The building that houses the school is in a commercial area off Parker Road and south east of Centennial Airport. People started arriving well before the 12:30 start time of the Seminar.

When you walk into the front office you can see thru a window at the back wall into a well equipped and prepared workout room. The office walls are covered with plaques, certificates and pictures of past and present practitioners of the art. At center of attention is the KAJUKENBO TREE. We all took the time to find our branch and were we fit in the history of this work of art. As the school filled with friends and strangers, introductions were made. Hand shanks accompanied sincere greetings. I was pleasantly surprised to be re-united with several friends from the early Denver days. Most important for me was that my sons, Alex and Josh, were accepted immediately and made to feel at home through out the experience.

At the front of the work out room are two sets of homemade bleachers. Along the left side wall hung off each steel roof beam are six different heavy bags, pulled up out of the way for the Seminar that was about to begin. On the right wall mirrors hung and at the far corner is a speed bag. At the near end is a headache bag. The back wall is lined with homemade shelving that store all types of equipment for sparring, stick and weapon practice and assisted striking drills. There are two dummies clothed with padded gear for Doce Pares sparring. The floor is fully padded and a strict no shoes policy enforced. This is a training facility worthy of what was about to begin.

The room was full of anxious participants and the more advanced took up areas where they began their warm-ups. Some stretching, some running through forms, others working on techniques with partners. Most of the younger students milled around watching with interest and admiration the work of the experienced. There was a small group of us, me included that watched and dreamed of days gone by, wishing we could step up to and bow in for this event. We did instead do our best to capture the Seminar with photographs and video for all to review later.

There was on the floor some real talent that was fun to watch. One in particular would be Si-hing Kevin Jackson. He stepped to the head of the class, informally and with humility, introduced himself and began the official warm ups. His approach was unique, explaining that he was aware we all knew how to do push ups, sit ups and jumping jacks. He wanted to move beyond that. Si-hing Kevin’s approach was to identify training techniques pairs could work that would provide all the stretching and warm up necessary for the seminar. After about one half hour and six different exercises the class was warmed up and ready. As they were taking a breather from the last go around, Grand Master Dacascos walked into the room and up to the mat. I took the honor of standing and shouting to the group, “Class”!! “Attention”!!

The next four hours flew by. For the novice I am sure some of it will take years to sink in and make sense. For the advanced students present some of the ideas they struggled with but eagerly applied and repeated so as to instill in their muscle memory banks. Those of us on the bleachers watched Grand Master Dacascos move about with grace and strength as only a Master can.

The primary fighting concept Grand Master shared is the “Buzzsaw”. It requires continuous motion and striking, much like the teeth on a saw blade turning. A lot of the technique employed is not new to students of Grand Master Dacascos. The revolution is in the application. In our discussion while observing we recognized a lot of what we saw as from the past in free form Monkey Line and Multiman defense training. What this Seminar does is breaks down the dance Grand Master use to perform on us into individual striking movements. With a lot of practice and some luck those privileged to share this Seminar will grown as more capable warriors.

Si-hing Kevin Jackson, Sifu’s Leonard Torres and Tim Mills moved about among the younger students working with them as they tried to grasp the concept of continuous striking as opposed to the conventional strike and draw back. The more advanced students were fun to watch and compare as we could see them rapidly pick up on and improve their approach to this concept.

There was more taught and learned that afternoon, but I leave you with this challenge. When the opportunity arises in the future to attend one of Grand Master Dacascos’ Seminars, don’t waste it. We traveled eight hundred miles for the experience. My sons now understand why I remain a loyal student.

With respect,

Roland (Jinx) Jenkins 28 April 2009