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Kenneth Melbourne
Ken grew up on a farm in Hope Valley RI. When he was seventeen in 1967 he joined the United States Marine Corps, - At this time he was introduced to Combat arts. Courses taken at this time- Basi...view more
Ken grew up on a farm in Hope Valley RI. When he was seventeen in 1967 he joined the United States Marine Corps, - At this time he was introduced to Combat arts. Courses taken at this time- Basic training,- Hand to hand combat,- Knife fighting, as well as other weapons- Infantry training,- Basic specialist training,- Guerrilla warfare training. Then he was sent to combat in Viet Nam. He viewed Traditional Shorin-Ryu in Okinawa Japan on returning from Viet Nam.
In 1972 he started training in Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Karate Do in New London CT. In 1975 he started training with World Champion Mario Yambao from the Philippines. Mr. Yambao studied under Latino Gonzalez who at that time was 8th Dan and held the highest rank in Shorin-Ryu in the Philippines. Mario also won a bronze medal in the Japan World Tournament for fighting. Ken earned 3rd Dan in Shorin-Ryu Karate Do.
Ken also started studying Judo and Ju-Jitsu from James Byersdorf 6th degree and Ken Z. Miarecki who holds 9th degree TaiHo Jitsu and 6th degree in Judo and Ju-Jitsu. Also he studied from other well-known Martial arts masters such as O’Sensei Porter (Judo and Ju-Jitsu), Grand Master Woo Ping Chu (Hung Gar and Shaolin Chin-Na), and others. Over the past 40 Years his study delved deep into the Pre 1900 Martial Arts. Ken also holds 9 dan in Taiho-Jitsu under 10th degree Al Cunningham and 10th degree Bernard Gilbert.
Most arts are modem sporting arts and have little to do with warfare. The Pre 1900 art is a study of Muscle manipulation, Bone dislocation, vein and breath disruption, and pressure point attack as well as throwing and ground grappling as well as rooted stances, hip power and proper breath. At present Ken teaches 7 days a week. He was recently installed as Vice President of the North American Grand Masters Council. He is married to wife Judy and has 4 children and 5 grand children.view less