The development of KIDO Martial Arts
started with these three instructors.
Sifu Chung Li, Sifu Unleong, and Sifu Brother Li.
First I was shown the hardness of the martial arts.
Like the way to to destruction and developing the
body.
(physical power)
Next I was shown how to understand, for example;
"to look beyond what I want to see and to see it for what it
is". (to see the root of my own ignorance).
Sifu Unleong showed me the soft martial art-like to develope
the Mind (philosophy).
So KIDO in reality of the Truth was put together by them.
Sifu Chung Li passed away at the age of 89, leaving William
Velez to carry on. Willie was 19 years old at the time. He had started at the age of 8. This was 1970, the
year I started to train with him. I was the floor sweeper, the errand boy, the servant, all the little jobs that
maintain the dojo were mine. I was 15 then. The students developed by Willie that were in my class at the Dragon
Karate Dojang on Union Street in Brooklyn, New York have not all been named here. I name all the students that went
on to represent the system and answered the call and challenge during the time of the developement of the Original KIDO System.
In 1976 when the first KIDO Team went out to compete, these are the warriors in training I stood next to! We took on
all styles, all ranks, bare knucke on the floor.
We began with respect and we always ended in Respect.
We had no specialists in our dojo. Everyone was well
versed in the Basic KIDO Foundation. In those days, Willie did not allow specialist to stay in the dojo. You had
to do everything. The harder it was for you, the more you should do it. The reflection could only be continued
through a complete basic foundation. There were no advanced technique. Only technique. We worked in the
lab called Dojo perfecting the technique that would become the
KIDO Basics.
I have included here a list of my own students that went
on to develope and perfect the same Basic foundation I was given.
After twenty seven years as the Director of KIDO Martial Arts,
I have developed sixteen Black Belts to date.
Not one student ever had to pay me for this stage of development.
It is my honor and pleasure to have guided them safely
on the path I am on. During their developement I too learned about myself. I too developed to a new level of understanding,
each brought me closer to the Pointer of the Way I have become. I am humbled to have found receptive students
willing to take on the journey with me for the time they walked with me
Thank you all. It helps me with the new ones now.
KIDO FAMILY TREE
Sifu Chung Li - Sifu Unleong - Sifu Brother Li
|
William F. Velez
(founder KIDO Martial Arts
Center 1970)
|
Teddy Collazo-Luis Papo Padilla-Jose Serrano-Tony Oneil-Lucy Collazo-Jose Hernandez-Miriam Ruby Vasquez-
Ruben Torres (Director since 1982)
|
Jean Therency-Sheldon Daniels-Kevin Daniels-Kurt Pitt-Jose Cruz-Mohammad
Pickering-Ciera Lawson-Lavall Chichester-Christopher Cotto-Ronald
Pettis---Justin Hernandez-Noel Jimenez-Hugo Diaz-Louis Hernandez- Ramon Hernandez-Jose Colon