Great Grandmaster William J.C. Wetzel History
By Guro James Hogue
William (Willy) John Christopher Wetzel was born on January 23, 1921 in Loemadjang (Dutch spelling), on the island of East Java, Indonesia. Willy’s father (Wim Wetzel) was of Indonesian descent, and his mother was of Dutch-Indonesian descent. At nine years old, Willy Wetzel met Oei Kem Boen and was recruited to help Oei Kem Boen to locate rebel-training camps in exchange for lesson in Poekoelan Tjiminde.
This part of the Poekoelan (Pukulan) Tjimindie’s history is still in debate. Some of Willy’s students claim that Willy was trained by Oei Kem Boen, and some claims that he was trained by Mas Ojut Bang Solimon while locating rebel-camps. The only thing we know for sure is that Willy trained in Poekoelan (Pukulan) Tjimindie. Personally, why would Willy Wetzel teach this lineage to his students if it wasn’t true? Some people says that Willy want to market his system and Gung Fu was more popular, so he made a false lineage to claim he was also Gung Fu as well as Poekoelan. No matter if this is true or not, here is the lineage I was taught.
This part of the Poekoelan (Pukulan) Tjimindie’s history is still in debate. Some of Willy’s students claim that Willy was trained by Oei Kem Boen, and some claims that he was trained by Mas Ojut Bang Solimon while locating rebel-camps. The only thing we know for sure is that Willy trained in Poekoelan (Pukulan) Tjimindie. Personally, why would Willy Wetzel teach this lineage to his students if it wasn’t true? Some people says that Willy want to market his system and Gung Fu was more popular, so he made a false lineage to claim he was also Gung Fu as well as Poekoelan. No matter if this is true or not, here is the lineage I was taught.
Mas Ojut and Kem Boen met in the village of Tjimindie in Indonesia were they practiced and traded information. Mas Ojut was impressed with Kem Boen’s kicking techniques, and Kem Boen was impressed with Mas Ojut’s hand techniques. They then blended their systems in one system called Poekoelan Tjimindie.
Willy joined the Royal Dutch Indonesian Army at the age of 17. Willy’s mission was to locate rebel camp throughout Indonesia. Once the camp was identified Willy would infiltrate the camp find out who the leadership was for the rebels. Once the top Officers of the rebel was known to Willy, he would then assassinate those Officers. It’s unknown what Willy’s code name was during his time with the Indonesian Government (While Under Dutch Rule), but it’s a well-known fact that he was a mercenary for the Dutch Indonesian Government.
During WWII Germany invaded Holland and the Japanese took control of Indonesia. Japan failed to keep control of the Dutch controlled territory, and had to pull out. The Dutch tried to re-gain control of Indonesia with its Army by putting down rebel cells that was fighting for its independence from the Dutch. The Dutch was unsuccessful in defeating the rebels and Indonesia gained its independence from the Dutch. The new Indonesian Government wanted to throw all the Dutch influences out. All the Dutch sympathizers told to leave the country, and a national language was established (Bahsa)
Willy trained in Poekoelan Tjimindie on West Java. In 1949 Willy moved to Holland with his wife Gerry Wetzel-Betke. While in Holland Gerry Wetzel-Betke gave birth to Wim (The oldest), and Roy. In 1956 Willy, Gerry, and there sons immigrated to Vanport, Pennsylvania. Willy and Gerry then had 2 more children James, and Jane. Willy went to work for Westinghous. Willy demonstrated that he was a gifted martial artist time and time again. Willy was able to jump straight up and touch an 8 foot ceiling with his toes. Willy also made extra money by betting his co-workers that he could jump straight out of a 50 gallon drum, the man appeared as if he could fly.
In the early 1960’s Willy open his first Silat School on 7th Street in Beaver Fall, Pennsylvania in the National Guard Armory after reading how a police officer was beaten up by a couple of hoods. Then the school moved to Rochester, Pennsylvania where James Wetzel still runs his family’s school to this very day as Wetzel Martial Arts Theater at 128 Brighton Avenue Rochester, PA 15074.
Willy later divorced his first wife (Gerry), and then remarried to Peggy an aunt of one of his students Frank Boyer. Willy later divorced her and remarried to a younger woman from Zelienople, Pennsylvania Mary Margaret Wetzel which would remain his wife until his death. Willy Wetzel died of March 17, 1975 after a fight between him and is son Roy Wetzel. For information on this fight between father and son please purchase “In Self-Defense” by Sam Nicotero.
Willy joined the Royal Dutch Indonesian Army at the age of 17. Willy’s mission was to locate rebel camp throughout Indonesia. Once the camp was identified Willy would infiltrate the camp find out who the leadership was for the rebels. Once the top Officers of the rebel was known to Willy, he would then assassinate those Officers. It’s unknown what Willy’s code name was during his time with the Indonesian Government (While Under Dutch Rule), but it’s a well-known fact that he was a mercenary for the Dutch Indonesian Government.
During WWII Germany invaded Holland and the Japanese took control of Indonesia. Japan failed to keep control of the Dutch controlled territory, and had to pull out. The Dutch tried to re-gain control of Indonesia with its Army by putting down rebel cells that was fighting for its independence from the Dutch. The Dutch was unsuccessful in defeating the rebels and Indonesia gained its independence from the Dutch. The new Indonesian Government wanted to throw all the Dutch influences out. All the Dutch sympathizers told to leave the country, and a national language was established (Bahsa)
Willy trained in Poekoelan Tjimindie on West Java. In 1949 Willy moved to Holland with his wife Gerry Wetzel-Betke. While in Holland Gerry Wetzel-Betke gave birth to Wim (The oldest), and Roy. In 1956 Willy, Gerry, and there sons immigrated to Vanport, Pennsylvania. Willy and Gerry then had 2 more children James, and Jane. Willy went to work for Westinghous. Willy demonstrated that he was a gifted martial artist time and time again. Willy was able to jump straight up and touch an 8 foot ceiling with his toes. Willy also made extra money by betting his co-workers that he could jump straight out of a 50 gallon drum, the man appeared as if he could fly.
In the early 1960’s Willy open his first Silat School on 7th Street in Beaver Fall, Pennsylvania in the National Guard Armory after reading how a police officer was beaten up by a couple of hoods. Then the school moved to Rochester, Pennsylvania where James Wetzel still runs his family’s school to this very day as Wetzel Martial Arts Theater at 128 Brighton Avenue Rochester, PA 15074.
Willy later divorced his first wife (Gerry), and then remarried to Peggy an aunt of one of his students Frank Boyer. Willy later divorced her and remarried to a younger woman from Zelienople, Pennsylvania Mary Margaret Wetzel which would remain his wife until his death. Willy Wetzel died of March 17, 1975 after a fight between him and is son Roy Wetzel. For information on this fight between father and son please purchase “In Self-Defense” by Sam Nicotero.
BINATANG EMPAT: (Four Animals)
Binatang Empat (Four Animals) is the more traditional side to our art. These animal are based on the Weztel System of Poekoelan Tjimindie. This
system will teach you how to use the animals in method of defense and to mount a good offense. After learning all four animal the fifth animal appears, the Naga (Dragon). These animal are:
system will teach you how to use the animals in method of defense and to mount a good offense. After learning all four animal the fifth animal appears, the Naga (Dragon). These animal are:
