Master Joe Napial aka CHIEF

The Chief that I knew....

I still remember the first time I met Chief Joe Napial it was some Kenpo Hawaiin invitational that featured Filipino Martial Arts. He took me automatically as his student. Calling him Chief was an honor that at the time I didn't realize. After training with him you knew right away that this guys is for real. His extensive knowledge in Bandalan Doce Pares eminated from him. The only other thing that he was better at was his kind heart. Always ready to help, always there with an ear to hear and a hand to help you up. But he also taught you to stand up for yourself and let no one take advantage of you. My most treasured memory was when I was accused of abuse. What I thought was my closest friends turned on me and threw our friendship away with one false accusations. With an investigation on my behaviour looming, I knew that it would only be a matter of time that someone will ask Chief. So I decided to tell him first before the social work could. Then he asked me what I thought was a weird question. He wanted to know if I killed or beaten the person I supposedly hit to a pulp? I said no, and he said, "Then I know you didn't do it, cause I taught you how to hit and if that person isn't in a hospital bed or dead then you didn't do it." I could help but bring a tear to my eye every time I think of that. He threw is unconditional support of me, and I was just a student. But at that point he was more than a teacher and to him I was more than a student... We definately were family and I will always miss him. ALOHA CHIEF JOE thanks for the OHANA..

And here is a poem I wrote for his funeral. Which I shared...


Through the Eyes of One Student

Through the eyes of one student,
I saw determination
Through the eyes of one student,
I felt strenght
Through the eyes of one student,
I experienced compassion
Through the eyes of one student,
I witnessed humility
Through the eyes of one student,
I long for hope
Through the eyes of one student,
I counted inteligence
Through the eyes of one student,
I understood faith
Through the eyes of one student,
I long to see in myself and long to see again.