Testimonials and Letters
From Sifu John Magee
To whom it may concern,
My first contact with Kaiso Dave Bendigkeit occurred early in my freshman year of high school. At the time I was returning to what was then Coast Karate Studio in order to complete my martial arts training, which I had left several years before. It was about this time that Kaiso was taking over the school as the chief instructor, so during the course of the next three and a half years it was Kaiso who was my primary martial arts influence.
His open, honest and easygoing nature conceals a deep commitment to his art. I once heard a saying, “There is a difference between knowing the path, and walking the path.” Kaiso, more than any martial artist I have met, truly walks the path. His steady perseverance and dedication to his technique has had a direct impact in my own practice of the martial arts, and in many ways has had a very real impact on my eventual decision to stay true to the path that I would eventually choose for my self. The path which lead ultimately to joining the United States Marine Corps.
In the Marines we have a basic credo that guides our actions: Honor, Courage, Commitment. In Marine Recruit Training you find yourself in group of people who have made their first step towards becoming something greater than they were before, people who want to be more than average, people who want to earn the title of Marine. For the most part these people have never put much serious thought into words like honor, courage and commitment. It is this inexperience with truly dedicating your life to an ideal, and being held accountable for not adhering to it that makes the transition into a life of service in the military so difficult for most people. It is not failure of the body that prevented those I watched wash out of recruit training from making that transition. With the exception of those who truly suffered debilitating injuries (and there were a few) those who failed were simply those who could not live up to the moral standard.
I was lucky in that I was prepared for the spiritual challenge by my training with Kaiso. His unwavering example as a martial artist inspired me with the knowledge to carry on in a professional manner even when the unexpected occurs, and prepared me with the wisdom to do things the right way, even when no one is watching, purely for the sake of doing things the right way. It was this basic understanding of the “right” way do things that lead to me being selected for the “Yankee White” program, better known as the Presidential Guard. Kaiso's training and philosophy guided me through the battery of psychological exams designed to weed out those who do not fit the “profile” of a person who could be trusted to stand next to the President of the United States with a loaded firearm, which it was my honor to do on a few occasions.
During my time as a Presidential Guard I was honored with the opportunity to pass on some of what I have learned from Kaiso to the other Marines stationed at Camp David as a defensive tactics instructor, and after leaving Presidential service, to the Marines at Camp Pendleton as a company close combat instructor. So, one could say with honesty that Kaiso's teachings have had a positive impact on the highest echelons of our government, and on those who put their lives into harms way on the battlefield today.
It was a defining moment in my life to have Kaiso present me with my Black Belt in Kajukenbo all those years ago as I was preparing to graduate from high school and begin my great adventure with the Marines. It is my honor to state that he is one of the most steady and wise men I have ever known. It has been, and continues to be my privilege to call him my teacher.
Respectfully submitted,
John Magee
2nd degree Black Belt, Kajukenbo System
Chicago Regional Director - Superkids Karate L.L.C.
I'm an Air Force Officer and want to get involved in martial arts on my home base. Your page helped me learn what I needed to make a decision.
Thank you.
V/R
Mark Allen