----What did you want to do when you were a child? What were you interested in?

Tony When I was a small child, I always wanted to be a fireman. I was influenced by a show about firefighters that my mother let me watch when I was about 5 years-old. When I was in high school, I became interested in law enforcement.

----What is involved in training for SWAT?

Tony SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) requires extensive training and knowledge in many areas including: various weapons including handguns, sub-machine guns, shotguns, rifles and gas grenade launchers. We have to train and be ready for a number of situations including hostage rescue, barricaded suspects, repelling from buildings and helicopters, active shooters (suspects shooting at large groups of students at a school for example) high-risk search warrants, riot and crowd control and executive protection of dignitaries just to name a few areas we train in. SWAT officers are also required to be in top physical condition. We are expected to exercise on a regular basis.

----Why did you decide to become a Shorinji kenpo-ka?

Tony I have always been interested in studying martial arts. I first studied wrestling when I was 8 years-old. When I was 16 years-old, I read an article on Aikido which intrigued me. So, I began studying Aikido, Judo and Shinkendo (traditional Japanese swordsmanship), which I studied until I was 23 years old. I had to move a long distance away from the dojo I studied at and I was working many hours as a Police Officer and going to college which made it almost impossible to train at my dojo. For the next couple of years, I studied and competed in Brazilian ground fighting which had some similarities to Judo. One day while at my home, my old Judo teacher and close friend arrived at my door with his long-time friend Kuramoto Sensei. My old Judo teacher knew that I was frustrated because I still wanted to study traditional Japanese martial arts, but was not close to any dojos. I had never heard of Shorinji Kempo. So, Kuramoto Sensei performed a demonstration in my living room and applied some very effective joint locks on me. I was so amazed by the techniques and knew that they were effective and practical for Police work. I was also excited to learn that Kuramoto Sensei lived close to me. I asked and was accepted to study Shorinji Kempo under Kuramoto Sensei.

----When did you meet sensei kuramoto? What is your first expression?

Tony Shorinji Kempo techniques are effective and useful for my job. The most useful aspect of Shorinji Kempo is actually the mindset developed from studying Shorinji Kempo and other martial arts. Everyone can learn techniques and apply them to a cooperative training partner. Being able to apply them while suddenly and violently being attacked by someone who does not want to be arrested or who wants to kill you requires intense mental training as well as knowledge of the techniques. Kuramoto Sensei has taught me the importance of this. This mindset can be applied to all aspects of my job as well as my personal life.

----Do you apply Shorinji kenpo in your SWAT tasks?

Tony The most dangerous missions are the ones where you know an armed suspect is hiding somewhere in a house and we are sent inside to find and arrest him. Because I am also a K-9 officer, my dog and I are sent into attics to check for suspects hiding. One time while searching an attic, my dog found and alerted me to an attempt murder suspect who was buried and hiding under attic insulation waiting to stab a police officer. I believe my K-9 partner possibly saved my life.

----What else do you do to be in shape besides Shorinji kenpo?

Tony In order to stay in shape, I run and do a lot of natural exercises such as push-up, pull-ups dips, squats and sit-ups, in addition to martial arts training.

----What is your dream?

Tony I want to continue studying Shorinji Kempo and hope to expose the techniques and philosophies to law enforcement.

::LINKS:: SHORINJI KEMPO of HOLLYWOOD : http://www.shorinjikempohollywood.com/