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Our Past to Present
Jai Yen Yen a Philosophy
Jai Yen Yen is not just the name of our art it is our philosophy,
"For it can only be comprehended after a long hard study, by practicing that which is most difficult to practice, and by enduring that which is most difficult to endure." Duke Ali Shariff-Bey
The name "Jai Yen Yen" originates from Thailand. Meaning literally ~ Jai:Heart and Yen Yen:Cool Calm ~ simply put... during conflict you must fight with your Heart and remain Cool and Calm regardless how desperate the situation becomes.
This art is called a System... as opposed to being called a Style. This is because the System has been created by combining many different styles and changed by different stylists.
What is The Jai Yen Yen System?
Jai Yen Yen is a basic simplistic system created strictly for Self Defense and designed to meet the needs of each individual student. Since 1973, when the System was originally put together, it has been developed to combine some of the most common known Martial Art Styles... Some of these are Goju Ryu, Isshin Ryu, Judo, Goshin Jutsu, Hakko Ryu JuJitsu, Kyokushinkai, Aikido, Tae Kwon Do, Tang Soo Do, Moo Duk Kwan, Do Hap Sool, Praying Mantis, Hap Ki Do, Shotokan, Muay Thai Kickboxing, as well as others. The 6 Founders of the Art were Blackbelts each in their own respective arts and together removed the techniques used for flashy tournaments and applied their techniques to create One Simple Idea:
ALL or NONE!
Jai Yen Yen began it's history at Randolph, AFB in San Antonio, TX. As it has always been in military circles, guys were being assigned here and there and always having change of duty stations. Many of these men were returning or heading into south east Asia due to the Viet Nam war. Basically you had many different practitioners from many different styles and philosophies. The conceptual goal of Jai Yen Yen was to gather as a collective club, train together and help improve their individual abilities, as well as, understand and reapply what they have already learned. This idea still holds true today. Tournament fighting was all the rage in the late '60s and early '70's with the likes of Chuck Norris, Mike Stone, etc. making their way around the circuits. Many of these guys enjoyed competing in these tournaments. But as they trained together and the techniques improved the group soon realized that their new system was beyond the normal tournament style training or fighting. A greater emphasis was placed on developing true life saving techniques and the work to perfect ones-self as a person through the martial arts. So as the art developed over time it went from a tournament focused sport to a basic simple karate to what we consider today as a formidable school for warriors or Budo Ryu. The Blackbelts of today who teach and study this art have also brought knowledge of other arts along with them which has been applied to the applications. Martial Arts is like the World of Mankind... an Infant evolving everyday with every breath... So as we Train and Evolve so does
The Jai Yen Yen System!
Who were the Jai Yen Yen Founders?
Although there were lots of Black Belts who came and went during those early days, there were 6 men who are truly accredited with being the nucleus of the group and today we recognize these men as our original Founders. These men were all black belts in various arts and were well versed in teaching their arts as well.
Jai Yen Yen, Nov 1973, San Antonio, Texas
top row l-r Jeff Nieland*, Duke Ali Shariff-Bey*
bottom row l-r Otis Williams, Johnny Miller, Fernando Franco*, Danny Quevedo.
(* denotes founders)
Jeff Nieland
Styles: TaeKwonDo, Judo, Isshin Ryu, Muay Thai Kickboxing, Shutokan
Duke Ali Shariff-Bey
Styles: Goju Ryu, Isshin Ryu, Judo, Kyokushinkai, Do Hap Sool
Andrew Harrison
Styles: Hakko Ryu Jujitsu, Goshin-Jutsu, Judo
Jack Gridley
Styles: Aikido
Randy Ames
Styles:Tang Soo Do
Fernando Franco, Jr.
Styles: Kyokushinkai
Danny Quevedo - 1st Generation Blackbelt
The Jai Yen Yen System was handed down from the Founders to Sensei Danny Quevedo in 1982 by Duke Ali Shariff-Bey, the last of the Original Founders to retire from the system. Shihan Danny built the System of today along with his black belts, During the fall of 2003, after 30 years of Jai Yen Yen he passed the System down to his first black belt Shihan Michael Zang. Shihan Danny officially retired on June 19, 2004. Danny's Background:Began studying the martial arts in 1964.
Additional Training: Kenpo, Shotokan, MooDukKwan TaeKwonDo, Modern Arnis(Presas), Northern Praying Mantis Kung Fu(Germany), Boxing(Germany), Muay Thai Kickboxing(Germany), Chinese Boxing, through his vast experience he Enhanced the Jai Yen Yen System and taught others to do the same.
Michael Zang - 2nd Generation Blackbelt
Our Current Sensei, Shihan Michael Zang, began studying the martial arts in 1975. His initial training was in self-defense classes were he was taught Jujutsu, Judo and Boxing techniques. By the early 80's he was training in Kai-Ki-Do under Founder GM Robinson, 10th dan under the JKA, in El Paso, Texas. From 1982-1983 he was stationed at Camp Stanley, near Uijeongbu, Korea while in the US Army. During this time he trained in Kuk Sool Won. He continued to train with other martial artists and worked as a bouncer/security at live-band bars, as well as trained with military counterparts in his units. By 1989 he met and began training with Sensei Danny under the Jai Yen Yen System. On June 19th of 1989 he was promoted to Ikkyu - Brown Belt 2nd Chevron, and began working as an assistant instructor. While visiting in El Paso, TX he paid a visit to his old instructor GM Robinson who tested him and promoted him to Brown belt Nikyu in Kai Ki Do, under the Japanese Karate Association (JKA). On December 9th of that year he had earned his Black Belt in Jai Yen Yen. Retired Shihan Duke presented the Black Belt to Sensei Danny to present it to his first black belt Michael. Upon doing so Shihan Duke promoted Danny to his 3rd Dan. By August of 1990 during the promotion of Ray, Tommy and Deanna to their black belts, for his contribution as an assistant instructor over the past 14 months, he earned his 2nd Dan in the System. During 1991, while living in El Paso, Texas he taught for 9 months at a Hapkido school under GM Choi, 9th Dan under the Korean Kido Federation. During his tenure there he was honorarily certified as a 3rd Dan Black Belt and recieved his Instructor Title. Sensei Michael had participated in several public demonstrations and had already taken and passed the old requirements of Master Class in Hapkido. He had taught classes to members of the El Paso Police department, US Customs Agents, US Marshall Service and FBI Agents. On December 9th of 1991 he had not only taught Hapkido and promoted those students there he had promoted his first black belt in Jai Yen Yen, Tom Hooks II and was promoted to 3rd Dan in Jai Yen Yen. Sensei Michael returned to teaching Jai Yen Yen full time, in 1992 he began developing the "Street Safe" course and introduced it officially to the System in 1994. In 1996 He was certified as an instructor under Bruce K. Siddles PPCT (pressure point control tactics) program while working as a Police Officer in Dallas Texas. He conducted seminars for other martial art schools, as well as, for the Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind. During 2003 he spent a few months studying Iaido under Diane Mirro of the Muso Jikeden Eishin Ryu study group. On July 22, 2003 he was honorarily promoted to 9th dan and presented the title of Shihan by Founder - Grand Shihan Muhhammad Al-Duha, and Shihan Duke Shariff-Bey of the Aiki Ju Budo Ryu - System, which is affiliated with the World Butokukai Federation, USA, the World Jujitsu Federation, and the World Hombu. Since his initial black belt rank in Jai Yen Yen, Sensei Michael has been the second in command over the System and has helped teach and develop this organization. On October 19th of 2003 he was promoted to 9th dan in Jai Yen Yen and the organization was handed down to him from Shihan Danny making him the new Sensei of the organization. In 2004 Sensei Michael and some of his black belts were featured on the Special Feature menu of ADV Films Animated DVD Movie "New Fist of the North Star Volume 2", providing an insight on seperating Myths from Reality. Currently Sensei Zang continues to teach regular classes and "Street Safe" self defense classes for free to the local community, and provides classes for black belts to ensure the quality of their instruction. He resides in Live Oak, Texas a suburb of San Antonio, TX, and maintains contact with Retired Shihans Duke, Jeff, Andrew, Jack, Franco, and Danny. He is still looking to make contact with Randy, please email us if you know of his whereabouts.
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