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Our Past to Present
History 1973 - 2007 Video
(Turn up your volume, for fullscreen double click the image)
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. Jeff Nieland came up with the name and referred to it as "Let your heart be cool - go as you need to go and do as you need to do."
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. As a System it is all inclusive meaning all are welcome!
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)
Our Founders
Developed the art from 1973 - 1982
Jeff Nieland - 9th Degree Blackbelt
Founder of Jai Yen Yen
Began studying the martial arts in 1954.
Additional Training: Judo, Wrestling, Shotokan, Isshin Ryu, Tae Kwon Do - Ji Do Kwon & Kang Duk Won, Cha Yon Taekwon (Chayon Ryu), Hapkido, Shito-ryu, GoJu Ryu, Muay Thai Kickboxing, Shutokan, Aikido, Yoshu Shin Kai, Tae Chi Chuan, Kali,and Wing Chun.
Lago Vista, TX
Duke Ali Shariff-Bey - 9th Degree Blackbelt
Founder of Jai Yen Yen
Began studying the martial arts in 1965.
Additional Training: Goju Ryu, Isshin Ryu, Tae Kwon Do AFKO, Judo, Yudo, Kyokushinkai, Su Jung Do Karate, Sanuces Ryu, Tang Soo Do, Hakko Ryu Jujitsu, Aikido, Do Hap Sool, Sil Lum, Jeet Kun Do, Drunken Monkey, Krav Maga, Founder of Uhuru Budo Kai.
Prairie View, TX
Andrew Harrison - 9th Degree Blackbelt
Founder of Jai Yen Yen
Began studying the martial arts in 1947.
Additional Training: Boxing, Wrestling, Hakko Ryu Jujitsu, Judo, Goshin Jujitsu.
San Antonio, TX
Jack Gridley - 9th Degree Blackbelt
Founder of Jai Yen Yen
Began studying the martial arts in 1963.
Additional Training: Aikido, Shotokan, Judo.
Dunedin, FL
Fernando Franco Jr. - 9th Degree Blackbelt
Founder of Jai Yen Yen
Began studying the martial arts in 1968.
Additional Training: Kyokushinkai, Judo, Aikido, Tae Kwon Do, Goju Ryu, Tang Soo Do, American Kickboxing, Mui Tai Boxing, Boxing, USABA certified coach, Krav Maga.
San Antonio, TX
Randy Ames - 9th Degree Blackbelt
Founder of Jai Yen Yen
Began studying the martial arts in 19??.
Additional Training: Tang Soo Do
Whereabouts Unknown
Danny Quevedo - 1st Generation Blackbelt
Sensei of Jai Yen Yen 1982 - 2003
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. In 2002 Danny sufferrred a major stroke, 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
Chief Instructor of Jai Yen Yen 1989 - 2003
Sensei of Jai Yen Yen 2003 - 2010
Soke of Jai Yen Yen 2010 - present
Our Current Sensei, Dai-Shihan Michael Zang, has been studying and teaching Jai Yen Yen since 1989.
Michael began studying the martial arts in 1975. His initial training was in self-defense classes where he was taught Jujutsu, Judo by his Highschool Coach Daniel Dupree, and Hand-to-hand and Boxing techniques by his Uncle Who was a Marine with several tours in Vietnam, his wounds made him leave the Marines where he joined the 101st Airborne Infantry and returned to Vietnam (same Marine Unit attached) for several more tours.
By the early 80's he was training in Kai-Ki-Do under Founder Grandmaster (GM) Albert S. "Robbie" Robinson, 10th dan under the Japanese Karate Association (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.
From 1983 - 1988 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. It was at this time that Michael had discovered an instructor that he would accept rank from, previously Michael had absolutely no interest in rank. His only interest was in learning anything and everything that would help him better understand combative self defense. Upon meeting Danny and training with him Michael was so impressed with Danny's capabilities that he respectfully bowed and told him he wanted Danny to rank him as he saw fit and without question.
On 22 April 1989 Danny promoted Michael to his very first rank Yokyu - Green Belt 2nd Chevron. Then 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 Michael 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 1989 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. Sensei Danny told Michael that all of his previous years of training is why he was promoted so quickly, and that Danny really only finessed Michael's skills to get him to his black belt.
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, Michael 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 promoted and 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 April of 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.
By 2005 Sensei Michael had written an 85 page teaching manual for Jai Yen Yen and had it US Copyrighted to protect the System.
On June 25th of 2006 Michael hosted the Founders Luncheon, inviting all of the original founders. Most of these men had not talked to or seen each other since the late 70's. Then on September of 2007 he hosted a banquet honoring the original founders of Jai Yen Yen, inviting all of the past students of Jai Yen Yen to come and meet the Founders and thank them personally.
In 2007 Michael bacame a member of the Brotherhood of Veteran Warriors, and participates in teaching his self defense program at their seminars held annually.
In 2008 Michael further developed his "Street Safe" self defense classes into his own System called Kyoshintankai which he currently teaches, along with Jai Yen Yen, for free to the local community. Sensei Michael also provides classes for black belts to ensure the quality of their instruction.
Sensei Michael hosted the 6th Annual Gasshuku in San Antonio in April of 2010. The event was a success due to the Senior Martial Artists from around the nation who all came together to share their interests in a two and a half day seminar.
On June 5th of 2010, during our annual Family Workout, the students of Jai Yen yen and Kyoshintankai promoted Michael to his JuDan - 10th Degree Black Belt, Presenting him a Red Belt with both school emblems embroidered on the tips of the belt. The Promotion Certificate promoted michael to the rank of JuDan (10th Degree) with the titles of Soke/Dai-Shihan (Founder/Grand Master) of both the Jai Yen Yen System and his Kyoshintankai System. The certificate was signed by all of the students in attendance.
Dai-Shihan Michael resides in Live Oak, Texas a suburb of San Antonio, TX. He continues to teach both of his arts, conducting seminars, and demonstrations. He also 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 Randy Ames' whereabouts.
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