goju ryu
Robert Trias, Founder Of The First U.S. Karate School
With today’s post I am continuing my sporadic series of all-time “First …”.
Yesterday, we had “James Cagney, First Martial Artist To Star In A Movie” and just about 3 weeks ago “First U.S. American Judo Brown Belt And 26th U.S. President“, remember?
Well, today I would like to honor a gentleman who was truly a trailblazer. He is considered the “Father of American Karate”.
His name: Robert Trias.
While stationed on the British Solomon Islands in 1942 (and remember that these were truly world-changing times after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941), U.S. Navy serviceman and middleweight boxing champion Robert Trias was getting ready for an upcoming boxing match.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t believe in coincidences anymore.
Why do I say that?
While preparing for his match, Rober Trias made the acquaintance of a Chinese missionary on the island.
The missionary just happened to be a master in Hsing-Yi, which Trias wasn’t aware of.
Well, anyway, the missionary, Master T’ung Geee Hsing offered Trias Hsing-Yi lessons in exchange for some boxing.
But according to reports, at first Trias wasn’t very inclined or better, was more pissed off by this dude ruining his concentration during his training.
Finally, he gave in to the missionary’s request with the intention to teach him a lesson the boxing ring.
But things didn’t go according to plan, because Trias didn’t land one punch!
This was a turning point in the life and fighting career of Robert Trias, because from then on he would pursue Master Hsing’s art and thus Karate would become his life.
After being transferred to Singapore, Mr. Trias continued his martial arts training with a different instructor who had been taught Kempo Ju-Jitsu in Japan by Master Fukuda.
The electic style that Grandmaster Trias would later develop is known as Shorei-Goju Ryu, Shorei-ryu and Shuri-ryu and many organizations claim to trace their roots to him and the USKA.
The shorei-ryu system is a blend of the Chinese arts of mo-kempo and pakua and the ancient Okinawan art of Naha-te. It is a style which is noted for its low stances, powerful moves and circular motions.
After returning from his military service in the Pacific Theater during WWII, Grandmaster Robert Trias founded his school in 1946 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Through his pioneering efforts in Karate, Grandmaster Robert Trias became the United States’ liaison with Korea, Japan, China, and Okinawa for many years.
He was instrumental in promoting the first world karate tournament in 1963 in Chicago.
His rules for tournament competition are still used today with slight variation.
Trias died in 1989 of cancer leaving the Shuri-ryu system to his daughter Roberta Trias-Kelley (10th Dan), inheritor of Shuri-Ryu and Menkyo Kaiden.
Robert A. Trias is the author of “Karate is my Life”"The Hand is my Sword”, “The Pinnacle of Karate”, “The Supreme Way”, and “Render Yourself Empty”.
Jean Frenette, Performing Goju-Ryu Karate Kata And Beyond
Lately, I have been following a number of my fellow martial arts bloggers publish rather intriguing and very insightful posts on the intricacies of kata.
And I must say, while reading these posts I have been learning or better re-learning after many years of not practicing or even performing Shotokan karate katas, which I happen to have thoroughly enjoyed in a former life.
During those kata-filled years there was a Franco-Canadian Goju-Ryu karateka, by the name of Jean Frenette, who really infused the love and excitement for kata in me like no one I had ever experienced before.
He exuded incredible energy and unmatched esthetics all while somehow masterfully combining slow and fast portions of each kata that he displayed.
His superb skills helped him win a stunning five World Championship titles.
Here is a real classic demo reel of Jean Frenette performing with music and I know it’s probably more artistic than martial for some people’s taste, but technically it’s way up there.
And great performers like Jean Frenette most certainly have inspired quite a large number of people to start and even continue their martial arts/karate practice. That’s definitely a good thing.
What I also found interesting about Jean Frenette was that after a very successful karate career he moved on to the movie industry.
One of his earlier roles was in Police Academy 4, in which he played a karate instructor.
During the years he has been a stunt performer in many, many movie productions.
As of late, he was the stunt coordinator in movies such as ‘Eye of The Beholder’ starring Ashley Judd as well as ‘The Aviator’ directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leo DiCaprio, Kate Beckinsdale, Jude Law and many more well-known names in Tinseltown.
His extensive karate training continues to come in pretty handy for Jean Frenette as a stunt performer and now as a stunt coordinator.
Shidokan = Martial Arts Triathlon
Triathlon is known to consist of 3 disciplines such as swimming, cycling and running.
Now let’s translate that into martial arts.
This kind of triathlon is known as Shidokan.
Shidokan consists of Karate (combination of Goju-Ryu, Shotokan, Kyokushinkai), Kick-Boxing and Grappling.
Talking about being a versatile fighter.
Championship matches go 3 x 2 min. rounds Karate, 3 x 2 min. rounds Kick-Boxing with 10 oz. gloves (no elbows), and finally 3 x 2 min. rounds Grappling with 5 oz. gloves.
A fighter can win in one of the following ways:
1. TKO – Three knockdown rule, referee calls the fight or the corner throws in the towel.
2. KO – Any legal technique that ko’s an opponent for a 10 sec. count results in an automatic win.
3. Submission – During rounds with grappling, a fighter may win by executing a technique that causes his opponent to “verbally submit or tap out”
4. Decision – When the match goes the distance, the fighter with the most points wins. In case of a draw during the quarter or semifinals, there will be an extension allowed. During the championship match only, if the 4 judges score a draw, the draw will stand as the final decision and fighters will split the prize money.
All judge and referee decisions are final.
I had the great opportunity to train under one of Shidokan’s true champions several years ago.
Even though it was only for a short time it left a lasting impression on me.
I am referring to no other than World Martial Arts Champion Richard Trammell and one of the finest teachers I ever had the chance to learn from first-hand (and foot):
To learn more about Shidokan and Richard Trammell, visit www.shidokanatlanta.com today.
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