Rex Lassalle
Encyclopedia
Reginald Andrew Lassalle, better known as Rex Lassalle was born in Belmont, Port of Spain
, Trinidad
in 1945. He attended Belmont Boys Intermediate School and St. Mary's College
, Port of Spain. He is a former lieutenant
in the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment
who, together with Raffique Shah
led a mutiny
by the Regiment on April 21, 1970 (see Black Power Revolution
).
Lassalle attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
from January 1965 to December 1966. After returning to Trinidad he served as a second lieutenant
and then a lieutenant. Following the mutiny he was charged with over fifty offenses including treason
and mutiny. Although he was never actually tried for treason he was court martialed in March 1971 and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. He appealed, won the appeal, and was eventually set free after an appeal by the State to the Privy Council
and was freed on July 27, 1972. In total he served 27 months in prison.
He was strongly influenced by his parents during childhood and particularly their intuitive insights into nature and animals. The impact of this is reflected in his 1999 book on 9 Star Ki or Chinese astrology
, Lassalle's in-depth personal treatment of the subject. His grounding in 9 Star Ki came through Michio Kushi
the well known macrobiotics educator. He went on to study Osteopathy
at the College of Osteopaths
in Borehamwood
, Hertfordshire
, England and qualified in 1974. Another profound influence on his work at this time was that of Dr. Major Bertrand DeJarnette the renowned American engineer, inventor, osteopath and chiropractor
. He then studied acupuncture
and homeopathy
under Professor Malcolm Stemp of Newton Abbott, Devon
the accomplished British homeopath.
Around this time (late 1970s) he became involved with martial arts
and studied under Kanetsuka Sensei http://www.bafonline.org.uk/baf/ksensei.html of the British Aikido Federation and also Chiba Sensei
where he picked up many techniques concerning the breath which he then applied, along with his knowledge of accupuncture, to develop his own style of Shiatsu
. He founded a school of shiatsu in the mid 1980's called Hara Shiatsu International and trained the first generation of Shiatsu teachers in the UK.
Lassalle was strongly influenced by Buddhist philosophy especially that of the Tibetan and Zen
traditions and this would reflect itself in his approach to health, well being, nutrition and also to his particular style of 9 Star Ki astrology. In recent years his work has been in providing services to the Spa industry during the course of which (2009) he wrote a book on spa massage. He continues to develop new methods in this area.
Port of Spain
Port of Spain, also written as Port-of-Spain, is the capital of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the country's third-largest municipality, after San Fernando and Chaguanas. The city has a municipal population of 49,031 , a metropolitan population of 128,026 and a transient daily population...
, Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
in 1945. He attended Belmont Boys Intermediate School and St. Mary's College
Saint Mary's College, Trinidad and Tobago
Saint Mary's College is a government-assisted Catholic secondary school situated on Frederick Street in the heart of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The school was established in 1863 with only a handful of students but enrollment today is close to 1200. The school's motto 'Virtus et Scientia'...
, Port of Spain. He is a former lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment
Trinidad and Tobago Regiment
The Trinidad and Tobago Regiment is the main ground force element of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. It has approximately 2,800 men and women organized into a Regiment Headquarters and four battalions. There is also a Volunteer Defence Force that has been renamed the Defence Force Reserves...
who, together with Raffique Shah
Raffique Shah
Raffique Shah is a Trinidad and Tobago trade union leader and political commentator. He is also a former Member of Parliament and mutineer, having led a mutiny of Trinidad and Tobago Regiment in 1970. He was born the son of a sugar cane worker and housewife in March 1946. His early education was...
led a mutiny
Mutiny
Mutiny is a conspiracy among members of a group of similarly situated individuals to openly oppose, change or overthrow an authority to which they are subject...
by the Regiment on April 21, 1970 (see Black Power Revolution
Black Power Revolution
The Black Power Revolution, also known as the "Black Power Movement", 1970 Revolution, Black Power Uprising and February Revolution, was an attempt by a number of social elements, people and interest groups in Trinidad and Tobago to force socio-political change.-History:Between 1968 and 1970 the...
).
Lassalle attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
from January 1965 to December 1966. After returning to Trinidad he served as a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
and then a lieutenant. Following the mutiny he was charged with over fifty offenses including treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
and mutiny. Although he was never actually tried for treason he was court martialed in March 1971 and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. He appealed, won the appeal, and was eventually set free after an appeal by the State to the Privy Council
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is one of the highest courts in the United Kingdom. Established by the Judicial Committee Act 1833 to hear appeals formerly heard by the King in Council The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) is one of the highest courts in the United...
and was freed on July 27, 1972. In total he served 27 months in prison.
He was strongly influenced by his parents during childhood and particularly their intuitive insights into nature and animals. The impact of this is reflected in his 1999 book on 9 Star Ki or Chinese astrology
Chinese astrology
Chinese astrology is based on the traditional astronomy and calendars. The development of Chinese astrology is tied to that of astronomy, which came to flourish during the Han Dynasty ....
, Lassalle's in-depth personal treatment of the subject. His grounding in 9 Star Ki came through Michio Kushi
Michio Kushi
Michio Kushi born 1926 in Japan, helped to introduce modern macrobiotics to the United States in the early 1950s. He has lectured about philosophy, spiritual development, health, food and diseases at conferences and seminars all over the world.-Background:After World War II, Kushi studied with...
the well known macrobiotics educator. He went on to study Osteopathy
Osteopathy
Osteopathy and osteopathic medicine are often used interchangeably for the philosophy and system of alternative medical practice first proposed by A. T. Still MD, DO in 1874....
at the College of Osteopaths
College of Osteopaths
The College of Osteopaths dates from 1948 and provides training leading to a BSc Osteopathy. The degree course is designed in part-time mode and spans five years. It is validated by two separate universities and thus, uniquely, offered in two locations in the United Kingdom...
in Borehamwood
Borehamwood
-Film industry:Since the 1920s, the town has been home to several film studios and many shots of its streets are included in final cuts of 20th century British films. This earned it the nickname of the "British Hollywood"...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, England and qualified in 1974. Another profound influence on his work at this time was that of Dr. Major Bertrand DeJarnette the renowned American engineer, inventor, osteopath and chiropractor
Chiropractor
A Chiropractor, according to the Association of Chiropractic Colleges , "focuses on the relationship between the body's main structures – the skeleton, the muscles and the nerves – and the patient's health. Chiropractors believe that health can be improved and preserved by making adjustments to...
. He then studied acupuncture
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a type of alternative medicine that treats patients by insertion and manipulation of solid, generally thin needles in the body....
and homeopathy
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine in which practitioners claim to treat patients using highly diluted preparations that are believed to cause healthy people to exhibit symptoms that are similar to those exhibited by the patient...
under Professor Malcolm Stemp of Newton Abbott, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
the accomplished British homeopath.
Around this time (late 1970s) he became involved with martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
and studied under Kanetsuka Sensei http://www.bafonline.org.uk/baf/ksensei.html of the British Aikido Federation and also Chiba Sensei
Kazuo Chiba
Kazuo Chiba is an aikido teacher from Japan who has spent a considerable part of his teaching career in the United Kingdom and United States. He is an 8th dan in the aikido organisation Aikikai, and founder of dojos in London and San Diego, California...
where he picked up many techniques concerning the breath which he then applied, along with his knowledge of accupuncture, to develop his own style of Shiatsu
Shiatsu
Shiatsu is Japanese for "finger pressure;" it is a type of alternative medicine consisting of finger and palm pressure, stretches, and other massage techniques. There is no scientific evidence proving that shiatsu can treat any disease, but shiatsu practitioners promote it as a way to help people...
. He founded a school of shiatsu in the mid 1980's called Hara Shiatsu International and trained the first generation of Shiatsu teachers in the UK.
Lassalle was strongly influenced by Buddhist philosophy especially that of the Tibetan and Zen
Zen
Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...
traditions and this would reflect itself in his approach to health, well being, nutrition and also to his particular style of 9 Star Ki astrology. In recent years his work has been in providing services to the Spa industry during the course of which (2009) he wrote a book on spa massage. He continues to develop new methods in this area.
External links
- Rex Lassalle, Official website
- Kanetsuka Sensei, British Aikido Federation website
- Michio Kushi, Official website
- The College of Osteopaths, Official website
- Sacro Occitipal Research Society International, Official website
- 9 Star Ki Astrology, Further reading with a comprehensive list of resources