I began studying Martial Arts with Grandmaster Adrian Roman, ‘Chief,’ as he is known throughout the Martial Arts world, nine years ago.

Chief is a full-blood Choctaw. He was born in 1942 in an Indian hospital in Talihina, Oklahoma. In 1957 the Bureau of Indian affairs  relocated his family to Dallas. 

Chief was an athlete while growing up and went into martial arts as a young man, studying under masters in the field becoming a 9^th degree Kenpo instructor as well as Grandmaster of Tushka-homma, a fighting art he developed to honor his native people. He is in several halls of fame for martial artists.

For 35 years Chief’s teaching has been an embodiment of the Choctaw word ‘falammichi” a word often translated as ‘defending’ but it means far more than that.

‘Falammichi’ also means repaying, restoring, refunding, renewing.  The same word means one who practices falammichi. Chief teaches how to take someone’s aggressive grasp or punch and take control, repaying him for his aggression but only in order to return things to their proper place.  Chief teaches his students to be honorable warriors, to make things right whether through physical defense of others or simply assisting them. Today, Chief is 66, single and resides in Garland, TX and is the father of three children and two granddaughters.  He continues to do teaching with select students and produces video training materials for the martial arts. . I thank the Choctaw people for producing Chief Roman, Falammichi.

Robert G. Rose, PhD

What is Falammichi

by Chief Adrian Roman

Hatak Falammichi is a man who had these qualities about him. 

:to bring back, to give back, to replace, to return to each other, a restorer, to reinstate, to acquire much knowledge, to teach and return, a man of integrity, achukma hatak (good man) a great man.

Choctaw men who possessed leadership qualities and have good visions about the future of their family, village, clan and tribe practice Falammichi. Any man could become Hatak Falammichi, but those who were born in families with Chiefs and leaders were in better positions to become Hatak Falammichi.

Some were born with these qualities. From the beginning by the way they conducted themselves in everyday affairs the people of the tribe witness the potential of these young men. They were put into position and situation to thrive and have success. To be successful one must experience failure and defeat. When one is successful all the time, you never acquire the ability to respond to failure. This is an important lesson to learn in life for we will all experience failure. Hatak Falammichi will teach you this great lesson. He is not afraid to step into darkness for he has come to know success and victory.

These men were respected as they rose to become leaders in their family and villages.  As they matured with age, having acquired wisdom and an abundance of knowledge become leader. They would become of their clans and eventually tribal Chief. It goes without saying that they were great warriors and providers for all who needed.

To become Falammichi and to teach the essence of it is a lifelong journey. It is the underlying thread or root of what it takes to be a Tushka-homma Warrior and an achukma hatak (good man). Its principals and ideals are the core of goodliness.

Our lives are always a work in progress. Achukma Hatak will always try being a better man tomorrow than he was the day before. With this principal a young man begin his journey into life with a noble cause. During this time he will reflect back on his life and his accomplishments. He begins to realize that whatever success that he had achieved up until that time, the spiritual essence is missing in his life.

The young man will look to the east and greet the sun to ask the Great Spirit for guidance. This spiritual connection represents a new birth and beginning for him. He will take charge of his destiny, reevaluate and set new priorities. This new journey will have a profound effect on him and everyone that comes in contact with him. Throughout this new journey the Achukma Hatak will acquire knowledge and wisdom so that he can enlighten men along the way. They will come to know that he is a man of honor and integrity. His heart is good and the people will sense it and they will know that they were in the presence of someone who will make a difference. He is practicing Falammichi and some day in the distant future, he would become Hatak Falammichi.

To practice of Falammichi was not exclusive to the big picture. The Choctaw people would practice the underlining principals in all phases of their lives. It was alive in there art, weapons making and how they view there body’s as a sacred temple. Thru trial and error, they knew what kinds of food to eat to nourish their bodies. They were careful not to over indulge and respected all living creatures. They were careful not to kill for the sake of killing. The taking of life is not taken lightly. The practice of Falammichi gives honor to the animal and plants that fills his belly.

These Great Choctaw Chiefs were a good example of Falammichi

Tushkalusa

Pushmataha

"He is a leader among the greatest of Warriors. He began his life journey as the young wolf, and now has become the Majestic Eagle. His spirit soars closer to the heavens. Therefore, he is in touch with the Great Spirit. He is at peace with himself. When his life fades, as the fading sunset, his spirit will go the heavens. He will face The Great Spirit without shame." Hashtali Chief Adrian Roman