Dr.
Kenneth H. Balliet
Grand Master, 10th Dan
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In May he was notified that he had been awarded the
title of “Bushi” or “Samurai Warrior” by the Soko Menkyo Kai, one
of the world’s foremost accreditation and licensing agencies in martial
arts. He was the first man ever to be awarded this title by this organization.
The organization also named him International Director of Professional
Standards for the group.
“I am very honored to receive these designations by
such a group as this,” Balliet told Webb Weekly. “It means a great
deal to me since I have cared so much about the martial arts and have
been involved with them for so long. It is almost unheard of for anyone
to receive these honors. Words can’t describe how overwhelmed I am
to being name a Bushi.”
He said normally only martial arts masters from Asia
receive this type of honor.
“I hope that this is some of kind of recognition for
all the good I have tried to do for the martial arts over the years,”
Balliet said.
Balliet became involved in the martial arts through his father 50
years ago. His father was a judo and karate instructor in the U.S.
Army. A Samurai sword his father brought home from Japan sparked his
interest.
“I was 18 when I earned my first black belt,” Balliet said, “from
that point I became interested in becoming an instructor and training
others in the martial arts.”
The types of martial arts that Balliet specializes
in are Kyusho, Karate, Kobojutsu and Ju Jutsu.
The Kyusho is known as “one second fight” in that you
can disable an opponent in one second by applying the proper techniques.
It is based on using and knowing the nerve centers of the body and
angle and direction of attack.
Balliet opened his first martial arts school about
40 years and he was one of the first in this area to do so. Many of
his students have gone on to start their own “dojos” or martial arts
schools. He has trained and taught thousands of students during that
time. He believes that almost every person who has learned martial
arts locally that is 35 years old or older probably learned under
him.
From 1970 to 1978 he served as a police officer on
the South Williamsport Police Department.
He has been designated “Grand Master” 10th Dan Shorinji-Ryu Karate
and is a Kyoju (professor) Ph.D. Budo.
He continues to operate a school that teaches various
types of martial arts. Although recent physical injuries and problems
prevent him from being as active on the physical end of the training,
he can still impart a lot of knowledge to his students and now he
has the prestige of the international honors that have been conferred
upon him.