Interview by Shihan Eddie Morales

Martialforce.com

Online Magazine

Hi, my name is Eddie Morales; I am the owner and editor of Martialforce.com. The staff and I had prepared questions for Sa Bum Nim David K. Barnett but after reading his story it was unanimous that the story speaks for itself. This is the highlight of a man that has lived an interesting life. Mr. Barnett and I workout frequently and I can tell you first hand that his art is his passion. He is the type of rare individual that remains humble and does not speak about his accomplishments, always looking for another challenge in life. In the short time that I have known him, I can say he keeps it real. We are lucky to have his story and we hope you enjoy reading about him.

My Martial arts life probably began when I was quite young although I had no formal training until I was in my late teens, I remember watching films with Bruce Lee and being so impressed with what “Karate Experts” as we called them back then were capable of.

My first venture into the Martial arts was at about age 14 at a local Kenpo Karate studio run by Jim Gruwald; he worked hard at discipline and defense. I had to leave the Studio because of school, time and money constraints and my Mom felt that my education was more important than my “Karate”, imagine that haha.... it sounds just like my house now with my wife keeping the kids on track with school.

I went back into Kenpo Karate at age 19 while attending Mount San Antonio College and was able to study long enough to achieve a brown belt just prior to entering the U.S Army in 1971 I was sent to Fort Polk Louisiana for Basic infantry training. I went through Tigerland and the confidence course as well as the makeshift rice paddies to emulate Viet Nam.

After Graduating I was sent to Fort Sill Oklahoma for Artillery and Incendiary school. I was trained in 105 towed and 155 self propelled howitzers and all small arms. I served until 1973 and then continued with reserve duties until 1977, which is where I met my wife. I was working at the Arcadia California Armory doing recruitment work when a girl walked in and wanted to be tested for Reserve military enlistment, that girl was to later become my wife and she served 3 years.

In 1973 I had resumed classes at Mount San Antonio College but had changed my Major from Architectural drafting to Police science with a political science minor. I applied for a position with Covina Police department and after all the testing was done, myself and one other candidate had tied for the top spot beating out over 80 other applicants to make it to the Physical agility tests. The Chief of Police in Covina California called me in and I was expecting to be told nice job come back and try again, but he hired me and the other applicant stating that they felt lucky to find two of us when they were only planning to hire one. He advised me that we scored very high on all the tests. This was one of the indicators in my life and how well I did in the U.S. Military that Police work was something I would likely be good at.

I worked for Covina Police Department from 1973 to 1974 approx. 1 ½ years. I continued my Martial arts at a local studio in Covina and Baldwin Park California run by Darel Silverstein and achieved my first Dan Black belt in 1977, I had to stop training and College again because I had applied with other Police Departments all over California including L.A.P.D., and received my Appointment to the Los Angeles Police Academy in April 1974. My reason for applying for other Police Departments was I had turned 21 and did not want to wait for an opening at the Academy for Covina P.D. because it could have taken a year or more before I could have gone from Cadet status to full Officer status.

I attended the Los Angeles Police academy from April 1974 to October 1974 and Graduated at the top of my class. I was sent to Patrol division in South Central Los Angeles, I transferred from there to Central Division Patrol (Downtown L.A.) and worked foot beats, radio cars, and undercover assignments. I worked Hollywood, Hollenbeck and Rampart Divisions throughout my career and worked Undercover in Special Investigation Section, Special Problem Unit, Narcotics Division and worked inside at Tactical Planning Unit and Divisional Detectives conducting follow up Investigations and case filings for the District Attorney’s office.

I was injured while attempting to arrest a burglary suspect in 1977; My Special problem unit was working surveillance for Burglaries in the industrial portion of L.A. I was chasing him and he jumped into a pick up truck, he ran then me down then my partner, we were involved in a shooting situation, the suspect lived and went to prison but my left shoulder was torn up badly, my partner was forced to retire due to knee and back injuries he now resides in Puget Sound Washington. I recovered from my injuries and found my way back to full duty using my martial arts training as physical therapy to regain full strength and flexibility. The Doctor had just released me for my shoulder and I had been working the streets for about 4 months when I had a confrontation with a PCP (Phencyclidine or Horse tranquilizer) suspect.

The call came out at about 5:15am in downtown L.A. at a very low end Hotel “See the Manager 415 man”, as luck would have it I was only 2 blocks away but was working what we called an “L car”(one man car) instead of an “A Car” (2 man unit) I arrive first on the scene and requested an additional unit. The Manager walked me up to the floor where the trouble had been and without warning there was the suspect, his hand was already bleeding from hitting a few of the residents of the 7^th floor, I tried to talk with him trying to use time for my back up to arrive but he began the fight. He attempted to strike me in the head with his fist, I countered back with my police baton which I had used for years and was well versed with, I struck him on the arms elbows collarbone and forehead during the ensuing fight and he kept fighting at one point attempting to take my gun from its holster, he had thrown kicks as well making me wonder in that instant if he had some training as well. We ended up down the hall on the floor in the restroom and he was still attempting to gain control of my gun, at this point I managed to put a leg lock around his head and neck, then my back up arrived and assisted me with handcuffing him and taking him to the Station. Ironically one of the Officers who backed me up was a guy I had worked with at Covina P.D. and had also attended Mount San Antonio College, I had not seen him for 3 years and had no idea he was on the job at L.A.P.D. until that morning.

The suspect survived but was in intensive care for over a week which troubled me greatly because I was worried I would get fired or something and my Sergeant at the time told me not to worry I had handled the situation better than most because I could have shot him. This was a very trying moment in my career and I believe that not only the Military and Police training saw me through it but Martial arts and my faith as well.

I had always practiced my Martial arts even during the times I could not attend at a Studio on a regular basis. I practiced Kata, stretching and martial arts to keep fit for my job as a Police Officer.

In 1982 I was working in a plainclothes capacity in another Specialized Unit and was watching some activity about a block down the street in downtown L.A. when a drunk driver struck the rear of our unmarked plain car and sent us over 200 feet skidding and into opposing traffic lanes, fortunately it was 2:00am and not many cars were on the street. The impact knocked me back and broke the bench seat we were seated on, my seat belt was around my thighs and we could not exit the vehicle. I put out a help call and leaned into my partner kicking the passenger door after trying the latch. It finally opened and we exited the vehicle, I began walking towards the vehicle that struck us and noticed it was quite a distance away and damaged. I told my partner I was going to arrest the person driving and he said you’re not going anywhere because you’re hurt. I didn’t even realize I was walking with a limp at that point. The Black and White units arrived and arrested the DUI driver who blew a 3.0 which is very high and very drunk. I was hospitalized with injuries to my lower back, shoulder and arm. I was able to come back from these injuries as well and continue my career but finally after having to have back surgery and left arm surgery the City Dr’s determined that it would be better if I retired. This came at a time when my career was taking off and thought I might end up in Robbery Homicide division.

During my career I had been involved in several shooting situations and life threatening events that most people only relate to while watching Television but I had been able to live it. My Captain at the time advised me that a man with my particular skills could probably do well in the Private sector so I took my retirement and applied for a PI License in California, which requires 6000 hours experience and a 150 question exam as well as background to obtain. I received my License and began contracting with Law Firms which I never really liked, then I was asked by a friend who had known me for years if I would be interested in working for the Government and would I mind traveling. I agreed and contracted with several U.S. Dept’s for several years handling assignments around the world but never leaving for more than 2 weeks because I had a family, 3 children and my wife who I had no intention of becoming alienated from. I was offered many assignments and had a very interesting life working with a few people I had known from earlier in my Police career. I can’t expand on this area of my life for obvious reasons. I remember being in Glasgow Scotland and the assignment finished when I went to the airport and asked for an emergency flight out to the U.S., the clerk asked me what the emergency was and I told her my 14 year old son had a soccer game the next day and I needed to be there, she laughed and agreed it was important and she thought it was an emergency but was unable to get me on a flight until the next day. This is part of what made my life work with all the Police work and work out of the country, Family Faith and Martial Arts.

I continued my Martial arts career sporadically through the 80’s sticking with the Kenpo style Karate until 1992 when I thought I could use some specific stretching for my legs due to my injuries so I began Tae Kwon Do. I worked out with Terry Overland for a long time then began with Patrick Whetsel and Larry Ammons under Master Kim from Korea. I wish I could have taken the time to go to Korea and study for a year but my family and work always come first. I found I really loved this art and discovered a very passionate people in the Koreans when it comes to Tae Kwon Do.

I competed from 1994 to 1999 in Tournaments in California and qualified twice for the Nationals, which I could not attend due to being out of the Country for work. I won Gold silver and bronze medals for Kyoroogi (Fighting) and Poomse (Forms) competitions and competed in my age class and also the younger class because it was more and sometimes better competition. I achieved a 1^st Dan in 1998 and have been very proud of that achievement since.

I am currently working for the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians in the Foothills of California on their reservation as a Tribal Officer enforcing local, State and Tribal laws. I came to this position due to my work partner passing away suddenly; I had what I call a life revelation of what I wanted to do the rest of my life. I was offered several jobs most of which involved me leaving the country for extended periods and declined since my children are now Son 16 Son 17 and Daughter 19. My wife and I discussed the jobs that were offered and I stated simply you and the kids are right, how many more adventures do I need in my life.

But the job at San Manuel Indian reservation has been interesting and has its own adventures not to mention that I have made some very good friends if not lifelong friends working there. It is at San Manuel that I was able to find something I had not been able to find in So. California, that is a Kobudo instructor. I am currently back in training and studying under Shihan Eddie Morales, which I am finding challenging interesting and exhilarating all at the same time.

Martial arts has always given me a sense of accomplishment and is a way of life for me. Kata or Poomse is one of my ways of keeping fit and knowing I can continue doing all the things I have been trained in over the years. I look at Kata and Poomse as an exercise that teaches.

As of this writing I have only one student and that is my son, he will compete for the first time hopefully this spring of 2008 in Tae Kwon Do Kyoroogi and Poomse. I receive renewed life in my own Katas when I see his eyes light up when he sees a new move or learns a new skill. I hope this tells a little about me and how Martial arts has been a part of my life.

My career reads long but this is only some of the highlights and what I think of as turning points in it. It definitely seems short to me, probably because it is not over and I have several adventures left to live with new friends and colleagues.

Thank you

David K. Barnett

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