|
AL DACASCOS
Founder of Wun Hop Kuen Do
August 1998 saw Al
Dacascos on National TV (TNT) Turner Network Television being
honored as one of the Masters to Wesley Snipes, "1st Tribute
to the Martial Arts Masters of the 20th Century" from New
York City. September he was inducted into the prestigious "America's
Grandmasters Council" in Orlando, Florida, and the "Eastern
U.S. Hall of Fames" in New Jersey.
 Since the founding of his unique fighting art, Wun Hop Kuen Do, a style of KAJUKENBO that incorporates Chinese and Filipino martial arts into the traditional KAJUKENBO system, in 1969, Al
Dacascos has become one of the most noted martial artists of our era. An eighth
degree Black Belt, Dacascos has won over 200 Championships and appeared on
just as many martial arts magazine covers over the years. In 1977 he was indoctrinated
into the Black Belt Hall of Fame as Instructor of the Year and again in 1992
by Inside Kung fu Magazine. Two of the worlds most prestigious martial arts
magazines. Dacascos was the first practitioner of Kung fu to compete in the
American martial arts tournament circuit. As a visionary, he has manifested
the dream of creating a network of schools and five generations of black belts
to reflect his style.
In 1975, Al Dacascos was invited to appear in ABC's Wide World of Sports, broadcast
from Los Angeles. He gave a breathtaking demonstration, exhibiting his power
of "Chi" energy. German enthusiasts were so impressed with Wun Hop
Kuen Do, that they offered Dacascos the opportunity to expand his schools and
seminars throughout Europe. His influence and martial arts genius has helped
to design the modern warrior.
At age 11, Dacascos was introduced into Judo and Jujitsu and excelled in it.
He performed and competed in any exhibition to gain experience and knowledge
from others in the field. After attaining his Black Belt in Kajukenbo at age
18, under Sid Asuncion, He formed a small group to practice and teach in Hawaii,
his native home. Dacascos then decided to study with the source of his style,
Professor Adriano Emperado. Emperado schooled him beyond the physical. He showed
him how to take his techniques into life. Dacascos claims that Professor Emperado
enlightened him on the inside.
The reality of having his own students set in and the need to improve his communication
skills took precedence. Dacascos moved to California in 1965. Running a school
came by trial and error as there were no formal systems anywhere in the US
to teach the skills of running a martial arts business until 1967. Eventually,
Dacascos was recruited into the Tracy system, a strategic alliance that helped
to form the cornerstone of his business organizational skills.
During this time, Dacascos became involved with a group of Chinese martial
artists in San Francisco. This exchange of techniques between instructors began
to reshape his feelings about his own martial art. By 1969 he had told Professor
Emperado that he could no longer call his art Kajukenbo. Instead he wished
to develop a style of his own, Wun Hop Kuen Do, which means 밫he way
of the combined fist.?
Al Dacascos's next job was to give the art credibility. "When you watch
a tree grow" explains Dacascos, "first there are the roots, then
comes the trunk, the branches, the leaves, and finally the flowers." He
has his roots in Kajukenbo and solid trunk in Wun Hop Kuen Do. Now he had to
produce the leaves and the flowers, the champions of Wun Hop Kuen Do.
Mark Dacascos, Al's son, certainly fits the role model of Champion. Presently
a fourth degree Black Belt, Mark retired undefeated on both forms and fighting
in the European martial arts circuit. Mark Dacascos has now achieved a world
wide reputation in the motion picture industry. He has starred in nine motion
pictures. In the premier season of 1998, Mark will star in the new television
series titled "The Crow, Stairway to Heaven"
Other notable personalities under the Dacascos banner are Malia Bernal, Karyn
Turner and Karen Shephard. Each of these women held the title of national champion
in their own time. Christian Wulf and Emanual Bettencourt received top accolades
in Europe. In the USA, Bill Owens was a national champion in the 1970' and
Eric Lee is the reputed "King of Kata."
After numerous seminars in every major city in Europe and the USA, Dacascos
techniques also became sought after by military and government agencies. In
the United States, Al Dacascos has worked with agents from the FBI, the Hawaiian
Metro squad, the US Army Airborne Rangers and some members of the US Marshals.
He has also instructed segments of the German Army and Hamburg police department.
Over the years, Dacascos has appeared in numerous US television programs and
media presentations such as the Merv Griffin Show, ABC Wide World of Sports
and CNN. In 1985, he was a featured member of the USA Martial Arts team sent
to China as a "good will exchange." This event became an award winning
documentary titled "China's Living Legends."
Presently, Al Dacascos is reforming a world wide Headquarters in Portland,
Oregon for Wun Hop Kuen Do. He is also expanding into the motion picture industry.
Working with such films as "Jaguar Lives" and "Teenage mutant
Ninja Turtles III" has given him another outlet for his art. He has recently
formed an alliance with producer/director Debra Mason called the Rogue Dacascos
Motion Picture Alliance. They have shot a children's feature,
titled, "The Kung Fu Kids Klub" Next the alliance will produce a
series of motion pictures titled, "The Man from Paradise." Al Dacascos
will star in the series.
|
