Hanshi Raymond
"Duke" Moore
10th DanRaymond "Duke" Moore was born in
San Francisco on April 19, 1915. In his youth he loved boxing and
wrestling.
In 1941, Duke became a student of Kodenkan/Danzan-Ryu Jujitsu under Ray Law
at the University Ave. Dojo in Oakland, CA. Ray Law was a blackbelt under
Seishiro Okazaki of Hawaii. Duke Moore excelled at Judo and Jujitsu, and
learned the Kodenkan "boards" requirements for blackbelt, but was not
satisfied with all aspects of the system. Thus, in 1943, he decided to go
to New York City and study Judo with George Yoshida. While living in New
York City, he also used all his spare time to train with Jujitsu master
Kiyose Nakae. Nakae gave Moore private lessons on two tatami mats in the
master's apartment.
In 1944, Raymond "Duke" Moore finally won his blackbelt in competition, and
it was awarded to him by George Yoshida.
Later that year he moved back to San Francisco and opened his first school
called the American Judo/Jujitsu Academy at 1819 Market Street. Later it
moved to Divisidero St.
In 1946 "Duke" Moore founded the Northern California Judo Association. In
1948, he was a co-founder of the American Judo & Jujitsu Federation (AJJF)
with John Cahill, Bud Estes, Dick Rickerts, and Ray Law. However, in 1950
Sensei Moore resigned from the Association because the group was insisting
that all members be blackbelts of Okazaki's Kodenkan/Danzan-Ryu system.
In the late 1950's and early 1960's Sensei Moore trained with Masutatsu
Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin Karate, and Richard Kim, Karate and
Aikijutsu master, and representative of the Dai Nippon Butokukai.
Moore received his blackbelt in Kyokushin Karate from Mas Oyama in 1957, and
his 4th Dan in Shorinji Kempo Karate from Master Kim. Later, in 1965 he
received his 7th Dan Blackbelt in Aikijujitsu from Master Richard Kim.
Professor Moore studied with all the great
masters of the day, including Ray Law, George Yoshida, Mas Oyama, Mitz
Kimura, Richard Kim, Walter Todd, Yosh Ajari, Kiyose Nakae, and Sensei
Takahashi. Professor Moore was an instructor to State, Federal and Civilian
employees of the California Prison System. He has also instructed hundreds
of people from police departments, colleges, and all the branches of the
military.
In the early 1970's the San Francisco dojo was passed to John Pereira, and
Prof. Moore moved to Mountain View, CA, where he began teaching his Jujitsu
style, now called ZenBudo-Ryu at Stanford University. Later this dojo was
passed onto Prof. James Moses.
On October 25, 1980, the Zen Budo Society
awarded Raymond V. "Duke" Moore the rank of 10th Dan. He was given a
certificate which reads as follows:
Whereas he has mastered, taught and demonstrated in
his life and work the philisophical truths and spiritual forces of Aiki and
Budo; and in recognition of his being a Master Sensei and practitioner of
over forty-five years experience in the martial art of Aiki Jujutsu, the Zen
Budokai hereby awards to its founder Duke Moore the title, rank and honor of
Hanshi-Judan (10th Degree).
On December 19, 1981, Duke Moore and other
teachers from the Zen Budokai Organization as well as other arts, came
together to form ATAMA, the American Teachers Association of the Martial
Arts. This is a group meant to help those who are legitimate martial
artists, but who are not associated with a master, to share knowledge, and
receive credentialing as instructors in their various martial arts.
In 1999 Hanshi Moore received the Daruma Award for his lifetime committment
to teaching and preserving the Martial Arts.
Hanshi Moore has written several books on the Martial Arts and Zen
philosophy including: Holistic Meditation, School of the Tiger, Dharma-First
of the Zen Masters, The Self-Defense Syndrome of the Human Mind, and The
Fighting Spirit of Zen.
Today, Hanshi Moore has promoted over 300 blackbelts. He had officially
named Professor Tim Delgman as the second Soke of the ZenBudo-Ryu system
upon his death.
Hanshi Raymond V. "Duke"
Moore passed away at approximately 4:40 pm PST on February 25, 2003 in
Sacramento California.
He was a practitioner of JuJitsu for more than 60 years. He was the founder
and leader of the ZenBudo-Ryu system of Self Defense and the founder of the
Martial Arts Organization ATAMA.
THIS GREAT LIFE WILL BE MISSED
The Senior Blackbelt leadership of ZenBudo-Ryu are: Tim Delgman
(9th dan); James Moses (9th dan); Jerry Kunzman (9th dan); Ron Blankenhorn
(8th dan); Fred Buck (7th dan); Art Buckley (7th dan); Harry Sherman (8th
dan); Daniel Ustie (7th dan); David Wolfe (6th dan); Abbott Schlemmer (5th
dan); Tim Lichtenwald (5th dan); Russ St. Hilaire (6th dan). There are
approximately 20 schools worldwide teaching Hanshi Moore's ZenBudo-Ryu
system.
"In conclusion, I have
little or no interest in so-called "tradition arts." If they don't work,
scrap them." letter to Sensei St.
Hilaire from Duke Moore.
"Survival is everything...all else is trivial."
from Fighting Spirit of Zen - original manuscript. |
