is what Sifu Endrizzi was teaching through his Chi Sao type drills.

KAJUKENBO CHUAN FA OUTLINE "Bill Owens"


KAJUKENBO

1. HAU KUEN/PINIANS-4 PARTS

2. RIGHT HAND PUNCH COUNTERS

3. GRAB COUNTERS

4. CLUB COUNTERS

5. KNIFE COUNTERS

6. SQUATTING EXCERCISES



CHUAN FA

1. KICK COMBINATIONS

2. RIGHT HAND PUNCH COUNTERS with more of a Kung Fu influ.

3. HAND COMBINATIONS

4. THROWING COUNTERS

5. KICK COUNTERS

6. DROP AND RECOVERS



KUEN/FORMS

1. HAU KUEN

2. FAU YIP

3. LIMPO

4. CHUAN FA IV

5. SUI WAN

6. PAK PAI (SIL-LUM #6)

7. PAK PAI #7

8. PAK PAI #8

9. LO HAN KUEN

10. FU-HAK

11. 18 HANDS OF LO-HAN



CHUAN FA DRILLS

1. CHI SAO

2. HONG SAO

3. PAK SAO

4. REPETITIONS

5. ROTATION LINE

6. MONKEY LINE

7. STREET AND TOURNAMENT

8. CAT WALKING

9. ETC.

[Prof. Ben Fajardo]

This is but a few of the many Chuan Fa/WHKD fighting drills. All the drills listed will help you to develop various attributes of self defense, Such as speed, power, timing, angles of attacks, reactions, etc.

1. Chuan Fa (chi sao)
Coming from the squatting exercises, with WHKD full cover with both hands open in front of you, fingers extended and one hand at elbow palm out for a check, you move to the outside of the forearm turn your hand and with the palm brush your forearm to an outward block by twisting your hand open. And move your other hand down to the elbow of the block. You will apply this also to an inward block while moving to the inward block using your palm down the inside of the forearm with hand at elbow. I will break the squatting drill down in the requirements section.

Chi sao drill with your partners hands on the outside of your, you will move to apply your outside block and brush their arm off your forearm. Lt hand traps the arm at the elbow and counter with a vertical straight punch. Working on both sides.

Next with your hands on the outside, you will move your hands and arms side to side like a windshield wipper motion. You will move to deliver a vertical straight punch to the chest for training, your partner must pick up the attack and respond with a counter.

Next you will develop an indirect attack, by faking a vertical and delivering a straight circle backfist.

Next you will develop Trapping, by crossing the partners arm across his bicep pinning it with your arm and trapping it, then counter with a vertical punch.

Eight Basic Squatting Exercises


Basics w/ full cover Defense
1. Outward block; straight vertical punch

2. Inward block; foreward straight vertical chop

3. Upward block; front straight vertical back knuckle

4. Downward block; 45* degree back knuckle punch

Kicks
5. Front snap kick; side snap kick
6. Front thrust kick; side thrust kick

Combinations
7. Outward block, straight vertical punch, front snap kick
sides: Outward block, straight vertical punch, side snap kick
8. Inward block, back knuckle punch, vertical chop, front snap kick
sides: Inward block, back knuckle punch, vertical chop side thrust kick

Kicking development drill

From your fighting stance left leg forward, you will begin by delivering a rear leg or right leg front snapping kick, now with out putting your foot down through out this drill you will deliver the following techniques one right after the other.

Kicking Development Drill #1

Starting with the back-leg front kick

a. Round kick

b. Side kick

c. Hook kick

d. Spinning back kick

e. Axe Kick

f. Outward cresent kick

g. Inward cresent kick

h. Curl kick (reverse round kick)

i. Funny kick (flip kick outside with the heel, hacky sack kick)

j. Scooping front kick

k. Heel stomp

Do this with both legs, and you will improve your balance in kicking very fast. You should train your legs to deliver kicks from all angles and in combinations.

2. Kicking development drill #2

You will start by using only one leg at a time, and start with the Capital letter's A through Z and make your movement's with your leg high in the air, following the letters.

3. Kicking Development Drill #3

a. You will need a partner for this drill, begin by facing each other and grabbing hands holding on to each others hands, you begin to simultaneously throw kicks at each other, using your shin blocks and stop kicks to block and counter, you can add your elbows to block kicks. But you can not let go of each others hands at no time in this drill.

b. Next you can get more people and make a circle holding hands and begin the drill, it is best to only use three to four to a group.

[SifuLen]

Here is a photo of Sifu Endrizzi as a ref. early 1970's. Also Mike Reagan? Sifu Gil Troncosa & Sifu Mike Rudulovich

[Prof. Ben Fajardo]

I have just got my hands on some very old history of Chuan Fa / WHKD material! Sifu Roland Jenkins, attended our redbook seminar in Redmond OR. and he brought his old workbooks from when he was training in Denver 1970's. I have all of the drills and the Kajukenbo Chuan Fa Requirements. That lead to the formation of WHKD. I am revising the WHKDIA teaching redbook and working on the history! Professor ben Fajardo

As you will see the Kajukenbo Chuan Fa/WHKD branch followed the traditional Chinese Methods. You was taught the Kata for each belt level, and then after the Kata was mastered the student was then taught the technical applications of the movements for self defense....this material (1969) was the old Belt/sash requirements for the Kajukenbo Chuan Fa/WHKD branch.

Orange Belt (3-6 months)

Requirements
1 to 5 Right hand punch counters. (3rd Chart)
1-4 Squatting exercises (1st Chart)
1 to 5 Kick combinations (2nd Chart)
1 to 5 Grab counter's (4th Chart)
Four sections of Ha Kuen ( Monkey Form) (9th Chart)
Kicks: Front and side snap kicks
Front and side thrust kicks
Front and back leg roundhouse kicks

Personal weapons & targets of the human body
Proper body conditioning for self defense
a. Power practice and exercises
b. speed, reflex and accuracy exercises

...

Purple Belt (6-9 months)

Requirements
All requirements in Orange Belt program plus:
5-8 Squatting exercises (1st Chart)
6- 10 kick combinations (2nd Chart)
6- 10 Grab Counters (4th Chart)
6- 21 right hand punches counters (3rd Chart)
1 to 5 Hand combinations (7th Chart)
2nd Form-Fau Yip (9th Chart) 3rd form Limpo (9th Chart)
Kicks: Spinning heel kick
Front heel kick
Spinning back kick
Curl kick

Chi-sao ( sticky hand sparring)
Hong-sao (loose hand sparring)
Pak-sao (block-counter sparring)
Advanced free style sparring tehniques
Two men against one man attacks and defense
Rotation line, monkey line, and Rep.

...

Blue Belt (6-12 Months)
Requirements
All requirements in Orange/Purple/Blue Belt program (plus)
6-10 Hand combinations
1 to 10 kick counters (10th Chart)
Sil Lum #6, Sil Lum #7 (9th Chart)
Extensive Multiman sparring (3-4 men)
Extensive loose hand Sparring (3 men)

...

Brown Belt 12-18 Months)

Requirements:
All requirements in orange/purple/blue and green belt programs
Northern Shao lin #8, Low Hon Kuen (9th Chart)
Extensive Multiman defense and attacks 6-8 men
Extensive free style sparring 3-4 men
Work mix combinations on all requirements
Optional: Management in Business operations
Have at lease 10 tournament experience behind (win or Lose)

Black Belt (18-24 Months)

All requirements in Lower rank requirements
Fu Hak (Tiger and Crane) (9th Chart)
Teaching advanced work to lower belts
Theory and applications
1 or 2 weapons forms
Test check on:
1. Flow (Chi)
2. Power, speed
3. Timing, reflex
4. Accuracy and physical disposition

[onephatboydave]

Greeting Professor Fajaro,

Is the rebook you are revising something that is given to all WHKD instructors to teach at their schools?