PASSING OF A LEGENDARY MARTIAL ARTS MASTER
by Franklin Puello on Tuesday, October 26, 2010 at 10:14pm.
THE PASSING OF A LEGENDARY MARTIAL ARTS MASTER
I received the really sad news that Master Fred Miller had passed away. I was not only stunned by shatered by the news.Master Frederick Chamberlain Miller, was My Friend, Teacher, Mentor and Role Model. I met Fred Miller while attending Bronx Community College, Bronx, NY, in 1974. I had arrived to this Country in 1973, graduated from H.S. and enroled in College. I was still struggling with the mastery of the English language, when I enrolled in a Self Defense class, taught by Sensei Greg Perry(USA GOJU), and continue to attend others led by Sensei Henry Skinner(KOKUSHI RYU GOSHINHO JUJUTSU), and participated in the Martial Arts Club eventually joining the BCC Karate Team competing against other Teams specially from John Jay College led by Sensei Al Gotay. During my training at BCC I attained grade in Jujutsu, under the tutelage of Sensei Skinner, learned USA Goju Kihons, Kata, Kumite from Sensei Perry, and in addition was gifted with the opportunity to meet and learn Kihon, Kata and Kumite from the renowned Master Errol Bennett(Karate Team Co-Captain). There was a time I was ready to continue formal training in an outside the College Dojo and was leaning to ask Master Errol Bennet to take me as a student, but then I had the opportunity to meet the other Re-nowned Co-Captain of the Karate Team, Frederick C. Miller. Over time I became acquainted with Master Miller, and became his FRIEND. I was taken by his sharing nature, how protective he was about all around him, and how interested he was about my progress in school. As a Sport figure I was taken by the Grace, Athletic demonstrations of skills, Teachings, emphazis of Kihons, Artistry in performance of Goju Kata, the ferocious, technical and tactical fighting style, and decided that GOJU RYU fitted my body better and requested Master Miller to take me in as a Student. I recall, his sideway look to me and asking me "are you ready to Train, because in my Dojo there is no place to hide nor run?".Fred Miller became MY TEACHER, I started my Goju Training with Master Fred Miller at his NIPPON GOJUKAI KARATE DOJO located within the NYCHA, Bronx River Projects. I experienced and endured grueling training sessions, enphasizing Kihon training and their perfection execution. Corrections were to the point of fastidiousness, demonstrating excellent Teaching skills and his attention to details. He taught Traditions and principles applicable to Life not just the Sport. I spent multiple hours of the day training Jujutsu and Goju at BCC, including exclussive training with Master Miller, as well as the hours per week at the Dojo, and accompanying Master Miller on his frequent visits to other Dojo to Share Tech. with others, where I had the opportunity to watch him share his teaching skills and phylosophy with others students, teachings beyond Kicking and Punching: he taught about Education, Diligence and Dedication to achieving Goals, the building of an indomitable spirit to prevent any let down or distraction from set goals, and witnessed the respect and admiration other Teachers had for Master Miller.Master Fred Miller became more than my Martial Arts MENTOR. He coached me to excell in the Martial Arts, he ensured I was introduced to other excellent Martial Artists of the times, always being told "watch and learn, there is always something good to learn from anyone and store in your repertoire. Brake down techniques looking for Weakness and Strengths, that will make you a winner before you step into the ring". He introduced me to Martial Arts Greats: Including but not limited to: GM Aaron Banks- The Greatest Promoter in the World; GM Peter Urban- Great Teacher who always had a word of encouragement for all beginers and competitors; GM Leon Washington: the most Kind Sensei around; GM Fred Hamilton: a great Sensei and Promoter of Martial Arts.Fred Miller taught me not only how to kick and punch, he taught via physical training, lecturing, and his actions about the importance of an Education, how education was the tool to lead you out to the front of the pack. Fred Miller was my ROLE MODEL, because of his teachings and his accomplishments in life based on his Martial Arts training which strenghthened his parents teaching, Discipline, and Motivation. I always tried to be like him, look like him, act like him.
The Greatest Compliments I ever received in the Martial Arts, while attending and participating in thousands of Tournaments, including recent Tournaments, are the compliments when strangers approach me while warming up, or after my Kata or Kumite performance, and ask "Did you Train With Fred Miller?" When I answer affirmatively, the immediate comment is: " I Knew It, YOU LOOK JUST LIKE HIM"
Training under Fred Miller helped me become the person I am today, he re-inforced all my parent's teaching, and trained me on Discipline, Motivation, and Determination to achieve. I applied all principles learned not only in the ring of competition, but in the ring of life, I graduated from BCC with Honors, attended and Graduated from CCNY with a Degree in Education with Cum Laude Honor, I became a Police Officer with NYCPD and in less than 2 yrs was selected for an investigative career path, in less than4 years was promoted to Detective serving with Honor and Distinction, I lectured in Elem., High Schools, Colleges, Comm. Center, Church about the Importance of an Education, the Dangers of Drugs and Drug Abuse, Career Counceling, and the importance of Phycial conditioning training, which today-after my retirement in 2000, I continue to do. I pride my teaching style to be modeled to Fred Miller's style of teaching: not only teaching basics, but their applicability to every facet of life; We are the Masters of our own destiny no one owe us anything: every thing we want is there to be achieved through hard work: when you earn something there is no one able to take it away- nothing is free in this world. No non-sense approach- No time to Waste, there is much work to be done to accomplish Set Goals.
Life Events: College, Career, caused a long time separation. Just recently I had located My Friend Fred in Pennsylvania. We spoke for 2-2 1/2 hours several times on the phone to the point of his cordless phone battery going dead. We laughed about College time, Intramural and Intercollegiate Karate Competitions, the fights against John Jay team lead by Al Gotay, our practices in Jujutsu, who we attended BCC African Dance classes to incorporated African Dancing into our training routine at BCC, we recounted many of his friendships with, and Epic Battles with, Martial Arts Magnates as Thomas La Puppet, Monroe Marrow, Ron Henderson, Ron Jeter, Abdul Mutakabir, Tayari Casel, George Crayton, Errol Bennett, Ernest Hyman, Lamar Thorton, Phil Mcrae, Karriem Abdulla, Harry Crump, Sheldon Wilkins, and the "Peskiest most feroucious fighter of all- Sam Mcgee, including the Too Many others whom I do not have space to mention but are deserving of recognition- you know who you are.
We cheerfully comented in his support of GM Aaron Banks Tournaments, and foundation of the World Professional Karate Association, fighing Full Contact fights, and his awsome defeat of Darnell Garcia, with the exact techiniques described on an Magazine article published prior to the fight in Madison Square Garden.
I mentioned of a recent meeting dubbed as Meeting of the Masters- Bridging of Genereations where I meet with great friends and competitors: Billy Beason, Derrick Williams, Jerry Fontanez, Luz Puello (my wife and also Fred's Student) when we laughed sharing stories and traditions, mentioning his name after every other name or sentence since he was such a big part of the group's lives.
A humble Student, with Much Respect
Franklin Puello
New York
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