ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / July 29, 2000

David Morgan is not your typical resident of Twin Oaks Nursing Home.

First of all, he isn’t quite that elderly. At 57, Morgan is a spring chickencompared to most of the other residents.

Then there is the black martial arts outfit he wears, and of course his collection of swords, knives and canes he keeps in his room.

You see, Morgan is a ninth-degree black belt in the ancient Chinese martial art of kung-fu.

Sitting in his wheelchair, looking resplendent in his black, embroidered kung-fu outfit, Morgan greets people with a strong handshake and big smile.

“Doctors say I can leave here anytime I want,” Morgan says, “but right now, I just don’t feel like it.”Several months ago, Morgan was brought into Twin Oaks after he had passed out and gone into a coma. He woke up from the coma after threedays and has been convalescing since.

“I’m slowly starting to come back,” he said.

But coming out of the coma isn’t Morgan’s only obstacle. Several years agoMorgan was diagnosed as a diabetic. As a result he lost his left leg andnow has a prosthesis. That has not stopped him from practicing kung-fu.”I can still do things in martial arts,” Morgan said. “It just a little slower.”Morgan has been in the martial arts since he was a teen-ager. He gotinterested in the martial arts while living in New Orleans.

“There was nothing else to do,” Morgan said. “I got bored one summer, and Iwent into this martial arts school in New Orleans and I was hooked.”After studying in New Orleans Morgan joined the Marine Corps for four years. While stationed in the Asiahe had the good fortune to learn kung fu from Chinese masters.

When he returned to New Orleans Morgan opened up a martial arts school, trained his brothers in kung fu and became well known name in the field of martial arts.

While competing in tournaments Morgan got the name of “Fat Cat.””I was in a tournament in Alabama, and I hit this guy really solid,” Morgan recalled. “Someone in the audience yelled out, ‘That’s a really fat cat,’ andthe name just stuck.”Thirty-seven years later Morgan owns two martial arts schools in New Orleans, one uptown and one in Gentilly. He got married to a LaPlacewoman and moved here. While Morgan recovers, his brothers are runningthe two schools.

Arranged on a table in front of him are the tools of his trade. He pulled ashiny, thin sword out of its scabbard and held it out.

“This is the main weapon of kung fu,” Morgan said.

Also on the table is a collapsible cane that sort of resembles nun-chuk sticks. Next to them are two barbecue spit-like pointed objects which arecalled tais. The most beautiful and yet deadliest looking weapons are thetwo butterfly knives. They are shiny stainless steel blades about 4 incheswide with ornate gold handles. They look like short, squat sugar caneknives.

He is a believer in the power of martial arts as a teaching tool.

“They give young people confidence and teach them discipline,” said Morgan. “It keeps kids from rushing into situations blindly withoutthinking.”Back to Top

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