At the same time, Joe began teaching me his art, which was to grow and "morph" many times. We worked in my backyard several times weekly and I soon saw that Joe had an incredible knowledge of the arts. And as I knew more, I came to better understand the depth of Joe's knowledge. We worked on hand techniques taken from Joe's earlier Kenpo training and we worked on locking techniques from Joe's earlier training in Hapkido. We also began learning new techniques together. Joe purchased a book on stick disarms by Professor Remy Presis and we worked on these. We also worked on small circle concepts, taken from Professor Wally Jay. Joe had an incredible knowledge of the history of martial arts and he began teaching me this also. I can honestly say that the fundamentals I learned in my backyard are the foundation of the art I practice today.

It soon became apparent to me that Joe was the one that should be teaching the entire class, including Terry. Because of Terry's ego, we both knew this would never happen. And it never did. Terry was never able to admit he could learn anything from Joe. His loss! It was at this time that I began encouraging Joe to develop a systematic approach of teaching "his art" and to begin teaching it in a classroom setting. I am so glad that Joe took this advice and began teaching. At first, he taught in the same class with Terry. The class would divide in half and each would teach for half the class-time. Then everyone would switch. The class was taught this way for quite some time and the system was called Matsukaze Budo. Coy Harry, Chad Francois, and I were the system's first, and only, black belts.

The thing you figure out very early in your relationship with Joe is that he is never satisfied with the "status quo". He constantly strives to improve his art and this requires change. At Lansdale's Self Defense, "change is our friend". I believe this was first reason Joe began his split with Terry Thoburn. Joe believed the art was an ever-growing form of self-expression, to be directly influenced by a person's personality, ability, body type, etc. Terry believed the art was a static, traditional system that was "already good enough". He discouraged looking at other systems, thinking other thoughts, and expected "blind allegiance". Joe didn't think this way at all.

Joe and Terry slowly began to grow apart because of this split in the "vision" of what the art is. Terry's arrogance didn't help the situation. And finally, the business aspects of the relationship became too pressure packed. Joe had the opportunity to buy a new building and my advice to him was to cut his ties to Terry. I believed that Joe's knowledge and expertise far surpassed Terry's, and that Terry was actually inhibiting the development of Shen Chuan. Joe was probably leaning this way anyway, but he listened to me and made the break. Joe took some students with him and Terry kept some students also, but the relationship completely ended at this time.

Now Joe is very involved in the history of martial arts, in addition to being a martial artist. He reads, studies videotapes of other masters, and is a real student of the arts. He is what I would describe as an "intuitive" martial artist in this sense. He can see a technique and understand the "concepts and principles" that underlie it. He uses these concepts and principles to improve his own art.

Over the years, I've had the pleasure to train with a number of excellent martial artists, either in a classroom setting or in seminars. These include Hock Hochhiem, Master John Pelligrini, Professor Remy Presas, Professor Wally Jay, Master George Kirby, Professor John Denora, and others too numerous to mention. Joe, Coy, and I have traveled to many places, trained, and I have had the pleasure to see Joe's art and expertise acknowledged. One of the things I have noticed is that we can generally do very well in these settings. I've had the opportunity to compare our school's "expertise" and have found we come away looking pretty good. Recently Joe has begun to do some duel seminars with some fine martial artists and Joe has been well received at these events. It's a real pleasure to see his martial arts expertise acknowledged.

Now let me introduce you to a strange concept for a developer and head of a system. He not only allows, but actually solicits input from members of the system. From the start, Joe asked for and listened to my advice, even though it was obvious to anyone I had none of his skills. When Coy Harry joined us, he also gave input that has had a direct impact on the system. Joe encouraged Coy and I to train with Guro Hock Hochheim in the art of Arnis. Coy and I began a period of training in this system and we both have instructorships in the art. We began bringing back aspects of the art and Joe incorporated some of it into Shen Chuan.

Joe continually encourages his students to train with other martial artists and to "expand their horizons" with respects to the arts. He is not threatened by this concept, which is very unusual. Many martial arts instructors either discourage or completely prevent their students from cross training in any other system. They view it as disloyal or think their students will "jump ship". Joe's students have trained in Arnis, Judo, Boxing, Akido, and some have left to pursue other martial arts options. Joe just wishes them well and lets them know they are always welcome to come back. He understands that we are all part of a "martial arts community" and all martial arts training is a valid, positive experience. It's this type of acceptance that allows other influences in and allows the system to grow.

Joe is the "Professor" and is the acknowledged head of the Shen Chuan system. Every student respects Joe and his abilities. However, there is none of the (strange) worship that I see in other systems. When we are in the dojo, Joe is "Professor". Any other time, he is just Joe. I don't believe he would have it any other way. One way we keep everything in perspective is to have a "sense of humor". And Joe's not immune from this humor. Often when we train with other martial artists, I can see their astonishment when I make "fun" of Joe. They can't understand how I could do this and see this as a sign of disrespect. There are very few people I respect more than Joe, but I don't now, or will never worship him. In fact, we are all astonished when we see this kind of worship encouraged by the "masters" we meet.

Like I said before, Joe is the head of the Shen Chuan system, but he's not the only one that has added to the system, or made it what it is. Joe is proud of these students and their contributions. I want to talk now about these students, who have helped "mold" the system.

Coy Harry became a student early, when Terry and Joe were still teaching together and the system name was Matsukaze Budo. Coy is an imposing man, big and muscular. Most big men have the "big man" complex. I'm big, so I'm better. Coy is just Coy. He came into the school and became an instant influence. His influence has continued to grow, as has his ability. Joe has named Coy the successor to the system and Coy has my complete allegiance. He is the man to take over. Coy, like Joe, has an intuitive approach to the arts. He is able to see and do. He has grown into an excellent martial artist who represents Shen Chuan very well. Coy is ranked 5th Dan (now 6th) in Shen Chuan, is head of the Aki-Jitsu system, and is Soke-Dai to the system. Coy is also the only student who has black belt ranking in all of the Shen Chuan Divisions.

Shihan Richard Metteauer has been with Shen Chuan from it's beginning. He's the head of Shen Chuan StreetBoxing / Maverick Taekwondo and is a 5th Dan in Shen Chuan. Shihan Metteauer was Professor Lansdale's instructor in Tae Kwon Do and they have been associated ever since. Shihan Metteauer brings a fundamental knowledge of the martial arts that has added greatly to the Shen Chuan system. You know he's the "real deal" when you see him work. He'd be a load if he didn't know anything. But he knows martial arts and that makes him dangerous.

Chad Francois came into Matsukaze Budo also and added much to the system. He is also one of the first black belts for Shen Chuan. He came to the dojo with martial arts skills, in the form of traditional kicks and punches. He was young, athletic and very talented. His abilities in these areas were an influence to the system. He no longer trains in Shen Chuan, but he's still part of us.

Billy Jack Worsham has also been with system almost since it's inception. He started training with Sensei Richard Metteauer in Tae Kwon Do and then moved into Matsukaze Budo and then Shen Chuan. He currently holds the rank of 5th Dan and is a master instructor in the system. He's known as the "Rabid Chihuahua." He's not big in stature, but I don't know a "bigger" man. He's such an excellent role model for those still to come.

Paul Britt is the only instructor to take Shen Chuan to another city and this year one of his students received a black belt in Shen Chuan. Paul is one of the early students and through his dedication Shen Chuan has grown. Paul has done exactly what the Professor envisioned when he created the system. Paul has taken the basic elements of the system and added his own "style" to it. It's really good, and it's definitely "Paul."

Sensei Jim Moore came into the system after it became Shen Chuan. Jim had experience in Tae Kwon do and he brought this with him. But most of all Jim brought his amazing character. Jim is a good and honorable man who has definitely left his mark on all of us involved in Shen Chuan. He is a role model for the new students, because he encompasses what a "student" is.

Guro Mike Casto came to Shen Chuan late, but he was already an accomplished martial artist, trained in the arts of the Philippines and Indonesia. He moved to Nacogdoches, trained with us for a little over a year, and then moved on. He now has his own school and will periodically "show up" to train with us. He is an exceptional martial artist and we wish him well.

This is a list of the some of the people that have influenced the system and made Shen Chuan better. It's not the complete list. People like Kelly Owens, Jared Taylor, Ryan Dewitt, Chad Curry, Richard Hartstein, Norma Almanza, Bob Lacher, Rick Abel and Jeremy Bidwell all have added their special "flavor" to the system.

I head the Shen Chuan StickBoxing division of Shen Chuan. This is a system that combines weapons training and empty hand techniques. The base systems are Filipino Arnis and Shen Chuan. I have taken many attribute building drills, and stick and knife techniques, and blended them with Shen Chuan concepts and principles. This division's purpose is to directly enhance the main system. Many of the concepts and principles of Shen Chuan are emphasized in Shen Chuan StickBoxing. These include economy of motion, body contouring, relaxation, and balance disruption. This system is a complete system, but also greatly enhances Shen Chuan in general.

The system of Shen Chuan has grown over the years, is becoming well know nationally, and ever evolving for the better. This is a dynamic art and change is a symptom of its health. Joe is never and will never be satisfied with "being average". He has managed to pass this "vision" on to his students. The success of a system can be seen by the quality of the system's students. Shen Chuan produces excellent students of the martial arts. Shen Chuan students are a direct reflection of the ability of the man that leads us all. The system and the students revolve around the Professor, each with their own attributes and skills. They are not made to "fit" the system. Instead the system is flexible enough to "fit" them. The Shen Chuan system is a system that anyone would be proud of. It turns out excellent martial artists, but more importantly it turns out people with extraordinary character. The vision of Professor will continue to grow through his leadership and through the dedication of his students.