Interview by Eddie Morales

Martialforce.com

Online Magazine

My name is Eddie Morales and welcome to Martialforce.com Online Martial arts magazine. The subject of this interview is Master Leon Major. He has been studying the Martial Arts since he was a child and conducts many seminars in and around the New York area as well as Puerto Rico. His knowledge is vast and he embodies the technique of a polished warrior. He practices empty hand arts but is equally adapt with traditional or modern weapons. Master Major has a simple plan in life and that is to continue gaining knowledge and improving his art and self. He is very passionate about teaching and only teaches those that are serious about its practice. Major is without a dought a high level practitioner of the fighting arts and has a deep understanding of its foundation. We here at Martialforce.com hope you enjoy his interview.

Martialforce.com: Where are you originally from?

LEON MAJOR: I was born in New York City but I grew up in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico,

Martialforce.com: What is your occupation?

LEON MAJOR: I currently work in a call center in Long Island as a technical support representative.

Martialforce.com: When did you begin your Martial Arts training and with whom?

LEON MAJOR: I began training in Martial Arts in 1985 at the age of ten under Master Joe Figueroa, who taught Kuk Sool Won. Later in 1989 I studied Shorin Ryu Karate under Felix Rodriguez. In 1992, I began traning in the Nindo Ryu Bujutsu Kai under Arnold Vargas and later under Ignacio R. Moreira and Carlos R Febres, both whom I still study under.

Martialforce.com: Can you tell our readers what you gained from each of your instructors?

LEON MAJOR: I guess I’ll start with my first instructor, Joe Figueroa. The greatest thing I gained from him was getting over my fear of fighting and lack of self-confidence. Sensei Rodriguez was big on things like self-control and restraint. From the time I was about 12 I started getting into a lot of fights and it didn’t take a lot for me to get into one.

I’ll have to say that he taught me that not everything gets resolved by fighting. It took a few beatings from him for me to be able to understand that. Sensei Vargas, Sensei Moreira and Dai Shihan Febres are the ones who really helped mold me. Sensei Vargas showed me the mountain. Moreira Sensei and Dai Shihan Febres showed me the path to climb the mountain. I also got exposure to various martial arts in and out of the Nindo Ryu. Since Nindo Ryu is not a single art, I had the opportunity to learn different Bugei arts and was also encouraged to learn from other systems in order to enhance what I was being taught by my instructors. In fact, Dai Shihan Febres used to organize what he referred to as a tour of force, which took place in the summer. We traveled the east coast visiting schools and sharing with various masters. That gave us a chance to see things from different points of view. Sensei Joe Rebelo shared his vast knowledge in various martial arts and his attention to detailed helped me a lot in my development as a martial artist. Then of course there’s Ronald Duncan, Alii Karim, Bob Smith, David German, Moses Powell, Bill Mcclaud, David James and Michael Depasquale Sr and Jr. I was fortunate to meet and train with them and they have contributed a lot to my development as well and I will always be thankful for that.

Martialforce.com: How has Martial Arts training helped you in your daily life?

LEON MAJOR: Aside from the self-defense benefit I have gained a lot of self-confidence, which I lacked as a child. The training gave me an exceptional belief in my abilities. This in turn affected every facet of my life in a positive manner.

Martialforce.com: Who in your life influenced you the most regarding Martial Arts and or life in general?

LEON MAJOR: Well I have to say that the most influential people in my life are my immediate teachers Carlos R Febres, Ignacio R. Moreira, Arnold Vargas, Joseph “Kenpojoe” Rebelo, Felix Rodriguez, and most importantly my grandmother Pura Fraga. I also do have to thank masters such as Ronald Duncan, Ali Abdul Karim, Bob Smith, Shoto Tanemura, David James, Michael DePasquale Sr and Jr, David German, Moses Powell and Bill Mcclaud for they have been a great influence in my development as a martial artist.

Martialforce.com: Do you practice or believe in Kata (Pre arranged movements) and if so, why or why not?

LEON MAJOR: We don’t have a lot of empty hand kata in Nindo Ryu. I do believe however that katas have a lot of value in arts such as karate, since they do not only provide a good physical workout and when taught correctly, they do provide a great amount of techniques and a deeper understanding of the essence of a “Ryu” (Style).

Martialforce.com: Do you believe that Martial Arts is good training for children and if so why or why not?

LEON MAJOR: Yes I do, Martial arts training is very beneficial for children because through the training you develop self-confidence, discipline and focus, which can help them in their everyday life.

I am a firm believer that children can benefit from Martial arts training as it is a great character builder. The physical training coupled with the mental and spiritual aspects result in deep sense of confidence. In a qualified Martial Arts school children learn to give their best effort and learn the rewards of that effort. This in itself teaches them that they must work to gain anything in life.

Martialforce.com: Do you believe its beneficial to study with different instructors or systems and if so, why?

LEON MAJOR: In my own experience, I have been lucky to study under various instructors and it has been beneficial for me because it has given me diversity and an open mind to be able to learn different points of view in terms of application, regardless of what school it comes from. All arts have something useful to offer.

Martialforce.com: Do you study any form of weaponry and if so do you believe it enhances your training?

LEON MAJOR: Wow, there are a few. Nindo Ryu teaches a great variety of weapons. I have studied Japanese weaponry such as the hanbo, yawara bo, tanbo, jo, rokushaku bo, zue bo (cane), tanto, katana, wakizashi, shikomizue (sword cane), kusarifundo, hira shuriken, bo shuriken, yari, naginata, kunai, kama, ninja-to, jutte, tessen, shobo, shuko and throwing knives. As far as Okinawan weapons, I have studied nunchaku, tonfa, nicho gama, sai, nunti and eku bo. And I have learned a little bit of arnis stick from Rebelo Sensei.

Martialforce.com: What are your thoughts on cross training in regards to running, weightlifting etc?

LEON MAJOR: I think that cross training is a good addition to a martial arts workout. Things like weights are a good tool, as long as you don’t let them run you. In other words, a martial artist should use them to develop strength in combination with speed and flexibility training and not let them be the main focus of the training.

Martialforce.com: What is your definition of a good instructor?

LEON MAJOR: A good instructor is not judged merely by his or her knowledge of the art or technique but by their wisdom, which can help guide students throughout the path of life.

Martialforce.com: With so many schools of Martial Arts how does a new student who doesn’t know anything choose a good school?

LEON MAJOR: My best advice is not to rush into the first school you see without doing the research. Today we have better resources than we had years ago. When you walk into a school for the first time, feel free to ask as many questions as possible and watch out for egos.

Martialforce.com: What has been your greatest accomplishment in life or in martial arts?

LEON MAJOR: I would say that my greatest accomplishment is to have been given the opportunity to meet and train with some of the great legends in the martial arts community.

Martialforce.com: Where do you see yourself down the road in ten years regarding Martial art and or life?

LEON MAJOR: In ten years, I see myself doing what I love the most, which is the martial arts and passing down the knowledge as it has been passed down to me.

Martialforce.com: Thank you for accepting this interview.

LEON MAJOR: Thank you.

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