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Interview: Bruce Heilman, 9th Dan Okinawa Kenpo Karate and Kobudo

March 5, 2010 | Author: Matthew | Filed under: Interviews,Martial Arts,Okinawa Kenpo,karate,kobudo

Bruce Heilman is the founder of the International Karate Kobudo Federation and owner of the Heilman Karate Academy. Hanshi Heilman has spent over 40 years in the pursuit of martial arts and has contributed significantly to the growth and propagation of the Okinawa Kenpo style.

hanshi bruce heilman with bo

In addition to creating an original video series exploring the forms and concepts of Okinawa Kenpo, Hanshi Heilman has been featured in multiple martial arts publications and programs. For a full look at Hanshi Heilman’s experience consult his martial arts resume here. Mr. Heilman has a diverse background in jujutsu, karate, and kobudo, and has studied with some excellent instructors including Hank Talbot, Robert Trias, and Seikichi Odo (who’s style Hanshi Heilman continues to spread today).

I recently had the opportunity to sit down and talk with Mr. Heilman about a wide array of topics, ranging from childhood troubles to building organizations. I’ve included this interview in digestible video pieces so that you can enjoy as much as your time allows.

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Early Experiences

In this video I ask Mr. Heilman about his very first experiences in the late 60′s with the martial arts and what made him step into a dojo for the first time. Also discussed is the character and teaching methods of his unique jujutsu instructor Hank Talbot (pictured here), who was known to use his cigar as an implement while on the mat.

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Study with Robert Trias

In this next video I ask Hanshi about how he transferred from studying with Hank Talbot in karate and jujutsu to full-on karate study with Robert Trias. For those who are unfamiliar with him, Robert Trias is considered one of the fathers of American karate (along with Ed Parker) and was one of the strongest driving forces in the states for karate study. in fact, Trias Sensei is accredited with opening the first commercial martial arts dojo in the United States and the development of the United States Karate Alliance.

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Study with Seikichi Odo

Next Heilman Sensei discusses how he came to know Seikichi Odo, and what drew him to his eventual teacher. Hanshi also elaborates on his love for weapons and why he chose to pursue them so passionately when other opportunities (such as continuing study with Robert Trias) were present. For those who are unfamiliar with Seikichi Odo, he was the successor to Shigeru Nakamura, the man credited with developing Okinawa Kenpo. Odo Sensei was a world renowned karateka and weapons practitioner and did much to bring Okinawa Kenpo to the United States.

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The Birth of Okinawa Kenpo,  And The Struggles to Organize

In this video Hanshi Heilman explores the beginnings of Okinawa Kenpo and what Shigeru Nakamura had originally intended for the style.

Early in this video Hanshi refers to a picture of a gathering of Okinawan Karateka, which can be viewed here. Also discussed is how Okinawa Kenpo shifted and changed after the eventual deaths of Shigeru Nakamura and Zenryo Shimabukuro, the two figureheads of the group.

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The Future of Martial Arts, And Hanshi Heilman’s Concerns

This video steps away from the biographical and explores some of the ideas Heilman Sensei has about the future of the martial arts. Hanshi begins by explaining why he chose to name his federation the IKKF (International Karate Kobudo Federation) rather than something Okinawa-Kenpo-Specific. He goes on to explain his concerns about the focus on theatrics and gymnastics over fundamentals and application. Also discussed is the current trend toward quick gratification, and the need to teach students how to overcome failure.

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A Gathering of Styles

In the final video Hanshi Heilman talks about how he came to know some of the most influential martial artists in the United States, and how he turned potential competition into an opportunity to learn and grow together. Some of the practitioners mentioned in this video include Bill Hayes of Shobayashi Shorin Ryu, George Alexander of Matsumura Shorin Ryu and Hakutsuru Kenpo, Chuck Merriman of Goju Ryu, Patrick McCarthy of Koryu Uchinadi, Miguel Ibarra of Aikijujutsu, Jody Paul of Motobu Udundi, and more.

Hanshi Heilman also explains how he first developed his annual training event at the International Karate Kobudo Federation’s honbu dojo, and why he believes it is critical to stay exposed to skillful practitioners of other styles.

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I hope you enjoyed learning about the early days of Okinawa Kenpo and Hanshi Heilman’s experience in developing the arts. If you’d like to learn more, the complete interview is available on Youtube in a special playlist. In addition to the topics covered here, Hanshi Heilman discusses how his teachers influenced him, what he believes is the optimal learning process for karate, what his motivations were for establishing the IKKF, and what trials he had to endure to make that happen.

Thank you to Hanshi Heilman for this interview and to you the readers for being a part of this site!

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This entry was posted on Friday, March 5th, 2010 and is filed under Interviews, Martial Arts, Okinawa Kenpo, karate, kobudo. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

xygoxen
  • Some of your readers may not be aware of just how rare is the title of "Hanshi."

    In the aikido style I once studied, at 1st dan, you were considered to now be a real but beginning student. Your study up until now has only brought you to the starter's blocks.

    At 3rd dan, you were now considered to be a serious student. At 5th dan, you were now considered one who practices the art.

    At 6th dan, you were a shihan,師範. At this point, you've not only learned all of the physical names techniques of the art, but you could teach them and correctly answered all the technical questions. You have learned the whole style.

    At 8th dan, you have mastered the art.

    But there is more ...

    After being recognized as a master of the art, no matter what dan rank, the next step is "hanshi (範士)." Note that this isn't just "shihan" re arranged. A hanshi is considered to be the very model of the art. The master now is the embodiment of the art and is a living example of the art to everyone else.
  • Hey Matt,
    Very cool interview with Master Heilman.
    He is one of those rare living legends of martial arts.
    Training full-on with Master Robert Trias, (whom I
    featured some time ago, too) is something really,
    really special.
    Kudos for bringing it to the people!
  • A really enjoyable interview :)

    Great post =D
  • I especially liked the part where he discusses his concerns in relation to martial arts... It's food for thought, that's for sure.
  • williamjosephhill
    Thank you for posting this. It was good to learn about the genesis of Okinawan Kenpo. I've been trying to dig deeper into Okinawan Kenpo's roots, and this interview is very well done.
  • Totally enjoyed the interview. Also, I like the addition of videos to the blog. All very well done
  • Thanks a lot Jorge! Your opinion is definitely something that holds weight with me, so I'm glad to hear you like the direction.
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