Sensei Ron teaching at ITMA seminar - 10/22/2011
Ron Breines - Kyoshi/Rokudan
Kyoshi Ron Breines began his martial arts training at the age of 10 in 1968 under his uncle Al Braun, a Special Forces combat instructor (101st Airborne, Green Beret, Rangers, etc.) during both the Korean and Vietnam wars. Ron first trained in the Jr. Golden Gloves until 1970 when his uncle brought him to a Special Forces friend, Bob Circcione, who had opened an Asian martial arts dojo on Long Island. Under these two combat veterans, Ron studied a combination of Japanese Jujutsu and Okinawan Karate, which Sensei Bob had studied in both Okinawa and mainland Japan throughout the 1950s and 60s while serving during the wars. Sensei Bob called his art, Kakuto Jujutsu, although much of the art was based on Karate kata bunkai (applications.)
Ron received his first black belt in Kakuto Jujutsu in 1978, then his second black belt in Kakuto Karate-do in 1980 when Sensei Bob split the belts into two categories (due to the amount of skills required for the black belt.) Sensei Bob finally offered a black belt without dan rankings (he did not believe in dan rankings) after a minimum number of years in the art when he felt the student was capable of teaching. Ron was 18 when he finally achieved his first black belt.
In 1976, Ron won a scholarship to Indiana State University in the sport of gymnastics. In 1977 Ron was one of two freshman to become a NCAA team member champion, competing with Olympian Kurt Thomas and against Oklahoma's Olympian Bart Conner. In Indiana Ron also studied karate with Sensei Rick Danley, who was also the assistant coach on the gymnastics team. .
Ron returned to New York after an injury in gymnastics, but resumed his training in martial arts with Sensei Bob until 1980 when Sensei Bob moved to California. Ron then trained with karate Sensei Mike Angelone (3rd dan in karate at the time) and Sensei Sup Kim (4th dan.) Senseis Mike and Sup were Chinese Goju students of Master Ron Van Clief (The Black Dragon in the Bruce Lee films) and Ron began his studies in Chinese Goju. He later competed in full contact karate tournaments, which at the time had few rules, many injuries - broken ankles, toes, a finger and an opponent's jaw. He left tournament karate undefeated after five tournaments, believing as Sensei Bob and his uncle had taught him (which master Gichin Funakoshi had also stated) that true martial arts was anathema to tournament kumite/shiai because of the deadliness of traditional karate/jujutsu techniques. The only kumite/shiai that was beneficial was bunkai kumite/shiai, which was becoming a lost skill - a major loss to the art, replaced by tournament kumite, which substituted inner growth (Kano's original concept of shiai) with medals and trophies.
In the early 1980s Ron moved to California, then Houston, where theatrical plays he had written were being performed. In both places, Ron continued his martial arts studies in various styles (jujutsu, aikido, kung fu) and then in 1985, he went to Israel in a Peace Corps. exchange program with Israel's Sherut La'am. While in Israel, Ron trained with the IDF commandoes in a Krav Maga course where he met IDF Instructor Avi Nardia, the founder of KAPAP based in Rochester, NY. Ron recently brought Retired Major Avi in as a Representative for ITMA, described below.
Ron moved to Japan in 1992-1996 with his wife Hinako and taught as an English professor at Takachiho University. In Japan Ron practiced various styles of martial arts, confirming and building on what he had learned in his early studies of Jujutsu. After a decade long hiatus from formal martial arts study teaching at The University of New Mexico and training horses (yet continuing to practice on his own,) Ron opened his own dojo in Ponderosa, New Mexico in 2009 focusing on a mix of Okinawan Karate and Japanese Jujutsu infused with other styles he had studied along the way. He added "ryu" (meaning school or style) to his sensei's style of Kakuto Jujutsu, calling his art "Kakuto-Ryu Jujutsu/Karate-jutsu - The Art of Hand to Hand Combat." He continues to study different styles of Karate and Jujutsu, Traditional Kodokan Judo with Sensei Linda Yiannakis (one of a handful in the direct line to Kano,) and exchanges ideas with other martial artists like Sensei George Kirby (10th dan) of Budoshin Jujitsu, Shotokan Karate Sensei Randy Sanders, Wa Shin Ryu Soke and Professor Andrew Yiannakis, Wado-ryu/bunkai expert Sensei Iain Abernethy, Goju-ryu Senseis Ray Perales, Kris Wilder and Lawrence Kane, Wing Chun with Sifu Phil Romero, etc. Ron also studied Batto-jutsu (sword,) Filipino Kali, and Okinawan Kobudo, which he teaches in his dojo.
Ron is also a Certified Firearms Instructor with the New Mexico Department of Public Safety and an NRA Certified Instructor, and teaches courses in CCW and tactical firearms training. He is also a lifetime member of Frontsight Firearms Training Institute in LV, Nevada and achieved "Graduate" certification in 2011 - one of 6 out of 44 in his class to graduate. Ron considers firearms to be a martial art. He has also competed in High Power Rifle, Shotgun and IDPA.
Ron trains horses and people interested in equestrian arts, which he sees as a form of martial art. Ron is currently training his horses in Yabusame, an ancient form of Japanese archery via horseback. Ron taught horsemanship in Cairo, Egypt and Yorkshire, England in 2009 and was the creator and director of the equestrian program at The Valles Caldera National Preserve in Jemez, NM from 2004-2006.
Martial Arts Affiliations and Associations:
-Kakuto Ryu-Jujutsu/Karate-jutsu Board members:
Sensei Jesse Ballou - Rokudan (honorary) KJJ/7th dan Wa Shin Ryu Jujutsu (honorary) and 7th dan Judo
Sensei Andrew Frye - Godan KJJ/4th dan Nihon Goshin Aikijutsu/2nd dan Judo/2nd dan Wa Shin Ryu Jujutsu
Sifu Phil Romero - Godan KJJ/Sifu Wing Chun (elder student of Hawkin's Cheung.)
Sensei Randy Sanders - Godan KJJ/6th-dan Shotokan Karate
- Institute of Traditional Martial Arts (ITMA) at The University of New Mexico - on Board of Directors; Director of "At Risk Youth Program" committee. ITMA is the only institute of its kind in the US and is made up of top sensei in the US and Internationally in traditional (classical) martial arts, with highly qualified National and International representatives and affiliates.
- Kokusai Budoin - International Martial Arts Federation - The oldest rank granting federation in Japan and the only martial arts organization recognized by the Japanese Government and the Emperor of Japan. Candidate for full member with Yo-dan (4th degree black belt) rank in Karate.
- American Jujitsu Association - affiliate of Budoshin Ju-Jitsu and Sensei George Kirby 10th dan.
- New Mexico Shotokan Karate - Dojo affiliate. Associate of Sensei Randy Sanders.
- Shotokan Karate-do International Federation (SKIF) under Kancho Hirokazu Kanazawa.
- International Karate-jutsu Association - affiliate.
- KAPAP - national affiliate.
- Education:
Master of Arts (+45) - English Literature/Creative writing, 1989. CUNY. Adjunct professor at universities (including UNM) for 15 years in US and Japan.
Bachelor of Business Administration - Economics - Hofstra University, 1981.
New Mexico Licensed Teacher. Taught high school seniors/juniors for 4 years in Jemez, NM, has been teaching a martial arts program in Jemez since 2009. Currently has over 45 students in the program.
For more information on Kyoshi Ron Breines contact: rabreines@yahoo.com
Ron received his first black belt in Kakuto Jujutsu in 1978, then his second black belt in Kakuto Karate-do in 1980 when Sensei Bob split the belts into two categories (due to the amount of skills required for the black belt.) Sensei Bob finally offered a black belt without dan rankings (he did not believe in dan rankings) after a minimum number of years in the art when he felt the student was capable of teaching. Ron was 18 when he finally achieved his first black belt.
In 1976, Ron won a scholarship to Indiana State University in the sport of gymnastics. In 1977 Ron was one of two freshman to become a NCAA team member champion, competing with Olympian Kurt Thomas and against Oklahoma's Olympian Bart Conner. In Indiana Ron also studied karate with Sensei Rick Danley, who was also the assistant coach on the gymnastics team. .
Ron returned to New York after an injury in gymnastics, but resumed his training in martial arts with Sensei Bob until 1980 when Sensei Bob moved to California. Ron then trained with karate Sensei Mike Angelone (3rd dan in karate at the time) and Sensei Sup Kim (4th dan.) Senseis Mike and Sup were Chinese Goju students of Master Ron Van Clief (The Black Dragon in the Bruce Lee films) and Ron began his studies in Chinese Goju. He later competed in full contact karate tournaments, which at the time had few rules, many injuries - broken ankles, toes, a finger and an opponent's jaw. He left tournament karate undefeated after five tournaments, believing as Sensei Bob and his uncle had taught him (which master Gichin Funakoshi had also stated) that true martial arts was anathema to tournament kumite/shiai because of the deadliness of traditional karate/jujutsu techniques. The only kumite/shiai that was beneficial was bunkai kumite/shiai, which was becoming a lost skill - a major loss to the art, replaced by tournament kumite, which substituted inner growth (Kano's original concept of shiai) with medals and trophies.
In the early 1980s Ron moved to California, then Houston, where theatrical plays he had written were being performed. In both places, Ron continued his martial arts studies in various styles (jujutsu, aikido, kung fu) and then in 1985, he went to Israel in a Peace Corps. exchange program with Israel's Sherut La'am. While in Israel, Ron trained with the IDF commandoes in a Krav Maga course where he met IDF Instructor Avi Nardia, the founder of KAPAP based in Rochester, NY. Ron recently brought Retired Major Avi in as a Representative for ITMA, described below.
Ron moved to Japan in 1992-1996 with his wife Hinako and taught as an English professor at Takachiho University. In Japan Ron practiced various styles of martial arts, confirming and building on what he had learned in his early studies of Jujutsu. After a decade long hiatus from formal martial arts study teaching at The University of New Mexico and training horses (yet continuing to practice on his own,) Ron opened his own dojo in Ponderosa, New Mexico in 2009 focusing on a mix of Okinawan Karate and Japanese Jujutsu infused with other styles he had studied along the way. He added "ryu" (meaning school or style) to his sensei's style of Kakuto Jujutsu, calling his art "Kakuto-Ryu Jujutsu/Karate-jutsu - The Art of Hand to Hand Combat." He continues to study different styles of Karate and Jujutsu, Traditional Kodokan Judo with Sensei Linda Yiannakis (one of a handful in the direct line to Kano,) and exchanges ideas with other martial artists like Sensei George Kirby (10th dan) of Budoshin Jujitsu, Shotokan Karate Sensei Randy Sanders, Wa Shin Ryu Soke and Professor Andrew Yiannakis, Wado-ryu/bunkai expert Sensei Iain Abernethy, Goju-ryu Senseis Ray Perales, Kris Wilder and Lawrence Kane, Wing Chun with Sifu Phil Romero, etc. Ron also studied Batto-jutsu (sword,) Filipino Kali, and Okinawan Kobudo, which he teaches in his dojo.
Ron is also a Certified Firearms Instructor with the New Mexico Department of Public Safety and an NRA Certified Instructor, and teaches courses in CCW and tactical firearms training. He is also a lifetime member of Frontsight Firearms Training Institute in LV, Nevada and achieved "Graduate" certification in 2011 - one of 6 out of 44 in his class to graduate. Ron considers firearms to be a martial art. He has also competed in High Power Rifle, Shotgun and IDPA.
Ron trains horses and people interested in equestrian arts, which he sees as a form of martial art. Ron is currently training his horses in Yabusame, an ancient form of Japanese archery via horseback. Ron taught horsemanship in Cairo, Egypt and Yorkshire, England in 2009 and was the creator and director of the equestrian program at The Valles Caldera National Preserve in Jemez, NM from 2004-2006.
Martial Arts Affiliations and Associations:
-Kakuto Ryu-Jujutsu/Karate-jutsu Board members:
Sensei Jesse Ballou - Rokudan (honorary) KJJ/7th dan Wa Shin Ryu Jujutsu (honorary) and 7th dan Judo
Sensei Andrew Frye - Godan KJJ/4th dan Nihon Goshin Aikijutsu/2nd dan Judo/2nd dan Wa Shin Ryu Jujutsu
Sifu Phil Romero - Godan KJJ/Sifu Wing Chun (elder student of Hawkin's Cheung.)
Sensei Randy Sanders - Godan KJJ/6th-dan Shotokan Karate
- Institute of Traditional Martial Arts (ITMA) at The University of New Mexico - on Board of Directors; Director of "At Risk Youth Program" committee. ITMA is the only institute of its kind in the US and is made up of top sensei in the US and Internationally in traditional (classical) martial arts, with highly qualified National and International representatives and affiliates.
- Kokusai Budoin - International Martial Arts Federation - The oldest rank granting federation in Japan and the only martial arts organization recognized by the Japanese Government and the Emperor of Japan. Candidate for full member with Yo-dan (4th degree black belt) rank in Karate.
- American Jujitsu Association - affiliate of Budoshin Ju-Jitsu and Sensei George Kirby 10th dan.
- New Mexico Shotokan Karate - Dojo affiliate. Associate of Sensei Randy Sanders.
- Shotokan Karate-do International Federation (SKIF) under Kancho Hirokazu Kanazawa.
- International Karate-jutsu Association - affiliate.
- KAPAP - national affiliate.
- Education:
Master of Arts (+45) - English Literature/Creative writing, 1989. CUNY. Adjunct professor at universities (including UNM) for 15 years in US and Japan.
Bachelor of Business Administration - Economics - Hofstra University, 1981.
New Mexico Licensed Teacher. Taught high school seniors/juniors for 4 years in Jemez, NM, has been teaching a martial arts program in Jemez since 2009. Currently has over 45 students in the program.
For more information on Kyoshi Ron Breines contact: rabreines@yahoo.com