Biography - Rollend Nery

Sensei Rollend Nery is from the island of Mog Mog in the Ulithi Atoll, which is one of the South Pacific Islands just north of Guam, where his father is the island Chief.   Rollend is a third degree Black Belt in Gasan Ryu Kenpo, and the Head Kenpo instructor at the Hombu dojo (headquarters).  He can help you with enrollment, scheduling classes, accepting tuition payments, and ordering uniforms and T-shirts etc.

He learned the local island wrestling (similar to Judo) indigenous to his island, and then trained in Kajukenbo/Kenpo here in the United States before starting with Shihan at Brookhaven College, as part of the college's Physical Education program.  In addition he trains with Sensei Webb in the Heike-Ryu Jiu-Jitsu and also with Shihan Schellas in the Aiki-Jutsu.  He teaches or assists with all the classes during the week.  He is a gifted instructor and is known for his patience and gentle manner.  He also runs classes at Ridgewood Recreation Center.

He is also active in teaching the karate summer school program, group and private lessons at the dojo and is a faculty member with Fight Back America.  In addition, he teaches the after school karate program in conjunction with the Dallas Independent School District (DISD) at Nathan Adams Elementary School, and a "for credit" karate class at the Episcopal School of Dallas.

Below is the header for Rollend's homeland of Mogmog in the Ulithi atoll, in the Federated States of Micronesia, his father Phillip Nery is one of the guides, pay a visit and see the history and culture of his island and its people.


Ulithi Header

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The following are some pictures and stories from the website, but go for a tour and see more!

 

Approaching Mogmog

Approaching Mogmog amidst the hengaw, or white-capped terns.

And in case you were thinking that we have it tough with the weather and storms in Texas,
get a feel for the islands from the excerpt below...
 


 
The "Alligator Fruit" plant
 “There is a tree we call in English the ‘alligator tree.’ The fruits’ skin is like the skin of a green lizard tree, but we have called it the ‘alligator tree’ in English. We have our own name, we call it yabuuch. I don’t know what that means. The alligator tree, and mountain apple trees, it is said that these types of trees, although their branches are easy to break, their roots hold the ground firmly."

"So families here usually grow these types of trees close to their homes. In the event of storms or typhoons, super typhoons, when the sea water gets over the island, each family would tie a strong rope, which is usually kept for that purpose, to these trees. And the members of the families will hold the rope, try to tie themselves to the rope. The strongest of the family will be the last, at the end of the rope, so that if the weak and smaller children slip away from the rope, he can grab them during the storm."

“Now these ropes are inspected regularly. If, perhaps a rat has gnawed just a little bit of this rope, it will be replaced with a new one. And it is hung in each home. Sometimes, even if animals don’t get at it, or insects don’t get to the rope, but it is time to be changed, then it should be replaced with a new one. So that it stays in good condition. I forgot, they’ve got a name for this type of, there is a name for it, which says something about, something like ‘the rope to pull,’ something of that nature."

 

Clown fish
Reef fish from spear fishing, clown fish are shown above on the right
Reef

The reef

 

Tanapag Beach

A breathtaking view along the coastline,
makes you want to light the grill and mix a beverage!


Interested and want to see more?  Visit the Pacific Worlds website and take a cyber vacation on Mogmog in the Ulithi atoll

These images and text are Copyright 2003, Pacific Worlds & Associates

 
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