MERCEDES KARATE TEAM TRAVELS TO CALIFORNIA, KAJUKENBO ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA GATHERING
BY RAUL GARCIA JR
Saldana’s Texas Kajukenbo Gaylord Method School of Karate students jump kicked their way to China Town with their Grandmaster Armando Saldana.
The students were on their way to the Bruce Lee’s murals and exhibit about the cultural martial arts icon at the Chinese Historical Society of America Museum located in San Francisco, California.
It was their first day of their weekend trip recently. Saldana and his students made the trip across the country to meet with the Kajukenbo Association of America schools and to take part in a national self defense workout headed by the organization’s top Grandmasters. The gathering was also to celebrate Great Grandmaster Charles Gaylord birthday anniversary and to honor his legacy for bringing the Kajukebo Martial Art to California where he trained many students through the ranks to Black Belt.
At the workout, Gaylord’s successor Great Grandmaster Melchor Chavez, gathered the many Kajukenbo Association of America students and proceeded to show them one of many self defensive grab techniques.
Great Grandmaster Chavez was in his old stomping grounds of California wearing his aged gui and kajukenbo patch that he practiced with while training with the late Great Grandmaster Gaylord who passed down the powerful and graceful techniques to him that he taught at the K.A.A. workout.
Chavez, who was named Great Grandmaster of the Association along with Great Grandmaster James Juarez, each took on the duty after the passing of Great Grandmaster Charles H. Gaylord in 2009 who headed the martial arts organization since 1967.
The workout and dinner to celebrate Great Grandmaster Gaylord’s Birthday Anniversary attracted more than 150 Kajukenbo Gaylord Method students. Students as young as five years and adults well into their 70’s made it a point to show up and learn from Gaylord’s top students.
For many the training was fun, for many it was painful, and served as an awakening and change of their normal karate practice routine.
Grandmaster Armando Saldana finished the training with a demonstration showing off Gaylord’s Method by emulating Gaylord’s teaching style.
