1947 - 2006 In Memoriam A Teacher, Leader and Friend
Grand Master Kenneth L. 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.
The late Grand Master Ken Penland doing what is did best.
A Farewell Letter from 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 dearfriend 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.
