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Grandmaster Rafael Reston
1927 - 2006 Judo Karate Masters Kempo Association (Member: Philippine Karate Association) Angeles City, Clark Air Base, Philippines.
8th Dan Grandmaster.
Grandmaster Rafael Reston is a retired member of the U.S. Army and one of the pioneers of martial arts in the Philippines. His first instructions in the art of self defence were from his father who was a practitioner of the Balintawak system of Arnis Kali Eskrima. His father was also in the U.S. Army, as a member of the 31st Infantry stationed in Manila, Philippines in 1934 when Grandmaster Rafael Reston was only seven years old. During World War II Reston watched his family burned alive when the Japanese poured gasoline in the cells of Intramuros. He escaped by jumping into the Pasig river. Before the end of 1942, Reston joined the guerrilla movement who was operating at the east central Luzon area. Reston survived the liberation of Manila by American troops in 1945. After Reston’s discharge from the Philippine army in 1945, he continue his training in eskrima, with his father’s old friend, Maestro Andres Montero, who was then a master of Sinko Tiro Balintawak Eskrima and one of the seven members of the legendary Pitong Lukban Estokada (seven Grapefruit Estokada society of Batangas). Reston trained with him until May of 1946, when he enlisted in the Philippine Scout (US Army). After his basic training, Reston was stationed in Okinawa as a military police officer. Because of the occupation of Okinawa and Japan, the practice of Martial Arts was banned and all martial arts schools were closed. Reston’s Military Police company hired a karate instructor (Kempo Master) by the name of Horito Yamamoto (a 72 year old Manchurian born Okinawan) to train the military police the art of self defence. The Military Police were trained the art of Kempo Karate together with the American's of the Strategic Air command. Because of Reston’s experience he was rated as an advanced student and promoted to the rank of 1st degree black belt. Reston could not satisfy himself with 3 days a week training. Reston requested to have a six days a week training and because of being an advanced student, Master Yamamoto granted his request. October 1947, Reston represented the Philippine Scout and his Kempo school in a karate championship tournament that was held at Ituman base, Okinawa. Reston won the championship and was rated the first Filipino karate representative in Okinawa and was also promoted to 2nd degree black belt. January 1948, the army sent Reston to Kobe Japan for a four month seminar for proper method of teaching at the Isshinryu (formerly Kobayshi ryu) under grandmaster Tatsuo Shimabuku (Shimabukuro). April 1948, Reston returned back to Okinawa, Reston studied Shorin-ryu under grandmaster Hohan Soken and Fusei Kise, assistant to the Grandmaster).
September 1948, Reston was sent back to the Philippines and was appointed chief instructor of both karate and eskrima at the 515 and 738 Military Police battalion (US Army). February 1949, Reston was appointed official representative for the Philippine Okinawa Ryukyu command Semi Olympic tournament. At the Armed Forces western, Pacific Command (AFWESPAC) held on Guam Marianas islands, Reston won the karate event in his division and was promoted to 4th degree Black belt. April 1949, Reston received an honorable discharge from the US Army. Following Reston’s discharge from the U.S. Army in 1949, he continued his training while at the same time he taught Karate and Eskrima in some private schools. In 1961, Reston was promoted to 5th degree belt by Grandmaster Kunio Miyamoto of the Okinawan Goju-ryu Temple. In 1966, Reston was promoted to 6th degree black belt. In 1967, Reston founded the Manchurian Judo Karate Club, also known as Manjuka, in Angeles City, Philippines. Most of the students were U.S. Military stationed at Clark Air Base. Meanwhile, he never stopped training and participating in various Karate tournaments. He also changed the name of Manjuka to the Judo Karate Masters Kempo Association (Comjuka Kempo). Its permanent training centre is in Balibago, Angeles City, Philippines. In 1970 to 1974, Reston trained in Sinko Tiros Grandmaster Francisco Viray (Apong Viray) of Pampanga. From 1975 to 1978, he trained under Grandmaster Ponciano Aimurong, who was then 83 years old, a master of Sinko Tiro Sinawali of Bamban Tarlac. On the 10th of September 1972, The Judo Karate Masters Kempo Association was recognised by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration #48779.
Grandmaster Reston was promoted to 8th degree black belt in 1975 and in the following year he was appointed by the president of Philippine Karate Association, Coronal Dante Q. Nagtalon to coach the Central Luzon team which participated in the 1976 Philippine National Karate Championships. The American Martial Arts magazine, BLACK BELT, issue released in December 1979, featured an article titled "Karate in the Philippines, A Joint Effort". This article was based on the efforts of Grandmaster Rafael Reston and Kuntaw Kung-fu master Carlito Lanada and their efforts through Martial Arts to create a friendly relationship between the American Service Personnel based at Clark Air Base and the local Filipino community. The article also mentioned their efforts through the Philippine Karate Association to stamp out corruption in Martial Arts in the Clark Air Base region as some instructors at the time were selling black belt ranks to Americans who had not put in the effort and were not deserving of the black belt rank. Grandmaster Reston has also been the recipient of the Pioneer Award from the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Philippines. In June 1991 the volcano, Mount Pinatubo, had a massive eruption causing mass destruction of Angeles City and Clark Air Base. Due to the destruction of the Air Base the United States Air Force closed down the base and evacuated never to return. Grandmaster Rafael Reston left the Philippines and resided in Hawaii from 1992 to 2000 where he taught Eskrima in Honolulu. In 2000 Grandmaster Rafael Reston returned to his beloved Angeles City, Philippines. Grandmaster Rafael Reston had retired from teaching Martial Arts due to serious illness (emphysema) in 2003/04. Grandmaster Rafael Reston passed away in August 2006.
Black Belt Magazine December 1979
Black Belt Magazine Jan 2007
Obituary
Filipino Master Passes Away
I thought the readers of Black Belt would be
interested in knowing that Rafael Reston of Angeles City, Philippines,
passed away on August2, 2006.
He trained hundreds of U.S. Air Force members
over the years. He was 80 years old and is survived by his wife Paula and
son Romy.
Reston operated a dojo in Angeles City from
the late 1960's until the closing of the U.S. military bases after the
eruption of Mount Pinitubo.
He taught a style he called Manchurian Kempo,
as well as arnis and combat judo. He went to Ewa Beach Hawaii in 1995,
where he became an American citizen based on
his service as a Philippine scout during World War II and his four years of
active duty with the U.S. Army in Okinawa after that.
Reston trained me from 1976 to 1985 while I
worked in the Philippines. I regularly visited him there and in Hawaii.
We maintained a close friendship over the
years.
Terry S. Clutts
Berlin, PA.
NICK MARCIANO'S GREATEST EXPERIENCES &
MEMORIES with GRANDMASTER RAFAEL RESTON & JKMA ( KEMPO )
I'm a native of Baguio City, Northern part of the Philippines. I remember when I was a kid, I really want to be a soldier or a policeman to protect and serve the people and my country. When I graduated from elementary, I went to my mom in Angeles City. She works in one of the hotels located in Balibago. I decided to continue my High school in Angeles City. In my first & second year in high school, I never think of learning Martial Arts. I was in my third year when a classmate of mine is telling stories that he's attending a Karate class somewhere in Balibago. I became interested to see this Karate School. After class, I went with my classmate for his Karate Lesson & to see the gym. There are Filipinos and Americans practicing when we arrived. I first saw Master Reston inside His small store but I didn't know He's the Master and owner of the gym. After class, my friend introduced Master Reston to me and told Master Reston I'm interested in joining the group. He told me, Good! July 1985, my first day in class at the gym, Master Reston came in the gym, called me and let me sit in front of Him. He asked if I'm really interested in learning Karate because He told me it's not a joke to learn the Art. I answered Him yes. He told me the sacrifices that I must do during the practice. The Rules and Regulations inside the Dojo during and after practice. That's my first day class in the gym. Master Reston, never told me His the Master and owner of the gym, His Rank, where did He learn and practice the Art. Everyday after school at 5:00 pm, I go directly to the gym for practice. I asked Master Reston if it's ok with him, I will go to the gym everyday and practice because my schedule with Him is three times a week. He said ok and He asked the other Instructors (His Black belt Students and other Instructors of different styles ) if I can join during their practice time. Master Reston accepted all Instructors who wanted to teach their own art in the gym and let them fill up and sign membership forms without paying anything, in other gyms they have to pay Instructors membership and Association membership fees.. In Angeles City, there are many Instructors of Karate with different styles who don't have a proper place or gym to teach that's why they come to Master Reston and asked His permission to teach in His Dojo. Master Reston NEVER REJECTED THEM and NEVER ASKED FAVORS FROM THEM. Because of this, Master Reston founded the JUDO KARATE MASTERS ( KEMPO ) ASSOCIATION formerly the Manchurian Kempo Karate. I continued practicing for months until Master Reston told me that I will be having a test for promotion to the next higher Belt in Karate, Green Belt (after White Belt or Beginners Belt ). January 1986 when I received my Green Belt from Master Reston. I continued practicing and joining Karate Tournaments until my Black belt times. I got trophies and medals from winning the tournaments and experienced also loosing. Master Reston told me, if you win, That's Great and If You Lose That's also Great. That time during tournaments, there are fighters who don't accept loosing. There are a fighter who think they were cheated that’s why they lost. There are incidents that cheating occurs, especially if the fighter is the student of the referee or the judges. I experienced being cheated in the tournaments for how many times but accepted it because I cannot do anything about it. The referee or the judges will not reverse their decisions. I didn't knew that one of the well known Karate Instructors in Angeles City ( COMJUKA Instructor, Sensei Bart Figueroa ) had observed my good attitude during tournaments. I never forget when one of His promotions to higher belts for His students, He invited other gym Instructors including me. He awarded me the SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD in front of His Students and Instructors. I spoke in front of the instructors and students and told them, this is only "ONE OF THE MANY VALUABLE THINGS I'VE LEARNED FROM MASTER RESTON". September 1986, I received my Brown Belt from Master Reston. I still continued practicing and joining tournaments. After two years, October 1988, I received my 1st. Dan Black belt from Master Reston. He promoted me direct to 1st. Dan Black belt. After school hours, I go to the gym to practice and teach students & joining tournaments if not busy in school. That time, Master Reston only teach occasionally due to his health. Before going to Hawaii in 1992, Master Reston promoted me to 2nd. Dan Black belt and Appointed me as Chief Instructor of KEMPO. After graduation from college in 1993, I became busy until I got a job as Sales & Application Engineer. I was not active in teaching Karate for 7 years but I attended meetings with fellow Instructors & members for the organization that time. It was year 2000 when Master Reston formally gave me my 3rd. Dan Black belt. That year, I was teaching His two grandsons from His son Romy & His grandson’s cousins. Master Reston is mostly respected with regards to Martial Arts by many Filipinos and Americans and also the people who knew Him in the community during those years and even until now. Master Reston is a Respected & Very Good Friend, Father, Grandfather, Teacher and Master of Martial Arts. He's always in a low profile attitude. In Karate, He never scolded and tell bad deeds to His students. He always talk in soft and good words to anyone who did something wrong, His students and anybody in the community during his time as Community Chairman. Master Reston was a former military man and Master of Martial Arts but He never acted as one. What I mean is that, He never talked/spoke to anyone in Military way/attitude, as a Leader and as a Master of Martial Arts. I've learned lot of valuable things from Him that I will never forget in my entire life and I will value it forever. I really missed those times every afternoon we are there outside His house telling stories with each other. I always listen to Him telling his life experiences since His childhood days until the 2nd World War came and the time He and Mrs. Reston came to Angeles City. This is just the beginning of my story of knowing Master Reston. I hope I will have convenient time in the future to make a documentary for us as Friends, Him as my Teacher/ Master, and My Grandfather. |
