GM James Ibrao interview

(This interview came from a website which no longer exists, kenpoworld.com, date of interview is unknown.)

What style of Kenpo do you practice?

Currently I study and train in my own system which has been dubbed "Jun Bao", that is simply my name in Chinese and has come to represent the amalgamation of arts that I have studied and made a part of my life for the last 40 years.

Who were your major influences in the martial arts?

Of course Grandmaster Ed Parker was a major influence, the excitement that Bruce Lee brought to the times and many others of course. Grandmaster James Wing Woo, can not be left out because he was the progenitor of much of what the American Kenpo Stylists do today. Then there are men like, Tuiolosega, Castro, Norris, and a thousand others. But even saying this not one of these men has inspired me and influenced me as much as the students who have come to me seeking knowledge. As they got better, they forced me to change, adapt, grow and seek out more information on what I was doing and why I was doing it. It's funny but when you bring someone from white to black, you can't help but be changed and influenced by that process. Changing others, must change you.

What books, videos, or other reference material would you recommend for the Kenpo enthusiast?

Read everything by Parker, read the Art of War, read the bible. In many ways the bible is a blue print for the way to live, fight etc., not just from a religious stand point mind you, but from a historic and cultural position as well. Read everything you can on every subject as the more your mind expands the more the world opens up for you. Fiction is good, but history is better. You see, no matter what you do, it has already been done by someone else, it is new, but only new to you. If you study history, you in turn study the future. Read everything, pick and choose what works for you, discard the rest. But keep the mind active and alert. Its funny to me that many people who were once great in the arts now falter. Most of it isn't physical but mental. Remember the body is a tool, the mind the plan and the spirit the engine that runs them all together. Reading keeps the mind active and broadens your perspective. You must thirst for the knowledge that is hidden within the world of the written word.

What is your current rank and what steps did you go through to attain that rank?

All of the rank that has been given to me has been given by others who found me deserving. I am simply a black belt, an instructor, a teacher. Sifu Ibrao. Rank is important only in as much as it allows me to persuade or to teach others. Other than that I have no use for it.

Why did you begin studying the martial arts? Why Kenpo in particular?

I studied because I wanted revenge on someone who I believed had wronged me. I chose Kenpo because it was particularly vicious and aggressive. I was young at the time and being young my heart was bigger than my ability to reason and think. However after the first few months, I fell in love. I mean, I really fell in love with what Parker was doing. We all had a hand in it. We developed the movements, I did kicks, someone else added this or that. Parker put it all together. Kenpo is an ever evolving and changing art, beautiful, but it takes its toll on the one who uses it. Parker had power, I mean real power, that was a result of Kenpo.

What has made you decide to stick with Kenpo?

Nothing made me decide to do anything. When you are on a path, any path, all you do is put one foot in front of the other and go with the flow. A better question is why did I stop doing one thing or another? It is because my path held me firm and true, what was not meant to be visited along that path fell away. You see, what you are meant to do, you do. Look at how many failed men there are, broken men, I mean really sad stories. This is the result of refusing what you are supposed to do. We all have purpose, we all have meaning, we all have a path. We must follow that path. Right now, my path is to bring my art to as many people as will accept it. Nothing more, nothing less. The path of others is to accept it, or get out of the way because I am coming through. It is what I have to do.

Other than Kenpo, are you studying any other martial arts?

Listen, if you study Kenpo, you are already studying another art. If you study Karate, or Kung Fu or Tai Chi or Shotokan or Ground Fighting, you are already studying another art, you just aren't paying attention. Take the basics, roll them from style to style, what do you have? Has the motion of raising your thigh to launch a thrust kick changed because it is Kenpo v. Tae Kwon Do? Come on, when you play with a motion, any motion, there is only so many nuances and changes one can make to say he is different. Acknowledge what you are doing, take part in it and celebrate the common ground on which we all stand. One of the basic tenants of the arts is respect. As soon as we learn to respect the common elements of other systems and styles we can more fully appreciate our own.

What martial arts organizations do you belong to and what positions do you hold in those organizations?

I am in charge of my own organization, The James Ibrao Martial Arts Association. I hold Black Belts in a number of other systems and I have been awarded honorary GrandMaster Positions in Kajakenbo and Lima Lama. There are others who I am very proud to be associated with but these are private matters and they shall remain this way. However, the kindness, openness and friendship that so many artists from around the world have shown me really gives me a free pass to go wherever I want in most of the top organizations and I am truly grateful for this.

What is your curriculum like? What material do your students focus on?

Basics, punches, kicks, blocks, stretching, push ups, sit ups, we use the rings to build arm strength. We use Tai Chi to build concentration and inner peace and then there are more basics. I think however above all other things my focus is on passion and passionate interpretation of what you are doing. I'll tell you a story. I had a student who came to me twenty some odd years ago. He is a big man, 6'3 250 lbs, muscle and attitude. He asked me to teach him to fight. I turned him away. I met him again, eight years later, his body had matured, he was stronger, again he asked me to teach him to fight, again I turned him away. He returned again six years ago. He had been studying with a number of very good teachers and instructors. He is a complete fighter, ground, street, karate. This time he asked me to 'train' him. His passion is so strong that it is frightening. Every punch he throws, every kick, every block has purpose, direction and passion. He doesn't know it, but his stare stops people in their tracks. He has power and you know what? He is completely oblivious to it. He no longer desires to fight, his focus is each and every movement, every breath. I can tell you I taught him that. It took him 20 years to learn the basics. This is what I teach.

How would you describe the ideal student?

For me, the ideal student is anyone who walks into my studio, gym or backyard with the desire, humility and passion to learn.

How would you describe the ideal instructor?

The ideal instructor is thirsty to teach. Thirsty to teach regardless of money, situation, time, weather, whatever. Teaching is not for everyone. I still get butterflies when I see a room full of students who are ready to start class. Man, you have to be willing to learn in order to teach. I had a little girl one time who looked up at me and said, Sifu, I know karate. I asked how was that? She told me, 'because you taught me'. That's another thing, you have to be genuine, people can smell a fake, especially kids. It may take a while but they root them out. Be genuine, sincere and straight with your people, the rest falls into place.

What do you expect from a Black Belt?

That's a loaded question because the ranking system is all out of whack. You've got 10th degree black belts over here, 5th degrees over there and 20th degrees around the corner. You know what I like? I like a guy who puts on his belt, keeps his mouth shut; except when he's asked a question and does his thing when the time is right. It doesn't get any better than that. Sure you can say community service, cleans the dojo, interacts well with others, knows his techniques; but that is to be expected, I like the individual who knows himself and his limitations. The one who takes stock of him or herself and then says, If I add a little more passion, a little more desire, I can do more. Whew! I love that!

How would you suggest maintaining the quality of instruction at satellite schools?

There are very few ways to maintain quality. People get old, tired and lazy. Money enters the picture and everything changes. The only thing you can do is start with quality to begin with. I answer all of my e-mails, I take all the phone calls. I go wherever a student calls me. I do all that I can. The rest is up to integrity and pride of the student.

What are you doing to keep up your skills and increase your martial arts knowledge?

I train every day. Every day. I work 5 days a week and I go to class with Master Wing Woo weekly. His school is beautiful to me. I feel like a kid when I slide onto that smooth cement floor. Its polished so you have to be careful, but I'm out there and at my age and I expect that I can keep it up for another ten, fifteen years at least. Mostly I try to keep my mind active. This internet has really rekindled my career and brought me out to a whole new generation of stylists. Just answering and reading their mail and comments is a challenge, but it keeps me active. An object in motion tends to stay in motion and I am no exception. Next, I stay grateful. I live in the greatest country in the world, I have a job, a beautiful family, people who love me and people who hate me. That's passion. Life is nothing without it. Imagine being the guy that everyone was indifferent about, that would be the worst. I also expose myself different styles, people and schools. I do a lot of traveling now and you really get to see some exciting things on the road.

How do you feel about adding new material to the art?

Add what you want, do what you want, just keep it real and keep it relevant. You think you're going to change the face of any art? Good luck, its already been done baby. All you can do is play with the motions and be the best YOU can be. The rest is academic. Listen, what do you think Crouching Tiger was about? Guys flying through the air and running on clouds. That's what we would like to do, fantasy, if you can't add that, you better get back to work on the basics. There's a lot more power in the basics than there is ever going to be in some strings and wires. Let me say that again, you want new material? Do the basics, do them right. How's that? I'll tell you. Sweat, intent, concentration, practice and passion.

How do think Kenpo practitioners today compare with those of 20 years ago?

Twenty years ago, you hit harder. There was less money in it, less exposure and everybody wasn't wearing belts with 15 red stripes. Movies, fantasy has taken over and I'm not saying that is a bad thing because it has broadened the world of the arts and brought many more artists into the fold, but 20 years ago it was a little more driven.

What do you think students will be like 20 years from now?

I don't know. If I look to the past I'd say that you'll have the same mix as now. Some serious, some not so serious but I do believe one thing for sure. The ground fighting craze has really brought a new reality to a lot of people. If it isn't outlawed or banned by the government you just might see some truly 'Roman Spectacles'. I'm not saying it should be banned I'm just saying one thing leads to another. We always have to raise the stakes. But even then you will still have the arts in a true form. See, no matter what, people get older and hopefully wiser. They have to return to what they can do when the back has given out and the knees don't work, guess what that would be? That's right, the basics.

What do you think is the biggest misconception about Kenpo?

Misconceptions are based in individuals, not in groups as a whole. Most Kenpoists that I have met with know what they can and can not do. Whether they admit it or not is another thing. But on the whole you are talking about people who are willing to spend years developing their art, what's wrong with that?

What advice do you have for the aspiring student?

Question everything and every body and then question yourself. If you can't get a good reason for why you are doing something don't do it. If you can't give yourself a good reason for why you are doing something; you can't have passion for it, if there is no passion, no love, no feeling, don't do it. You're just going through the motions. You have the greatest machine ever designed working in your very own skull. It can think, dream, scheme, motivate, put it to work. Build passion for everything you do. Make a decision and stick with it, passionately. If you can't do that get some popcorn and a remote and have a good time in front of the tv.

You have recently released your "Five Forms to Black" program. Why have you decided to released this program now?

This is my legacy to the arts. These five forms have allowed me to remain competitive and strong well into my 60's. Wing Woo is in his 70's and still going strong. He moves like a ghost. I love to watch him walk. Each of these forms has been designed to develop one or more parts of your body. Strength, flexibility, power, endurance, balance, patience. This is a system for life, long life. How many 50 year old kickboxers are there? None, that's how many. You can not trash your body. My system builds you up, strengthens you and motivates the mind. You see your attackers, feel the energy of your blocks, punches and kicks. You feel the fire in your belly and you think. THINK. I am so proud to bring this system to people because it works. I stand by it and you should read the letters I get from people who have been studying my forms, my system. Not one return, not one complaint. It is done right. Look at the site, www.thebelt.com. It was done right too. It took years and the people behind it didn't blink when I said change this or that. They allowed me to do what I know and to teach my way. It was my path to teach this system and I stay on my path.

What are the forms that you require in your "Five Forms to Black" program and why have you chosen those specific forms?

Bungi, Gungi, Gom Gong Kuen, Si Ping Kuen, Tiger and Crane. Done right. These are the forms and I choose them because they work. I choose them because I see the effects they have on my students and their students as well. I choose them because walking along my path I found them and they have made my path, straighter, smoother and a joy to be on.