24 October-Friday
We were greeted by Grandmaster Lawrence Day. He received each of
us with a warm handshake and welcomed us to the venue. We had come to
see Grandmaster Doug Dwyer, a true martial arts legend of the early
days American Karate. He had graciously agreed to share some of his
great wisdom and experience with us. He had trained with all the
pioneers of the USKA and honed his skills on the mean streets of
sixties Chicago. Later, he trained soldiers and law enforcement in
the deadly arts of the empty hand. After decades of teaching he had
retired, but he never stopped training. Now he had come to visit his
old friend and speak to the master’s class. Both had been students of
John Keehan.
Black Belts John Keehan (left) and Doug Dwyer (right) 1965

Keehan and Robert Trias had founded the United States Karate
Association. The first national board of martial arts review,
sanction and sponsorship. They organized tournaments and events all
over the country and virtually introduced Karate to the American
public. Keehan almost single-handedly brought martial arts to the
Midwest in the nineteen sixties.
After WWII there was a great deal of interest in Oriental martial
arts. American soldiers had been exposed to Judo on the battlefields
of the Pacific in mortal hand-to-hand combat. They had returned and
began to train others in these mysterious “arts” with their odd rituals
and rigid training methods. Part of Judo is Atemi-Jitsu, striking or
kicking the opponent, usually as a pre-cursor to unbalance him for a
throwing technique. But, there was also a system that relied almost
exclusively on striking to overcome the opponent, it was called
“kara-te” the Way of the Empty Hand. It was a closely guarded and
hidden secret for centuries But, as with Judo, Westerners eventually
found teachers who would show them the secrets of breaking bricks with
their bare hands or killing a bull with a Hammer Fist to the skull.
And they studied and learned and came home to teach others these
deadly skills.
Sport Karate in the sixties was a far cry from what it is today.
Before safety pads were added to the competition Karateka were
required to have absolute control of their techniques, for indeed,
they had the power of life and death in their hands. Even so, there
were many injuries, but the teachers, the true Sensei, knew how to
deal with dislocated shoulders or broken fingers, because that too was
part of their training. Nor did they limit themselves to just Karate.
Judoka were allowed to use their throwing techniques. Even wrestlers
and those self-taught on the streets in eclectic styles could employ
a wide variety of techniques. All of which made these early events
spectacular displays of skill and ability because they were essentially
the first No Holds Barred competitions of their type held in the
United States.
They included demonstrations of “kata,” formalized exercises of
punching and kicking techniques designed to teach the student not only
the deadly striking techniques, but also to develop balance, speed,
strength and “form,” or dynamic presentation style. And Tamieshiwara,
breaking of hard objects with the hand as a method of showing the
lethal power of the techniques that was possible with training and
practice. No one had ever seen these such things before. Grandmaster
Dwyer was himself famous for splintering two-by-four boards with his
empty hand strikes.
Sensei Doug Dwyer Breaking a 2 x 4 with his Fist 1965

Dr. Day provided instruction in Dim Mak and showed us his recently
published book, not available to the general public. It was filled
with detailed charts of the anatomy and striking points for the secret
and forbidden Death Touch as well as explanations and timetables for
determining the most effective time and direction to apply pressure or
force to devastate any opponent. Many claim to know these secrets, but
few can explain them adequately. Grandmaster Day’s text is reserved
only for his senior students, many of whom have trained with him for
fifteen or more years. Thus insuring that he knows well their character.
Such knowledge is not shared lightly. First, the teacher must be
assured that it will not be misused. Second, because the practice
requires great patience and practice. Not many students have enough of
either. With great power such as this, comes great responsibility. The
taking of a life does no one honor. It is the small and subtle that
prevails over force and brutality.
He told us of how he had come by this knowledge. How training with
John Keehan and Grandmaster Dwyer had set him on this path of adventure
and learning. And indeed, what a wonderful life it had been. We heard
the true history of how it had come to be and what had happened from
one who had been there and done it all and knew the real story.
We were presented with badges for our uniforms, symbolically
inducting us into his Dojo and making us privy to this information.
One for the original martial arts fraternity founded by Keehan after
leaving the USKA. And one for the new 21st century international
organization.
The pavilion was large and near the waterfront. Set back away from
the road for privacy and large enough to accommodate those who had
gathered for the afternoon class. The wooden picnic tables had been
pushed to the sides to make room for the group. The air was cool and
crisp as we bowed crossing the threshold and were introduced to
Grandmaster Dwyer. He was chatting with some of Dr. Day’s students
when we arrived, preparing for his presentation. His warm smile and
bright eyes assured us of his sincerity. His firm handshake was a sign
of his fitness and strength. He wore a white ghi with only a few
patches and a red belt, the mark of a 10th Dan Grandmaster. A degree
earned only after decades of training and teaching and practicing.
With more than fifty years time in grade, and the fact that his very
posture and movements made you aware of his balance and potential for
explosive movement, it was obvious he was worthy of the respect due
this grading.
Sensei Doug Dwyer with some of his trophies 1965

We began with stretching out exercises. Shifting from side to side
to loosen the ligaments and get the blood flowing, twisting the torso
to limber up. Sensei then illustrated a unique stepping drill.
Beginning in Tsuru Ashi Dachi, One Legged Stance, with one foot
resting lightly on the inside of the opposite knee, we would first
step forward with the upraised leg to advance, using the foot and shin
in a circular motion to deflect any attack to the groin. Upon setting
the foot down, the trailing foot would then be quickly drawn up to
rest against the inside of now forward leg. We practiced this for a
time, making corrections as needed. Then moved on to the next level
by making not a circular step forward, but rather hopping quickly from
one leg to the other, each time bringing the rear leg quickly up to
the opposite knee. This, Sensei explained is a method of developing
stepping skill, so that at any time you can skip to either side, off
the line of engagement and away from your opponent’s attack. While
simultaneously closing the distance between you and placing yourself
in position to deliver a counter-strike from a protective stance at a
difficult angle for the enemy to defend.
Grandmaster Dwyer illustrated next several blocking methods, all of
which were made more effective by the simple addition of drawing the
technique toward your own centerline. This subtle enhancement, very
similar to drawing the sword toward yourself when executing a proper
cut, adds a dynamic dimension to even the most basic block. In sport
karate, for example, the Chudan or middle-block describes a quarter
circle arc in front of the torso to deflect any attack to the chest,
ending with the elbow bent and near the body with the fist directly in
front of the shoulder. By executing this same motion with a whipping
action and striking the opponent’s radial or ulnar nerve with the
Trapezium, a small bone at the base of the thumb just above the wrist,
it is possible to inflict quite a stunning blow that will paralyze the
arm and disable the opponent. By adding the subtle movement of pulling
backward at the same time, almost like the recoil of a bullwhip, the
opponent can be pulled forward, breaking his balance with his own punch,
into you for a follow-up strike with the same or opposite hand without
the need to grab his wrist and pull him to you. This, Sensei explained,
is one of the great dangers of over-extending or reaching with your
punch. The fist should not be thrown so far that the arm is locked out
nor the balance broken. This was one of the themes for the class. Get
the opponent in close so that you can deliver a more powerful blow
using these subtle points of balance and leverage. An example of this
were the Morote-Uke techniques using both hands to bring the opponent
down and forward for a knee strike kick to the join double duty kick.
The sun had set long ago, but we trained until it was getting dark.
Those who were recording hadn’t complain about the conditions. In fact,
not all of the instructions would be taped. It was tradition that the
advanced teachings of the next day should only be passed from master
to student.
We adjourned for dinner. Our hosts had chosen a large banquet room
at a well known local restaurant. We ate well and plenty, enjoying the
fellowship of new friends and brother martial artists. After dinner we
split up into separate groups. Some came back to the hotel with us. We
chatted and exchanged views on martial arts well into the night.
Laughing and joking and telling tales of our own adventures. Watching
videos downloaded from YouTube. Commenting on skill or lack of or
arrogance by some who had posted there. Real martial artists are not
rigid or stern. They are like water. As Grandmaster Dwyer had pointed
out that very evening, “You must make you motions fluid.” Relaxing,
letting the action lead you, only tensing at the moment of impact for
maximum effect. In this way you increase your stamina and do not tire
yourself out.
25 October-Saturday
The next morning we assembled at the private Dojo of 7th Dan Black
Belt Joseph Cayer. A variety of schools and styles were represented by
their Sensei or senior students, Black Belts all. There to learn from
the venerable masters the dozen or so ritual exercises or dances of
death that had made them famous and allowed them to remain virtually
undefeated for more than a generation. Before the class began one of
the visitors, Grandmaster David harris, quietly circulated among the
attendees, speaking softly with them and quietly relieving any
stiffness from the previous day’s workout, as well as healing many
old wounds and painful conditions with Chi Kung.
Grandmaster Dwyer became fast friends with another guest martial
artist, Barron Shepherd, who had been invited by Grandmaster Day to
receive his 7th Dan certification as Master Instructor, and Master’s
Council Accreditation, both personally signed by Grandmaster Dwyer.
(l-r) Sensei Cayer, Barron Shepherd, Grandmaster Dwyer,
Walter Knochenmus, Grandmaster Day

The class began with traditional Zen meditation and kneeling bow.
After a few warm-up exercises Sensei handed out the weights. These
were bags filled with lead shot weighing about five pounds that were
attached to the wrist with buckles or velcro. When those ran out, five
pound dumbbells were used to add weight to hand and arm. We practiced
blocking and punching wearing these to develop control and power.
Sensei demonstrated several times his ability to throw a full power,
close-in, short range, devastating techniques within millimeters of
vital and fatal points of his demonstrator’s body at full speed,
without inflicting any injury. Practicing with weights was the method
to develop this control. Control that was essential to the next phase
of this special and secret training. There were five classes in all
over the next two days.
(l-r) The Assembled Class @ Sensei Cayer's Dojo

At the conclusion of the seminar, I was greatly honored to be
recognized as a true member of the martial arts fraternity and
advanced to the rank of 10th Dan Grandmaster in the secret and
forbidden arts. We were presented with certificates of advancement
and graduation and copies of the original training manual from 1968
written by John Keehan and Grandmaster Dwyer personally signed by
Grandmaster Dwyer and Grandmaster Day. For this wonderful experience
I cannot thank Grandmaster Day and his associates enough for their
warm hospitality and great kindness. We look forward to seeing all
again at the Martial Arts Hall of Fame Headquarters in Nashville in
July next year.
Grandmasters Dwyer and Day Black Belt Hall of Fame Induction 2005
