Master Tom Pardue

Master Tom Pardue is fighting to make the world a less violent place. As head of Tom Pardue’s East-West Kung Fu Academy, he sees as his main goal as instilling a reverence for life in his pupils. And being able to practice what he preaches, Pardue can boosts that though he has fought in competition thousands of times in the last 30 years, he has never been in a fight. “All instructors are quite human people, but we set a pattern of life that we know is correct because we know that people are listening to what we say.” Pardue explains.

Born in 1953 in Nashville, Pardue began learning the Martial Arts just after moving to Bowling Green at the age of 18. He met Chai-Soo-Jin, now a world class Grand Master with an acclaimed school in Owensboro, who taught him the way of Karate. Chai-Soo-Jin had trained under Eizo Shinabuku, one of the founding fathers of the very well known Okinawan Karate. After achieving his Black Belt in Karate, his teacher moved on, but soon he discovered Wing Lock Ng who moved to town to attend WKU for a few years. Ng represented the premiere Kung Fu family and introduced him to the philoshopies and methods of Chinese traditions. He achieved his first Black Sash in Kung Fu by 1977. Soon afterward another master Jack Man Louie from Taiwan (www.bambootemple.com) came to town and trained a small group of boys after he got off work at House of Wan from 1-3am, three days a week. by 1979, after intensive training Pardue achieved his Black Sash in Southern Praying Mantis, an esoteric style of Kung Fu that is said to be the most deadly of all style of Martial Arts. Today, Tom Pardue is approaching Grand Master status. He explained that given no governing body to regulate Martial Arts instruction, many claim to be Grand Master’s early in their career, however traditionally the title is bestowed on individual’s no less than 50 who have had at least 30 years experience – a mark he is to cross on his next birthday. Most of the Martial Arts have a ten tier division of Black Belts/Sashes and the specific titles he now holds include: 9th Degree Black Sash – Ng Style Kung Fu, 6th Degree Black Sash – Shaolin Kung Fu, 1st Degree Black Belt – Shorin Ryu Karate. Pardue was also featured in the World Karate Union Hall of Fame in 1999, is the AAU Kung-Fu Chairman of Kentucky and is a CDT Tactical Master Instructor.

CDT short for Compliance, Direction and Takedown is an Air Marshalls Course now being taught to police and other law enforcement officials as well as civilians. The non deadly force system is touted as a non libelous self protection method. The six hour training course was developed as a way to fight back without injuring either party as well as to be an alternative protection method that an individual cannot be sued for using.

After 27 years with a day job in the plumbing wholesale industry, Tom Pardue and his wife of 12 years, Ellen, whom he met training at House of Fitness and who under his instruction had now become a 6th Degree Black Belt herself, decided to open the Bowling Green Kung Fu Academy and teach their art in the afternoons after work. The business partnership worked well with Tom running the instruction end of things and Ellen in charge of the deck – the merchandising and nuts and bolts of the business as well as some Tai Chi classes.

From the onset, respect for non aggressive lifestyles were emphasized at the school and students spoke the Shaolin Temple motto before each workout: “Seek the ways to preserve rather than destroy, avoid rather than stop, stop rather than hurt, hurt rather than maim, maim rather than kill, for all life is precious and none can be replaced.” By 1999 the school was successful enough that both opted to quit their day jobs and pursue their dream full time. They also took on a new Master Seng Au and changed the name of the school to Au’s Shaolin Arts Kung Fu Academy. Au had been trained in Hung-Gar and Choy-Li Fut Kung Fu, the latter being the most famous Martial Arts system and the one used by such legends as Jackie Chan.

Indeed, though in America Karate seems a more familiar word, Karate did not exist before it’s first public exhibition in 1920. Tae Kwon Do likewise became a recognized art form in the 1940’s and was brought home by soldiers. Kung Fu however, was developed in 400 AD by the Shaolin Temple monks as a form of non deadly self defense. Though it is the basis from which all Martial Arts come, it remained a secret society until being brought into the limelight by practitioner Bruce Lee, followed by his predecessors Kung Fu artists Jet Li and Jackie Chan. Certainly, the Pardues credit much of their success to Jackie Chan and the Power Rangers, however they pinpoint the sharp escalation of success to the joining of the NAPMA (National Association for Professional Martial Artists) and UP (United Professionals) in 2002. The organization provides intensive goal oriented training and lesson plans in the form of annual seminars, weekly phone calls and daily emails. And as Pardue states, “We grow blackbelts”, referring to the crop of new instructors that have been groomed as students under their methods and philosophies. The school is now taking on a new name and motto and looking into opening affiliated schools in other counties under the command of such instructors. Now called Tom Pardue’s East- West Kung Fu Academy the school continues to emphasize non aggression, self confidence and healthy lifestyles. Though according to Tom, the Pardue’s are quick to say “We do not extol any type of religious or Buddhist belief or philosophy”, the students are learning a more specific set of prescriptions in their new motto which initiates each class: “I will develop myself in a positive manner and avoid anything that could reduce my mental growth or physical health; I will develop self discipline in order to bring out the best in myself; I will use common sense before self defense, and never be abusive or offensive; This is a Black Belt school-We are dedicated-We are motivated-We are on a quest to be our best”.

East-West Kung Fu Academy is also bringing its lessons outside the confines of the school. You can see their students participating in the Bowling Green International Festival on September 27 both in he parade and throughout the day. They perform demonstrations with a wide range of weaponry as well as do the Lion Dance, a Chinese tradition said to bring luck. Pardue will also appear at the festival’s bookfair at Barnes and Noble on September 28 where he and students will perform “Bedtime Stories from the Shaolin Temple”, a performance of traditional folktales.

They are beginning to create programs to work with various schools in their area and bring their message of non violence and respect for life to the masses. “We are a forum for responsibility… Kids are spotlighted as we understand they need to have a place to shine.” Though a wide variety of methods are taught and weaponry from various types of swords, spears and sticks are used Pardue insists “We don’t go into the sports aspect, we have a competitive team but it is oldstyle, non aggressive method emphasizing the health benefits and growth of personal character without aggression”. For more information visit www.sa-ky.com

Kim Mason is the Content Manager of the Amplifier which was founded by her in 1995. She serves as Executive Director for the BG International Festival and designs websites. www.kimmason.ky.net