INTERNATIONAL

SHAOLIN KENPO ASSOCIATION

WELCOME TO

Ralph Castro's

INTERNATIONAL

ASSOCIATION

SHAOLIN KENPO

ROCKLIN, CA

GREAT GRANDMASTER RALPH CASTRO, Founder

SHAOLINKENPO.COM

View our exciting

UPCOMING EVENTS

2024 EVENT SCHEDULE

ABOUT ISKA

About
ISKA

The International Shaolin Kenpo Association 'ISKA' was established in 1981 by Great Grandmaster Ralph Castro to be the only governing body over his art of Shaolin Kenpo. The Association regulates the technical quality of Shaolin Kenpo and governs its members. It determines rank promotion criteria and maintains standards and ethics. The Association determines who are certified Shaolin Kenpo instructors and sanctioned schools, and it requires that they are subject to inspection, review, and revocation.

The Association represents Shaolin Kenpo, so it mediates and resolves issues that are in the interests of Shaolin Kenpo. The Association holds and promotes competitions, seminars, demonstrations, and other events.

The Association currently requires members to be practitioners of Shaolin Kenpo -- students, teachers, and Shaolin Kenpo schools. Currently in discussion is a proposal to allow a class of non-voting members or associates who are former students, former instructors, parents, local business persons, or community leaders who have a special interest in supporting Shaolin Kenpo. Other such associates in the future might be a few prominent martial artists (of other systems) who are carefully selected and invited to collaborate with the administrators of Shaolin Kenpo to organize joint events.

CASTRO FAMILY

The

The legacy of Ralph Castro, his wife Pat, and their children April, May, June, July, Mia, Boss, and Rob reveals a close-knit family working together toward common goals. Ralph Castro created the 'Art of Shaolin Kenpo' and shared this art beginning in 1958 in San Francisco, CA. His first canvas was his children, his 'Magnificent 7'. His 2nd canvas was the thousands his art has touched.

A first meeting with Ralph Castro would show you a kind man, always a gentleman. He was also a son, a creator, husband, father, brother, uncle, and teacher. To many, he was a friend and mentor who filled a gap only a few can fill. He was loved, and he is missed.

MAGNIFICENT 7

The

By looking at Ralph and Pat Castro's' canvas,' we see each of his seven children growing up just like all of their schoolmates; however, the daily lives of these children differ from their peers. Like the other kids, they attended school and church, learning and growing together. But, while the other kids played after-school sports, the Castro children went to karate practice. Each of the Castro children learned and practiced karate as soon as they could walk and continued to practice karate every day...even on weekends.

In time, the children grew, and Ralph Castro took the show on the road. The family bus with 'Ralph Castro's Magnificent 7' inside began touring and demonstrating their art from the small or remote karate schools to the half-time shows at major NFL stadiums. To look into one child's accomplishments is to see the accomplishments of all of the children. Many continue the multi-generational practice of this art to this day, sharing through instruction.

CASTROS
THE PARKERS &
BRUCE LEE

The

Bruce Lee was a family friend, stopping by many times for a trip to the restaurant for lunch, to the kids’ school for surprise visits, and to the workouts at the karate school. Other close, life-long family friends were Ed Parker and his family. The Castros, Parkers, and Bruce Lee shared a common interest in martial arts. Being in the same place, at the same time, and for the same reason was what life was about.

The following story is an eyewitness account, shared with full permission from Tom Bleecker, historian and biographer who also co-wrote, The Bruce Lee Story with Bruce's widow Linda Lee Cadwell, later used as the reference for the movie DRAGON. Tom's account is recalled from Ed Parker's 1st Long Beach International Karate Tournament, 1964:

This is a quote from my book, Unsettled Matters -- "There were many demonstrations that evening. John Rhee, who stood 5'5", gave an incredible display of aerial kicking, shattering pine boards held seven feet in the air. Later, Ben Largusa thrilled the audience with a performance of the Filipino deadly stick-fighting art of Escrima. Takyuki Kubota demonstrated what Black Belt magazine later called "shocking feats," and eight-year-old Rob Castro, the son of renowned Bay Area black belt Ralph Castro, gave a demonstration that brought the crowd to its feet with resounding applause.

It was amid this grand spectacle that Bruce Lee, a relatively unknown Kung Fu practitioner from Hong Kong, walked onto the main floor with his advanced student Taky Kimura. Bruce wore a black uniform and these strange black boots, and Taky resembled something from another planet with his padded suit of body armor, shin guards, and what looked like a catcher's mask over his face." Many thanks to Mr. Bleecker for this eyewitness account.

The form Rob Castro performed at the 1964 Internationals can be viewed on YouTube: Shaolin Kenpo, Rob Castro performs 'Galloping Horse.'

ASSOCIATION SCHOOLS

GGM ROB

Great Grandmaster
ROB CASTRO

Great Grandmaster Rob Castro, current Leader and Head of the International Shaolin Kenpo Association, and the successor to the martial art created by his Father, Great Grandmaster Ralph Castro, with the approval of his instructor, Professor William K.S. Chow: The Art of Shaolin Kenpo.

Rob is kind and soft-spoken, a Family man who loves to share with others, and is very proud that his Brother and 5 Sisters have all achieved High Levels of Skill in the Art of Shaolin Kenpo. He is from one of few Families in the Continental U.S born and raised in the Arts, as his Father started teaching full time in San Francisco in 1958. He is

experienced in competing and hosting Tournaments because the Castro Family hosted the California Karate Championships each year from the early 70’s until 2000, which was the 2nd largest tournament in California, and the largest in Northern California. This was also known as the CKC's.

Rob is patient and personable with one-on-ones and is no stranger to rooms full of eager students of all ages and levels. Rob Castro is now 66 years old.

EVENTS