SGM Gary Forbach started his Kajukenbo training at the age of 15, in 1966 under Great Grandmaster Aleju Reyes [RIP], in Vacaville, CA. He received his black belt from Master Reyes in 1973. SGM Forbach has also had the honor to train under GM Jon Loren, SGM Eric Lee, Sifu Anthony Chan, and Sijo Emperado; whom he went under after GGM Reyes’ passing in 1977.
For many years SGM Gary Forbach competed the tournament circuit in both forms and sparring. In 1980 he was the national champion in the Chinese forms division and in 1981 he won the national titles in both Chinese forms and weapons. As a result, of the success earned in forms competitions, he was invited along with a few others in 1981 to visit the Peoples Republic of China. While there, he got the opportunity to train with the Beijing Wu-Shu Team and the All China Sports Federation, as well as Professors Kan Guizhang and Feng Zhiguang in Chen Taiji Chuan. While in China he also became one of the first American’s to visit the Shaolin Temple since the Communist Revolution.
In 1984, SGM Gary Forbach hosted the first Wu-Shu tournament in the United States, the “All Chinese National Martial Arts Championships”. This tournament was attended by both Sijo Emperado and members of the “Beijing Wu-Shu Team”.
Along with his tournament competition SGM Gary Forbach has taught since 1976 at his Forbach Martial Arts Academy in San Clemente, Ca., and on the island of Kuai’i, Hawaii. At the Forbach Martial Arts Academy, SGM Gary taught the original method of Kajukenbo, Wu-Shu, and Chen style Tai Chi Chuan. From his visit and training in China, SGM Gary Forbach is one of the few people in the United States to have learned the original Chen form. (Most of the Chen Tai Chi Chuan taught today is the simplified form developed in the 1980s.)
SGM Gary Forbach is also known as a popular seminar instructor, having given seminars in England, Germany, Spain, and many American states. After the passing of Master Reyes in 1977, SGM Gary Forbach started to train directly under Sijo Emperado. Since that time they have had formed a close friendship, collaborating on the production of over 20 training videos. The World Kajukenbo Organization was set up by Sijo Emperado and SGM Gary Forbach. Other than the Sijo and SGM, there are no members. There is no way to become a member, and the W.K.O. does not certify or rank individuals or schools. The sole purpose of the W.K.O. was to provide Sijo with a source of income through the development and marketing of training materials, videos, and seminars, spreading Kajukenbo
SGM Forbach’s lineage of Black Belts and students are established throughout the world. He continues to teach and share the traditional KAJUKENBO knowledge taught to him over the decades. SGM Gary is one of the original selected members of Sijo’s BOA. He is known for his love, honesty and integrity when it comes to KAJUKENBO, which is respected and appreciated.
Visit World Kajukenbo Organization Website
