TESTIMONIALS

A True Believer,
Editorial from Black Belt Magazine,
January 1990

I first heard about George Dillman in 1981, not long after I was hired as an assistant editor at Black Belt. He was the guy in Ripley's Believe it or Not, the sensational "Ice Man," the martial artist who smashed huge slabs of ice with his fist. I was schooled very early by my peers to be suspicious of ice breakers. Ice isn't concrete or brick. Anyone can break ice, they told me. "They can put salt in the ice, making it easy to break," they said. "And one time this guy put salt in the ice and it broke apart by itself as he walked up to it. Don't trust an ice breaker." (read more...)

Dear Master Dillman,
In October I had the opportunity to attend a seminar hosted by Dr, Charles Terry.  You were one of the masters, along with Remy Presas and Wally Jay, who shared the knowledge that most martial arts are seeking. I thank you for that.   Even though I enjoyed your seminar I felt I didn't get enough information about your system, so I purchased your DVDs to enhance my knowledge.  I reviewed the DVDs and was totally blown away by the effectiveness of the techniques.  I have never seen people knocked out by pressure point manipulation.  Quite honestly I was amazed.   I immediately called my two training partners, who are ex-New York City Police officers to discuss this revelation, and they felt the same way that I did.

I would like to tell you about myself, I have been a police officer with the New York City Police Department for 17 years.  I have risen to the rank of Lieutenant in that period of time.  I have been involved with the martial arts for 20 years attaining black belts in Kenpo karate, and Jujutsu.  I have won trophies and medals for Kumite, I have attended seminars give by Leo Fong, Royce Gracie, Relson Gracie, Frank Cucci, Joe Lewis, and Al Tracey, but never in 20 years of martial arts experience have I ever seen anything like this.  Your system has taken the martial arts into the next century.

I would like information on how I could personally study with you so that I could learn these techniques.  I believe that I would be able to spread this information, to the men and women of the New York City Police Department, due to the fact that one of the supervisors associated with the physical training unit is a martial artist and a personal friend of mine.  I feel this knowledge to defend themselves when confronted by an assailant, and second it would give them an alternative to using excessive force, which as you know has been a never ending problem with this type of work.

I respectfully request that you contact me, at your leisure, at the above address or telephone number.

Thank you,
Gary Gione

		Timeline of Karate History by Hokama Tetsuhiro Click to View Larger Image (pdf 2.74 MB)

Dear George Dillman:
I have studied martial arts since 1986.  I have studied, judo, jiu-jitsu, ninjutsu, and Ryukyu Kempo.  Most of the focus in my learning and practice has been five years of Ryukyu Kempo (affiliated with Taika Seiyu Oyata).  Unfortunately, because of my travels with the Navy, I have been unable to find a dojo that teaches Ryukyu Kempo or attend Oyata's seminars or summer camps to further my training.  I have been practicing on my own and going to miscellaneous seminars to gain ideas and to refresh my memory.

I discovered your three books on kyusho and tuite.  THANK YOU!!! It was what I needed to refresh my memory.  Since very few people even recognize these techniques, let alone practice them, I was left with what I could remember.  The books allowed me to remember forgotten techniques and has given me more ideas for bunkai.

Since books can only do so much, I wish to inquire about seminars and schools of yours around the country.  Furthermore, if there is a newsletter that you routinely release, I would like to be on the mailing list.  Please send me any information that may be useful.

Once again, thank you for publishing your books.  They have brought many memories back and have started my thinking about bunkai.  I am looking forward for a seminar of yours in my area.

Sincerely,
John R. Hahn