08.06.05 - 2nd Annual West Coast Kenpo Confederation
Story time with Mr. Boyd
As the Keyslinger class was emptying out of the room, I was drawn into some light conversation with an older gentleman who was encouraging me to “stick with Kenpo”. He had noticed that I was the only white belt in the class and seemed to want to impart any knowledge and advice to me that I was willing to take. After a couple of minutes, we formally introduced ourselves and I learned that his name was Chuck Boyd, and he seemed to be in a very chatty mood.
He started out recalling when he was of ‘lower rank’. He clearly remembers the first colored belts – and not very fondly. He was due for promotion (I think he said to brown belt) and was at the dojo, present with his peers, with Ed Parker handing out the promotions. He clearly recalls being called forward and Mr. Parker awarded him a blue belt. This was the first time that the colored belts had ever been introduced at the dojo and Mr. Boyd remembers being very upset about it. He recounted the story with humor, but you could tell that he still isn’t happy about getting that blue belt! He remembers accepting the belt from Mr. Parker reluctantly and stalking back to his seat, flushed with embarrassment and anger. He stated that within just a couple of months that he had attained his desired belt level – which he feels he had rightly earned previously. He laughed through the whole story and in the end he repeated that I should stick with it, even through those colorful belts.
He then started talking about the class we were just in, the Keyslinger. He said that Chuck didn’t tell us the ‘rest of the story’ regarding the event in question and that he had left out a ‘few details’. Apparently, the two accompanying thugs stated to the police that the lead guy had been shot, as they couldn’t imagine what else could do the damage that had destroyed the man’s face. Mr. Boyd let that sink in for a second and then went on to describe the wound. The keys hit the thug flush along the cheekbone with a direct hit, so he absorbed the full impact of the blow. The keys literally ‘tore off his face’ and shattered his jaw, teeth and all. The skin and muscle damage to that area was extensive, which is what eventually led to the ominous sounds coming from the guy. All in all it was a pretty gruesome picture and I could see why Chuck Sullivan left out some of those details.
After a few more minutes of idle chatter about the keyslinger, Mr. Boyd started reminiscing again about ‘the old days’. He began describing Ed Parker a little bit and how he could literally make anything work. There were some techniques that Ed would come up with that only he could do because of their complexity. He described Ed Parker as 270 lbs. of Hawaiian muscle that could make a body do whatever he wanted it to. However, there were plenty of people that couldn’t duplicate his moves and that is where Chuck Sullivan came in. Chuck would consider the technique or maneuver and then strip out everything that wasn’t essential. That is how the system we have now in the IKCA was born.
Mr. Boyd had some humorous stories about some of the stuff that Ed Parker would come up with. It was during one of these stories that Chuck Sullivan wandered near by and recognized the tale. He joined us and clarified a few points of the story that I don’t think even Mr. Boyd knew about. There was a particular technique which involved a strike to the upper thigh that was intended to double the guy over. This was one of those cases in which Ed Parker seemed to be the only one that could make the person double over. Chuck had analyzed this technique and determined that the best move was to strike the person in the groin and then move on with the technique. To demonstrate this theory, he had everyone in the dojo line up one day and one at a time Chuck demonstrated the move the way Mr. Parker felt it should be done. “Nineteen out of nineteen times the student took the hit and stayed up”, which was out of position for the maneuver. “That stubborn Hawaiian still wouldn’t give in”. Chuck said that he and Ed argued about this from the studio all the way to Pasadena, which was apparently a long drive. By the time they arrived at their destination, they were both apparently pretty worked up and practically jumped out of the car to ‘demonstrate’ on each other in the driveway! Chuck said that after several more minutes of arguing about this point in the driveway, he won the only argument he had ever won against Ed Parker – sort of. At one point Ed said “Chuck, your right. I’ll change it.” Chuck had a very proud look on his face as he conveyed this and then said: “And you know what? He never did. It was the only time I ever won an argument with the guy and he still didn’t change it in the end!” We all laughed and Chuck dismissed himself from the group.
Mr. Boyd, however, stuck around and continued to tell some stories of days gone by. He recounted time in the dojo when they had ‘special guests’ stop buy to see Ed Parker or Chuck Sullivan. One of the memories he hold fondly was meeting Chuck Norris. He stated that Chuck Norris was a rigid fighter in those days and had a background in the Korean Arts, specifically Tang Soo Do. This being more of a ‘distance’ type of fighting with long kicks and punches, he was having some trouble with guys getting on the inside and ‘causing trouble’. He knew of Ed Parker’s American Kenpo and also knew that Chuck Sullivan was training with Steve Mohammad (then known as Steve Sanders). He apparently stopped by one day and began some training with Chuck Sullivan and some of the other guys in the dojo. “If there was one thing about Chuck Norris, it was his spirit; he just wouldn’t stop until he had it down.” This is how Mr. Boyd first recalled Chuck Norris. He then went on to say: “… but he never did get Kenpo hands… he just couldn’t get it.” Mr. Byrd went on to describe how Chuck Norris was teaching students in his garage at that time, like many people were. He admitted that even today, he (Boyd) teaches students in his own garage.
“I also remember a time when this cocky little Asian guy came strolling into the dojo with his sunglasses on. Do you know who I’m talking about? I’m talking about Bruce Lee.” Mr. Boyd seemed to recollect this memory with a mix of contempt and admiration, which seemed to indicate some inward turmoil somewhere. “It was 1967 and I was training right there on the floor when he walked right in that front door like he owned the place.” Bruce apparently came by to see Ed Parker, but in Ed’s absence, started a conversation with Chuck Sullivan who was working with Steve Sanders at that time. Apparently Bruce was invited to train with them a little bit and donned some sparring equipment. At this point, the few of us that were listening to this story were pretty tightly focused and Mr. Boyd knew it. He was pausing like he was purposely withholding information from us to tease us. Someone finally asked if Bruce and Steve fought. Mr. Boyd smiled and nodded, saying: “Steve mopped the floor with that guy. It was no contest.” I have to admit, this was a stunner for me, and apparently everyone else there too. But Mr. Boyd smiled confidently and went on to say that we probably wouldn’t hear about that story anywhere else.
Mr. Boyd finished his story telling with an episode that happened outside of a restaurant. Mr. Boyd and his wife were in company with Chuck Sullivan and his wife. “We used to swap wives, you know, just to go into the restaurants. Chuck would walk in with a buxom mama on his arm, and I would walk in with a gorgeous blonde.” We all laughed at this but he went on to say that on one particular day, he and Chuck were walking out of a restaurant and heading toward the parking lot to meet up with the wives. On the way out, an inebriated man stumbled into Chuck Sullivan and immediately began getting boisterous with him, claiming that Chuck had stepped on his boots and scuffed them up. Apparently the guy tried hard to get Chuck to fight him. “Here I was, trying pry myself toward the guy, you know ‘protecting’ Mr. Sullivan, like he needed it or something. ‘Let me go, Chuck, I’ll take care of this guy for you’.” But Chuck Sullivan took a different approach altogether. He talked calmly to the guy and apologized for stepping on his boots. He took responsibility for something that he didn’t even do just to placate the guy. Eventually the guy walked away back into the bar for another drink or something. Mr. Boyd asked Chuck why he didn’t take him out to the parking lot and clean his clock! Chuck stated simply that the guy “obviously had too much to drink” and that Chuck “had nothing to prove or to gain by beating the guy senseless. Besides, now he can go on and enjoy the rest of his evening.” This made a huge impression on Mr. Boyd and to this day he cites this as an example of the high standards that Chuck Sullivan sets in and out of the dojo. It is precisely for this reason that Mr. Boyd has stuck beside Chuck Sullivan and Vick LeRoux and continues to learn from them both. “High moral character” is how he describes them. Mr. Boyd wrapped up our little story telling event and we all moved on to our next class, even though we missed most of it by this time. For me it was worth it though. It is always good to get a sense about the people you are entrusting and learning from. Mr. Boyd is a black belt, 7th dan and has nothing but high praise for what Chuck and Vic have done with the IKCA. I hope to have the opportunity to talk with him again someday.
As the Keyslinger class was emptying out of the room, I was drawn into some light conversation with an older gentleman who was encouraging me to “stick with Kenpo”. He had noticed that I was the only white belt in the class and seemed to want to impart any knowledge and advice to me that I was willing to take. After a couple of minutes, we formally introduced ourselves and I learned that his name was Chuck Boyd, and he seemed to be in a very chatty mood.
He started out recalling when he was of ‘lower rank’. He clearly remembers the first colored belts – and not very fondly. He was due for promotion (I think he said to brown belt) and was at the dojo, present with his peers, with Ed Parker handing out the promotions. He clearly recalls being called forward and Mr. Parker awarded him a blue belt. This was the first time that the colored belts had ever been introduced at the dojo and Mr. Boyd remembers being very upset about it. He recounted the story with humor, but you could tell that he still isn’t happy about getting that blue belt! He remembers accepting the belt from Mr. Parker reluctantly and stalking back to his seat, flushed with embarrassment and anger. He stated that within just a couple of months that he had attained his desired belt level – which he feels he had rightly earned previously. He laughed through the whole story and in the end he repeated that I should stick with it, even through those colorful belts.
He then started talking about the class we were just in, the Keyslinger. He said that Chuck didn’t tell us the ‘rest of the story’ regarding the event in question and that he had left out a ‘few details’. Apparently, the two accompanying thugs stated to the police that the lead guy had been shot, as they couldn’t imagine what else could do the damage that had destroyed the man’s face. Mr. Boyd let that sink in for a second and then went on to describe the wound. The keys hit the thug flush along the cheekbone with a direct hit, so he absorbed the full impact of the blow. The keys literally ‘tore off his face’ and shattered his jaw, teeth and all. The skin and muscle damage to that area was extensive, which is what eventually led to the ominous sounds coming from the guy. All in all it was a pretty gruesome picture and I could see why Chuck Sullivan left out some of those details.
After a few more minutes of idle chatter about the keyslinger, Mr. Boyd started reminiscing again about ‘the old days’. He began describing Ed Parker a little bit and how he could literally make anything work. There were some techniques that Ed would come up with that only he could do because of their complexity. He described Ed Parker as 270 lbs. of Hawaiian muscle that could make a body do whatever he wanted it to. However, there were plenty of people that couldn’t duplicate his moves and that is where Chuck Sullivan came in. Chuck would consider the technique or maneuver and then strip out everything that wasn’t essential. That is how the system we have now in the IKCA was born.
Mr. Boyd had some humorous stories about some of the stuff that Ed Parker would come up with. It was during one of these stories that Chuck Sullivan wandered near by and recognized the tale. He joined us and clarified a few points of the story that I don’t think even Mr. Boyd knew about. There was a particular technique which involved a strike to the upper thigh that was intended to double the guy over. This was one of those cases in which Ed Parker seemed to be the only one that could make the person double over. Chuck had analyzed this technique and determined that the best move was to strike the person in the groin and then move on with the technique. To demonstrate this theory, he had everyone in the dojo line up one day and one at a time Chuck demonstrated the move the way Mr. Parker felt it should be done. “Nineteen out of nineteen times the student took the hit and stayed up”, which was out of position for the maneuver. “That stubborn Hawaiian still wouldn’t give in”. Chuck said that he and Ed argued about this from the studio all the way to Pasadena, which was apparently a long drive. By the time they arrived at their destination, they were both apparently pretty worked up and practically jumped out of the car to ‘demonstrate’ on each other in the driveway! Chuck said that after several more minutes of arguing about this point in the driveway, he won the only argument he had ever won against Ed Parker – sort of. At one point Ed said “Chuck, your right. I’ll change it.” Chuck had a very proud look on his face as he conveyed this and then said: “And you know what? He never did. It was the only time I ever won an argument with the guy and he still didn’t change it in the end!” We all laughed and Chuck dismissed himself from the group.
Mr. Boyd, however, stuck around and continued to tell some stories of days gone by. He recounted time in the dojo when they had ‘special guests’ stop buy to see Ed Parker or Chuck Sullivan. One of the memories he hold fondly was meeting Chuck Norris. He stated that Chuck Norris was a rigid fighter in those days and had a background in the Korean Arts, specifically Tang Soo Do. This being more of a ‘distance’ type of fighting with long kicks and punches, he was having some trouble with guys getting on the inside and ‘causing trouble’. He knew of Ed Parker’s American Kenpo and also knew that Chuck Sullivan was training with Steve Mohammad (then known as Steve Sanders). He apparently stopped by one day and began some training with Chuck Sullivan and some of the other guys in the dojo. “If there was one thing about Chuck Norris, it was his spirit; he just wouldn’t stop until he had it down.” This is how Mr. Boyd first recalled Chuck Norris. He then went on to say: “… but he never did get Kenpo hands… he just couldn’t get it.” Mr. Byrd went on to describe how Chuck Norris was teaching students in his garage at that time, like many people were. He admitted that even today, he (Boyd) teaches students in his own garage.
“I also remember a time when this cocky little Asian guy came strolling into the dojo with his sunglasses on. Do you know who I’m talking about? I’m talking about Bruce Lee.” Mr. Boyd seemed to recollect this memory with a mix of contempt and admiration, which seemed to indicate some inward turmoil somewhere. “It was 1967 and I was training right there on the floor when he walked right in that front door like he owned the place.” Bruce apparently came by to see Ed Parker, but in Ed’s absence, started a conversation with Chuck Sullivan who was working with Steve Sanders at that time. Apparently Bruce was invited to train with them a little bit and donned some sparring equipment. At this point, the few of us that were listening to this story were pretty tightly focused and Mr. Boyd knew it. He was pausing like he was purposely withholding information from us to tease us. Someone finally asked if Bruce and Steve fought. Mr. Boyd smiled and nodded, saying: “Steve mopped the floor with that guy. It was no contest.” I have to admit, this was a stunner for me, and apparently everyone else there too. But Mr. Boyd smiled confidently and went on to say that we probably wouldn’t hear about that story anywhere else.
Mr. Boyd finished his story telling with an episode that happened outside of a restaurant. Mr. Boyd and his wife were in company with Chuck Sullivan and his wife. “We used to swap wives, you know, just to go into the restaurants. Chuck would walk in with a buxom mama on his arm, and I would walk in with a gorgeous blonde.” We all laughed at this but he went on to say that on one particular day, he and Chuck were walking out of a restaurant and heading toward the parking lot to meet up with the wives. On the way out, an inebriated man stumbled into Chuck Sullivan and immediately began getting boisterous with him, claiming that Chuck had stepped on his boots and scuffed them up. Apparently the guy tried hard to get Chuck to fight him. “Here I was, trying pry myself toward the guy, you know ‘protecting’ Mr. Sullivan, like he needed it or something. ‘Let me go, Chuck, I’ll take care of this guy for you’.” But Chuck Sullivan took a different approach altogether. He talked calmly to the guy and apologized for stepping on his boots. He took responsibility for something that he didn’t even do just to placate the guy. Eventually the guy walked away back into the bar for another drink or something. Mr. Boyd asked Chuck why he didn’t take him out to the parking lot and clean his clock! Chuck stated simply that the guy “obviously had too much to drink” and that Chuck “had nothing to prove or to gain by beating the guy senseless. Besides, now he can go on and enjoy the rest of his evening.” This made a huge impression on Mr. Boyd and to this day he cites this as an example of the high standards that Chuck Sullivan sets in and out of the dojo. It is precisely for this reason that Mr. Boyd has stuck beside Chuck Sullivan and Vick LeRoux and continues to learn from them both. “High moral character” is how he describes them. Mr. Boyd wrapped up our little story telling event and we all moved on to our next class, even though we missed most of it by this time. For me it was worth it though. It is always good to get a sense about the people you are entrusting and learning from. Mr. Boyd is a black belt, 7th dan and has nothing but high praise for what Chuck and Vic have done with the IKCA. I hope to have the opportunity to talk with him again someday.
posted by Bonzai at 8/06/2005 11:10:00 AM
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