The Cat--Gogen Yamaguchi--In Action

Here is some extremely rare video of The Cat giving instruction. The video ends with the now classic image of Gogen Yamaguchi under a waterfall. This is the image that I recreated for my Five Principles of Everything (Go Tao Chi) cover shot.

Gogen Yamaguchi--The Cat

Here is something that I found online. Thanks to Isaac Florentine for pointing me to this rare and valuable video series.

Triple play at Ted Tabura's Tournament of the Kings

 Remember this date...Sure this particular day has past. It's just that this day will probably be remembered for three reasons. First, it was a tournament in the spirit of bringing past and future together. We have Ted Tabura and all the people who volunteered their time to put on a great event, to thank for the first memory associated with this date. Second, it was Alfred Urquidez's birthday. He can tell you his age, if he feels you need the information. Third, it was the first competitive tournament for Alfred's son (and student) ADAM URQUIDEZ. And, no...Alfred Urquidez ISN'T dead. No, Alfred Urquidez isn't a recovered alcoholic and/or addict, and yes Alfred Urquidez does exist. 

Happy Birthday my brother. Ho (means Osss).

Bob Ozman: My First Karate Instructor

Below is the latest article found at WorldWideDojo.com, in my Legends and Legacies column. I hope you enjoy reading about Bob Ozman, my first karate instructor.
There were also three other archived columns posted at WWDJ, in various spots on the site. One was written for Karate Illustrated by me and Bob, about HIS main karate instructor, grandmaster Shimabuku, the creator of Isshinryu. I also had written about Johnny Atkinson (one of Bob's students, who was teaching for him when I first started lessons 48 years ago. Johnny passed away in the early 1990s, but the whole series shows the strong bond between martial arts students and their instructors. I hope you enjoy, and if you do, please let the publisher know by clicking "like" or dropping a note by email.
Thanks.

Bob Ozman: My First Karate Instructor


Bob Ozman: My First Karate Instructor

Bob Ozman/ my first instructor by Gordon Richiusa

I had the pleasure this week to interview Bob Ozman, a grand master in Isshin-ryu who studied directly with Tatsuo Shimabuku. Master Ozman was also my first karate instructor, fifty years ago April 2012. I will be 60 years old on that date and I was signed up for classes by my parents, on my 10th birthday. Bob Ozman was a lucky first sensei for me, as was his head instructor, Johnny Atkinson. Both men have made their ways into my next novel, THE PANDA CHRONICLES, which will be released soon. This novel is based upon the life of Rico Rose, an undercover detective known as The Panda, on the streets of San Fernando, a Los Angeles suburb. Bob Ozman was also Rico Rose's first karate instructor, which is why these characters have been named after my old sensei. Mr. Ozman has been involved with creating a new style of fighting he calls, MUSHIN-GI-TAI, which I will profile in my next Legends and Legacies column at WorldWideDojo.com.
For now, here is his MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE.

Author of the Encyclopedia of Martial Arts

Upcoming on WorldWideDojo.com and my Legends and Legacies series will be Emil Farkas. Here we post his Message in a Bottle, which can also be found at WorldWideDojo.com, my YouTube channel (grichiusa) and on Vision-Revision. Enjoy!

Prescreen.com Releases PUT UP YOUR DUX

If you want to see the documentary about Frank Dux that begins to sort the truth about the legendary martial artist from the lies that almost destroyed his life and the lives of many of his supporters, click this link or copy and past it into your browser:https://prescreen.com/movie/Put-Up-Your-Dux. The site will make the film available to the general public for a short time, at a reduced rate. Gather your friends around the computer or download to your smart phone and view at your leisure. My novel, SHIDOSHI:The Four Ways of the Corpse--a story that was told to me, in essence by Frank Dux, 30 years ago--is based upon the concept that when people believe misinformation, disinformation and character assassination over their own experiences, then bad things can happen. While my book is a metaphor for all the "best laid plans" that go wrong because of human ego, greed and selfishness, PUT UP YOUR DUX is a demonstration that sometimes truth can be stranger than fiction. Again, you can view the full length movie at this site for $4, right now. This offer will not last long.
PRESCREEN.COM/PUT UP YOUR DUX The Movie

Jhoon Rhee – Changing The World

In the following interview with Jhoon Rhee, published at worldwidedojo.com in the column, LEGENDS AND LEGACIES that I share with Frank Dux, you can hear this martial arts visionaries wild dream of a world where everyone tells the truth.
To go straight to the Jhoon Rhee article, click the link below.
Jhoon Rhee – Changing The World

I Hugged Benny The Jet Urquidez

Below is the link to the article that many of you have been waiting for...my interview with Benny The Jet Urquidez, posted this date (9-10-11) in my LEGENDS And Legacies Column at WORLD WIDE DOJO.

To go strait to the URQUIDEZ ARTICLE, click the link below.
I Hugged Benny The Jet Urquidez

A Message in a Bottle from Dr. Goldie Mack

Outside the Masters Hall of Fame event, I had the chance to meet and speak with Dr. Goldie Mack. He offered this beautiful, concise bit of wisdom outside the Anaheim Convention Center event.

2012 Masters Hall of Fame Awards

Gordon Richiusa, Ed Parker Jr. and Frank Dux pose for pictures after the Masters Hall of Fame Award Presentations, which took place last night. This year's event was entertaining and well organized. Gordon and Ed Parker Jr. are wearing their Alumni medals. Frank Dux was inducted for his Lifetime Achievements along with a variety of others, including Cynthia Rothrock. The entertainment consisted, in part of a kyudo demonstration (there is one here on this blog, from Kyoto Japan). This Japanese Zen form of archery is unique and beautiful and will be covered soon in our Legends and Legacies column, at WorldWideDojo.com. Stay tuned.

A Woman of Judo

Take a look at this video of the highest ranking woman, Kodakan Judo-ka.

Dana Stamos--Message in a Bottle

Dana Stamos--owner of Martial Arts Enterprises, Inc. and publisher of the Legends and Legacies series, by Gordon Richiusa, gives her MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE comments:

Legends and Legacies--Premiers on World Wide Dojo

Hello all. This is just a short note to announce the creation of the LEGENDS AND LEGACIES column, which will now run monthly in World Wide Dojo Magazine. The first contributions by or about yours truly have already been published. If you go to www.worldwidedojo.com you will see some tabs at the top of the page. Click on TRADITIONAL and there you will see an article about Five Birds Martial Arts, some advertising for my novel SHIDOSHI:The Four Ways of the Corpse and my article on Ji Han Jae, exclusive to World Wide Dojo Magazine. This article will be combined with the other comments by Ji Han Jae that appeared previously in another magazine for the book Legends and Legacies of the Martial Arts, to be published next year. For now, take a look at the magazine and read the article about me, my style and my writing career. Or, if you prefer, go directly to this link for the Ji Han Jae article, regarding legacy>>>Ji Han Jae, by Gordon Richiusa

Message in a Bottle/ Frank Dux

As part of the Legends and Legacies series, Frank Dux answered two unscripted questions from two fans (who he had never met). Here are his responses:

Message in a Bottle/Grandmaster Rick Kingi

During a recent event at the Anaheim Convention Center, in Orange County California, Kajukenbo Grandmaster Rick Kingi took a moment to comment on the "most important lesson" that he could send, if he only had a few seconds to deliver it. Here it is:

Grow Your Own--Red Korean Ginseng Plants

There are a number of claims to the benefits of drinking ginseng tea (made from the root, stems and leaves) or for other applications and uses--everything from stimulating the libido to enhancing longevity. In the following article I will show you how I am growing Red Korean Ginseng plants from the seeds that I harvested. My wife received a mature (ten year old) plant from a Shaolin Kung Fu Master (who wishes to remain nameless) and when it seeded, she asked me to harvest the tiny black seeds. These seeds are encased inside tiny pods that grow along the thin stems along with the flowers. It takes about two years (we were told) for a plant to start producing its own seeds.
Each tiny black seed (about the size of a grain of sand) has the potential for growing into a mature, seed producing Red Korean Ginseng Plant. Once established, these plants are hearty and yield thousands of seeds each year. If you don’t want to have them spread throughout your garden, it is recommended that you keep them in a pot with enough room for the prized roots to reach down into the soil (at least 10 inches). Your mature plant will be ready to harvest in about two years, which will include a 5 inch or longer root that looks like a (male) human, with arms, legs, and head and gender organ. The whole plant (pretty pink flowers, seeds, stems, leaves and root) are edible for tea, food seasoning etc. and the plant is fun to grow and beautiful to watch develop.
Here is a video of plants that were grown from seeds within the past two months.



Directions for germinating Korean Ginseng Seeds:

1. Take several seeds and place them “just below the surface” of some fine potting soil. If you use a larger pot, you can plant two or more “piles” of seed in one container. You can transplant each seedling into a smaller pot at a later time (see specifics below) or space them in a large pot. Depending on how many seeds you start with, it is possible you may have to thin the bunch to only one to three plants in a single pot, or transplant the plants to individual pots, later. You decide how many plants you want to grow/keep.

2. Make sure that you germinate the seeds in a protected area (a window box or greenhouse is ideal) so that you don’t accidentally grow other species of plants and get them confused with your ginseng seedlings. If there are seeds and pollens falling all around, then you will complicate the germination process.

3. The germinating pot should be at least one gallon, so that the seeds don’t “cook” in the sun. You can transplant the seeds safely after the tiny seedlings have two levels of leaves on them. They will be about one inch high at this time.

4. USE A SPRAY BOTTLE to keep the soil moist turning the germination process. This is the hardest part. You don’t want to wash away your seeds or bury them so deeply that they cannot sprout. In about two weeks you should see tiny broadleaf plants (all the same, in the exact places where you put your seeds).

5. When seedlings appear, you can thin out the patch, keeping only the healthiest looking plants and/or transplant each (or a few each) into larger pots with enough spacing that the roots can have room to spread.

You will know that you have ginseng plants growing because they are very sun-sensitive. They “track” the sun during the day and close up (as if sleeping) at night. If you see “different” behaviors from some of your seedlings, they are probably NOT ginseng.
Here is an update of the seedlings you saw above (six months later):


If you are interested in reading more about the benefits and claims pertaining to Red Korean Ginseng, CLICK HERE.

Mark Gerry Celebrity Roast and Syd Campbell Memorial Open

Thanks to the World Martial Arts Masters, The Golden State Karate Association and Tiger Claw, Barbara and I were granted VIP access to the Master Mark Gerry Celebrity Roast on June 17th, 2011. As you might suspect, it was as much a party as it was entertainment for the five hundred or so in attendance. Though, I have to say, the entertainment supplied by The USA International Team and Ernie Reyes’ Youth Performers (with a special performance by Ernie Reyes, Sr.) were definitely highlights of the evening, it was great to see the star-studded dais get together for this delightful tribute. Panel members included Cynthia Rothrock, Eric Lee, James Lew, Art Camacho, Ernie Reyes, Frank Dux, Harry Mok, Sonny Sison and Nicole Gerry (Mark’s daughter and Miss California Model of the Year). Comedian jeff Applebaum warmed up the crowd with an excellent set.
Most of the celebrities put some thought and effort into the roasting and the audience was treated to a video introduction for each of the dais members in attendance, as well. However, Team International and the Ernie Reyes performers were awe-inspiring. I wondered how the great stunt and competition champions who were on stage felt about the performances, which were as technically good as any martial arts demonstrations that I’ve ever seen. In the “olden days” when I participated in competitions (or when the on stage stars were performing) some of the things that were being routinely done by these kids were merely fantasy! “Great job,” to all the performers (especially Ernie Reyes, who is still participating with the kids at age 60).

I did not have a chance to speak with any of the celebrity roasters afterward, but the two standing ovations spoke volumes about the level of appreciation by all. The show lasted a little longer than expected, but I did get a chance to accept my Legends of the Martial Arts Hall of Fame Award from Cynthia Rothrock and Eric Kovaleski, for both the Journalism and Book of the Year categories after the event.

Cynthia Rothrock and Eric Kovaleski were kind enough to peel themselves away from the after show flash of cameras to hand me my award that Eric had taken the trouble to carry from Pennsylvania to California for the Gerry Roast and the Syd Campbell Memorial Martial Arts Open Tournament that took place the next day, June 18th. I was humbled that Master Kovaleski wanted to personally hand me this plaque during a weekend of festivities that was really meant to honor a living legend (Mark Gerry) and one who has just passed (Syd Campbell). Thanks again for allowing Barbara and I to attend the show.

The Role of a Good Teacher

In the near future, this subject will be considered within many of my projects. I was forwarded this today and decided to post it for the rest of you to stimulate comments. At this point, I am not taking sides on the efficacy of this technique, but I will point out that Carlos Castaneda's informant/character, Juan Matus was the epitome of this type of "master teacher."

Ken MacKenzie and students were GREAT hosts!

Master Ken MacKenzie, the acknowledged highest ranking student of Ji Han Jae, allowed me to meet with his students (and their parents) to discuss my books, SHIDOSHI:The Four Ways of the Corpse and Go-Tao-Chi, the five principles of chi. It was an honor and a pleasure to meet so many dedicated young (and not so young) martial artists. Their good manners and interest in my writings was very refreshing. In all cases, it was a testament to the maxim that the "fruit doesn't fall far from the tree." You can always tell a great teacher by the behavior of his students. Before any of them really knew what I was doing in their school, each made a point to come to me individually, introduce themselves and shake my hand. Afterward, when we had all gathered together and exchanged a formal salute, they sat and listened attentively and asked some very thoughtful questions that I had not anticipated, but were welcomed with what I hope were thoughtful answers.
It was especially heartening to see such respect for the topic I had to share, because it would have been understandable for them to be anxious to continue with a special workshop that was being conducted by Austrian instructor, Perry Zmugg who was teaching both knife throwing and escrima work on the same evening. A special thank you to Mr. Zmugg for graciously allowing me to interfere with the flow of his workshop...and of course to Master MacKenzie for opening his Dojang with such a warm welcome. I was very impressed.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rear Admiral Horton Smith and others appear in highly anticipated and soon to be released Shoreline Entertainment documentary entitled: Put Up Your Dux, The documentary examines Martial Art Hall of Fame Living Legend, Godfather of the MMA and inspiration for the motion picture Bloodpsort, Frank Dux. The film is set to debut in the Caan Film festival. Admiral Smith and several highly decorated officials who appeared on camera corroborate Frank Dux was a covert operative of the highest caliber. Dux's expertise earned his acknowledgement as a contributor to US Navy SEAL manual (k431-0097).

On March 24th, 2011 in a Military Honors Ceremony held in Brookside Baptist Church, Nicholasville, Kentucky Frank Dux's covert service was OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED and he was presented with Citations of Valor for his courageous actions, aknowleged by both US House of Representitives and Kentucky House of Representitives.

Frank Dux was presented from Commonwealth State of Kentucky, both the titles of Kentucky Admiral and Colonel. Nicholasville Mayor, Russ Meyer presented Frank Dux a Key to the City.

The presenters were:

Jessamine County Circuit Court Clerk, Doug Fain; State Senator Tom Buford, Nicholasville Mayor Russ Meyer, Chaplain Colonel DeWayne Brewer, State Representative Bob Damron, Pastor Dan Barnes, Nicholasville Police Chief Barry Waldrop, Col. Mark Needham, Lt. Governor Dan Mongiardo, Jessamine County Judge Executive William Neal Cassity, Jessamine County Attorney Brian T. Goettl, Jessamine County Clerk, Eva McDaniel, Robert Cooper, Jessie Beazley, and the founder of The Freedom Fund Fest, Douglas Day…

Larry Kagan - Osu, Oss, Oos, Os

Below is a short and concise explanation of the term that we hear so often in every Japanese Dojo.

Larry Kagan - Osu, Oss, Oos, Os

Gordon's Interview On Carson's Corner

Just Posted!

Gordon Richiusa was recently interviewed by Carson's Corner regarding his novel, SHIDOSHI:The Four Ways of The Corpse
and how the "Five Principles" are imbedded in this novel. Gordon is the second of two major interviews in this broadcast.
Take a listen. (NOTE: It's a good show, all the way through, but if you want to hear Gordon's interview you can fast-forward to about the halfway point. That's when Gordon's interview begins).

Five Principles/Book Tour Begins

Hello All,
I began my U.S. book signings/workshops tour this morning at the Milan Institute in Nampa, Idaho. This evening I will be close by, in Boise teaching the Five Principles with Five Birds Tai Chi for the Boise Schools Community Education program. My first stop was at the request of my favorite former student, Jennifer Dunn, who now teaches the Massage Therapists class (and probably many others) for the Milan Institute. In the photo below, the top of her head is barely visible behind me. Jenn asked me to come into her class and give a brief body movement workshop to her students, to demonstrate what they might learn at the three-day class that begins this evening. Thanks again to the class and to Jennifer for allowing me to come by and present. I had fun and hope that they had fun, as well. More about the book-signings and workshops will follow.

Martial Arts Entertainment Magazine--Issue 4

If you want to read some of my work, or an article or two ABOUT Five Birds Martial Arts (taken from the text Go-Tao-Chi: The Five Principles of Chi) then click the link below.

Click Here for the latest issue of Martial Arts Entertainment Magazine.

A Day of Service

This evening I will be addressing Alfred Urquidez's karate students in Mission Hills. Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on this National Day of Service, and his example of the power of non-violence will be at the core of my comments. I want to acknowledge, also that non-violence has proven to be one of the most powerful tools of change for the better, the world has ever known, and is at the core of the Five Principles and Defense Awareness, which is their byproduct. Please view the federally funded video about Dr. King's message in the short video below.