James Drennen
Instructor
Director – Outreach Programs
Autobiography
For me, martial arts have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. At the age of 7, Power Rangers and Avatar: The Last Airbender inspired me to start his martial journey at Song’s Martial Arts Institute in Santa Cruz, California. From 7-17, under the tutelage of Grandmaster SoonHo Song, I learned about discipline, respect, timeliness, and of course the kicks for which Tae Kwon Do is renowned. I reached the rank of a 1st gup before the dojang closed and I moved off to college in Monterey.
In search of a new martial arts outlet, I discovered Seibukan Jujutsu of Monterey and began training for several years under Jason Costanza – Renshi and Marcus Thornton – Shihan. These teachers imparted the concepts of flow and relaxation unto me along with teaching me the technical basics of joint-locking, throwing, falling, and rolling. All of these were foreign concepts to a power-focused stand-up TKD practitioner. I earned my advanced green belt in Seibukan Jujutsu and have plans to resume training in the art soon under Thornton – Shihan.
About 2 years into my Seibukan training, I serendipitously found my next instructor on a visit to the Chiropractor. Upon saying that my primary form of exercise was martial arts training, Dr. Steven King’s eyes brightened which sparked a conversation about his extensive martial arts career. A veteran Green Beret and life-long martial artist of many styles, Dr. King earned his highest ranks in Okinawan GoJu Ryu Karate and Tenshin Aikido. After our talk, I was invited to train Okinawan GoJu Ryu with him and his son, Dr. Daniel King at their home in Prunedale. Dr. Daniel King became my primary instructor, flavoring his GoJu Ryu with the Aikido that he had also learned from his father (making the Ju and little more Ju-y). After 3 years of study, I earned my first degree black belt in Okinawan GoJu Ryu Karate with the approval of both Dr. Steven and Dr. Daniel King.
Roughly a year into my GoJu training, by means of Seibukan Jujutsu, I discovered UMASDA. Originally skeptical of the systems taught there, I asked to join a class one evening to question the teacher about some of the curious movements I saw observing a class. Steve Zalazowski, the head instructor, proved to not only be an extremely knowledgeable and technical teacher, but a gracious one. Even after ranking highly in many martial arts, Steve never makes his students feel inferior, evident by his choice to have his students refer to him as “Steve” instead of sensei or any of the other titles he has earned. Feeling a connection to this instructor and the material, I added to my martial journey at UMASDA, first beginning training with PJMS and eventually adding on IKCA Kenpo.
As COVID hit hard and amongst Monterey County losing about 65% of the martial arts schools, our school streamlined from teaching 4 arts to teaching the sword and the IKCA Kenpo system as that style was designed to support a distance learning model since its inception in 1990. After 3 years of training with UMASDA, I earned my 1st degree black belt in IKCA Kenpo. As a lover of the arts and an educator by trade, I aspire one day to pass on the lessons and material I have learned to others. At UMASDA, the instructor certification process involves taking a student from white belt all the way through a curriculum until black belt. I have begun this process taking on a wonderful and dedicated student, Tom Folliard, and I’m very excited to see where he goes.
As a jiki-deshi (direct student) of Steve Zalazowski, we must not only complete certain certifications, but also create goals to improve ourselves. These are not connected to rank and are meant for self-development only. One of my near-term goals to give back to the UMASDA family is to begin a kids program. Having worked with kids for 7 years now, I have seen so many children that would benefit from the clarity, focus, self-confidence, and physical fitness that have enriched my life on and off the mat. In addition, simply being able to merge my love of teaching children with that of martial arts would be a dream come true.
I can say with confidence that martial arts have been a formative part of my maturation into adulthood and that I would not be the same person without them in my life. They have been integral for my self-exploring/expression and for my physical, mental, and emotional development. If these are characteristics you are looking to build in yourself, I look forward to seeing you on the mat!
James Drennen’s Martial CV
- King Okinawan GoJu Ryu Karate – Shodan – 1st Degree Black Belt, Dr.s King & King
- IKCA Kenpo™ – 1st Degree Black Belt, Zalazowski
- IKCA Qualifying Instructor
- James is 7th in the line of seniority as an IKCA Black Belt under Steve Zalazowski, Sr.
- Seibukan Jujutsu – Advanced Green Belt, Costanza/Thornton
- PJMS™ – Hachikyu – Yellow Belt, Zalazowski
- PJMS™ Instructor Trainee
- Seikendo (healing art) – Shodan – Toribio
