Glenn R. Keeney Hanshi
Mr. Glenn “The Fox” Keeney has become one of the motivating factors in American and Indiana Karate. He began his study of the Martial Arts while a junior in High School in 1957. On the weekends he hitchhiked from Anderson, Indiana to Cincinnati, Ohio to study Tae Kwon Do with Mr. L. Kim. However, this lasted only three weekends due to Mr. Kim’s school being closed. Because few schools existed at that time, it was not until 1962 that Master Keeney was able to continue his training in the Martial Arts. He studied the Shorin Ryu system with Mr. James Wax and Mr. Robert Yarnell in Indianapolis. Soon, however, Master Keeney was forced to continue his studies alone using a text by Mr. Nishiyama, “The Art of Empty Hand Fighting”, as his guide.
In 1963, Master Keeney began studying with Mr. Ed Erier in Shorin Ryu at the Bushidoki School, where he also studied with James Kennedy. However, Mr. Keeney still considers Mr. Larry Pickel to be his first Sensei. Mr. Pickel studied with Mr. Jim Ninios (Shorin Ryu Style) in California while in the Marine Corps. Later he was transferred to Naha, Okinawa, where he studied with Master Miyazato Eichii at the Jun Do Kan Dojo. It was there that Mr. Pickel was promoted to Shodan in the Goju Ryu system. Returning to the United States in 1964, he taught the Goju Ryu system in Chesterfield, Indiana, and Mr. Keeney was his first student. This relationship lasted from 1964 through 1967. At this time, Mr. Pickel retired from Karate for personal reasons. The biggest problem then was finding a place to train. In 1966, Mr. Keeney also trained with James McClain, Robert Bowles, Melvin Wise, Phillip Koeppel, Parker Shelton, and Robert Trias.
Mr. Keeney has gone to great efforts to study the Martial Arts, and his success has been just as impressive. The following are some of the accomplishments: 1967, promoted to Shodan by the USKA; 1970, named the Winningest Fighter in the United States-rated #3 by the USKA; 1971, four year reign as one of the “Top Ten” by Official Karate Magazine; 1972, ranked #1 in the United States by the USKA; 1977, Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame “Instructor of the Year”, promoted to 6th Dan by the USKA. Master Keeney is also a member and the former president of the elite Trias International Hall of Fame. He is the International Chairman of the Professional Karate Commission (PKC). Currently, Mr. Keeney holds the rank of 10th Dan in Goju-Ryu.