THE BEGINNING: At the very beginning in 1957 I began my AIKIDO trainin in Cecero Illinois or a suburb of Chicao. I began my teaching "Professionally" once I received my 3rd Dan, I guess I enjoyed learning or being a "Student more than teaching or the prospects of teaching.

I cant say that I wasnt ready, I just didnt care for commitments. I preferred to study anytime over teaching., but a little later I had on-lookers, or inquisitive individuals asking and approa-ching me on the idea of them becoming my student(s)? After much thought I finally opened my # 1 school or Dojo (Dojang) and began to teach, ChungDu Kwan and Aikido, my teacher who I was still under approved of my teaching both Korean and Japanese and enjoyed watch-ing me teach ! ?

I guess that was the Beginning, and about the time I met my first and Senior student...Warren Leland Prof and 9th Dan which I awarded him, after being with me since those 1st years. Mr Leland, was my student and later became my friend (for life) and of course we would go on to sponsor "Seminars", Tournaments, and Demos, "many Demos" ! which left the German Nat-ionals  in Awe, they had never seen breaking or aerial technique as precise as we gave them. BUT we only did what we had been ... taught by our teachers..

Whatever we (Leland) did perform in public and in teachings in our Dojo's we performed them to exactness and to D-e-t-a-i-l... not leaving-out anything due to our wanting to show the public and future students that we did in fact take our teachings SERIOUS and "Traditional" later in time I was asked by others, such as Scott Murphy 3rd Dan ChungDuKwan (Allen Steens student) and Johnny Baldivia ( who also went on the T.V. Show "Valle Allegre" and "Discusion Dominical"..1976 ! and a few others; to demonstrate not only KATA, but other technique or "Bunkai" so that they may incorporate into their system or way of teaching., Most had never been outside of the Rio Grande Valley ? ( I was also a Local Bouncer in DJ's Disco)

Even though they went on to tell everyone that they had learned in Korea or in Japan, the very idea of learning outside of their home turf, would ... have caused trauma, of that I am sure of.

Very few did learn outside of the Valley; Sullenger, Coslet, Ronnie Alcantara.. and maybe a "Select few" but up to now, these are the ones that I know of that did learn outside of Texas. We as a few others WERE the "Blood and Guts Era" and would get on the MAT anytime to show our skills in fact we still DO. ( Ronnie learned in Chicago while very youn also).

EUROPE: back in the 60's and 70's there wasnt much to see back then when it came to martial arts, it was in its "tottler" stage ! I traveled down to Rimini, Cantu, Vicenza and on up thru sweden, even Austria did not have anything to brag about, BUT NOW... they are jam packed with HIGH POWERED talent than can boast as much as they wish too. Japan, Korea, China can now be proud of what has been accomplished at an INTERNATIONAL level in the martial arts.  

HANSHI 

PHOTO:

Gm Harris, Gm Moore and Student in Hakama "Jimmy Stamps sensei, and myself receiving my 7th Dan in  Aiki-Jujutsu from Gm Moore who was personal deshie of founder Senior Grand-master Durant who later passed-on due to long illness " cancer ". Gm Moore has come a long ways for such a young man ! his talents are perfection., he is one of the very few that I call a "Friend" and of this I can count on one hand... This is also the "Old School" in Austin (North Burnet) where Prof. Moses Williams, and old student of the very well known, and seasoned Master Dan Baker of the San Marcos Kenpo (8th Dan) also taught while teaching in the "East Side" of Austin.

 Grandmaster Moses Williams, was also promoted to the rank of 8th Dan by me around 2001 after a brief testing at his Austin Dojo, which I still have record of in my Ranking and  Promo-tions section of Tanaka-Ryu. [ I felt Prof Williams was and still is every bit of a Grandmaster then and NOW ].

HANSHI  

Taken in 1998-99 in AUSTIN Texas 

Menjo issued to Ms Clarissa Villanueva for 2nd Dan Nidan for Exceptional skills, which merits the Rank and Title of Nidan,Sensei for TANAKA-RYU Kai. 

[DRAFT is placed so that menjo may not be "Reproduced" by the public]

Dojo Charter of Senior Grandmaster Cantu  of Tanaka-Kai...

HANSHI     

MR Harold R.Bell, was promoted from 5th Dan to thru 8th Dan by me, and other ranks were from Judo were from Senior Grand-master and Well known! Professor Phil PORTER !! the Legendary and Icon who has also coached Judo teams and  is well known for his Organizations in Colorado and all the USA !

Prof. Bell is also on our Senior High Dan Board and a very Respected Senior Grandmaster of this organization which has been recogized Internationally.

Still have questions? Please contact us anytime! We look forward to hearing from you.

Ms Clarissa Villanueva 2nd Dan Ni Dan of Team Tiger Martial Arts of McAllen, Texas, RANK and Authority of Promotions under Tanaka-Ryu of Shihan

MONTEZUMA C. CANTU SR   

Saiko Shihan                       HANSHI