Kyoshi Terry Riggle was born on May 30, 1967, in Overland Park, Kansas. He is the 2nd youngest of 7 kids in his family. When he was born, he weighed only 4 pounds, his older twin sister by 9 mins took the prize at 6 pounds. His parents were not expecting twins, so when he was born, they were less than prepared for two born babies. Growing up, he was not into sports at all and hated when his brothers wanted him to play because he knew he would always get hurt. In high school, Kyoshi Riggle did swimming and track and was ok with that. He thought he was drawn to the things that were just about challenging himself.

Kyoshi Riggle remembers sitting watching all the Martial Arts greats on TV. Shows like Kung Fu with David Carradine and Walker Texas Ranger with Chuck Norris. He loved watching anything with Bruce Lee and knew from an early age that he wanted nothing more than to learn Martial Arts one day. Growing up in a family of 7 and living with his grandparents, money was in short supply, he knew he would have to find his own way to learn Martial Arts. Until that time he was content with watching his favorite Martial Arts TV shows and Movies.

Growing up Kyoshi Riggle knew he had a bad temper and was easily upset able. And his brothers took advantage of that as often as they could. He knew he had to learn to control it but would know that until much later in his life when he began his Martial Arts journey. As he got older he got into computers and technology and started following that path. He took a class in high school called Office Education that was mainly a girl class. He was the only guy in his class and did quite well. Having four sisters at home helped him to feel comfortable in an all-girl class.

It wasn’t until his senior year that his dream of Martial Arts training became a reality. He was in another class called Office Education – On the Job Training that he worked for a company called Creative Data Services (CDS). It was at this job that he met Hanshi Dan Kennedy, who at the time was teaching the Hawaiian, Okinawan Kenpo systems as was being taught by Professor Bill Marron. Kyoshi Riggle had always heard the stories about Hanshi Kennedy but didn’t believe them until one day he asked him about them. Hanshi Kennedy told him they were true and invited him out to visit one of his classes.

Kyoshi Riggle went not knowing what to expect and what he experienced exactly what he needed to see. From that day on Kyoshi Riggle was hooked on the Hawaiian Kenpo System and went to every class available to him. It was Kyoshi Riggle’s first belt test to Yellow Belt that helped him change his bad temper and getting angry so easily. He broke his fist board and realized then that he had the ability to really hurt someone and that he needed to control that going forward. Another time that Kyoshi Riggle remembers fondly was a Purple Belt Test. There were several of Hanshi Kennedy’s students testing for Purple at the time. Hanshi Kennedy had them all stand in a line holding a board to break. Hanshi Kennedy told them to hold the board above their heads and demonstrated what he wanted them to do. They all looked at Hanshi Kennedy in disbelief as if he was crazy to ask such a thing. Hanshi Kennedy look at them and said do you want to pass your test? Without a second thought, Kyoshi Riggle executed ahead break on a 1x12x12 board breaking it without any problems. In amazement of the other Green Belts testing, Hanshi Kennedy looked at Kyoshi Riggle and said he was only kidding, but from that day on the head break was always on the breaking list for Kyoshi Riggle.

While still working with Hanshi Kennedy Kyoshi Riggle got to meet Professor Marron, who was Hanshi Kennedy’s instructor. A few years later while still working for CDS, he met Professor Marron, who he had known was Hanshi Kennedy’s instructor. Professor Marron and Kyoshi Riggle became quick friends and enjoyed spending time with each other talking about stories of Professor Marron’s life, fishing, and Martial Arts knowledge. Kyoshi Riggle being a young man in the ’80s had a secret crush on one of Professor Marron’s daughters but was too afraid to say anything about it until much later in his life.

In 1997, Kyoshi Riggle was testing for his 1st-degree black belt and this is a time he will always remember. Professor was going to sit on the testing board and would put his name on his certificate. Looking back Kyoshi Riggle admitted he shouldn’t have been testing because he was very sick, but knew he had to because Professor Marron would be there. Professor Marron did not sign the certificate that Kyoshi Riggle’s brother-in-law gave him. Professor Marron explained later to Kyoshi Riggle the reason why. Professor Marron said, “You were not 100% and I know what you can do, so we will retest you in 6 months. From that day on I knew I wanted to learn all he had to share and be the kind of instructor/teacher that he was. Out of all the black belt ranks I have gotten from

Professor Marron, the first one had the most impact on my life.

Kyoshi Riggle kept on working and training under Professor Marron but knew he needed to do more. In 2004, Kyoshi Riggle started teaching Hawaiian Kenpo to friends that he knew. Kyoshi Riggle kept teaching and would have Professor Marron come to his classes to share his knowledge with his students. Four years went by and Kyoshi Riggle was still Shodan (1st degree) and had three students that were ready for promotion to 1st black. Knowing that he couldn’t promote them, Kyoshi Riggle invited Professor Marron to sit on the board to certify the students of Kyoshi Riggle to the rank of 1st-degree black belt. After the test Professor, Marron told us to all line-up. Guessing that reason Professor Marron wanted Kyoshi Riggle to line up with everyone, was due to the fact he was a 1st degree himself. Professor Marron started off the promotions that night, by promoting Kyoshi Riggle to the rank of Sandan (3rd-degree black). Professor Marron told Kyoshi Riggle later that he was the first person he ever allowed to skip a rank.

Throughout Kyoshi Riggle’s 30-year martial arts journey, he has been honored to have learned as much as he could from Professor Marron and getting his 4th, 5th & 6th-degree black belt promotions from Professor Marron. Professor Marron wanted me to come down to Arizona to work out with him and just enjoy time with him. He was going to promote me to 6th Dan in the Okinawan Weapons system as well. Was one of the many best times including all the karate clinics, and fishing trips we did together. I didn’t know at the time that this would be the last time he and I ever had the chance to work out together, so I cherish the memory of that time and the knowledge he gave me. It means even more to me today because that was the lasts time he ever did and allowed a recording of him and I. We ended up working on the self-defense sets 10 & 11. My goal for the rest of my Martial Arts journey is to honor him in all I do and teach and keep the three systems he taught it, un-altered for years to come.