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Bio. Richard Elizondo |
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Age: 27 Height: 6' Weight:270lbs Occupation: Telecommunications Engineer Martial Arts Experience: 1984 - Tae Kwon Do 1989 - Judo 1991 - Started Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu 1993 - American Jujutsu (Received Shodan 1996) 2000 - Wan Yun Loong Combat Lab / Returned to Budo Taijutsu 2002 - Received Shodan in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu and WYL Combat System 2003 - Appointed Instructor in the WYL Combat System 2004 - Received Nidan in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu 2004 - Recieved Sandan in WYL Combat System Other Arts Studied: Muay Thai Escrima Brazilian Jiu-jitsu 5 Family Kung Fu Hoshinryu Dim Mak Boxing Kabudo Weapons Additional notable training: PR24 Baton Certified Personal Protection Officer Training Anti-Terrorism Training Advanced Firearms Retention Training Person Protection Escort Training |
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My Son Caleb Matthew
My Wife Sarah
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An Inside Look from Richard There are few things in my life I enjoy more then my Martial Arts training. Spending time with my wife and son is of course on top of my list. I love my wife and son dearly and can not wait until the day my son is able to start training. Hopefully he will enjoy it as much as I have. My love for my wife and son makes me want to train and be a better person for them. I look at life as a group of personal challenges, all requiring the proper response. Sometimes we get it right and sometimes we don't, but in either case we live with the circumstances of the path we have chosen. Balance in ones life is very important. If you can not find balance in your life, then you will never find balance in your training. Budo is really a way of life. It reflects how one lives, works, plays, and trains. Those who understand its meaning can usually find peace in everything they do. If you train with serious discontent in your heart, and constantly feel the need to compete with everyone, then you will fail in real combat. In combat you must be able to give yourself up, and think only of your duty, whether you are defending your country or defending a loved one. The training we do known as Muto Dori (unarmed against a sword) is a fine example of this. If you can think of nothing other than fear of the sword, you will be cut, however if you can just give yourself up, relax and just move, you will do fine. I train with many different Shidoshi in the Bujinkan. The following is a tribute to those who have been so willing to help me in my quest to understand this art. Each sparks a different energy in my training as explained below. 
Pete Houting (Fu)
My first instructor in the Bujinkan.
Pete was always the dangerous wind beneath your balance. Still to
this day one of the best instructors, and friends, I have known. I
feel fortunate that he accepted me as one of his students even
though, at the time, I was not old enough to join the class. He
ignited the passion in me for this art.
Sonny Gary (Chi)
I took too much of the time I spent
with Sonny for granite and really miss our training together. Sonny
was, by far, one of the most talented martial artist I have ever
met. He years of experience out weighed anything I could
demonstrate. His background in Chinese martial arts was fascinating,
and although we both studied under Pete Houting, it was clear to me
from the day I met him, I wanted to be his student. Sonny shared an
incredible amount of knowledge with me in just the few years we
trained together. His mentoring not only effected my martial arts,
but also changed my perspective on life.
George Russell (Sui)
I met George Sensei at the OFB3
seminar in 2003, and was impressed by his down to earth attitude and
great sense of humor. George Sensei doesn't settle for being told
this should work, he likes to see it for himself. His knowledge of
Bujinkan kata is exceeded by his ability to realistically apply it.
George Sensei is one of the best
kept secrets of all time. The more you get to know him, the more you
see just how good he is. If George called tomorrow needing a vital
organ from me, I would use my Shoto (Short sword) to get it for him.
David Castleberry (Ka)
I also met David Sensei at the OFB3
seminar in 2003. He was George Sensei's teacher. The pain this man
inflicted on my body with such small movement, I will always
remember. David Sensei is a true warrior, and a very skilled martial
artist. His ability to "light the fire of pain" is quenched by his
warm smile and big heart. David Sensei is well respected and many
who outrank him on paper, still consider him the authority on real
combat. David Sensei also has a real knack with the cane and is a
firearms specialist. It is a real honor to know David Sensei.
Joseph Adriance (Ku)
Sonny Sensei used to tell me of
this one Shidoshi from Del Rio who was "really good". I met Adriance
Shihan at the OFB3 in 2003 and was blown away by his skill and
friendliness. I was so impressed with Adriance Shihan, I would try
to catch him every time he would visit La Marque, TX. Adriance
Shihan is the most knowledgeable Shihan I have ever trained with.
His taijutsu is
remarkable, and in my opinion, he has what many Shihan are missing
in their training. Sometimes his training is overwhelming to me, and
I feel as if I am caught in a vortex of knowledge I can not escape.
There is something about Adriance Shihan that intrigues me and keeps
me wanting more, that I can not explain. He is just so "real" I can
not explain it. There are many Sensei that I can impress with my
skill, he is not one of them, and I like training with
him for that reason. I judge a good teacher not by there
compliments, but by their ability to find our faults & help us to
fix them.
I would also like to mention a few other people whom I hold in high regard, and have been fortunate enough to have met along the way. 
Thom Humphreys (Aka. The King of Texas)
I met Thom at the OFB3. I knew I
was in trouble the moment he put a wrist lock on me. This man is a
master Jujutsuka, with years of experience to back it up. Thom has
become one of my best friends. He is a very straight forward person
and will often help someone without any thoughts of personal gain.
Kendall Kelsoe
(Austin Tanemaki Dojo)
I met Kendall Sensei at George
Sensei's belt testing review in Liberty Hill. I could tell right
away we had much in common. We are both big kids inside overgrown
bodies. Kendall Sensei has a way of boiling my creative blood, and
making me want to build a weapon. Kendall Sensei is a fine swordsman
and a true gentleman. His knowledge of Japanese weapons far exceeds
mine. We both enjoy testing our swords on a regular basis against
traditional and non-traditional targets. Both of us enjoy building
weapons, however he does a much better job with swords than I
possibly could. I lack the skill and patience with wood & steel that
he has. Kendall Sensei is a good friend to have. I am glad to have
met him.
Ed
Martin Shihan (Papasan)
One of the pioneers of Ninjutsu in
the United States, Papasan is still a very active roll of the
martial arts community today. He is truly an inspiration to us all,
and one of the most dedicated Shihan I know. His calm demeanor and
warm smiles are truthful of Ed Shihan as a person, but very
deceptive of his Martial abilities. His Ojijutsu (Old Man
Techniques) can send a much larger attacker crashing to the ground
or running for his safety. Ed Shihan's knowledge is matched only by
his heart. He is a living example of Budo at its finest. I am
honored to know him and to train with him.
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