MARTIALFORCE.COM

 

 

PRESENTS

 

 

AN INTERVIEW WITH

 

GRAND MASTER

 

Hector “Apache” Cruz

 

 

Train, Teach, and Feel the Art

 

Interview by William Rivera Kyoshi

Edited by Lydia Alicea

 

 

“Apache“

 

Here in the United States, we immediately relate the name, “Apache,” to the “Apache Indians,” a nation of tribes, which primarily settled in the southwest. They were nomadic, constantly in motion and as a fierce people, known for their resistance against the European settlers that came to North America.

 

They were a people with a stubborn drive to fight against those who attempted to impose their will on them, and just like other Native Americans, their toughest struggles were maintaining their traditional cultural identity, and, survival.

 

Apaches were known for their indomitable wills and their aggressive, and courageous, attributes defined who they were.

 

“Apache Cruz”

 

In the New York urban martial arts world, there is another “Apache” that is immediately recognized and known for his fighting spirit and with good reason.

 

Apache Cruz was that warrior, and just like the Indians who roamed the plains, so too did he, but they were the mean streets of Harlem and the South Bronx, war zones of crime, poverty, and hopelessness. Unless you grew up or lived in New York City during this period (late 1960s and the 1970s,) you have no idea what this dark and gritty world was like or how bad things were.

 

A backdrop: New York City was stuck in a deep recession with high unemployment, which included thousands of city workers, services severely impacted. The city was at the brink of bankruptcy, “white flight,” a crime rate soaring, homelessness was rampant (anyone remember the “Bowery Bums?”) A subway system riddled with crime. In the South Bronx, Harlem, and in parts of Brooklyn, there were blocks upon blocks destroyed by arson, and neighborhoods with buildings left to rot.

 

As a result, what propagated was a new world order: neighborhood gangs that multiplied like rats, controlling whatever piece of turf (neighborhood/territory) they staked a claim to. Drug wars took over, the drug market of cocaine and heroin was the business of the streets and became the new economy driving crime in these neighborhoods. Life for far too many was oppressive. Those who knew how to fight fought back, and moved on. Far too many did not survive. Apache Cruz rode this wave of life, and in order to endure, became part of it. This was his first true fight.

 

Apache had no direction in his life other than surviving day to day, doing what he had to do to get by. School was certainly not an option to “getting out.” Yet, this life formed a man who learned how to endure, how to get back up, and go forward. One day came that changed the direction of his life forever. He was shot by a gang member (grazed) in the arm and thigh. A wake up call, faith, luck, or all three attributed to the warrior, and martial artist known as APACHE Cruz.

 

Lydia Alicea

Writer for Martialforce.com

 

 

Martialforce.com: Let us start at the beginning. Where were you born and raised?

 

APACHE CRUZ: “I was born in New York, at Metropolitan Hospital when it was located on Roosevelt Island. My mother was Aida Cruz, and I am one of 17 children. I grew up on 102nd Street and 109th Street. Salsa singer Marc Anthony lived on the second floor, we lived on the third, and his grandmother is my Godmother, Dona Julia. Eventually I worked at the Metropolitan Hospital in Manhattan when it moved to East Harlem (1st Avenue and 99th Street) for 18 years. ”

 

Martialforce.com: How did you begin your training in Boxing?

 

APACHE CRUZ: “As a young kid, I loved going to the movie theaters in Chinatown. One of my favorite movies was “Five Fingers of Death.” I also liked watching the old time boxers like Emile Griffith, and Rocky Marciano. There was a cop on our neighborhood beat, Officer Durhart. He introduced me to boxing by taking me to gyms and recreation centers in Fort Apache and Jerome to the PAL program. At some point, we moved to Mickey Rosario’s on 125 Street, home to the Gladiators Boxing Club. I was 13 or 15 years old at the time. I also would go to the Thomas Jefferson Recreation Center on 112 Street and First Avenue to swim and run.

 

I met Negro, Jose “Negro” Gonzalez in the late 80’s and we hit it off. He became my boxing trainer and worked my corner in fights. The training on 108 Street was hard, jabs, crosses and hooks, it was a sweat box, and I loved it.”

 

 

 

 

 

Martialforce.com: How did you get into the Martial Arts?

 

APACHE CRUZ: “I was introduced to Isshin Ryu Karate by Billy Shaw Sensei. Shaw Sensei was a mentor who also helped get me off the streets. Sensei worked for the Department Of Sanitation, on 77 and York Ave. I met him while working there at a summer job. I was about 16 or 17 years old. He saw me fooling around with a broomstick before I learned what a BO was. He said to me, ’That is not the way to do it.’ I was taught Tokumine No Kun (BO staff Kata) during lunch breaks at 77th Street. Shaw Sensei was a student of Dennis Bootle Sensei.

 

While, as a Brown Belt I would assist and teach classes at the Henry Street Settlement, Elmcor Community Center, and La Promesa. I was promoted from 1st to 3rd Dan by Shaw Sensei (during the 70’s.)

 

Shaw Sensei always stressed to me the importance of an education; I was not good with the books and he helped me with math a lot; but I did it, I graduated from Haaren High School.”

 

 

Martialforce.com: Tell us about your first tournament.

 

APACHE CRUZ: “I was about 18 or 19 when I competed in my first tournament. As I entered, I heard people talking about Wilfredo Roldan being there. I watched him as he fought, amazed by his timing, aggressiveness, and control of the ring. I thought to myself, I would not like to fight this guy,’ and who did I wind up fighting? When they announced my name, the first words out of my mouth were ‘Aw Sh##!

 

He killed me. Yet, from the fight, I learned a very important lesson from him. He told me, ‘Never let anybody see or take your heart.’ Talking to Grand Master Wilfredo Roldan last year he remembered that tournament and shared with me that when he looked at my eyes he knew he had me.”

 

Martialforce.com: Give us a snapshot of both your training and tournament competition.

 

APACHE CRUZ: “Billy Shaw would bring me to compete in Isshin Ryu tournaments. I also competed at Lee Ireland’s, Joyce Santa Maria’s, and Fred Hamilton’s “Battle of the Zodiac.” I fought Chester Miller, and as they say ‘Like a cobra, whenever you see a cobra it is too late, you have already been bitten?’ So true! I saw his round kick, but he had already opened up a gash on my eye with it.

 

I went to seminars by Ed Brown, Steve Armstrong, Ed McGrath, and Nick Adler. We would go to Tommy May’s dojo, and line up sometimes 20 to a line, and fight 3 minute rounds, round robin (rotating opponents).”

 

 

Martialforce.com: Do you practice, and teach weapons, and what is your favorite kata?

 

APACHE CRUZ: “In Isshin Ryu we use three weapons, the Bo, Sai, and Tonfa. I practice and teach all three. My favorite weapons Kata is, Tokumine No Kun (BO staff Kata), my favorite empty hand kata are Kusanku, and Sunsu.”

 

Bo, Sai and Tonfa

 

 

 

Martialforce.com: Talk to us about the dojo you had in New York.

 

APACHE CRUZ: “In 1982, I opened my first dojo at 105th and Lexington Avenue on the third floor, El Barrio Martial Arts. I taught there for 12 years. I would also invite counselors, and speakers to speak to my students and their parents. I credit the success of the dojo to the dedication of my students who immersed themselves in studying the Martial Arts and its application into their lives, and to their parents for always supporting them.

 

I also owe many thanks to William Suthern who helped me prepare proposals for funding, as well as Renee Avery, Deputy Executive, and Lewis Zuckman, Executive Director of the Supportive Children’s Advocacy Network (SCAN) the largest non-profit youth and family service organization in East Harlem and the South Bronx. SCAN provides a variety of integrated support services to high risk children and families (taken from their website) it is a remarkable organization, please visit their website: http://www.scanny.org/”

 

Martialforce.com: How did you first meet Wildcat Molina?

 

APACHE CRUZ: “It was during the mid-1970 when I first met Wildcat. One day, I walked into his dojo on 108th and Lexington Avenue but he was not there. He walked in a short time later and I asked if I could spar with him. He hit me with a front kick and I hit the floor. Wildcat and Orlando Molina took me to the top of the kickboxing world.”

 

 

 

WILDCAT MOLINA

 

 

Martialforce.com: What would you say was the significant lesson learned from Wildcat and Orlando Molina, and training with Eddie Burgos Sensei?

 

APACHE CRUZ: “To be well rounded. From Wildcat I learned how to use my hips to generate power, from Orlando, how to drive through an opponent, and from training with Eddie Burgos, it was about bringing it all together, hands and feet that he would pummel you with, left, right, spinning, angles. It was about developing an impeccable defense and pinpoint accuracy in your attack.”

 

 

EDDIE BURGOS

 

 

Martialforce.com: How did you prepare for your fights as a kick boxer?

 

APACHE CRUZ: “Like any other fighter, there was roadwork, bag work, technical training, and plenty of sparring. I owe thanks to those that sparred with me in preparation for my fights. The Delgado Brothers, they kept me alert, their combinations were hard and fast. Victor “The Hammer” Morales, had that name for a good reason; when he hit you it literally felt like a hammer, a driving blow that would bend you. Octavio Santiago, we called him “The Makiwara Kid,” also for good reason. He would hit the makiwara so hard, he would break it. There was Carlos Rivera, Danny Ortiz, William Cuevas, Troy Ruiz, and others. I thank them all.

 

I held the New York Professional Kickboxing Association (NYPKA) Featherweight, Jr. Lightweight, and Lightweight titles. My favorite combination was the backhand, spinning back kick, followed by a left hook.”

 

 

Martialforce.com: You fought in point tournaments, converted to kickboxing competition and just recently competed again in point competition, does your training change?

 

APACHE CRUZ: “It is all about the application, fortunately when I first competed in kickboxing, I had two champions training me. Master Wildcat and Orlando Molina, both were champions in both point and kickboxing competitions. They taught me how to apply my Tai Sabaki (body shifting) into the bob and weave of the kickboxing world. They adjusted my stances, and worked on my combinations.”

 

Martialforce.com: I have seen two of your fights on YouTube, one against Greg Murray, and against Shaka Zulu Shabazz, and heard you fought Master Jonas Nunez.

 

APACHE CRUZ: “Wow! I lost the lightweight title to Greg Murray. He was a punching machine. Lesson learned, never drop your left rushing in, you will be greeted with a right hook.

 

Shaka Zulu Shabazz, I fought him twice losing both. I still remember, better yet, feel his jump spinning back kick. I met Prof. Sayfullaah Al-Amriykiy (Shaka Zulu Shabazz) recently; he is a great martial artist. Master Jonas Nunez introduced me into the world of leg kicks. It felt like I was being hit by a bat.”

 

Martialforce.com: What is your teaching style like?

 

APACHE CRUZ: “Basics save your life, give you form. Whether on the street or in the ring it is the foundation, you draw from. I teach according to the individual, and the application of the technique. I evaluate each student individually, I cannot give you heart, but I can help you develop it. When I teach, I participate. A trainer from the outside can see the mistakes, you cannot see. When you get on the floor or the ring, an instructor can make you feel and correct those mistakes.”

 

Martialforce.com: What do the acronyms AKS and C.H.I.P.S. mean?

 

APACHE CRUZ: “Well AKS besides standing for Apache Karate School, also stands for A= Ambition. K= Kindness. S= Success. C.H.I.P.S. is C= Confidence, H=Heart, I= Inspiration, P= Performance, and S=Satisfaction. It is my method of teaching.”

 

 

 

Martialforce.com: You have had two hip replacements. Has this changed how you train?

 

APACHE CRUZ: “I remember my doctor telling me, ‘I am going to strap you to the bed to stop you from training.’ I continued my training the day after my hip surgery. I may not have been able to kick but I was able to still exercise my upper body. I would do dips on my walker and contract my muscles. I no longer run but I walk 10 miles a day, 7 miles if strapped for time. The foundation of the basics and kata helped me recuperate quickly and I continue to practice them every day.”

 

 

Martialforce.com: Who is your current instructor, and what is your current rank?

 

APACHE CRUZ: “My current instructor is Hanshi Jim Clerk, and I am currently an 8th degree Black Belt in Isshin Ryu Karate.”

 

 

My instructor Hanshi Jim Clerk and I

  

 

Hanshi Jim Clerk and my dojo brother Sam Danoto

 

 

Martialforce.com: At 61 years young, you stepped back into competition, why?

 

APACHE CRUZ: “I was invited to compete by Master Pierre Rene at a tournament he promotes here in Florida. I enjoy competition, simple as that. I thank him for the opportunity to step back in.”

 

(As a note Apache Cruz won first place in weapons, second place in kata, and fourth place in fighting.)

 

It is all about ‘Train, Teach, and Feel the Art.’“

 

Martialforce.com wishes to thank Jennifer and David from Florida for the great pictures they provided of Apache. Apache Cruz lives in Central Florida, and is available for seminars and personal training, contact him at apachecruz@yahoo.com. Thank You Hector “Apache” Cruz, for the interview.

 

 

 

 

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