MARTIALFORCE.COM
PRESENTS
AN INTERVIEW WITH
SENSEI
DARRYL
“LITTLE ROCKER”
THOMAS
APRIL / 2011
My name is Eddie Morales and welcome to Martialforce.com Online Martial Arts Magazine. I want to introduce Martialforce.com readers to Sense Darryl “Little Rocker” Thomas. Thomas has been a dedicated practitioner and teacher of the Martial Arts for many years. He comes from a group of highly talented and mentally tough individuals. This group of practitioners dominated their opponents in open tournament competition for many years. The group was called by the system they practiced which was named “The Turtull System.” They originate from the inner city streets of New Jersey. The easiest way to visualize the strength of their practice is to imagine the direct attacks of the Shotokan system, fluidity and evasiveness of the Goju system, tenacity of an angry linebacker with the focus and control of a highly disciplined warrior.
In the fight arena they were aggressive while being complete gentlemen and approachable outside of the ring. They always demonstrated a deep commitment for the practice and expression of the art they embodied. Sensei Thomas was an important part of this group. It became obvious to anyone watching him perform Kata or fighting, that he had fine-tuned his art with a regimen of hardcore no nonsense basics. The group’s performance was always at a high level of focus and skill that only champions achieve. We here at Martialforce.com are happy to bring you this interview as we speak on the life, practice and accomplishments of Sensei Darryl “Little Rocker” Thomas.
Interview by Eddie Morales
Martialforce.com
Online Magazine
Martialforce.com: What is your current occupation?
DARRYL THOMAS: Owner of
Fitness Forever Personal Training in New Jersey Athlete Trainer, Sports
Specific Conditioning Football, Baseball, Field Hockey such as Strength
Trainer, Speed-Agility-Quickness and Polymetric.
Martialforce.com: How did you begin Martial Arts and who was your instructor/s?
DARRYL THOMAS: How can I
forget I was living in Scotch Plain New Jersey and I had seen my cousin
Cliff at a Karate Demonstration with Errol Ross. He executed a sidekick and
from that moment I was hooked. I asked my Mother Alice Thomas, if I can do
that and I joined the next day. Errol Ross, Darryl Walker From Scotch
Plains, Master Boze, Jesse Harris, Reggie Goode, Andre Graham, Trent Norman
were the heart and soul of Newark’s best fighters. That’s when training got
real serious
Martialforce.com: You are prior, military, how did you reach the decision to join and what was gained by this experience.
DARRYL THOMAS: Well, every male in my family was in the Army beginning with my Grandfather, Father, Uncle and cousin and I was the youngest. In 1978 I made a commitment to enroll in the Marine Corps delayed entry program, which entailed a two year period. I worked with a recruiter named Sgt Larry Isaac who studied Okinawa Karate and was impressed. By 1980 I was ready for Boot camp. My lovely Mother was highly upset because being the only boy in the family she didn’t take that without a good fight. At the time I was accepted to the University of North Carolina to play Football but I took a stand and went to the Marine Corps. It was the best choice of my life, South Carolina Parris Island where they turn boys into men, men into warriors. I met some great men during my training. In 1983 I was sent to Beirut, Lebanon. A bomber came with his truck and killed 283 Marine’s, my best of friends. That taught me, you cannot take life for granted. This incident brought us all close together as a unit and I had a whole new outlook on life and the importance of friendships. I stayed 20yrs dedicated Marine Corps with my last rank achieved being an E-6 SSgt.
Martialforce.com: You were part of a style called the turtull system, can you tell our readers how you got involved and who were its creators.
DARRYL THOMAS: Earlier we talked about how I started my training with Sensei Errol Ross from Scotch Plains, the funny thing was the way I began my training with the Turtull System. I was walking down Newark NJ at an early age when these two guys were trying to take the little money I had. I got pushed against a window and Jesse Harris and Reginald Goode came over to help me. It was from that moment on that I joined their school. They were giving a demonstration of the Turtull System. Jesse Harris and Reginald Goode came out and showed everyone in attendance what the system was about. I was so impress with Jesse Harris that I became his student and little brother for life. The creator of the Turtull System, Master Edward Boze Jr and Grand Master Fred Godfrey called our system at time The Ninja Turtull system. The name Ninja was for Grand Master Godfrey as it was his nickname and The Turtull System for Master Boze. Eventually as time passed, the two of them had a falling out and I remained with Master Boze but was loyal to Sensei Jesse Harris.
Martialforce.com: What was the reason for using the name turtull system?
DARRYL THOMAS: Master Boze created the system and named it because of his size and strength. The system was American Karate and Japanese Karate combined. As a kid Master Boze had polio, which weakened his body. Martial Arts training help him overcome the disease. He hardened his body to represent the Turtle shell and developed our system with unique blocks, strikes and stances.
Martialforce.com: How many kata's in the turtull system?
DARRYL THOMAS: In our system we had all of the basic (I) formation kata’s as well as all Tekki, Heians and advance Shotokan kata’s. At Sho-dan level you were required to create a kata to demonstrate your understanding of the system. This was required before going on to the next rank as Ni-Dan (Second Degree).
Martialforce.com: What are your thoughts on the practice of Kata, is it useful and if yes or no, why?
DARRYL THOMAS: Kata is a
Japanese word describing detailed patterns of movements practiced either
solo or in pairs. Karate Kata are executed as a specified series of a
variety of moves, with stepping and turning, while attempting to maintain
perfect form. The practitioner is counseled to visualize the enemy attacks
and their responses. That being said, I still practice my kata currently,
which keeps me humble and level headed because it maps out your strengths
and weaknesses. In my opinion, without Kata you have no foundation of
Martial Arts to identify your style. Today’s Kata from what I have observed,
is a joke! There are no true meaning behind the movements and its all flash
no tradition.
Martialforce.com: When Americans develop kata there is always someone that will criticize the non-traditional approach. That being said, what are your thoughts on this matter?
DARRYL THOMAS: Me personally I don’t judge because to that practitioner the kata is part of their system and that in itself makes it part of their tradition. We just can’t look at certain style of katas such as Shotokan, Goju, Kempo and say that’s it! If the kata has technique, application, structure, balance and helps develop the student mentally and physically then its purpose is no different then the systems I mentioned.
Martialforce.com: How did you get the nickname Little Rocker?
DARRYL THOMAS: I can recall it very good, I don't remember the year but I was in Trenton NJ at Master Preston Carter's tournament and I was watching Master Carter tear a deck of cards and a phone book in half, I was shocked. The competition began and I lost in weapons and kata so I had to recover myself. Master Boze put me in a different division and I just believed in myself. I took first place came back to our corner where we were sitting and Mary Boze, Master Boze mother said to me “wow brother Thomas you looked awesome out there. You look like a little rocket, I’m calling you little rocker.” The name stayed with me through my Martial Arts career so I give credit to Mrs. Boze, god bless her soul, what a beautiful lady.
Martialforce.com: What were some of your winning techniques in competition?
DARRYL THOMAS: Wow it’s been a while but as I recall we focused on my size and speed. I was short and fast so the reverse punch and drop spinning hook kick to the head, or reverse punch then back leg sweep. My reverse punch is the technique I used to set it all up. We didn’t have all the headgear safety equipment so techniques had to be sharp and to the point. Every kick and punch had to absolutely count.
Martialforce.com: Do you feel that Martial Arts played an important role with who you are today?
DARRYL THOMAS: Yes! In
deed, the disciple kept me out of some serious trouble mentally & physically
and taught me to make the right decision. Like the old saying “guard your
grill knock up” I encountered some serious hot spots, which I got some
respect from some bad boys that knew my art was on point. And it gave me a
high degree of pride in who I am and what I have become.
Martialforce.com: What are your thoughts on cross training in regards to other styles of Martial Arts?
DARRYL THOMAS: I truly
believe every Marital Artist should at least train in two or more style of
Marital Arts. You can really take your training to another level. As for
myself, I was traveling to 169th St, Grand Concourse in the Bronx to train
with Grandmaster Reno Morales and Eve Firefox Rivera at the age of 15yrs
old. I came all the way from New Jersey so I was serious about Martial Arts
and by combining both arts together in Kata & Fighting well, those who knew
me, knew exactly what to expect on the floor.
Martialforce.com: Who was your greatest influence growing up in regards to Martial Arts and or life in general?
DARRYL THOMAS: Come on! You have to say Bruce Lee;
he was one of the greatest Martial Artist out there. As a young boy we all
wanted to be Bruce Lee: Kick, Punch, and the famous KIA (Yell). As time
passed it was Master Edward Boze and Grand Master Reno Morales who taught me
how to become a man and stay focused and strong regardless of any and all
obstacles that life placed in my path.
Martialforce.com: What would you say is your greatest achievement?
DARRYL THOMAS: First of all I have fought many
great Martial Artist in my time. I was young and hungry on a constant quest
to elevate my skills in and out of the fight arena. As I sit here looking
back in time I remember to this day that I was 17yrs old trying to fight the
big boys. I stepped up and when I fought Sam McGee, he hit me with a
reverse punch than a sweep and the match was over. I sat down with my head
in my hand and Sam came by and said “Darryl, hold your head up, there is no
shame, you did well and you will be a great competitor in this sport, just
stay focused.”
In 1980, I went to the Marine Corps boot camp where I did 20yrs.I continued my training in the Martial Art never forgetting what Sam told me in the process. I eventually became the North Jersey Martial Arts champion, holding two titles at the same time. Lightweight champ and Middleweight champ in Fighting and I was proud of myself. I had done what I wanting to do. I never had the pleasure of fighting some guys that I want to fight so badly. I was too young and went to the Marine Corps. The two I wanted to fight were Kevin Thompson and Jerry Fast Feet Fontanez.
Martialforce.com: Do you have any long or
short-term goals in Martial Arts?
DARRYL THOMAS: Wow! To
teach again the true meaning of the Martial Arts. I have witnessed some
Dojo’s
don’t even teach all of its aspects in regards to humility, respect and
honor. It’s all about trophies, what happen to the real training and the
sprit behind the martial arts? I have seen some Grand Masters and Masters
such as Master Reno Morales, George Crayton, Sam McGee, Kevin Thompson
and
Abdul Aziz, truly keep the martial art at its intended form which was not
only for the physical but mental maturity and expansion of the students
mind. My personal goal is to do the same and carry on my Instructor Master
Edward Boze Jr, name and tradition while maintaining the integrity of the
art I practice.
Martialforce.com: On a different note, in regards to role models, a lot of kids don’t have someone to look up to for life lessons. This in turn leads to the negative alternative of the streets. What would you say to a child that might be reading this in regards to feeling like they don’t fit or haven’t found themselves?
DARRYL THOMAS: It’s very easy to make the wrong choice. Every time you turn around you see fancy cars and all the bling-bling. You get caught up and then you go nowhere. All the cars are gone and the bling-bling taken traded in for a new bling-bling. Find yourself, there’s good in everyone, stay in school and achieve the fame and glory by doing what’s right and being positive. Choose your life's path carefully. From this one decision will come 90 percent of all your happiness or misery. I've learned that trust is the single most important factor in both personal and professional relationships. Trust in one self and while we can’t do it alone all the time, trust in god. Trust that he will lead you on a good righteous journey.
Remember that every day we have the power to bless someone's life by word if not by deed, someone is always watching....
Martialforce.com: It was great talking to you and at this time I want to thank you for accepting this interview on short notice. We here at Martialforce.com hope for your continued success.
DARRYL THOMAS: Thank you sir for the opportunity to express my thoughts.
