Grandmaster Kenneth Melborne

From Karate, Kungfu, Wrestling, Mixed Fighting Information Source

Grandmaster Kenneth Melborne

By: Grandmaster Jonathan Makiling - Abaya

Ken Melborne was born in Hope Valley, a small farming town in Rhode Island. Ken started combat training in 1967 with the USMC, seeing duty in Vietnam. On returning home he spent some time in Okinawa and viewed Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Karate.

After arriving home he found a Shorin school in New London Ct.

He studied here unti he met Mario Yambao from the Philippines.

In 1975, he met and started to study with Mario Yambao who was a World champion Bronze medal winner at the 1974 Japan World Tournament. Mario was a student of Latino Gonzaleze, who was head of Shorin-Ryu in the Philippines at that time. Ken studied under Mario for 15 years earning a 3rd.Dan in shorin-ryu Karate. During this time he started the study of Shaolin Chin-Na from Chinese Yang style. Ken was reading Dr. Yang’s books and watching his videos for input when he met and traded study with Jim Leach who is one of Dr. Yang’s top students and instructors. This trading of art aided Ken in his understanding of the Chinese side of the Pre 1900 Okinawan art. Ken also studied Taiho Jitsu. His instructors to this date are Al Cunningham 10th Dan and Bernard “Gil” Gilbert 10th Dan. TaiHo-Jitsu is a Police restraining art.

Another Master Instructor who aided Ken in the gathering of information on Okinawan and /Chinese art was Grandmaster Woo Ping Chui of “Hung Gar Fu Hok Gung Fu “ (Tiger Crane Family system). Grandmaster Woo has always been there to answer questions on history and technique.

In the 1980’s he started his study of Judo and Ju-jitsu. His first formal instructor in Judo and Ju-Jitsu was James Beyersdof 6th Dan. After Mr. Beyendorf moved to Vermont, Ken started with his present instructor Ken Miarecki who is highly ranked in Judo and Ju-Jitsu and the founder of his own system of SenI-Ryu Budo from Springfield, Massachusetts. Thanks to Mr. Beyersdorf and Mr. Miarecki’s time in teaching, Ken earned 5th Dan in Judo and 6th Dan in the art of Ju-Jitsu.

Ken has studied from seminar instructors such as Philip Porter (USMA), Edward Szrejter (USJA), 10th Dan John Wooten, Aikido Master Lew Perrello and Grandmaster Bernard “Gil” Gilbert (ITJF) in his art of TaiHo-Jutsu. Grandmaster Gilbert recently visited Ken’s school and spent time with Ken checking out the art of Kempo-Jitsu as well as teaching a seminar on TaiHo Jutsu. Al Cunningham also teaches seminars on TaiHo as he is a Bridgewater Ma. Policeman and has taught TaiHo to Police from all over the country. Al Cunningham and Bernard Gilbert both promoted Ken Melborne to 9th Dan in TaiHo.

In 1997 Ken performed Kempo-Jitsu at Ken Miarecki’s Seni Dojo In front of spectators as Well as a group of Masters and Grand Masters, Ken performed technique hidden to the modern sporting arts and demonstrated the four sections of Shoalin Chin-Na, which are muscle manipulation, bone dislocation, vein and breath disruption,and pressure point attack. This demo was well received.

In 1998, Ken was awarded founder of the year and in 1999, Grandmaster Ed Brown’s annual hall of fame meeting. At the 1999 gathering Ken was promoted to 9th degree in Kempo-Jitsu, the art he founded. Seven 10th degree Grandmasters signed his certificate.

Other course of study include: Chi Mind control, instructor Mike Dayton Principles of Protection, ESI Fundamentals of Defensive shooting, ESI Exective Protocol, ESI First Responent Medicine, ESI Observational psychology, ESI Profiles of Terrorism, ESI Demolition Search & Identification, ESI Electronic Security, ESI Ken is a certified Master instructor in Kempo-Jitsu and is also certified in the teaching of Shaolin Chin-Na.

He has also been awarded with certificate for his work in bridging Chinese and Okinawan Martial arts. These bridging certificates were awarded by Grandmaster John Wooten 10th dan Ju-Jitsu, and Grandmaster Woo Ping Chui 10th Dan Hung Gar Fu Hok and the late Master Joe Slaiman.

Ken has worked as a bar room bouncer and bodyguard and has instructed Police, Prison guard, Private Detectives and Military personal as well as many in the private sector Interested in Pre 1900 Kempo-Jitsu.

At present Ken teaches 7 days a week at his dojo in 230 Ashaway Road, Bradford,Rhode Island, USA 02808 and can be contacted at his emaill address at: mackoken@juno.com