Lao Hu Kempo History
Soke James M. Lloyd is the founder of Lao Hu Kenpo. In March 2008, Soke Jim turned over the reins of the Lao Hu Kenpo organization to Grand Master Stephen Blackburn. Soke Jim currently resides in Florida, although he once lived in Wyoming, where Master Blackburn first met him. Lao Hu Kenpo, or Tiger Kenpo, has as its very basis a focus on good life values rather than being centered around kicks and punches.
As stated in the By-laws:
Be respectful to all, greet each other as brothers and sisters, for even those of lesser ability have a place of importance with us.
Sensei Stephen Blackburn started his martial arts training in Cheyenne, Wyoming in 1974 under James Lloyd, then a 2nd degree black belt. With his instructor's blessing, Master Blackburn also studied under Michael Mulconery, whose focus was on a style that combined karate, aikido, judo/jiujutsu, and escrima.
Sensei Blackburn joined the military and studied various martial arts styles wherever he was stationed, including a 2 year stay in Japan. He returned to Wyoming in 1979 where he opened a Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan dojang in Laramie. Amber Travsky joined his club in 1980 and trained with him in Laramie until he moved to Virginia in 1984. The club style changed to Okinawan Kenpo style in 1983 when Sensei Blackburn was promoted to the rank of 3rd degree black belt by Sensei Lloyd.
Through his world travels, Grand Master Blackburn has studied and attained ranks in Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan, Tae Kwon Do, Kajukempo, and Okinawa Kenpo/Kempo.
Our Club History
Master Amber Travsky began the Laramie Kempo Karate Club in 1985. Her Instructor, Grand Master Stephen Blackburn, had taught in Laramie for a number of years and had established the Okinawa Kempo School. When he moved to Washington, D.C., he passed on the club to another black belt but promoted Ms. Travsky to Shodan (1st Dan black belt) before leaving. Ms. Travsky continued with the Okinawa Kempo club until choosing to establish a separate dojo - the Laramie Kempo Karate Club - in 1985. At that time, she also took over the karate classes at the University of Wyoming, where she continues to teach today in addition to the evening Laramie Kempo Karate Club classes.
Prior to studying kempo with Mr. Blackburn, Master Travsky studied Tae Kwon Do, beginning in 1973, and Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan, beginning in 1978. Other promotions through the years included: Shodan in Okinawa Kempo in 1982, Shodan in Moo Duk Kwan Karate in 1985, Nidan (2nd Dan) for Okinawa Kempo in 1986, Sandan (3rd Dan) in 1989, Yodan (4th Dan) in January 1997, Godan (5th Dan) in April 2000, Roku-dan (6th dan) and Renshi title in April 2004, and Shichidan (7th Dan) in May, 2010.
Other instructors in the Laramie Kempo Karate Club have experience in styles other than Okinawa Kempo. Sensei Rich Travsky earned Shodan in Okinawa Te while earning his Nidan, Sandan, and Yodan in Okinawa Kempo.