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Grand Master Ken Penland
1947 - 2006 In Memoriam
A Teacher, Leader and Friend
A Teacher, Leader and Friend
| Grand Master Ken Penland 10th Dan, Shorinji Ryu Jujitsu |
Grand Master Ken Penland, Hanshi 10th Dan was an avid martial arts
practitioner and enthusiast. He was the Chairman and founder of the
International Shorinji Ryu Jujitsu Federation. He began studying martial arts as a
boy in the 1950s. His first instructor was his father who was a member of the US
Army and a black belt in both Karate and Judo.
In 1962, Sensei Penland met Ed Parker and started training in Kempo Karate.
About this same time he struck up a friendship with Harley S. Reagan and
began training under his direction in Judo and Jujitsu. Penland then enlisted in
the U.S. Army and was an Airborne Ranger serving in Vietnam in 1967 and
1968.
Later, in the mid 1970s Sensei Penland trained under Grand Master Fusei Kise
in Kenshinkan Shorin Ryu Karate and Kobudo. He eventually served as a
regional director for this organization. He then became affiliated with Grand
Master Yuichi Kuda of the Shorin Ryu Matsumura Kempo Karate Association
and served as a director of this organization as well.
He was an advisor for many other martial arts organizations including serving as
Chairman of the International Shorinji Ryu Jujitsu Federation and as director of the International Shorin Ryu
Karate Kobudo Federation.
He conducted extensive research on the martial arts and co-authored two books. The first is the Bubishi Martial
Art Spirit and the second is the Shorinji Ryu Jujitsu training manual entitled Warrior Jujitsu.
He has also been featured in a series of videotapes on Shorinji Ryu Jujitsu. Through his efforts in his martial
arts career, he attained the rank of Hanshi 10th Dan, the highest rank in Jujitsu and 9th Dan in Shorin Ryu
Karate and Kobudo, 5th Dan in Kendo and 6th Dan in Judo. Up until his death in October, 2006, he served as
the chief martial arts instructor for the Los Angeles Police Department's Jujitsu and defensive tactics dojo.
Hanshi Penland was also the Master Sensei for Master Julio Usera, Shichidan, Jukite JuJitsu. His leadership
help Master Usera developed through his system (Jukite JuJitsu) while receiving direction, guidance and rank
advancement. Usera is the highest ranking Sensei for the Jukite JuJitsu system. Master Usera studied under
Penland since 1998. Thank you O'Sensei for your leadership and friendship. We will all miss you greatly.
practitioner and enthusiast. He was the Chairman and founder of the
International Shorinji Ryu Jujitsu Federation. He began studying martial arts as a
boy in the 1950s. His first instructor was his father who was a member of the US
Army and a black belt in both Karate and Judo.
In 1962, Sensei Penland met Ed Parker and started training in Kempo Karate.
About this same time he struck up a friendship with Harley S. Reagan and
began training under his direction in Judo and Jujitsu. Penland then enlisted in
the U.S. Army and was an Airborne Ranger serving in Vietnam in 1967 and
1968.
Later, in the mid 1970s Sensei Penland trained under Grand Master Fusei Kise
in Kenshinkan Shorin Ryu Karate and Kobudo. He eventually served as a
regional director for this organization. He then became affiliated with Grand
Master Yuichi Kuda of the Shorin Ryu Matsumura Kempo Karate Association
and served as a director of this organization as well.
He was an advisor for many other martial arts organizations including serving as
Chairman of the International Shorinji Ryu Jujitsu Federation and as director of the International Shorin Ryu
Karate Kobudo Federation.
He conducted extensive research on the martial arts and co-authored two books. The first is the Bubishi Martial
Art Spirit and the second is the Shorinji Ryu Jujitsu training manual entitled Warrior Jujitsu.
He has also been featured in a series of videotapes on Shorinji Ryu Jujitsu. Through his efforts in his martial
arts career, he attained the rank of Hanshi 10th Dan, the highest rank in Jujitsu and 9th Dan in Shorin Ryu
Karate and Kobudo, 5th Dan in Kendo and 6th Dan in Judo. Up until his death in October, 2006, he served as
the chief martial arts instructor for the Los Angeles Police Department's Jujitsu and defensive tactics dojo.
Hanshi Penland was also the Master Sensei for Master Julio Usera, Shichidan, Jukite JuJitsu. His leadership
help Master Usera developed through his system (Jukite JuJitsu) while receiving direction, guidance and rank
advancement. Usera is the highest ranking Sensei for the Jukite JuJitsu system. Master Usera studied under
Penland since 1998. Thank you O'Sensei for your leadership and friendship. We will all miss you greatly.
A Farewell Letter from
Hanshi George Alexander,
9th Dan, Shorinji Ryu JuJitsu
Hanshi George Alexander,
9th Dan, Shorinji Ryu JuJitsu
Dear Friends:
It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I
address you now. My dear friend and colleague
for many years Kenneth Lyle Penland has
departed this world for another place. We are all
sad and filled with remorse to see him go but our lives have been made richer for having
known him. Anyone who knew Ken would tell you what a terrific person he truly was.
Ken had a great zest for living that was easily discernable from his enthusiasm for the
martial arts and his service to his community. He had much to give and was always
willing to share his knowledge with anyone who had a sincere interest in the martial arts.
Ken was a kind man and would unselfishly help anyone who needed it. I learned much
from him. In many ways he was a mentor. For this I am eternally grateful. At our first
meeting Ken and I soon became fast friends. It was a close friendship that would last for
many years. They say you can count on one hand the number of truly great friends you
will have in a lifetime. For me Ken was certainly one of them. He lived his life as he
wanted to and the way his heart told him to. I will always remember him the way he was,
full of life and dedicated to his cause. He was a breath of fresh air in a world that
oftentimes relies on pretense. Ken had no ego or falseness about him. He was a genuine
and thoughtful human being and truly down to earth. There are no words that can
describe how much we will all miss him. My task now is to make sure his legacy lives on
and to preserve the tradition of martial arts that he established. He will always be with
me in my heart and training next to me. With much love and respect. Farewell Ken.
-- GEORGE ALEXANDER, Hanshi, 9th Dan & Friend
It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I
address you now. My dear friend and colleague
for many years Kenneth Lyle Penland has
departed this world for another place. We are all
sad and filled with remorse to see him go but our lives have been made richer for having
known him. Anyone who knew Ken would tell you what a terrific person he truly was.
Ken had a great zest for living that was easily discernable from his enthusiasm for the
martial arts and his service to his community. He had much to give and was always
willing to share his knowledge with anyone who had a sincere interest in the martial arts.
Ken was a kind man and would unselfishly help anyone who needed it. I learned much
from him. In many ways he was a mentor. For this I am eternally grateful. At our first
meeting Ken and I soon became fast friends. It was a close friendship that would last for
many years. They say you can count on one hand the number of truly great friends you
will have in a lifetime. For me Ken was certainly one of them. He lived his life as he
wanted to and the way his heart told him to. I will always remember him the way he was,
full of life and dedicated to his cause. He was a breath of fresh air in a world that
oftentimes relies on pretense. Ken had no ego or falseness about him. He was a genuine
and thoughtful human being and truly down to earth. There are no words that can
describe how much we will all miss him. My task now is to make sure his legacy lives on
and to preserve the tradition of martial arts that he established. He will always be with
me in my heart and training next to me. With much love and respect. Farewell Ken.
-- GEORGE ALEXANDER, Hanshi, 9th Dan & Friend
| O'Sensei Ken Penland teaching a class. |