Martin LaPlatney
I first met my Xing Yi teacher, a professional actor and martial artist, Martin LaPlatney, when I was in my early teens after having moved to New York’s Hudson Valley, for the first time. I was a decent but troubled and wild kid from New York City. Bored to death, and angry about being moved upstate, I luckily fell into a neighborhood den of Bohemian Shakespeareans, stage/film actors, writers, and healers, including Adrian Sparks and Tania Myren, who my mother befriended. They were a special kind of crazy, very kind to me, nourished my spirit, and encouraged me to pursue writing and creative outlets. From time to time I'd see Martin outside practicing with stick, knife, open hand, and thought to myself “One day I’m going to learn all that.” At the time I lacked the sufficient discipline to pursue it. As an adult I began to deeply pursue a study of martial arts, finding myself mostly drawn to “soft” style or internal martial arts after my eyes were truly opened to the martial and spiritual potential of internal arts while studying Aikido with two outstanding teachers — Sensei Ron Rubio, and one of his teachers, Sensei Stuart Allen. After several more years of training in various martial arts with different teachers, I eventually found my way back to Martin’s front door, this time in Hell’s Kitchen, more than 25 years later, to finally ask for proper lessons. It wasn’t long until he took me as a disciple. Martin's knowledge of martial arts after 50+ years of training is encyclopedic, and his skill, very deep. Martin is an extremely generous, detailed, no nonsense teacher. I am eternally grateful for his instruction.
Martin first began to study martial arts in 1968 when he joined a Judo club at Central Washington University. From that time until the late seventies he also studied Shito Ryu Karate and Northern Long Fist, and a small amount of Aikido. When he moved to New York in 1976 he was fortunate enough to meet Tuhon Leo Gaje and began to study Pekiti Tirsia Kali at the Philippine embassy. Leo Gaje was the first teacher to open his eyes to the real possibilities of martial arts. Leo later introduced Martin to Eddie Jafri, who was kind enough to teach him Pentjak Silat. After many years of practicing Pekiti Tirsia he was promoted to Matass Na Guru. It was during this early study with Tuhon Gaje that Martin was fortunate to meet Tom Bisio, and they became close friends and long-time training partners. Tom later began to learn Kajukenbo, introducing Martin to Kajukenbo, where he was eventually promoted to 4th degree Black Belt by the founder of Kajukenbo, Adriano Emperado. Tom later introduced Martin to Vince Black, and started learning Xing Yi and Ba Gua Zhang from Vince Black, and Tom.
In 1995, as an instructor with the North American Tang Shou Tao Association, he traveled to mainland China for the first time to further study traditional Xing Yi and Ba Gua, studying Ba Gua Zhang with Zhang Huasen and Wong Shitong, and Xing Yi Quan from Li Guichang and his school brother, Song Zhiyong. Martin eventually became a disciple of Master Li. Since that time, he has returned to China as often as possible to pursue the study of internal martial arts.
Martin first began to study martial arts in 1968 when he joined a Judo club at Central Washington University. From that time until the late seventies he also studied Shito Ryu Karate and Northern Long Fist, and a small amount of Aikido. When he moved to New York in 1976 he was fortunate enough to meet Tuhon Leo Gaje and began to study Pekiti Tirsia Kali at the Philippine embassy. Leo Gaje was the first teacher to open his eyes to the real possibilities of martial arts. Leo later introduced Martin to Eddie Jafri, who was kind enough to teach him Pentjak Silat. After many years of practicing Pekiti Tirsia he was promoted to Matass Na Guru. It was during this early study with Tuhon Gaje that Martin was fortunate to meet Tom Bisio, and they became close friends and long-time training partners. Tom later began to learn Kajukenbo, introducing Martin to Kajukenbo, where he was eventually promoted to 4th degree Black Belt by the founder of Kajukenbo, Adriano Emperado. Tom later introduced Martin to Vince Black, and started learning Xing Yi and Ba Gua Zhang from Vince Black, and Tom.
In 1995, as an instructor with the North American Tang Shou Tao Association, he traveled to mainland China for the first time to further study traditional Xing Yi and Ba Gua, studying Ba Gua Zhang with Zhang Huasen and Wong Shitong, and Xing Yi Quan from Li Guichang and his school brother, Song Zhiyong. Martin eventually became a disciple of Master Li. Since that time, he has returned to China as often as possible to pursue the study of internal martial arts.
Sifu Martin LaPlatney
Martin and Song Zhiyong paying their respect at master Li's tombstone near his ancestral village.
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Me and Teach after some winter training at the school in Woodstock, NY.
Senior disciples at the Hell's Kitchen School with Teach LaPlatney (seated, center).
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