By RAUL GARCIA JR

The Texas Kajukenbo Gaylord Method School of Karate celebrated its 50th Anniversary at its 12th Annual Texas Kajukenbo Memorial Tournament in honor of the founder of the karate school, Juan “Johnny” Valdivia.

Mercedes Mayor Oscar Montoya and Commissioners Ruben Saldana and Joe Martinez were there to announce the City Proclamation in honor of the school’s milestone, its founder and its mission to help fight cancer by raising funds to help families dealing with the life threatening disease. 

Montoya also recognized President Kelly Gaylord McCormick of the Kajukenbo Association of America for her outstanding contributions to the martial arts community and her exemplary leadership to the KAA.

She traveled from California to participate with the school and celebrate Mercedes’ Great Grandmaster Charles Gaylord Day. Her Father Charles H. Gaylord was honored in April 2007 with a Mercedes City Proclamation declaring April 21 Great Grandmaster Charles H. Gaylord Day. He also was given the key to the city during his visit to Mercedes in 1994. 

“I’m so honored and privileged to receive this award at the 12th annual Texas Kajukenbo Memorial Karate Tournament held in Mercedes, Texas from the mayor of Mercedes. I was surprised and a little emotional thinking about how my father may of felt when he received the key to the City from the mayor years before,” Kelly said on Facebook.

Leading to the tournament Gaylord worked out with the students at Texas Kajukenbo Gaylord Method school on Thursday. She showed the students first hand the fundamentals of Kajukenbo the Gaylord Method and helped many of the students perfect their forms for the Saturday April 20th tournament.

More than 10 schools and more than 100 karate students participated in the event held on April 20, and showed off their skills. Many performed weapon demonstrations, karate forms and tested their might fighting one another.

Montoya proclaimed at the tournament Juan “Johnny” Valdivia Day the third Saturday of April when the tournament is held annually.

According to School’s Grandmaster, Armando Saldana, Valdivia asked him to raise money for people with cancer. Valdivia died after a short bout with cancer in 2008 and was assisted by The Light of Hope, a nonprofit organization with a mission to assist families with travel, room and board when traveling for cancer treatment. Valdivia was assisted by the Light of Hope during his treatment.

Also attending  the tournament, Valdivia and Gaylord Day festivities were Sigung Lonnie Wright of the Kajukenbo Institute of Self Defense in Washington State. Wright has attended the last two tournaments and helped train students at the school. 

Sigung Marc Cantu also attended to honor both his, Uncle Grandmaster Valdivia and Gaylord Day.  Cantu also traveled from California where he trains. He earned his black belt from Valdivia in 2005.