OKMULKE, Oklv. – Internationally-known USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inductee, and Fifth Grand Master Dr. Chebon Marks (Mvskoke) shared about his experience training in martial arts. He has learned many different styles, which he has taught and passed down to students. Marks holds two PhDs in Martial Art Science and Philosophy.
In order to reach his current level of mastery in martial arts, it took Marks years to study and train. Although Marks was never into the belt-ranking system, he still wears a belt since it is proper protocol. “My Sensei, my teacher would say it’s not what you got around your waist that counts, it’s what’s in your head and he said that’s the true martial artist because anybody can put a belt on,” Marks said.
According to Marks, he uses the martial art principle in his daily life, from the time he wakes up, until he goes to bed. It requires strict physical, mental and spiritual discipline on a daily basis. These principles help Marks make decisions in life of what direction to take when confronted.
Marks started off learning the three types of Korean styles, which include Moo Duk Kwan, as well as the soft and hard styles of Taekwondo. Later on his grandmaster taught him the Okinawa style and his family’s style. Marks has studied under his Grandmaster for 44 years. “I look at my martial arts skills as a blessing from God,” Marks said.
Marks’ favorite move is the small circle jujitsu. It is a move that does not require muscle or power, it only requires use of the fingers. The pressure points it targets can make anyone collapse. “If you know where to touch, you don’t have to hit them, you don’t have to kick them,” Marks said.
Additionally, Marks also teaches karate and weaponry. He is familiar with multiple styles, including Chinese, Filipino, Okinawa, Korean and Japanese. Marks has even taught his family these different skills. He started teaching his son when he was four years old. By the time Marks’ son was six years old, he knew how to use five weapons under his belt.
Martial Arts Seminars
Marks has expressed interest in hosting seminars with Mvskoke citizens in mind. During the last seminar he hosted he taught self defense and weaponry. “When I say weaponry teaching, it isn’t so much learning how to hurt somebody with a weapon. It’s learning how not to get hurt by a weapon, self defense,” Marks said.
Marks also participated in a martial arts seminar in March, along with Grandmaster Dr. Akita Roberts. This was held at the Sapulpa Creek Indian Community Center. The free two-day event welcomed any age and was opened to the public. Marks and Roberts demonstrated moves, and counter moves.
In the third grade Marks attended Seneca Indian boarding school, where he watched martial artists on TV demonstrating the art. At the time he did not know anything about karate.
“I was completely in the dark and I watched them, it looked like ballet in motion. I thought it was so beautiful like they were dancing, with their hand work and what he was doing. They were demonstrating self defense, I looked at it as graceful moves and beautiful, real beautiful art. That is how I got involved. However going to Indian boarding school, being in foster homes, two of them, being passed around from family. I never could afford it,” Marks said.
When Marks finally began martial arts training at the academy as an adult he was not allowed to wear a Gi (keikogi or “practice clothes”). He had to wear street clothes for four months. According to Marks, he had to wait until he tested for the rank of white belt. Students were not allowed to touch a weapon until they achieved the rank of black belt.
“I went to the old school, they didn’t do that then and during that time you were not allowed to touch a weapon until you became a black belt. You can look at the weapon but the instructor said ‘I better not catch one in your hand,’” Marks said.
Marks’ end goal was to earn his black belt and travel back to Oklahoma to teach fellow Natives martial arts to defend themselves.
“The Native American center was looking for certified, identifiable martial artists. So I applied, I got the job and so I was teaching Native American students for nothing, but at the same time the program was paying me. So I fulfilled the impossible dream and I felt good about that, I felt as if again I was blessed,” Marks said.
Passing on What He Has Learned
So far Marks has taught at two schools in Oklahoma. He enjoys seeing his students grow and develop discipline through the martial arts. Carrying down lessons from his mentors, Marks discourages students from using martial arts outside of the dojo. Marks does not charge for classes, but does charge for seminars and demonstrations. He does not charge for classes in order to give back to those Native students who are less fortunate and may not be able to afford a martial arts education.
These classes also teach the benefits of learning discipline and control. “There’s five rules in self defense. Rule number one is best to run than to confront, rule number two is best to confront than to hurt, rule number three it’s best to hurt than to lame or cripple, rule number four it’s best to lame than to kill and rule number five when all else fails, go back to rule number one,” Marks said.
“I’m a strong believer that it should not even be used unless you’re protecting your family or yourself. Even then if you protect yourself, you’re limited on what you can do. You don’t overdo it, now it comes to your family that’s an exception,” Marks said.
Additionally young women in Marks’ class have disclosed how their boyfriends could sometimes be physically abusive toward them. It is Marks’ belief that martial arts should be taught and learned by everyone, regardless of sex or size.
“When I teach, we’re pairing off partners. I’ll get the smallest person and I said ‘walk up to the biggest person in here, that’s going to be your partner for tonight, none of these girls on girls, boys on boys.’ If you want to learn the art, learn it right because if somebody got hurt, they don’t care if you’re male or female, they don’t care if you’re big or small, if they’re about to hurt you,” Marks said. “They take every means possible and usually a person who’s out looking for trouble, they’re going to try to pick on the weakest person.”
Marks guaranteed that each student who takes his class will walk out with confidence they did not have when they walked in.
“I don’t want you to walk away from my class being arrogant, if you’re arrogant that means you want to prove something to somebody if not yourself. I want my student to walk away from my class with confidence. If you have confidence in yourself, you don’t have to prove nothing to nobody. So that’s the difference,” Marks said.
Those interested in learning more about martial arts can contact Marks. He can be reached at 405-212-6422, however he requests calls be made after 3:00 p.m due to his schedule.
Hello Chebon, I haven’t seen you in quite sometime… I think you just got off work they said….. missed you by about 5 minutes!. Take care, my friend
Remarkable!