1953-2004Joe Navarro (left) with Danny Inosanto
circa 1983/84
Recently, I've had the exciting opportunity to reconnect with some long lost dear friends. Many of whom I have not seen or heard from on over 14 years! I'm so glad I never gave up looking for them (something I would never do anyway).
As I proceeded to do another set of googling to try and locate my friends, I successfully came across a website called "The United Martial Arts Academy" in Miami (UMAA), I knew my search was over immediately as I first glanced at the home page photo, after recognizing the logo on the t-shirts the students were wearing, it was unmistakable. The rush of finding them was overwhelming! With all the emotions flooding in and the anticipation of a possible reunion I was overjoyed, so much so that my heart was racing and my fingers started to tingle as I pushed the numbers to make the call to the school, all the while still reading the pages of this wonderful Kung Fu academy. As I read with pride and joy all the success they are achieving, I proceeded to the menu that said lineage. As I started to read the old familiar heritage pages of previous masters and the roots of our Kung Fu style, I came across the last entry of my Sifu Joe Navarro, which, I knew would but there, but was not prepared for what I was going to read next. The following words were "after his untimely death". I was suddenly cast into utter disbelief and shock. I went from ecstatic hope of making contact to a sinking sad feeling. Sifu ..."Joe Navarro" had passed away. No! My heart sank like a dead weight into my belly. My teacher, mentor and more importantly friend for so many years when I lived back in Chicago and then Florida was gone. My first inclination was to say to myself "this can't be true!" "How can this be?" "It must be a mistake." Frankly, I'm still reeling from the tragic truth of it all. I went from joy to deep sadness in the matter seconds. I was particularly feeling remorse coupled with the grief. Remorse, feelings of a missed chance to see him again. Knowing that the past 14 years are not only forever lost but are now with no hope of meeting again. Now I must come to grips with the facts and sort them out as best I can. My heartfelt chance of a reunion never to be realized. Not having the hope or chance to reconnect once more in our lives is sobering. The thought of him being gone forever in this life is hard to grapple with. FOREVER, is such a finite word when it comes to death. So hard to believe yet I'm a realist and know we are not immortal. I just thought we would all (from the Lama Kung Fu academy in the late 70's and after) would grow old together. I also never believed we would lose touch for such a long period of time. My only consolation was knowing that I did try to find them over the years but it is a small one at that. In spite of all this grief my heart has been touched and warmed by the outreach of others whom known him and I have the hope of turning this hurt into healing through their help. By reminiscing and reliving the memories has given me comfort. To also know that there was a sincere effort by many to try and find me during that time is heartwarming. There are so many great stories over the past 25+ years and I can't wait to share with all who have come to love this man. Through all of the good, bad, even the funny. Small moments to momentous life milestones that we all we went through at different points along our life's journey before we lost touch. I'm thankful to have the chance to hear about those lost years, whatever they may be so I can fill in the gap of his last years of life.
With all the emotions and feelings surrounding the loss of a much valued mentor, teacher and friend, I was still filled with an unbelievable sense of joy, hope and pride at what he helped foster. A legacy he helped build by being true to himself. He was a teacher first and a consummate lover of the esoteric art of Kung Fu. It was a privilege for all whom had the opportunity to learn from what he knew. It was an honor in receiving his knowledge and experience of this amazing art first-hand from a very gifted and dedicated practitioner.
This sharing of information was readily available for all who were willing to commit themselves fully to the attainment of enlightenment and martial skill. He never held back if he knew it would make the student better. If you exhibited a desire and willingness to commit to the hard practice and were ready to train and develop a disciplined mind, he would pour out his attention in aiding you to be the best you could be. His efforts had no boundaries. His intuition was always spot on and his understanding of the human physiology and psychology helped find within each student a means to help them excel. He always watched each student intently and closely, paying attention to their progress, analyzing their movements and oftentimes instantly understanding what strengths the student possessed, moreover, he had the uncanny ability to understand what was needed in getting that person to overcome their weaknesses in order to help them reach the next level of skill. He would isolate those weaknesses for each individual by addressing it in the most non-critical way that was profoundly productive. He would re-enforce good technique but focus on the needs first and foremost and usually in the most creative ways. If you didn't get something by his example one way he would devise another until you GOT IT! He would never take "no" for an answer nor the dreaded 2 words a student would sometimes utter "I can't". Because to him can't never could so it just didn't exist for him. We are all better for it! He was dynamic and I learned a lot from him. For this I am forever grateful!! He not only taught us how to defend ourselves, he also taught us about human nature as well as the important aspects of carrying the Kung Fu style and traditions forward for new students to learn through proper teaching methods. I hope he knew while he was here with us how much he contributed to others and how appreciative we were to receive his lessons.
Today, even amidst the overwhelming sadness, I'm also experiencing joy and pride. Joy that our Kung Fu family is still unified and pride that Sifu Joe Navarro's legacy continues to thrive, entrusted into the very capable hands of Sifu Henry Regelado. A legacy that has been carried forward from the teaching of one man's acquired learning from years of dedication and practice and study. A legacy that is rich in the traditions of the past from a long line of master teachers to now be carried forward and passed on to the next generation of people, of all ages and cultures. I'm will forever feel honored to have called Joe my Sifu and friend and humbled by the mark he has left for so many of us who knew him. The mark of excellence where the future for us having known him is so much brighter. It was a privilege to have trained under him for so many years. The future of Kung Fu and the lessons he handed down for future generations will all benefit and impact not only our personal lives but our communities as well. What an honor to have known him and been apart of his generous outpouring of himself and his abilities. Unselfishly, abundantly but most of all humbly.
