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-By Michael Benjamin (NSI Full Instructor – Level 5)
“Kelly Worden is an icon of American martial arts.”
-Taky Kimura
INTRODUCTION
There are few Grand Masters in history who have made as monumental and
varied an impact upon martial arts as the founder of Natural Spirit International
(NSI); namely, Kelly S. Worden, known respectfully and affectionately by we who
study and practice his way as The Datu. This is not some empty opinion or
boastful bravado alleged by one of his many thousands of students, but an
assertion easily proven by the simple historical and technical facts. The Datu’s
expertise exists in so many areas of martial specialty that his skill and knowledge
in the repertoire he has developed (known collectively as Natural Spirit)
represents a virtual encyclopedia of all major facets of hand-to-hand combat
pertinent to the modern martial practitioner.
Drawing from a plethora of sources gained in his half-century career of training
and teaching, what the Datu has developed as expressed in Natural Spirit reflects
a comprehensive dichotomy of the ancient-traditional synthesized with modern
progressive martial arts thus standing solely unique to other systems and styles
extant today. The Datu’s influences are well documented in many past sources,
but a brief perusal of his credentials easily asserts this point. From his humble
beginnings as a kid on the tough streets of Tacoma; to formal discipline in karate,
wrestling, boxing, and kickboxing; to his later pursuits of Arnis, Jeet Kune Do, and
Kuntao; to his development of the hand-to-hand combat system for the U.S.
Army’s First Special Forces Group; the creative synthesis that is now known as
Natural Spirit has evolved to be a premiere martial curriculum spanning the needs
of self-defense and hand-to-hand combat in such diverse areas as civilian, to
military, to law enforcement usage. So, what makes the Datu’s expression of
martial arts so special? Let us count the ways. . .
MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH DATU WORDEN
Prior to ever training with him in person, my first exposure to the Datu was in the
mid-1990’s. Back then I had been introduced by a friend to his first two knife
instructional tapes, along with the seminal videos “Destroy, Trap, Lock” and “The
Ultimate Street Fighter” from Paladin Press. At that time I had already been in
the martial arts for a decade, and had black belts in forms of Chinese Quanfa and
Okinawan Kempo. But seeing the Datu for the first time in these videos opened
my eyes to what I obviously did not know; to the lacking in my own arts and
deficiencies in my own abilities. I was amazed by his puma-like movement, by his
fluid streaming flow, by his creative tangents metaphorically reminiscent of a
Django Reinhardt jazz solo, and his acute teaching skill matching that of any
university professor.
I was also impressed by the balance he held in his character; a dichotomy of
justified ego, synthesized with a complete lack of pretentiousness. He was a
down-to-earth and real American, unlike many “masters” out there who tout all
credentials and lineage, but bluff with no substance. I knew this was a man with
immense knowledge to teach, and all these years later I am still scratching the
surface of his vast depths. He has proven to be one of those rare and selfless
teachers who not only leads, but serves his students. He gives of his knowledge
openly and thoroughly so that we who study his way can grow in a manner
consistent to the mission and standards of NSI.
THE INNOVATOR
The Datu, above all else, can be seen as one of the premier innovators in modern
martial arts. It is not only his emphasis on expressing an adaptable method of
self-defense equally workable for the Green Beret, to the Air Marshall, to the
housewife, but his focus on areas of study and training that makes him so unique.
As anyone who has studied his teaching can attest, there is no place within his
extensive curriculum where there is dross; no application that is not meant for
efficiency and effectiveness.
In his empty-handed method we see the basis of devastating striking sets honed
upon his training invention the Silent Fighter, and how this seamlessly merges
into the application of trapping, standing grappling, lock flow, base disruption,
and low level kicking. We see the best of boxing, kickboxing, JKD, and Kuntao
synthesized in these tactics.
Through the application of the concept of “translation” (taking such empty-
handed methods and applying them to weapons), a further level of the Datu’s
mastery is unveiled. It is perhaps in such weapons-based tactics that few have
excelled like the Datu. From the baton, to the blade, to the sibat, to his own
handload designs like the Travel Wrench, and even the Tomahawk, the Datu has
proven himself as a world class leader in weapons training with a focus on
weapons pertinent for the modern street and battlefield. It is no exaggeration to
say that many now famous instructors who espouse weapons credentials got
their training from him. And how many know the fact that a centuries old
Japanese Ninja clan literally sent their representative to America to get the Datu’s
knife training? How many teachers can legitimately make that claim?
A further vital focus found in the Datu’s method is his emphasis upon principle-
based teaching. Unlike many dojos, kwoons, and gyms today that focus primarily
on the mere athletic components of the art, Natural Spirit has a deep and
important systemic philosophy that guides and roots the technical components of
the curriculum. Through the teaching of techniques and tactics, the student is
also grounded in the strategy, psychology, and artistry of Natural Spirit, and as
such, is guided to become free in his or her own expression of the martial arts. As
NSI brothers and sisters we are led by the Datu to not simply be impersonators or
copies of him, but are guided to become our own autonomous individuals within
the cohesive fraternity that is NSI. The Datu lays a framework, builds a scaffolding
upon which we may erect our own edifice of self-expression and methodology.
What is my Natural Spirit may not be yours, even though we have all dipped our
cups and quenched our thirst in the same deep well. Like the oak that drops a
thousand acorns, each tree that springs from its source grows to be unique in its
own right, like a fingerprint or a snowflake. This is perhaps the greatest posterity
that the Datu has given us. From his lofty tree we may now construct our own
solid furniture. From his map we may now traverse life’s territory with greater
confidence and sounder direction.
CONCLUSION
There is no adequate way to possibly quantify the amount or quality of martial
knowledge perpetuated by Kelly S. Worden. While the martial arts were spawned
in the distant lands and ancient times of the Far East, through the Datu they have
come to a full fruition in the modern West. What we now know in America of
realistic, efficacious hand-to-hand combat can in large part be attributed to his
efforts in the later decades of the 20 th century and now into this new millennium.
There are many pioneers who must be honored for their contributions to martial
arts in the West, and America in particular, such as Masters like Don Draeger, Ed
Parker, Adriano Emperado, Bruce Lee, Taky Kimura, Remy Presas, Jesse Glover,
Sonny Umpad, Leonard Trigg, Ted Lucay-Lucay, James Keating, Dan Inosanto, and
Richard Bustillo. And while I am obviously biased in my opinion, let me say that
Datu Kelly S. Worden stands amongst them as a towering pinnacle of immense
historical significance whose martial teachings have been proven in the crucible of
reality. His Natural Spirit will withstand the tests of trial and will persevere
through the expanses of time.