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Shihan Paul Arel: Martial Arts Biography
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Titles: International
Director/ Chairman, International Kokondo Association (IKA) Author: Sankosho-
A Guide to Kokondo Karate & Jukido
(1989), Time
Line: 1950 Began studying Sanzyu-ryu Jujitsu with Sudo Sensei, Fitchburg,
MA. 1952-1956 Taught Jujitsu in New England.
Mr. Arel was one of the first occidental black belts in the United States. 1956-1962 Full-time U.S. Marine.
First stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and then an extended stay in
Japan. Some
of the major systems studied formally (and through free exchange workouts) include: ·
Isshin-Ryu Karate-Do
(Sensei Don Nagle) ·
Kodokan
Judo (Sensei Ernie Kates; Kodokan Judo Institute) ·
Takenouchi-Ryu
Jujitsu (Japan) ·
Sankata
Karate-jitsu (Sensei H. Ishikawa) ·
Aikido
& Aikijutsu (Japan) ·
Kobudo
& Kobujutsu (emphasis on Bo, Jo, Sai, Knife,Tonfa)
Exposure to other systems that later influenced Kokondo and
Jukido included: ·
Bando (Dr. Maung Gyi) ·
Shotokan
Karate-Do ·
Wado-Ryu
Karate-do ·
Shorinji
Kempo ·
Arnis
de Mano While
in the Marines, Mr. Arel worked as a bouncer both on and off base in
Jacksonville, North Carolina. He was a primary instructor of armed and
unarmed combat with the Fleet Marines (Force Troops) and with several
international Special Tactics Law Enforcement organizations. This time
period presented unique opportunities for learning and exchange of
martial arts techniques in dojo around the world, as well as real-life
testing of all techniques in many dangerous situations. He retained
techniques from a variety of traditional ryu, and discarded those
methods that were not consistently effective. None of Sudo’s Sensei
Jujitsu techniques were abandoned. During
this time period, Mr. Arel also competed extensively and successfully in
both Judo and Karate shiai (tournaments). While he found these events to
be both fun and informative, the most important lesson he learned was
that consistent practice of martial arts for sport, where there are
rules and regulations, is detrimental to one’s advanced development of
core self-defense reaction time, versatility and overall fighting
effectiveness. 1959 Honorably discharged from full-time duty as a United States
Marine (official discharge awarded in March, 1962.) Returned to Hartford
where he opened the Connecticut Judo Academy and the state’s first
karate school, Karate, Inc. The style he taught was Sankata
Karate and the dojo was a member of the International
Sankata Karate Federation. Mr.
Arel also founded and began teaching the art of Jukido Jujitsu in 1959
upon his return to New England. 1962
Invited to bring his top students to a special clinic taught by
Kyokushin Karate-do founder Masutatsu Oyama in New York City. Oyama
personally invited Mr. Arel to affiliate with the Kyokushinkai-kan as
his direct student. Shortly
thereafter he became one of the first official Kyokushin Branch Chiefs
in the United States. November,
1962
Sensei Arel authored the rules for the First North American
Karate Championships held at Madison Square Garden. He also served as a
senior referee with Peter Urban (Goju Ryu) and Don Nagle, including for
the final match won by Gary Alexander, an Isshin Ryu stylist and fellow
Marine from New Jersey. Mr.
Arel then performed on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show with one of his
young CT karate black belts and Mas Oyama. During
this time period in the development of karate in the United States, the
first generation of American karate sensei were just emerging, many of
whom had recently returned from military service in Asia and were just
beginning to teach martial arts for the first time.
While Sensei Arel is a proud part of this early generation of
karate pioneers in the US, it is important to note that he entered the
Marines as a sensei, and
already had more than a decade of experience as a civilian and military
teacher of traditional martial arts. Much
of the on-going training during these years continued during frequent
regional workouts and exchanges of technique (kokan-geiko)
between former Marines such as Don Nagle and Gary Alexander.
These practice sessions were very rough and focused on contact
kumite and practical applications of self-defense techniques. 1963
Hosted the First New England Karate Championships at the Bushnell
Memorial in Hartford, CT. The
senior referees included Don Nagle, Gary Alexander, Henry Cho and Paul
Arel. 1965
Hosted the Second North American Karate Championships at the
Bushnell Memorial in Hartford, CT for which Mas Oyama served as the
honored guest and Chief Referee. Other officials and demonstrators
included Koichi Tohei (Aikikai Aikido); Maung Gyi (Bando); & Bobby
Lowe (Kyokushin Hawaii). Prior to the tournament, Oyama Sensei conducted
a large seminar in New Bedford, MA attended by many of the early
American karate pioneers (such as Meibukan Goju Ryu’s Anthony Mirakian)
and hosted by Mr. Arel’s black belt student, David Shuster. Another
historically significant aspect of this tournament is the inclusion of
Jukido Jujitsu demonstrations throughout the event.
Jukido was seen for the first time by such notable masters as
Tohei and Gyi, with Master Arel receiving a very positive and
encouraging response to continue his innovative and important work in
developing and spreading this unique Jujitsu system.
1966
Hosted the First Inter-Collegiate Karate Championships in New
Britain, CT. 1968
Hosted the Third and
final International Karate tournament at Hartford’s historic Bushnell
Memorial. 1969-1971
Hosted the annual International
Karate Championships and martial arts Shows at the University of
Hartford in Hartford, CT. These
tournaments received extensive coverage by the local media as well as
the coverage in international martial arts publications.
The performances and quality of the events attracted competitors
from across the United States and abroad representing many Okinawan,
Japanese, Chinese and Korean karate styles.
Unlike many open tournaments of the era (and since), Shihan
Arel’s tournaments were noted for impartial judging, without any bias
for particular styles or individual dojo.
To a large degree, Kokondo’s subsequent resignation from
participation in open tournaments was a direct result of the bias and
favoritism that has infested the world of sport karate, and which has no
place in authentic Budo.
1970 Resigned from the Kyokushinkai-kan. In December he officially
founded Kokondo Karate and formed the International Kokondo Karate
Association (IKKA), later renamed the International Kokondo Association
(IKA) in 1983. The IKA includes both Kokondo Karate and Jukido Jujitsu
under its umbrella. With its largest student bases in the Northeast and
the Northwestern US, IKA sensei have operated dojo in 29 states as well
as in the Finland, Great Britain, Belgium, Israel, the Philippines,
Spain, Portugal, Saudi
Arabia, Hong Kong, and Norway. 1972 Produces and stars in the short Martial Arts documentary “Art of the
Ancients” which is shown on public television and features many of
Kokondo’s earliest Masters and sensei.
This movie is subsequently re-filmed and released under the same
title on video in 2000, and in a new form with extensive new content in
2003 on DVD. 1976
At a Bi-Centennial Fair
in Connecticut, Master Arel breaks a world record for Tamashi
Wari (board breaking), shattering 94 boards individually in one
minute. He held this record until 1999 when he encouraged one of his
direct students to attempt to break his own record. In 1999, with Mr. Arel’s coaching, Sensei Scott Cohen broke
99 boards in one minute, earning international martial arts and
mainstream media recognition for Kokondo Karate. 1977
Hosted the Kokondo
Invitational Karate Tournament in Newington, CT, which included many
well known karate-ka from New York and Connecticut.
This shiai was the last open karate tournament ever sponsored by
the International Kokondo Association. 1979 Publishes the first edition of the Kokondo Karate and Jukido
Jujitsu Guidebook titled Kokondo. This book was expanded and
re-released in 1981 and once again in 1983.
It was the precursor to the extensive Kokondo text books entitled
Sankosho- A Guide to Jukido Jujitsu and Kokondo Karate (1989) and
Jukido Jujitsu- The Realistic Ryu (1994). This
same year, Master Arel conducted extensive training for Kokondo-ka
across the US, including clinics and seminars in California, Washington
state, Oregon, and in many cities across Idaho.
At that time, these lengthy seminars were rare and exposure to
the head of the Kokondo system was not as easy or frequent as it is
today. Several of
Kokondo’s senior West Coast Sensei still recall clearly the intensity
of the black belt training during Mr. Arel’s visits at that time. 1983 Publishes the By-Laws of the International Kokondo Association 1987 Conducts a Disarming Seminar in Bakersfield, CA which receives extensive
local coverage and attention in the martial arts media, and attracts
Kokondo-ka from across the United States. 1989
Taught the First National Kokondo Seminar (at Eastern Connecticut
State University) bringing together for the first time Kokondo students
and sensei from all areas of the United States. After this seminar’s
great success, Shihan Arel commits to make this an annual event
available to all IKA members. 1993
Held the First Kokondo Seminar in Israel.
This seminar focused on disarming techniques and the majority of
the students included members of the Israeli military including armed
and empty-handed combat instructors. 1996
Special guest instructor at the National Summer Karate Camp in
Finland. This event strengthened the international bonds between
Finland’s large and successful Kokondo Karate program and the IKA
Hombu, greatly enhancing Kokondo’s presence in the international
martial arts scene. 1998
After 48 years of full-time devotion to the international
development of traditional martial arts, Shihan Paul Arel is awarded the
rank of Judan- 10th Degree Black Belt at the 10th annual Kokondo Nationals
in Seattle, WA. 1999
At the 11th
Kokondo International Seminar in New London, CT, Shihan Arel officially
introduces a new division of the IKA known as the Inter-Collegiate
Kokondo Alliance. The ICKA
is a branch of the IKA which focuses on the establishment and
development of Kokondo dojos at colleges and universities
internationally.
This
seminar is also the first time that a full team of Europe’s top
Kokondo-ka attend the seminar in the United States, starting a
traditional of increasingly close interaction between Kokondo-ka from
across the globe. 2000
Recognized by the International Kokondo Association at a surprise
Black Tie Gala event for 50 years of service through the teaching and
practice of traditional martial arts.
Guests included members from across the United States and Europe
with video-taped greetings and congratulations from IKA members
everywhere in the world. Two
surprise special guests attended this function:
Master Steve Dunne, the first person ever to receive a black belt
in Kokondo Karate; and Sensei Harry Mott, one of Mr. Arel’s oldest
friends and students. Mr.
Mott was the only student of Mr. Arel ever to train in Jukido, Sankata,
Kyokushin and Kokondo Karate, and he was a kumite champion at many
tournaments in the 1960’s. This
event was his first time at a Kokondo function since the mid 1970’s.
In
addition to speeches by the Masters and Directors of the IKA, Shihan
Arel was recognized officially by the Governor of Connecticut, a
Congressman and Senator from Massachusetts, the United States Marine
Corps, and the President of the United States.
He was also presented with a United States Flag, and a plaque
stating that it was flown outside the Congress of the United States of
America in his honor. Most
significantly, Kokondo
Master Robert Longo, Shihan’s top student and best friend, made a
special toast to his sensei, and it was the last time he ever addressed
the full IKA membership at a Kokondo function prior to his passing in
June of 2001. 2001 Featured on the cover of Budoka, Finland’s premier martial arts magazine. 2003
(June) The
Finland Kokondo summer camp includes Kokondo-ka for the first time from
Israel, London and Belgium. The Kokondo representatives from Brussels are also senior
security officers and instructors for the headquarters of the European
Union (EU); and the representative from Israel is a former international
consultant on security training and body-guarding. 2003
(July)
Shihan Arel announces for the first time the revised
Organizational Chart of the International Kokondo Association.
This re-organization serves to align the practices, policies and
leadership roles of the association and to insure its healthy growth
well into the future. 2003 (November) Featured Instructor at the Finland Kokondo 20th
Anniversary Invitational Jushin Seminar in Helsinki, which includes
students and sensei from Kodokan Judo, Tae Kwon Do, Shotokan Karate,
Hontai Yoshin Ryu Jujitsu and the German Jujitsu association, as well as
Kokondo and Jukido students from Belgium, Israel, Finland, the UK and
the USA. This seminar
was the first ever to focus exclusively on applying Jushin, the Center
line principle, to the techniques of other systems. Please click over an individual image to zoom in
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