Owen County’s Guardian Martial Arts Dojo Serves As Host Site For Karate Training Camp Small Circle Jujitsu Grandmaster Leon Jay Instructs Camp by Michael Stanley Staff Writer Professor Leon Jay, Grandmas- ter of Small Circle Jujitsu doesn’t exactly look to be in his 50’s, and he certainly doesn’t move like he’s 50. This was evident Saturday after- noon on the dojo floor of Guardian Martial Arts on Little Flock Road in rural southeastern Owen County. Professor Jay made a trip to Master Gary Cunningham’s per- sonal dojo from London, England, but first made a pit stop in Long Beach, California, where he met up with several other martial arts masters. The reasoning for their visit to Guardian Martial Arts wasn’t just to catch up, but to train as part of the Professor Jay’s Small Circle Jujitsu 2009 Midwest Camp as nearly 100 martial art- ists were in attendance to learn from the very best. “It was the first of its kind and the first camp here at Guardian Grandmaster of Small Circle Jujitsu Professor Leon Jay (left) uses a finger lock to remove a Martial Arts. Most training camps knife from the hand of Master Norm Johnson of Maui, Hawaii. Jay made a trip from London, Eng- are held at hotels and the “dojo” is land to the Little Flock Road dojo of Master Gary Cunningham last Saturday to teach a two-day a cleared out meeting room,” Cun- camp in Small Circle Jujitsu. (Staff Photo by Michael Stanley) ningham explained. “The training father, Professor and founder of floor here at Guardian Martial Arts Small Circle Jujitsu Grandmaster is a dream for any practitioner who Wally Jay. takes a throw or hard fall. Also, “We have Dave Castoldi, who participants have the option of ac- flew in from Florida, and Dave tually camping out on the grounds Quinonez is a world champion in (which several people did). That not Judo many times over. He came in only saves a tremendous amount from California, where my father’s of money on hotel costs, but allows home club is,” Jay explained. “My participants to enjoy the camara- father was the creator of our sys- derie and the peace and quiet of tem, Small Circle Jujisu. Back in beautiful southern Indiana.” the early ‘60’s before Bruce Lee Karate masters from all over went to L.A., he used to come over the country and globe traveled to to the house and train with Dad. take part in the camp, including In fact, if you look at Bruce Lee’s Master David Rhoades of Bloom- first book, Chinese Gung-Fu: The ington, Professor David Castoldi of Philosophical Art of Self Defense, Florida, Master David Quinonez of two Hawaiians did the forward for California, Grandmaster Will Hig- it; one of them was my dad and the ginbotham of Indianapolis, Master other was Ed Parker and James Norm Johnson of Maui, Hawaii Y. Lee. Bruce used to come over and Master Ken Smith of Chicago. and wait for dad to come home “The turnout was tremendous from work. He’d come over and Professor Leon Jay strikes Grandmaster Will Higginbotham and people came from all over work out upstairs, he’d push the during a training exercise at Guardian Martial Arts Saturday North America, Hawaii and Eng- furniture around; my mom would afternoon. (Staff Photo by Michael Stanley) land. Now that we are “on the make tea for he and Linda. I’m map”, next year we anticipate dou- like six or seven years old. I’d come ble the numbers,” Cunningham home and say ‘Hey Bruce, Hey said. “Anyone is welcome to come kid,’ stuff like that. Dad was very to a camp. The training was spec- forward thinking in what he does, tacular. Professor Leon Jay is so and Bruce wanted to learn from awesome, you have to see him in the best, and so he did. When he action to believe your eyes. He moved from Seattle to Oakland, he is lightening fast and teaches ef- lived about two miles away from fective self-defense techniques for us, so he would walk over with people of any size. Professor David Jimmy Lee and be on the porch Castoldi has so many cool knife de- waiting for Dad to come home.” fense techniques that are easy for Jay recalled the experience of anyone to learn. Grandmaster Will having Bruce Lee around his home Higginbotham can knock anyone at a young age. out with just a touch. Master Ken “It was great, because Bruce Smith wields and defends from a used to come back, and Dad would stick like flowing water.” throw luaus to raise money for Seeing the nearly finished prod- the Judo club, so we would have a uct of Cunningham’s dojo, which couple thousand people at a time, he says is just 80 percent finished, and Bruce would come over and Jay was impressed. do demonstrations of the floating “It’s fantastic and lovely over punch, the one-inch punch and Master Gary Cunningham, owner of Guardian Martial Arts, with here this time of year, because it’s all kinds of stuff,” Jay said. “You raining in England right now,” Jay would just kind of go, ‘wow!’ It was best friend, Tracy. “She also happens to be the mother of our two said. “We know each other through amazing.” wonderful children, Ryder and Tessa,” Cunningham explained. martial arts. A few years ago when Jay explained the concept of the “Tracy was very helpful in running a smooth camp with almost 100 I was in Bloomington doing a semi- art form created by his father. people in attendance. I couldn’t have done it without her. The camp nar, he showed me this place here “The concept behind Small Cir- was an absolute success.” (Staff Photo by Michael Stanley) that he built, which is fantastic. cle Jujitsu is not how much you training camps for various forms any organization that is looking It’s a fabulous venue and a great hurt the guy; it’s how little you of martial arts in the future. Jay for a beautiful facility to rent for dojo to work in. We talked about have to hurt him to defend your- also hopes to make the camp an a special occasion is welcome to this, it’s taken a few years to real- self and still control him as well,” annual event. inquire. I would like to once again ize, and I’m impressed with what Jay said. “That’s the hardest part. “We also look forward to spon- thank Professor Leon Jay, all the he’s done here. The mat space is It’s easy to just smash the face, soring camps for Ryukyu Kempo instructors, all the participants, terrific, it’s a great place for us to but liability is an issue as well and (Okinawan pressure point karate) my students, and my family for work out and share our ideas.” humanity.” and Modern Arnis (Filipino blend helping make this camp such a Jay spoke of the various martial Cunningham expressed the de- of Karate-jujitsu with emphasis on huge success.” artists in attendance and of his sire to continue holding additional stick and knife defense). Actually, Pictured in back, left to right; Master David Rhoades of Bloomington, Professor David Castoldi of Florida, Professor Leon Jay of London, England, Master David Quinonez of California, and Grandmaster Will Higginbotham of Indianapolis. Front row, left to right; Master Norm Johnson of Maui, Hawaii; Master Gary Cunningham of Spencer, and Master Ken Smith of Chicago. (Staff Photo by Michael Stanley).