Grand Master Al Novak

[Dave McNeill]

Upon entering my dojo you will see, to the immediate left of the door, three large pictures of Grand Master Novak. One is the front cover of a 1977 martial arts magazine, another one from an earlier time, and the last one was taken in 2005 just before he was confined to a wheelchair by a car accident. His inscriptions to me on these photos are cherished.

He was always at the Bay Area martial arts tournaments; shaking hands with his ungodly iron grip, laughing with gusto, talking story (perfected from his years in Hawaii during World War II), and fixing those of us that zigged instead of zagging. If I was knocked off my pins there was only two people I wanted to be peering down at me, Prof. Ken Eddy and Grand Master Al Novak. GM Novak’s friendly face filled that wish twice.

His life story is really one for the movies. He opened the closed doors of a non-Chinese receiving instruction in Sil Lum. He mastered many different martial arts. Was the head judge of more than 600 tournaments. Survived the bombing at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Studied Shotokan and Wado-Kai karate while stationed in Japan for over a year and a half immediately after the war. He was one of only three people to be recognized as 10th degree in Kajukenbo. And he unfailingly remained humble, and very approachable.

Saturday, November 26, 2011, Grand Master left for the Big Dojo. He was not taken out by illness or frailty. It took an automobile striking him in his wheelchair to finish his story. I’ll bet anything GM Novak gave that car one hell of a punch just before it hit him.

God rest your soul old friend.

 

[Ross Briggs]

First, I would offer my condolences to Great Grandmaster Novak's family. Secondly, I would think it was more likely to be a "tank", than a car.
A few years ago Great Grandmaster Archie and I were guest instructors at an event in Northern California, where GGM Novak was present. I took the opportunity to discuss many aspects of martial history with him. But I was amazed at the extent of not only his knowledge, but his memory.
I attempted to "stump" him by showing him one of my prized possesions ... a small item I was given from the daughter of system's founder. NOT!
I simply said, "Let me show you ..." and he shouted "My God! That's a "Frank Matsuyama" yawara from the Denver Police Department! I haven't seen one of those in 40-years." When I asked him how he knew THAT, he said, "Well, I trained with Master Matsuyama."
We, the martial artists of the world have lost more than a friend, instructor, and mentor. We've lost a part of our heritage.
For those who read this, please take heed. We never know when our heritage will be lost. Spend as much time as you can with your teachers. They leave us too soon.

[KAI LI]

This morning my student John went with me to Waianae to train with SGM Rick Alemany. John had just gotten off Army staff duty so he was pretty tired, but Sunday mornings with Uncle Rick have become a tradition for us that is actually a form of fellowship...Uncle Rick knows it is an hour drive and knows we come because we love training with him. We feel his love for the arts and appreciation of students willing to work hard to learn...we exchange blows, throws, smiles, laughter, and occasional kicks to the groin...then he shares stories that herald a life well lived...it is like going to church.

After class he pointed up to a photo of he and Great Grand Master Al Novak. "We just lost him. He was a good friend. Always there for us. The only man Bruce Lee didn't want to spar in front of people because he had a kind of power you had to feel to understand. And yet he always spoke of Bruce with respect, love, and honest admiration. He was the real thing. He is in my heart forever. God bless him."

So tonight, Bruce Lee's birthday, we pray for Lee's friend GGM Al Novak...one of the greats.