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| Manong Isidro Javier |
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| GM Frank Landers - GGM Isidro Javier |
About fifteen years ago I met Frank Landers who, at that time was pursuing a new interest in the music business. As a working musician myself, we hit it off right away, having common interests. Over the years Frank and I remained friends even after he moved away to Southern California. While there he opened a large recording studio and became a founding partner in Atlantis Records inc. and began working with major recording artist like Reggae legend Garth Dennis of the "Black Uhuru", and David Marks an original member of "The Beach Boys". Mr. Landers would produce albums for both artists in 2000 and produce a remix of Kokomo Reggae style featuring Garth Dennis and David Marks and a new Atlantis Band called Reggae Rock.
Over the years Frank only mentioned a few times that he had something to do with Martial Arts, perhaps because I was training with John Hackleman at the "PIT" in Arroyo Grande, California. I had no idea that Frank was a 10th degree black belt and the Senior Grand Master and founder of the Seishindo Kenpo system. I was even more surprised to learn that John Hackleman had started training in 1990 at the Landers Grover Beach Seishindo Kenpo Studio after he moved to the Central Coast.
About four years back I was working on writing a novel, which is completed now and pending publication. With some free writing time now I began doing some research on my old friend Frank Landers and his art of Seishindo Kenpo. After speaking with Mr. Landers, I was given the arduous task and honor to write about his life, to be his Biographer, and to document the art of Seishindo Kenpo, it's history and its Philosophy.
I was intrigued and of course said yes. As a special bonus, I learned that Frank had trained for years in the Philippine Martial Art of Escrima and Balisong, (stick and knife fighting), under Senior Grand Master Isidro P. Javier, who was born in the Philippines in 1912, and grew up in the rough neighborhoods of Tagudin. He learned his Escrima and Balisong the hard way. No nicely padded dojos, head gear or body armor. In the street, do or die.
In those days, Escrima was a mysterious and closely guarded art, passed down the generations from father to son. Mr. Javier’s father was a fisherman and businessman, but he had learned Escrima from his father and now, passed it on to his son. Mr. Javier trained with his “gang” of friends, stick, rock, and knife. They made their own stick-knives from “the heart of the tree”, about three feet long. Some of the boys used two, but Mr. Javier preferred only one. His favorite weapon was the knife, however. He believes it to be superior to the stick in a real fight because he can always carry a knife in his pocket.
Mr. Javier is recounting his experiences in the streets of Tagudin, and bears the scars of many slashes on his wrists from knife fighting. The boys would use shirts or jackets to wrap their wrists for protection, but “sometimes no time to wrap”’ recalls Mr. Javier
Isidro Javier journeyed to Hawaii, then California, learning how to farm and cook, (a favorite pastime). He was called to service in the U.S. Navy in WWII and served on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific campaigns against the Japanese. He saw combat in several battles, acting as aircraft fueler , and machine gunner during Japanese air attacks against the fleet, and was awarded several medals.
His greatest contribution has been to the Philippine community in Central Southern California, and to the Farm Labor Movement, joining with Caesar Chavez to win rights for the farm workers of the Central Coast.
At age 97. Mr. Javier remains active and loves to cook his favorite recipes, created over many years of careful attention to proper diet and nutrition. As he approaches his 98th birthday I feel honored to be working on his autobiography as well. My friend, Mr. Frank Landers, and Mr. Isidro P. Javier are two fascinating individuals who have made significant contributions to Martial Arts in America, and to the lives of many, and I look forward to writing about their experiences.
Glen Rathbone
"The Writer"
