This bulletin will be dedicated to Butch Velez. Kaicho Velez in collaboration with the late Shogo Kuniba established what has become to be known as the AGK. “American Goshin Budo & Kobudo.” I was fortunate enough to meet up with Kaicho and to become an associate member. I have had only three Karate mentors. All having direct ties to the SKKU. “Seishin Kai Karate Union.” Under Kosho “Shogo” Kuniba.” (1935-1992)
Kaicho Butch Velez left this world on September 30th, 2020, due to complications brought on by COVID. He went out with all the honors as a Vietnam Veteran and had the rights given to him as a 32-degree Mason.
His dedication, loyalty and knowledge as it relates to the martial arts and its values is second to none. Like so many who put so much emphasis on traditional martial art customs, Kaicho emphasis was teaching martial arts values along with the importance of Kihon and Waza. Especially as it was related to his AGK.
Kaicho and I made it a point to talk by phone at least three times a week. Ninety percent of our conversations was martial arts related. The rest was talking about his bees. Few knew he was an Apiarist, “Bee- Keeper.”
Kaicho had a wealth of personal knowledge and the political workings of the SKKU and that of the NKJU which was founded by his close Army buddy Richard P. Baillargeon. There where many gaps and under handing going on during my early years “1973-1989” with the SKKU and later the NKJU. Kaicho was able to clarify and answer many of the questions I had. Over time the puzzle pieces began to come together. It was after I legitimately obtained NKJU/NKJUI I began to understand the issues Kaicho was dealing with. It was an eye-opening event.
During one of our conversations, Kaicho recalled after collaborating with Shogo Kuniba they develop what was to become known as the AGK. It wasn’t until after the passing of Shogo Kuniba in 1999 that there was the need of a few to try and discredit him and his personal relationship with Shogo Kuniba.
I know this bothered him a lot because he talked of it often. When you had a man like Kaicho Velez who took martial arts as a way of life, and by all accounts by all who knew him personally would say. He was a man you could evaluate your own morals, loyalty, and integrity by. There was no politics in the way he ran his Kai. That was one of the things I respected most about him during our first encounter. He was unwavering in his commitment to the values of the martial arts.
I will go off script here for a bit because I think it is worth mentioning. During my working career I have had to deal with politics from the Federal, State, and Local levels. I have seen all the brown nosing, backstabbing, and corruption I care to see. That is why I will NOT have any of this in my Kai. “Because absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
The point being, when Butch Velez was recognized by Shogo Kuniba as Kaicho of the AGK with all the documents and verbal statements made by those who were there that it would be a closed and shut case. That was not to be due to those who were jealous and had the need for power. They would do whatever it took to fill their misplaced egos.
The following is a statement given to me by Soshi Hugh Kelley of the UMAAI to post. As it relates to the significate problem that Kaicho Velez as well as Soshi Kelley has faced for years.
Most so-called “martial artist” attempt to disguise their inadequacies by bad-mouthing those who are superior. Whatever happened to “GI” Integrity, “REI” Respect, “YU” Honor, “JIN” Compassion, “MAKOTO” Honesty and Sincerity, and “CHU” Duty and Loyalty. Kaicho Butch Velez was a superior Martial Artist in ever since of the word. His Martial Arts were true just as his life was pure. I know of no living person who has the knowledge and understanding of Martial Arts as Kaicho Velez. And that is why a few did not like him. He was so much better than them. I miss Kaicho Butch Velez. by: Soshi Hugh Kelley.
As of this writing there are those who have stepped up their rhetoric to discredit myself as well as my teacher Soshi Hugh Kelley, of the UMAAI.
Let it be known to all you cockroaches. You attack the credibility of Richard Baillargeon, Butch Velez Kaicho, Soshi Hugh Kelley and my self you best have your facts to back it up. Remember this “God forgives, I don’t.”
“R.I.P. Butch.”
Remembering Butch Velez, Kaicho,
by John Sliger
This time of year always brings back memories of my friend and Teacher, Butch Velez. It is amazing how an apparently coincidental meeting (I do not believe in coincidences 😊) can change a person’s life. I met Kaicho Velez in Reno Nevada at a huge martial arts convention. Of the approximately 350 people attending, I was lucky enough to be standing in the sign in line next to Kaicho Velez. Kaicho recognized the patch I was wearing at the time and asked if I was a student of Hakko Ryu. That started a long conversation and training that we did in the corner by ourselves comparing Hakko Ryu and Goshin Budo techniques throughout most of the seminar.
Goshin Budo
A couple of months later, I came up to Stella and became a member of AGK.
Kaicho in his old Dance Studio Dojo
Although in my previous training we did many similar techniques and kata as AGK, none of them fit together, it was as if everything worked independent of each other. In AGK, all of the waza, kata, weapons and shiatsu integrated with each other.
Kaicho Teaching Hanbo in Tallahassee
Kaicho always was able to connect the dots on these seemingly different arts and show how they perfectly fit together. He would explain how practicing one would benefit you in other arts.
I will always be grateful for the lessons I learned from him in the old Dance Studio Dojo, in the horse and in honey barns.
Kaicho Demonstrating a Palm Stick (Yawara) Technique on Melissa Sliger
Kaicho would even turn his choirs around the farm into lessons in proper body mechanics. I sometimes wonder what I would have been able to learn if only I had been a little more aware. I will always miss spending time with him. I was very fortunate to have Kaicho Velez as a teacher and friend.
Remembering Butch Velez, Kaicho
by Bill Negron
I was invited by Hanshi Larry Issac and Prof. Terry Rich who were long time friends of Kaicho Velez, to attend and sit in on a black belt testing board. I replied that it would be an honor for me to represent Kaciho Velez. That day would be September 30th and would be the third anniversary of Butch Velez, Kaicho’s passing.
Those who personally knew Kaicho would tell you he would give you his honest opinion as it related to the martial arts. In doing so brought about animosity from those who were in denial of the facts.
Whether he was liked or not he was well respected by those who knew him and if you had rank from Kaicho it was honored by the majority in the martial arts circle. After Kaicho’s passing I was left without a school to continue my training. I decided to go to a local school who’s head instructor was Terry Rich, and after answering a few questions about my training and informing him that I had received my Sandan rank from Kaicho Velez he told me that he would honor my rank and could wear my black belt in his class. Normally anyone who joined his school was required to wear a white belt.
This same scenario played out again when I was visiting my daughter in Charleston S.C. While there I had contacted a local Karate school and asked if I could train with them since I would be there for five weeks. His policy was the same new students start off with a white belt. But after asking me about my training and who I got my rank from he said that he knew and respected Kaciho Velez and that I could wear my black belt.
To meet others, I had not ever met who had such respect for Kaicho was really an eye-opening experience. To know that I was one of his students and friend was to become a humbling experience. May you R. I. P. Butch
Remembering Butch Velez, Kaicho
By JW Fox.
I first met Kaicho in 1983 thru Sensei Cole who I had been training under at the time. Sensei Cole and his wife would take two trips a year down to train under Kaicho Velez and bring back what they had learned, and they would intern show us students. One of my first memories of Kaicho was that he could be a bit loud and wild during his teaching sessions. He would say your techniques could be better and you need to kick harder and higher. This and his method of teaching was what drew me to want to train under Kaicho. He had the desire to train you not only in the martial arts but how to be a better human being. Butch enjoyed talking especially when it was about the martial arts and at times could not understand why some students just could not get it. What was so simple for Kaicho seemed very difficult for others, including myself at times. For me that is why I love the martial arts. It’s the challenge of learning how to deal with adversity and to become a better person.
JW Fox, R.I.P. Butch Velez, Kaicho
“In the end. We will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
Roy D, Davis III, Kaicho
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Remembering Butch Velez III, Kaicho
By Roy Davis III
