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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to recognize the life of Great Grand
4Master Al Tracy; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Great Grand Master Tracy began studying Kenpo
6Karate in 1957 and was promoted to black belt in 1962; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Great Grand Master Tracy and his brother, Jim,
8began teaching classes, creating belt manuals, and naming Kenpo
9techniques; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Great Grand Master Tracy and his brother took over
11operation of the Kenpo Karate Association of America and joined
12the International Kenpo Karate Association; he continued to
13teach the "original" Kenpo as was first taught to him; and
 
14    WHEREAS, The Tracy brothers opened schools throughout
15California and many other states, forming Tracy's
16International Studios of Self-Defense; the organization, based
17out of Lexington, Kentucky, is a worldwide organization
18comprised of 1,000 schools; it is the largest, longest-running
19self-defense chain in the world; and
 
20    WHEREAS, In 1999, Great Grand Master Tracy organized the

 

 

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1largest gathering of Kenpo Karate members in the world, "The
2Gathering of Eagles"; it was a true historic event that brought
3together over 70 masters; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Great Grand Master Tracy is one of the few
5remaining patriarchs within the Kenpo Karate family; his
6mission is to help preserve and pass on over 800 years of
7history, traditions, legacy, and the true lineage of Kenpo; he
8recognizes the Kenpo system as his heritage; he believes it is
9what one gives back to the art of Kenpo that will endure, not
10what one takes or gains; therefore, be it
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
12HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
13recognize the life of Great Grand Master Al Tracy and thank him
14for his commitment to his community; and be it further
 
15    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
16presented to Great Grand Master Tracy as a symbol of our
17respect and esteem.