280 Shinnecock Hills Road • Southampton • NY • 11968
 

San Lung Mui

Martial Arts Studios

 

“Often Imitated • Never  Duplicated”

 

Learn to Adapt or be Defeated

Soke Thomas Gettling, a 42 year veteran of martial arts was a child prodigy that began his training in 1964 at the tender age of three. Soke's first art form was Judo under the guidance of Sensei Cutherea and Sensei Robert Saunders. However, Saunders, a Vietnam vet, had dispensed with tradition and molded Gettling's Judo to be combat ready.

While training, Gettling was introduced to the late master Diu Shen, a teacher of Shaolin Kung Fu. At around 11 years of age Soke began training in Tang Soo Do under Robert Clark. This art was short-lived as Soke met and trained under Sensei Sydney Filson (Chinese Goju), a student of Ron Van Clief. Through this training Filson opened the door for Soke to train with great martial arts instructors such as Master Jason Lau (Wing Chun) and Master Thomas Agero (Okinawan Te). Having achieved numerous black belts, Soke began experimenting with mixing and matching techniques.

At 14 years of age, having 11 years of training, Soke began teaching others and headed for the tournament circuit. Although very successful on the circuit, Gettling quickly gained a reputation for brashness and cockiness because he combined art forms. This did not endear him to the traditional martial artist. Gettling's students also met with success only encouraging Soke to continue to integrate his own ideas and techniques into his training. Karate Illustrated magazine once wrote that Gettling has the ability to make his nunchakaus fly. At this time Soke was approached by Hanshi Adolfo Ennever (Shotokan), who wanted Soke to join his organization, The American Federation of Martial Arts (AFMA).

Thrown back into learning, Soke came under the guidance of Vincente Cruz (San Ten Karate), James Gordon (Ju Jitsu) and Sensei Ronald Duncan (Koga Ryu Ninjiitsu). Through AFMA, Soke traveled the world teaching wherever Ennever sent him. Whether it was Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico or French-speaking Canada, Gettling, unable to speak the language, taught through perfection of technique, constantly repeating moves over and over until the students were able to grasp the teachings. This led to a higher level of proficiency that translated into Gettling winning such events as the Long Island Open, The Metropolitan Championships, The Turtull Gold Cup, the Central Valley Championships, the Empire States Games and becoming a ten time AFMA Grand Champion.  

Soke's skill led him to the vocation of security. As the Head of Security for Bay St. Rock Inc., Soke worked for such stars as Maddona, Tina Turner, James Brown and soccer star Pele. Again thrown into a very dangerous situation, Soke further whittled away at techniques, making them short, direct and as effective as possible. "There is no room for flash when protecting someone's life," he is often heard saying.

Soke Gettling credits all of his teachers for their contributions in his martial education and to this day Soke continues to honor his teachers in all he does, whether its passing on there techniques or quoting his lineage to them. Having just celebrated his 30th anniversary of teaching his beloved art of San Lung Tao, Soke continues to practice, teach and learn everyday!