Honoring Grand-Masters - Fighters - Promoters

“Lives of great men all remind us, we can make our lives sublime, and departing, leave behind us, footprints in the sands of time.” – The Psalm of Life by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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-Ng Mui (Ng Mei), founder of her own style of combined martial arts; the art later took the name of her student, Yim Wing Chun. Ip Man was a known student of Wing Chun, of whom Bruce Lee studied under.  Ng Mui was the first female to create a mainstream martial art (R.I.P. 1700s).  

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-Michel Casseux, L'art de la Savate modifier (R.I.P. 1869).

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-Charles Lecour, student of Michel Casseux who merged English Boxing with Savate (R.I. P. 1894).

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-Joseph Charelmont, son of Charles Charlemont, who trained under Louis Vigneron and Chrles Lecour.  Joseph Charelmont was considered the best Savate fighter of his time and wrote the technical syllabus and two manuals on Savate (R.I.P. 1918).  

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-Jigoro Kono, Judo Founder (R.I.P. 04 May 1938).

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-Henry Seishiro Okazaki formed an eclectic system called Kodenkan Jujitsu. This system included Judo, Jujitsu, Hawaiian Lua, Okinawan Karate, Chinese Kung-Fu, and American Wrestling,. He gave the name Danzan-Ryu to his school of Jujitsu. In 1939, Okazaki organized the American Jujitsu Guild (later named American Jiujitus Institue (AJI)).  Director and Professor Wally Jay was also a member of the American jujitsu Guild and freind and student of Bruce Lee (R.I.P. 12 July 1951).

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-Ip Man (Yip Man), Bruce Lee's Wing Chun Gung Fu Instructor (R.I.P. 02 December 1972).

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-James Yimm Lee, 1st Generation Bruce Lee student; 3rd ranked Jun Fan Gung Fu instructor under Bruce Lee and helped run his Oakland, California school. James Lee certified his student, Gary Dill as an instructor.  Snake Blocker is a full Jeet Kune Do Combatives Instructor under Gary Dill. James Lee was also a US Army Veteran. (R.I.P. 1972).

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-Bruce Lee, Jeet Kune Do Founder and Snake Blocker's Instructor's Instructor (R.I.P. 20 July 1973).

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-James Masayoshi Mitose, grandmaster of Kenpo JuJitsu ("fist law flexible technique"), also known as Kosho Shorei-Ryū Kenpo, which can be translated as "Old Pine Tree School Fist Law." and also refered to ias Shorinji ("small forest temple") Kempo (a Japanese translation of "quánfǎ," which means "fist law" in English) or Goshin Jutsu ("self-defense technique"). Snake Blocker has Black Belts through the lineage of Mitose under Rick Alemany, a 10th Dan Black Belt in the the art.  Grandmaster Ed Parker is also a student of Mitose's art. (R.I.P. March 26, 1981).

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-Rolls Gracie, son of Carlos Gracie, and instructor of Rickson Gracie, Carlson Gracie and other Gracie family members. Known as one of the top Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighters of the Gracie Family (R.I.P. 06 June 1982).

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-Floro Villabrille, the Philippines’ most revered fighter and victor of numerous stick-fighting death matches. Dan Inosanto studied under this Grand-master (R.I.P. 08 March 8 1992).

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-Brandon Bruce Lee, Bruce Lee's only son.  Brandon Lee passed away right after Snake Blocker began training in Jeet Kune Do with Dan Sulivan (R.I.P. 31 March 1993). 

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-Carlos Gracie, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Grand-master founder (R.I.P. 7 October 1994). 

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-Edward C. Hart, Bruce Lee's 2nd Student. (R.I.P. 3 December 1998).

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-Rockson Gracie, Rickson Gracie's oldest son. Rockson Gracie passed away while Snake Blocker was training under Rickson Gracie's organization with Wander Braga (R.I.P. December 2000).

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-Remy Preses, Modern Arnis Master and Snake Blocker's Instructor's Instructor (R.I.P. 28 August 2001).

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-James Coburn, Actor and Bruce Lee's student.  James Coburn signed a photo for Snake Blocker, which still hangs on the wall at Blocker Academy of Martial Arts (R.I.P. 19 November 2002).

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-Oswaldo Fadda, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Grand-master (R.I.P. 1 April 2005). 

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-Carlson Gracie (Carlos Gracie Jr), Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion and Snake Blocker's Instructor's Instructor (R.I.P. 01 February 2006).

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-Larry Hartsell, Bruce Lee's 1st Generation student was Rick Mullinax's instructor. Snake Blocker is ranked under Rick Mullinax. (R.I.P. 20 August 2007).

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-Peter Lee Jung-Sum, PhD, Fencing Champion and Bruce Lee's eldest brother (R.I.P. 03 September 2008).

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-Hélio Gracie, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Grand-master founder. Snake Blocker often saw Hélio Gracie at the Gracie Academy, Torrance, California  (R.I.P. 29 January 2009). 

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-Ben T. Largusa, a Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) legend and one of the greatest Kali Fighters. Dan Inosanto studied with this Grand-master (R.I.P. 03 October 2010).

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-Ernesto A. Presas, Modern Arnis Master and Snake Blocker's Instructor's Instructor (R.I.P. 01 November 2010).

 

-Ted Wong, Bruce Lee's 1st Generation student. Ted Wong was also one of Tim Tackett's instructors and visited Snake Blocker as a guest at Blocker Academy of Martial Arts in California. Snake Blocker is also ranked under Tim Tackett. Ted Wong also served in the US Navy (R.I.P. 24 November 2010).

 

-Ron Robles, 2nd Generation Bruce Lee Student, who trained under his close friend, Dan Inosanto.  Ron Robeles was also Snake Blocker's Jeet Kune Do Instructor and friend and they co-instructed at Rolling Hills Covenant Church in Rolling Hills Estate, California for the Adult T-N-T Single's Group .  Ron Robes was also a Senior Instructor at the Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts (R.I.P. 11 November 2010).

 

-Jesse Raymond Glover, Bruce Lee's 1st student (R.I.P. 27 July 2012).

 

-Joe Lewis, Bruce Lee's 1st Generation student, as well as a Kickboxing and Karate World Champion.  Joe Lewis was Rick Mullinax's instructor. Snake Blocker is ranked under Rick Mullinax. Bruce Lee also considered him, "The Greatest Karate Fighter Of All Time" (R.I.P. 31 August 2012).

 

-Bob Bremer, Bruce Lee's 1st Generation student and Founder of the Jeet Kune Do Wednesday Night Group with Tim Tackett and Jim Sewell.  Snake Blocker's Instructor's Instructor (R.I.P. 13 October 2012).

 

-Sean Rosenberg, Snake Blocker's martial arts friend and co-worker, Sean Rosenberg was stabbed to death in Las Vegas, Nevada (R.I.P. 2015).

 

-Jeff Tidus, Snake Blocker's personal training client, executed via a gunshot to his head in front of his house in Palos Verdes, California (R.I.P. 2009).

 

-Sam Muratore, Shoot Boxing/Shoot Fighting Champion and Snake Blocker's Instructor's Instructor (R.I.P. 12 August 2015).

 

-Muhammad Ali (born: Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.) - Bruce Lee was a huge fan of Muhammad Ali and would study his boxing techniques.  Snake Blocker had a chance to come across Muhammad Ali at the Los Angeles Marathon. Muhammad Ali was a multi-World Champion Boxer (R.I.P. 03 June 2016).

 

-Jim Sewell, Bruce Lee's 1st Generation student and Founder of the Jeet Kune Do Wednesday Night Group with bob Bremer and Jim Sewell.  Snake Blocker's Instructor's Instructor (R.I.P. February 2017).

 

-Richard S. Bustilla, Bruce Lee's 1st Generation student and Snake Blocker's Jeet Kune Do Instructor (R.I.P. 30 March 2017).

 

-James Smith, Snake Blocker's martial arts friend who lived in Colorado and contributed to the martial arts community (R.I.P. 2017).

 

-Victor de Thouars, Silat Instructor to many greats. Snake Blocker met him in California at his seminars. He was friends with Dan Inosanto, W. Hock Hochheim, Paul Bruitron III, and John McCurry (R.I.P. 31 August 2017)

 

-Allen Joe, Bruce Lee's 1st Generation student.  Allen Joe visited Snake Blocker as a guest at his studio in California (R.I.P. 02 April 2018).

 

-Jhoon Goo Rhee - Photos of Jhoon Rhee and Bruce Lee demonstrating martial arts where taken in Palos Verdes, California 1969 (Palos Verdes later became the headquarter location for Blocker Academy of Martial Arts 1996-2004).  Jhoon Rhee is known as the 'Father of American Tae Kwon Do'.  Jhoon Rhee worked with both Bruce Lee and Muhammad Ali. (R.I.P. 30 April 2018). 

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-Kwang Rhee, is best known for being one Elvis Presley's instructor from 1970-1974.  Elvis Presley was awarded an 8th degree Black Belt from Kwang Rhee, who passed away on the anniversary of Elvis Presley's death.  (R.I.P. 16 August 2019 Kwang Rhee/16 August 1977 Elvis Presley)

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-Taky Kimura, Bruce Lee's 1st Geration student, best friend and best man at Bruce Lee's wedding. Taky was the first assistant instructor at Bruce Lee's first school in Seattle, Washington.  Snake Blocker had the previalage to befriend Taky Kimura and learn from his example. (R.I.P. 07 January 2021)

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-Dwight Clark McLemore Jr was known as "The Colonel," Dwight was a mentor, teacher and friend to the martial arts blade community.  Snake Blocker and Dwight McLemore talked about various blades and tomoahawk applications and Snake spent time at his house in Virginia. Much respect. (R.I.P. 17 March 2021). 

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-Bob Wall, Bruce Lee and Chuck Norri's friend and fellow actor and World Champion. (R.I.P. 31 January 2022)

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Honor the Chinese Art of Gung Fu (Also pronounced and spelled as Kung Fu)

Gung Fu can refer to any discipline or skill achieved through hard work and practice, not necessarily martial arts.  Gung Fu means 'physical man' or 'skill' (excellence in a craft, art, or activity).

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Modern Sil Lum Gung Fu (generic term) - universal applications taken from Southern Gung Fu, Norhern Gung Fu, Jun Fan Gung Fu, Chinese Boxing, and Ch'ng Mo Gung Fu. 

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Jun Fan was one of Bruce Lee's Chinese names. 

Jun Fan Gung Fu is Bruce Lee's 1st Foundation Art in his Jeet Kune Do (The Way of the Intercepting Fist) fighting method/concept.  Bruce Lee's had formal training and influence from Wing Chun [Gung Fu] and Wu-Style T’ai Chi Ch’uan [Gung Fu]; later, Brue Lee took individual techniques from many other style of Gung Fu.  Jun Fan Gung and Chinese Boxing are part of the foundation of Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do.  "Wing Chun is directness and aggressiveness; T'ai Chi is harmonious use of the opponent's energy.  In other words, continuous change and adaptation from structure to structure requires the ability to change and adapt mentalitities." - Paul Vunak

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Ch'ng Mo means Fluid Art.  Chn'g Mo Gung Fu was founded by Rod Kei.  Rod Kei incorporated Kickboxing, Gung Fu, and Judo into his his Self Defense methods/concepts.  Rod Kei had formal training and influence from several arts, with Hung Ga Gung Fu, Judo and Western Kickboxing as the foundation. 

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Wing Chun is the only mainstream Gung Fu styles founded by a woman. That woman was Ng Mui (or Ng Mei), a Nun of China's famous Shaolin Temple.  Ng Mui was recognised as one of the top five martial artists in China during the early 1700s. Although highly proficient in the existing styles of Gung Fu, she felt it was possible to devise a more effective fighting method which did not rely so much on brute strength or take too long to learn.  According to legend, inspiration struck while Ng Mei watched a fight between a stork and large rodent. She was impressed by the way the stork used its wings and legs to deflect and counter-attack at the same time. She adapted the technique to formulate a unique new martial art.  The art later took the name of her student, Yim Wing Chun. 

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Honoring the Arts

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Filipino Art of Kali, Combat Arnis, Escrima

"You must learn to defeat the patterns." Ernesto Presas

 

Filipino Martial Arts (FMA)

Core Filipino Stick & Knife Fighting Methods

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Kali

Silat

Arnis

Balisong

Suntikan

Pangamut (Boxing)

Panatukan (Kicking)

Modern Arnis

Jungle Fighting

Escrima (Eskrima)

Universal Balisong

Kino Mutai (Biting)

Modern Combat Arnis

Modern Arnis Combatives

Arnis De Mano / Kombatan

Kali/Escrima/Arnis Concepts

Dumog (Grab Push/Pull - Wrestling)

Freelancer Filipino Concepts [Combatives]

Pacific Archipelago Concepts [Combatives] (PAC)

Progressive Fighting System (PFS) Filipino Martial Arts

Force Necessary: Knife/Counter-Knife Concepts [Combatives]

Force Necessary: Stick-Impact Weapon Concepts [Combatives]

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Core Filipino Stick & Knife Fighting Groups

 

Universal Balisong Society 

Progressive Fighting System (CJKD)

International Modern Arnis Federation 

Arnis/Jujutsu/Kendo Karate Association

Force Necessary (Scientific Fighting Congress)

International Philippine Martial Arts Federation

Modern Arnis Association of the Philippines International

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At Blocker Academy of Martial Arts we use the core of our FMA techniques from: Kali, Escrima, Modern Combat Arnis (Arnés), Kino Mutai, Force Necessary Stick & Knife, Pacific Archipelago Concepts (PAC), and FMA Elective techniques from Balisong Knife Fighting.

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Kali - Hand [combat], motion, dig, stab, stick action (unknown origin). 

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Escrima (Eskrima) - Filipinization of the Spanish word "esgrima," which means fencing.  Their cognate in French is "escrime," and is related to the English term 'skirmish.'

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Arnis (Arnés) - old Spanish for "armor."

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Pangamut, Panantukan, and Suntikan are names or terms for Filipino Boxing (Empty Hand) and are known as the seventh area of Kali.  

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Archipelago - Island chain or group of islands. 

Pacific Archipelago Concepts (Combatives] (PAC) - "Jungle Fighting" 

Techniques adapted from: 

• The Arnis/Kali Silat/Escrima of the Philippine Archipelago

• The Silats of Indonesian and Filipino Archipelagos

• The Karates, Jujitsu and Aiki-Jujitsu of Japanese Archipelagos

• Kajukenbo and Hawaii’s Conversions of Kenpo/Kempo to America

• Cane and Knife Fighting from all of the Pacific Islands

• Polynesian hand, cane and small club fighting

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FMA Elective: Balisong Knife Fighting

Balisong - The art of Balisong knife making began in the Philippines around 1905, but may have had prior influence of a similar design from Spain. The word balisong means “broken horn.” Bali means “to break” and "sung" means “horn."  The knife is also known as the "Filipino butterfly knife." 

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FMA Elective: Kino Mutai

Kino Mutai – Philippine “Biting” Martial Arts

Kino Mutai (Kina Mutai or Kina Motay) is a Filipino Martial Arts that uses unconventional tactics such as biting and eye-gouging. While the prime focus of Kino Mutai is on grappling techniques, it also uses brutal tactics such as biting in order to win or survive an attack.

While this Filipino martial arts might be seen as just dirty street fighting, Kino Mutai is taught by some martial arts schools in order to help students escape from the grasp of a larger, stronger opponent. Kino Mutai techniques are occasionally added as a component to other Filipino styles such as Escrima, Kali and Arnis. 

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Filipino Martial Arts are part of the foundation of Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do.

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Chinese Martial Arts (CMA)

Core Gung Fu (Kung Fu) Methods

Ch'ng Mo Gung Fu (Fluid Art Gung Fu)

Jun Fan Gung Fu (Bruce Lee's Gung Fu)

Modern Sil Lum Gung Fu (Shaolin Gung Fu)

Wing Chun Gung Fu (Everlasting Spring Gung Fu)

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Gung Fu can refer to any discipline or skill achieved through hard work and practice, not necessarily martial arts.  Gung Fu means 'physical man' or 'skill' (excellence in a craft, art, or activity).

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Ápấchề Knife Fighting & Battle Tactics (Ápấchề History Course)

"Use a knife to save your life"

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Ápấchề Battle History has been taught at the U.S. Navy War College for years, and Ápấchề Knife Fighting & Battle Tactics has been taught to members of all branches of USA Military to include USA Special Forces and allied country Special Forces.

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Ápấchề Knife Fighting & Battle Tactic is an educational course about the Ápấchề Culture and their Warrior Society.  It looks at past and present Ápấchề Warriors and how they have survived and thrived.  Ápấchề Warriors are credited as being the first original 1st Nation special forces that used the most effective guerrilla battle tactics and stealth applications to defend against much larger invading forces. 

 

The Ápấchề Knife Fighting & Battle Tactics course is NOT a martial arts, but it is a course on what worked well for the Apaches throughout many battles and fights against overwhelming odds. 

 

In 1995, Snake Blocker (Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas) structured the Ápấchề Knife Fighting & Battle Tactics course into five main Battle Tactic sub-courses called Journeys and five Survival Elective journeys.  This helped to break down the curriculum for seminar format and academy classes.

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French Martial Arts (FMA)

Savate [Sa'vat]/Boxe Française (French Foot-Fighting)

Savate [Sa'vat]/Boxe Française (French Foot-Fighting) is also known as the "Kicking Shoe Art." It is the only international full-contact kickboxing sport art in the world that the fighters all wear shoes.  Bruce Lee valued this martial art, as he understood specificity of training. Savate [Sa'vat]/Boxe Française (French Foot-Fighting) incorporates Boxing plus low and high kicks in various ranges. "People walk in the street everyday with shoes on, so why not train with shoes on?" - Bruce Lee "Savate[Sa'vat]/Boxe Française (French Foot-Fighting) is continuous movement and precise finesse." - Pual Vunak

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Elective Course: Canne de Combat (French Cane Fighting)

Canne de Combat - French Cane Fighting, reflecting a look of the Fencing arts.  Special Guest instructors have come to the academy in the past to teach this great art. 

"People walk in the street everyday with canes, so why not train with a cane?"

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French Martial Arts (Foot-Fighting and Weapons) are part of the foundation of Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do. 

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Core French Martial Arts Methods

Lutte

Canne

Baton

Savate

Zipota

la Panache

Boxe de Rue

Lutte de Rue

Canne de Rue

Boxe Française

Le Chauss'fight

Savate-Defense

Canne de Combat

Lutte Parissienne

Danse de Rue Savate

Savate/Boxe Française

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Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Jiu-Jitsu translated to English means, "The Gentle Art."

The Gentle Arts means to approach situations with a gentle flow, a gentle spirit, and a gentle mind.

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Jiu-Jitsu originated from India and included more stand up techniques. India Jiu-Jitsu expanded to Japan & Europe, where it evolved to include more ground techniques.  Judo evolved out of Japanese Jiu-Jitsu and Judo added more take-down techniques and sport rules. Later, Japanese Judo and Jiu-Jitsu were introduced to Brazil, where Jiu-Jitsu evolved once more into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). India Jiu-Jitsu transitioned to Japan and Jigoro Kano used India Jiu-Jitsu and modified as Japanese Jiu-Jitsu, he passed his knowledge to his student Mitsuyo Maeda, and Mitsuyo passed his knowledge to his students, Carlos Gracie & Hélio Gracie in Brazil. The Gracie family modified Japanese Jiu-Jitus as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  Carlos & Helio passed their knowledge to their sons, then later, the Gracie family passed their knowledge to their students in the USA.  

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Most recognized BJJ Red Belts (Masters and Grand-Masters): Carlos Gracie, Hélio Gracie, Oswaldo Fadda, Relson "Campeao" Gracie, Rickson Gracie, Rorion Gracie, Carlson Gracie, and Francisco Mansor.

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Shuk (Thanks), Credit and Respect:

"I thank and give credit to all that are a part of my continuous journey along the "Red Road."  I give recognition to those I learn from, even if I do not share their same worldview, ethics, or code of conduct.  I enjoy learning alternative ways of looking at martial arts/combat arts (traditional aspect, historic aspect, sport aspect, point-fighting applications, full contact applications, and self defense applications). I do not have to agree with every instructor 100% of the time to learn from them." - Snake Blocker