Author Topic: Professor Walter L. N. Godin-Chinese Kempo Karate  (Read 60026 times)

Offline Chief Instructor

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Re:Professor Walter L. N. Godin-Chinese Kempo Karate
« Reply #45 on: January 11, 2004, 02:26:09 PM »
“Wow! That is definitely Walter Godin,” said Professor Kimo Ferreira after seeing me perform a Chinese Kempo kata in Omaha, Nebraska yesterday. That is one of the best compliments I ever had. I started to say how I wished Professor Godin was there to see me perform the kata but it didn’t matter. I think he was watching from above.

I also believe he was us during dinner as Professor Kimo told us lots of great stories about him. A couple of my students were lucky to hear these stories. It was a great ohana time.

Wherever you are Professor Godin, you are deeply loved and missed!
Sigung Andrew Evans, KSDI #888
Hokkien Martial Arts, Topeka, KS
http://www.TopekaKarate.com

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Re:Professor Walter L. N. Godin-Chinese Kempo Karate
« Reply #46 on: May 29, 2004, 12:55:46 PM »
Earlier this week, I started teaching a college-level course in Chinese Kempo. I started off by talking about our history. When I finished talking about the lowest point in Professor Godin's life, the class got very quiet and someone pointed out that Memorial Day is around the corner.

Let's take a moment of silence during this holiday weekend. All you old-timers and historians know what I'm talking about. At least the two great martial artists are in heaven right now training together. God bless them!

Mahalo,
Sigung Andrew Evans, KSDI #888
Hokkien Martial Arts, Topeka, KS
http://www.TopekaKarate.com

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Re:Professor Walter L. N. Godin-Chinese Kempo Karate
« Reply #47 on: August 07, 2004, 11:00:10 AM »
Today marks the third anniversary of the passing of the late Professor Walter Godin.  :'( Not only is he missed for his great martial arts skill, but also for his great sense of humor.

We are to perform a martial arts demostration tonight for the local National Night Out against crime celebration. It will be in his honor.

Respectfully,
Andrew
Sigung Andrew Evans, KSDI #888
Hokkien Martial Arts, Topeka, KS
http://www.TopekaKarate.com

Offline dshioi

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Re:Professor Walter L. N. Godin-Chinese Kempo Karate
« Reply #48 on: September 21, 2004, 11:00:42 PM »
I never met anyone more humble than  Professor Godin.
I spoke with him on several occasions and I was truely impressed by how soft spoken, courteous and humble he was.  Goes to show that when you have confidence in yourself, there is no need to show it.


Danny

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Re:Professor Walter L. N. Godin-Chinese Kempo Karate
« Reply #49 on: May 28, 2005, 12:43:55 PM »
This weekend is Memorial Day weekend. Our thoughts and prayers are with two of the greatest martial artists who are practicing together in heaven right now.

God Bless,
Andrew

Earlier this week, I started teaching a college-level course in Chinese Kempo. I started off by talking about our history. When I finished talking about the lowest point in Professor Godin's life, the class got very quiet and someone pointed out that Memorial Day is around the corner.

Let's take a moment of silence during this holiday weekend. All you old-timers and historians know what I'm talking about. At least the two great martial artists are in heaven right now training together. God bless them!

Mahalo,
Sigung Andrew Evans, KSDI #888
Hokkien Martial Arts, Topeka, KS
http://www.TopekaKarate.com

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Re: Professor Walter L. N. Godin-Chinese Kempo Karate
« Reply #50 on: May 26, 2006, 05:58:37 PM »
Just a reminder that Memorial Day is a special weekend for many. God bless those who have gone before us.

Also, please thank a veteran!
« Last Edit: May 26, 2006, 06:01:44 PM by Andrew Evans »
Sigung Andrew Evans, KSDI #888
Hokkien Martial Arts, Topeka, KS
http://www.TopekaKarate.com

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Re:Professor Walter L. N. Godin-Chinese Kempo Karate
« Reply #51 on: May 23, 2008, 08:52:55 AM »
If nothing else, sometime before or after this holiday weekend remind our students about the tradition of escorts and the need to be protected in a dangerous world. Also, don't forget to thank a veteran. God bless, Andrew.

When I finished talking about the lowest point in Professor Godin's life, the class got very quiet and someone pointed out that Memorial Day is around the corner.
Sigung Andrew Evans, KSDI #888
Hokkien Martial Arts, Topeka, KS
http://www.TopekaKarate.com

Offline kumurick

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Re: Professor Walter L. N. Godin-Chinese Kempo Karate
« Reply #52 on: August 07, 2010, 11:34:48 AM »
Today is the anniversary of Godin’s death.  Several weeks before Professor Godin's passing, I was taking care of him, driving him where he needed to go, checking him into hotels and getting him on an airplane.  We spent more time together through those couple of weeks than any other time before. 

When we dropped him off at the airport to go home, my wife and I all struggled to get him on the plane in time because we were moving a little slow and the doors at the gate had already shut.  With his "colorful" commentary on why they should open the doors for him and that the plane wasn't leaving, they complied and waited for him.  He was exhausted and they gave him a wheelchair to make it to the gate.  By the time he was at the gate, he got out of the chair, took few steps and then stopped and while he turned and reached into his pants pocket.  He had something in his hand and grabbed my hand putting it in my hand and then closing my hand he firmly said “thank you”. 

I’m honored to wear that patch he gave me every day when I teach and I’m honored that he included me in his ohana.  The patch reads “Professor Godin’s Ohana”. 
Kumu Rick Metzler
8th Degree Blackbelt - Hawaiian Kempo
3rd Degree Blackbelt - Cacoy Doce Pares Eskrima
3rd Degree Blackbelt - Cacoy Doce Pares Eskrido
3rd Degree Blackbelt - Cacoy Doce Pares Pangamot

Offline sensei808

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Re: Professor Walter L. N. Godin-Chinese Kempo Karate
« Reply #53 on: August 10, 2010, 01:48:57 PM »
Kumurick , I to really miss the Proff.,there isn't a day that goes by that he isn't in my thoughts.I still have training mats fom his school that hangs in the rafters in my garage.Every day when I drive in I see the mats and am reminded of the Proff. I was his last instructor along with Raven at the palama school. We still train as to not forget the techniques ,katas,punch tricks ,and grab arts,but only on our own . It was or is nice to see posts about the Proff.  Aloha my friend ....Dennis Galisa
Dennis Galisa  1st dg. blk.blt  Godins school of Kempo

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Re: Professor Walter L. N. Godin-Chinese Kempo Karate
« Reply #54 on: May 27, 2011, 02:59:07 PM »
Taking a moment this weekend to remember two great men: Professor Godin and his instructor Joe Emperado. Also, don't forget to thank a veteran.
Sigung Andrew Evans, KSDI #888
Hokkien Martial Arts, Topeka, KS
http://www.TopekaKarate.com

Offline Gints Klimanis

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Re: Professor Walter L. N. Godin-Chinese Kempo Karate
« Reply #55 on: June 18, 2011, 03:11:46 AM »
Sigung Evans,  please add any info you have on Joe Emperado to help us remember him.
"We do not condone the use of a toilet seat as a deadly weapon"
Go Shin Jutsu Kenpo, 3rd Degree Black Belt Prof. Richard Lewis
Bono JKD/Kajukenbo, Prof. John Bono, San Jose, CA
Baltic Dog, Dog Brothers Martial Arts

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Re: Professor Walter L. N. Godin-Chinese Kempo Karate
« Reply #56 on: June 14, 2012, 12:05:18 PM »
I apologize Gints for not seeing your request sooner. Below is some history. My primary source was the now defunct Fighting Arts Hawaii magazine.

"Only a few top martial artists including Walter Godin (also trained by Chow) were taught this new art form in the beginning. Then in 1950, Adriano Emperado and his younger brother Joe began teaching the new art in an open class in 1950 and called their school the Kajukenbo Self Defense Institute (KSDI). Godin said, "There are no words to describe the training sessions at Palama Settlement during the early days, unless you've experienced it, only then will you understand." Joe Emperado and Godin became best friends. Joe would often take him to secluded parks and practice self-defense that nobody else saw. Then he would "tell me to remember the techniques."

Joe was responsible for most of the training in the KSDI school until the Memorial Day weekend of 1958. One night after class several Kajukenbo students were hanging out at the Pink Elephant, a bar where Joe worked part-time as a bouncer. Joe stayed late waiting for his girlfriend who was working there. When the rest of the Kajukenbo students left, Joe asked his favorite student Godin to stay. Joe must have sensed something was wrong because at closing time, three men who stayed behind wanted to start some trouble and started messing around with Godin. Godin suggested that they take it outside. Right before it started coming down to blows, Joe went outside and shoved Godin inside hoping to close the door on the three troublemakers.

While Joe's back was turned, George Shimabukuro stabbed him from behind. At that time, Joe did not even know he was stabbed and thought he was hit by a very hard punch. The next attack thrown was a strong hammerblow from Joe that knocked his attacker into parked cars. The fight continued with Joe Emperado squaring off with an armed George Shimabukuro while Godin took on the other two guys.

Imagine as a martial artist what it would be like to be in a fight back-to-back with your instructor on your side. Unfortunately, Godin and Joe Emperado lost that fight. When the police came, everyone ran. Joe lost so much blood from multiple stab wounds that he died the next day. He was able to tell his brother Adriano what happened and from that day forward the tradition of escorts was in effect. It is a matter of looking out for one another. The escorts would accompany a higher rank whenever s/he went out in public. Their job was to go everywhere with the higher ranking, including the restroom, to take care of anything behind him because he can take care what is in front of him. This tradition is still practiced today. After all, Joe would not have died that weekend if he had more escorts.

Unfortunately, Shimabukuro avoided jail time in Joe Emperado's death. The claim of self-defense was allowed since Joe was well known as a dangerous martial artist (plus it was probably hard to determine from the multiple stab wounds examined during the autopsy when the first stab occurred). Some people even considered Godin to be a coward. Could this be true? Godin went on to become one of Kajukenbo's top students and chief instructors. He was also Emperado's bodyguard. If Emperado thought Godin was a coward, neither of these things would have happened!"
Sigung Andrew Evans, KSDI #888
Hokkien Martial Arts, Topeka, KS
http://www.TopekaKarate.com

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Re: Professor Walter L. N. Godin-Chinese Kempo Karate
« Reply #57 on: June 14, 2012, 12:08:51 PM »
While I missed my annual Memorial Day post on this thread, I want to add that I still had Professor Godin and his instructor Joe Emperado on my mind. I was the co-producer of a jazz fusion CD and purposely choose Memorial Day 2012 as the official release date. For those interested in the project, please visit http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/theorphansofsmoothjazz and listen to some samples. Aloha.

Sigung Andrew Evans, KSDI #888
Hokkien Martial Arts, Topeka, KS
http://www.TopekaKarate.com

Offline Gints Klimanis

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Re: Professor Walter L. N. Godin-Chinese Kempo Karate
« Reply #58 on: August 25, 2012, 02:52:32 AM »
Thank you for the historical paragraph on Joe Emperado's death, Andrew.  I scan this forum every couple of weeks, but I only scanned your top post and missed the gem.
"We do not condone the use of a toilet seat as a deadly weapon"
Go Shin Jutsu Kenpo, 3rd Degree Black Belt Prof. Richard Lewis
Bono JKD/Kajukenbo, Prof. John Bono, San Jose, CA
Baltic Dog, Dog Brothers Martial Arts

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Re: Professor Walter L. N. Godin-Chinese Kempo Karate
« Reply #59 on: May 23, 2014, 04:36:46 PM »
Taking a moment this Memorial weekend to remember two great men: Professor Godin and his instructor Joe Emperado. Also, don't forget to thank a veteran.
Sigung Andrew Evans, KSDI #888
Hokkien Martial Arts, Topeka, KS
http://www.TopekaKarate.com