Tennessee Martial Artist

[Chazz]

Hey everyone
Well im moving off to TN soon and i was wondering is there is any members in here from there. I will be moving close to Morristown. If any of you are from TN let me know.

[pesilat]

I know a guy in Knoxville, TN, which looks to be 40 min - 1 hour from Morristown. This guy, Eric, is a good Judoka, a TKD guy, and a basic level instructor in Inayan Eskrima. He's also a really good guy to boot. I wasn't particularly impressed (personality-wise) with the head instructor at the school where Eric trains and teaches ... but Eric is a top-notch guy.

If you're interested in hooking up with Eric, let me know at sikal@yahoo.com and I'll get you going. Eric also probably knows most of the TKD guys in that region so might be able to help you if you're looking for training partners.

I also know some guys in Nashville. I'll be in Nashville in a few weeks (looking like 7/24 right now) and will likely be doing some teaching there that night. I don't know if you'd be able to make it down there on a weeknight (it appears to be quite a haul) ... but if you could, it would be cool to meet you person :)

I'm moving to Louisville, KY in Oct. Not anywhere near you ... but certainly close enough to make arrangements to hook up at some point.

While I don't know anyone closer than Knoxville or Lexington to you

Take care, Mike

[Chazz]

Mike
thanks for the info. When you do make it into KY let my know and i would love to come and talk with you . Thanks agian
Chazz

[pesilat]

Originally posted by chazz982001
Mike
thanks for the info. When you do make it into KY let my know and i would love to come and talk with you . Thanks agian
Chazz

Will do :)

Take care, Mike

[inayan]

I know a guy in Knoxville, TN, which looks to be 40 min - 1 hour from Morristown. This guy, Eric, is a good Judoka, a TKD guy, and a basic level instructor in Inayan Eskrima. He's also a really good guy to boot. I wasn't particularly impressed (personality-wise) with the head instructor at the school where Eric trains and teaches ... but Eric is a top-notch guy.

If you're interested in hooking up with Eric, let me know at sikal@yahoo.com and I'll get you going. Eric also probably knows most of the TKD guys in that region so might be able to help you if you're looking for training partners.




Hello Mr. Casto -

Sorry for bringing up such an old post but could you tell me what Eric's last name is? I live in Knoxville myself and none of my Instructors are named Eric...

Thank you in advance.


--
Steve Klement
Inayan Masirib Guro
www.inayaneskrima.com
klement@inayaneskrima.com
Inayan Systems International

[Kenpo Kicker]

I moved to middle tn. There is mostly tkd here lol.

[Kwan Jang]

I (and my school) are in middle Tn., in the Nashville suburb of Gallatin. To Inayan; I used to train with Mike Inay and Jeff Elliott when they first formed the West Coast Escrima Society and they used to teach out of our schools. Jeff did a lot to help get me started in developing my trapping skills. Also, one of their top instructors, Jon Ward used to be one of the students in my class when I was just starting to teach. I now more work with Jimmy Tacosa in the Serrata system (escrima), but I owe a lot of my roots to the Inayan system (not just being PC, but I've greatly enjoyed both systems and my current focus on the serrata system is more out of availability than anything else).

BTW, Kenpo, where in middle Tn. are you located? And yes, almost all the scholols out here are either wado ryu or tae kwon do. I have trained in American kenpo and gained instructor's certification under John Sepulveda and Jeff Speakman's group. Also I've played a lot with several high level Ryukyu kempo masters (though I have never pursued rank in that system) and Master Steve Cooper is a 5th dan in that system and has a school in Nashville near the airport.

If any of you guys are ever interested in coming by to play, let me know. It would probably be best if you let me know ahead of time so that we could coordinate times and that way I could arrange to set aside enough time to be a good host.

[inayan]

I (and my school) are in middle Tn., in the Nashville suburb of Gallatin. To Inayan; I used to train with Mike Inay and Jeff Elliott when they first formed the West Coast Escrima Society and they used to teach out of our schools. Jeff did a lot to help get me started in developing my trapping skills. Also, one of their top instructors, Jon Ward used to be one of the students in my class when I was just starting to teach. I now more work with Jimmy Tacosa in the Serrata system (escrima), but I owe a lot of my roots to the Inayan system (not just being PC, but I've greatly enjoyed both systems and my current focus on the serrata system is more out of availability than anything else).





Hi Kwan Jang!

With what you say in your post I must assume you were (or are) affiliated with Ernie Reyes and Tony Thompson and West Coast TKD. Or possibly later with Ed Fong?? I have some old video footage that I bet your in! Masirib Jeff Elliott is actually my Father. I will let him know you remember his working with you.

Jon Ward never actually got Instructorship in Inayan Eskrima but he is a talented Martial Artist non the less.

(Serrada is actually spelled with a "d".) I am glad your still working with it after all these years. If you have Jimmy Tacosa in to your school on any regular basis please let me know and possibly I could have him in to Knoxville for an afternoon... I know my students would like to meet him.


Best regards,

--
Steve Klement
Inayan Masirib Guro
www.inayaneskrima.com
klement@inayaneskrima.com
Inayan Systems International

[kempocos]

This is a guy in OYATAS linage of RYUKYU KEMPO, this will be the real Okinawian version not the DILLMAN style.

Mitchell Watsky
UT@Memphis Fitness Center, Room 200
800 Madison Ave.
Memphis, TN 38163
(901)448-8206

[GrappleorWrestle]

Well, I never noticed this topic until now, but I am in Knoxville, TN. Meh, so if you all are still here that live around Knoxville I would like to see what you all are up to. Maybe I could visit the school you attend and maybe you could visit the one I attend and we could share ideas and thoughts. Just curious, thanks.

[Kwan Jang]

Inayan/Steve, I was one of KJN Tony and KJN Ernie's first black belts and one of the members of the original demo team. I own the Tn. branch school Of Ernie Reyes' World Martial Arts (we have now changed the name since many of us have moved away from the West coast and we have evolved more into a MMA system). Ed Fong was also one of my instructors, but I worked a lot more with KJN's Tony and Ernie. I was at third dan when I moved out to the mid-south to go to college when they had the split, so I never knew to much about what happened there. (Kind of a "don't ask" situation, but I always have and will consider Ed Fong as one of my instructors, as well.)

Jeff might remember me, I used to run the original Milpitas location for KJN Tony quite a bit back in the early '80's. After Jeff would teach the advanced class in escrima, he and I would often stay after (sometimes quite late) and he and I would work out and cross train. It was through this that I really began to develop my trapping skills and an understanding of superior position. I owe your father a great debt for the help he gave me in developing my strategies for infighting. Otherwise, I probably would have limited to only more of a boxing/kickboxing approach (though good, often limited).

Interesting to find out that Jon is not one of yours. I remember seeing on a website that being one of his listed credentials. OTOH, he was also listed as a 5th dan under our assn. on the same site and he is a 3rd. I knew him more when he was a kid and only occasionally see him when I am out in San Jose. As far as Jimmy goes, I go out to SJ for a week or so, 2-3 times per year and KJN Ernie uses those times to get a lot of the "playgroup" together (though I haven't seen Jimmy at the two that I have been at so far this year). BTW, thanks for the correction on the spelling. When I first saw your correcction, I said to myself "of course it's spelled with a 'd'", and then I noticed I had not one, but multiple typos; chalk it up to staying up and posting after my bedtime.

[inayan]

Kwan Jang -

Your post brings back some memories for me - thanks! Also, I will forward your thoughts to my Father as I am sure he would appreciate them. Is Kwan Jang your name or just a "handle"?

Jon studied from Suro Mike Inay for many years and became an advanced student but was just short of reaching Instructor rank when Suro passed away in 2000. As far as I know he still teaches TKD and Eskrima as well in the San Jose area.

Thanks again for all the info. - I guess it is a small world! :)


--
Steve Klement
Inayan Masirib Guro
www.inayaneskrima.com
klement@inayaneskrima.com
Inayan Systems International

[Kwan Jang]

My name is David Hughes (I use the "handle" Kwan Jang based on my teaching title of Kwan Jang Nim). Though I am willing to disclose any info on myself that you wish, start by checking out my profile on MAP. Also, I have some pictures in the Photo section under "Uke's Mom" (I couldn't get them to post myself, so one of my student's posted it for me.), if you or Jeff wants to get a visual referrence to jog the memory. Though when I worked out with him, I was a skinny 16-17 year old and these days I'm built a little differently.

[inayan]

Mr. Hughes (Kwan Jang) -

Thanks for sharing. My Father, once hearing your name, remembered you and said he remembered teaching at Tony Thompsons school with Suro Mike Inay in Milpitas and taking part (being on the board) with several tests for some of Tony's black belts. He says hello and that he was happy that anything he contributed helped you in any way.

If your ever coming through Knoxville, your always welcome to come to my school and train with us.


--
Steve Klement
Inayan Masirib Guro
www.inayaneskrima.com
klement@inayaneskrima.com
Inayan Systems International

[Kwan Jang]

Mr.Klement (Inayan), thank you, sir. And if you are in the Nashville area, you are very welcome to come play with us as well.

[Chazz]

Hey i look to opening a school in Morristown TN around the first of Feb so who knows we might how a MAP TN work out sometime. LOL

[creosman]

Hello,

A rather old post, but thought I would see if you wanted to train some. I am in Cookeville, TN. Would like to have someone to train with. I study Shorin-ryu Matsumura Seito (Nidan), and have various belts in TKD,TSD, RD Kenpo, WADO, etc..

If interested in some training... give me a shout.

Frank