Freedmen University Great Martial Artist

FREEDMEN UNIVERSITY

Power is The Ability to Define Phenomena and Make it Act in a Desired Manner. - Huey P. Newton

W. A .W.G

Great Martial Artist

Grand Master George Cofield

Upon returning to New York in 1959, Cofield established the Tong Dojo, a martial arts school where he not only taught Karate but also instilled values of resilience and discipline in his students, drawing from his own experiences growing up in tough neighborhoods.

At the time he was one of the first Black instructors to commercially teach martial arts in the United States.

His dojo produced several notable fighters, including Thomas LaPuppet, Alex Sternberg, Doug “Hawk” Frazier, and the Wilder Twins, Melvin, and Calvin, who gained recognition as some of the best competitive Karate fighters of their time Known as the "Gunners," these students epitomized excellence in competitive Karate, their achievements resonating far beyond the confines of the dojo.

Grand Master

Moses Powell (Master Musa Muhammad)

was an American pioneer of martial arts in the United States.

He was born in Norfolk Virginia.

He held the rank of 10th degree black belt, and was famous for his one finger forward roll.

Moses Powell was the first martial artist invited to perform a demonstration in front of the United Nations.

One of the first African Americans to instruct the DEA, FBI, and the Secret Service in Martial Arts.

Notable for being a black martial artist (of minority ethnicity in the United States), he served as an instructor to movie star Wesley Snipes.

Grand Master Ronald Duncan

is the father of american ninjitsu.

He is an Ex marine who studied the arts of jujitsu and ninjitsu in Okinawa Japan.

For over 40 years he has lead the field of ninjitsu in America.

He is a member of the Blackbelt Hall of Fame and the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame.

Professor Duncan Earned A Blackbelt in Hakko Ryu Jiujitsu, Kempo, Dia-nippon Jiujitsu, Nippon sosusitti Ryu, Kin Dai Gao, Kodokan Judo Aikido Aiki Jiujitsu. Chi chi su, Koboujitsu, Shinobino Jitsu.

He has taught Special Troops, Navy S.E.A.L, Teams, Law Enforcement Agencies, and various government Agencies in foreign countries

Grand Master O'Bosan Owen Watson

Founder of The Twin Dragon Martial Arts System.

A highly accomplished tournament competitor in kata and kumite and Ten Times United States Champion.

He has studied various styles of Martial Arts for over 40 years.

Owen Watson began training in the Chinese systems of martial arts in the 1960s under Tsao Li Fung which would become his foundation.

Watson later became one of the initiators of the New York's Den of East Coast Fighters.

The famous Dojo called the "University of The Streets" were trained on the legendary master instructor and founder of Nisei Goju Sensi Frank Ruiz.

Owen Watson traveled the national tournament circuit As part of a fierce Group of East Coast fighters.

A long list of who is who, each of whom would later become a legend in their own right such as Lil John Davis, Thomas LA Puppet, Lewis Delgado, Earl Monroe, Chaka Zulu, Robert Chin, Ron Van Clief... just to name a few , but this list could go on and on.

Grand Master Thomas La Puppet

was a pioneer Black American martial artist, and also a member of USA Karate Hall of Fame, and the Black Belt Hall of Fame. of Brooklyn, New York.

He was also a member of the US Ju-Jitsu Federation, but focused on Shotokan karate.

Carrol was a former jiujitsu practitioner before learning Karate under George Cofield.

Carroll was a member of the USA Karate Hall of Fame, chairman of USA Karate New York as Treasurer, and holding positions as head coach.

He was key in getting karate recognized by the International Olympic Committee.

Considered by some to be an American martial arts pioneer he defeated many famous martial artists including Bill "Superfoot" Wallace in tournaments.

He also trained actors Gregory Hines and Ralph Macchio of Karate Kid.

He is considered to be a contemporary of Chuck Norris and Joe Lewis An 8th degree blackbelt he was inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame in 1969.

Thomas was also featured in various magazines including Black Belt Magazine and Official Karate Magazine.

Grand Master Gawap Shamar (Antonio King) Harlems Ninja

was ordained to be the official trainer of the Hebrew Israelites in 1980.

He Created his own System known as “Ninja Karate DoJitsu”.

He established a record and identity for himself in 1980s when he got jumped on 110 street 2nd Ave in Spanish Harlem by 40 Puerto Ricans and got put in the hospital.

Out of 40 he put 15 of his attackers in the hospital with broken legs, broken arms, broken ribs etc.

He was not a man of fancy techniques and thought Katas was a waste of time.

His System consisted of a LOT of Techniques all with 3 move executions.

His Philosophy was Martial Arts is about Survival and not Winning Trophies.

One of Gawaps main focuses for his students was to Master "The Iron Body Technique".

If you were not showing signs of Iron Body Mastery, it was very hard to go above purple belt rank.

He did not like black belts, who couldn't "Lie on a Bed of Nails".

Technique and Weapons Mastery wasn't good enough to achieve Black Belt.

His Renown Iron Body Technique consisted of a combination of Isometric/Isotonic Exercises along with Various Levels of Breathing Techniques and Dynamic Tension Movements.

Some of these are Demonstrated in his 1998 Ninja Brothers Demonstration Tape Weapons of Martial Arts.

Grand Master

Jonathan Stewart

began studying boxing and judo when he was seven years old.

In 1953, while in Korea, he was introduced to the Korean martial art of Tang Soo Do taught to him by his Korean Military partner, Lt. Kim.

In 1960 Jonathan Stewart completed an Advance Instructors Training Course and became an instructor in a program sponsored by the United States Department of Defense and The Department of State.

In 1966 he was sent to the Republic of China, while there he studied the Chinese art of Boxing (Wu-Tzu), along with Tai Chi Chuan.

He also studied martial medicine learning acupressure and acupuncture under the supervision of Grand Master Che Laio Hung and Mater Laio Chien.

Jonathan Stewart received a Masters Certificate from the Government of The Republic of China for his performances and participation with Chinese and Taiwanese school children, military and civilian personnel in the martial arts.

Grand Master Vic Moore

holds a 10th Degree Black Belt in Karate and was one of the late Robert Trias' Chief instructors of the Shuri-ryū Karate system.

Moore was one of the first ten original members of the Trias International Society and also studied and trained with William J. Dometrich in the style of Chito-ryu.

Moore has studied martial arts for over 50 years, and is a four-time world karate champion.

Moore has fought some of the top fighters in the world and also competed against Michael G. Foster (Miami 1965), Mike Stone, Jim 'Ronin' Harrison, Fred Wren, Chuck Norris, and Joe Lewis.

Moore began to travel with a handful of his students to several tournaments as far away as Canada.

He later ventured out opening karate schools throughout the Cincinnati area and began traveling the Midwest and East coast.

Being successful in competition, he meets the father of American Karate Robert A. Trias. Robert Trias with his skills and ability took Moore under his wings.

He continued to train with Trias at various tournaments and seminars, learning the Kenpo and Goju-Ryu styles of Karate, Moore traveled many times to the USKA headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona where he had received rank up through his Masters level while in the USKA.

Trias taught many style, but his main style was Shuri-Ryu.

While Moore spent time in the USKA, Maung Gyi took him under his wings, taking him as a personal student.

Gyi taught him Bando, stick fighting, and all the various weapons too numerous to name.

Gyi was also Moore's kickboxing instructor, teaching Moore all the moves of thai boxing.

Later, Vic Moore and Joe Lewis introduced kickboxing to America on the Merv Griffin TV show in 1973.

Moore and Joe Lewis were the first to introduce kickboxing on national TV and were some of the first professional kickboxers in the United States.

Grand Master Rico Guy

was a prominent figure in the martial arts community, known for his expertise and dedication to teaching.

He was the founder and head of the U.S. Budo Kai-Kan dojo in New York City, and he held a high ranking in several disciplines, including Iaido, Kendo, Goju-Ryu Karate, and Go Kempo-Jitsu.

At the age of 11, Rico Guy began studying martial arts with Grandmaster Billy Davis, Jiu jitsu master from Staten Island.

Rico wore and old suit coat rather than a gi top and his obi (belt) was a men’s necktie. A couple of years later, GM Davis brought him to Sensei Conrad where he began the study of Ishin Ryu karate.

After a few years Rico began his studies with Bill DeMonte and later, Chris DeBaise, studying Japanese Goju Karate along which included sparing, katas, and weaponry.

Louie Delgado and Chuck Merriman were also students there.

Rico and Louie Delgado, along with Owen Watson practiced Goju-ryu Karate at the “University Of The Streets” on 7th St, East Village in Manhattan.

They wanted to upgrade their ranking system so they invited Frank Ruiz, a substantially rated Black Belt under Peter Urban.

The four discussed opening a Goju dojo.

Ruiz was teaching goju in the Bronx at the Nisei Judo school.

They decided to borrow the name of “Nisei” from that school.

The new school would be called Nisei Goju.