Assistant Instructors and Affiliates During their many years of martial arts training, Mr. Gagel and Mr. Petkovic had forged strong friendships with fellow practitioners, especially Mr. Blair Watson, Mr. Philip Rikley, Mr. Ashley Hennessy, and Mr. Geoffrey Heard, among others, many of whom became high ranking black belt instructors and contributed some of their talents and ideas to the foundation of Seikido. Each of these fellow practitioners and friends supported and joined them in launching the Seikido School and helped in nurturing its growth and development. The present members of the Seikido schools owe much to the support and unselfish dedication of these many friends. There were other influential individuals who contributed significantly to the Seikido Way, including Master Jung Kook Kim, who was twice Korean and once World Tae Kwon Do sparring champion. The founders helped a group of their fellow practitioners and former Hong's graduates to establish the Korean Martial Arts Centre in London. Master Kim' s own Ji Do Kwon style has greatly influenced the sport of Tae Kwon Do, to the point where it is now known world-wide, with many nations sending competitors to the Olympics. His legacy includes many of the exceptionally effective sparring techniques and tactics which are contained in the Seikido curriculum. It was a fortunate opportunity for the founders to be able to learn from one of the best competitors in the world. Mr. Gagel and Mr. Petkovic eventually received their Fourth Dan from Master Jung Kook Kim, 6th Dan, in December 1989, at a test that was witnessed by a host of black belts, many of which were former students of Master Hong as well as students of Master Chung Oh of Kitchener, Master Al Duffy of St. Clair Tae Kwon Do, and Master Dan MacLellan of the Korean Martial Arts Centre. The Strathroy School and the London-Victoria School grew over the years, until they produced black belt instructors who eventually opened their own branch schools. These included Master Russell Taylor's Lakeside Seikido in Forest, Ontario, and Master John Geerts' Warwick Seikido in Watford/Warwick, Ontario. Master Geoffrey Heard became head instructor at the Fanshawe College school and Master John Lemieux established the University of Western Ontario Seikido Club, with the selfless assistance of Mr. Milton Gougoulias and Mr. David Walton. Master Gagel also helped Mr. Barry Benstead establish the Saunders Seikido branch school. Mr. Joseph Azevedo took over as head instructor at the Strathroy school. All of these instructors contributed significantly to the growth and development of Seikido. As of the end of 2003, the Seikido School of Self Defence has produced over a hundred black belts since its foundation in 1987 and continues the advancement of all its students, many of which have gone on to teach or found martial art schools of their own in other parts of Canada, the United States, Germany, and Japan. Master Milosh Pavlovich, the Aikido instructor that gave Mr. Petkovic his Hombu style foundation and assisted in setting out the effective self defence techniques of the Seikido curriculum, once again contributed significantly to Seikido when he visited the Seikido School in London in 1989 and had an opportunity to see the third generation school that his influence over the future Master Petkovic had helped to engender. He had always emphasized the practical applications of self defence techniques, particularly the importance of positioning strategies, non-resistance movements, and energy conservation when defending against larger and stronger assailants, and that emphasis has become an integral part of Seikido training. The school also owes a debt of gratitude to Sensei George Hewson, Founder of the Seishinkai School in Toronto, Canada, who still provides inspiration and spiritual leadership as well as helping the founders to develop and test the effectiveness of self defence techniques as part of the continuing evolution of the Seikido ‘Way’. Master Hewson is an expert in weapons techniques, particularly with the "boken" (wooden sword), "bo" (wooden staff), and " ken" (sword), and helped the founders to set out the weapons defence techniques which are taught in the Seikido curriculum. Master Petkovic frequently explores new ideas and strategies with Master Hewson, whose steadfast support and patient enthusiasm for martial arts have been invaluable. SEIKIDO MEMBERSHIP In addition to the many instructors that nurtured the growth of Seikido, the founders owe a debt of gratitude to the many individuals who helped to organize and conduct the events and social activities of the Seikido organization members. People like Joanne Windover and family, Timothy Tadgell, Carol Toth, Elaine Lammers, John Owens and family, Fatima Almeida and family, Thomas Gougoulias, Shirley Abrams, Meri Tjipto, David Wilkins, and Ray Chan. These people have made unselfish and invaluable contributions to the growth and vitality of the social and communal spirit of the Seikido "family". All students and their family members are considered part of that Seikido family, and are encouraged to assume a share of the responsibility for its health and welfare. Master Gagel and Master Petkovic continue to practice, learn, and teach the latest unarmed self defence techniques available, building and expanding Seikido upon their original martial arts foundations. This is made possible with the selfless dedication and support of the many master and assistant instructors in the organization. At the time of writing this list included the following, in order of Dan rank: Grand Masters Masters Instructors Associate Instructors Assistant Instructors Assistant Instructors continued |
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© 2009 World Seikido. Last Updated November 22, 2009.