Grandmaster Bob Golden comes out of retirement to teach karate seminar in Channahon

Born and raised on a southern Illinois farm, Bob Golden learned discipline, patience and concentration.

His parents, especially his strict father, instilled in him and his five siblings to mind their manners, do well in school and be hard workers on the farm.

He spent a lot of time learning how to drive a team of horses from his grandfather, something that needs no aggravation, just patience.

His skilled aim with a slingshot knocked a cigarette from his Uncle Joe’s mouth. Concentration of a focal point, as in pressure points.

Discipline, patience and concentration. Three main elements that helped Golden reach his eighth-degree black belt in Ryuku-Kempo karate and to become a successful and well-known martial artist throughout the United States, especially in Illinois and the Joliet area.

After several years of studying martial arts and attending seminars, Golden opened his own dojo, Bob Golden School of Defense, in the late 1970s. The school studies Ryuku-Kempo karate. The Grandmaster continued to run the dojo until 2004 when Master John Ventura was appointed to continue the legacy.

Ventura had signed up his daughter Gina for classes in 1994. After watching for a few months, he signed up too. Ventura received his Shodan rank in 1998 and was promoted to fourth-degree Master in 2004. 

“I had only been in the martial arts for 10 years but Bob found me worthy of Master rank because I was teaching  four nights a week and at two locations and I was also training two more nights a week outside of class,” Ventura said.

Ventura is currently a sixth-rank black belt and teaches classes at both the Channahon and Elwood Park Districts.

“John is very instrumental as an instructor,” Golden said. “I’m glad he came to our school.”

Now 75, Golden has retired from martial arts. He still practices on his own and occasionally  gives seminars. He will be traveling from his Florida home to conduct a seminar in Channahon next month.

The Bob Golden seminar will be held Aug. 6 from noon to 2 p.m. at Heritage Crossing Field House, 24935 Sioux Dr. in Channahon.

The seminar will teach the study of “chi-kung” and “Iron Shirt” techniques to develop and maintain good health. The seminar is open to all styles of marital arts and one does not have to be a martial artist to benefit from the exercises.

Cost is $35 in advance or $40 at the door. For more information contact Ventura at jmv56@comcast.net.

Chi-kung is the Chinese philosophy and practice of aligning breath, physical activity and awareness for mental, spiritual and corporeal health, as well as the development of human potential. It includes aspects of Chinese martial artists and, purportedly, the spiritual awakening to one's true nature.

Iron Shirt is a form of hard-style martial exercise for protecting the human body from impacts in a fight. 

Only the children of the school will be able to attend a kata seminar on Aug. 5.

In addition to practicing martial arts, Golden lives a healthy lifestyle of a vegan. According to Golden, he hasn’t been sick in more than 30 years. He also is a Christian and prays every day.

Golden is also a skilled musician. At a young age, his father taught him to play the guitar. If the guitar wasn’t playing, music was heard through a battery-operated radio.

“My father purchased one battery a year,” Golden said. “When that ran out, we had to come up with other things to do. When we finally got electricity, my dad bought a record player and we played 78s and 45s.”

Because he wasn’t of age to get into clubs, Golden used to sneak into the alley behind the local club and peek in to see his dad and others playing gigs. He would see the position of their hands on the guitar and copy the playing.

At the age of 14 or 15, Golden said he was invited to play at a club. Later he played on the Lucky Leroy Show and in his father’s band. When rock ‘n’ roll became a popularity, Golden performed throughout southern Illinois.

He also played in several gigs, including one at an officer’s club, while serving in the U.S. Army.

“Music is a great part of my life,” Golden said.

As is his wife, Linda. This year they will celebrate their 49th wedding anniversary.

“She’s the best thing that happened to me,” Golden said. “She is a great wife and partner.”

And to think that at first she didn’t want to go on a date with Golden because she thought his suit and hat he was wearing resembled Al Capone.