Gary began his study of martial arts and massage in 1967; he has formed martial arts clubs and taught since 1971. He has studied and learned by means of the traditional master / disciple apprenticeship method. He has done substantial graduate work in martial arts theory and practice; his main academic areas of expertise are history and philosophy of martial arts. He specializes in Ju-Jutsu (battlefield combat applications), Chinese boxing / Kung Fu, Phillipino stick and blade fighting (Serrada Eskrima), Thai boxing (Muay Thai), combat weapons throwing, close quarters battle, ambush, and raid techniques, and the use of a variety of weapons including: firearms; bladed weapons (sword, knife, and machete); wooden weapons (yawara stick, stick, staff, half staff); distance weapons (atlatl, bow and arrow, and crossbow); field expedient weaponry, soft weaponry, stun guns, and chemical sprays. He has taught classes for children, orphans and emotionally / behaviorally disturbed adolescents, specialized police combatives, women’s self-defense, psychiatric and geriatric patient restraint, and self-defense for the elderly.

As part of learning Dan Zan Ryu ju-jitsu, he has studied the Okazaki style of traditional Japanese deep-tissue, Restorative Massage Therapy as part of the broader Seifhukujitsu program of instruction which also includes resuscitation techniques (Kappo), stretching / alignment techniques, specific massage regimens for specific ailments, bone setting (Sekkotsu), and Lomi-Lomi (Hawaiian massage); until very recently, these healing arts were surrounded by secrecy and only taught to black belt holders in Dan Zan Ryu jujitsu. Some of his main DZR martial arts / healing arts instructors follow:

Gary currently holds the rank of Schichidan (7th Dan) and title of Professor that, by definition, indicates a complete knowledge of the entire system (ryu) as well as the ability to teach its contents. He is also a certified Okazaki style Restoration Therapy Senior Advanced Instructor, awarded 1997 after 30 years of study, from the Kodenkan International Martial Arts Inc. of Costa Rica. Gary has served as the Executive Director of The Hawaiian Jiu-Jitsu System, Inc., a national organization dedicated to preserving the Okazaki legacy.

In addition to ju-jutsu, Gary has practiced Chinese boxing / Kung Fu since 1977 when he began his study with Grandmaster George Ling Hu with whom he continues to study. Grandmaster Hu has more than 60 years experience in a wide variety of Chinese martial arts, and is an acupuncturist / master teacher of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Gary’s main areas of interest include Chinese throwing methods / shearing, Tzu Men Chuan, and poking.

He has also studied Phillipino stick and blade fighting (Serrada Eskrima) with Master Instructor Phil Stoecklin; Thai boxing (Muay Thai) with Chai Sirisute; and combat weapons throwing with international champion John Bailey.