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- 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.
“ This books purpose “
Many techniques, as well as types of fighting, will be shown in this book. However its purpose is to teach a flow of movement from technique to technique or from one distance of combat to another. To teach fighters to flow from an attempted technique that failed, to another that hopefully will be winning. Flowing in a fight keeps your opponent off balance. The art of sensitivity must be applied. This art can only be acquired through relaxation. If you remain tense you cannot feel your opponents intensions.
When you feel where your opponent is going you have a distinct advantage.
So flowing to somewhere else in combat is confusing to the opponent.
This book will begin with throwing art and flowing to lockouts. There is a drill when after you throw Uki you perform five lockouts in continuous flow. Remember to keep control of Uki’s arm at all times as best you can. What I mean is-don’t let go and re-grip. If you re-grip do it from a place of strength. This is because when you release to re-grip, your opponent will escape. It is similar to opening a door and allowing your opponent to exit. Care and caution must be observed when practicing this drill because the lockouts are attacking the wrist, elbow or shoulder.
In the following chapters we will study other distances of combat and flow such as power strikes, speed fighting and the differences in breathing, stance and hip power as well as others.
I hope you learn from and enjoy this book.
