Our Founders
Great Grandmaster Ralph Castro
![[Ralph Castro]](http://www.shaolinkenpo.com/ggmrc.jpg)
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Biography: Great Grandmaster Ralph Castro
www.shaolinkenpo.com
Great Grandmaster Ralph Castro's background, experience and contributions to the martial arts approach legendary proportions.
Originally from Honolulu, Hawaii, Great Grandmaster Castro's training began with the late Great Grandmaster William K. S. Chow who brought him up into the black belt ranks.
In the early 1960's Ralph Castro moved to the U.S. mainland settling in the San Francisco Bay Area where he began to teach and spread Shaolin Kenpo Karate producing many top blackbelts who became masters in their own right.
In the intervening years, Great Grandmaster Castro also promoted numerous tournaments and demonstrations.
Ralph Castro's accomplishments did not go unnoticed. In 1982, for instance, he was entered in the Inside Kung Fu Yearbook. In 1985 his story was told in Official Karate and he was pictured on the cover. He was featured on the cover of Karate Kung Fu in 1987. Black Belt Magazine placed Ralph Castro on its June cover in 1988 and entered him into its Black Belt Hall of Fame that same year. In 1989 Great Grandmaster Castro was entered in Black Belt Magazine's yearbook.
Great Grandmaster Castro's organizational involvement is also impressive. He was an AAU vice-president as early as 1971 - 1972. In addition to this he maintained active membership in the International Kenpo Karate Association from 1958 to 1982.
In 1981 Ralph Castro founded the International Shaolin Kenpo Association of which he is the current President. He was also active within ATAMA since 1984, serving as the National Board's Vice-President in 1985 and President in 1986-1988.
Senior Grand Master Rick Alemany
Grandmaster Rick Alemany has been training and
teaching since 1962. He quickly became a skilled
fighter and established himself as a champion in the
tournament circuit of the 60's, 70's and 80's. He
has earned high rankings in Kenpo Karate, Jujitsu,
and Arnis.
Grand Master Alemany's main style is Kenpo Karate with Great Grand Master Ralph Castro as his primary instructor. His expertise further includes Jujitsu instructed by Dr. Duke Moore, Wing Chun instructed by Chris Chan, Modern Arnis (filipino stick fighting) with Grand Master Remy Presas and Grand Master Ernesto Presas, Tai chi with Great Grand Master Tony Ho (Master Ho Nan Jie), Shorin-Ryu with Richard Kim, Kajukenbo with both Brother Abe Kamahoahoa and Grand Master Sid Asuncion.
Grand Master Alemany has been featured in magazines, newspaper articles, TV commercials, and was a technical advisor for the fight scenes in a Sam Peckinpaw Film "Killer Elite" starring James Caan. He has won numerous titles and trophies in championship competition. Grand Master Alemany even made a comeback to the tournament circuit at the age of 42. His goal was to win Grand Champion once more before he retired for good. At his first tournament back he won the 35 and over division, then beat the lightweight, middleweight, and the heavyweight champions to take Grand Champion at the 16th Annual Central California Karate Championships, sponsored by Leo Fong and Ron Marchini. He entered 12 tournaments winning three Grand Championships, eleven First places, and one third.
Grand Master Alemany has promoted and developed over 180 Black Belts, out of the 180 Black Belts, 34 opened their own schools, and they promoted and developed close to 500 Black Belts.
Mayor Willie Brown proclaimed August 2rd "Rick Alemany Day" in San Francisco in honor of his legendary status as a competitor and Martial Arts teacher. Grand Master Alemany is a co- founder and past president of ATAMA (American Teachers Association of the Martial Arts). He is a Senior Technical Advisor for Kenpo Jujitsu International.
Grand Master Alemany's philosophy is that Martial Arts can benefit anyone, spiritually as well as physically, without regard to age, gender, race or capability and his job is to teach his students to believe in themselves, and that they can accomplish and be successful in anything they do.
They
just have to believe they can and to never give up.
His focus on effective competition, self-defense
tactics and reality based training make him a highly
sought after instructor. Today, together with his
wife Simo Margaret Alemany, you can still find him
doing what he loves most, teaching. Students and
instructors come from all over to enjoy his smile
and sincere belief in the Martial Arts training.
Senior Grand Master Tu’umamao
“Tino”Tuiolosega
Tu’umamao “Tino”Tuiolosega, Grandmaster and Founder of Limalama Arts of Self Defense was born in American Samoa on July 2, 1931 to, Tu’umamao Tuiolosega, King of the island of Olosega and Saposapoaluga Feagaimaleata Poumele Tuiolosega. As the son of a Royal Samoan family and grandson to Tuiolosega Tagaloa, he was required to learn numerous Polynesian movements of self defense from both his father and his uncle. His last name “Tuiolosega”, literally means “King of Olosega”.
His position in his family line carried with it great responsibility because the movements he learned were restricted by sect and family lineage. What he was taught was considered sacred and was only passed onto descendents of the Royal families by their fathers or relatives. His uncle who was the major influence in his studies worked extensively with him in understanding the concepts of these movements.
In 1950, he served with in the U.S. Marine Corps and participated in the Inchon landing in Korea; in which he was cited and decorated.
Mr. Tino was a chief instructor in hand to hand combat training; not only for the Marines, but also Naval personnel and also participated in boxing and judo. As an amateur boxer he fought over 135 fights, winning 108 by knockout. Some of his titles included All Pacific Inter-School Boxing Conference, All Far East, All Pacific Inter-Service, All Armed Forces, Pan Pacific, All Martine, Fourteen Naval District, AAU, and Eleventh District Championships. The championships he won are just a few of the titles worth mentioning, and may have some significant contribution to his reputation, but he really needs no certification of his outstanding ability among leaders of the Martial arts community.
Throughout his life, Mr. Tino has studied many other styles and systems of self defense including Aikido, Judo and Ju-jitsu, Kenpo Karate and is also a registered Master (Sipak) of Sil-Lum Kung Fu of Tsoi, Li, Fut, Mawk and Hung-Gar styles being the first non-oriental in over 85 years to achieve such an honor. In the late 40’s and 50’s he was the most famous championship competitor of full contact karate among self defense schools; because in those days there were no open karate competition tournaments. Most of the old practitioners and masters still remember and talk about Mr. Tino as the most feared competitor of his time.
In the 70’s, he continued to teach and was involved with both martial artists and professional full contact training of fighters who wished to compete in the professional ranks. He also acted as technical advisor/choreographer on several TV series and did an action film called Seven with several of his close martial arts friends . He has trained many known Masters in the martial arts world today who are considered by the martial arts community as outstanding martial arts figures.
He is considered
a living legend in the martial arts community and has been called “Father
of Modern Self Defense”. He is always given the utmost in respect by Masters
and practitioners, regardless of their martial arts style.
RUDOLPH PONALI K. TUIOLOSEGA
Biography
Rudolph Ponali K. Tuiolosega, son of Tu’umamao Tino Tuiolosega, and Claire “Puanani” Tuiolosega was born in Queens’ Hospital on the island of Oahu, Hawaii on December 15, 1956. He along with his 2 brothers and sister were taken to American Samoa to be raised by his grandparents as the culture dictated, and later was reunited with his father and mother in California. His father began his training in Limalama along with his brothers and sisters, but Rudy became so absorbed in learning the art, that he excelled rapidly. Before long he began teaching daily at his father’s academy in Westminster, Ca. working and training closely with his father’s senior instructors, George Molifua, and Futi Semano. Rudy developed into an effective and respected competitor early on and participated in the tournament circuit sometimes competing in two tournaments the same day, winning numerous competitions, worldwide. In 1975, he married a beautiful young lady, Norma R. Crow and they moved to Escanaba, Michigan where Rudy opened the first series of Limalama schools working with the Cartwright family. In 1977, he moved to the South, and he and his wife started their family. His proudest moments are the births of his three children, Josh, Lani and his youngest Jeremy. In 1978, he joined the U.S. Army and served 5 years in Germany on border operations. While in the military, he continued teaching Limalama.
Senior Master Rudy Tuiolosega has over 30 years of experience in self defense both as a competitor and instructor. He has traveled extensively with his father, Grandmaster Tu’umamao Tino Tuiolosega and currently holds the highest ranking position in Limalama, confirmed by his father in Las Vegas, June, 2004 at Jeff Speakman’s Annual International Instructor Training Camp where black belt practitioners from around the world were present to witness this historic event.
He is responsible for overseeing the quality of the Limalama program and presides over black belt Limalama promotions in the U.S., Mexico, So.and Central America, and Europe. He has done numerous seminars specializing in combative arms and weapons as well as specialized self defense training of police officers, special law enforcement teams, anti terrorist groups, security guards and body guards. He has assisted in developing awareness programs for community organizations. His workshops focus on a person’s ability to identify potentially harmful situations and environments, as well as learning the process of utilizing the most effective motions and movements where body and mind work as one. People that have participated in his seminars come away excited and exhilarated because his passion and love for Limalama and the Samoan culture is contagious and he makes them feel what Limalama truly is and how it can change a person’s view of self defense forever.
SM Rudy introduces practitioners of Limalama to various real life situations; uncontrollable situations that depend on quickness of mind and body, involving combinations of hand and foot coordination based on motions and movements to render an opponent helpless even before a strike has been initiated. In a real life situation there isn’t time to set up or warm up or simply step through hard style blocks and strikes seconds apart in anticipation of the strike that follows the last routinely.
SM Rudy says that Limalama is a street smart contemporary form of self defense engineered for effective instantaneous control over a life threatening situation. Most systems available are designed primarily as a sport and competition guidelines are usually the outline of the program limiting your strikes to non vital areas and concentrating more on contact points such as in tournament matches. These systems are all fine for the individual interested in broadening their knowledge in the martial arts and good exercise but the typical surprise attack requires lightening reflexes and thorough knowledge of vital areas and how they can best be targeted for effective defense.
SM Rudy has a deep love for his Samoan culture which is reflected in his teaching and believes it will enrich the lives of those who study Limalama. His philosophy in teaching self defense is, “What can I do to benefit you.”
Fa'a Samoa Mua Mua Le Atua
Senior Grand Master Don Phillip (Soke)
Started his training in Kamishin Jiu Jitsu in 1969 under Al Church Jr.
On February 1st 2002 Professor Phillip became the17th inheritor of the system. Soke Phillip along with his son Soke Dai Scott Phillip continue to teach the art of kamishin throughout the US. Including Colorado,Wyoming, Nevada, California. Nebraska, & South Dakota.
Nippon Kobudo Kamishin Ryu Jujitsu (Japanese Ancient Martial Way Devine Heart Style) is considered a non-classical style that is rich in classical Japanese tradition.
Kamishin Ryu Jujitsu is a consolidation of several forms of Japanese Jujitsu including the Shinyo Ryu, Takaguchi Ryu, Daiyoshin Ryu, Enrei Ryu, and Hakko Ryu. It is an Aiki-Jutsu form being performed in a circular application designed to immobilize the attacker by directing him to a face down prone position. Though it is indeed aiki-jutsu, it is not to be confused with the modern Aikido art. Kamishin Ryu does not contain the same concepts of the Japanese work “Ki” as does the Aikido art. In this regard and in other regards as well, Kamishin Ryu is different and apart from this very fine jujitsu form. Kamishin Ryu requires one to totally master the basic and advanced Kuzushi-waza (Off-Balancing Techniques) and how to divert and/or lead the attacker in such a manner that he will fall.
The use of Mudo-Mawashi (the art of causing one to become non-aggressive by circular movement) is a key technique to be totally mastered. Twenty-five percent of all Kamishin Ryu throwing techniques and hold-down arts are based upon this movement. Close body contact is replaced by paring and guiding the attackers aggressive movements away from you. Many techniques encompass hidden hands striking of vital points of the attackers body while smoothly performing the art. Five percent of our arts contain leg usage to carry impact to the attackers body and limbs. The remaining part of this art covers muscle and nerve pressure points designed to cause short duration pain to the attacker permitting the Kamishin Ryu Jujitsuan the advantage for off-balancing or hold-down control.
Ukemi (Breakfalls) are somewhat different from the norm for the jujitsuan is strictly on their own, in full flight, with no assistance given them by the individual performing the art. Because of this important aspect, great care must be taken by Kamishin Ryu jujitsuans during practice to avoid in-flight collisions between fellow airborne jujitsuans. Many of our takedowns and trhowing arts actually drive the attacker forcefully to the floor. Therefore speedy breakfall application by the individual being thrown is highly important.
In most of our arts, the attacker is driven face/head first into the floor. We therefore train ourselves to be able to roll our bodies just prior to impact to lessen the degree of impact sustained injury. Falling is not to be taken lightly, even by the most advanced Kamishin Ryu jujitsuan. Breakfall practice is a must for all jujitsuans prior to engaging in serious practice. In the Kamishin Ryu form, it is used to warm-up the body to avoid injury from strain and to permit free-flowing movements during practice.
Kamishin Ryu jujitsuans practice their form in pre-arranged formal movements (Kata) at first. Later as the student develops his skill, practice is performed in a controlled rough-dance (Randori) form. In this preview, each player in-turn attacks the other with the defender permitted any defense techniques they so desire.
Safety during practice is all-important and mandatory for all students. Students practice total and complete control as to placement of the individual being thrown and/or taken down. Mutual respect of each other being all-important; for without such, one could maim or kill his fellow student.
As you practice, as you learn of this fine art, keep in mind that only what you as the student put into it will govern what you will receive. Any self-defense art must be practiced to be mastered. It’s up to you!
