Remembering Ronald Duncan

Ronald Duncan was like one of my father’s closest friends. He was with my dad at the 1965 World’s Fair in his late 20’s performing demonstrations at the Japanese Pavilion.I became close to him during those times and have fond memories of his ability as a Jiu Jitsu and Ninjutsu practitioner.

I attended many of his ninjutsu camps at storm king mountain with Billy Shovan, who helped get the Action Film Academy, Martial Art Symposium and Martial Art University there on the premises.  I thought many times at his camp and felt honored to be one of the instructors.

He was also someone who I honored at the first 1989 Karate International East Coast Hall of Fame in Teaneck NJ.

I was with him several months before he passed at his ninjutsu camp - the last thing he said to me was “when are we going to do a seminar together?” He was truly the pioneer of Ninjutsu in america.

He was a marine, a father, and a man who everybody respected.  His legacy continues through his son Greg who owns a dojo in Union NJ and Ronald Duncan JR.

I believe he is somewhere doing a seminar with my dad and the rest of the crew.

Remembering Joe Lewis

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I met Joe Lewis in the 1970s, at the time he was one of the best point fighters in the world. Joe, Jeff Smith and Bill Wallace, Isiasis Duenas, and Vernon Mason were winners in their weight divisions at first Professional Karate Association World Championships in 1974.  He knew my father as a Ju Jitsuan and had respect for my dad for being one of the pioneers of Ju Jitsu and introducing Martial Arts at the ‘64 World's Fair. His 10th Dan was given to him by my dad, the only man he would accept it from.

Soke Michael DePasquale Jr and Joe Lewis at the
 First Karate College

Joe and I really connected around 1987 when we did a camp up in New York State, with Jeff Smith, Bill Wallace and my Dad, the first actual major camp which Karate College was modeled after. We had a great time up there, and I got to become close friends with him.

The year after, things snowballed, Karate College started, and Karate International began.  Joe appeared on the cover of Karate International four or five times. In 1985 Joe appeared on cover of Kombat Karate and did numerous interviews concerning the World Team and the new Joe Lewis Karate System, at the time, before Joe Lewis Fighting System.  Joe wrote a column for me in my magazine for a decade, which was fun spending time in many places working on the many subject’s for his column.

Joe Lewis on the Cover of Michael DePasquale
Jr's Combat Karate June, 1987.

Joe was one of the first successful Martial Artist in the movie business, with such movies as "Jaguar Lives!" (1979) starring with the likes of Peter Cushing, John Huston and Barbara Bach.  He became a celebrity because of his looks, reputation and ability.

Bruce Lee sought after Joe, as an actor. Joe was his own man.  Joe had the opportunity to jump at major studio roles and chose to pursue the freedom of independent roles. Joe started making movies, "Force: Five" (1981) with many fine actors such as Sonny Barnes and Richard Norton.

Joe also did movies in china, “Zhan Long” (1988) and “Mr. X” (1995) I ended up connecting  with his contacts at Golden Sun and I did my movie with them, “China Heat, Paid in Blood” (1990).  I started Action Film Academy the same year I went to China and Joe came in the first few years as well as the later years. He thoroughly enjoyed the experience.  Karate College was primarily where we all met up each year throughout the 90s.

Mike D and Joe Lewis on the set of Ring Deadly Street Lethal

 

We ended up doing "Ring Deadly, Street Lethal" (1993), the only video series Joe did with anybody.  We bonded over this. My father introduced us on camera.  I think the ring Deadly Street lethal waso one of the best things we ever did together, before the UFC, before any of that happened, Joe, and myself were literally showing the combative street-to-ground techniques.  

Joe Lewis 10th Dan promotion by
Michael DePasquale Sr with Walter Anderson Present

In the mid 90s Joe requested I approach my father to be the one to present him with his 10th Degree Black Belt. At the many others had offered him rank, but he really looked up to my father and they had an amazing bond. Through that bond he said 'absolutely.'

Joe had his best friend Walter Anderson, the head of Parade Magazine came to my school in Paramus for the presentation ceremony. They were Vietnam buddies, he was a Sergeant in the Marine Corps and he remembered his days in the armed forces fondly. Through my father, through me and through Karate College through Jerry Beasley, he got to know Bill D’Urso another marine and made other friends.  

Joe Lewis, Bill Wallace, J.T. Will,
Michael De Pasquale Jr at Karate collage

We did many seminars together, including the first IFOJJ Martial Art University hosted at Karate College Radford University, with Jerry Beasley and Bill Wallace. Joe and Bill D'Urso were always a part of and Bill still is part of, MAU, where we will be honoring Joe and a lot of other pioneers this year. So do not miss it!

Bill Wallace, Joe Lewis , Michael De Pasquale Jr
 in Memphis Tn doing a seminar early  90's

My relationship became tight when traveling to Banff, Canada, to the All-Star Karate Kamp, with Bill "Superfoot" Wallace, Graciela Casillas, Peter "Sugarfoot" Cunningham and many others. We also traveled to Edmonton, where Joe, my Dad and I were the 3 instructors hosted by one of my students and 400 people showed up. We did so many seminars, including a three-day Street Fighting Seminar in Massachusetts hosted by Rob Buckland. The MA symposium was another that we did several years in a row at the Storm king school in Cornwall on Hudson N.Y. I hosted that with Robert Maquen.

Joe has a great organization to this day, with great people. He started “The Joe Lewis Fighting System,” in which some great people became members and black belts after many years, including Jeff Troshane, Mike Allen, John Maynard and many others. His system continues to grow, have work with Bill Wallace to keep legacy alive.

I was honored to cast him in my movie and co-star in "The Cutoff" (1998) filmed at Screen Gem Studios, which happens to be located around the corner from his house. He starred in it with me Joe Hess, Keith Vitali, and Joe Bonacci, my Father Michael DePasquale Sr., Wally Jay and Frank Capra Jr had special appearances in it. This was one of the Highlight’s of my career with him. He did a spectacular job - at one point he played a bum in it, he was a great character actor. We had a lot of fun on the set with Joe Lewis and everyone loved him, we had a blast.

Joe's Suprise 50th Birthday Party with Jay T. Will,
Bone Crusher Smith, Jerry Beasley, John Maynard,
Gerald Waller of Screen Gem Studios, and Head of
The Joe Lewis Fan Club, Warren Kenedy and
Family

On Joe's 50th Birthday, we held a suprise birthday party at John Maynard's Dojo, in Wilmington, NC. We did some seminars before we brought Joe over, for his suprise with many notable good friends. It was the first time I saw Joe so emotional, he was quite suprised that we held this private event for him. We all were in awe of the posters and parafinalia that was brought to represent Joe's life and accomplishments.

He was very selective about his friends, and if he didn't like you - you knew it. He didn’t like those who used other people.  Joe was always true to the people who were real, like Grandmaster Taika Seiyu Oyata, Ed Parker, Chuck Norris, my dad Michael De Pasquale Sr, Wally Jay and others that proved to be the real deal. He had respect for men who honored their family and this country. He was a pioneer in more ways than one. He was an historian, philosopher and phenomenal athlete who pioneered kickboxing around the world. My love will never fade for Joe, he was my big brother.

He loved my father, and honored my father before and after he passed on.  The one thing I will never forget is the speech, made two months after his passing at Martial Art University, about my dad and what he meant to him. He said "if there was ever a saint, in the Martial Art community it was Michael DePasquale Sr.” He was always at my Martial Art University events, I honored him there many times.

What you saw was what you got with Joe.  I will remember Joe as a man of integrity dignity honor and a fantastic presence with people.

That is why I will always honor Joe at any one of my events just like I honor my father. All the people that we are honoring are to keep their legacy alive - to acknowledge they laid the groundwork for us. They are our Dale Carnegies, Rockefellers, and Henry Fords; we remember them for what they left us.  We will always honor them; there is no reason why we should not keep their legacy alive. Join us at this great event and honor your linage and legacy.

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Tribute to The Grand Masters in Action

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There are many people that we would like to honor. We are accepting recommendations on worthy honorees for this years event.

The reason why the 2013 Martial Arts University is The 20 Year Tribute to the Grandmasters in Action to remember posthumously all our mentors and honor them by practicing the art they passed down to us.

The Image Awards are dedicated for the time one has put into practicing these arts our pioneers have handed down to us.

20 Years ago Michael DePasquale Jr had the honor of hosting the Grandmasters in Action, which honored great pioneers of the Martial Arts such as, Antonio Pereira, Ronald Duncan, Professor Florendo M. Visitacion, Pete Siringano Sr, Wally Jay, and Michael DePasquale Sr who are no longer with us.

In 1989 Soke DePasquale held the first East Coast Hall of Fame through his magazine Karate International. This was done with no whistles or bells in a gymnasium in Teaneck NJ, where he inducted the great pioneers, Peter Urban, Henry Cho, Don Nagle, as well the above, and more.

Moses Powell, along with Soke DePasquale Sr. co hosted a seminar in New York City. The pair had also previously presented at the 1964 Worlds Fair in Queens with notable Martial Arts Figures, Ronald Duncan, Thomas Lapuppet, George Challion, the Stern Brothers among others; where Michael DePasquale Sr hosted and emceed an exhibit at the Japanese Pavilion.

Junji Saito we are proud to honor because he was the instructor of Michael Depasquale Sr. and an influence on many, including practitioners of the Hakkoryu, Diatoryu, and Kittoryu systems.  He was sent to America, by Okuyama, the founder of the Hakkoryu Ju Jitsu system. With Okuyama's Blessing, Junji Saito and Michael Depasquale Sr.founded the Yoshitsune System.

Joe Lewis is probably the youngest to pass out of the group but truly was a great friend and mentor in many ways to many of us. In the 60s, Joe was the most celebrated point fighter, winning every tournament he was in. Joe and Soke Michael DePasquale Jr did the video Ring Deadly Street Lethal in 1994 before the UFC even began. He was the kickboxing legend and considered the founder of kickboxing in america when he was the first kickboxer shown on Wide World of Sports where kickboxing was introduced. He co-starred in Soke Michael DePasquale Jr’ The Cutoff  movie did a phenomenal job. Joe Lewis is the also responsible for the Joe Lewis Fighting System with many followers to this day.

Ed Parker did his last interview with Soke Michael DePasquale Jr’s magazine Karate International . Ed Parker  was famous for the Long Beach Internationals in Long Beach California, where he introduced Bruce Lee. Soke Michael DePasquale Jr knew Ed and his son well and sees him truly, as Kempo’s most influential figure.

Antonio Pereira, crafted his skill in combat during WWII. He took his knowledge and turned it into practical defense after the war. He traveled to Japan to learn directly from the source. He formalized the name of his eclectic method Miyama Ryu Jujutsu, which means School of the Three Mountains. Many people carry on his legacy, such as Grandmaster Nigron, former Police Detective Miguel Ibbarra, among many other instructors worldwide.

Henry Cho is also responsible for the largest Taekwondo East Coast tournament for decades and had the largest school in the ny metropolitan area. He truly was a Taekwondo legend and pioneer. Henry Cho was also honored at the 1989 KI East Coast Pioneer Awards, the first of it's kind.

Hanshi Pete Siringano Sr was a distinguished military veteran, and was known as a no-nonsense, tough, traditional Sensei, training in both Goshindo Kempo Karate & Samurai Jiu Jitsu.Hanshi Siringano with Soke Michael DePasquale Jr conducted the Karate International Special Olympics World East Coast Championships in Hackensack, NJ. His legacy lives on through his son Pete Siringano Jr, among many other instructors worldwide.

Don Nagle was infamous for being very aware of his opponent’s intentions. He left behind a legacy of perfection as the only goal, through dedication and perseverance. His legacy continues through notable practitioners, such as Ralph Passaro, who for many years continued to run Don Nagle's Hall of Fame Awards, among many other instructors worldwide.

Ronald Duncan was the first to practice and teach Ninjutsu in the states in the 60’s and 70’s before the ninja craze hit America in the 80's and 90's. Ronald Duncan was also the first to be shown catching live arrows with his bare hands. He was also a certified expert in firearms, Professor Duncan was quite proficient in combative and gun disarming tactics. His son Greg Duncan continues his legacy by teaching his fathers system, among many other instructors worldwide.

Professor Visitacion was a powerful, but gentle artist. Growing up in rural Philippines, he encouraged modesty in appearance, Professor Vee’s teachings went beyond physical movements involving comportment and behavior. His legacy lives on notably through David James, who teaches Professor Vee's Ju Jitsu, among many other instructors worldwide.

Peter Urban, the founder of the karate styles known as American Goju trained under Oyama.  He propagated the popularity of Goju Ryu to America and was a veteran of the US Navy. His legacy lives through the many people who teach his Goju system, such as Joe Hess, Ed McGrath, and many others too numerous to mention.

Professor Wally Jay was the founder of the Gendai Budo martial art Small Circle JuJitsu - Professor Jay’s years of experience in classical jujitsu, judo, boxing, weightlifting, wrestling, aikido, kung fu, other martial arts training, and many periods of trial and error, led him to develop his theory known as Small Circle Theory.

The legacies of these Grandmasters are too numerous to mention, if we have missed crucial parts of your linage please let us know.

In the coming weeks we will be posting stories in our blog about these Grandmasters. We invite you to read them and share your own stories and connections to these pioneers, with us and the world, in the comments.

Let us record our art's history together by sharing our stories of our forefathers and where their systems are today!

• Click here to Register for the Martial Arts University 2013 - 20 Year Tribute to the Grandmasters in Action with Early Bird Discount - Group rates are available for instructors.  
• Click here to Nominate a person for a 20 Year Tribute to the Grandmasters in Action Image Award

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