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photo by steed media service
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Grand Master, Toyka-Ryu System of Martial Arts
Professor Marvin Gatling is a luminary in Harlem and has been for the
past 30 years. The martial arts grand master who teaches self-defense,
set up shop on 125th Street, garnering respect at staples like the
Apollo Theater and the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building.
“I come out here seven days a week,” shares the Army vet. “At this
particular moment, I’m considered to be an icon, ministering to my
people, giving as much as I can give, and trying to be the role model.”
After serving two tours of duty in Vietnam, Gatling decided he would
take on the streets of Harlem and teach his neighbors self-defense and
mind control techniques via martial arts. Gatling doesn’t bite his
tongue when he spits off the different styles of martial arts that he’s
skilled in, ranging from Kung Fu to Judo. He even sticks his chest out
when talks about his Marvelous Toys invention.
“Some of my senior citizen clients have Parkinson’s disease. Once they
use my training apparatus, they no longer shake. It works the triceps,
abs, fingers, wrists . it’s not only good for adults, but children
also,” he vaunts.
After 30 years of doing personal training in different venues and
prodding from his clients, Gatling may open a school in the near
future.
“The community is crying for me to be stationary. I didn’t want to do
it at first because I didn’t want to deal with the overhead,” he says,
his head hung low in a gesture that says he’s finally going to give in.
– yvette caslin
For more information, call (646) 934-4857 or e-mail Gatling at [email protected]
