American Kung Fu Master

Master Boise teaches students Asian martial arts

Story and photo by Keisuke Ono

Several robed children chant as they kick and punch the air. 

They are practicing their Kempo style of Karate, under the guidance of Instructor and Kung Fu master David Boise. Boise opened Villari's Self Defense Center at downtown, Plattsburgh in 1983 when he was 28-years-old.

Boise, born in 1956, has been practicing the martial arts since 1974. One of his major influences in his life was Fred Villari. When Boise met Villari in the early 80s, his way of life was forever changed. "He is a great martial artist because he practices the kempo style of Karate which is very stylized," Boise says. Boise recognized the passion that Villari had for the art, and decided to learn his techniques. 

"Many kids were swarming into my school."

"Grandmaster Villari revolutionized the martial Arts in the United States," Boise says.  Grandmaster Villari started the Shaolin-Kempo-Karate style, which integrates three different martial arts into one. Villari learned the Martial Arts from his father and studied several Martial Arts such as Chinese Kanfu, Kempo, Japanese karate, and judo. Of all his practices though, Villari especially systematized Chinese Kempo into his discipline. Kempo is based on tai chi, which involves using breathing to control the mind and the body.

Today, Grandmaster Villari is recognized as a pioneer of martial arts in the Western World; for years he has helped to show the United States what the world of martial arts is like.

Boise explains that it was hard starting a martial arts business in the beginning because not many people in the United States were familiar with the martial arts. Boise says that back then, it was hard to get a lot of students who were eager to learn Martial Arts.  However, a few years after opening Villari's Self Defense Center in downtown Plattsburgh, he says, "Many kids were swarming into my school."

Boise says that in the early days, most karate instructors in the United States did not know how to properly instruct students. Boise adds that the early instructors had to learn the teaching methods themselves.

"This is a fun journey."

After studying karate, Boise felt confident enough to start teaching beginners his skills. "I realized how to teach people," Boise says. "I studied Kung Fu for 35 years." Also, Boise read and watched thousands of books and videos on the Martial Arts. Boise has expanded his karate repertoire to Cardio kick boxing, which he began in 2000. "This is a fun journey,"Boise says.

Boise teaches martial arts skills that he hopes his students will use for life. He stresses that martial arts is meant to be used first as a system of self discipline, and secondly as a means of self defense. "You don't have to fight," Boise says. Rather, Boise says that that the goal of martial arts is to create a strong sense of confidence within the student.

Andy Yawgs, student of SUNY Plattsburgh, has taken lessons at Villari's Self Defense Center for nine years and often practices in his free time at Memorial Hall, on the SUNY Plattsburgh campus. "I like this style because it's very practical," Yawgs says. "Master Boise has an extensive Martial Arts background and is always impressive." Yawgs explains that Boise's system of martial arts helps students build strong self-defense skills.  

Michael Flanagan, three degree black belt and instructor at Villari's Self Defense Center, started martial arts when he was 14 years old. Although he learned Tae Kwon Do before he met Boise, he feels that Boise is "the best of all over the world" in terms of Kung Fu Masters.

Today, there are droves of new students who want in on the local Karate scene. "I am successful because I worked extremely hard," Boise says, "Martial arts help build life skills, and that development gives you confidence."

Have you ever experienced the martial arts?