July 29, 2005

Everybody was Kung-Fu fighting

By Bea Baechle
Editor

Master Malia Bernal and her Kung-Fu class at the East Valley YMCA may be one of Evergreen’s best-kept secrets—until now.

Dedicated students attend Malia’s Kung-Fu and aerobics classes at the East Valley YMCA.

The 62-year-old woman, a seventh-degree black belt, brings 40 years of Kung-Fu experience to the students who faithfully attend her classes twice a week. In her heyday, as Malia Dacascos, she broke the gender barrier in a male-dominated sport, paving the way for the advancement of women in the martial arts.

Amassing hundreds of trophies and awards in America and throughout Europe in her competitive days, Bernal won just about everything she could in tournament karate—including best female freestyle, best female kata and best all-around competitor. She was also the No. 1 woman champion in forms and fighting for five consecutive years.

Bernal has been described as a champion of champions, a queen in a sport of kings and a legend in her own time. Just a few weeks ago, she was inducted into the Kajukenbo Black Belt Hall of Fame.

The three-time winner of the coveted Golden Fist Award—the equivalent of an Academy Award in the professional karate circuit—now strives to prepare her students for the competitions instead of herself. At the most recent national martial arts tournament in Vallejo, for example, nine of her students brought home 18 trophies.

Ed Daos, 41, has won a first- and third-place trophy.

Interest in self-defense
A native of California, Bernal grew up on her father’s ranch in San Juan Bautista, where the closest neighbor lived five miles away. The youngest and smallest in the family, with two older brothers and two older sisters, Bernal discovered that fighting for her fair share was just a way of life.

She graduated early from high school, at age 16, and moved to Las Vegas. Far from the safety and seclusion of her childhood home, Bernal wanted to learn self-defense to look out for herself. So she shopped around for the right martial arts method to master.

“I went from one school to another, but every school that had women’s classes seemed to ease up just because of the women,” said Bernal.

It wasn’t until she found a school where the “sifu,” or master teacher, trained, kicked and punched women hard that Bernal knew this was the form of martial arts she wanted to study. Called the Wun Hop Kuen Do style, a branch of the Kajukenbo system, it combined karate, judo, ju-jitso, kempo and gung-fu.

Kung-Fu training begins
Bernal began her serious Kung-Fu training in 1966 at the age of 23. Because of her strong determination, she soon became the protégé of the school’s sifu and founder of the Wun Hop Kuen Do style, famed Al Dacascos. They married in 1970 and had two children together, Mark and Craig, who also competed when they grew up.

Master Malia Bernal began teaching Kung-Fu at the YMCA with two students. Here are some of the 18 students who now attend her classes.

Bernal’s life took many twists and turns along the way. While living in Germany, she went through a bitter divorce with her husband, who “excommunicated” her from the Wun Hop Kuen Do style of Kung-Fu that he had founded.

She returned to the United States and took some time off to create her own personal Kung-Fu style, Xiang Dai Gung-Fu, “a mix of using legs and hands, forms with strength and beauty and power.”

Over the years, she published the book, “Self Defense for Women,” and wrote a column for the magazine “Inside Kung-Fu.” She tried her hand as an actress in Chuck Norris’ film “Sidekick,” worked as a personal fitness trainer and garnered a strong demand for her seminars around the country. She even marketed her own series of videotapes.

Current Kung-Fu interest
Bernal began teaching basic aerobics at the YMCA eight years. About three years ago, two students approached her and asked if she could teach them kickboxing.

“I thought to myself, ‘No, not another kick and punch,’ which is just another cardio workout,” recalls Bernal. “Instead, I asked them, ‘How would you like to learn something totally new to achieve top strength, stretch, cardio, mind and have fun while you’re learning?’ They enthusiastically said, ‘Yes.’ ”

So Bernal began teaching Kung-Fu forms at the YMCA. “I started out with just two in this class, and now I must have about 18 students ranging in age from 18 to 65,” says Bernal. “Age has nothing to do with a winning attitude or starting to train. It’s the first step that counts.”

Among recent winners, James Wong (fourth from left) won a first-place trophy in the first tournament he entered—on his 65th birthday.

On June 4, five of Malia Bernal’s Kung-Fu students competed in the Shark City National, including (from left) Karen van der Zweep (third place), Yen Trinh (first place), Leonie Capistrano (first and second place) and Gwendolyn Capistrano (first and second place). Not pictured is Ed Daos (first place).

Competitive spirit
“After working with the students for a while, I realized that they had natural talent and asked if they would like to train for martial arts tournaments,” she continued. And therein began the adventure for nine of her students, who now compete regularly.  

“I am so proud to say they never come home empty-handed,” says Bernal. “They’re always winners. James Wong, who is my 65-year-old student, had never in his life entered a competition, and when I suggested he train for this, he was all for it.”

Wong’s first win was so special, because not only did he win first place, the victory came on his 65th birthday. “His wife and son came to the event and were so proud,” remembers Bernal.

“The students train hard. As long as the doctor tells you your health is OK and training is for you, I will give you the best I have to offer,” explains Bernal, who also teaches aerobics at the Silver Creek Valley Country Club once a week.

To prepare for the tournaments, many students train not only in her Kung-Fu class, but also in the aerobics classes she teaches at the YMCA three days a week.

“I must say, they all are a threat to others when going into tournaments,” she continues. “I call them my ‘Magnificent 9.’ When they suit up in uniform, put on their competitive face and enter the arena, all attention is in their direction. You just know that they are special and are going to win.”

Satisfied students
Yen Trinh, a 37-year-old mother of four children, has been doing Kung-Fu with Bernal for almost three years. “I feel fortunate to have the greatest master teaching me,” says Trinh. “Malia still looks young at her age and has more energy than any woman I know.”

Karen van der Zweep originally started taking Kung-Fu form classes to stay in shape, as just another form of exercise.

“But now, with each new form I learn, I challenge myself to get stronger,” she says. “Getting stronger builds my confidence. Doing forms and competing is also something I can do for myself, and that gets harder as you get older and your children get older. My children are proud that their mom can still earn trophies.”

Gwendolyn Capistrano, a mother of two, is married to a senior pastor at River of Life Family Church. She has won a first- and second-place trophy.

Ed Daos had been a Tae Kwon Do student for several years. He and a friend were working out at the YMCA when they noticed Bernal’s Kung-Fu class. “We tried one class, and the next thing I know, I was in it,” says Daos.

“It amazes me that I cannot keep up with her, even though I have had a martial arts class before … I keep getting stronger and start to build up my confidence again. She helps me better myself by strengthening my mind and body.”

Daos enjoys Bernal’s disciplinary teaching in Kung-Fu and aerobics, as well as her Sunday-morning fellowship and friendship. “I have never been more fit in my life,” he adds. “She really pushes me to be the best I can be, whether physically, mentally or spiritually.”

Gwendolyn Capistrano also feels that Bernal has been an inspiration. “I’ve never seen a woman so well-balanced. Whether she is challenging us to work harder in Kung-Fu or memorizing scripture, she always seems to manage staying in tiptop shape in both worlds,” said Capistrano. “There’s even a rumor that she’ll be starting a Kung-Fu ministry at River of Life Family Church.”

The comments from her students touch Bernal. “I like what I do and it looks like the students like it too. What more could I ask for? Everyone gives me their all. I feel blessed.”

Malia Bernal offers private and group training to anyone who is interested and who wants the opportunity to be a winner in life. Contact Bernal at (408) 254-7122 for more information.