A
talk with Perry William Kelly, May 2006:
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Brief
side
note: Remember to have a glance
at all the free stuff inside
'The
Martial Arts Vault' after
you've read this interview!
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With us today we have Perry William Kelly from Canada, renowned author,
martial artist, educator and lawyer. He is the author of 'Dan Inosanto:
The Man, the Teacher, The Artist' as well as 'The Thinking Officer’s Guide
to Police Defensive Tactics'. His newest book 'Iceman: Kickboxing
Legend Jean-Yves Theriault' is hot off the press.
"First of all Perry, thanks for taking time off of your busy
schedule."
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"It's great to talk to you." |
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"I'm really looking forward to reading about Jean-Yves Theriault.
Could you tell us a little about the story behind the book, and the
prosess involved? Also, what is the main purpose of the book, as you see it?" |
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"I approached Jean-Yves with the idea for Iceman about five years ago at
the launch of my book about Dan Inosanto (Bruce Lee’s protégé). You
know, Jean-Yves is such a humble guy it took me about a year to convince him
we should do it, and we’ve worked on it ever since."
"Jean-YvesTheriault is a legend in Canada but only a few people knew about
his courageous journey to become champ. I thought that everyone should
know. Iceman is dedicated to "everyone who has ever succeeded after been told
that they couldn’t". I also wrote it because I believe that young people
need to be inspired by sports icons that don’t trash talk their opponents,
complain about what salaries they make, or take performance enhancing
drugs."
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"Most people in the martial arts will surely have heard the name Jean-Yves
Theriault. For those who don't know, or who are unaware of the legendary status
he held - and holds - could you give us a brief glimps of what kind of fighter the Iceman
was?" |
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"During his career Jean-Yves Theriault won four world titles, had
sixty-nine victories and defended his world title an amazing twenty-three
times. Jean-Yves Theriault’s career lasted nineteen years and he was world
champion for the whole of the nineteen eighties. Most champion's hold their
titles for a few years at best."
"Jean-Yves Theriault is considered to be the hardest puncher and kicker
that the sport has ever known, knocking opponents out with both hands and
both feet."
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"I've heard you mention that Jean-Yves never trash-talked anyone, and
personally I can attest to his great personality and friendliness. He
really has politeness down to an art! In what way do you see him being different than many other fighters?." |
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"Many fighters may have had the same tools (e.g., speed, power, tactics)
as Theriault but few have the same work ethic. During my research I
learned that Theriault had a single minded determination to become champ and
was prepared to pay the price in blood, sweat and tears every single day.
The chapter about his training regime is entitled "Cold as Ice and willing
to sacrifice."
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"Indeed
- to watch him train even
today is truly inspiring."
"Perry,
your book is described as a rags to riches story.
In your opinion - do you think that Jean-Yves' background to some
extent can explain his exceptional dedication and drive? I mean, just look at
the training he did to reach the top - totally awsome!"
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"Many times during the years that I interviewed Jean-Yves for the book, he
would mention that at an early age (while in foster care) he learned
that if he was going to do anything he would have to do it for himself, that
nobody would hand it to him. This contributed greatly, I believe, to his
dedication and drive. The other motivating factor, in my opinion, was inheriting
the genes of his mother. Mrs. Theriault is by far the most determined
person I have ever met." |
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"I will take it for granted that anyone who wishes to become a fighter
could benefit greatly from reading your book. To what extent is the
book benefitial to the average martial artist, or sports fanatic? After
all, there are tens of thousand of people that work out with - and enjoy
- kickboxing and other martial arts, but there are not many who has what
it takes to get to the very top." |
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"Former World Champion Don 'The Dragon' Wilson, who graciously provided
his time to be interviewed between movie projects, has called the book
'a must read for any martial arts fan who wants the inside scoop on what
it takes to become a world champion.' What more can I say than that." |
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"Well,
you don't need to say more than
that. The book comes highly
recommended from what I see."
"Now, let's talk a little about yourself.
I'm sure the reader would like
to know who Perry William Kelly
is. Would you be kind enough to tell us a little about your
background? You're a highly accomplished martial artist yourself, am I right?"
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"I don't know how accomplished I am but I have had some success over the
years. Over the course of my martial arts career I have had the chance
to study with some fantastic teachers who were kind enough to share
their knowledge with me."
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"A
bit of a modest man yourself,
then."
"What got you started in the martial arts
in the first place?"
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"I have been around martial arts my whole life. My father studied Karate
and Jiu-Jitsu in the early 1960's and began teaching me as a toddler. I
was so small they had to have my uniform ordered from another city.
Formal lessons at a martial arts school probably started when I was about
seven."
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"I'm just curious, did studying to become a lawyer have anything to do
with you martial arts training?"
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"I believe that my martial arts training gave me the ability to set up
short and long term goals and to do the work necessary to achieve
them. Every year in university could be compared to achieving the next belt
on your way to black belt, and as a martial artist I knew that success
only comes from hard work and diligent study."
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"I
hear you. If only more people
today were willing to put
the required amount of elbow
grease into their training.
Buying a grade is not quite
the same thing as working
your tail off to achieve
it..."
"Now,
you have an extensive training in various forms of martial arts,
quite impressive really! Could you tell us more about these arts and
your training, and why you have chosen to train in such a wide selection of
arts?"
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"I am an instructor in Can-Ryu Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai boxing, Filipino
Martial Arts, Jun Fan Gung Fu/Jeet Kune Do and Police Defensive
Tactics. Over the years, I have also had a chance to train and study
Karate, Kick-boxing, Savate, Wing Chun, Submission Grappling, Krabi Krabong,
Kendo, and Silat. My instructor Dan Inosanto once told me that no one martial
art has all the answers just like no one culture is the best. He
actively encouraged his students to cross train, something that was frowned upon
when I started in the 1960's."
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"Wow!
Luckily it is quite legitimate
to cross train today. This
schedule, however, would
probably make me personally cross-eyed."
"From
this solid list, is any particular art a favorite
of yours? Also -given your hectic schedule - do you find the time to continue
your training on a regular basis?"
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"All martial arts have something unique to offer. Muay Thai and MMA
grappling are the best cardio workouts and the closest to actual combat.
But these are primarily a young man's pastime. As I get older I seem to
focus more on the arts that I will be able to do my whole life. I actually
began studying Kali in my early thirties because I knew that someday I
would probably need a cane. When that day comes, hopefully I will be good
enough to use it to defend myself.
Guro Inosanto once told me that when he visited Bruce Lee in Hong
Kong shortly before he died they trained whenever they had a spare
moment, sometimes between buildings outside of restaurants. I try to either
engage in some sort of physical activity (fitness or martial arts practice)
every day. I find that first thing in the morning before work is best for me.
I also train a number of private students in the evenings."
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"What is, in your opinion
Perry, the most essential part of the arts as a
whole; If you could pinpoint one major asset or crucial ingredient
common to all martial arts, what would that be?
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"Achieving self discipline is by far the common ingredient found in all
martial arts. Those who stick with the martial arts will only succeed
if they are disciplined enough to put in the years of study to
become proficient and disciplined enough to keep away from bad influences
(e.g., crime, drugs, bad diet, poor fitness, etc.)" |
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"To my knowledge, being a lawyer as well as an experienced martial arts
teacher is a rare combination.
I understand that part of your work is being a certified law
enforcement instructor-trainer? In what way (if any) do you think the martial arts
is being benefitial to
law enforcement officers? Also, is any particular art better suited for the
job?"
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"My friends used to joke that I was the toughest lawyer in Canada. I had
to correct them by letting them know that amongst other tough guys in
the profession, former heavyweight Olympic boxer Willie DeWitt is also a
lawyer."
"Martial arts training can be of great benefit to law enforcement
officers but can also be a double edged sword. Officers who are proficient in
the martial arts usually become so by studying in dojos where courtesy,
respect and adhearance to rules are the norm. The streets do not have any
such rules. If an officer cannot adjust his defensive tactics for that
reality it can become problematic."
"Any art that teaches both striking and submission/locking techniques
is probably the most suitable for law enforcement."
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"I would assume your book: 'The Thinking Officer’s Guide to Police
Defensive Tactics' is based on what you teach? What do you mean by the
term the thinking officer?"
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"For me, the thinking officer is one who constantly strives to find the
tactics, techniques and training that best fits his or her size and
personal abilities. My first Jiu-Jitsu instructor was Can-Ryu founder Georges
Sylvain who is well over six feet tall and at the time approximately 100
kilograms. At the time I was a lightweight and quickly learned that what worked
for him might not always work for me."
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"What is the major lesson or lessons that you work on installing in law
enforcement officers, prison service personel and security personel?
That is, if you teach all of those groups?"
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"I have taught these various groups and I try to stress that they make
extensive use of their verbal skills prior to becoming physical. It is
much easier to talk someone into a patrol car or cell than to wrestle them
in."
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"Do you still teach martial arts on a regular basis, and do you run your
own school, or participate in running a school? If so, which art or
arts do you teach?"
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"I teach on a regular basis but restrict my teaching to private students
and seminars. With my private students, I teach the arts they are
primarily interested in learning when they come to me. Once they are with me for
some time, I expose them to the other arts and find most want to become
well rounded. When I teach a seminar I try to give the students a taste of
the various arts and I ask them to tell their instructor which ones they
liked the best so that we can focus a little more on them the next time."
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"If
people want to get in touch
with Perry William Kelly
- do you have a way that people can contact you and your consultation
service, a web site or blog maybe?"
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"I've also
been told you are working on a second edition of 'Dan Inosanto: The
Man, the Teacher, The Artist'? Is this a revised edition or a follow-up
to the first book? What can the reader hope to find in this second
edition?"
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"The book sold very well for my original publisher but after a while
became one of many books they offer. Skelval Publishing now has
the publishing rights and we are thinking about putting out a second
edition if the demand is there. Essentially, it will be the same book that many
people enjoyed."
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"With
your background and experience,
what would the best advice
be to anyone taking up martial arts
today?"
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"Have fun, because if you don't enjoy it you won't stay with it. Also,
realize that the best thing that can ever happen to you in your life
is never having to use your skills to defend yourself or others. So
many students, strangely enough, feel cheated when they don't ever have to
defend themselves."
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"Yes,
isn't that odd? It's almost
like being taught safe
driving, and then feeling
cheated when you don't crash." "Back
to the books, what is the best option for anyone who would
like to get hold of a copy
of one of them?"
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"They can simply send me an e-mail at the address listed above. Also, if
they attend the World Kobudo Federation conference here in
Ottawa/Gatineau next month they can get it from our booth that will be set up for
book signing sessions with the Iceman and me."
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"Your
coming to the conference - great!"
"Ok,
Rounding things off, could you tell us a little about your plans for the
future?"
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"For now, to bring Jean-Yves Theriault's inspring story to the attention
of as many people worldwide as I can through the book. And, in the
future perhaps through the movie. But I will leave that subject for
another discussion. "
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"Perry
William Kelly, thank you so much for your
time, and best of luck with the book!"
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"Thanks for chatting with me."
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