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Gregory A. Moinar, Sr. "Greg" -- Bio-In-Brief:

I am a multidiscipline Black Belt born, raised, and educated in Southern California, now living in Western Kentucky. As I was turning 10, my study of the martial disciplines began when I asked my parents if I could begin taking Jiu-Jitsu at Los Angeles Valley College, which was located four blocks from home. They said yes, and, as it is said, "the rest is history." The Chief Instructor was Sanzo "Jack" Seki (1914-1998 ),??who was an "old school" Shihan of an extremely effective Ryu of Jiu-Jitsu. Please see on-line "Seki-Ryu Jiu-Jitsu" and, "Budoshin Ju-Jitsu"(George Kirby's spelling) for more information. George Kirby, Judan, and Soke of Budoshin Ju-Jitsu, trained under O-Sensei Seki and, along with Howard Gross, Sensei, both became my principle training partners.

In 1966, Sanzo Seki introduced me to my first Karate instructor, John Leoning (1927-1977), who was a good friend of Seki, Sensei. John Leoning, along with a couple of students, demonstrated Kajukenbo/Kung Fu - Karate (as it was known at the time) ?during one of our Jiu-Jitsu classes. Long story short, I began training in Kajukenbo the next week, along with Jiu-Jitsu--with Seki's approval. In 1969, I received Shodan in Jiu-Jitsu and, one year later, received Shodan in Kajukenbo. Additionally, I cross-trained with one of John Leoning's best friends from Hawaii, Bill Ryusaki, Sensei, (1936-2016), whenever Leoning, Sensei, was not available (due to ill-health), with permission. Ryusaki, Sensei, was a Ju-Dan, and Soke of Hawaiian Kenpo, and who was also a close friend of Martinez, Sensei, (Martinez information to follow). Ryusaki, Sensei, remained a close friend of mine to his passing in December, 2016. Please see on-line "John Leoning Kajukenbo", and "Bill Ryusaki Hawaiian Kenpo" for more information. Suffice to say, these instructors and martial disciplines, respectfully, set the foundation for what was yet to come in my martial arts experience.

Moving on, I've since trained in martial disciplines from all over the world, and have competed in the United States from coast to coast, and from boarder to boarder and abroad. In my search for the truth regarding the true beginnings of what we know as "Karate", ?my quest led me to Okinawa via my studies in Shotokan, Goju-Ryu, Isshin-Ryu, ?Okinawa-te, and the Ryuha/families of Shorin-Ryu and Shorin-Ji Kempo. My findings were that, without question, the martial disciplines of Okinawa ?virtually influenced every style, and sub-style, of anything that resembles "Karate". Then, in 1976, I walked into the Dojo of Roberto Martinez . ?I had competed at his Golden West Karate Championships, and ?had been very impressed by the demonstrations he presented at his Tournaments. I had known of Martinez, Sensei, but before 1976, I had never trained with him because of his location relative to where I lived. With respect to my martial arts career, and my quest of the beginnings of "Karate", my ?training with Martinez, Sensei, was a defining moment, ?and a true turning point in my martial arts life!?

In 1981, after a 2-day performance test, and presenting a dissertation to the International Unified Martial Arts Association Board of Directors for review, I was awarded the "Master of Arts" Certificate by Martinez, Sensei, which is similar to the "Menkyo Kaiden" in the Okinawan/Japanese tradition in meaning and purpose--License of Complete Transmission/Certificate of Full Proficiency. To the best of my knowledge, I was the only Deshi of Martinez, Sensei, to receive the "Master of Arts", which also signified the rank of Rokudan.

Some of the organizations I competed under included: National Black Belt League/NBL; Sport Karate International League/SKIL; North American Sport Karate Assoc/NASKA; and, International Martial Arts Council/IMAC.

My chosen career path has been the fire service. Thankfully, I've survived the many years of on-duty hours working in all aspects of emergency response field operations. At present, I've transitioned to the more law enforcement side of the fire service (fire, arson, bomb investigations), with specialization in forensics, intelligence, and jurisprudence, and am currently employed as a Fire Marshal in Western Kentucky. I am also a U.S. Coast Guard trained Maritime Marine Security and Safety Inspector, and have functioned as Assistant Division Staff Officer/ADSO, (Marine Security) Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach, California, USA.

?It is now 2019, and there has not been one year since 1963 that I did not study martial arts. For the past 56 years its been a most inspiring journey for me, and the journey continues--as I shall always consider myself a "Deshi" of the martial disciplines.