This interview was produced on the docradio network by GM Darrell Sarjeant and Sifu Resita Dejesus

Dr. Moses Powell sent a lot of time in Detroit and became good friends of Ahati Kilindi and one day on the mat training Dr. Powell cut his belt in half and gave it to Ahati as a gesture of brotherhood. 

Join GM Darrell Sarjeant and Sifu Restita DeJesus as they welcome African Arts Master Ahati Kilindi Iyi to the show on 9/12/2012.

Kilindi  Iyi started his Martial Arts career learning boxing from his father.  Being an avid wrestler as a boy, Martial arts became an easy task.

During  the mid 60’s he had the pleasure of seeing a Martial Arts demonstration  at the Michigan Sate Fair. Fascinated by the efficiency of the  techniques, he decided at that point and time that the fighting arts  would be his lifelong vocation. Studying with the top masters of the day  in the Detroit area, his vision of Martial Arts changed in the late  sixties and early seventies from Oriental to African Martial Concepts.

Studying  with anyone from the African continent that knew anything about African  fighting arts in the United States Kilindi traveled to Africa in the  late seventies to intensify his studies of the African Fighting  Sciences. It was during this time that the Ta-merrian Martial Arts  Institute was developed and it has grown to be one of the most sought  after Martial Arts Schools in the world. Kilindi continues to this day  to be a student teacher and advocate of the ancient African Martial  tradition.