Jonathan Old Horse, left, practicing at the Sanano Martial Arts Club in North Rapid City, South Dakota. Photo courtesy Jon Old Horse
Lakota man first to receive Martial Arts award
Old Horse defends himself in knife attack
By Richie Richards
Native Sun News Today Staff Writer
nsweekly.com RAPID CITY –– When Jonathan Old Horse, 47, defended himself against a simulated knife attack in Keystone, Colorado last week, the “thunder people” were present to cheer him on. As a First Degree Black Belt in Trecehampas Arnis Sikaran, the Lakota father of two has been training in Martial Arts since 2010 and on Aug. 28, Old Horse received an Associate Instructor of Martial Blade Concepts Award in Keystone, Colo. during the 14th Annual Martial Blade Camp (MBC). The MBC was held at the Mountain House in Keystone. This annual training event allows “participants with the opportunity to learn and refine core MBC and Counter-Blade Concepts skills in a highly focused format. It allows participants to meet and train with other edged-weapon and self-defense enthusiasts…” To earn this award from Martial Blade Concepts, Old Horse had to defend himself in a full-on simulated knife attack. Born in Sioux City, IA, Old Horse spent much of his life outside of South Dakota and Lakota culture. At age 24, while living in Denver, Colo., he began dancing at powwows. He credits his return to Lakota traditional ways as, “Being away inspired me to learn the language, the culture. This was my identity.” “I started dancing at age 24. It was my father-in-law, Bill Center (Oglala), who got me interested in dancing and singing and taught me a lot of the songs, especially the old-time songs. I made my own regalia. It’s Old Style Omaha, based on my grandpa’s 1920’s style of regalia.”
Read the rest of the story on the Native Sun News Today website: Lakota man first to receive Martial Arts award (Contact Richie Richards at staffwriter@nsweekly.com) Copyright permission Native Sun News
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