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Formerly: Kibo-Kaijo Kempo Dojo (Roberto Martinez)

Presently: ?Seidokan West House of Kempo?

Lineage in-brief :

My connection to Shian Toma, Sensei, and to Seidokan, is through Roberto Martinez, Sensei. Through his knowledge, he opened my eyes wide to the truth of the "Seido", or True Way of Karate Kempo and its lineage the day I stepped into his Kibo-Kaijo Kempo Dojo in Sylmar, CA. Shihan Martinez became my most influential and inspiring instructor, and set me on a course that continues to this day. Note: Martinez, Sensei, referred to all styles of Okinawan martial arts as "Kempo" or "Tode"-- he said it was something he picked-up from some of the Okinawan Masters, respectively.

Martinez, Sensei, had personal pictures and writings he received from Shian Toma, Seikichi Odo, Shigeru Nakamura, Tatsuo Shimabuku, Joen Nakazato, and Seikichi Uehara, who Martinez, Sensei, said, had trained in Motobu Udundi aka "The Palace Hand", by "being at the right place at the right time." ?Martinez, Sensei instructed that the Motobu "family" discipline was practiced by those who were charged with the responsibility of protecting the Okinawan Kings and, but for Uehara, Sensei, teaching the discipline, Motobu Udundi may have been lost. Martinez, Sensei, explained that the sets of "toide", or the "grappling-hand" (or "torite-jitsu" as we referred to them in the Dojo), were of Motobu lineage. My personal observation was that the torite-jitsu wazas closely resembled the Seki-Ryu Jiu-Jitsu I studied--especially that during close combat, moving or tai-sabaki was non-stop until the opponent was neutralized, and the use of atemi-waza to pressure points was used often. Sanzo Seki used to say ?that ?"if you like to dance, you'll be a good martial artist." Interesting to say, Martinez, Sensei, mentioned that Uehara, Sensei, made similar statements with respect to his Motobu Udundi!

Martinez, Sensei, had trained with those mentioned above during his multiple visits to Okinawa, which spanned approximately 25 years. Martinez, Sensei, also shared with me that Toma, Uehara, and Odo, Sensei, respectfully, had come to America for visits, and to promote Okinawan martial arts.

In closing, my teaching of ?martial disciplines remains an avocation. My motivation is to continue studying the ways of Seidokan to gain further knowledge and insights, and to continue to pass the discipline on with a spirit of ?"shuhari", ?keeping true to the intentions of both Shihan Martinez, ShihanToma, and the current Seidokan leadership, respectively.

Some truly blessed moments in my ?martial arts experience have been: 1981-Master of Arts Certificate and, advancement to Rokudan/Okinawa Kempo; 2004- Inducted into The Masters Hall of Fame; 2005- advancement to Shichidan aka Nanadan; 2008- WORLD GAMES: 1st Place Senior Master Division - Traditional Kata; 2014- Seidokan World Conference, Bakersfield, California: It is with respect and gratitude, I became affiliated with the RSKKR Organization and Honbu Dojo, Okinawa, Japan; 2016- Seidokan World Conference, Wilmington, North Carolina.

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