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George Lepine’s (Plains Cree-Assiniboine) sixth degree black belts in Taekwondo and Hapkido inform his own form of martial arts rooted in traditional Plains Cree fighting styles. Established in 1997, the martial arts system known as Okichitaw includes hand combat training and weaponry like knives, tomahawks, and gunstocks. After decades of teaching, another Native martial arts expert, Chebon Marks (Muscogee), is stepping back from a long martial arts career. Marks, 76, is in the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame; holds two PhDs in Martial Art Science and Philosophy; and is a master in Chinese, Filipino, and multiple Korean fighting styles. He recently held an all-women martial arts seminar. We’ll talk with both Lepine and Marks about dedication, decades of teaching, and infusing Indigenous philosophy and methods into martial arts.
Break 1 Music: Suplex (feat. Northern Voice) (song) The Halluci Nation (artist) Suplex – EP (album)
Break 2 Music: In the River: A Protest Song (song) Raye Zaragoza (artist)
I also recommend talking about the Cherokee taekwondo Master Vann who followed taekwondo in its original taekwondo lineage (Cherokee historical museum recognizes him): https://www.cherokeephoenix.org/sports/cherokee-citizen-masters-martial-arts/article_56ed23f0-bbb5-58c6-b0df-e7a442d955b4.html