In Memoriam

In Memoriam – Katie Degerberg

Updated Information:

WAKE
Thursday
February 4, 2010
4 – 9 PM
Lakeview Funeral Home
1458 w. Belmont Avenue
Chicago IL 60657
(773) 472-6300
info@lakeviewfuneralhome.com

FUNERAL SERVICES
Friday
February 5, 2010
1O AM
Our Lady Of Mt. Carmel Church
708 West Belmont Avenue
Chicago, Illinois, 60657
(773) 525-0453

INTERMENT
Friday
February 5, 2010
12 PM
Calvary Cemetery
301 Chicago Ave
Evanston 60202-3505
847-864-3050

Donations in Katie’s name to:
Doctors Without Borders
doctorswithoutborders.org

Condolences & Cards
Fred Degerberg
The Degerberg Academy
4717 N Lincoln Ave,
Chicago, IL 60625
Phone: (773) 295-6494

In Memoriam – Glen Leonard – December 7, 2009

A Tribute to My Friend and Brother

by Ken Chun

12/22/2009

The year was 1985 and I was a freshman in high school. As a disabled student in those days I had the privilege of leaving each class a few minutes early to get to my next class so I could avoid the crowded hallways. It was during one of those breaks between classes that I first met Glen Irvin Leonard II. He was a small, shy guy on crutches who didn’t say much. It took a couple of days before we actually had a real conversation. Nothing too serious, just a conversation about our classes, the teachers we had, who we liked or didn’t like – typical teenager conversation. I had begun training in the martial arts in 1984 and we would talk about martial arts often because he was very interested in training as well.

That conversation was the beginning of an unbreakable bond that would last 24 years. Even when I moved to Heidelberg, Germany in 1986 we kept in touch through the mail. I returned from Germany in 1989 and it was like nothing had changed. About two years later he finally found a place that he could train in Shotokan Karate. I remember encouraging him to pursue it because it had been a dream of his since he was a little kid. After a couple of years of training in that art he found Trident Academy of Martial Arts (now Trident Academy of Mixed Martial Arts). He had finally found his martial arts home away from home! About a month later I joined so we could train together and hopefully become instructors. Well, long story short due to our various health problems we began to attend classes less and less and we didn’t become instructors but we had a great time training and learning the Filipino martial arts of Kali and Panantukan, as well as Muay Thai and Jeet Kune Do/Jun Fan Gung Fu. We would tease each other occasionally about being slackers in our training because, I think, we both felt guilty about not going to class. We just trained on our own and did the best we could to stay active in the martial arts we loved. He especially loved knife fighting! He must have owned at least ten knives and knew how to use every one of them. He carried three knives at all times. He would get excited whenever he learned a new knife technique and he’d go home and practice it over and over again, even while watching television.

Glen died of a brain tumor on December 7th, 2009. We buried him a week ago. I wish he were here now so I could tell him to shut up, smack his hands with sticks again and then buy him a beer. Rest in peace, brah. I’ll see you later…and buy you a beer.

This clip features some footage of Glen training at Burton Richardson events.

Tony Adams

Click Here For Funeral Information
Fundraiser to be held for IAMA student
Tony Adams
Friday 6/12
Fundraiser Location: San Pedro Brewing Company
331 W 6th Street
San Pedro, CA  910731
310-831-5663

$20 cover

They will have a band from 9pm-1am.

The $20  pays for entry and all proceeds will go to Tony’s children.

Grand Master Helio Gracie (October 1, 1913 – January 29, 2009)

On Tuesday morning Grand Master Helio Gracie was tanning at his ranch in Brazil, and on Thursday morning at 9:15 he passed on due to natural causes. His legacy will survive forever in all members of the Gracie Family, jiu-jitsu practitioners around the world, and all those who have benefited from the revolution he began.

In his final years, the creator of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu often spoke of his satisfaction with his life’s work. He openly stated that he had accomplished everything he had set out to do, displaying his preparedness for the transition into the afterlife.

The Grand Master believed that such a transition should be seen as a positive step in one’s spiritual evolution. In a recent interview he declared: “I’ve already told my sons that when I die I want there to be a party. No drinking, no debauchery.”

To honor his request and his legacy, the Gracie Academy will host a celebratory gathering/slideshow presentation on Saturday, February 7, 2009. In anticipation of a large turnout of friends and family, we intend to have three showings starting at 4:00pm, 5:00pm and 6:00pm. If you can’t make it to the party, but would like to express how the Grand Master has affected your life, please send your story toheliogracie@gracieacademy.com so we can post it on the Gracie Academy website.

 

In one of his final magazine interviews the Grand Master expresses his concern for the future of Jiu-Jitsu:

“O Jiu-Jitsu que criei foi para dar chance aos mais fracos enfrentarem os mais pesados e fortes. E fez tanto sucesso, que resolveram fazer um Jiu-Jitsu de competição. Gostaria de deixar claro que sou a favor da prática esportiva e da preparação técnica de qualquer atleta, seja qual for sua especialidade. Além de boa alimentação, controle sexual e da abstenção de hábitos prejudiciais à saude. O problema consiste na criação de um Jiu-Jitsu competitivo com regras, tempo inadequado e que privilegia os mais treinados, fortes e pesados. O objetivo do Jiu-Jitsu é, principalmente, benificiar os mais fracos, que não tendo dotes físicos são inferiorizados. O meu Jiu-Jitsu é uma arte de autodefesa que não aceita certos regulamentos e tempo determinado. Essas são as razões pelas quais não posso, com minha presença, apoiar espetáculos, cujo efeito retrata um anti Jiu-Jitsu.”

“The Jiu-Jitsu that I created was designed to give the weak ones a chance to face the heavy and strong. It was so successful that they decided to create a sportive version of it. I would like to make it clear that of course I am in favor of the sportive practice and technical refinement of all athletes, whatever their specialty may be, as well as good nutrition, sexual control, avoidance of addictions and unhealthy habits. The problem lies in the creation of a sport-oriented Jiu-Jitsu, based on rules and time limits, which benefits the heavier, stronger, and more athletic individuals. The primary objective of Jiu-Jitsu is to empower the weak who, for not having the physical attributes, are often intimidated. My Jiu-Jitsu is an art of self-defense in which rules and time limits are unacceptable. These are the reasons for which I can’t support events that reflect an anti Jiu-Jitsu.”

-Grand Master Helio Gracie (October 1, 1913 – January 29, 2009)