As and author and Historian, I have been working on the biographies of both Masters, gaining insights to their personal lives as well as their respective arts.

Mr. Isidro P. Javier is 98 years old, or should I say young, and a man who has lived an amazing life. He was born in the Philippines, where he learned the secretive art of Escrima. In the early 1900’s this art was virtually unknown to the western world, and was passed down the generations from father to son. This was no sport. Learning was a deadly serious necessity for self-defense and for the protection of family. Mr. Javier lived at a time when he had to be able to use his mastery of Escrima in real life and death situations.

After moving to California Mr. Javier became a principal actor in the Farm Labor Movement on the Central Coast, and was a close friend of Caesar Chavez during the turbulent battle for farm worker’s rights. He now resides in Oceano, California where he leads an active life, and is working with me on his biography.

Sr. Grand Master, Mr. Frank Landers is the founder of The International Seishindo Kenpo System, one of the most unique and revolutionary American Martial Arts to be developed in the 1970’s. Mr. Landers is also known as one of the great Masters to rise out Southern California in the 1970’s, having trained and worked alongside some of the greatest names in American Martial Arts. His knowledge and expertise was highly sought after by the Hollywood elite, and he had numerous appearances in National Martial Arts Magazines, Hollywood Trade Magazines, and talk shows. During the early years of American Martial Arts in Southern California, Mr. Landers helped shape the development of tournament standards used by promoters today. He is known for his lightning speed, grace and power, and mastery of weapons, and is noted for amazing demonstrations with the use of the Samurai Sword in live performances.

Mr. Javier has chosen Mr. Landers as his systems successor and to receive special training in the Escrima Art, just as was passed from father to son many years before in the Philippines. This great honor, combined with his own extensive history makes Mr. Landers one of the most important Martial Artists of our time.

Mr. Rathnbone is currenely writing the biographies of The Honorable Senior Grand Master Mr. Isidro P. Javier and The Honorable Senior Grand Master Mr. Frank Landers, as well as documenting the history of Seishindo Kenpo and its inpact on American Martial Arts.