Okay, so Warhog wrote me back.
Richard Lee left Al Tracy with only a green belt. He founded his own Bok Fu Do school, and stretched the green belt kenpo material to black belt.
Ron Lee went to Richard’s school, and gained a green belt in Richard’s style. Then he founded his own school, West Wind!!
HOW FUCKING RIDICULOUS!!! THIS IS CURRENTLY BLOWING MY FUCKING MIND!!!
here is the text of his email:
“I do know that Ron Lee did exist, and I might be wrong, but he only got a green belt in Richard Lee’s system.* So the West Wind system was created by taking green belt of a green belt and making a system with what was left.* Ron Lee ran the W.W. organization for years before retiring and selling the business to Tompson (I am unsure of his first name[ed. Chris, student of Scott Flint]).* Who I heard was the current ‘Head’ of that system.
*
Richard Lee may have ran a school with only a green belt.* It is not uncommon in Tracy’s, Richard Lee’s and Ron Lee’s system for green belts to teach - as long as they have been taught to teach (an instructor’s course usually).* I know in Tracy’s, it usually takes 2.5 - 3.5 years to get a green belt.* This coupled with additional ‘instructor training’ is enough to allow a person to take on begining students.* If Richard Lee had the money for a partnership I don’t see why he couldn’t have owned a school with someone.”