"I Had My First Street Fight At Age Five"

I had my first street fight at the age of five, yes I was only five years old, when I had to learn to be able to defend myself. I had to walk to and from school everyday alone, Since both my parents worked, and Mom was also busy taking care of my younger brother Andy, and baby sister Melissa 2. Their were these two seven year olds that used to wait for me after school, they waited around the corner from the crossing guard, so they weren't in her view. And everyday when I turned that corner they would pick on me. Still to this day I don't know why, maybe because I was small.

Chris 3 years old

At 13 Years Old I Enrolled in Kenpo Karate

Chris Georgas Sr. ready for action

I was 13 years old, when dad told me and my younger brother Andy that he was enrolling us in Kenpo Karate school. I said ''Dad I don't need Karate, I am winning my fights now."

He just looked at us and said, ''I want to be sure that you guys can protect yourself." That was that, soon afterwards we started taking lessons at Ed Parkers Kenpo Karate School in Anaheim, California. The school was about a 20 minute drive from our home in Long Beach, but dad liked this school, he also liked the instructors their. So he would drive us 3 nights a week to the studio, drop us off, go home and come back later and pick us up. He did this for years, what parents do for their kids.

After about 2 years my brother Andy decided to drop out of karate. I know he liked and respected the instructors there. He also liked the other students, but for reasons of his own he did not want to continue Kenpo Karate lessons.

Chris, and Andy after passing their purple belt test.

My dad was pretty upset with him for dropping out, but later he got over it. Of course I continued my lessons. Ed Parker was also the founder of the I.K.KA ( International Kenpo Karate Association) which we were members of at the time. Later at our studio we would change to the U.K.K.A. (Universal Kenpo Kung - Fu Association). Although we were still learning the Ed Parkers Kenpo System, we were now a different organization. There was things going on behind the scenes that I wasn't aware of at that time. Then later another change would occur, our studio was closing. The instructors announced this to us, so we had to choose which instructor we were going to go with, because they were going to different locations. I ended up going with Mr. Tony Sartor, I really liked him, and he lived closer to my home. He was a 3rd degree black belt and would teach me, Art, and Bill out of his garage in Cypress, California.

I Took My First Black Belt Test

Chris 18, practicing a technique

Finally after 6 years of training, I was ready to test for my 1st degree black belt. Since I was at the same level with Art and Bill, we all tested together out of Mr. Tony Sartors garage. There was also two other Black Belt instructors that came for our testing. The test took 3 1/2 hours, we had to perform all our blocks, strikes, kicks, techniques, and forms. It was a tough test, and afterwards we all passed. Then came the traditional changing of the belts, and our kick. We all kneeled on the ground, took off our old belts and put on our new ones. We were all so proud. After we put on our new belts. We stood in the customary horse stance to receive our kicks. In Kenpo each time you pass a test, and go up a rank, you get kicked in the stomach. Of course we tighten up our stomachs to receive the kick, the higher the rank, the harder the kick. At Black Belt level its full power. We got kicked full power by three black belt instructors that day, and each time we got kicked we would fly backwards about 10 feet, only for another instructor to catch us. Thank God, I was in great shape, my stomach was sore for days.

I Stopped Training For Awhile

In 1994 I Produced My First Self Defense Video

In my mid 30s I produced my own Self Defense Video titled. " Chris G. Georgas Kenpo Karate." I did this video mainly to help women protect themselves from being attacked. I went into business, talk about allot of work. Once I did all the filming, editing, licensing, music, designs, box covers, labels, then came the really hard work I didn't even consider, the marketing. I tried to sell the video to Blockbuster, and The Wherehouse, I tried distributing companies. After 6 months of no luck, no contract, I decide to sell it on my own. So now I was in business with my construction and trying to sell this video. I went on Cable television on a live interview, I had a Cable commercial running. A story done about me in the Long Beach Press Telegram newspaper, I had print ads with my photo out all over town. Fliers, business cards, I even joined the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce and went to these breakfasts every wednesday at 7:00 am to market myself and my video. I was hustling, funny thing is I had this product, all this advertisement, some free advertisement, so I became for a little while a local celebrity. Here I was on occasions signing autographs, and demonstrating the martial arts, but I was losing money. I gave away more videos then I ever sold. I was going in the whole fast, I created allot of debt in the process. This is why now, and after 2 more videos with basically the same out come. That I am only offering lessons. I did however learn allot about marketing, and myself. So now with Kenpo Karate lessons, I totally benefit. I enjoy teaching, I keep in great shape, I earn some extra money, I enjoy the people and the brotherhood of the martial arts. I still workout with other black belts, and best of all I don't have the stress, expense, or pressure of trying to market or sell products.

June of 2001 I Enter the USA Internationals Tournament

I decided to fight point sparring in this tournament, The USA Internationals. It was a pretty big deal, held at the Rivera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. I haven't fought in a martial arts tournament in 20 years, so I knew I needed some more training, and sparring. I decided once I signed up, that I was getting back into Kenpo Karate, not just for the tournament, but also to earn some more degrees on my black belt. I only had 6 weeks to prepare, so I started looking for a Kenpo school in the Los Angeles area. I went to one studio, in south east Los Angeles, I really liked the people here and the Senior Instructor. But there was allot of changes, I didn't care for, so while going here, I kept looking for other Kenpo

Chris sparring in Las Vegas, he's in the white gi.

Schools. Then I found Deloa's Kenpo Karate School in Bellflower, California. I liked what he had to say on the phone when I talked to him, so I made an appointment for a class. After my first class their, I knew this was where I wanted to continue my training in Kenpo. So I went to my other Studio, and informed my instructor there, what I was doing, and made sure I had paid him in full for my classes. I continued my Kenpo training at Deloa's Kenpo Karate studio, in order for me to go up in Rank, I had to learn all their material up to first degree black belt. There was also allot of changes at this studio, but I believe 95 percent for the better. A couple of the techniques were the same, and of course the stances, strikes, blocks, etc. There were some minor changes their, most of the changes were new techniques, and the master form. I liked the way the Senior instructor Mr. Armando Deloa taught the class. He takes pride in good form and technique, also he is a likable person, and he teaches kenpo history. The new techniques that are taught, are more practical, and effective for today's environment. I had found a new Kenpo home, funny thing its about 1/2 mile from my home. So by becoming a student here, I also have become a member of the I.K.C.A. ( International Karate Connection Association). So I was back in the Studio 3 nights a week, and sometimes 4, when I wasn't their in the evening I was home working out, and practicing Kenpo Karate. I would go over some of my old materials, and practice the new kenpo techniques I was learning. I also was still running my own construction business during the day, and I do all the work myself. So I was pretty busy with Construction and Kenpo. After 24 years of working hard in Construction, I was now looking for a new way to make a living. I didn't want to bartend anymore, I did that for 10 years. I have this third skill in Kenpo, it's funny that I was doing Kenpo long before I ever picked up a hammer, or made a drink. Now I come back to it, I should of never stayed away so long.

Keeping Up With My Kenpo Skills

I continued my training, and also started teaching part time out of my home, so now I am a student as well as an instructor. I am giving private lessons at my home, and testing them through the studio. Also I participated in another tournament locally here in Southern California. Since I am a black belt, they needed Judges and asked me to judge the matches for the under belts. There was 2 rings. Me and Efren were judging along with one other judge at one ring. While there were 3 other judges at the other ring. It was fun, I never actually judged a match before, but it was work also, I judged for 5 hours along with Efren, watching and scoring the points. The exchanges happen so quickly, that your really focusing on who is scoring the point first. Even if you lose a match, your a winner. The judges aren't always right, and the matches usually are pretty even. We had at least 3 matches that were tied, and had to go into extra time. The main thing is that you participate, and do your best, your already a winner just getting in there and doing you best. Martial Arts is not about going out and kicking butt. Yes, its about self defense, and we are only supposed to use our skills when its really necessary. Its also about being a better person in life. Right after we finished Judging, Efren and I had to put our gear on and go into sparring for the black belt division. We both did very well, I lost my match to a young man who took 1st place, Efren placed 2nd.

Efren sparring on right

Getting in their at 42 and competing with these young guys in their 20's is something else. I am almost twice as old as most of them, although I have experience on my side, these young men are very impressive with their speed and techniques. Along with teaching Kenpo, and taking lessons, I was testing and working towards my 4th degree in Kenpo. I also was working out with a friend of mine who does Aikido. I would teach him some Kenpo, he would teach me some Aikido. Finally after passing all my tests, and receiving my kicks I became a 4th degree in Kenpo. Now I am ranked in two Kenpo Systems, the Ed Parkers Kenpo System 1st degree black belt and in the I.K.C.A. Kenpo System 4th degree black belt. Receiving my rank of 4th degree in Kenpo, I was just as proud as when I earned my first degree black belt. There is allot of hard work, training, desire, sacrifice, determination, and skill to get to this point. Believe me you do earn it, but the knowledge and experience you gain along your journey is unmeasureable. My Dad Chris Georgas Sr. got me involved with Kenpo at 13. He watched me fight in tournaments, and had seen a couple of my street fights growing up. He passed away in 1989, he never was able to see my videos, my testing, my recent tournaments, or what I have accomplished with the Martial Arts. But he was always very proud of my training and my Martial Art skills. Somehow I believe that he does know, and that he is more proud than ever. Thanks Dad.