I started in Kenpo 53 years ago, but have the current “busines model” for 30. I walked into a Parker Kenpo school in Irving TX run by 1st gen Keith See. (There were no kids allowed back then.) After a few belts (punches, whiskey and rank) I joined the Army. Then decades of policing. During and after, went through many instructors / many systems, ran a JKD and self-defense combatives school from 1989 to 1997 in north Texas. (I know the pangs and angst of running a school and by the way – ZERO kids.) But around 1995, I started traveling and teaching seminars, by invitation. The seminar circuit became so successful, I had to quit the school (and retire from policework). So I start counting the 30 years beginning as a traveling circus act.
The seminar circuit began with me doing FMA oh, 1993-95, then added generic hand, stick, knife, gun combatives in the mix. In these 30 years, last city count (the list is one of my blogs) I’ve taught in some 170 cities around the USA alone and some 70 cities internationally as far as China and Australia. I haven’t taught – yet – in only 5 US states (North Dakota, New Hampshire, Nebraska, Montana and Utah. Not that I necessary need to, just saying…)
The name “Force Necessary” solidified in about 1997, though I have never really been happy with it. I have always been interested in survival, crime and war more than any one MA art or sport. Perhaps it’s a “cop-thing” or an “army-thing?” Always had an itch to change it. Decades blew by. And in the last few years with the help of Sandy and the wit and wisdom of Jason “Run n’ Gun” Gutierrez, Rawhide Laun, Dr. Jeff Allen, and The “Dean of Kajukenbo” Dean Goldade, just this year, in pursuit of the “bigger picture,” I have chameleoned into “Survival Centric.” The big-big picture, my main mission and interest, of which “fighting” is just a part.
Just a part, Karate and jujitsu (old school) were exercise hobbies for me in the 70s and 80s. Police work made me uncomfortable with full commitment to the arts and sports. Replicating. Then I attended at Dan Inosanto seminar in 1986. Something clicked. Innovation appeared. The possibility thereof. Something caught fire. I can confess that since 1986 there has not been a single day, not one, that I have not thought about, belabored, the martial systems of the world. Yes, it is like a sickness or perhaps obsession, but I confess it’s true. What about you? Are you a replicator or a curious innovator? Are you a just a replicator or a curious innovator? Just…just know and be happy, on mission, on target.
Courses within:
- Survival Centric: Hand
- Survival Centric: Stick
- Survival Centric: Knife
- Survival Centric: Gun (sims scenarios only)
- Survival Centric: The CQC Group (the above 4 together)
- Essential Filipino Martial Arts (and PAC)
(Note: The core basic framework for all the courses is the solid unarmed-Hand course, it’s even the core of the gun course, as gunfighting-combat is not just forever plinking away at bullseyes.)
