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PROF. EDWARD A. BROWN
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Back to Warrior www.bohans-family.com
PROF. EDWARD A. BROWN
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Receiving his black belt in 1961, he became a Marine Hand/Hand Combat Instructor at Camp LeJeune, N.C. until his release in 1963. He later built a foundation from his reputation of his extraordinary skills. Adding Vee Arnis Jutsu under Prof. Florendo M. Visitacion to his repertoire of abilities.
By incorporating these martial arts into one, he garnered a network into his teachings, instructing police agencies, holding seminars and promoting tournaments. Receiving his doctor and professor in Kinesiology of Martial Art Sciences, he has lectured and authored varied topics of international billing.
Upon returning to Okinawa with his family in 1986, the Okinawans were so impressed by his demonstrations of insurmountable feats of strengths & prowess; they said he brought great honor to Isshin-Ryu in Okinawa and await his return.
On May 1, 1990, Prof. Brown blended his practicing arts together & developed his own art recognized internationally by his peers called “Chairo-Kan Bushi Shindo” (Brown-Style Warrior Heart Way), thus becoming a “Soke” (Founding Master).
Credits Include:
Ranks & Titles
PROF. EDWARD A. BROWN, Sc.D.
This story begins in an era of turmoil just after the great depression in the pre-World War II days. It was during this period that the general terminology of the word martial arts was unheard of. But it was shortly after the end of the war that the term ju-jitsu and karate were becoming popular in the western world with the many servicemen returning from the war torn countries of Asia and Europe, telling tales of the hand to hand combat and ju-jitsu while serving overseas. It soon became popular of the U.S. serviceman to teach Americans on the home front how to themselves through the use of one of the deadly fighting arts. It was in this period that some of the former servicemen opened dojos and became pioneers of the arts in the new world and leaders throughout the world. Among them was a small scrawny kid from Connecticut, barely five feet four and 118 pounds that was about to join the Marine Corps. It was to become a way of life to this particular individual in its every aspect.
Born in Pre W.W.II, as Edward Alfred Brown in the Walnut Beach section of Milford, Ct., it was a touch place to grown up. What was once the summer training camp for many of the worlds boxing champs such as Jack Sharpie, Gene Toney and so many more. The beach was a rough and tumble place to live with its small amusement park, arcades, pool hall, bars and roller rink. It was also the home of many bar fights and fights among neighborhood kids in the street as well as on the beach.
Ed Brown was not exempt, in fact he was known to fight and fight quite frequently and viciously, often requiring medical attention. While still in high school and getting tired of being beat upon, he was befriended by a Milford policeman who had been to Okinawa. He had show Ed some of the basics of Okinawa-Jitsu, which helped him dramatically to counter his many adversaries while instilling confidence in himself. It was with this brief encounter of the martial arts that helped to make his next decision that changed his life forever.
But, it was while in the Marine that Ed joined in the mid-1950’s that his martial arts training got serious. The Hand/Hand Combat, Judo, Aikido and Karate enhanced his mind and body. Competing in all facets of the arts seemed to suit his taste. It also helped him work off his daily frustrations and get the revenge he wanted from his school day fights.
After attaining his black belt in both Judo and Karate in 1961, he became a Hand/Hand Combat Instructor until his release in 1963. It was after his discharge that he started instructing as a second job, teaching various policemen and agencies, people at the work places and then starting his own dojo in 1966 while living in New Canaan, Ct. It was in this time frame that his attitude about the martial arts changed, by deciding that revenge was not the answer to the unanswered punches of his youth. He now believed compassion would help him learn the true meaning of the martial arts.
Many students walked through those doors while there until 1980. While at that location Master Brown turned down 95% of the potential students, due to the stringent requirements and limited room at the small, cramped one car garage, barely measuring 9’ X 17’ turned dojo. This enticed him to go full-time into teaching, giving up his man trade of automobile master technician and jet engine mechanic of 26 years.
Starting his first tournament in April 1971, he was able to pick up a few more students, which enabled him to teach more hours and increase the need for more spacious quarters.
It was in 1980 that he moved into his dojo under a now defunct bowling alley in Norwalk, picking up several hundred students, he remained there for almost 10 years, until he personally constructed his own dojo on his residential property, in the rear of his home.
It was during his tournament days that he broke four world records in breaking. On April 19, 1986 he shattered 15 five-pound common chimney bricks with a stroke of his seiryuto (ox-jaw hand) strike, with no supports or trestles, flat on the floor. This feat of accomplishment was performed in the presence of more that 3,000 spectators 500 martial art competitors and two 10th dan Grand Masters.
It was in October of that year that he brought his wife Fran and daughter Georgette to Okinawa with him to perform in the World Tournament and demonstration in Gushikawa City. His performance was so incredible that the people of Okinawa said he brought to Okinawa and await his return. After performing at the tournament and demonstration., Master Brown did a special demonstration at the post tournament party held at the Isshinryu World Karate Headquarters. It was in February of that same year that he received the presidential Sports Award in Karate from President Ronald Reagan.
In May 1990, Soke Brown created and developed his practicing arts together to for his own art which is recognized internationally by his peers called “Chairo-Kan Bushi Shindo” (Brown-Style Warrior Heart way), thus becoming the Soke (Founding Master).
Then in January 1992 he commenced construction of his new dojo facility in the rear of his home residence, in which he built in his off teaching hours every day and finished in February 1992 when he opened the newly constructed dojo to accommodate each and every student, along with his newly formed art. The dojo property contains an elaborate small Japanese garden including a pond, a teahouse, temple and an atmosphere that creates the ambiance of Southeast Asia.
The Hombu dojo itself is about 1,000 sq. ft. and houses two offices and a changing room in addition to the work-out area which traditional by nature. It contains no trophies or windows, just a passageway door and slider. The facilities of heat and central A/C maximize comfort. Artifacts align the bordering walls of his Hombu dojo, with items of China, Japan, Okinawa, Philippines, Malaysia Indonesia, Korea as well as other cultures of the world of Asia. Each and every day Soke (Founding Master) evaluates his dojo to make the necessary changes to enhance the traditionalism to its full esteem. If it’s not in the dojo, it’s in the garden or its grounds. Each day passerby slows his or her vehicle or stop to catch a glimpse of the change of culture in the neighborhood.
In 2008, March 15, 2008, Soke Brown will officiate and demonstrate at the ‘World Sikaran Tournament’ in Baras, Rizal, Philippines as a special guest of his teacher, the Mayor, Col. Meliton C. Geronimo, the Supreme Grandmaster of Sikaran. Soke Brown, who is a 9th Dan and the only non-Filipino to achieve so will do a demonstration at the event. This will be his return trip to the Philippines in 2008, where in runs a self-defense class in Makati, Manila.
Spending sometimes 12 hours a day in his garden and improving the dojo, Brown feels that he has not only brought, but is part of the Asian culture. The remainder of his time spent perfecting his mind through meditation, not only with his technique. After perfecting oneself, the dojo and its grounds during on his off teaching hours, he then does his forte of teaching his students at the assigned schedules.
Many of the students, who have been there over 25 years, are so “gung ho” about class attendance that they arrive one and two hours early for each session. Many of them frequently help on their off hours and days off doing chores in and out of the dojo by helping and learning to work with different projects.
Prof. Brown, who is a jack-of-all-trades shows and teaches his students not only martial arts. He teaches them some of the trades such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical, etc. How to create botanical gardens, servicing their motor vehicles, be it a car, truck, airplane, motorcycle or even a boat. This is because of his vast knowledge he has attained in his lifetime thus far.
Learning has never been a chore for Brown, in fact it’s a pleasure that constantly thrives to gain knowledge from every aspect of life source possible. He feels that its self improvement that counts to make life as easy and pleasant as possible, so we can all enjoy it to its fullest. He particularly likes the knowledge of the human anatomy, in which he practices and mends his own pains and breaks.
With over 114 broken bones over the years and 25 dislocations, he has been fortunate enough to mend and heal them himself. By this self-practice of Chinese and Japanese healing and medical procedures, he has eliminated much time out of the dojo and many wasted hours in the hospital and doctors office.
Brown’s many students have contributed immensely also, as he teaches a vast array of highly sophisticated professionals from many walks of life, including pharmacists, with which he learns to understand medicine better, photographers who teach him the finer points of how to catch action shots, attorneys who help him know more about the law and martial arts. Then, there are school teachers who teach him how to cater to particular individuals of the younger generation and many more that have contributed their effort to make the Hombu dojo a better place for instilling the skills of martial arts and to bring the culture outward.
Prof. Brown has published numerous articles in martial arts magazines, books and outside publications on Tameshiwari, hand-conditioning, tournaments and on Isshinryu karate. He has also given lectures at several locations such as colleges, police agencies, men’s groups, clubs and cub and Boy Scout groups.
Prof. Brown’s skills of strength and prowess are still great demand to this day by martial artists and the layman alike throughout the world. Even though he’s in the period of his life that even the average martial artists calls past his prime, he maintains his speed, strength, nimbleness and agility while building the knowledge and wisdom throughout his 48 years with the martial arts. To him it’s truly a way of life in every facet, not only the exercise, but the nutrition, solitude, self-perseverance and the very basic way of life.
Prof. Brown strengthens his grip with special exercises which help him to rip the bark off a tree by punching it first with his conditioned knuckles and then with his fingertips pull and rip the bark off. He also rips decks of cards into eighths while handcuffed, then breaking out of the cuffs and ripping two decks of cards into half. These along with his brick breaking feats within his diligent daily practice make him a standout not only in the martial arts, but also in the world.
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