Hand to Hand Kajukenbo Self Defense Center

Professor Coleen Gragen's Teacher
PROFESSOR BARBARA BONES

Professor Barbara Bones began training in the martial arts in 1971 in the art of Tae Kwon Do. She migrated to Kajukenbo in 1972, being drawn to the freedom and creativity that it lends itself to. She had the great good fortune to train with Sifu Richard Mainenti. About her teacher, Professor Bones says, "I received more than I could describe in a simple Bio. I received strength, vision, freedom to create, trust, integrity and power."

For many years Professor Bones competed in tournaments with great success. She was named as one of the top five female competitors by Black Belt magazine in 1975. The experience of competing broadened her knowledge by exposing her to myriads of martial arts styles. She says of her tournament years: "I like to think that I liberally 'stole' anything that worked – particularly if it worked on me!"

After 1976, her focus changed to teaching. Along with Sifu Joyce Towne, Professor Bones started Amazon Kung Fu in Eugene, OR. That school continued until the mid 1980's and Hand To Hand Founder Coleen Gragen was one of her original students.

A true leader, Professor Bones has for many years willingly and selflessly shared her qualities of courage and vision with her students. Through her lineage and her inspiring and committed teaching skills, three prominent Kajukenbo schools have risen--Hand to Hand, Seattle Kajukenbo and Seven Star Women's Kung Fu, from which more than 65 Black Belts have emerged. Through the martial arts and the wisdom and teachings passed down by Professor Bones, these training communities have made significant advances and contributions to the women's martial arts movement, the welfare and wellbeing of their respective communities and the art of Kajukenbo as a whole.

Great Grandmaster Gaylord actively trained in the art of KAJUKENBO for over 50 years. In 1980, he received his 9th degree Black Belt from the KAJUKENBO founder. Great Grandmaster Gaylord began his training in Hawaii under KAJUKENBO Black Belt George (Paul) Seronio. In the early 1960's he moved to Northern California where he began teaching in San Leandro. He brought to the mainland the effective hard and heavy hitting style of KAJUKENBO which he had learned from his instructors.

Over the years, he developed his internal and external Martial Art skills through practical application training, along with meditation and constant research of "mind over body" studies. His ki or chi demonstrations have become legendary. His continued training of KAJUKENBO enabled him to develop his own method of KAJUKENBO. The Kajukenbo Association of America calls it "Gaylord's Method." In September 1995, the KAA and all of its Black Belts promoted Great Grandmaster Gaylord to the honorary rank of 10th degree Black Belt. The KAA believed that this was necessary to ensure the desired level of excellence for their organization. Great Grandmaster Gaylord produced countless quality Black Belts who have become top competitors and instructors. To ensure the quality of his instructors, he held a monthly Black Belt class, where he taught over 30 black belts who have schools located in the Western United States. He also provided special seminars to those schools that cannot regularly train with him.

Great Grandmaster Gaylord passed away on the morning of August 4, 2009. His incredible contributions to the world of martial arts, and Kajukenbo in particular, live on in the countless students who continue to practice the Gaylord Method of Kajukenbo.