I was also teaching Karate lessons and some Judo at the Memphis Karate Academy (long gone) and would ride my old 10 speed bike down to Bellview Blvd, where the school was located, in the evening.
Link My license was suspended for too many tickets to new page on going to Kansas City, MO to "escape" Escape.to.Kansas.City.MO.html
LicenseSuspended_to_Vocational_school.html
Posted 2022-04-26
My license was suspended for too many tickets from riding my BSA 650 motorcycle, a device that draws cops and traffic tickets like honey draws bears.
Glenn had a suggestion and as he was a criminal lawyer I was all ears. Glenn lived in W. Memphis, ARK, at the far west end of the city in a developing subdivision (1965). He suggested I get a driver license from Arkansas and use his house address, which I believe was 402 S. Oxford St. as my residence. It sounded good and that is what I did.
A few weeks later I did in fact have a small fender-bender with a car driven by an elderly man. I believe the accident happened on Jackson Ave. near the now extinct Fire Stone Auto Tire Co. I thought nothing of it. Glenn was after all a criminal lawyer and should be able to fix the problem.
The Police Visit.
About six weeks later I was awakened at the house I lived in, [I believe, Edwards Street] by the Memphis City Police. The police explained that I was being arrested for driving with a suspended license. I ask the cop (though I did address him as sir) if I could call my lawyer, Glenn Nash. The cop said no problem and I put a call into Glenn at his home in West Memphis. I explained to Glenn what was happening and he said that I should "sit tight until morning" when I would appear in City traffic court. He said he would represent me in City Court. Then he told me again to "sit tight" and he would see me in court.
Ruth woke up also and walked into my room where the police were handcuffing me. I asked if it was necessary and they said it was standard procedure. Then Ruth asked, "What is going on?" I explained briefly what had happened as regards changing my license to Arkansas and that Mr. Nash was going to represent me and that all would be OK. Ruth said nothing more.
The city police car was parked on the street in front of the house. The two cops escorted me to the passenger side back door and then one of the copy and me to put my hands behind my back, which I did and then he proceeded to put the cuffs on me. I asked if he it was really necessary and he said, "standard procedure."
It was cold that night, about 2pm in the morning. I did have my suite coat with me which the police allowed me to keep warm with but in the house they would not let me take a heavy coat. The cop said the heavy coat would probably get stolen and that I was better off with a suite when I faced the judge.
I was booked into city. Then I was led to the cells by one of the jailhouse guards. I was put into a large cell with steel bed but no mattress or pillow. There was about 5 other prisoners in the cell. Just steel, cold steel. I was glad I had brought the suit coat but it did little good. For some reason the jail kept the temperature quite cold at least compared to what I was used to.
I never could get to sleep that night. I stayed awake all night thinking and wondering what was going to happen. I figured that Nash would be able to get the charges dismissed.
The Court is in Order
The morning came. I wanted to shave so I looked more presentable to the judge but that was not allowed. There were about 5 other inmates in the cell with me. We were lined up and then, about 9am (we were not given any coffee or breakfast) we were all marched into the very crowded court room.
I believe the city judge was a Bernie Weisman, but I am not sure. I was sitting with the other prisoners on the front row bench waiting for my case to be called up. Then Nash apparently d and came over to me and said "I'll handle it." I figured he would.
My case was called. "Downing!" the bailiff called out load.
Nash then stepped forward toward the bench.
Your honor, I represent the defendant in this case.
Nash then pointed out that I had a valid driver Arkansas driver license and moved that the case be dismissed. The judge looked over at the attorney general lawyer's bench and asked, "any objections?" One of the DA lawyers replied, "No your honor and we move to have the case remanded to Sessions Court."
At this, Nash objected stating that the judge had agreed to dismiss the case. The attorney for the state asked Nash what he, Nash, was objecting to. Nash replied, double jeopardy. At which point the judge said "there is no double jeopardy Mr. Nash. Sessions is an independent court." The Judge then looked at the state attorney and said, "So moved."
Nash then looked at the judge and requested that I be bonded out on my own recognizance. The judge agreed. Nash looked at me and said quietly, "Nenad, grab your coat and let's go to my office."
In the Lawyer's Office in the Dojo
Glenn's "law office" was actually a room, about 12x12 which had been the dojo's sales room where I closed sales on prospective customers wanting to take karate or judo. I taught both arts but karate (Tae Kwon Do in Korean style, Tai = hand, Kwon = foot Do = way) but karate ("hand and foot way" in Japanese) was the main attraction.
Jan 24, 1987.
Early History of Memhis Karate Academy
Originally (1964) the Memphis Karate Academy was called "Japan Ways". Japan Ways had been started by the late Jim Arwood who was originally from Halls, Tennessee. Arwood had opened a number of karate schools in Jackson, Mississippi and Houston, Texas. But he started his first karate school in Memphis and it was located at 620 S.Belleview avenue.
Jim Arwood had learned karate while stationed in the air force in Japan. In Japan he earned his second deg rank black belt rank, Ni-Dan in a school whose highest rank was 5th Dan. While in Japan, Arwood also studied Russian and leaned to speak reasonably well Japanese.
The Master of the school of karate under which Japan Ways for formed was a Master Okano. Okano's prize student was an instructor named Takashi Akasawa. After Japan Ways had been opened a while Arwood brought Akasawa over to the United States as a karate teacher.
Jim Arwood was a legitimate black belt karataka. He was a real expert in the martial arts. But he excelled at salesmanship. He learned this art from the Victanies Health Studios of New York. From Arwood I learned many of the methods of selling – in particularly selling karate and judo lessons to prospective students of all ages.
One of Arwood's early students was a Henry Batten who was blind in one eye. He worked out with weights and was quite strong. Henry had a small 70 acre farm in Raleigh-Bartlett area. Henry's primary instructor was Takash Akasawa himself. Henry's life centered around the karate school as did mine when I started lessons later on.
Jim Arwood had a girl friend who was about 18 years old in 1964. Her name was Jane X. She committed suicide a few years later while living with Arwood in Houston, Texas where Jim had opened a chain of schools. She went by the name of "Jannie Bird" and she was a very beautiful girl. Jane assisted Arwood as his secretary. Arwood sold the karate courses and taught some of the classes. Arwood was very intelligent but failed to pay his taxes and eventually his karate empire collapsed following IRS action. He decided to move to California where he started another school but not in such grandiose fashion.
Glenn Nash entered the karate school as a student. He had wanted to learn karate, according to his story to me, because one time while living in Chattanooga, he
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I usually got up about 5am as I still do. And after a meal I went to the vocation school and continued to learn how to fix TVs. This was 1965-1966. I did not and do not consider myself prejudice and so I fixed color TVs also.