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I absolutely love this weblog! The information is priceless. Thanks a ton for most of the articles and making my personal day. Compliments, Really
Aloha Hanshi Gary,
There are so many name on these written blogs, that are friends from the early day of my martial arts life; that I look at the names of alot of them that have taken their ” Journet Into The Spiritworld ” that it saddens me. But those names and many more that are not listed, that your museum will take care of mentioning them so they will never be forgotten. I
can look back at my early days of study and training with Dad, and mentioned alot of names to me and told me stories that he’ll never forget. And for many who don’t know, my road as a martial artist began in Okinawan Shorin Kenpo and Hawaiian Kenpo Jutsu. I also trained in both Okinawan and Japanese Goju Ryu Karate. But my journey did not stop there, I trained in many fighting systems. I was like a sponge, I absords as much as I was able too. Today, I look at my physical body and someimes wonder how the heck did I make this far today. Because my body hurts ona daily bases. Today
many of the ones studying and training in martial arts, could not make it through what we have been through. So Pono, thanks for the museum and all the work you have done to putting it together. May you always be bless and may you walk in beauty. My days are just for teaching today. I will miss my fellow members of the original Black Dragon Fighting Society at the gathering, but my prayers are with you always. I was outside with the wolves, when you called. I missed your called as you were hanging up. Beside you don’t need me at the gathering, I’d just be taking up space. Mahalo, Prof. Samuel Joseph Lonewolf, Hanshi
Creed of the Samurai
I have no parents, I make the Heavens and the Earth my parents.
I have no home, I make the Tan T’ien my home.
I have no divine power, I make honesty my divine power.
I have no means, I make docility my means.
I have no magic power, I make personality my magic power.
I have neither life nor death, I make A Um my life and death.
I have no body, I make stoicism my body.
I have no eyes, I make the flash of lighting my eyes.
I have no ears, I make sensibility my ears.
I have no limbs, I make promptitude my limbs.
I have no laws, I make self-protection my laws.
I have no strategy, I make the right to kill and the right to restore life my strategy.
I have no designs, I make seizing the opportunity by the forelock my designs.
I have no miracles, I make righteous laws my miracle.
I have no principles, I make adaptability to all circumstances my principle.
I have no tactics, I make emptiness and fullness my tactics.
I have no talent, I make ready wit my talent.
I have no friends, I make my mind my friend.
I have no enemy, I make in cautiousness my enemy.
I have no armor, I make benevolence my armor.
I have no castle, I make immovable mind my castle.
I have no sword, I make no mind my sword.
When in trouble always remember to just SING, Solor plexus, Instep,Nose ,Groin,oss
defend with your basic Okinawan Karate block thinking like a upper block but in your mind it is you wing deflecting the attack from White Crane, then from the horse
movement and attitude ,you go into a attitude of surviving ,and life comes to mind
low horse stance, extremely low and stomp his instep with a belligerent KIA!!, which is my secret weapon ,spring up from the low horse stance and explode now with back fist to his nose, from straight from makiwara training and practicing 1000’s of punches , hammer fist, Koken, Phoenix eye, shuto ,ridge hand and back fist strikes on a day to day based schedule ,then dropped back down to the low horse stance and hammer fist the Groin, think of yourself not only the master of teaching students the art of point and circle but share with them the animal instincts of survival from the Animals, Crane , Snake, Monkey, Horse and our imaginary friend ,which by the way is the most powerful, the Dragon he symbolizes your mindset to the confrontation, just SING, oss
http://youtu.be/AAC4SZqIEmo
The Gathering
October 11,12,13, Houston, Texas
Hilton Southwest
Celebrating 50 years of Sport Karate in America !
HOTLINE 281-901-7400
House of China
Hundreds of Millions Can’t Be Wrong
It is said that Tai Chi is the most practiced martial art in the world with an estimated 200 plus million adherents. Of course China has a population of 1.3 billion and Tai Chi is practically a religion for many of them. Tai Chi Chuan (literally “Grand Ultimate Fist”) is just one of many systems of martial arts to develop in what many believe to be the birthplace of the martial arts.
But records are rare and legends abound. The most popular story about Chinese martial arts centers on an Indian Buddhist monk named Bodhidharma (Daruma in Japanese) who is said to have traveled to China around 525 AD and began teaching a system of physical and mental exercises at the Shaolin Monastery. Over the decades Kung Fu (a collective term for Chinese arts which literally only means “skilled”) developed into a refined but very diverse collection of styles. Traveling monks introduced their methods into other countries which further modified the arts into native systems. It must be noted that there were martial practices in China long before the 6th century however.
Today there are literally hundreds of systems of kung fu (or gung fu) practiced around the world. Some people make a division between “Northern” and “Southern” schools. Generally speaking, Northern China has rocky terrain and, in ancient times, was more rural. It is supposed that styles founded in this type of environment would make use of more flourish and have long range kicks. Southern China is more urban and flatter and so schools springing up in this environment would be aimed towards closer combat and would make use of more hand techniques and lower kicks.
Another, typical, classification of kung fu is external (more emphasis on physical technique) vs. internal (more emphasis on development of “qi” or “chi” internal power). In the China of today “Wushu” (literally martial arts) has become a popular national sport.
House of Okinawa
Te–Hand
In the 1960s and 1970s, the term “karate” was often used as a kind of generic term to refer to any striking martial art whether it be Japanese, Korean or even Chinese. But Karate was actually born on the island of the Kingdom of Okinawa. It probably owes its roots to Chinese travelers who brought versions of kung fu to the islands in the 17th century. The combat arts were originally known simply as “Okinawa Te,” or “hand” but soon they became known as “China-hand” or “kara-te.” Three geographical areas became known for their Karate practice, Shuri-Te, Tomari-Te, and Naha-Te. Most of the more modern Okinawan styles trace their roots back to one of these three. Some schools added use of farm implements as weapons since the government had outlawed use of swords and knives. So the sai, nunchaku and bo became part of the Okinawan curriculum (today often called “kobudo” or “old warrior way.”)
Because Japan had occupied the islands for hundreds of years before finally annexing them in 1856, Karate had no doubt been taken to the Japanese mainland. However empty-hand and simple weapon fighting was considered lower-class by the highly-trained samurai with their elaborate sword skills. About 1916 an Okinawan Karate teacher named Gichin Funakoshi traveled to Japan to demonstrate his art. It is said that he is the one who changed the translation of kara-te to “empty hand” in order to make the art more acceptable to the Japanese. His school became known as Shotokan, and Funakoshi is often credited as being the “father” of modern Karate. Today there are many styles of both Japanese and Okinawan Karate.
Generally the Okinawan styles are softer and more traditional in their approach and the Japanese schools are more sport-oriented. However the individual teachers have much to do with the school’s emphasis, much like Karate in the United States.
House of Japan
More than the Samurai and Karate
For many folks, mention the Japanese martial arts and they’ll immediately have visions of actors Toshiro Mifune or Tom Cruise slicing through the air with katana. And certainly, the Samurai have a prominent place in the history of the martial arts in the Land of the Rising Sun. But we want to concentrate here on the empty handed arts of Japan. Perhaps the oldest martial practice involves jujutsu, or the “art of flexibility” or “pilance.” Techniques included striking, throwing, choking, and joint locks. Some historians say the Samurai practiced jujutsu as an adjunct to their weapons skills while other maintain that jujutsu was a commoners art.
Whichever is was in ancient times, jujutsu did give rise to the modern arts of judo and aikido. Jigoro Kano (pronounced Kano Jigoro in Japan) came up with his derivative which eliminated some of the more violent aspects of jujutsu to create a sport (in fact, Judo was the first martial art to be included in the Olympic Games in 1964). Morihei Ueshiba developed aikido (the way of harmonizing with the spirit) from his study of the art of Daito Ry Aiki Jujutsu. As the name implies, it stresses philosophical and mental discipline along with physical technique.
Karate (which was actually an Okinawan import to Japan in the late 19th and early 20th century) encompasses many dozens of schools around the country. Shotokan (the original Japanese school founded by Gichin Funakoshi), Wado Ryu, Kyokushin Kai, Shito Ryu and Shorinji Kenpo are just some of the Japanese styles popular today. It was Funakoshi who is said to have popularized the term “karate” itself, having changed the meaning of the phrase from “way of the China hand,” the name used in Okinawa) to “way of the empty hand,” the Japanese translation).
Karate training consists of the three “k”s, or kihon (basics), kata (single person drills), and kumite (sparring). Most Japanese schools take a stricter approach than the Okinawan schools with heavy emphasis on physical conditioning and repetitive drills. The Japanese systems are also more likely to participate in the sporting aspects of karate with several tournaments held across the nation every year.
House of Korea
Kicking It in the Land of the Morning Calm
Taekwondo (Tae Kwon Do, Taekwon-Do) has become a popular art and sport in many countries. But its roots reach far back into ancient history. 1300 years ago the Hwa Rang warriors (young soldiers sometimes compared to the Japanese Samurai) developed an unarmed fighting art known as Subak and later, Taekyon. The fighting arts eventually became less popular and at one point were actually banned and survived only by being practiced in secret.
In 1910, Japan overran Korea and outlawed Korean customs and any martial practice. Many Koreans left the country to try and find better conditions in China or even in Japan itself. They were exposed to other fighting arts such as Chinese Kung Fu and Japanese Jujutsu and Karate. At the end of World War II Korea was liberated from the Japanese occupation by the USA and her Allies. Thousands came back home to openly practice both the traditional Korean systems and the other Asian styles. Several new martial arts schools sprang up.
In 1955 the leading teachers wanted to try and unify the many schools under one name. It is said that Korean army general Choi Hong Hi suggested the name Taekwondo (the “way of kicking and punching”) and it was eventually accepted by many Korean practitioners. Some refused however and continued to practice under their previous names—most notably Tang Soo Do (the “way of the China hand”—the Korean translation of the original name of Karate).
Although there are still several “styles” of taekwondo taught around the world, the “official” South Korean system was voted into the Olympics in 2000 and helped to make it one of the most popular martial arts around. Other Korean martial arts practiced today are Hapkido (a Korean version of Aikido), and Hwa Rang Do (a modern takeoff on the ancient style).
The Intergalactic Universal Supreme World State County City Grand Master wanna-be’s of the world.
By Gary Lee in Museum of Sport Karate Master Members · Edit Doc
The Intergalactic Universal Supreme World State County City Grand Master wanna-be’s of the world.
By Professor Gary Lee in Professor Gary Lee’s Karate Dojo
CONFUCIUS SAY”
One who is Master of all is Master of none unless proven”
I went to a event and supported my son who fights on a regular basis and did my book signing and Museum stuff and sometimes sitting down and watching everything from that view ,you get a different perspective of what going on at a event, one of the things I have notice in the past few years is the increased of so called Grand Masters and very, very young kids wearing Black Belts at the open events of sport competition.
This is something has bothered me and for a while and the story your about to read is simply my opinion.
First Karate Rank Certificate
On April 12, 1924, Gichin Funakoshi, the “Father of Modern Karate,” awarded karate’s first black belt dan upon seven men. The recipients included Hironori Ohtsuka, founder of wado-ryu karatedo, Shinken Gima, later of gima-ha shoto-ryu, and Ante Tokuda, Gima’s cousin) Kasuya, Akiba, Shimizu and Hirose. This beginning was a highly personal, yet formal ceremony in which Funakoshi is said to have handed out lengths of black belting and a hand brushed menjo (diploma) to his pupils.
Origins of Martial Arts Certificate Borders Design
The origin of the phoenix and classic border design originates in the imperial court of China and was only used on Official documents by the Emperor.
Three symbols of the Phoenix border.
* The Phoenix is a symbol of Virtue, Morality, Benevolence, Faith and Courtesy. The male is on the left side and the female on the right facing each other on the top center of the certificate.
* The Cloud placed on the top center of the certificate, between the male and female Phoenix symbolizes luck as clouds bring rains for farming.
* The Paulownia, situated on the sides and bottom of the certificate along with Chrysanthemum (crest of the Royal Family of Japan) symbolize an oath to the Gods.
Four symbols of the Classic border
The Blue Dragon is identified with the water gods and the gods of fertility who invoke the rains on which the harvest depends. To Confucian scholars, this mythic creature of supernatural powers represents strength, virtue and loyalty.
* The Phoenix is a symbol of Virtue, Morality, Benevolence, Faith and Courtesy.
* The White Tiger is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations. It is sometimes called the White Tiger of the West, and it represents the west and the autumn season.
* The Black Tortoise is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations. It is sometimes called the Black Warrior of the North and it represents the north and the winter season. It is usually depicted as both a tortoise and a snake, specifically with the snake coiling around the tortoise.
Professor Gary Lee
Let us always remember where we came from and the roots of what we do ,every time we award rank remember the origins of earning a real Black Belt , not by signing a contract or paying for it, I am very proud to say and humbled that I have never paid for any classes ,all was earned by cleaning toilets, bathrooms, hallways and sweeping after a work out ,very lucky,very humbled.
However ranked is important if you have a sense of authority or transfer knowledge to others. As a white belt looks at our Dojo of many instructors , let them find knowledge of your humble beginnings and remember how excited you were when you learned your first lesson , whether it was a a cool self defense move or a hand movement or a incredible kick.
Ok ,That was a long time ago and most black belts don’t even care but we should !
A Diary of a Black Belt
A Journey of a lifetime , not three or four years, not ten or twenty years, but a life time of work , dedication , Loyalty , tenacity, knowledge, attitude and humbleness, with lots of training and person’s to support you, once you make the decision, then it is a journey of a lifetime !
“Groups of black belts were in the ocean doing kata underneath the moonlight. I was overwhelmed and from that moment I knew what I wanted to be, a black belt, a real BLACK BELT. When I left Hawaii in 1969 I had my Black Belt, a white gi, a 1969 Black belt Yearbook, a 5’8″ cream Gordon and Smith Twin Fin surf board and …that broken broom.”
This is a karate fable of thinking!, using my journey and showing what hard work does and showing the reader also in the end of the story where this Ranking of Black Belts have gone !
This was written to educate and to show where we have gone on letting anyone have a BLACK BELT. We have allowed flukey ,ego maniacs and wanna -be’s to open Karate schools and they are taking over our cities with their personal crap , they have no foundation and no understanding of what teaching martial arts are about and it is embarrassing to the real Karate pioneers and hard working teachers that have established true martial arts in this country and sad there is nothing we can do about except make fun of it.
Be careful who you train with and always check his credentials and background in martial arts .
Aloha
This picture of World Champion Deddy Mansyur , Black Belt has tun back to White Belt , the journey of a true master of karate ,the circle of life ,oss
10th Kyu White Belt
White Belt -beginner,
Eye of the Tiger potential , but very ignorant in the beginning.
I am a little nervous, but the instructor is cool, he hollers a lot, not at me but every time he throws a punch or kick, weird, hope he doesn’t make me do it!,
I ain’t crazy about hollering at people it’s bad enough I have to wear those funny looking pajamas and on top of it all I hate wearing white,
I wonder what that is all about having to wear white, I get bored real easy even though it is cool when they kick!
I like how they do a bunch of punches and kicks together and the it looks real ,kinda like a movie , looks cool in person !
I’ll use the coupon up and quit after I get those funny looking PJ’s!
3 months Later.
9th yellow Belt
Karate is like the Ocean ,wild ,unpredictable and dangerous!
Received my first belt, pretty cool!
Scared to death from the time I walked in the Dojo, yellow looks good on me, wow!!, every body beat me up today, Kata was the hardest, fighting was fun, that Mr.Tanaka hit me hard, knocked the wind out of me, STUCK ME PRETTY GOOD !!, but he’s cool , strange but cool!
Hoorah!! I am a yellow belt, yeah!
I can’t believed I passed, it was the the hardest thing I have ever done and the most fun!
It was like a new Horizon!
I didn’t think Karate was this way , I mean it is fun but something different, I really can’t put my finger on it yet, it is not just learning the respect but the way everyone works together everyone treats everyone is the same, even the Black Belts are beating on you, I like that !
Six months later
8th Orange Belt
As the day ends, feel in your heart you have absorbed much knowledge!
Man in my heart I thought the yellow belt test was hard, but this test was the hoot!!
They had me do this drill called “Bull in the Ring”, no warning of this drill, I have never practice for this drill , I never seen it in class , it was a advance only drill!!, I am nervous , what are they going to make me do , I’m nervous !, a circle of Black Belts , Kyu grades and surprises surround me and are given numbers, a instructor calls out one number and that number attacks you with a punch or a kick or grabs you, I have to defend myself in front of a board of Black Belts, spectators and fellow students, now after I have gone though three or four circles of basic technique, the board says “Kick it up a bit ,please” so now the Instructor is calling out four and five numbers at a time and now I feel my Karate and it happens ,block, sidekick, front leg sweep, drop my knee on his chest, punch him, grabbed on the right shoulder, break the little finger and thumb from second opponent, lock his arm , symbolize breaking it , KIA very loud with much spirit, elbowing the head several times, grabbed his groin rip it , hammer fist his foot, his head drops, elbow him in the face , get up and third opponent puts me in a bear hug, back head butt to face , stomp the foot hard ,drop to low horse stance , right and low elbow strikes to both sides of his body, step across pop the groin ,when his head drops down ,poke his eyes, sweep him, stomp him , stand up and be ready for next opponent.
My Karate was for real and My instructor had just proved it to me, the rest of the test was strong, hard but easy compared to being taught under certain circumstances , it is good to know real Karate at this level and I wonder if I will ever make Black Belt , that is way to far to think about that, but I think I want to try, man I’m tired but I am a orange belt now in Japanese Karate and now I want to train as much as ever and learn as much as I can .
Ten months later
7th Blue Belt
What will I learn in my next class?
Today’s test for my Blue belt , we were introduced to Sport Karate point fighting and let me tell you it is different than anything we have done up to this point , first of all, it is about Ippon , one technique knock -out or symbolizing a knock -down or knock -punch or kick to a legal target area ,cool!! .This part I didn’t like, we had to wear hand pads and footpads and hear gear and mouth pieces and groin cups , to much stuff! , one of my friends told me there is a karate competition where there is knockouts and one punch ippon attitude and there are different circuits, you can win trophies and awards cool!, I might like this avenue!, my first tournament is in two months after my next test , I will train for this and be prepared, kinda nervous about doing this karate stuff in public but my Sensei says competition is good but only 1% of real Karate, always remember that, so another door has opened, oh, one more thing I learned a new word today “Oss!! ,meaning respect and acknowledgement of one’s attitude toward you , You say it not because Sensei tells you to say it , but because you have earned the privilege to say it among your fellow warriors and peers ,this is loyalty, this is trust, this is acknowledgement ,oss
First Sport Karate Tournament
Very exciting to say the least ,hundreds of people watching you perform and the pressure of representing your school, but mainly your Sensei , Tanaka Sensei has got me here, now I do this day for Sensei, I have told no one my thoughts but this is what my hearts says.
I have trained hard for this thousands of punches on the Makiwara, hundreds of kicks, take downs, sweeps and follow up, I am defensive ready, I can be offensive also, back fist , reverse punch, spin back kick, I owned them, Sensei has taught me that, have confidence in your technique, pure PMA, live for the ippon , if your going to do sport karate, do the best that you can and go for the win!
Got disqualified for excessive Contact, reverse punch to the body, he could not continue !, judges said it was excessive with no control , Oss ,, Sorry, Tanaka Sensei please forgive me.
One year later
6th Green Belt
The Test was hard but different this time , I was totally prepared because I want this! , I want this real bad!, all I think about is Class and Sensei Tanaka
I can’t believe I have stayed a year and now in the advanced class , I mean , this is a big deal, my background , my attitude when I first came here , a complete turnaround !
I AM ALLOWED TO WORK OUT IN THE ADVANCED CLASS !
I am so excited!, oss
I have learned so much and my life has changed , attitude, just believing in something is cool, and now I get to work out with Mr. Tanaka, Sensei , he is so different than the other Black Belts, different I mean he is sharper ,more precise ,almost scary he is so fast , now I get to hit the Makiwara , boards cover in hard rope at punching and kicking heights, I would watch sometimes the advanced class and Black Belts would hit the Makiwara 500 times , exhausted , knuckles bleeding , back then I thought they were crazy and I would laugh at it , now I can’t wait to get permission to do it and work on my kime and get my knuckles bleeding !
Bull in the ring , pure self defense and street application, Kata, Application of Kata, Bunkai precision movement of the Kata applied to uki’s attacking, this is what I have learned and I want my Black Belt.
Bull in the Ring in Acapulco, Mexico
Sixteen months later
5th
Green Belt /Black stripe
I have been a advanced student now for almost a year and today I test for my Black Stripe today, this will be a two part story for what I feel now and how I feel after the test.
I have to admit it has been tough, these classes are harder, more complicated and way over my head.
I have to listen and watch the Black Belts , they are a tight nit group , very friendly but stern.
I didn’t understand washing the toilets and cleaning the bathrooms the first three months before I could workout, but now I do, you earn everything and when you do, you appreciate it so much more, cleaning, earned me the privilege to learn more for it humbled me in a way you can’t explain unless you experience it and the Black Belts knew that.
Sure they would make fun of me but, they would also teach me, guide me and beat the crap out of me. They taught me how to love the pain!
My next entry will be after the Test , five Black Belts are going up in Dan ranks , guess I am going to be fresh meat, hope not but, don’t mind since all of them beat me up every night anyway!
I am sitting in back of this Japanese Sushi Bar over on the big Island and the entry about the Test is pretty short and sweet I passed, got my butt kicked all over the place, broke my first board and saw one of the Black Belts go berserk in Bull in the Ring, he wasted a couple of dudes, I mean knock them out cold, they had to be revived with smelling sauce , I was so nervous when they called my number to grab him, he dumped me but didn’t hurt me like he did those Black Belts , scary as hell, real Karate!
I feel one of my best test, starting to understand how the animals play their part also didn’t Bleed!, no broken bones! and my uniform {Gi} didn’t get ripped.
I have gone though three uniforms, ripped and torn ed from body, finally for my birthday got a Tokaido Brand 14 ounce canvas from Japan.
Sensei said “I will grow old with this Gi”, oss!
Twenty-one months later
4th
Purple Belt
This was the hardest test I have ever been a part of because of the bunkai, all bunkai had to be performed for all Pinan ,Teki and Heian Kata and then applied , you would start your kata, the board would stop you ,you would be asked to perform bunkai and then go on .
I did five rounds of “Bull in the ring” and was a Uki for all the Black Belts going for higher Dan Ranks . I believe I was more wasted before my basics as I have I have never been before because I had to do all the bunkai and “Bull in the Ring” with the Black Belts, five bad, bad dudes, beat me up pretty good , love the pain!!
The fighting was the normal except that this test, the Board seem to emphasize this group needs to know strong ,strong BASIC’s, there was nine of us going for purple and four going for third brown and five Black Belts testing . I believe the word Kihon meaning basic was thrown at us hard and the other new word is Kime , Focus my technique in precision standard.
After this test, also ,a couple of the Black Belts came up to me and said I did good, I was really humbled, after all I haved come a long way in my training but especially in my attitude.
Sensei came up to me and pulled me to the side, he was always so polite but mysterious at the same time, he said” Purple belt is like being at the ocean’s edge and your ready to venture out into the water, deep water, full of danger and life, these are the brown belt years, purple will prepare you for that encounter and hope you are prepared well for most brown belts quit for they just can not take the pain!, oss
Two years later
3rd Brown
Making Brown belt was impressive, Basics, Basics, Basics and more Basics, Konk Ku Dai, Seisan kata, Advance Teki Kata all Kata Bunkai applications, Black Belt attackers only “Bull in the Ring” and one on one, two on one, three on one, four on one, five on one Kumite , no rest between rounds , no water, no excuses , no quitting and, Well I have graduated from cleaning the toilets to sweeping the front of the matted area everyday before the Black Belt Class , Sensei says he did this so all the Black Belts can see me all the time and see I have good technique in sweeping, I said in much respect , “They see me enough when they beat the crapped out of me ! sir”, said with much respect , oss
One year later
2nd Brown
This test I was in charged of setting everything up, I spent the night in the Dojo and help host the special guest Sensei Tanaka brought in, went to the lumber company and got the bricks and boards for the Test, set the chairs, tables and made all the refreshments, got all the paperwork together, it is like preparing for a huge storm that you know is coming, can’t believe I’m testing for second Kyu Brown , what a ride it has been !!
Gotta go, Black Belts are arriving, will write later if I survived!!
Well, I am at the hospital with four of us that got banged up today ,my finger is broken and I am the lucky one, the other guys got knocked out by our special guest today at the Test and one guy is not waking up, everything was OK, until we got this guy in a corner, bad mistake, he hit Charlie first, round kicked Bobby, did a picture perfect jump spin back kick in the face on Kea and kicked my hand when I grabbed him, he smiled as if he knew he had hurt me , we were all going for second Kyu except Kea, he was going for Black, maybe that’s why he knocked him out.
Update ***I was in the back room and heard the Black Belts talking , they said Kea was running his mouth about the test and he was not going to be stopped , well I hope Kea wakes up , heck I hope we passed, so many people were hurt when we left for the Hospital , I don’t know , brutal test !!
Learned a lesson, never talk out loud before a High Dan test and say your thoughts if you do expect a world of hurt !, oss
Kea finally woke up , I didn’t leave his side though the night, scary night, man that was a heck of a test, it wasn’t the toughest test but it was the one that made me the most nervous.
Real Karate is a scary adventure like a bad, bad storm!, oss..
Passed .
Three years later
1st Kyu Brown
Bull in the ring , pure self defense and street application, Kata, Application of Kata, Bunkai precision movement of the Kata applied to uki’s attacking, this is what I have learned and I want my Black Belt.
I know I am a Black Belt now in my mind heart and body ,I just have to go though the hardest part of my life the next five hours or so and show I am ready to be a white belt all over again and realize making Black if I do, it is a whole new beginning , just like starting over with good strong basics ,oss
Sensei has me fighting and doing Kata every weekend at any event he can put me in ,normally I run Sepai or Ni Gi Shi Ho or Teiki Kata ,if I tie I run Supra Empi, a Goju form I learned from a Goju Student visiting Sensei Tanaka two years ago , it normally wins Grand , don’t use it unless extreme conditions ,oss
This Test I am ready , I want Black Belt really bad!,, oss
It was what I expected and also learned a great lesson ,never quit, always do the best you can and always help a friend in need , today I sacrificed a situation and saved a friend but I got stuck pretty good for the decision ,afterwards ,a couple of Black Belts came up to me and said they would have done the same thing ,that made me feel pretty good ,even though I got a bruised rib and black eye , take care of your bra’s
Passed.
Three Years Later
Shodan Black Belt
The Sam Chapman story and the introduction of Safety Gear.
Sam Chapman was a American Karate Instructor , a marine, a southern sport karate legend, inventor, artist, pioneer, leader and trainer of champions, I know because I was one of those lucky, lucky Black Belts that lived, breathe, slept Karate in those early years with Sam , I actually lived in the basement of the school under neath the steps , it was quite comfortable and Karate 24/7
Sam trained early with Ernie Lieb, the founder of the American Karate Association {AKA} and together with other great men like Mike Sullenger, Sam became the representative for the AKA in a southern part of the world, Green ville South Carolina. The Karate School of Green ville was the only Karate school in the ever growing textile milling city, there was one other school Billy Hongs Tae Kwon Do, but that story comes later, lol
Sam would become a southern legend in the early years of sport karate in that part of America and would help create some incredible sport karate champions, they all went different directions but they all started with Sam. men and ladies like, Becky Chapman, Bobby Tucker, Larry Black, Greg Cromer, Jerry Rhome, Will Wright, Sherman Williams, Gary Landgreth, Blane Silver, Rhonda “Ridge hand”Alexander and many others.
Sam was hard core when it came to teaching his way of Americanized Karate and it work for a lot of us , it was hard for me for my traditional background from a early age was hard to adapt to his way of thinking, but to this day, if interviewed I always say Sam Chapman taught me how to point fight in American Tournaments and I have pass that down to my students and my son.
Here are some of my favorite stories of those early years, I love you Sam, oss
1972, I am chasing karate tournaments and girls, I see the advertisement for the only karate school in Green ville so I go and visit, it was early afternoon and I walked in off the street , no appointment, I opened the door, bowed said oss and looked and saw Sam for the first time.
He had his feet up on his desk with a big old cigar, smoking, he was drawing a new logo, in shorts with a long Beatles style haircut, I had my GI and Black Belt only and I walked over to him and he said to me “you a Black Belt , huh, you like to spar?, I got some boxing gloves ,do you kick , we can kick too , if you like, let me go change.
He then put out the cigar, went and changed into his uniform and we fought for thirty minutes or more when he kicked me so hard he knocked me into the wall and five or six trophies fell on my head, plus I turned my ankle really bad ,but I was having so much fun I didn’t want to stop , he was cool and beat me up in a good way , Sam left to get Ice and while he was gone, back then I was stupid!, anyway I went over by the desk where the floor was hard and started stomping my ankle to numb it so I could continue to spar when Sam got back with the ice , I was up and ready to continue ,could not pull it off, he knew I was in a lot of pain, so we got in his little Porsche which was really cool back then, lol
He took me to the Hospital , stayed with me and I didn’t leave him until I opened the largest nightclub in the city ,The Electric Warehouse.
Two years later , Safety Gear was being introduced around the country , schools were changing, it changed the industry but I hated it , I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t wear them, one day Sam and I were by ourselves and he wanted to show me that these new accessories would worked and they will changed sport karate , well he beat me up pretty good, but afterward he said” Gary this is what I will do for you every knockout or knockdown you do from wearing those gear I have given you, I will put a notch in the glove, you get five notches , I will buy you Chinese dinner at Wang’s restaurant, our favorite place to eat”, well I thought that was cool,
I ended up with fourteen notches and two Chinese dinners.
Another one one of Sam’s motivational skills was the Tasmanian Devil patch!
Win third place or higher in ten tournaments in fighting and Sam would award you a Tasmanian Devil Patch of the character from loony tunes cartoons with the letters F L H meaning Fight like Hell!
The first recipient of that award was Bobby Tucker, the fastest man on the planet, that is what three time champion, Black Belt Hall of Fame and best friend Keith Vitali says “Bobby and I fought twenty times, each of us winning ten each, he is the fastest karate fighter in the country with tenacity and class, he was amazing!”
Bobby every Thursday like clock work would arrived at the school in his jeep, park it across the street in the same spot , walk in , say hi to Sam , watch class and the go dress out, wrapped his hands, tape up , mouth piece in,sometimes safety gear, sometime not, depending on what mood he was in or what Sam had told him who to stick tonight!
Bobby was a hundred -forty five pounds, he was so fast and accurate and he had technique, he could play or drop you . I never saw him lose a single fight those Thursday nights when he would fight every one, sometimes twice or more, all weights and remember World Champion Jerry Rhome and others who were fantastic bobby fought, it was a time of champions, it was a time to build champions, it was sport Karate wars!
Hitch hiking across America, “Memories of a American Samurai”
I am publishing my first book in two weeks, “Memories of a American Samurai” and this is one of the many memories I have coming to the mainland at a early age.
I was nineteen years old, hitchhiking for the third time across the United States chasing waves with my little five – seven Gordon twin fin surfboard right outside Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. I stopped in a little convenient store for a soda pop and was in back of the store when I heard in a loud voice ” Give up the money or I will shoot you, I mean it, I will shoot you and your Dog!
For some reason I thought of my little dog I had in Hawaii and I didn’t care about the gun, foolish but instinct set in. I grabbed a couple of can goods and a shovel I saw ,threw the cans to the right and hit him on the left in the head with the shovel, the robber fell dropping his gun.
The store owner kicked the gun away and soon the police arrived. The store owner made me out to be a hero but in my heart I was saving the dog and I just acted out of instinct to survive, it was my first encounter with a gun since I had come to the mainland and my Sword training had given me ability’s, even with a shovel.
The store owner offered me money for what I did but I could not take money for something I would have done anyway, naturally.
Now that I am much older I realize how I reacted back then wasn’t the smartest thing to do and in my mind I have analyze what I did and still believe it was thinking of him shooting that little dog, not the owner and it did not even occur to me at the moment I could have been shot or been killed all I cared about was him saying he was going to shoot a animal.
Martial arts teaches you not to think but react at the moment the occasion arrives , the thinking should be done in the Dojo or Kwoon where you have your teacher to help you and teach you to make the right decisions, however reality is a different animal.
I can remember distinctly, I did not think about the future or the fact of danger, just I did not want a little dog to be shot and that is when courage took over.
The training of martial arts teaches you to be smart, that is why I threw the cans to make assailant look the other way, the shovel was the weapon at hand and I thought of all those times I saw Kyoshi hit his students with his Shinai and whacked them across the head just for not paying attention or just his personal punishment he would give us because that is the way they did the training back in the day or at least in Hawaii.
Why did I pick up the shovel instead of using my Karate?, well I was taught in my weapons training that the weapon that you train with, any weapon was a extension of my hands, there fore, I did think of Karate even though I hit him in the head with the shovel, mind you, all this happen in a few seconds, a flash before your mind and I know now that I have talked about it. If it wasn’t for Karate and for the intense training I did in Hawaii, it might have turned out different .
Thank goodness I didn’t have to hit him with my surfboard , it’s funny though that afternoon right out of Oklahoma City, it is a super flat desert land and it was the first time I saw the Black clouds of a major storm, it got real quiet and from the sky huge pieces of ice started falling hard, it was the first time I encountered a Hail storm.
I put my Gordon and Smith Twin-fin surfboard, my pride and joy, next to my Tonfas I carried.
I put the surfboard over my head to protect me . My hands were beat to bleeding and after the hail storm my board was battered up with huge holes in it .
I remember digging a hole in the desert and burying the surfboard and crying not wanting to leave it in the desert.
What a day !, almost got shot, hit a guy with a shovel, saved a little dog , experience my first hail storm ,buried my best friend ,the surfboard and was heading toward another karate event.
I love Karate !
Yu
{Heroic Courage} Rise up above the masses of people that are afraid to act.
Hiding like a turtle in a shell is not living at all.
A samurai must have heroic courage.
It is absolutely risky, it is dangerous.
It is living life
completely, fully, wonderfully.
Heroic courage is not blind. It is intelligent and strong.
Replace fear with respect and Caution.
Two years later
2nd Black , Nidan
The first National Black Belt League World Breaking Championship, 1993, New Orleans, USA
Aloha,
In the 80’s and early 90’s, I always broke boards , bricks and tiles before I would perform Kata in competition,no one else did that !
but first we need to go back to Six Flags Astroworld, Houston Texas, 1982-1994.
They asked me in my contract to break one board per show, eight shows a day plus two practice breaks, that is ten boards a day!
Well I wasn’t going to pay for the cuts or the boards, so I went after
sponsors, most thought I was crazy for asking for a board and brick sponsors, but finally I found Furrow Lumber Company and the manager had seen one of my performances and was impressed, so they cut 5,000 white pine boards and donated 3,000 bricks to be delivered at Six Flags , Six Flags were blown away and had nowhere to put them, so they built a special building just to house the boards and bricks for me and my crew made up of the best kids I could find would go to the building and pick the best boards with no cracks or knots and the bricks I would break everyday in the shows.
I ran that particular show for three years and still had some odd thousand or so boards and bricks left over.
A few years later I was back doing the Hollywood Stunt show for the popular amusement park and they wanted me to break again and use all that wood and bricks left over, this time I was a little smarter and charged a small fee for each board or brick I broke and SAG gave me a fee also, so I was getting paid though contract and SAG to break each show , ten shows a day plus two rehearsals, added the thirty -foot high falls, weapons routines, getting shot at and dodging knives and getting beat up by beautiful stunt ladies , it was a living and I loved it.
In 1992, the newly formed National Black Belt League had their first Championship in Atlantic City ,New Jersey with no Breaking competition, however I entered five divisions and won five national titles with breaking boards over my head and doing speed breaks before the Kata divisions I had entered.
The following year they offered a beautiful Ring and the first National Black League World Championship, I entered with a field of over fifteen seeded players, I had a second place seed from competing all year in conference events. the number one seed was David Gambino from California, a vicious breaker with a strong reputation to break anything!
I knew breaking boards and bricks were not enough to win the the title, so I added comedy, speed breaks ,vases on uki’s heads fill with confetti ,knocking the vase off their heads with jump spin kicks and breaking bananas and two-ply toilet paper and of course the mandatory breaks to impress the judges, I don’t believe in spacers in between the boards, bricks or tiles, I have never cheated and I believe when you used spacers this adds momentum and takes away from the purity of the breaking technique.
I won the title and the the ring, I wear it every day not in vain but the memory of all the boards, bricks, tiles, bananas and toilet two-ply paper I have broken though the years, lol
Later in 1994 I created the Kids Expo which was at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas and I would break also, however when it came to the Toilet paper break at the end of the show, for some reason I could not break toilet paper, I guess I was getting old and weak in technique so I would find the smallest kid in the crowd and put them on stage to break the toilet paper , they would break it every time!!
I would be embarrassed ,hug them and help them off stage knowing no matter how tough I was, making the audience laugh was a gift and I was very lucky to be able to do that gift, a very lucky Hawaiian!!
Whether you do speed breaks or hard breaks ,it is all about technique.
This what people must understand, one board, brick or tile broken symbolizes breaking a bone in a human body with Karate technique utilizing your Bunkai you learn from Kata which is the essence of Karate, pure Kata, pure Bunkai, pure Karate.
The Texas AOK , the early years
There are so many Texas legends that have influenced my career here in Texas since I blew in from Hawaii in 1979 but one of the most colorful personalities has to be D.P.Hill from Dallas.
D.P was a great Champion and friend, he was the first brother to become a Black Belt under the Allen Steen list of Legends in a time it was not easy to become a Black Belt.
This is one of my favorite memories , not the bloody nose that I recieved but the friendship I developed with one of the great legends of Texas sport Karate ,the legenary Four Fingers of Death Master D.P Hil,Texas Legend
The Great Four Fingers of Death , a Texas Legend, a great man and friend, he is missed but will never be forgotten!, a flash back sir , 1981 ,I am at Tim Kirby’s Sunbelt open and fighting “Outrageous” Jerry Jones one of D.P Hill’s Black Belt , he was about 6’2 and as you know I am about 5’7.
D.P ,Ant Allen , Calvin Cross ,Chuck Timmons and the Dallas entourage was cheering him on. Master D.P did not know me but he used to love to watch me do Japanese Kata, really back then nobody was doing Japanese Kata in Texas in open competition. When I lined up he notice I had no coach or anyone cheering for me, so he walked to my side of the ring and in his gruff unique way of talking said ” I LIKE GARY LEE, IF NO BODY GOING TO COACH GARY LEE, I’D GOING TO COACH GARY LEE ,YOU DON’T MIND ME COACHING YOU GARY LEE , I’D LIKE YOU KATA, I’D HELP YOU BEAT MY STUDENT GARY LEE,YOU’D JUST GOT TO LIST ION TO ME, I’D JUST SHOW YOU HOW
TO BEAT ‘OUTRAGEOUS”, HE’D DON’T LISTON TO ME ANYWAY, PUNCH HIM GARY LEE, PUNCH HIM ”
I was kinda freaking out but I thought it was so cool of him doing what he did , of course “Outrageous” hit me with that patented jump spin back kick and busted my nose, blood was everywhere, Grand Master James Toney was the center judge , he gave me some paper towels and said “Welcome to Texas”, Master D.P came up to me and said “You need to learn the art of ducking Gary Lee”, We became such good friends , every time I would see him after that I always showed my love and respect and of we got to Roast him with a Celebrity Roast many great martial artist was there World Champion Ishmael Robles, World Champion Tim Kirby and World Champion Chuck Timmons
A great memory OF Sport Karate, the four fingers of death, Master D.P Hill, R.I.P
The Michael Depasquale Senior experience
As I was going though the hundreds of pictures of the Museum of Sport Karate has collected one touched my heart for he was a great man and friend, he was one of the founding fathers of martial arts in the United States and his style of martial Arts has brought together all Ju-Jutsans ,now it is studied all over the world. His son has stepped into his shoes and has carried the legacy his father laid in the martial arts community, of course I’m talking about Soke Michael DePasquale Sr.
He was legendary in the Martial Art community and respected in the law enforcement circles for he was one of the first to teach the FBI, CIA and the local police groups around the country.
His International Federation of Ju- Jutsuans has grown to thousands around the world and his memory will be forever though the Museum of Sport Karate.
It is 1994 and Pop’s was flying me everywhere for the Sherman Oak Raiders National Karate Team, It was Grand Master Jhoon Rhee National Karate Championships in Washington D.C.
To start things off, the airline lose my luggage and everything is gone except for my karate bag.
I enter five divisions that day, placed in four ,however the division I remember the most was the traditional Black Belt Kata group. Michael and his father were there and watching the division and later I found out he had stopped to watch me for he enjoyed the way I presented Kata and had watched me perform many times before.
I was humbled.
That day, I did have a goal, not only to win but beat my rival in Kata Sifu Dann Baker .
We were neck in neck in the ratings and I had a couple dozen of second places already from him, to be honest, I had never won a first place to him.
I believe that first place win that day came from knowing great men beside the judges were watching!
It is 2004, a amazing Korean stylist by the name of Yong Song Lee had a event and invited me to be the guest speaker, it was spectacular giving my address to a five hundred plus crowd, in the group were two great martial artist, Grand Master George Alexander and Michael DePasquale Jr.
I would meet these two great men and talk with them about the vision other great pioneers had and then I asked them to be History Generals for the Museum of Sport Karate .
I remember Grand Master Alexander, one of the great performers, veteran and historian of our time staying with me at the restaurant until two o’clock in the morning talking about Okinawan and American sport karate history
It was so cool!
Later in the year I was performing at Bill Violia’s Kumite Nationals in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and I would share a taxi with Master Depasquale Jr. to the airport and we talked of his father, cross ranking and possible Living Legend Roast for him later.
Now it is 2005 and my son and I are invited to fight at Tokey Hill’s event, Tokey really liked Garett, paid his entry fee, made pop’s pay my entry, lol
That night at the Living Legends Awards Banquet we were handing out Legends awards from Mike Dillard and David Wahl from Century Martial Arts , the Ed Parker “Mahalo” Award, the “Shin kicker” Award and the Jim Harrrison “Natural fighter” Award, the Awards went to Alan Goldberg, Ken Knudson and Bill “Superfoot”Wallace .
Then Michael DePasquale Jr. was asked to come to the podium and says ” My father and I feel that Gary has worked hard and has earned this cross ranking of Black Belts to recognized his commitment to Karate, Sport Karate and the Museum of Sport Karate .
I was awarded a honorary certificate 9th Dan ,Okinawan Karate signed by Michael DePasqaule Sr., Michael DePasquale Jr., Jim Harrison , Ken Knudson , Bill Wallace, Don Wilson , Steve Sanders , Dennis Brown , Tokey Hill, Chuck Zito, Bob Wall, William J D’Hrso, Weslely Snipes, John Bluman,Twain Marx Kennedy, Master Choi and Masayuki Shimabukuro. I know with out his love for Kata and our brief but short encounters none of this story would have happen , he will forever be in my memory of my journey here in the mainland.
I was humbled.
Now it is 2007, we have lost Soke Di Michael DePasquale Sr. but with the Roast of his son we honored his memory with a tribute video .Garett Lee performed a Japanese Kata tribute to Chris Canning, a young man we lost to soon to a terrible tragedy , Garett for his performance received the Chris Canning award from Chris’s father , very heart warming!
Donna Jackson sang the Living Legends song to a legendary group of American heroes that were there to honor both senior and junior DePasquale legends, Jeff Smith , Bernard Kerik, Gary Alexander, Keith Strandsberg, Keith Vitali, Joe Hess , Alan Goldberg , Shawn Flanagan, Young Song Lee, Bob Wall and Adam James were few of the Roasters.
When Michael got up after the Roast and spoke of his father ,we were all in tears not for sadness but of joy and honor to have known ,spoke with and shared with such a great American , martial artist and kind , caring person that was Michael DePasquale Sr.
A American Legend to be remembered forever in our hearts and mind .
Five years later
3rd Black , Sandan
Dr Maung Gyi and his Wisdom, a American Living Legend in martial arts
The world has been blessed with great, great men in and around our society and in the the martial arts world.
We have seen men and ladies rise to almost perfection and become legendary figures in movies, television and other ventures, it is a journey of ego, but controlled ego if under the right teachers, these lessons are taught by someone before the legends made their names in the martial arts, they had teachers who were very special, great men like Dr. Maung Gyi.
Robert Trias, Dr.Maung Gyi, Phil Koppell
I know he has touch a lot of lives and most of all this is a love letter to a man that changed my life and journey in the martial arts, this is the wisdom of Dr. Maung Gyi.
Teacher of Teachers
My first remembrance of Dr.Maung Gyi was fighting the Bando guys in Ohio, they were animals, they wore all black, won everything in Kata and weapons and most of all I remember they hit very, very hard!
I actually got knocked out by one of those animals at the Official Karate Magazine Regional event in Ohio, then got beat by Tokey Hill, Tokey was from Sensei Don Madden Dojo in Ohio and was a pure animal, but such a gentleman outside the ring, because of his efforts and hard work we will have USA Karate Do in the World Olympics, his dream ,our dream!
The second encounter was in 1982, Houston Texas and Sensei Larry Lunn, ous, comes in my life as a instructor and friend. He was under Grand Master George Anderson out of Akron Ohio, but had spent some time with the Bando guys.
He taught me the Eagle Kata from Bando and to this day it is part of my Black Belt test for mandatory Kata and Bunkai , lots of seconds, a few firsts , Grand Championship wins, State titles, a National Black Belt League World Championship, not a bad journey for a Kata from Bando.
Then it is 1992 and Zulfi Amed comes in my journey and we are traveling all over the world, rivals in Sport Karate, but outside the arena we were very close friends, his style was called Bushiban. He had Matshibushi Ward from Okinawa was the Budo or Bushido part , then the Ban was for Bando, enter Dr Maung Gyi again in my life .
My son is born and of course I give him to Master Amed , Grand Master Ward and Dr.Gyi and they are part of the reason he does immaculate Japanese Kata and were the Head Judges at his first and second Dan test.
Though the years Dr. Gyi would come in and do seminars and share with us his knowledge and divine wisdom, one seminar I don’t remember what year it was.
Garett was performing with me doing my sword routine in front of Dr. Gyi , afterward Dr. Gyi came up and said “Garett I predict great things for you, here is something for you to help you on your journey, I have carried this everywhere with me, but now it is for you, it’s heavier than normal, I filled it with sand so I can do more damage”.
I stood back in awe and saw my son received a gift that was obviously very special.
A black , bamboo walking Jo, filled with sand , Dr. Gyi had just finished his seminars using it beating up opponents and showing his way of beautiful martial arts motion and technique.
In those many years I would absorb as much as I could in the short times we were together.
I looked forward to our yearly encounters at Bushiban Headquarters and at the Black belt test were I have became part of the Bushiban martial arts family.
Then the moment Dr. Gyi changed my direction in my attitude and help me make decisions that help create the Museum and the Living Legends Celebrity Roast.
I had just received the the 1997 Golden Greek Award from Texas Sport Karate and I was at the event of the year, Bushiban’s celebration with Dr.Gyi, he called me into the main office and sat me down , I thought I had done something wrong , but again it was a just another lesson in the journey.
He put his hand on my knee and looked me in the eyes, it was a special moment.
he said “Gary, you have spent your life knocking down things and being a warrior, now it is a time of healing ,now you reverse you momentum and put it to good, build the Museum, always tell the truth, put your energy to raising your son, I believe in you”.
It did changed me, that moment, knowing a great man , not just a great Black Belt,
a founder, mentor to hundreds, he cared enough to share with me , it was motivating and now you understand why I am so passionate about the project of the Museum of Sport Karate overall.
So now you will understand the heart of this letter, Dr Gyi is a great teacher and he has taught me to share and to believe in miracles, for life is precious.
We have a few Great Sport Karate Legends who need healing and I believe in the thought process of thinking of someone special and that thought process will touch these great men of Sport Karate .
Satch Williams a sport Karate Legend, Part of that early group of pioneers that dominated sport karate, he is need of a heart transplant and please remember him .
Dean Evans ,better known as Flem Evans, History General, U.S.K.A. Legend is in the hospital having surgery ,please think of him.
Tino Tuiolosega, History General, a legend among legends, founder of Lima Lama , Duke Tirschel told of stories of how Tino would teach the legends we know today , he is in the Hospital and not in real good condition, please think of him .
Rudy Smedley , History General, A Texas Sport Karate hero , in the eighties ,he traveled all over the world representing the USA, he is in the hospital having surgery for the second time , please think of him.
Kenn Firestone from Hawaii, great fighter ,History General, braddah and dear friend, he was in a terrible car wreck a few weeks ago , still in ICU under watch , we know you will back soon little braddah , please think of him .
Yes,
Dr. Maung Gyi taught me , not so much in the art of combat but art of healing and thinking of others a special gift to pass on in the world today!
So you see Dr. Gyi is a great man of wisdom and thought and because of him he has helped create a healing for all of us, look around there is someone you know that is special and was put there to help you and guide you on your martial arts journey, seek them out , share with them , Liston to them , share with them , hug them!
The History of Traditional Karate Pioneers, Legends and Champions in the 20th Century.™
Gary Lee being disqualified for excessive head contact, protested the call, was over ruled .
Eight years later
4th Dan
Ten to twelve years later years later
5th Dan Shihan Master Teacher
Fifteen years later
6th Dan, Sensei
Twenty years later, Honorary
7th Dan, Sensei
Twenty-five years later,
World Registry
8th Dan, Sensei
9th Dan, Kyoshi
Thirty five years later
The Art of Wining, Memoirs of an American Samurai
Memoirs of an American Samurai
The Art of Wining!
http://www.amazon.com/Memoirs-American-Samurai-Warriors-Journey/dp/1463698062/
The second edition will feature these stories
The Instructors.1963-2011
The Black Belt Academy adventure, 1980 to present
Rodeo Square , The Susie McDowell story. 1982-1999
Astroworld, The Six Flag Amusement Park years. 1982-1998
The Demonstrations. Have Black Belt Will Travel
Bass Fishing ,The Texas B.A.S.S Federation Championship and Central Divisional. 1987
The National Karate circuits. 1992, TNT, AOK, NBL, S.O.C.K, USAF, NASKA
The Astrodome,Houston,Texas and Creating Kids Expo. 1992
The Police academy Hollywood Stunt show. 1993-1996
The National Black Belt League Years and the World Breaking Championship.1992-2004
The Amateur Organization of Karate and the Golden Greek Award. 1997
Black Belt Magazine Festival and Palm Springs, 2004
The Battle of Atlanta experiment , 2008
The Masters Hall of Fame , The Karate Masters Hall of Fame , The NBL Black Belt Hall of Fame,The AOK Black Belt Hall of Fame , World Martial Art Master Black Belt Hall of Fame, Bushiban Black Belt Hall of Fame, Texas Black Belt Hall of Fame, United States Black Belt Hall of Fame 2010 recipient, “Founders Award”
International Director ’2011
The Traditional Okinawan Kobujutsu Association & Martial Arts Federation (TOKAMAF), for USA/TEXAS
United States Karate Federation,1st place , Gold Medalist Weapons, a total of 61 competitors in the weapons division.
1992 , Dallas ,Texas , USAF Nationals
http://www.amazon.com/Memoirs-American-Samurai-Warriors-Journey/dp/1463698062/
Biography
Professor Gary Lee- Born in Honolulu, Hawaii
Professor Gary Lee is an international karate champion, master karate teacher, a writer for many martial arts publications, a Black Belt Hall Of Fame inductee, and a historian of sport karate. He was also a professional stuntman for many of Hollywood’s favorite martial arts films. He now devotes his intention to Black Belt TV, a martial arts network he helped create in 2005.
Professor Gary Lee 9th Dan, Founder of The Museum of Sport Karate Masters, has graciously accepted ‘The Life Time Membership Award’ from The Traditional Okinawan Kobujutsu Association and Martial Arts Federation. for the tireless work he has undertaken on forming the Museum of Sport Karate Masters in Preserving the History of Martial Arts in America, The Award is presented for long and dedicated service to preserving the history of Martial Arts, the accolades of his fellow American Martial Artists say it all.
Gary Lee began studying karate in 1963 in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was only six years old. He earned his Black Belt in 1969 and moved to San Francisco, California on the mainland. At the age of fourteen, he began a journey that would take him all over the United States, meeting and training with the pioneers and legends of the martial arts. In the early days, training and competing was different than it is today. Karate was mysterious and unexplained and, as a real Black Belt with a no nonsense attitude about his art, Gary walked into a karate school assuming all karate instruction was alike. He learned early that this is not so and that not all instruction or instructors were alike.
Some of the incredible Black Belts who have been part of Gary’s journey and who have signed his Black Belt Diplomas beginning in 1969 are a who’s who of the martial arts. These include:
Sensei Torio Kishi, Andrew Tamper, Sam Chapman, Mako, Sid Campbell, Jack Farr, Rick Fowler, Dan Anderson, John Townsly, Chuck Vito, Tokey Hill, Ken Knudson, Bob Wall, Jim Harrison, Allen Steen, George Minshew, John Chung, Daryl Stewart, Ed Daniel, Ronnie Al, Dennis Brown, Steve Muhammed Sanders, Wesley Snipes, Michael Depasquale Sr., Michael Depasquale Jr., Don “The Dragon” Wilson, James Toney, Royce Young, Ishmael Robles, Tim Kirby, Matsbushi Ward, Dr. Maung Gyi, Benard Braverman, J. Pat Burleson, William Ping Hi, Harry Young, Ming Lum, Dale Kirby, Joesph St. Ives, Tim Vought, Bill Wallace, Seung Au, Jim Butin, Jose Santa Maria, Linda Denley, to name a few of the Masters and teachers who have touched Gary Lee’s life. The first Karate teachers who promoted Gary Lee and who would be considered his most current instructors are Andrew Tamper (passed), Sid Campbell (passed), Sam Chapman, Jack Farr, Al Hippert, Mako (passed), George Minshew, Matsbushi Ward, Dr. Maung Gyi and the Hawaiian Black Belt Society.
From 1969 until 1999 Gary Lee traveled all over the United States competing then retired from open competition. He had an incredible career with many, many wins. In 2006, he donated five hundred trophies and awards from his collection to the Make a Wish Foundation, and donated his Tenth Degree Black Belt Certificate for auction. He has been inducted into Masters Hall of Fame, The AOK Hall of Fame as Competitor of the Year, The National Black Belt League Hall of Fame as Texas Competitor of the Year, Kumite Nationals, a $1000.00 scholarship is given in his name, National Black League World Breaking Champion, Black Belt Kata, and Weapons and fighting Titles. In 1993 Gary was the Bushiban Hall of Fame Man of the Year. In 1997 he won the Texas “Golden Greek” Award. He has been rated in the Top Ten Ratings in fighting, weapons, kata, and breaking for many groups and organizations such as S.E.K.A, A.O.K, NBL, S.O.C.K, USAF, SKI, and TNT.
A 9th Degree Black Belt, he received his Professorship of the Martial Arts in Hawaii in 2002.
Professor Gary Lee has always been very innovative in creating martial art projects though out his career:
*The Kids Expo, a project to introduce children to the martial arts.
*1984 – Created first Karate show for Six Flags Amusement Parks called The Texas Karate *All-Stars performing 5,000 Live shows in front of millions of spectators until his retirement in 1997.
*Star performer at the Hollywood Stunt Show at Astroworld theme park.
*Produced the Living Legends Black Belt Nationals.
*Co-producer and Co-founder of Black Belt TV Martial Art Exclusive, the first Internet martial arts channel.
*Produced 17 Living Legends Celebrity Roasts of the Pioneers of Martial Arts
*Founder of the Museum of Sport Karate
*Founder of the Top Texas Ten Black Belt Ratings
*Recognized by the international Ryukyu Karatejutsu Research Society
Honor Roll
Hall of Fame
Historian of the Year
2010
*United States Black Belt Hall of Fame
Founder Award
2010
*United States Member Black Dragon Fighting Society.
Yudansha 9th Degree Black Belt
Signed by Count Juan Raphael Dan’te, Ashida Kim, Dr.Lawrence Day, Hanshi Frank Dux
Founding members.
Currently Professor Lee devotes his time to the Museum of Sport Karate, a non-profit organization created to preserve sport karate history and pioneers of the American golden years from 1946, when the first sport karate studio opened, to 1999, when the first Living Legends were born. He also writes the “Kabuki Warrior Tales” for USADOJO.COM and many other martial arts entities and is a Sport Martial Arts adviser for http://www.worldidedojo.com.
He is the representative for http://www.samuraisupply.com/ a Japanese sword company and performs sword shows all over the world. He is the associate producer for the Martial Art Masters of Texas Live Radio Show. He is on the Board of Ad visors for the Karate Masters Hall of Fame and the Masters Black Belt Hall of Fame.
Currently Professor Lee devotes his time to the Museum of Sport Karate, a non-profit organization created to preserve sport karate history and pioneers of the American golden years from 1946, when the first sport karate studio opened, to 1999, when the first Living Legends were born.
Welcome to the Official Site of The Museum of Sport Karate™
The History of Traditional Karate Pioneers, Legends and Champions in the 20th Century.™
Masters of Texas Live Radio Interview with Professor Gary Lee
http://mamastersoftexas.com/mp3/MAMOT-2010-05-19.mp3
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10th Degree Fantasy Black Belt
Founder of style
Who has the authority to give out Tenth Degree Black Belt Diplomas and certification and how on earth did so many Grand Masters appear on the planet with out question , every body has the right to question , speak their mind and share information of knowledge they know is true ,this was a simple journey of a simple black belt who learned the hard way there are obstacles in every sport ,however a Black Belt is the excellence of achievement ,not about sport , not about winning a confrontation, it is about learning not to give up and sharing to be the best you can be though your positive mental attitude, but some where lurking ,maybe in a city near you or even in your community.
if you do your research!
Some where out there there is one of the So called Grand Masters Intergalactic Universal Supreme World State County Grand Master wanna-Be’s of the world opening a MARTIAL SCHOOL NEAR YOU IN THE NEAR FUTURE , , HAVING YOU SIGN A CONTRACT AND GUARANTEEING YOU A BLACK BELT IN ONE YEAR!!! TRAINING YOU TO HANDLE 36 WEAPONS OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION,TO BREAK BRICKS,LEGS ARMS AND OTHER PARTS OF THE BODY NOT ALLOWED TO SAY IN PUBLIC, LABELING YOU AS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS MEN ON THE PLANET AND YES ,YOU COULD OPEN A SCHOOL TOO, IN TWO YEARS AND BE THE GRAND MASTER SUPREME INSTRUCTOR AND IT GOES ON AND ON AND ON AND ON !
2012 WHAT’S NEXT ?
Sad to say this is what happening in the martial arts world in 2012 Flaky wanna be Karate Instructors, I found this on the internet , I believe he is 39 years old, but be aware there are so many to count , if interested in checking a background , just ask and don’t assume everyone is who they say they are.
In closing only believe half of what you read , only half what you read and only half of what someone tells you and the rest is what you build on your own relationship.
Wow , I remember like it was yesterday ,coming to Texas ,dreaming of just being rated ,thinking if I could be rated in Texas I could be rated anywhere in the country ,after all back then Texas was bigger than life and still is , I was the New Kid In
Town .Kata, Weapons and breaking was hard but the fighting came naturally , I love Karate and the dear ,dear friends that came along with the journey thank you Texas Karate! The Gathering
http://youtu.be/L7c-P5hAPfg
In October from the 11TH to the 13TH the gathering will take place in Houston Texas. It will be more than the usual get together that has taken place from time to time in martial arts history. It will make history because it will do what no other get together has accomplished in the past. It will bring together two polarized groups that have been at odds since the sixties and seventies. A feud, by the way, that separates the two groups to this day. On one side you have the traditional group. This group includes the point fighters and light contact group. On the other you have the dojo bangers. That will include the hard core blood guts and gore fighters that see the martial arts, karate in particular, as a strictly combat system. From the latter group were the first practitioners of real no holds barred sparring and mixed martial arts for combat. The two groups met in the middle, philosophically at least, when full contact karate and kick boxing became a part of the mainstream.
These two groups have been circling each other like combatants on a school playground for years. Mutual suspicion and distrust and open hostility has separated the two groups for decades. It is my hope and the hope of many that these two groups will narrow if not completely destroy the rift that separates them.
This historical idea is the brain child of Professor Gary Lee of the Museum of Sports Karate. His knowledge and acquaintance with some of the representatives of both groups fostered the idea of bringing them together in one place. How well this will work remains to be seen. My hope is that the two factions will meet in mutual respect and iron out the differences that separate them and if not to agree to disagree.
The gathering will honor fifty years of sports karate and the competitors that made this time historical in the martial arts. Many of the masters and champions of that era will be there and many will be honored at the event.
Another first will be presented at this event. A black belt exam will be streamlined online by Watch Me Sports. I’m told that candidates for fourth, fifth and eighth degree black belts will be going up for rank. Some of the most respected martial arts masters in traditional karate will be sitting on the review board. That alone will make this gathering historical. I have heard also that many of the seminars and demonstrations will be aired also.
So what will you be doing in October? You have any number of choices. In my opinion the BDFS reunion in Kentucky is one option. The Gathering in Texas is the other. I don’t know about you but I plan to be there for both. Both are too fantastic to miss if you’re a sincere martial artist, regardless of what school of thought you are a member of. It would be a pity to miss either or both. Be there or be square. History is in the making.
About Donald Miskel
Donald Miskel has written 4 articles on WorldWideDojo.com.
Donald Miskel has written 6 articles on World Wide Dojo.. Grandmaster Miskel started his training in 1959 at the Jiu Jitsu Institute in Chicago and trained with several well known and respected martial arts instructors in a number of disciplines. He has attained black belt ranking in six different martial art disciplines. Sensei Miskel taught at several locations in and around the Chicago area for many years. His focus was self defense instruction for civilians and specialized, individual, training for law enforcement personnel and security officers. He worked in several areas of law enforcement, mental health and personal security as well as performing Pastoral duties at several churches and ministries for a number of years. e helped to create the Black Lotus Combative System and he founded the Dante Ryu Gojute Kenpo karate/ Ju jitsu fighting system. Dr. Miskel is an original member of the Black Dragon Fighting Society
Masters of Texas Live Radio Interview with Professor Gary Lee
http://mamastersoftexas.com/mp3/MAMOT-2010-05-19.mp3
The Great Samurai Yoshshitune
A Statement from a History General and an Undefeated World Karate Champion
Aloha Gary,
I commend you on your exceptional efforts to make your dreams come true. Many people have talked of a museum as you envision it but few if any have taken the positive action to make it happen. I wish for you what you wish for all martial artist, a place to reflect and remember our roots and heritage for it is extremely important now more so than ever. I know you will experience much success and happiness and feel great about yourself and what you are doing for all martial artist regardless of system or style. We are
all one no matter what our personal preferences in applying our art. I personally want to thank you and what you to know that you have my support in making your dream come true.
With great respect and Aloha,
Mike Stone
Undefeated World Karate Champion
Hanshi Sid Campbell, another time ,another life
A Statement from Sid Campbell, an American Sport Karate Pioneer
Aloha and welcome,
The Sport Martial Arts Museum Organization under the guidance of founder Gary Lee is a major step forward in preserving the past, unifying the present and strengthening the future of the sporting aspects of our art. It is also the official home of the history, traditions and accomplishments of great martial artists that pioneered the way in bringing these exciting sport-oriented martial traditions to the United States and spreading it throughout the western world.
What we see today in the vast expanse where the martial arts have entrenched itself in American’s culture and social fabric is a plethora of positive human qualities that was spawned by the martial arts sport movement. Through venues like karate tournaments, major action-adventure motion picture productions, professionally sanctioned televised events, martial arts schools, law enforcement agency defense tactics curriculums, Internet connectivity, seminars, magazine publishers, equipment supply companies, instructional books, educational DVDs, video arcade games, etc. — can all, in one way or another, trace its roots back to the sport martial arts competitors of the early 1960s when the Asian martial traditions were being introduced to the world. More specifically, it was the martial arts competitors, tournament producers and the fans of that bygone era that we today call the “golden age” of karate in America is of where this expansive and phenomenal growth evolved from in the first place.
Being fortunate enough to be one of the first Americans to teach Okinawan karate in the United States and western world during karate’s “golden age” of the 60s, I was blessed to be a part this cultural evolution. To be a small part of this dedicated cadre of this movement which now touts tens of millions of practitioners on a global scale still humbles me beyond the scope of words alone.
In my wildest dreams I could not have imagined that the martial disciplines like karate, kung-fu (gung-fu), judo, jujitsu, ninjitsu, tae kwon do, kempo, escrima, kendo, aikido, iaido, kali, capoeira, savate, sambo, kobudo, pankration, bugei, wushu, mixed martial arts and eclectic martial arts would have reached that level of popularity in the past forty some odd years. And, to see the art I love so much endure these sometimes tumultuous times and undergo so many innovative changes along the way while still retaining the quintessential essence of its original purpose and traditional values is truly astounding. Perhaps what is just incredible about this form of physical expression that emphasizes moral and ethical values is that it has helped develop some of the finest human beings that these past four decades of growth can produce. I must attribute this, at least in part, to the exceptional martial arts educators that have dedicated their life and energy to elevating the spirit of the warrior and teaching the arts that has been a way of life for a select few for the past fifteen hundred years.
The Sport Martial Arts Museum was created and founded on the premise that the efforts, dedication, perseverance and enthusiasm of these early practitioners would be preserved and passed forth for posterity sake. A noble cause in deed when we stop to think that many future generations will know who was responsible for this phenomenal growth and worldwide popularity from a sport perspective. Again, I must reiterate that this worthy endeavor to document, archive and house the sporting aspects of these myriad of martial disciplines that were, in part, responsible for this global popularity of the martial arts is the righteous and just action to take so that future generations will be able to share in the excitement, enthusiasm and camaraderie that was unwittingly nurtured in karate’s “golden age” of karate in America. And, as with any endeavor that attracts the interest of millions of avid devotees, preserving the past, unifying the present and strengthening the future needs a strong foundation to insure existence. I believe Gary Lee has set the cornerstone in place through his unceasing efforts and true love for the martial disciplines to guide this endeavor into the future. His insightful perception will undoubtedly insure that the sports aspects of the martial arts will be preserved and passed forward for many, many generations to come. For that, we will all be deeply indebted.
As you visit the Five House you will step back in time to when America and the western world was embracing the cultural traditions of Asia and forming an international bond that is stronger today because of his many years of hard work. Essentially Gary Lee has captured time in a bottle so that others can share these moments and drink from that same fountain of knowledge that America’s karate pioneers enjoyed from its introduction in 1945 in Phoenix, Arizona.
With great respect and Aloha,
Malama pono,
Sid Ka’imi Campbell
10th dan, hanshi, kaicho
Founder, the World Okinawan Shorin-ryu Karate-do and Kobudo Association (WOSKKA)
Founding Member, WorldBlackBelt.com
Karate grandmaster, artist, author, actor, tournament producer
DUANE R. ETHINGTON’S OPENING SPEECH FOR THE SPORTS KARATE HISTORY MUSEUM
We’ve come a long way, babe!
From the spawning of the very first dojo in America through the britches-busting youthful exuberance of the Texas “blood and guts” era and into today’s strapping grown-up rambunctious version, Sports Karate has become a rousing success. But how did it arrive at this point and why has it been so successful?
A very few realize that martial arts in America began way back in 1848 with the arrival of the Chinese Coolies who were brought in to work on the railroads. These ‘imports’ secretly practiced versions of Kung Fu.
Then came judo, introduced by Yoshiaki Yamashita in 1902 and Kali in 1907 by Jack Santos. In 1921 America got its first wide-spread exposure to oriental martial arts in a movie called THE OUTSIDE WOMAN. Throughout the years every other aspect of martial arts has been brought to America’s shores.
Closer to home, perhaps, after Mas Oyama traveled in 32 states giving his famous demonstration of chopping the horns off live and charging bulls, Robert Trias became the first documented Caucasian to open a school in America. He opened in Phoenix, Arizona in 1946 and founded the United States Karate Association the next year. Collegiate judo flourished and Edward Kaloudis introduced karate to the east coast about the same time that Ed Parker was bringing Kenpo to Provo, Utah.
Master Trias held the first organized tournament in 1955 and Korean Jhoon Rhee opened shop in San Marcos, Texas. Rhee’s class, which spawned legendary Allen Steen, the father of Texas karate, was probably the beginning of the ‘blood and guts’ era.
J.Pat Burleson became the first National Karate Champion and Allen Steen made martial arts history by defeating Chuck Norris and Joe Lewis, back to back at Ed Parker’s International tournament in 1966. It was a feat never before accomplished.
Other greats across the nation were making their marks, as well. Thomas LaPuppett, Louis Delgado, Don Nagle, George Mattson, S. Henry Cho and Peter Urban were leading the east coast while, Ed Parker, Chuck Norris, Joe Lewis, Steve Armstrong, Bob Wall, Bong Yu, Ernie Reyes, Bruce Lee and Mike Stone, who was perhaps the greatest tournament competitor of all time were handling things nicely on the west coast.
Texans were dominating wherever they appeared. Skipper Mullins, David Moon, Chuck Loven, Fred Wren, Roy Kurban, Demetrius Havanas, Harold Gross, Jim Harkins, Jim Miller, James Butin, Ed Daniels and Linda Denley were putting their special stamps on the sport that would stand for all time.
Texans, though, weren’t the only pioneers as Mike Stone, Jim Harrison, Ken Knudson, Joe Lewis, Benny Urquidez, Ernie Reyes, Bill Wallace, Howard Jackson, Bob Wall, Joe Corley, Keith Vitali, Glenn Keeney, Roger Carpenter, Jerry Peddington, Steve Fisher and Pat and John Worley along with Jeff Smith and Ron Marcini were elevating the sport in their respective areas.
Fighters, though, weren’t the only ones to make their marks and perpetuate this ever-growing, strapping youth known as Sport Karate. Magazine editors, writers and promoters all had a hand in making the sport an elite entity. Mito Uyhara, Howard Hanson, Renardo Barden, Al Weiss, John Corcoran, Mike Anderson, Emile Farkas, Duane Ethington, Gary Lee, Fumio Demura, Keith Yates, Curtis Wong, Ken Knudson and many others kept the sport growing and in the public eye.
Hollywood did its part, too. Great Martial artists like Bruce Lee, Bong Soo Han, Chuck Norris, Jean Claude Van Damme, Dolph Lundgren, Philip and Simon Rhee, James Cagney, Yul Brynner, Jackie Chan, Howard Jackson, Tom Laughlin, Benny Urquidez, Mike Stone, Steve Fisher, Sonny Chiba, Jet Li, Tadashi Yamashita and Bob Wall lent their particular expertise to filmdome.
Non-martial artists, too, portrayed martial artists. People like Eric Roberts, Sean Connery, Wesley Snipes, David Carridine, Ralph Maccio, Pat Morita and many others were involved.
The great ladies of the sport, too, cannot be overlooked. Graciela Casillas, Linda Denley, Phyllis Evetts, Joy Turberville, Jenice Miller, Malaia DeCastos, Karyn Turner, Charlotte Hoffman, Marion Bermudes, Cynthia Rothrock, Arlene Limas, Lana Hyde, Barbara Nagel, Mary Ann Corcoran and so many others lent beauty and grace to the sport.
Countless others must be recognized, as well. The Raymond McCallum’s, Troy Dorsey’s, Tim Kirby’s, Sean Ethington’s, Mark Wendell’s, Ishmael Robles’, James Toney’s, Mike Proctor’s, Shannon Harvey’s, and Lio Zapata’s have all helped to pave the way.
Now here we are. A big, strapping, much admired, talented and here-forever young stalwart who is just about to get our own History Museum and Library and take our rightful place in the world of sports forever more.
From the top of the workhorse chain – the Gary Lee’s and Shawn Flanagans – to all the countless people who contributed what they could here and there, American Sport Karate could not and would not BE without you.
A heartfelt thank you and OSS.
Duane Ethington
https://www.facebook.com/events/238705372895255/
Aloha ,
Mike and students we would be honored to Test a group of Texas BOYS at The Gathering
Four levels , BASICS ,KATA,,SELF DEFENSE , SPARRING SKILLS
Sixth Dan or Higher ,pick two the Skills to perform , weapons ,breaking allowed
I run the Test, with your instructors approval and blessing .
Cost $300.00
Check or money order made out to Sport Karate Museum
{ Donation}
Please mail to
Professor Gary Lee
Sport Karate Museum
13403 Nantucket Drive
Sugar Land ,Texas
77478
YOU PROVIDE THE CERTIFICATE OF YOUR CHOICE ,IF NEEDED WE WILL SUPPLY A CERTIFICATE
Review Board of 40 Masters and Grand Masters
Friday ,October 12, 2012
Hilton Southwest ,Regency Ballroom
7:00 pm -9:30 pm
Kickin with old school Special Guest Sport Karate Museum
http://kcaa.media.celestrion.net/podcasts/kickin/kcaa-kickin-20120410.mp3
NEW SEMINARS ,SPECIAL GUEST ,GETTING MORE INTERESTING EVERY DAY!!
Get you Tickets Now !
This will sellout !
TICKETS 713-483-0476
PROFESSORGARYLEE@GMAIL.COM
Steaming to the world of Sport Karate though the internet !!
Dinner / Grand Masters Performance/ Awards / Live Entertainment / Surprises!!
Legends of the Sport Karate world are all descending on Houston Oct. 11-13 for The Gathering 2012 and for the first time ever, we are streaming it LIVE to the internet.
The Sport Karate Museum is partnering up with WatchmeSports to bring you the entire event LIVE and archived to your PC anywhere in the world! See a candidates working to achieve1st ,3rd and 4th and 8th Dan Black Belt.
The Black Belt Test broadcasted live for the first time ever!!
Watch this universal Review Board of Master Black Belts from around America approve or Disapproved.Watch seminars from the ultimate masters of their craft!
Friday – Sixteen Super Seminars Start 8:00 AM with the top ,most talked about Masters in the business from world class sparring seminars with World Champions, Troy Dorsey,Raymond McCallum, Tim Kirby and Ishmael Robles together ,two days, Owner of Samurai Supply Swords will teach you how to clean and take apart your sword with safety and technique or how about learning to execute your sword with a Black Belt Hall of Fame Member Dana Abbott with his amazing seminar “LAND SHARK” or learn the art of White Crane Okinawan Karate with the Grand Masters Ron Lindsey and Philip Bradley ,love the UFC, we have Sam Hogar ,Veteran of many wars in the Octagon, sharing his knowledge, DEFINITELY ONE OF MY FAVORITES ,Joshua St.Ives Riot Control, then the EKU Kata, seminar with Rodney McPherson ,but if that is not enough Raven Tactical International will share there view on street crime and how to protect yourself , Duane Ethington will educate you on take downs and his version of Jit-Jit Su, Policeman for thirty four years Master Richard Morris will teach you STREET FIGHTING !, the Masters Kajukenbo Class with 9th Dan Ron Pierce will be exciting two days of PURE KENPO and don’t forget the foremost Ninja authority ,Ashida Kim ,if you can find him ,lol
Enjoy the awards ceremony honoring the living legends of our sport including J. Pat Burleson, Reunion of American Warriors from the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s ,90’s and year 2000!!
Rare appearance together, Winners of the KUMITE , Jim Mack , Irving Soto
J. Pat Burleson ,the first American National Karate Champion, 1964 and other very dangerous martial artist from around the world will received the Sport Karate Museum most prestigious DRAGON IMAGE FIGHTING AWARD
Troy Dorsey, Raymond McCallum , Jerry Piddington , Linda Denley Bruce Brutschy, Danny McCall, Sal Naveraz, John Townsley, Darell Lassiter , Mike McNamara, Micheal Felkoff, Tim Kirby, Robert Parham, Dan Hect , Tony Lopez, Ron Lindsey, Judge Roy D.Kurban, Ron Pierce, Jim Harrison, Derrick Pendergrass, Irving Soto, Parker Shelton, Lawrence Arthur, James Stevens, Phyllis Evetts, Joshua St.Ives, Ishmael Robles , Cindy Benivedez , Annette Benivedez, Jim Willouhby, Richard Jenkins, Jim Butin, Albert Hippert, James Toney, Daryl Stewart, David Archer, Guy James, Johnny Lee, Everett “Monster Man “Eddy,Tom Shakey Levak, Keith Vitali, Michael Goldman, Marty Knight, Mike Genova, James Woodson, Johnny Gyro, Al Garza, Manny Reyes Jr, Chris Martinez, Clif Thomas, Jason “JDog” Holmes, Ashley Wood-Tyler, Anthony Allen, Carl Whitaker, Adrian Galvan, Martha Garcia, David Caster, Scott Caster, Richard Dixon R.I.P, Rick Stanford, Ovid Rodriquez, George”Lighting ” Sorrell, Ada Sorrell, Regena Thompson, Richard Langenstein, Steve Sosa , Zulfi Ahmed, Chris Gallio, Chris Minshew, Sam Hogar, Willie Galvan, Tony Torres, Tony Mosely, Daniel Perez, Michael Palamo, Chance Turner, Vito Rodriquez, Chad Cannon, Ryan P.George, Eric Love less, Scott Messina , Rooster Machen ,Rick Arnold,
LIVE and archived from anywhere in the world!!!
More details to follow soon.
Best Regards,
Travis Hopkins
Vice President
WatchmeSports, LLC
3221 Hulen St. Suite F
Fort Worth, TX
(817) 291-1889
https://www.facebook.com/groups/158894350810560/doc/381475265219133/
The Gathering ,Houston Texas,October 11th, 12th and 13th, Celebrating 50 years of Sport Karate
By Gary Lee in Museum of Sport Karate Master Members · Edit Doc · Delete
The Sport Karate Museum proudly presents the most anticipated event for 2012 in the martial art community, Black Belts are saying around America that there has not been a buzz about Sport Karate since the seventies when it kinda went crazy with Bruce Lee and the Billy Jack movies/
Ratings of the Karate Fighters were popular though Magazines such as Black Belt’s Karate Illustrated Magazine ,Top Ten, Professional Karate Magazine,The S.T.A.R Ratings, KRANE, National Black Belt League, NASKA, AOK and Top Texas Ten Black Belt Ratings. Fifty years of Sport Karate fighters will be celebrated at the Sport Karate Museum’s The Gathering.
The event is anchored with the vision of Professor Gary Lee ,a pioneer who has spearheaded the project from the beginning back in 1999 at the first Living Legends at the same Hilton where the idea was born will be celebrated thirteen years later with a array of activities.
Thursday – setup V.I.P Welcome Party **Atrium Area, Hosted by Sport Karate Museum
Friday – Sixteen Super Seminars Start 8:00 AM with the top ,most talked about Masters in the business from world class sparring seminars with World Champions, Troy Dorsey,Raymond McCallum, Tim Kirby and Ishmael Robles together ,two days, Owner of Samurai Supply Swords will teach you how to clean and take apart your sword with safety and technique or how about learning to execute your sword with a Black Belt Hall of Fame Member Dana Abbott with his amazing seminar “LAND SHARK” or learn the art of White Crane Okinawan Karate with the Grand Masters Ron Lindsey and Philip Bradley ,love the UFC, we have Sam Hogar ,Veteran of many wars in the Octagon, sharing his knowledge, DEFINITELY ONE OF MY FAVORITES ,Joshua St.Ives Riot Control, then the EKU Kata, seminar with Rodney McPherson ,but if that is not enough Raven Tactical International will share there view on street crime and how to protect yourself , Duane Ethington will educate you on holds and body locks, Policeman for thirty four years Master Richard Morris will teach you STREET FIGHTING !, the Masters Kajukenbo Class with 9th Dan Ron Pierce will be exciting, two days and don’t forget the Ninja’s,Ashida Kim ,if you can find him ,lol
BLACK BELT VENDORS SHOW ,and SILENT AUCTION ,SWORDS, KNIFES
COLLECTIBLES,RARE ITEMS, JAPANESE PRINTS, MOVIE POSTERS, MOVIE SCRIPTS
Friday 7:00 pm -9:00 pm BLACK BELT TEST Regency Ballroom Open to Public!!!! Arrow in the throat,walk on glass demonstration halftime performance Saturday 8:00 am Seminars Start and SHOW OPENS
SATURDAY
5:00 pm Master Guy James Singer and LIVE AUCTION
6:00 p m Dinner and Super show of Grand Masters and tribute to 50 years of Sport Karate. Personal Hand drawn DRAGON IMAGE FIGHTER AWARD by History General Hanshi Philip Bradley from England will at the Gathering personally signing each Award and stamping.
The Sport Karate Museum will sign each one along with the honorable Philip Bradley and Kyoshi George Bishop, our special guest from England.
SIXTY fighters are chosen along with V.I.P’s to honor fifty years of American Sport Karate and a Masters performance of martial arts ,Grand Masters and the kids of the future will honor these amazing Performers of sport karate in America , most of the invited guest help create the sport in America as producers, players, editors, writers,Judges, time keepers, score keepers and fans.
This will be a celebration to honor fighters from 1950 though 2000 ,some special awards will be given also.
In 2004 Century Fitness with the Sport Karate Museum established and introduced The Jim Harrison Natural Fighter Award .
This year we have added The Chuck Norris Natural Fighter Award, The Raymond McCallum Natural Fighter Award, The James Cook Natural Fighter Award and the Keith Vitali Natural Fighter Award along with The Ed Parker Mahalo Humanitarian Award. Century Fitness makes the Awards and has been at front at all the Sport Karate Museum’s effort’s to honor the pioneers of American Sport Karate.
Some of the incredible performers at the Dinner Show , Ron Lindsey, Philip Bradley, George Bishop, Dana Abbott, Willie Galvan, Irving Soto, Derrick Pendergrass, David Johnson, Gary Carico, Rylan Garza, Bear Loebe, Bryce Marchington, Deddy Mansyur, Johnny Murphy, Dr. Patrick Price, Little Ro Paul, Charlie Dean, Martha Garcia, Alfredo Bustemonte.
We will also honor a memory of a pioneer who paved the way of being the Center Judge,Jay T.Will , Ten nominee’s.
The best Center Referee’s Award will be honored.
Special Guest Speakers on the history of American pioneers and 50 years of Sport Karate Jamie Cashion***** Motivational Speaker, world traveler, missionary, Fireman ,Master 6th Dan Black Belt, Ambassador for Sport Karate,Museum. Incredible human being
George Minshew***** Texas Legend, creator of the Karate Olympiks, 47 year running tournament,9th Master Karate Instructor, Black Belt Academy Legend,History General, Duane Ethington***** Texas Legend, Master Writer he has written over 500 articles on martial arts.Library for the Museum is name in his honor , 10th Dan
Roger Bornstein***** Marketing director for Six Flags {retired}, now the marketing director for Space Center Houston ,5th Dan Master Black Belt, Ambassador for Museum
Out Law Dave from 950 Radio***** Radio personality and spokesman for the Sport Karate Museum, Honorary Black Belt under Professor Gary Lee, Bruddah
Roy D. Kurban*****,World rated fighter, Top Ten rated fighter, Producer, Inventor of the Two -point kick rule, State Judge, S.W.A.T, Black Belt Magazine Black Belt Hall of Fame
The Gathering
More Fun than a Barrel of White belts !!
Celebrating 50 years of Sport Karate in America!
These men love the pioneers and Legends of Sport Martial Arts and the pioneers of martial arts in America ,a time of rawness and blood and guts and a lot of those pioneers will be at The Gathering ,October 11,12,13 in Houston Texas
Hilton Southwest
Order your seat early, Dinner, Super Show of Classical
Performances of Grand Masters and class performers such as the Legendary Gm Irving Soto, Black Belt Magazine’s Hall of Fame Dana Abbott, Kung Fu Willie Galvan, White Crane’s Ron Lindsey, Charlie Dean Philip Bradley, George Bishop, Weapon’s Master Johnny Murphy, Lawrence”Bear “Loebe Sport Karate Super Stars, University’s of Houston’s Karate Head Instructor Deddy Mansyur performing Kata. Derrick Pendergrass Bo Performance, Dr. Patrick Price full strikes to the groin and throat, Kata Specialist Tony Torres, Bushiban’s Gary Carico “Great Ball of Fire and many surprise performances !
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Sixteen Incredible Seminars with the Masters of Martial Arts !
Friday ****
SPECIAL ROOM
Dana Abbott,” LAND SHARK”
Danny McCall and Jerry Piddington KI PRESENTATION
Ron Pierce Masters Kajukenb Seminar
Ashida Kim, Advanced Stealth Ninja Technique.
Grand Master Ron Lindsey, Charlie Dean, Philip Bradley, George Bishop, Advance Okinawan White Crane Application
Raven Tactical International
World Karate Champions, Troy Dorsey, Raymond McCallum , Ishmael Robles and Tim Kirby , World Class Sparring 3:00 p m
http://www.samuraisupply.com will take apart a Musashi Live Sword and put it back to together Sword Maintenance
All Seminars are $45.00 SAVE Pick three of your favorites $125.00
or SUPER PACKAGE Five Super Seminars for $240 plus cool gift!!
**********************************************
Saturday****
MAIN BALLROOM
Shihan Deddy Mansyur Shotokan Kion Application.
Bushiban’s Sam Hogar presents UFC basics.
Master Duane Ethington , lock and holds
MasterJoshua St.Ives, Riot Conrol
Master James Cook, Kung -Fu applications
Master Richard Morris STREET FIGHTING
9th Dan Ron Pierce heads Masters Kajukenbo Class
Dr. Patrick Price Jit Jitsu Rolling with the flow ,Ki is the essential tool!
Rave Tactical International
Master Buddy Hudson ,America’s Best ,Seminar FREE
Master Ron Lindsey, Charlie Dean , Philip Bradley, George Bishop, Okinawan White Crane.
Sihan Dana Abbott “LAND SHARK”
World Karate Champions, Troy Dorsey Raymond McCallum Ishmael Robles and Tim Kirby , World Class Sparring !,
A new Seminar every hour !!!!
$45.00 or three seminars for $125.00 or SUPER MUSEUM PACKAGE FIVE SUPER SEMINARS FOR $240.00 with a special gift from the Sport Karate Museum!, a Black Ops Tactical pocket knife or a rare Japanese Samurai Print !!
BLACK BELT TEST Friday Night after the Expo and Seminars
7:00 – 9:00 p m
Students testing for 1st Dan ,4th Dan and 8th Dan
SPECIAL DEMONSTRATION from Danny McCall and Jerry Piddington
FIRE WALKERS WALKING ON GLASS, BREAKING ARROWS WITH KI IN THE THROAT!!
Regency Ballroom
Free No Charge Open to public
Special Invited Black Belts High Dan Board!
Sport Karate Black Belt Vendors Expo!!
Live and Silent Auction Rare Japanese Prints, Movie Posters , Television Scripts,Special Ops Knives , Swords ,Movie Cells, Swords memorabilia from past !!
Reunion of American Warriors from the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s ,90’s and year 2000!!
Rare appearance together, Winners of the KUMITE , Jim Mack , Irving Soto
J. Pat Burleson ,the first American National Karate Champion, 1964 and other very dangerous martial artist from around the world will received the Sport Karate Museum most prestigious DRAGON IMAGE FIGHTING AWARD
Troy Dorsey, Raymond McCallum , Jerry Piddington , Linda Denley Bruce Brutschy, Danny McCall, Sal Naveraz, John Townsley, Darell Lassiter , Mike McNamara, Micheal Felkoff, Tim Kirby, Robert Parham, Dan Hect , Tony Lopez, Ron Lindsey, Judge Roy D.Kurban, Ron Pierce, Jim Harrison, Derrick Pendergrass, Irving Soto, Parker Shelton, Lawrence Arthur, James Stevens, Phyllis Evetts , Duke Tirschel, Joshua St.Ives, Ishmael Robles , Cindy Benivedez , Annette Benivedez, Jim Willouhby, Richard Jenkins, Jim Butin, Albert Hippert, James Toney, Daryl Stewart, David Archer, Guy James, Johnny Lee, Everett “Monster Man “Eddy,Tom Shakey Levak, Keith Vitali, Michael Goldman, Marty Knight, Mike Genova, James Woodson, Johnny Gyro, Al Garza, Manny Reyes Jr, Chris Martinez, Clif Thomas, Jason “JDog” Holmes, Ashley Wood-Tyler, Anthony Allen, Carl Whitaker, Adrian Galvan, Martha Garcia, David Caster, Scott Caster, Richard Dixon R.I.P, Rick Stanford, Ovid Rodriquez, George”Lighting ” Sorrell, Ada Sorrell,Regena Thompson, Richard Langenstein, Steve Sosa , Zulfi Ahmed, Chris Gallio, Chris Minshew, Sam Hogar, Willie Galvan, Tony Torres, Tony Mosely, Daniel Perez, Michael Palamo, Chance Turner, Vito Rodriquez, Chad Cannon, Ryan P.George, Rooster Machen ,Rick Arnold,oss
Sport Karate Museum and Century Fitness proudly presents
The Jim “Ronin” Harrison Natural Fighter Award
The Chuck Norris “Natural Fighting Award
The James “Cookie Monster” Cook Natural Fighting Award
The Raymond “The Kid” McCallum Natural Fighter Award
The Keith Vitali Natural Fighter Award
The Ed Parker Mahalo Humanitarian Award
NOMINEES WILL BE LISTED LATER !!
BOOK EARLY !!,
THIS IS LIMITED TO 200 DINNERS,THEN STANDING ROOM ONLY !
DINNER and GRAND MASTERS SUPER SHOW***
$100, 10 SEATS TO A TABLE!
FIRST COME ,FIRST SERVE!
*******************************************************
http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/HOUSWHF-Hilton-Houston-Southwest-Texas/index.do
Mention the word DRAGON and receive V.I.P rate for event!
http://www.sportkaratemuseum.org
Prepare yourself for the Gathering!
Oss
The Gathering
Get reservation today call HOTLINE** 281-901-7400 or 713-483-0476
Houston Galleria Hotels – Hilton Houston Southwest Hotel, TX – Texas
713-977-7911
http://www.hilton.com
https://www.facebook.com/events/238705372895255/
For you Sensei, Oss,
My attitude toward all these amazing 10th Dans appearing in America and the world , All in fun but it’s scary where our Martial arts have gone ,all of you have touched my life and are part of the history book !
Aloha , my Special Bruddahs and sisters , Have some fun with this fable but remember we are the history
http://www.sportkaratemuseum.org
The Gathering ,October Hilton, Southwest ,Houston ,Texas
Celebrating 50 Years of Sport Karate
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The Intergalactic Universal Supreme World State County City Grand Master wanna-be’s of the world.
By Professor Gary Lee in Professor Gary Lee’s Karate Dojo
CONFUCIUS SAY”
One who is Master of all is Master of none unless proven”
I went to a event and supported my son who fights on a regular basis and did my book signing and Museum stuff and sometimes sitting down and watching everything from that view ,you get a different perspective of what going on at a event, one of the things I have notice in the past few years is the increased of so called Grand Masters and very, very young kids wearing Black Belts at the open events of sport competition.
This is something has bothered me and for a while and the story your about to read is simply my opinion.
First Karate Rank Certificate
On April 12, 1924, Gichin Funakoshi, the “Father of Modern Karate,” awarded karate’s first black belt dan upon seven men. The recipients included Hironori Ohtsuka, founder of wado-ryu karatedo, Shinken Gima, later of gima-ha shoto-ryu, and Ante Tokuda, Gima’s cousin) Kasuya, Akiba, Shimizu and Hirose. This beginning was a highly personal, yet formal ceremony in which Funakoshi is said to have handed out lengths of black belting and a hand brushed menjo (diploma) to his pupils.
Origins of Martial Arts Certificate Borders Design
The origin of the phoenix and classic border design originates in the imperial court of China and was only used on Official documents by the Emperor.
Three symbols of the Phoenix border.
* The Phoenix is a symbol of Virtue, Morality, Benevolence, Faith and Courtesy. The male is on the left side and the female on the right facing each other on the top center of the certificate.
* The Cloud placed on the top center of the certificate, between the male and female Phoenix symbolizes luck as clouds bring rains for farming.
* The Paulownia, situated on the sides and bottom of the certificate along with Chrysanthemum (crest of the Royal Family of Japan) symbolize an oath to the Gods.
Four symbols of the Classic border
The Blue Dragon is identified with the water gods and the gods of fertility who invoke the rains on which the harvest depends. To Confucian scholars, this mythic creature of supernatural powers represents strength, virtue and loyalty.
* The Phoenix is a symbol of Virtue, Morality, Benevolence, Faith and Courtesy.
* The White Tiger is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations. It is sometimes called the White Tiger of the West, and it represents the west and the autumn season.
* The Black Tortoise is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations. It is sometimes called the Black Warrior of the North and it represents the north and the winter season. It is usually depicted as both a tortoise and a snake, specifically with the snake coiling around the tortoise.
Professor Gary Lee
Let us always remember where we came from and the roots of what we do ,every time we award rank remember the origins of earning a real Black Belt , not by signing a contract or paying for it, I am very proud to say and humbled that I have never paid for any classes ,all was earned by cleaning toilets, bathrooms, hallways and sweeping after a work out ,very lucky,very humbled.
However ranked is important if you have a sense of authority or transfer knowledge to others. As a white belt looks at our Dojo of many instructors , let them find knowledge of your humble beginnings and remember how excited you were when you learned your first lesson , whether it was a a cool self defense move or a hand movement or a incredible kick.
Ok ,That was a long time ago and most black belts don’t even care but we should !
A Diary of a Black Belt
A Journey of a lifetime , not three or four years, not ten or twenty years, but a life time of work , dedication , Loyalty , tenacity, knowledge, attitude and humbleness, with lots of training and person’s to support you, once you make the decision, then it is a journey of a lifetime !
“Groups of black belts were in the ocean doing kata underneath the moonlight. I was overwhelmed and from that moment I knew what I wanted to be, a black belt, a real BLACK BELT. When I left Hawaii in 1969 I had my Black Belt, a white gi, a 1969 Black belt Yearbook, a 5’8″ cream Gordon and Smith Twin Fin surf board and …that broken broom.”
This is a karate fable of thinking!, using my journey and showing what hard work does and showing the reader also in the end of the story where this Ranking of Black Belts have gone !
This was written to educate and to show where we have gone on letting anyone have a BLACK BELT. We have allowed flukey ,ego maniacs and wanna -be’s to open Karate schools and they are taking over our cities with their personal crap , they have no foundation and no understanding of what teaching martial arts are about and it is embarrassing to the real Karate pioneers and hard working teachers that have established true martial arts in this country and sad there is nothing we can do about except make fun of it.
Be careful who you train with and always check his credentials and background in martial arts .
Aloha
This picture of World Champion Deddy Mansyur , Black Belt has tun back to White Belt , the journey of a true master of karate ,the circle of life ,oss
10th Kyu White Belt
White Belt -beginner,
Eye of the Tiger potential , but very ignorant in the beginning.
I am a little nervous, but the instructor is cool, he hollers a lot, not at me but every time he throws a punch or kick, weird, hope he doesn’t make me do it!,
I ain’t crazy about hollering at people it’s bad enough I have to wear those funny looking pajamas and on top of it all I hate wearing white,
I wonder what that is all about having to wear white, I get bored real easy even though it is cool when they kick!
I like how they do a bunch of punches and kicks together and the it looks real ,kinda like a movie , looks cool in person !
I’ll use the coupon up and quit after I get those funny looking PJ’s!
3 months Later.
9th yellow Belt
Karate is like the Ocean ,wild ,unpredictable and dangerous!
Received my first belt, pretty cool!
Scared to death from the time I walked in the Dojo, yellow looks good on me, wow!!, every body beat me up today, Kata was the hardest, fighting was fun, that Mr.Tanaka hit me hard, knocked the wind out of me, STUCK ME PRETTY GOOD !!, but he’s cool , strange but cool!
Hoorah!! I am a yellow belt, yeah!
I can’t believed I passed, it was the the hardest thing I have ever done and the most fun!
It was like a new Horizon!
I didn’t think Karate was this way , I mean it is fun but something different, I really can’t put my finger on it yet, it is not just learning the respect but the way everyone works together everyone treats everyone is the same, even the Black Belts are beating on you, I like that !
Six months later
8th Orange Belt
As the day ends, feel in your heart you have absorbed much knowledge!
Man in my heart I thought the yellow belt test was hard, but this test was the hoot!!
They had me do this drill called “Bull in the Ring”, no warning of this drill, I have never practice for this drill , I never seen it in class , it was a advance only drill!!, I am nervous , what are they going to make me do , I’m nervous !, a circle of Black Belts , Kyu grades and surprises surround me and are given numbers, a instructor calls out one number and that number attacks you with a punch or a kick or grabs you, I have to defend myself in front of a board of Black Belts, spectators and fellow students, now after I have gone though three or four circles of basic technique, the board says “Kick it up a bit ,please” so now the Instructor is calling out four and five numbers at a time and now I feel my Karate and it happens ,block, sidekick, front leg sweep, drop my knee on his chest, punch him, grabbed on the right shoulder, break the little finger and thumb from second opponent, lock his arm , symbolize breaking it , KIA very loud with much spirit, elbowing the head several times, grabbed his groin rip it , hammer fist his foot, his head drops, elbow him in the face , get up and third opponent puts me in a bear hug, back head butt to face , stomp the foot hard ,drop to low horse stance , right and low elbow strikes to both sides of his body, step across pop the groin ,when his head drops down ,poke his eyes, sweep him, stomp him , stand up and be ready for next opponent.
My Karate was for real and My instructor had just proved it to me, the rest of the test was strong, hard but easy compared to being taught under certain circumstances , it is good to know real Karate at this level and I wonder if I will ever make Black Belt , that is way to far to think about that, but I think I want to try, man I’m tired but I am a orange belt now in Japanese Karate and now I want to train as much as ever and learn as much as I can .
Ten months later
7th Blue Belt
What will I learn in my next class?
Today’s test for my Blue belt , we were introduced to Sport Karate point fighting and let me tell you it is different than anything we have done up to this point , first of all, it is about Ippon , one technique knock -out or symbolizing a knock -down or knock -punch or kick to a legal target area ,cool!! .This part I didn’t like, we had to wear hand pads and footpads and hear gear and mouth pieces and groin cups , to much stuff! , one of my friends told me there is a karate competition where there is knockouts and one punch ippon attitude and there are different circuits, you can win trophies and awards cool!, I might like this avenue!, my first tournament is in two months after my next test , I will train for this and be prepared, kinda nervous about doing this karate stuff in public but my Sensei says competition is good but only 1% of real Karate, always remember that, so another door has opened, oh, one more thing I learned a new word today “Oss!! ,meaning respect and acknowledgement of one’s attitude toward you , You say it not because Sensei tells you to say it , but because you have earned the privilege to say it among your fellow warriors and peers ,this is loyalty, this is trust, this is acknowledgement ,oss
First Sport Karate Tournament
Very exciting to say the least ,hundreds of people watching you perform and the pressure of representing your school, but mainly your Sensei , Tanaka Sensei has got me here, now I do this day for Sensei, I have told no one my thoughts but this is what my hearts says.
I have trained hard for this thousands of punches on the Makiwara, hundreds of kicks, take downs, sweeps and follow up, I am defensive ready, I can be offensive also, back fist , reverse punch, spin back kick, I owned them, Sensei has taught me that, have confidence in your technique, pure PMA, live for the ippon , if your going to do sport karate, do the best that you can and go for the win!
Got disqualified for excessive Contact, reverse punch to the body, he could not continue !, judges said it was excessive with no control , Oss ,, Sorry, Tanaka Sensei please forgive me.
One year later
6th Green Belt
The Test was hard but different this time , I was totally prepared because I want this! , I want this real bad!, all I think about is Class and Sensei Tanaka
I can’t believe I have stayed a year and now in the advanced class , I mean , this is a big deal, my background , my attitude when I first came here , a complete turnaround !
I AM ALLOWED TO WORK OUT IN THE ADVANCED CLASS !
I am so excited!, oss
I have learned so much and my life has changed , attitude, just believing in something is cool, and now I get to work out with Mr. Tanaka, Sensei , he is so different than the other Black Belts, different I mean he is sharper ,more precise ,almost scary he is so fast , now I get to hit the Makiwara , boards cover in hard rope at punching and kicking heights, I would watch sometimes the advanced class and Black Belts would hit the Makiwara 500 times , exhausted , knuckles bleeding , back then I thought they were crazy and I would laugh at it , now I can’t wait to get permission to do it and work on my kime and get my knuckles bleeding !
Bull in the ring , pure self defense and street application, Kata, Application of Kata, Bunkai precision movement of the Kata applied to uki’s attacking, this is what I have learned and I want my Black Belt.
Bull in the Ring in Acapulco, Mexico
Sixteen months later
5th
Green Belt /Black stripe
I have been a advanced student now for almost a year and today I test for my Black Stripe today, this will be a two part story for what I feel now and how I feel after the test.
I have to admit it has been tough, these classes are harder, more complicated and way over my head.
I have to listen and watch the Black Belts , they are a tight nit group , very friendly but stern.
I didn’t understand washing the toilets and cleaning the bathrooms the first three months before I could workout, but now I do, you earn everything and when you do, you appreciate it so much more, cleaning, earned me the privilege to learn more for it humbled me in a way you can’t explain unless you experience it and the Black Belts knew that.
Sure they would make fun of me but, they would also teach me, guide me and beat the crap out of me. They taught me how to love the pain!
My next entry will be after the Test , five Black Belts are going up in Dan ranks , guess I am going to be fresh meat, hope not but, don’t mind since all of them beat me up every night anyway!
I am sitting in back of this Japanese Sushi Bar over on the big Island and the entry about the Test is pretty short and sweet I passed, got my butt kicked all over the place, broke my first board and saw one of the Black Belts go berserk in Bull in the Ring, he wasted a couple of dudes, I mean knock them out cold, they had to be revived with smelling sauce , I was so nervous when they called my number to grab him, he dumped me but didn’t hurt me like he did those Black Belts , scary as hell, real Karate!
I feel one of my best test, starting to understand how the animals play their part also didn’t Bleed!, no broken bones! and my uniform {Gi} didn’t get ripped.
I have gone though three uniforms, ripped and torn ed from body, finally for my birthday got a Tokaido Brand 14 ounce canvas from Japan.
Sensei said “I will grow old with this Gi”, oss!
Twenty-one months later
4th
Purple Belt
This was the hardest test I have ever been a part of because of the bunkai, all bunkai had to be performed for all Pinan ,Teki and Heian Kata and then applied , you would start your kata, the board would stop you ,you would be asked to perform bunkai and then go on .
I did five rounds of “Bull in the ring” and was a Uki for all the Black Belts going for higher Dan Ranks . I believe I was more wasted before my basics as I have I have never been before because I had to do all the bunkai and “Bull in the Ring” with the Black Belts, five bad, bad dudes, beat me up pretty good , love the pain!!
The fighting was the normal except that this test, the Board seem to emphasize this group needs to know strong ,strong BASIC’s, there was nine of us going for purple and four going for third brown and five Black Belts testing . I believe the word Kihon meaning basic was thrown at us hard and the other new word is Kime , Focus my technique in precision standard.
After this test, also ,a couple of the Black Belts came up to me and said I did good, I was really humbled, after all I haved come a long way in my training but especially in my attitude.
Sensei came up to me and pulled me to the side, he was always so polite but mysterious at the same time, he said” Purple belt is like being at the ocean’s edge and your ready to venture out into the water, deep water, full of danger and life, these are the brown belt years, purple will prepare you for that encounter and hope you are prepared well for most brown belts quit for they just can not take the pain!, oss
Two years later
3rd Brown
Making Brown belt was impressive, Basics, Basics, Basics and more Basics, Konk Ku Dai, Seisan kata, Advance Teki Kata all Kata Bunkai applications, Black Belt attackers only “Bull in the Ring” and one on one, two on one, three on one, four on one, five on one Kumite , no rest between rounds , no water, no excuses , no quitting and, Well I have graduated from cleaning the toilets to sweeping the front of the matted area everyday before the Black Belt Class , Sensei says he did this so all the Black Belts can see me all the time and see I have good technique in sweeping, I said in much respect , “They see me enough when they beat the crapped out of me ! sir”, said with much respect , oss
One year later
2nd Brown
This test I was in charged of setting everything up, I spent the night in the Dojo and help host the special guest Sensei Tanaka brought in, went to the lumber company and got the bricks and boards for the Test, set the chairs, tables and made all the refreshments, got all the paperwork together, it is like preparing for a huge storm that you know is coming, can’t believe I’m testing for second Kyu Brown , what a ride it has been !!
Gotta go, Black Belts are arriving, will write later if I survived!!
Well, I am at the hospital with four of us that got banged up today ,my finger is broken and I am the lucky one, the other guys got knocked out by our special guest today at the Test and one guy is not waking up, everything was OK, until we got this guy in a corner, bad mistake, he hit Charlie first, round kicked Bobby, did a picture perfect jump spin back kick in the face on Kea and kicked my hand when I grabbed him, he smiled as if he knew he had hurt me , we were all going for second Kyu except Kea, he was going for Black, maybe that’s why he knocked him out.
Update ***I was in the back room and heard the Black Belts talking , they said Kea was running his mouth about the test and he was not going to be stopped , well I hope Kea wakes up , heck I hope we passed, so many people were hurt when we left for the Hospital , I don’t know , brutal test !!
Learned a lesson, never talk out loud before a High Dan test and say your thoughts if you do expect a world of hurt !, oss
Kea finally woke up , I didn’t leave his side though the night, scary night, man that was a heck of a test, it wasn’t the toughest test but it was the one that made me the most nervous.
Real Karate is a scary adventure like a bad, bad storm!, oss..
Passed .
Three years later
1st Kyu Brown
Bull in the ring , pure self defense and street application, Kata, Application of Kata, Bunkai precision movement of the Kata applied to uki’s attacking, this is what I have learned and I want my Black Belt.
I know I am a Black Belt now in my mind heart and body ,I just have to go though the hardest part of my life the next five hours or so and show I am ready to be a white belt all over again and realize making Black if I do, it is a whole new beginning , just like starting over with good strong basics ,oss
Sensei has me fighting and doing Kata every weekend at any event he can put me in ,normally I run Sepai or Ni Gi Shi Ho or Teiki Kata ,if I tie I run Supra Empi, a Goju form I learned from a Goju Student visiting Sensei Tanaka two years ago , it normally wins Grand , don’t use it unless extreme conditions ,oss
This Test I am ready , I want Black Belt really bad!,, oss
It was what I expected and also learned a great lesson ,never quit, always do the best you can and always help a friend in need , today I sacrificed a situation and saved a friend but I got stuck pretty good for the decision ,afterwards ,a couple of Black Belts came up to me and said they would have done the same thing ,that made me feel pretty good ,even though I got a bruised rib and black eye , take care of your bra’s
Passed.
Three Years Later
Shodan Black Belt
The Sam Chapman story and the introduction of Safety Gear.
Sam Chapman was a American Karate Instructor , a marine, a southern sport karate legend, inventor, artist, pioneer, leader and trainer of champions, I know because I was one of those lucky, lucky Black Belts that lived, breathe, slept Karate in those early years with Sam , I actually lived in the basement of the school under neath the steps , it was quite comfortable and Karate 24/7
Sam trained early with Ernie Lieb, the founder of the American Karate Association {AKA} and together with other great men like Mike Sullenger, Sam became the representative for the AKA in a southern part of the world, Green ville South Carolina. The Karate School of Green ville was the only Karate school in the ever growing textile milling city, there was one other school Billy Hongs Tae Kwon Do, but that story comes later, lol
Sam would become a southern legend in the early years of sport karate in that part of America and would help create some incredible sport karate champions, they all went different directions but they all started with Sam. men and ladies like, Becky Chapman, Bobby Tucker, Larry Black, Greg Cromer, Jerry Rhome, Will Wright, Sherman Williams, Gary Landgreth, Blane Silver, Rhonda “Ridge hand”Alexander and many others.
Sam was hard core when it came to teaching his way of Americanized Karate and it work for a lot of us , it was hard for me for my traditional background from a early age was hard to adapt to his way of thinking, but to this day, if interviewed I always say Sam Chapman taught me how to point fight in American Tournaments and I have pass that down to my students and my son.
Here are some of my favorite stories of those early years, I love you Sam, oss
1972, I am chasing karate tournaments and girls, I see the advertisement for the only karate school in Green ville so I go and visit, it was early afternoon and I walked in off the street , no appointment, I opened the door, bowed said oss and looked and saw Sam for the first time.
He had his feet up on his desk with a big old cigar, smoking, he was drawing a new logo, in shorts with a long Beatles style haircut, I had my GI and Black Belt only and I walked over to him and he said to me “you a Black Belt , huh, you like to spar?, I got some boxing gloves ,do you kick , we can kick too , if you like, let me go change.
He then put out the cigar, went and changed into his uniform and we fought for thirty minutes or more when he kicked me so hard he knocked me into the wall and five or six trophies fell on my head, plus I turned my ankle really bad ,but I was having so much fun I didn’t want to stop , he was cool and beat me up in a good way , Sam left to get Ice and while he was gone, back then I was stupid!, anyway I went over by the desk where the floor was hard and started stomping my ankle to numb it so I could continue to spar when Sam got back with the ice , I was up and ready to continue ,could not pull it off, he knew I was in a lot of pain, so we got in his little Porsche which was really cool back then, lol
He took me to the Hospital , stayed with me and I didn’t leave him until I opened the largest nightclub in the city ,The Electric Warehouse.
Two years later , Safety Gear was being introduced around the country , schools were changing, it changed the industry but I hated it , I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t wear them, one day Sam and I were by ourselves and he wanted to show me that these new accessories would worked and they will changed sport karate , well he beat me up pretty good, but afterward he said” Gary this is what I will do for you every knockout or knockdown you do from wearing those gear I have given you, I will put a notch in the glove, you get five notches , I will buy you Chinese dinner at Wang’s restaurant, our favorite place to eat”, well I thought that was cool,
I ended up with fourteen notches and two Chinese dinners.
Another one one of Sam’s motivational skills was the Tasmanian Devil patch!
Win third place or higher in ten tournaments in fighting and Sam would award you a Tasmanian Devil Patch of the character from loony tunes cartoons with the letters F L H meaning Fight like Hell!
The first recipient of that award was Bobby Tucker, the fastest man on the planet, that is what three time champion, Black Belt Hall of Fame and best friend Keith Vitali says “Bobby and I fought twenty times, each of us winning ten each, he is the fastest karate fighter in the country with tenacity and class, he was amazing!”
Bobby every Thursday like clock work would arrived at the school in his jeep, park it across the street in the same spot , walk in , say hi to Sam , watch class and the go dress out, wrapped his hands, tape up , mouth piece in,sometimes safety gear, sometime not, depending on what mood he was in or what Sam had told him who to stick tonight!
Bobby was a hundred -forty five pounds, he was so fast and accurate and he had technique, he could play or drop you . I never saw him lose a single fight those Thursday nights when he would fight every one, sometimes twice or more, all weights and remember World Champion Jerry Rhome and others who were fantastic bobby fought, it was a time of champions, it was a time to build champions, it was sport Karate wars!
Hitch hiking across America, “Memories of a American Samurai”
I am publishing my first book in two weeks, “Memories of a American Samurai” and this is one of the many memories I have coming to the mainland at a early age.
I was nineteen years old, hitchhiking for the third time across the United States chasing waves with my little five – seven Gordon twin fin surfboard right outside Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. I stopped in a little convenient store for a soda pop and was in back of the store when I heard in a loud voice ” Give up the money or I will shoot you, I mean it, I will shoot you and your Dog!
For some reason I thought of my little dog I had in Hawaii and I didn’t care about the gun, foolish but instinct set in. I grabbed a couple of can goods and a shovel I saw ,threw the cans to the right and hit him on the left in the head with the shovel, the robber fell dropping his gun.
The store owner kicked the gun away and soon the police arrived. The store owner made me out to be a hero but in my heart I was saving the dog and I just acted out of instinct to survive, it was my first encounter with a gun since I had come to the mainland and my Sword training had given me ability’s, even with a shovel.
The store owner offered me money for what I did but I could not take money for something I would have done anyway, naturally.
Now that I am much older I realize how I reacted back then wasn’t the smartest thing to do and in my mind I have analyze what I did and still believe it was thinking of him shooting that little dog, not the owner and it did not even occur to me at the moment I could have been shot or been killed all I cared about was him saying he was going to shoot a animal.
Martial arts teaches you not to think but react at the moment the occasion arrives , the thinking should be done in the Dojo or Kwoon where you have your teacher to help you and teach you to make the right decisions, however reality is a different animal.
I can remember distinctly, I did not think about the future or the fact of danger, just I did not want a little dog to be shot and that is when courage took over.
The training of martial arts teaches you to be smart, that is why I threw the cans to make assailant look the other way, the shovel was the weapon at hand and I thought of all those times I saw Kyoshi hit his students with his Shinai and whacked them across the head just for not paying attention or just his personal punishment he would give us because that is the way they did the training back in the day or at least in Hawaii.
Why did I pick up the shovel instead of using my Karate?, well I was taught in my weapons training that the weapon that you train with, any weapon was a extension of my hands, there fore, I did think of Karate even though I hit him in the head with the shovel, mind you, all this happen in a few seconds, a flash before your mind and I know now that I have talked about it. If it wasn’t for Karate and for the intense training I did in Hawaii, it might have turned out different .
Thank goodness I didn’t have to hit him with my surfboard , it’s funny though that afternoon right out of Oklahoma City, it is a super flat desert land and it was the first time I saw the Black clouds of a major storm, it got real quiet and from the sky huge pieces of ice started falling hard, it was the first time I encountered a Hail storm.
I put my Gordon and Smith Twin-fin surfboard, my pride and joy, next to my Tonfas I carried.
I put the surfboard over my head to protect me . My hands were beat to bleeding and after the hail storm my board was battered up with huge holes in it .
I remember digging a hole in the desert and burying the surfboard and crying not wanting to leave it in the desert.
What a day !, almost got shot, hit a guy with a shovel, saved a little dog , experience my first hail storm ,buried my best friend ,the surfboard and was heading toward another karate event.
I love Karate !
Yu
{Heroic Courage} Rise up above the masses of people that are afraid to act.
Hiding like a turtle in a shell is not living at all.
A samurai must have heroic courage.
It is absolutely risky, it is dangerous.
It is living life
completely, fully, wonderfully.
Heroic courage is not blind. It is intelligent and strong.
Replace fear with respect and Caution.
Two years later
2nd Black , Nidan
The first National Black Belt League World Breaking Championship, 1993, New Orleans, USA
Aloha,
In the 80’s and early 90’s, I always broke boards , bricks and tiles before I would perform Kata in competition,no one else did that !
but first we need to go back to Six Flags Astroworld, Houston Texas, 1982-1994.
They asked me in my contract to break one board per show, eight shows a day plus two practice breaks, that is ten boards a day!
Well I wasn’t going to pay for the cuts or the boards, so I went after
sponsors, most thought I was crazy for asking for a board and brick sponsors, but finally I found Furrow Lumber Company and the manager had seen one of my performances and was impressed, so they cut 5,000 white pine boards and donated 3,000 bricks to be delivered at Six Flags , Six Flags were blown away and had nowhere to put them, so they built a special building just to house the boards and bricks for me and my crew made up of the best kids I could find would go to the building and pick the best boards with no cracks or knots and the bricks I would break everyday in the shows.
I ran that particular show for three years and still had some odd thousand or so boards and bricks left over.
A few years later I was back doing the Hollywood Stunt show for the popular amusement park and they wanted me to break again and use all that wood and bricks left over, this time I was a little smarter and charged a small fee for each board or brick I broke and SAG gave me a fee also, so I was getting paid though contract and SAG to break each show , ten shows a day plus two rehearsals, added the thirty -foot high falls, weapons routines, getting shot at and dodging knives and getting beat up by beautiful stunt ladies , it was a living and I loved it.
In 1992, the newly formed National Black Belt League had their first Championship in Atlantic City ,New Jersey with no Breaking competition, however I entered five divisions and won five national titles with breaking boards over my head and doing speed breaks before the Kata divisions I had entered.
The following year they offered a beautiful Ring and the first National Black League World Championship, I entered with a field of over fifteen seeded players, I had a second place seed from competing all year in conference events. the number one seed was David Gambino from California, a vicious breaker with a strong reputation to break anything!
I knew breaking boards and bricks were not enough to win the the title, so I added comedy, speed breaks ,vases on uki’s heads fill with confetti ,knocking the vase off their heads with jump spin kicks and breaking bananas and two-ply toilet paper and of course the mandatory breaks to impress the judges, I don’t believe in spacers in between the boards, bricks or tiles, I have never cheated and I believe when you used spacers this adds momentum and takes away from the purity of the breaking technique.
I won the title and the the ring, I wear it every day not in vain but the memory of all the boards, bricks, tiles, bananas and toilet two-ply paper I have broken though the years, lol
Later in 1994 I created the Kids Expo which was at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas and I would break also, however when it came to the Toilet paper break at the end of the show, for some reason I could not break toilet paper, I guess I was getting old and weak in technique so I would find the smallest kid in the crowd and put them on stage to break the toilet paper , they would break it every time!!
I would be embarrassed ,hug them and help them off stage knowing no matter how tough I was, making the audience laugh was a gift and I was very lucky to be able to do that gift, a very lucky Hawaiian!!
Whether you do speed breaks or hard breaks ,it is all about technique.
This what people must understand, one board, brick or tile broken symbolizes breaking a bone in a human body with Karate technique utilizing your Bunkai you learn from Kata which is the essence of Karate, pure Kata, pure Bunkai, pure Karate.
The Texas AOK , the early years
There are so many Texas legends that have influenced my career here in Texas since I blew in from Hawaii in 1979 but one of the most colorful personalities has to be D.P.Hill from Dallas.
D.P was a great Champion and friend, he was the first brother to become a Black Belt under the Allen Steen list of Legends in a time it was not easy to become a Black Belt.
This is one of my favorite memories , not the bloody nose that I recieved but the friendship I developed with one of the great legends of Texas sport Karate ,the legenary Four Fingers of Death Master D.P Hil,Texas Legend
The Great Four Fingers of Death , a Texas Legend, a great man and friend, he is missed but will never be forgotten!, a flash back sir , 1981 ,I am at Tim Kirby’s Sunbelt open and fighting “Outrageous” Jerry Jones one of D.P Hill’s Black Belt , he was about 6’2 and as you know I am about 5’7.
D.P ,Ant Allen , Calvin Cross ,Chuck Timmons and the Dallas entourage was cheering him on. Master D.P did not know me but he used to love to watch me do Japanese Kata, really back then nobody was doing Japanese Kata in Texas in open competition. When I lined up he notice I had no coach or anyone cheering for me, so he walked to my side of the ring and in his gruff unique way of talking said ” I LIKE GARY LEE, IF NO BODY GOING TO COACH GARY LEE, I’D GOING TO COACH GARY LEE ,YOU DON’T MIND ME COACHING YOU GARY LEE , I’D LIKE YOU KATA, I’D HELP YOU BEAT MY STUDENT GARY LEE,YOU’D JUST GOT TO LIST ION TO ME, I’D JUST SHOW YOU HOW
TO BEAT ‘OUTRAGEOUS”, HE’D DON’T LISTON TO ME ANYWAY, PUNCH HIM GARY LEE, PUNCH HIM ”
I was kinda freaking out but I thought it was so cool of him doing what he did , of course “Outrageous” hit me with that patented jump spin back kick and busted my nose, blood was everywhere, Grand Master James Toney was the center judge , he gave me some paper towels and said “Welcome to Texas”, Master D.P came up to me and said “You need to learn the art of ducking Gary Lee”, We became such good friends , every time I would see him after that I always showed my love and respect and of we got to Roast him with a Celebrity Roast many great martial artist was there World Champion Ishmael Robles, World Champion Tim Kirby and World Champion Chuck Timmons
A great memory OF Sport Karate, the four fingers of death, Master D.P Hill, R.I.P
The Michael Depasquale Senior experience
As I was going though the hundreds of pictures of the Museum of Sport Karate has collected one touched my heart for he was a great man and friend, he was one of the founding fathers of martial arts in the United States and his style of martial Arts has brought together all Ju-Jutsans ,now it is studied all over the world. His son has stepped into his shoes and has carried the legacy his father laid in the martial arts community, of course I’m talking about Soke Michael DePasquale Sr.
He was legendary in the Martial Art community and respected in the law enforcement circles for he was one of the first to teach the FBI, CIA and the local police groups around the country.
His International Federation of Ju- Jutsuans has grown to thousands around the world and his memory will be forever though the Museum of Sport Karate.
It is 1994 and Pop’s was flying me everywhere for the Sherman Oak Raiders National Karate Team, It was Grand Master Jhoon Rhee National Karate Championships in Washington D.C.
To start things off, the airline lose my luggage and everything is gone except for my karate bag.
I enter five divisions that day, placed in four ,however the division I remember the most was the traditional Black Belt Kata group. Michael and his father were there and watching the division and later I found out he had stopped to watch me for he enjoyed the way I presented Kata and had watched me perform many times before.
I was humbled.
That day, I did have a goal, not only to win but beat my rival in Kata Sifu Dann Baker .
We were neck in neck in the ratings and I had a couple dozen of second places already from him, to be honest, I had never won a first place to him.
I believe that first place win that day came from knowing great men beside the judges were watching!
It is 2004, a amazing Korean stylist by the name of Yong Song Lee had a event and invited me to be the guest speaker, it was spectacular giving my address to a five hundred plus crowd, in the group were two great martial artist, Grand Master George Alexander and Michael DePasquale Jr.
I would meet these two great men and talk with them about the vision other great pioneers had and then I asked them to be History Generals for the Museum of Sport Karate .
I remember Grand Master Alexander, one of the great performers, veteran and historian of our time staying with me at the restaurant until two o’clock in the morning talking about Okinawan and American sport karate history
It was so cool!
Later in the year I was performing at Bill Violia’s Kumite Nationals in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and I would share a taxi with Master Depasquale Jr. to the airport and we talked of his father, cross ranking and possible Living Legend Roast for him later.
Now it is 2005 and my son and I are invited to fight at Tokey Hill’s event, Tokey really liked Garett, paid his entry fee, made pop’s pay my entry, lol
That night at the Living Legends Awards Banquet we were handing out Legends awards from Mike Dillard and David Wahl from Century Martial Arts , the Ed Parker “Mahalo” Award, the “Shin kicker” Award and the Jim Harrrison “Natural fighter” Award, the Awards went to Alan Goldberg, Ken Knudson and Bill “Superfoot”Wallace .
Then Michael DePasquale Jr. was asked to come to the podium and says ” My father and I feel that Gary has worked hard and has earned this cross ranking of Black Belts to recognized his commitment to Karate, Sport Karate and the Museum of Sport Karate .
I was awarded a honorary certificate 9th Dan ,Okinawan Karate signed by Michael DePasqaule Sr., Michael DePasquale Jr., Jim Harrison , Ken Knudson , Bill Wallace, Don Wilson , Steve Sanders , Dennis Brown , Tokey Hill, Chuck Zito, Bob Wall, William J D’Hrso, Weslely Snipes, John Bluman,Twain Marx Kennedy, Master Choi and Masayuki Shimabukuro. I know with out his love for Kata and our brief but short encounters none of this story would have happen , he will forever be in my memory of my journey here in the mainland.
I was humbled.
Now it is 2007, we have lost Soke Di Michael DePasquale Sr. but with the Roast of his son we honored his memory with a tribute video .Garett Lee performed a Japanese Kata tribute to Chris Canning, a young man we lost to soon to a terrible tragedy , Garett for his performance received the Chris Canning award from Chris’s father , very heart warming!
Donna Jackson sang the Living Legends song to a legendary group of American heroes that were there to honor both senior and junior DePasquale legends, Jeff Smith , Bernard Kerik, Gary Alexander, Keith Strandsberg, Keith Vitali, Joe Hess , Alan Goldberg , Shawn Flanagan, Young Song Lee, Bob Wall and Adam James were few of the Roasters.
When Michael got up after the Roast and spoke of his father ,we were all in tears not for sadness but of joy and honor to have known ,spoke with and shared with such a great American , martial artist and kind , caring person that was Michael DePasquale Sr.
A American Legend to be remembered forever in our hearts and mind .
Five years later
3rd Black , Sandan
Dr Maung Gyi and his Wisdom, a American Living Legend in martial arts
The world has been blessed with great, great men in and around our society and in the the martial arts world.
We have seen men and ladies rise to almost perfection and become legendary figures in movies, television and other ventures, it is a journey of ego, but controlled ego if under the right teachers, these lessons are taught by someone before the legends made their names in the martial arts, they had teachers who were very special, great men like Dr. Maung Gyi.
Robert Trias, Dr.Maung Gyi, Phil Koppell
I know he has touch a lot of lives and most of all this is a love letter to a man that changed my life and journey in the martial arts, this is the wisdom of Dr. Maung Gyi.
Teacher of Teachers
My first remembrance of Dr.Maung Gyi was fighting the Bando guys in Ohio, they were animals, they wore all black, won everything in Kata and weapons and most of all I remember they hit very, very hard!
I actually got knocked out by one of those animals at the Official Karate Magazine Regional event in Ohio, then got beat by Tokey Hill, Tokey was from Sensei Don Madden Dojo in Ohio and was a pure animal, but such a gentleman outside the ring, because of his efforts and hard work we will have USA Karate Do in the World Olympics, his dream ,our dream!
The second encounter was in 1982, Houston Texas and Sensei Larry Lunn, ous, comes in my life as a instructor and friend. He was under Grand Master George Anderson out of Akron Ohio, but had spent some time with the Bando guys.
He taught me the Eagle Kata from Bando and to this day it is part of my Black Belt test for mandatory Kata and Bunkai , lots of seconds, a few firsts , Grand Championship wins, State titles, a National Black Belt League World Championship, not a bad journey for a Kata from Bando.
Then it is 1992 and Zulfi Amed comes in my journey and we are traveling all over the world, rivals in Sport Karate, but outside the arena we were very close friends, his style was called Bushiban. He had Matshibushi Ward from Okinawa was the Budo or Bushido part , then the Ban was for Bando, enter Dr Maung Gyi again in my life .
My son is born and of course I give him to Master Amed , Grand Master Ward and Dr.Gyi and they are part of the reason he does immaculate Japanese Kata and were the Head Judges at his first and second Dan test.
Though the years Dr. Gyi would come in and do seminars and share with us his knowledge and divine wisdom, one seminar I don’t remember what year it was.
Garett was performing with me doing my sword routine in front of Dr. Gyi , afterward Dr. Gyi came up and said “Garett I predict great things for you, here is something for you to help you on your journey, I have carried this everywhere with me, but now it is for you, it’s heavier than normal, I filled it with sand so I can do more damage”.
I stood back in awe and saw my son received a gift that was obviously very special.
A black , bamboo walking Jo, filled with sand , Dr. Gyi had just finished his seminars using it beating up opponents and showing his way of beautiful martial arts motion and technique.
In those many years I would absorb as much as I could in the short times we were together.
I looked forward to our yearly encounters at Bushiban Headquarters and at the Black belt test were I have became part of the Bushiban martial arts family.
Then the moment Dr. Gyi changed my direction in my attitude and help me make decisions that help create the Museum and the Living Legends Celebrity Roast.
I had just received the the 1997 Golden Greek Award from Texas Sport Karate and I was at the event of the year, Bushiban’s celebration with Dr.Gyi, he called me into the main office and sat me down , I thought I had done something wrong , but again it was a just another lesson in the journey.
He put his hand on my knee and looked me in the eyes, it was a special moment.
he said “Gary, you have spent your life knocking down things and being a warrior, now it is a time of healing ,now you reverse you momentum and put it to good, build the Museum, always tell the truth, put your energy to raising your son, I believe in you”.
It did changed me, that moment, knowing a great man , not just a great Black Belt,
a founder, mentor to hundreds, he cared enough to share with me , it was motivating and now you understand why I am so passionate about the project of the Museum of Sport Karate overall.
So now you will understand the heart of this letter, Dr Gyi is a great teacher and he has taught me to share and to believe in miracles, for life is precious.
We have a few Great Sport Karate Legends who need healing and I believe in the thought process of thinking of someone special and that thought process will touch these great men of Sport Karate .
Satch Williams a sport Karate Legend, Part of that early group of pioneers that dominated sport karate, he is need of a heart transplant and please remember him .
Dean Evans ,better known as Flem Evans, History General, U.S.K.A. Legend is in the hospital having surgery ,please think of him.
Tino Tuiolosega, History General, a legend among legends, founder of Lima Lama , Duke Tirschel told of stories of how Tino would teach the legends we know today , he is in the Hospital and not in real good condition, please think of him .
Rudy Smedley , History General, A Texas Sport Karate hero , in the eighties ,he traveled all over the world representing the USA, he is in the hospital having surgery for the second time , please think of him.
Kenn Firestone from Hawaii, great fighter ,History General, braddah and dear friend, he was in a terrible car wreck a few weeks ago , still in ICU under watch , we know you will back soon little braddah , please think of him .
Yes,
Dr. Maung Gyi taught me , not so much in the art of combat but art of healing and thinking of others a special gift to pass on in the world today!
So you see Dr. Gyi is a great man of wisdom and thought and because of him he has helped create a healing for all of us, look around there is someone you know that is special and was put there to help you and guide you on your martial arts journey, seek them out , share with them , Liston to them , share with them , hug them!
The History of Traditional Karate Pioneers, Legends and Champions in the 20th Century.™
Gary Lee being disqualified for excessive head contact, protested the call, was over ruled .
Eight years later
4th Dan
Ten to twelve years later years later
5th Dan Shihan Master Teacher
Fifteen years later
6th Dan, Sensei
Twenty years later, Honorary
7th Dan, Sensei
Twenty-five years later,
World Registry
8th Dan, Sensei
9th Dan, Kyoshi
Thirty five years later
The Art of Wining, Memoirs of an American Samurai
Memoirs of an American Samurai
The Art of Wining!
http://www.amazon.com/Memoirs-American-Samurai-Warriors-Journey/dp/1463698062/
The second edition will feature these stories
The Instructors.1963-2011
The Black Belt Academy adventure, 1980 to present
Rodeo Square , The Susie McDowell story. 1982-1999
Astroworld, The Six Flag Amusement Park years. 1982-1998
The Demonstrations. Have Black Belt Will Travel
Bass Fishing ,The Texas B.A.S.S Federation Championship and Central Divisional. 1987
The National Karate circuits. 1992, TNT, AOK, NBL, S.O.C.K, USAF, NASKA
The Astrodome,Houston,Texas and Creating Kids Expo. 1992
The Police academy Hollywood Stunt show. 1993-1996
The National Black Belt League Years and the World Breaking Championship.1992-2004
The Amateur Organization of Karate and the Golden Greek Award. 1997
Black Belt Magazine Festival and Palm Springs, 2004
The Battle of Atlanta experiment , 2008
The Masters Hall of Fame , The Karate Masters Hall of Fame , The NBL Black Belt Hall of Fame,The AOK Black Belt Hall of Fame , World Martial Art Master Black Belt Hall of Fame, Bushiban Black Belt Hall of Fame, Texas Black Belt Hall of Fame, United States Black Belt Hall of Fame 2010 recipient, “Founders Award”
International Ryukyu Karatejutsu Research Society
Honor Roll
Hall of Fame
Historian of the Year
2010
International Director ’2011
The Traditional Okinawan Kobujutsu Association & Martial Arts Federation (TOKAMAF), for USA/TEXAS
United States Karate Federation,1st place , Gold Medalist Weapons, a total of 61 competitors in the weapons division.
1992 , Dallas ,Texas , USAF Nationals
http://www.amazon.com/Memoirs-American-Samurai-Warriors-Journey/dp/1463698062/
Biography
Professor Gary Lee- Born in Honolulu, Hawaii
Professor Gary Lee is an international karate champion, master karate teacher, a writer for many martial arts publications, a Black Belt Hall Of Fame inductee, and a historian of sport karate. He was also a professional stuntman for many of Hollywood’s favorite martial arts films. He now devotes his intention to Black Belt TV, a martial arts network he helped create in 2005.
Professor Gary Lee 9th Dan, Founder of The Museum of Sport Karate Masters, has graciously accepted ‘The Life Time Membership Award’ from The Traditional Okinawan Kobujutsu Association and Martial Arts Federation. for the tireless work he has undertaken on forming the Museum of Sport Karate Masters in Preserving the History of Martial Arts in America, The Award is presented for long and dedicated service to preserving the history of Martial Arts, the accolades of his fellow American Martial Artists say it all.
Gary Lee began studying karate in 1963 in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was only six years old. He earned his Black Belt in 1969 and moved to San Francisco, California on the mainland. At the age of fourteen, he began a journey that would take him all over the United States, meeting and training with the pioneers and legends of the martial arts. In the early days, training and competing was different than it is today. Karate was mysterious and unexplained and, as a real Black Belt with a no nonsense attitude about his art, Gary walked into a karate school assuming all karate instruction was alike. He learned early that this is not so and that not all instruction or instructors were alike.
Some of the incredible Black Belts who have been part of Gary’s journey and who have signed his Black Belt Diplomas beginning in 1969 are a who’s who of the martial arts. These include:
Sensei Torio Kishi, Andrew Tamper, Sam Chapman, Mako, Sid Campbell, Jack Farr, Rick Fowler, Dan Anderson, John Townsly, Chuck Vito, Tokey Hill, Ken Knudson, Bob Wall, Jim Harrison, Allen Steen, George Minshew, John Chung, Daryl Stewart, Ed Daniel, Ronnie Al, Dennis Brown, Steve Muhammed Sanders, Wesley Snipes, Michael Depasquale Sr., Michael Depasquale Jr., Don “The Dragon” Wilson, James Toney, Royce Young, Ishmael Robles, Tim Kirby, Matsbushi Ward, Dr. Maung Gyi, Benard Braverman, J. Pat Burleson, William Ping Hi, Harry Young, Ming Lum, Dale Kirby, Joesph St. Ives, Tim Vought, Bill Wallace, Seung Au, Jim Butin, Jose Santa Maria, Linda Denley, to name a few of the Masters and teachers who have touched Gary Lee’s life. The first Karate teachers who promoted Gary Lee and who would be considered his most current instructors are Andrew Tamper (passed), Sid Campbell (passed), Sam Chapman, Jack Farr, Al Hippert, Mako (passed), George Minshew, Matsbushi Ward, Dr. Maung Gyi and the Hawaiian Black Belt Society.
From 1969 until 1999 Gary Lee traveled all over the United States competing then retired from open competition. He had an incredible career with many, many wins. In 2006, he donated five hundred trophies and awards from his collection to the Make a Wish Foundation, and donated his Tenth Degree Black Belt Certificate for auction. He has been inducted into Masters Hall of Fame, The AOK Hall of Fame as Competitor of the Year, The National Black Belt League Hall of Fame as Texas Competitor of the Year, Kumite Nationals, a $1000.00 scholarship is given in his name, National Black League World Breaking Champion, Black Belt Kata, and Weapons and fighting Titles. In 1993 Gary was the Bushiban Hall of Fame Man of the Year. In 1997 he won the Texas “Golden Greek” Award. He has been rated in the Top Ten Ratings in fighting, weapons, kata, and breaking for many groups and organizations such as S.E.K.A, A.O.K, NBL, S.O.C.K, USAF, SKI, and TNT.
A 9th Degree Black Belt, he received his Professorship of the Martial Arts in Hawaii in 2002.
Professor Gary Lee has always been very innovative in creating martial art projects though out his career:
*The Kids Expo, a project to introduce children to the martial arts.
*1984 – Created first Karate show for Six Flags Amusement Parks called The Texas Karate *All-Stars performing 5,000 Live shows in front of millions of spectators until his retirement in 1997.
*Star performer at the Hollywood Stunt Show at Astroworld theme park.
*Produced the Living Legends Black Belt Nationals.
*Co-producer and Co-founder of Black Belt TV Martial Art Exclusive, the first Internet martial arts channel.
*Produced 17 Living Legends Celebrity Roasts of the Pioneers of Martial Arts
*Founder of the Museum of Sport Karate
*Founder of the Top Texas Ten Black Belt Ratings
*Reconized by the international Ryukyu Karatejutsu Research Society
Honor Roll
Hall of Fame
Historian of the Year
2010
*United States Black Belt Hall of Fame
Founder Award
2010
*United States Member Black Dragon Fighting Society.
Yudansha 9th Degree Black Belt
Signed by Count Juan Raphael Dan’te, Ashida Kim, Dr.Lawrence Day, Hanshi Frank Dux
Founding members.
Currently Professor Lee devotes his time to the Museum of Sport Karate, a non-profit organization created to preserve sport karate history and pioneers of the American golden years from 1946, when the first sport karate studio opened, to 1999, when the first Living Legends were born. He also writes the “Kabuki Warrior Tales” for USADOJO.COM and many other martial arts entities and is a Sport Martial Arts adviser for http://www.worldidedojo.com.
He is the representative for http://www.samuraisupply.com/ a Japanese sword company and performs sword shows all over the world. He is the associate producer for the Martial Art Masters of Texas Live Radio Show. He is on the Board of Ad visors for the Karate Masters Hall of Fame and the Masters Black Belt Hall of Fame.
Currently Professor Lee devotes his time to the Museum of Sport Karate, a non-profit organization created to preserve sport karate history and pioneers of the American golden years from 1946, when the first sport karate studio opened, to 1999, when the first Living Legends were born.
Welcome to the Official Site of The Museum of Sport Karate™
The History of Traditional Karate Pioneers, Legends and Champions in the 20th Century.™
Masters of Texas Live Radio Interview with Professor Gary Lee
http://mamastersoftexas.com/mp3/MAMOT-2010-05-19.mp3
***************************************************************************
10th Degree Fantasy Black Belt
Founder of style
Who has the authority to give out Tenth Degree Black Belt Diplomas and certification and how on earth did so many Grand Masters appear on the planet with out question , every body has the right to question , speak their mind and share information of knowledge they know is true ,this was a simple journey of a simple black belt who learned the hard way there are obstacles in every sport ,however a Black Belt is the excellence of achievement ,not about sport , not about winning a confrontation, it is about learning not to give up and sharing to be the best you can be though your positive mental attitude, but some where lurking ,maybe in a city near you or even in your community.
if you do your research!
Some where out there there is one of the So called Grand Masters Intergalactic Universal Supreme World State County Grand Master wanna-Be’s of the world opening a MARTIAL SCHOOL NEAR YOU IN THE NEAR FUTURE , , HAVING YOU SIGN A CONTRACT AND GUARANTEEING YOU A BLACK BELT IN ONE YEAR!!! TRAINING YOU TO HANDLE 36 WEAPONS OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION,TO BREAK BRICKS,LEGS ARMS AND OTHER PARTS OF THE BODY NOT ALLOWED TO SAY IN PUBLIC, LABELING YOU AS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS MEN ON THE PLANET AND YES ,YOU COULD OPEN A SCHOOL TOO, IN TWO YEARS AND BE THE GRAND MASTER SUPREME INSTRUCTOR AND IT GOES ON AND ON AND ON AND ON !
2012 WHAT’S NEXT ?
Sad to say this is what happening in the martial arts world in 2012 Flaky wanna be Karate Instructors, I found this on the internet , I believe he is 39 years old, but be aware there are so many to count , if interested in checking a background , just ask and don’t assume everyone is who they say they are.
In closing only believe half of what you read , only half what you read and only half of what someone tells you and the rest is what you build on your own relationship.
I love to be cornered with no other options, no way out except though prayer and faith ,The Fanatic
Aloha
You know I get a lot of comments and e-mail about being a fanatic, posting ,sharing about Sport Karate and expressing my non bias and sometime personal feelings toward subjects that are controversial and political in Sport Karate, and I thank you from the heart the kind ,kind words that many of you have written and the ones that have criticize I share with you too.
Here are some of the reasons today that I am grateful and I sit sometimes and just thank the Lord that coming across the ocean was worth it ,
This is a true Story
A few years ago, no actually a long ,long time ago I was shooting the canals in Modesto California at the peach groves they have in the hill country , lonely roads in he middle of nowhere ,hundreds of acres of peach trees all fed by the canals of water, I would enjoy my lonely time ,with my six pack of Coors , sitting under a tree thinking of my future, after resting a moment and building up enough courage to jump in the canal to cool off ,for you see it is called “shooting the canal”, when you dive in ,you have to dive deep enough so the current shoots you like a BIG PUSH, well I had not seen a car drive by in over a hour and it was time to cool off , so I went to my shorts ,got on top of the ridge and dove in , however it was not deep enough and the current did not shoot me out, instead I got caught in a whirlpool and was being dragged into the dam, I was being pulled under and felt I was going to drown , I got enough leverage to pull my self to the ridge where I had jumped off and reached up and grabbed both hands on the ledge, the water was pulling me down ,my legs were gone and I was barely hanging on to that ridge , I knew I had done a stupid thing and I felt all alone and was really scared of dying and then suddenly I looked up and and saw a old man and his hand was reaching for mine, he had a hat on and I could barley see his face ,my strength was gone and I felt him pull me up ,when I got on my knee I looked up and he was gone , no car , no shoe tracks ,nothing , I was in shock ,went to my little tree ,I had one Coors left, drank it and sat there until dark.
I found Peace that day and know that I had met my guardian angel ,the first of many .
So now you see why I am a fanatic about the History and the pioneers.
I believe no matter how annoying or bothersome it is, we must remember the roots of the respect the first time you did true karate and the pioneers that gave those moments to us as students was worth remembering,,,, Born the Sport Karate Museum ,oss
Yes Virginia, I am a Fanatic It is simple ,everyday I realized I have come a long way from living in Hawaii on the beach in a hut and that everyday is a blessing , my family ,my friends, my Black Belts , my faith.
The Gathering is for all of you
God Bless, Mahalo
Aloha
http://www.sportkaratemuseum.org
Alumni
Six Flags, Astroworld* The Texas Karate All-Star Show , Jim Henson’s Muppets ,Bayou Buzzard, The Pirate Show, The Wild West Show, The Batman Show ,The Police Academy Stunt Show, 1982-1997
Texas B.A.S.S Federation Champion 1987
Kumite Black Belt Hall of Fame,1993
Bushiban “Man of the Year” Black Belt Hall of Fame
N B L Black Belt Cowboy Conference Hall of Fame ,1993
A O K Black Belt Golden Greek Hall of Fame ,1997
Nominated for Black Belt Magazine Competitor of the year
World Martial Arts Association Black Belt Hall of Fame, 2008
Masters Black Belt Hall of Fame, 2008
Nominated for Black Belt Magazine Man of the Year
Recognized by Patrick McCarthy and the International Ryukyu Karatejutsu Research Society
Historian of the Year, 2010
Honor Roll Hall of Fame , 2010
United States Black Belt Hall of Fame, 2010
Karate Masters Black Belt Hall of Fame
Texas Representative for World Budo Kai Uyamu Federation
International Director The Traditional Okinawan Kobujutsu Association & Martial Arts Federation (TOKAMAF), for USA/TEXAS
Professor Gary Lee 9th Dan, Founder of The Sport Karate Museum has Graciously excepted the award of ‘The Life Time Membership Award’, for his tireless work he has undertaken on forming this Museum of Sport Karate Museum in Preserving the History of Martial Arts in America, the acodales of your fellow American Martial Artists say’s it all, The Award is presented for long and dedicated service to preserving the history of Martial Arts, from The Traditional Okinawan Kobujutsu Association & Martial Arts Federation.
The Gathering
October 11,12,13
Hilton Southwest Houston,Texas
http://animoto.com/play/bj0EIT56w0eX4f46BunVEA?utm_content=main_link
The Dream has come true The Gathering!
lIFE
http://animoto.com/play/oelxsdyez5H4Wa2KIf0N4A?utm_content=main_link
Dan Anderson
Okay, ladies and gents. I have thrown my hat into the ring. I will be at the Gathering and I am testing for 9th Dan. Looks like I gotta get in shape. 🙂
Bruce Brutschy
Great news it’s been way to long.
Gary Lee
Yes it’s true Super Dan Anderson is coming to Texas to Test in front of a hand chosen Review board of immaculate standard of Black Belts , last counted thirty -two legends of American Karate have been asked to sit on the Board ,many of his best friends like Keith VitalI, Mike Genova, Bruce Brutschy, Danny Lane ,Jimmy Tabares and some of his opponents of yesteryear along with Grand Masters J.Pat Burleson, Ron Lindsey,Jerry Clint Piddington,Danny McCall, Irving Soto ,Daryl K. Stewart and many others.
LIVE on http://www.watchmesports.com .
Dan is a true legend in Sport Karate ,winner of over seventy Grand Championships and we are honored to have him display his skills in the great state of Texas, oss
WatchmeSports.com
http://www.watchmesports.com
Mike George
I would wish you good luck but I know you won’t need it. So Have fun.
Al Francis
Great news. I guess I’ll be there too.
Raymond McCallum
He’s an Honorary Texan as far as i’ve always known. One hell of a fighter & an even better martial artiste. First time I ever saw SuperDan was in Dallas at the US. Taking 1st over my instructor,GREEK, a feat not easily accomplished, especially in Texas. He was American Free-Style before most knew what that meant & way before it was Cool. My respects,Dan.
Chris Jensen
Congrats Dan..My respect and well wishes too. I wish I could be there.
Super Dan Anderson
Thanks, Ray. I’ve always felt like an honorary Texan and that if I tested, Texas would be the place. Chris – Gary Lee is going to have this done as a streaming broadcast do you will be able to see it.
Chris Jensen Thanks Dan, that’s excellent.Please keep us informed.
http://youtu.be/3khH9ih2XJg
Dedicated to all the Champions and to all the miles we have put on the meter,either
in flight ,Car, Bus or sticking our thumb out , Dedicated to these Fighters traveling to The Gathering in October and their safe trip to Houston to see friends they have not seen in 40 years, Dedicated to all the competitors who has been on stage to feel the victory of winning and the agony of defeat ,just to be on stage was cool !
Dedicated to all the Sport Karate Museum’s friends, supporters ,pioneers and legends.
Dedicated to the Champions and performers from 1950 – 2000
Celebrating 50 years of Sport Karate in America **The Gathering
Table /Dinner/Tickets Information
713-483-0476
J. Pat Burleson ,the first American National Karate Champion, 1964 and other very dangerous martial artist from around the world will received the Sport Karate Museum most prestigious DRAGON IMAGE FIGHTING AWARD
Troy Dorsey, Raymond McCallum , Jerry Piddington , Linda Denley Bruce Brutschy, Danny McCall, Sal Naveraz, John Townsley, Darell Lassiter , Mike McNamara, Micheal Felkoff, Tim Kirby, Robert Parham, Dan Hect , Tony Lopez, Ron Lindsey, Judge Roy D.Kurban, Ron Pierce, Jim Harrison, Derrick Pendergrass, Irving Soto, Parker Shelton, Lawrence Arthur, James Stevens, Phyllis Evetts , Duke Tirschel, Joshua St.Ives, Ishmael Robles , Cindy Benivedez , Annette Benivedez, Jim Willouhby, Richard Jenkins, Jim Butin, Albert Hippert, James Toney, Daryl Stewart, David Archer, Guy James, Johnny Lee, Everett “Monster Man “Eddy,Tom Shakey Levak, Keith Vitali, Michael Goldman, Marty Knight, Mike Genova, James Woodson, Johnny Gyro, Al Garza, Manny Reyes Jr, Chris Martinez, Clif Thomas, Jason “JDog” Holmes, Ashley Wood-Tyler, Anthony Allen, Carl Whitaker, Adrian Galvan, Martha Garcia, David Caster, Scott Caster, Richard Dixon R.I.P, Rick Stanford, Ovid Rodriquez, George”Lighting ” Sorrell, Ada Sorrell,Dan Dan Anderson Regena Thompson, Richard Langenstein, Steve Sosa , Zulfi Ahmed, Chris Gallio,Willie Hicks, Chris Minshew, Sam Hogar, Willie Galvan, Tony Torres, Tony Mosely, Daniel Perez, Michael Palamo, Chance Turner, Vito Rodriquez, Chad Cannon, Ryan P.George, Rooster Machen ,Rick Arnold,Danny Lane, Jeff W. Smith, Joe Corley, Mark Shuey Sr. oss
Living Legends VII
Martial Arts Expo & Celebrity Roast
Honoring Jerry Piddington
Charlotte, NC — On October 17-18, 2003, the Hilton University Place will host Living Legends VII Martial Arts Expo and Celebrity Roast. This event is set to be a once-in-a-life-time sport karate reunion of karate/kickboxing world champions and movie stars. Some of the highlights of this weekend will be a Best of the Best Forms Competition, Living Legends Seminar, Kids Self-defense and Safety Seminar, Bob Wall Seminar about Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee, Don “The Dragon” Wilson Seminar on “Breaking Into the Martial Arts Film Industry” and a Celebrity Roast and Show, honoring Hanshi Jerry C. Piddington, one of the pioneer fighters of sport karate. Spectators will get a chance to meet celebrity stars and enjoy a martial arts extravaganza with lots of activities for anyone interested in martial arts.
Living Legends will honor some of the top fighters and form champions of sport karate at the Celebrity Roast on Saturday evening. “Living Legends was created to educate this generation on the people who actually started the sport of karate. The Southeast is a haven for great sport karate competitors and pioneers who promoted this sport to a new level in the last 30-40 years,” says the host of Living Legends, Ricky Smith. Joe Corley, promoter of the thirty-six year “Battle of Atlanta” which launched the career of many of these great champions, will be the master of ceremonies for the Celebrity Roast.
Friday, 6:00 p.m. — Martial Arts schools are sending their best competitors to perform in a Best of the Best Forms Competition. Judges will select winners to perform as a tribute to the Living Legend on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. during the banquet dinner and show
Saturday, 9:00 a.m. — Mr. Piddington will conduct a forms (empty-hand kata) Tomoe Warrior Test opened to all styles. There will be a five kata, ten kata, and seventeen kata test. Students will receive a handmade Tomoe (the Okinawan karate symbol) pendant and a certificate signed by a panel of Living Legend judges. “This will be a lifetime opportunity for instructors and students to perform for some of the martial artists who actually pioneered the system of kata they are performing,” says Ricky Smith.
Saturday, 11:00 a.m. — Mike Genova, who has owned and operated a successful karate school in Columbia, SC, for thirty years, will conduct a kids safety seminar called Stranger Danger. It is designed to teach kids how to protect themselves against bullies and strangers. This is a must for kids from 4 -12 years old. Genova is considered one of the martial art industries leading instructors and will be inducted as a “Living Legend Sport Karate Fighter” at the banquet on Saturday evening.
Saturday, 12:00 noon — Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris fans can participate in a seminar with Bob Wall. Bob Wall is the only actor to co-star in three of Bruce Lee’s five movies. He is best known for his role as the evil O’hara in Enter the Dragon, one of Warner Brothers top ten grossing films of all times. Bob trained with Bruce Lee for 10 years. This year marks the thirtieth year anniversary of Bruce Lee’s death. Also, Mr. Wall has been Chuck Norris’ business partner and friend for 38 years. He will give a presentation on his life experiences with these two great legends.
Saturday, 2:00 p.m. — Martial artists can fine-tune their fighting skills with four of the greatest karate fighters of all times — Joe Lewis, Howard Jackson, Jeff Smith, and Don “The Dragon” Wilson. This dream team of Living Legends is slated to teach some of the fighting skills that made them champions. Joe Lewis actually started kickboxing by fighting the first kickboxing match in history and was voted “greatest karate fighter of all time.” Howard Jackson, Chuck Norris’ training partner, is the only fighter to hold championship titles in point karate, full-contact karate, boxing, and kickboxing. Jeff Smith is a seven-time World Light-Heavy Weight Kickboxing Champion and the first recipient of the Bruce Lee Award for “fighter of the year.” Don Wilson is the only fighter to win 11 Kickboxing World Titles in six different weight divisions. He has a record of 71 wins with 47 KO’s. All of these champions are members of the prestigious Black Belt Hall of Fame.
Saturday, 4:15 p.m. — Don “The Dragon” Wilson will conduct a seminar on “Breaking into the film industry as a martial artist.” His next film called Sci-fighter will be released in February 2004. “The Dragon” is one of the very few martial artists who have successfully bridged a career as a full-contact champion and a movie star. You can visit http://www.donthedragonwilson.com for a resume of his long list of film credits.
Saturday, 7:00 p.m. — An all-star lineup of celebrities and martial artists, who are some of Mr. Piddington’s closest comrades, students, and past opponents, will toast Mr. Piddington in a Hollywood style roast which usually ends up in a tell-all of the funniest experiences of their career in and out of the ring. Jerry Piddington is the seventh pioneer of sport karate to be honored by Living Legends. “Mr. Piddington is the epitome of sport karate. I have admired his fighting ability since I was a kid,” says Living Legends originator Gary Lee. “I met Ricky Smith, Mr. Piddington’s student, at Bob Wall’s Celebrity Roast in Burbank California, last year and asked him if he would host a Living Legends event honoring Mr. Piddington in Charlotte, NC. Ricky gladly accepted the invitation.” Mr. Piddington is the founder of American Open Style Karate and American Karate Academies National Association, with most of his schools in the OR, NC, SC, and VA area. He now resides in Jacksonville, Oregon.
Spectator tickets for the martial arts events on Friday and Saturday are $10 for adults and $5 for kids 12 years old and under. People who are interested in the seminars, forms competition, or Tomoe Warrior Test can call 1-800-560-5425(kick) or visit http://www.sidekickkarate.com. The dinner/roast/show is RSVP with a limited amount of seating.
Living on a plane , a tournament every weekend , The National Black Belt years 1991 the first National N B L event in San Jose. California, the second one in Atlantic City, New Jersey , Five National Titles, Chosen to be o the First National Black League
Texas Team. the third became SUPER GRANDS in New Orleans, Louisiana. Gold Rings ,first SUPER GRANDS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, placed in six divisions ,one World Title in Breaking , Good Times , Good Friends ,Strong Sport Karate, oss
http://youtu.be/zI9ySbj4Uu8
Don,
This is the core of the awards ceremony, do it with the vision and talent I know you have been blessed with ,oss
These awards come straight from our vision of the pioneers and legends and the hours we spend on the phone and web ,each one of these guys are Special plus at one time or other they were the New Kid in Town,lol
http://youtu.be/L7c-P5hAPfg
The Jim Harrison “Natural” Fighter Award
To Whom it may concern ,let it be known by the authority of the Sport Karate Museum and selective Board of Advisers .we have gone to the archives of the Sport Karate Museum and chosen {EXAMPLE} Mr. Jim Harrison because of his love of Sport Karate and what he gave to the sport in blood ,sweat and tough tears,all those hours of training , all those miles ,all those hotels, all that sacrifice. The Sport Karate Museum names the NATURAL FIGHTER AWARD in his honor contribution being a warrior in the ring and a gentleman of the sport of Karate Mr.Jim Harrison was a Natural Fighter
EXAMPLE Mr. Tim Kirby has been chosen from a poll of friends and from a group of pioneers and legends of American Sport Karate and they were asked who would be best to represent the above Pioneer ,Legend and History General for the Sport Karate Museum in the art of combat Sport Karate with the skills he has shown and his attitude has displayed in battle, his exemplification of excellence showing the spirit of a Natural Fighter is acknowledged.
Founder ___________
Sport Karate Museum Date______ Witness____________ Date_______
The Jim Harrison Natural Fighter Award
Recipient Tim Kirby
The Chuck Norris Natural Fighter Award
TIE*** Danny Lane //// Duke Tirschel
The Skipper Mullins Natural Fighter Award
Recipient Don Mullins
The James Cook Natural Fighter Award
Recipient Willie Galvan
The Raymond McCallum Natural Fighter Award
Recipient Garett Lee
The Keith Vitali Natural Fighter Award
THREE WAY-TIE*** Marty Knight …. Michael Goldman …. Mike Genova
The Ed Parker Humanitarian Mahalo Award
Recipient Jamie Cashion lll
The Ed Parker Humanitarian Mahalo Award
Let it be known that The Ed Parker Humanitarian Mahalo Award comes from the heart,bra, Master Parker was a dreamer of men ,a mentor to thousands Producer Extraordinaire, Author , Actor ,Hawaiian Hero, Master Teacher , Performer , Coach and the body guard of Elvis Presley however here at the Sport Karate Museum we knew him as a Kind man who would give in a second and share much from his Hawaiian spirit with the world of martial arts .
In this greatness that was given to us while he was here we honor him deeply with the Aloha and Mahalo spirit acknowledging such a warrior is not worth much unless you have men who has the same love and care for the human being spirit and as a person Mr. Jamie Cashion lll is a very special human being ,even as one he can make a difference ,to honor MASTER ED PARKER ,the Sport Karate Museum has chosen with honor and pleasure Mr. Jamie Cashion lll to receive the 2012 Ed Parker Humanitarian Mahalo Award.
Founder______________
Sport Karate Museum Date____________ Witness ____________________ Date ___________
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The Jay T. Will Outstanding Center Referee Award
Oss
http://youtu.be/NkWjsT_SJNI
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4426389902667&set=o.57367251136&type=1&theater
Karate in the United States
History of Matsubayashi Shorin-Ryu
Karate in the United States
In 1947 Shoshin Nagamine opened his first dojo in Naha, Okinawa named “Matsubayushi-Ryu Kododan Karate and ancient martial arts studies”.
In the next several years his dojo flourished in size and reputation. American service men in the local area began training in his dojo. Soon this martial art form would migrate to the United States.
Jim Wax
The American who brought Matsubayashi Shorin-Ryu to the United States in 1960 was Jim Wax. Jim Wax was the first non Okinawan allowed to train in Shoshin Nagamine’s dojo in Naha Okinawa. He was the first American to receive a black belt in Matsubayushi-Ryu Shorin Ryu Karate. When he returned to the United States this was the beginning of Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu. He continued to practice and teach Matsubayashi-Ryu in the Ohio area. He taught in Cincinnati and Dayton Ohio, as well as Indiana and Kentucky. Some of the individuals who were early students of Jim Wax were Bob Yarnall, Greg Helm, Frank Grant, and Parker Shelton. Each of these students of Jim Wax would continue to teach this style of karate and become legends in this form of karate. A profile of each of these individual is included in this document.
In 1962 Jim Wax would begin teaching in the St. Louis area. Parker Shelton also came to the St. Louis school to teach both karate and Judo. Bob Yarnall who had been promoted to sho-dan would soon join them in St. Louis. Jim would stay in the St. Louis area until 1963 when he would join his Sensei Ansei Ueshiro in New York.
Bob Yarnall
It is in St. Louis that Bob Yarnall continues developing his martial arts training. He taught at clubs located through out the St. Louis area and began to train several individuals who will become black belts and influence karate on their own merit. The notable students beginning under Jim Wax and continued their training under Bob Yarnall in the St. Louis area are Bill March, Jim Harrison, Parker Shelton, Dave Nichols, and Mike George. Bill March was the first student to receive a black belt under Bob Yarnall.
These early black belts under Bob Yarnall would continue their martial arts training and are still active participants in Matsubayashi karate today.
In January of 1963 the first National Karate Championship was held in St. Louis and Bob Yarnall was the winner. He remained a consistent tournament winner throughout the 60’s.
Bob was police officer in St. Louis and was appointed chief of police in a suburb of St. Louis and eventually would be a City councilman.
Bob Yarnall is a member of the Black Belt Hall of Fame and currently holds the title of Hanshi. He is still very active in karate today. A brief profile of each of the early black belts under Bob Yarnall is provided below.
Bill March
Bill March became successful on the European tournament scene. He became the European champion in a match against the legendary Allen Steen.
Jim Harrison
Jim Harrison who was a black belt in Judo would earn his black belt in karate while studying in St. Louis under Jim Wax and Bob Yarnall. Jim Harrison is a legend in both the karate and judo.
He was one of the first kick boxers in America. His match with fellow legend Vic Moore is still a topic of conversation among old time karate men.
Before becoming a full time instructor in martial arts he was an undercover police officer for the St. Louis police department.
He promoted the very first televised professional karate event where the winner received compensation of one dollar. Karate legend Joe Lewis won the dollar.
Harrison is a three time all American grand champion, Asian challenge champion, and national masters champion. Jim Harrison a retired police officer who resides in Missoula Montana where he continues a long and successful career as teacher, coach, competitor and promoter.
Parker Shelton
Parker Shelton would also continue studying under Wax and Yarnall then he would leave the St. Louis area and continue his martial arts teaching in Indiana. . In 1969 he received the Trias International Award. From 1972-1974 he was ranked number 1 in the nation. He still is active in the martial arts doing seminars and has his own school in Fort Wayne Indiana. Parker Shelton has the title of Hanshi in Matsubayashi karate.
Dave Nichols
Dave Nichols started karate under Jim Wax in the early summer months of 1962. Dave Nichols who now resides in Farmington Missouri He continues his 46 year association with his instructor Bob Yarnall. He continues to be a part of martial arts in the southeastern Missouri area and co-hosts the Missouri State Karate Championship which is one of the oldest tournaments in the Missouri area. Dave also has a 1st degree black belt in Judo and a 2nd degree black belt in Jujitsu.
Mike George
Mike George started under Jim Wax in the early summer months of 1962. After Jim Wax left for the New York area he continued to train under Bob Yarnall, Jim Harrison, and Parker Shelton. After Parker Shelton and Jim Harrison moved to other areas he trained exclusively with Bob Yarnall until he left St. Louis area in 1968. He continued his training in the Southern California area. In the Los Angeles area he began training with Sensei Shima, Sensei Taba, and Sensei Kina. From the early to mid 1970’s he trained with karate legend Mike Stone. Mike George has continued to maintain Sensei student relationship with Bob Yarnall. Mike taught in St. Louis, Missouri; Springfield and Kankakee Illinois; Pueblo and Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Los Angeles and Orange County, California. He also taught and competed in Full Contact Karate. In the mid 1970’s he fought an exhibition full contact karate match against a boxer. He stopped the boxer in the third round. He has a title of Kyoshi and continues to train in karate.
Ansei Ueshiro
In 1962 Grand Master Nagamine decided to send his student Ansei Ueshiro to the United States. Jim Wax was instrumental in obtaining a special visa allowing Master Ueshiro to come to the United States in 1962. After traveling throughout the United States visiting many of the Matsubayashi dojos, he decided to settle in the New York area. Ansei Ueshiro died in 2002. Early students of Sensei Ueshiro in the New York area were Joe Fusci, Ernie Ferarra and sometime later were Robert Scaglione and Terry Maccarrone. A profile of each of these individual is included in this document.
Frank Grant
Frank Grant who originally started his training under Jim Wax continued his training under Ansei Ueshiro in Ohio. In 1963 Ansei Ueshiro promoted Frank Grant to Sho Dan. Frank Grant continues to promote and maintain the World Shorin-Ryu Karate-do Federation and currently holds the position of Chairman of the board. Currently Mr. Grant holds the title of Hanshi.
Greg Helm
Greg Helm taught in the Ohio and New York area. He retired from Karate due to a back injury. However during the short time he was in martial arts he left a lasting impression.
Joe Fusci
Joe Fusci was one of the early senior black belts under Ansei Ueshiro. He passed away eight to ten years ago. He was a dedicated karate man in the New York area.
Ernie Ferarra
In 1960 Ernie Ferrara first studied the Shotokan style of Karate. One of his first instructors was the noted John Slocom from Flushing, New York. It was there that Ernie Ferrara met and saw James K. Wax who demonstrated his style of Shorin Ryu (Matsubayashi-Ryu) Karate. Mr. Ferrara then chose to study the Shorin Ryu system under James K. Wax. While studying under Sensei Wax, in September of 1962 Master Ansei Ueshiro of the Shorin Ryu system came to the United States from Okinawa. Ernie Ferrara then trained under both Sensei Wax and Master Ueshiro and later only trained under Master Ueshiro.
In May of 1963 Sensei Ferrara became the first person to receive a Black Belt Certificate under Master Ueshiro in the United States and he became the first member of the International Karate Black Belt Federation (James K. Wax, President/Ansei Ueshiro, Foreign Representative). Sensei Ferrara has been teaching in the greater New York and Long Island area ever since.
In 1991 Sensei Ferrara and Sensei Zermeno formed The North American Shorin Ryu Association. Sensei Ferrara holds the rank of 8th degree in The North American Shorin Ryu Association. He also holds 9th degree in the United States Karate Association that he received in May of 1994 from the director of U.S.K.A. John A. Pachivas.
In January of 2001, Hanshi Ferrara was inducted into the Action Martial Arts Hall of Fame and received the Golden Lifetime Achievement Award for his years of dedication. In addition, Hanshi Andrew Linick, Founder of the Karate Masters Hall of Fame, inducted Sense Ferrara as a member in June of 2001 in recognition of his great martial skill in developing, teaching and propagating the Art of Shorin Ryu in America.
In 2002 after the death of Ansei Ueshiro, he created the United States Shorin Ryu Association to honor Sensei Ueshiro’s four decades of teaching in the United States.
Zenko Heshiki
Heshiki sensei is an ordained Zen priest in the Chozen-ji order as well as a seventh dan kyoshi in Matsubayashi Ryu, one of the three major forms of Okinawan Shorin Ryu.
Later Heshiki moved to New York where he began his study of Matsubayashi Ryu. Over the years he made frequent trips to Okinawa to study directly under Master Nagamine, the founder of Matsubayashi Ryu. He also returned to Argentina and Uruguay at the request of students to teach karate.
While in New York, Heshiki devoted himself wholeheartedly to the study and practice of Matsubayashi Ryu. His dojo prospered and at one time he had over 40 active black belts and over 200 students.
Zen has always been an integral aspect of Heshiki sensei’s life and teaching. Nagamine sensei, has stressed that Zen training is the cornerstone of Matsubayashi Ryu. He enjoyed a long relationship with Omori Sogen Rotaishi, the founder of Daihonzan Chozen-ji and himself a renowned budoka. The late Omori Rotaishi visited Okinawa on many occasions to teach Zen at Nagamine Sensei’s dojo.
Robert Scaglione
He began his karate training in 1967 under Grand Master Ansei Ueshiro. Hanshi served in the U.S. Navy and became a NYC Police Officer. He voluntarily worked exclusively in high crime/high hazard areas during his entire 20 year tenure with the NYPD. He served in many assignments in all five boroughs of New York City including uniformed street cop, undercover officer and as a Detective in the elite Special Investigating Unit featured in the film “The French Connection.” He retired from police service in order to devote himself full time to the art of karate.
Hanshi began his karate training in the NYPD. He continued his training under Sensei Terry Maccarrone – Shihan of the Hegashi Karate Dojo on Long Island, New York. He was Senior Instructor at the St. James Dojo for five years. Master Ueshiro, wanting a dojo in Manhattan, asked Hanshi to open a dojo in New York City. He founded the NYC dojo in 1977, which became the headquarters of Shorin-Ryu Karate USA several years later. After ten years, in 1987, Hanshi relocated to Merritt Island, Florida and founded the Okinawan Karate Dojo leaving his senior student David Baker, Kyoshi, to continue operation of the NYC Hombu dojo.
In 2002 Hanshi continued the propagation of the Shorin-Ryu style in Florida with the founding of the Cocoa Beach Karate Dojo, and in 2004 the Cocoa YMCA Brevard Community College Dojo.
Hanshi is the co-author with artist Bill Cummins, Ni Dan, of “The Shorin-Ryu Karate Question and Answer Book” and has written another entitled “Building Warrior Spirit.” His student David Seeger, Kyoshi, an Emmy Award winner, has produced several karate videos with Hanshi. Hanshi has written and assisted his students in writing newspaper and magazine articles, film scripts on varied subjects, novels, and stage plays. He has appeared on national TV and radio, in stage productions, and at Universities and schools giving karate demonstrations and lectures on self-defense and assault prevention.
Terry Maccarrone
Terry Maccarrone, Kyoshi professor of Okinawan Karate-Do and Kobudo. As International Representative for Master Ueshiro Terry Maccarrone traveled to Japan and Okinawa in 1982 1983 1986 1992 1994 and to China (Canton and Hong Kong) in 1982 and 1983 In 1989 Terry Maccarrone became the representative of Fujiwara Kenjutsu in America and traveled to England and Europe several times in the 1990’s The IMAF Kokusai Budo-in authorized and titled Renshi Terry Maccarrone to Northeast Regional Director in 1986 and hosted many Japanese Budo Seminars on Karate Kobudo Kenjutsu aikido Judo and Jujitsu. He was active in the USKA Organization founded by Robert Trias 1980-1989 and New York State director for USKK founded by Phil Koeppel 1996 to present. In 1994 while visiting Japan, Kyoshi Patrick McCarthy invited Maccarrone Sensei to become a member of the new Research Society now know as the International Ryukyu Research Society and KSL research group studying Okinawan Koryu Uchinade and Kobudo…This website is a direct result of that effort. Terry Maccarrone still trains and teaches at his karate USA dojo and at St Joseph’s College in Patchogue a fully accredited self-defense and karate course for physical fitness.
Takayoshi Nagamine
Soke Nagamine who is the son of Master Shoshin Nagamine arrived in the United States in the mid 1960’s with the rank of 3rd Dan. He began teaching in the Ohio area and is currently head of the World Matsubayashi Ryu Karate Do Association.
Chotoku Omine
Chotoku Omine was a senior black belt under Shoshin Nagamine. He was sent to the United States by Master Nagamine to head up the All Okinawan Karate Do in America. He was first based in New York and then later in the San Francisco area until the time of his death in 1975.
Gary Tiktin
Gary Tiktin who had also trained in Okinawa founded the American Karate Federation in 1962. Some of his black belts are Walt Sapronov, Dennis Oliver and Doug Van Cleave. Mr. Tikten continues to train privately and serves as president of the American Karate Federation.
Sam Palmer
Sam Palmer had a school in Belleville Illinois in the early to mid 1960’s. He retired from the Air Force in 1972. In 1979 Palmer Renshi traveled to New York to take part in a black belt promotion board. After having participated in grading and performing demos Palmer Renshi suffered a sudden death cardiac event and collapsed while performing Pinan Sandan. In spite of resuscitation efforts he did not survive. This was the way Palmer Renshi would have like to have left this world, doing what he loved.
Masao Shima
The late Masao Shima who was a tenth degree at the time of his death was a senior black belt under Shoshin Nagamine. He was the sensei of Eihachi Ota, Toshihiro Oshiro, Kiyoshi Nishime, and Mike George. Masao Shima was in the Los Angeles area for approximately one year. Mike George had the privilege of training with him during this time.
Taba
Kensei Taba is a tenth degree black belt and a senior black belt under Shoshin Nagamine. Kensei Taba heads his own world wide karate organization called Okinawa Shogen Ryu Karate Do Association Kensei Taba was located in the Los Angeles area in the late 1960’s. Mike George was also able to train with Sensei Taba at this time.
Eihachi Ota
In Naha City, Okinawa after gaining recognition as one of the strongest in his high school’s karate club; he was invited to join Sensei Shima’ s private dojo. In 1969 Sensei Ota moved to the United States and in 1973 he opened his first dojo in Los Angeles. Sensei Ota is an expert in all the traditional Okinawan weapons of self-defense. He is the head of his own Karate Organization the Shorin-Ryu Karatedo Kobuto Association (SKKA).
Toshihiro Oshiro
Shihan Toshihiro Oshiro started studying Karate at the age of 6. He has continued training for the past forty plus past years and has earned advanced degrees in Kobudo, Judo and Kendo. He is now 7th degree black belt in Shorin-Ryu Karate.
Sensei Oshiro moved to the USA in 1979 when he retired from his position of detective for the Okinawan/Japanese Police Department. He has been teaching Karate and Kobudo since then in his San Mateo Dojo.
Chief Instructor in the USA for the RBKD (Ryuku Bujustsu Kenkyu Doyukai), an organization dedicated to the research and development of Okinawan Martial Arts, Sensei Oshiro is considered the premiere National Martial Arts Weapons expert in the United States.
Kiyoshi Nishime
Kiyoshi Nishime moved to the United States in 1973 to teach karate.
He studied under Masao Shima. In 1998 he was awarded a life time achievement award from the Japanese government and was recognized as 1999 national instructor of the year by the Amateur Athletic Union. He now teaches seminars world wide as well as teaching in the Cincinnati Ohio area.
Source Information
It should be noted that there are many other people who are associated with Matsubayashi who may not have been covered here. The people listed above are the pioneers of Matsubayashi Shorin-Ryu Karate in the United States. These Sensei’s have produced many black belts and those black belts have gone on to produce even more across the United States. Please contact Sensei Ota with any other information that you might like to see in this profile.
Much of this information has come from personal accounts by Mike George or from sources on the internet. Any information that may be incorrect in any way please contact Sensei Ota so that we may correct any errors or omissions.
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Thank you everyone , now lets build!
The Gathering
“Super” Dan Anderson 9th Dan Black Belt Test LIVE !!!
Sport Karate Legend !!!
Winner of seventy {70} Grand Championships !!!!
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History in the Making (The Gathering)
I have had the good fortune to be involved in the martial arts for fifty five years. In that time I have seen the arts grow. I have seen popularity ebb and flow. I’ve witnessed its trends, fads and transitions. In effect I’ve watched the martial arts evolve and come of age in America.
As most of us know the martial arts as they are practiced in The U.S. had their origin in the Far East. There is a mystique that goes with anything oriental in the world of the martial arts. Many people believe that if you didn’t study in Japan, Okinawa, China or some such country you can’t be a really competent martial artist. Those of us who have immersed ourselves in the arts know this to be less than true. The Americas have produced some of the most competent martial artists in the world today.
I had the privilege recently to attend two wonderful events back to back. In Lexington, Kentucky I attended the Black Dragon reunion seminar event. It was well attended and the skill level and knowledge of the teachers and participants was impressive. For those who still wonder about the Black Dragon Fighting Society, we too have grown and come of age. The second event I attended was The Gathering hosted by Professor Gary Lee and The Museum of Sports Karate. It is that event that I want to speak about now.
Many in the martial art community will know of Professor Lee and his involvement and contributions to the martial arts. He was raised from early childhood by a martial art master. He was literally raised in the dojo. Born and raised into his mid teens in Hawaii, he came to the mainland at the tender age of fourteen to explore the martial art scene here and to seek his fortune. He managed to accomplish both with a rare flare.
The Gathering grew out of the accumulation of eighteen celebrity roasts over a thirteen year period. Those occasions brought a number of martial arts competitors and masters together in one place minus the usual politics that make such occasions so dicey. The success of those events spawned the idea of something larger and grander that would honor those who have contributed to the martial art world in the U.S. and worldwide.
Because of the unenviable results of such endeavors in the past many wondered at the outcome but Since Professor Lee knows practically every serious player in the martial arts here in the States no-one voiced their doubts. In the end his character and acceptance of all martial artists, styles, systems and practitioners, of whatever level, set the precedence for what took place. The end result surpassed even his wildest dreams.
Speaking of history being made Professor Lee attempted something that few have tried before and none before have succeeded in doing. He put forth an effort to bring what has been viewed as one of the more controversial factions in the martial art world into the gathering with the more traditional sport based elements. There were four members of the Black Dragon Fighting Society including Professor Lee and myself. We found that the differences weren’t as insurmountable as they have long been portrayed to be. Whether combat based or sport oriented we found that there wasn’t the rift between us as previously thought.
The caliber of the participants was impressive. Considering the luminaries and leadership represented most left their egos at home. If there was a hint of political a political agenda present I saw no sign of it. Instead brotherhood and acceptance seemed the rule of the day.
I’m not one to name drop but many pioneers were present. People like Jim Harrison, Raymond McCallum, Pat Burleson, Linda Denley, Jerry Piddington,Kenn Firestone, David Brock, Linda Pugliese,George Minshew, Keith Yates,John Nativihad,Jerome Johnson, Lawrence Arthur,Helen Chung, Jeff Smith,Scott Hogarth,Chris Minshew,Steve Selby, Deddy Mansyur,Derrick Pendergrass,Darrel Lassitor, Mike McNamara, Jamie Cashion and any of a number of other greats in the martial arts were present or directly sanctioned the event. I hate to mention the names of the many greats present because it would take an entire page to include all of them. I was humbled by the level of knowledge, wisdom and ability that these individuals represented. I was also impressed how unassuming they all were. A better bunch of people you’ll never meet in or out of the martial art community. One would never know in talking with them that many of them are famous in the world of the martial arts.
The sword master, Shihan Dana Abbott and cane master Mark Shuey were present and taught seminars. Other representatives of bushido, Japanese karate, Tae Kwon Do, Tex Kwon Do, Okinawan karate and Kempo, American karate and weapons were represented in various seminars. Those who taught them read like who’s who in the martial arts in the United States. A list of those who taught seminars at the gathering are World Champion Troy Dorsey, Grand Master Scott Hogarth, Grand Master Joshua St. Ives, Grand Master James Cook, Grand Master, Ron Lindsey, Grand Master Dan Frazier, Grand Master Duane R. Ethington and International master instructor Danny Lane. And as I fore stated Masters Mark Shuey and Dana Abbott graced us with their extensive knowledge. Time doesn’t allow me to comment on each of the separate seminars but the level of knowledge represented was impressive and that that was passed on to the participants was more than worth the price of the entire event.
Another first and a major one at that was the live streaming of the Black belt test on the evening of the first full day of the event. Most of the candidates were being tested for advanced Dan rank including one candidate, the amazing Super Dan Anderson who tested for his kudan or ninth degree black belt. Along with these advanced practitioner was one virgin who tested for shodan or first degree black belt. The tests were grueling. No-one was given anything. Everyone of the including Master Anderson had to earn it. Anyone who feels that the tests were for show needed only to have been there or watch the live stream. It was one of the toughest tests I’ve ever witnessed in my fifty five year involvement in the martial arts. Ten candidates tested and I didn’t envy a one of them. Dan Anderson fought rank, age or experience. Raymond McCallum, one of the greatest fighters all time during his test. Broken noses and digits, split lips, loose teeth and a host of bruises and lutusions were served up Texas style. No preferential treatment was given to him or any of the other competitors regardless age, rank or experience. Every promotion was earned with blood, and tears. Something else that had never been done in the past was implemented during the rank tests. Grapplers, MMA fighters and traditional karate and kung fu stylists were tested together and had to fight one another. Over forty masters, champions and martial art pioneers sat at four tiers of tables overseeing the testing. I was privileged to be among that number.
The candidate that tested for his shodan had to fight with each of the other candidates and toward the end of his ordeal was knocked unconscious. After being examined by a doctor and a brief rest he was allowed to continue his test and was successful in earning his black belt. I was impressed with all of the candidates but I had to admire his determination and his tenacity above all of them. He, along with all of the other candidates was a warrior amongst warriors.
Another interesting fact was the testing of Professor Lee’s son, Garrett. Garrett tested for his sandan or third degree. He fought several of the other candidates, most of whom outranked him for the honor. Among those he fought was one of the legends and pioneers of United States karate, Dan Anderson. Considering that Dan has been involved in the arts long enough to test for kudan one would have to surmise that he has some age under his belt. Even so he is still a fighting terror. Interesting enough Garrett tested for his shodan at the then unheard of age of seven in the same ballroom in the same hotel. Sitting on that board of review so many years ago was no other than Dan Anderson whose name graces his shodan certificate. Imagine fighting that same person these many years later as a candidate for sandan. Quite a coincidence and a fantastic honor. Garrett gave a good account of himself but please take into consideration that he was fighting Super Dan Anderson. I would add that he was successful in his quest.
There were many demonstrations that boggled the mind and things accomplished that bordered on the impossible. A ten foot stack of bricks was pulverized with a hand strike. Four baseball bats were reduced to kindling with a shin kick. Likewise a stack of I hesitate to guess how many boards was likewise broken by a similar kicks. I hurt just watching these amazing feats. The performances of Derrick Pendegrass, David Johnson, Dana Abbott and others were awe inspiring. One in particular gave every male in the building pause. Dr. Patrick Price took two full power kicks to the groin delivered by Top Ten Texas fighter Sal Naveraz, apparently with no ill effects. I understand the concept of ki and chi kung training but the secret behind such a feat goes beyond anything that I understand. Let it be said that I won’t be trying to duplicate that feat any time soon.
There were kata, self defense demos, kobudo and weapon forms and anything else that one could imagine. There was something to appease the most discriminating taste. The entire event was one amazing presentation after another.
A wonderful tribute was given recognizing our fallen comrade in arms and martial art legend, Joe Lewis. I am a pretty stoic individual but I was almost moved to tears by the presentation. Master Jeff Smiths moving speech, Master James Cook’s rendition of “Tears in Heaven and Rudy Smedley and Guy James melodious rendition almost proved my undoing. The entire tribute was touching and wonderfully done. Toward the end those who had fought Joe Lewis were asked to come forward. Jeff Smith, Art Heller, Raymond McCallum, Jim Butin, Jerry Piddington, John Nativihad and J. Pat Burleson came to the front. I don’t believe that there was a dry eye in the bunch but please don’t quote me on that. It could have been a trick of the light. The names of the martial art greats lost over the last several years were read in silent respect. We are losing a whole generation of some of the greatest competitors and contributors that the martial arts have seen. Their names will be revered by the martial art community and they will never be forgotten.
The top ten center referees of all times were recognized also. Those honored were Masters Bill Ryusaki, Bill “Balls” Clark, Joshua St. Ives, Don Willis, Jerry Piddington, Jim Harrison, Roy D. Kurban, James Stevens, Andrew Linick, and Duke Tirschel.
New members History generals were inducted into the Museum. Those honored were Dr. Shorty Mills, Johnny Lee, “Monster Man” Everett Eddy, Howard Herman, James Woodson, Linda Pugielse, John Natavihad, Steve Selby, Ron Turchi and yours truly, Donn Miskel. Being honored with such an illustrious group of dignitaries is one of the greatest honors of my life.
Natural Fighter awards were presented to some of the greatest fighters of our time. They included the natural fighter Jim Harrison award presented to Tim Kirby, The J Pat Burleson Award to Jim Butin and Jim Harrison, The Raymond McCallum award to Garret Robert Lee, the Jeff Smith Award to Sean Smith, the Ernie Radar Smith award to Scott Messina, The Keith Vitali award to Mike Genova, Marty Knight, and Michael Goldman, the Jerry Piddington award to Danny McCall and the Ed Parker award to Jamie Cashion III. Each of them are great competitors past and present and each was worthy of the recognition given.
The Museum of Sports Karate’s Dragon Image award was presented to one hundred fighters and contributors to the arts. The design was hand made and the certificates were considered some of the best that many of those present had ever seen. The twin dragons facing one another was an artistic depiction of the concept of the yin and yang, a symbol often associated with Taoism and various eastern martial arts.
A tribute was also done for Prof. Gary Lee. A presentation was made by one of the martial artists that had served as a missionary in Africa. He taught karate to one of the orphanages there and all of the students signed the presentation to Prof. Lee. This was especially touching to Gary and all present because Gary was orphaned at a young age. That very circumstance served to be the catalyst that ushered Prof. Gary Lee into the martial arts as a small child in Hawaii.
Lastly I would like to mention my Black Dragon brothers who were also present. They included Grand Master Irving Soto, Master Michael Glynn, Prof. Gary Lee, all masters and champions in their own rights and lastly me, Dr. Donald Miskel. We as a group have been ostracized and criticized. We have been misunderstood and often misrepresented. Our roots were born in and of controversy but we have grown up and come of age. On that last not I would also like to mention that the headstone that was made several years ago by our members to grace the unmarked grave of our Grand Master and founder, John Keehan, the infamous ‘Count Dante’is being donated to the Museum I had the privelage of making that announcement after offering the prayer at the opening of the Banquet that concluded the gathering. Because the permission of the family is necessary to place anything permanent on any grave in the cemetery and no family could be reached to give that permission the final resting place of John Keehan remains unmarked. I have had the stone in my possession these several years. I sought and was given the permission of the other Patriarchs of the organization to make this donation to the museum. A ‘Black Dragon’ room is being created in the museum and the headstone will be one of the first additions to that exhibit.
All of this was the culmination of a young boy’s journey that started on the shores of Hawaii, continued to grow on the mainland of the United States and came to fruition on October the eleventh through the thirteenth. The Gathering was a magnanimous event and offered so many firsts that it would take several articles of longer length to cover everything. These were only high lights of an event that will surely go down in martial art history. I hope that it is only the first of such.
Train hard, my brethren and go with God.
Rev. Dr. Donald Miskel ThD, DCC, MDiv.
with Prof. Gary Lee
One Child , One Dream , One Goal ,Peace and harmony around the world ,osu
It is about one child at a time , that one child could make a difference .
A journey that started in a tiny little hut in n Hawaii and ended with the Sport Karate Museum for the pioneers of America.
http://youtu.be/JigPIDze84U
The class bowed to the sensei. The familiar sound Osu! filled the air. But how many of them do really know what this expression means? Or do they simply repeat it in a mechanical fashion, ignoring its meaning and essence? What about us? Have you ever asked yourself what it means? Certainly everyone trained in a karate dojo, knows it or hear it spoken as an all-purpose expression of greeting and acknowledgement. But “Osu!” isnt so simple. It comes with a certain baggage attached to it, in the form of rules for appropriate use and pronunciation and most importantly in essence. I have a feeling that most people, using this word today, neither pronounce it correctly nor do they use it appropriately; most importantly they may ignore its deeper meaning and essence.
Regarding the Origin of “Osu!” two theories are prevailing.
The first one comes from Dr. Mizutani Osamu, a linguistics professor at the University of Nagoya and his work Japanese: The Spoken Language in Japanese Life. He talks about an experiment with people in returning greetings. He has concluded that Osu is probably a contraction of the more formal expression “Ohayo gozaimasu” which means, very politely, “It is early”, and is commonly used in Japan as “good morning”. Mizutani connsiders that “Osu!” is a rough expression used by men toward other men, that it means “Hi ya!” in English. More specifically, Ohayo is a more familiar and intimate expression, used in a casual way towards friends and neighbours. Ohayossu or ohayoosu is a more athletic, male expression. You might hear it from a neighbour you don’t know well, if you greet him while he is jogging past you. Ossu or oosu is a very tough, rough expression of masculinity. Used mainly by young people and others engaged in athletic activities together. It is generally aimed toward one’s colleagues, not the coach, instructor, or other seniors. Attention; the expression is avoided by women, unless the particular culture of the athletic activity has become one in which the ladies use this word regularly. (Writers note: Men’s and women’s language usage differs more in Japanese than it does in English. There are distinct feminine and masculine expressions and the Japanese find it inappropriate for women and men to use each other’s language.)
The other theory to the origins of this word has been taken from the kanji used to write the word in Japanese. The first kanji is the Japanese verb osu which means “push.” It symbolizes the combat spirit, the importance of effort and the necessity to overcome all obstacles, push them aside and advance with a steady positive attitude. The second kanji is the Japanese verb shinobu which means “endure” or “hide.” It refers to the notion of pain and expresses the idea of courage, the spirit of perseverance and the resistance to withdrawal.
Ossu!Just for the history, the expression firstly appeared in the Officers Academy of the Imperial Japanese Navy, in the early 20th century and later it became common among karate circles. This is emphasizing the rough masculine nature of the word. Remember also that Shotokan and the other karate styles in Japan as well, were developed somewhere in a period of militaristic up growing in Japan’s history and practiced mainly in universities.
Just for notation, Onegaishimasu is another word that could be contracted into “Osu!”. Onegaishimasu is a polite catch-all word that generally means “please” and sometimes “sorry.” In many cases, in Japan, it is used instead of “Osu!”
The next thing now that we know what Osu means, is to ask ourselves: Do you say it properly? Listening to people you may have found three pronunciation options: oossu, ossu, and ohsu. Although there is no change in meaning, from one pronunciation to another, seems to be that only one is correct. Oosssss! That is how most Westerners say it – as if it rhymes with “book” and hiss at the end. I will resist the temptation to make a full analysis of the usage of the Japanese language. I will only say that the one pronounced correctly it sounds “Oh-ss” and rhymes with coast, toast, and most. Please note that, in Japanese, the u at the end of the word is silent and it is not necessarily pronounced at all. The Japanese actually do always pronounce it, but for a quarter beat. It is so slight in some people’s speech, more noticeable in others, and not noticeable at all in the speech of many. It depends both on the accent of the Japanese in question and the Japanese pronunciation rules.
As a rough, masculine expression (in Japanese) “Osu!” should be used very carefully, especially towards Japanese. When someone uses it, should follow the appropriate usage conventions, which will prevent from osu-alholism, and will allow every karate club to continue to use the term in a more accurate imitation of Japanese karate culture. “Osu!” is primarily a greeting. It is used toward other people, not toward an empty room when you bow. You don’t say it out before you perform a kata or yell it at judges in a tournament. You could potentially use it to mean “Roger” or “Let’s go!” It is never a question and does not mean “I understand.” “Osu!” is a rough masculine word, definitely associated with athletic activities, not just the martial arts and mostly used by men toward other men or boys and generally not directed at women, unless they belong to previous mentioned exceptions. Women who use the word are few, to include female karateka or athletic teams. And of course I have heard it being used on board Japanese warships in the above mentioned way. Importantly Japanese always use polite speech when addressing outward, away from their in-group and plain speech toward the in-group. So, when “Osu!” is used toward another person at the dojo, indicates that the two of you are comrades.
There are plenty of times when you should not use “Osu!” toward other people. Those rules are pretty simple, but there are quite a few of them. To simplify things, Osu neither means “Yes nor “I understand”, although sometimes it is used that way. Hai or Onegaishimasu deems more appropriate. You don’t use “Osu!” toward women, since women in Japan, being addressed by men, should be treated in a certain polite way. Not toward strangers also. “Osu!” is an in-group expression, so it is appropriate to use it toward your own group of friends, and inappropriate to use it toward those you have a more distant, polite relationship.
“Osu!” is a unique expression. Using it inappropriately is not a crime against humanity, however it should be used in a full understanding of its meaning and essence and must not be thrown or spoken lightly. Last but not least, Osu is important in building the Esprit de Corps. Esprit de Corps is the feeling you get when you know that you are part of a good team. In a good team you respect and trust each other, you know you will all sacrifice for the others if and when needed, therefore you work well and efficiently together. It is the Holy Grail in team sports and the military. If a team leader can build lesprit de corps into his team, it will never fail and chances of success improve dramatically. “Osu!” has become such in the karate community. It is used by practitioners to feel the esprit de corps and to express masculinity, aggressiveness, assertiveness, and enthusiasm.
So next time you say it, do it in a proper and mature way.
Watch IT NOW ,,UNCUT ,,,NO DISRUPTIONS !!!!!!!!
SUPER COOL!!!!!!!
The Black Belt Test and all the Seminars , performances and the History making event ” The Gathering”
http://sportkaratemuseum.org/?page_id=1473
Bear Loebe has won Sixteen National Black Belt League Titles and is a Promoter extraordinaire!
Tree years ago ,this idea of a STATE CHAMPIONSHIP was thrown on the table ,a few meetings of the best producers in the business ,the mentor ship of Boice Lydell ,founder of SUPER GRANDS ,a super fight, bringing the STATE karate of Louisiana and their best promoters and fighters and the gift of Jan and Jeff Shadoin as Coordinators and arbitration , add the best children and adult Sport Karate players in Texas and Louisiana and you have the SKI Texas State Games , a 30 point tournament and the last event to earn those points before SUPER GRANDS ,the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP of Sport Karate!
Bear’s vision comes from being in sport karate his whole life and he is goal driven as that he has experience the very best and only wants it for his home state of Texas in Sport Karate ,well after three years ,he has turned this championship to one of the highest levels of competition in Sport Karate in Texas ,the best judges, the best score keepers , the best group of helpers and Grand Ma Jane ,this lady is a tireless worker who runs the reregistration like a general , it is the complete organization that makes this event work , a class act indeed .
Special Surprises Master Jenny Pless and Master John Morris gave their expertise to judging , past champions ,Dawn Kabela, Laco from El Paso, Johnny Murphy, Ronald George , David Johnson,Luis Jeminez, Tony Lopez, Stacy Bell, Martha Garcia,Cassie Herrdon, Hakim Walker,Michael Palamo and others.
The very special guest of this event was like a who’s who, the greatest living Lady fighter who ever competed was there, Ms Linda Denley and World Champion Chris Gallio , who was one of the most talented players ever in Texas , one year he entered twenty -one divisions at SUPER GRANDS and the year he won the title he fought from WILD CARD to the Championship,, Animal !!
The Top Texas Ten Black Belt Ratings were introduced in 2009 and since then we rate twenty -seven events in Texas and last year ,seven in Louisiana and two in Oklahoma , we are growing !
This year we were ready to give out Top Texas Ten Fighting Awards and some Special Awards ,recognized father -son teams ,promoter of the Year and the Number One Fighter voted by the Scouts.
My partner and best friend Grand Master Daryl “Bigfoot” Stewart joined me on stage and awarded the first ever Sport Karate Awards from the Top Texas Ten Black Belt Ratings and The Sport Karate Museum for 2012 ,a historic moment !
This is what happen!
The first award went to producer of the year ,Lee Ordornio has cleared that with his Hawaiian based event The Aloha Open and next year he is given away $1000 for the Grand Championship, a Five Star Top Texas Ten Rated event and SKI points for Super Grands .
Then Arbitrator of the year went to Jeff Shadoin for a job so well done that every voter wanted him to be recognized,,,osu
2012 Dragon Image Fighter Award for the Texas Sport Karate State Championships are Jason Chartouni, Peter Chartouni, Chad Cannon, Dona Pettway, Derick Willson and Norman “Stormin” “Roberts received the Senior Fighting Award, Tony Mosely ,one of our favorites at Top Texas Ten ,Bear Loebe and Chris Gallio got the ANIMAL Top Texas Ten Award for being two of the best all-around in Texas sport karate competition .
Then the Father -Son Special Awards were given out to “Bear” Ovid Rodriquez and Vto “Little Bear” Rodriquez , Ronald George and Ryan George and last the dynamic team of Tony Lopez and T.J Lopez.
Willie Hicks from Detroit Michigan and a student Richard Plowden has won SUPER GRANDS WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIP GRANDS THREE TIMES and has moved to Texas to stay ,up until today he has been undefeated in Texas competition and at this event he was stopped by Chance Turner,, non the less he brings a definite threat to Black Belt Fighting in Texas , he was awarded the Adopted Texan Award.
Chance Turner has dominated Texas point fighting since TEAM GIPSY put him on their National Team and now with National level competition he has improved dramatically ,so with this fact it is no surprise fourteen SCOUTS from Top Texas Ten Black Belt Ratings voted Chance Turner “Fighter of the Year for 2012.
He also won the UNDISPUTED DIVISION ,HIS DIVISION and $500 in CASH and PRIZES
Special mention to Grands winner in forms Rommel Gargoles for a dynamic flawless performance
Shotokan Specialist Alfredo Bustemonte came in a very near second and the winner of the Junior Black Belt Grands was Rylan Garza .
The number one lady fighter in Top Texas Ten Black Belt Ratings for 2012 is Regena Thompson .
The number one Black Belt in Texas Point Fighting in the Top Texas Ten for 2012 is Jason “J Dog” Holmes.
Texas Sport Karate ,a different State of mind!!!
See you next year !
Jim Butin
Hey! The news is that I have been encouraged to write a book concerning my “Karate stories”, that I have been listing on my Facebook page for the last year. Maybe I will sell one or two copies, that would be cool! I would hope that I can expand my stories to include some additional interesting encounters that other Black Belt buddies of mine have experienced from the late 60’s to the 90’s. Good luck!
Grand Master Butin ,
First of all you are my hero and friend, from the very first Living Legends to The Gathering ,History General mentor, nominated you for the Karate Masters Hall of Fame you have been there for me ,however what the public doesn’t know is that out of all the pioneers and legends I had to choose from when I wrote my book to put one of you sport karate history animals story in my book I chose your story of “””What does not kill you makes you stronger””
Your Texas Black Belt Test!
Grand Master Jim Butin as a Fan I am excited to read your adventures ,however as a friend I can’t wait !!!
Good luck on your book ,I know it will be a hit!!!
Mahalo
Gary
http://www.amazon.com/Memoirs-American-Samurai-Warriors-Journey/dp/1463698062/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1311059329&sr=8-2
Happy Holidays
Thank you for all you do ,your friend ship, attitude toward the history, toward the pioneers , you are special , very special, you know who you are , you have stepped
up ,you care ,you are a professional maximizer,,, I hate to say it,,, it’s probably me,,, friend ship is a precious thing ,,osu
http://youtu.be/16IdYZWCypI
I got A lot more beneficial facts from your blog,I will bookmark your post ,so keep writing the good things,Thanks
Many of you have heard but to those who haven’t all of us lost a great master and I personally have lost a mentor, master and friend. Our sensei, master, brother and friend has been called home to his heavenly reward. Dr. Day leaves a powerful
legacy and it is up to each of us to carry it on.
God bless you my beloved brother and friend. You will be sorely missed.
Dr. Donn Miskel
Another great man has passed, Osu,
He was known as a Black Dragon ,but he was a leopard cat in my heart he also was a Grand Master in Kung Fu, the leader of the Black Dragon Fighting Society, he was old school in that he knew the true meaning of being a Master Instructor , so humble a Mentor, Consultant and personal friend
I will miss our hourly conversations on Kung Fu and how it compared to my attitude in Karate also where he wanted our Black Dragon Fighting Society elite members to achieve in the future years ,but most of all I will remember his kindness and wisdom for without his guidance and contacts my event ,The Gathering would not have the memory it will have , let me explain .
Dr. Day and I spent hours on the phone getting the contacts for the warriors that were very part of the core of martial arts in America ,but did not participate in tournament Events . The Core group ,military, mercenary , covert and special men who did not seek the lime light of magazines ,television or national tournaments but were hard core martial artist straight from China, Japan , Okinawa and Korea.
We would talk and talk on how we could bring these two great different sides of America’s Martial Arts together and the Dragon Image Fighting Award was formed to give out to the warriors of America
The Reunion in Kentucky was formed for the Elite members and the Gathering was for the mixture .
One man brought us all together and that was Dr. Donald Miskal , though his wisdom he helped heal the politics between things that happen and things misunderstood .
We wanted to put the two groups together in the same room, that has never been done before , ever and we wanted to heal the years of feuds between styles and all the interesting parts of the martial arts that were conversations all over America .
Thank you Irving Soto, Michael Glynn,Ashida Kim, Frank W. Dux and my dear friend Dr. Donald Miskel for allowing this island boy to be around greatness like Dr. Lawrence Day
Dr. Day had vision ,he was a warrior and he will be remembered.
Rest in Peace ,my friend ,,love Gary
Many of you have heard but to those who haven’t all of us lost a great master and I personally have lost a mentor, master and friend. Our sensei, master, brother and friend has been called home to his heavenly reward. Dr. Day leaves a powerful legacy and it is up to each of us to carry it on. God bless you my beloved brother and friend. You will be sorely missed. Dr. Donn Miskel Another great man has passed, Osu, He was known as a Black Dragon ,but he was a leopard cat in my heart he also was a Grand Master in Kung Fu, the leader of the Black Dragon Fighting Society, he was old school in that he knew the true meaning of being a Master Instructor , so humble a Mentor, Consultant and personal friend I will miss our hourly conversations on Kung Fu and how it compared to my attitude in Karate also where he wanted our Black Dragon Fighting Society elite members to achieve in the future years ,but most of all I will remember his kindness and wisdom for without his guidance and contacts my event ,The Gathering would not have the memory it will have , let me explain . Dr. Day and I spent hours on the phone getting the contacts for the warriors that were very part of the core of martial arts in America ,but did not participate in tournament Events . The Core group ,military, mercenary , covert and special men who did not seek the lime light of magazines ,television or national tournaments but were hard core martial artist straight from China, Japan , Okinawa and Korea. We would talk and talk on how we could bring these two great different sides of America’s Martial Arts together and the Dragon Image Fighting Award was formed to give out to the warriors of America The Reunion in Kentucky was formed for the Elite members and the Gathering was for the mixture . One man brought us all together and that was Dr. Donald Miskal , though his wisdom he helped heal the politics between things that happen and things misunderstood . We wanted to put the two groups together in the same room, that has never been done before , ever and we wanted to heal the years of feuds between styles and all the interesting parts of the martial arts that were conversations all over America . Thank you Irving Soto, Michael Glynn,Ashida Kim, Frank W. Dux and my dear friend Dr. Donald Miskel for allowing this island boy to be around greatness like Dr. Lawrence Day Dr. Day had vision ,he was a warrior and he will be remembered. Rest in Peace ,my friend ,,love Gary
We would like to thank Dr. Donald Miskel for his vision and love of the martial arts .
The package the Sport Karate Museum received is priceless , The Black Dragon Fighting Society Wall will be a site to look at with the history you gave me with this package , add all the material Dr. Day gave me , Frank’s contribution and the headstone of John Keehan {Count Dante}, donated by you ,,osu
The Judan from the Black Lotus Association, to be honored by you is such a privilege and exciting part of my Journey .
I promise to work hard on keeping the History between Sport Karate and the elite history of the Black Dragon Fighting Society as accurate as possible with this wall it is a heck of a start !
Mahalo sir
I am so happy I found your site. I really found you by accident, while I was browsing on Google for something else. Anyways I am here now and would just like to say thank you for a great post and an all round enjoyable blog. (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read through it all at the moment, but I have added your website to my favorites, so when I have time I will be back to read more. Please do keep up the awesome job!
What a tremendous pleasure to have spoken with a fellow brother and member of the Old schoool days of sport karate. As i looked through this web sight i saw names and faces of people and ledgends that i haven’t heard from or about in years. Searching this is a bring back memories honor that will last us a life time. It’s unfortunate when we are not in the loop and dont know about the Great ones that have passed on to glory. I had the pleasure of training with the Chuck Norris organization in the 1973 era through the time when Mr. Norris started making films and i was one of the students that became an instructor at the Redondo Beach studio. From there i was called by the man we know as ” Howie” Howard Jackson , he called and asked me if i would do some teaching at his school because his siminar, filming and fighting schedule started to conflict with him not being able to be in two places at one time. If anyone knows Mr. Jackson then you know he was the original “California Flash”. I later became the sponsor for “Monster Man” Eddy , when he relocated to so. Cal. and then followed by Master Instructor Burnis White from Hawaii. As we traveled around the so. Cal tournament scene we would always come in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.
When kick-boxing came to the states Mr. Norris had a league and was looking for fighters and that was how the “South Bay Stingers” was formed with “Pops” Fisher as head coach. the team went un-defeated and the participants were Steve Fisher, Quincy Mitchell, Russ Farris, Carlton Morris, John “Big T” Turnage. Mr. Natividad would have myself and Russ Farris come in each weekday and learn the finer points of switching from point fighting to (then called) full contact karate.
Professor Lee, speaking with you and having an opportunity to see this web sight dedicated to the sport karate museum has brought back many wonderful memories.
By the way, as my instructor was known by the nick name “John the Giant Killer”. I was fortunate enough to have made my way in by beating three of the top fighters in California only to face Hon. Roy Kurban in the finals for grand champion. I am grateful for you and the history you continue to bring. QM
Wobbly Karate in America !
As a kid we all use to take a pencil and put it in our finger tips and wobbly it so it has the illusion that it is made of rubber instead of a solid pencil.
To the public the Karate community is wobbly and many false impressions , whether it is about rank ,Hall of Fame’s or Tournament circuits
Karate is as solid as it has been since it hit our shores ,,,,right !,,and Sport Karate is solid too!,,,right ,well what do we do because it is a problem !
The Tournament Circuits have turned into a old Television game called “What’s My Line?”
Three contestants ,one real person ,in this case many contestants!
We at the Sport Karate Museum are very curious and have a important question that has been asked by many Fan’s mainly the new fans of Sport Karate have asked the Question for they are confused.
What are the different levels of competition circuits and how can like the 10th Degree Black Belt state of mind , all these Black Belt Hall of Fame’s popping up not be put into I am me ,me ,me category..
In the beginning ,there was one !
The USKA
There was no question who was the best fighter , best Kata ,best weapons performers were ,,,now with WKC, WKO,WMO,NBL, PKC, WKA, NASKA, WUO,USAF, WAKO, Universal , and individuals producers all offering WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS in Black Belt Point Karate, from huge gatherings events to having a WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP in a Golden Corral parking lot ,,(don’t laugh that really happen ,,winners won free buffet dinners).
Question!
WHICH one is the real WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP of Black Belt point Karate? and will you PLEASE STAND UP!
http://www.sportkaratemuseum.org
“One of my favorite third and hardest place’s I ever earned”,,,lol
He was big and ugly, his fist were as big as, well they were huge and he wanted to manipulate everyone he steps in the ring with and he did until the his last two fights.
He had gone though everybody like a lawnmower on rocket fuel!
Twenty -seven Black Belt players showed up that day at that tournament in Sandosky, Ohio, then I walked in past the the two ambulances out front, I wondered if someone had got hurt,later I would be thankful they were there.
It was so cold in the gym!
I thought I was in the worst place I could be on a Saturday morning !
I also notice the row of wheel barrels at the front of the room next to the trophies.
No weight divisions,cup and mouthpiece only required equpment , only a couple of rules, one point for everything , first to two points ,winner !
Next fight .
The producer believed if you got score on ONE TIME,either you had no defense or your opponet was a better point player , only problem was the center judge would not say “BREAK!” and it became a street brawl with a Karate flavor and I know we would fight for thirty seconds or more before the center would break us up or Yami That is why everyone got injured !
Thank goodness the third place check didn’t bounce,,,,lol
‘The Karate Whisperer”
“Gary Lee is an internationally renowned martial arts historian and expert. He is deeply dedicated and passionate about the Sport Karate Museum and he has made great strides to make it a reality.
Gary also has an amazing talent for bringing people together and he has an extensive network of friends in the martial arts community.”
Adam James
“I write this letter with pride and honour for Professor Gary.
Professor Gary is a rare breed in todays society as not only does he keep his word, but he goes above and beyond. It has been and still is my utmost pleasure to continue working with Professor Gary and always look forward to any new projects or tasks that we undertake. He is a go getter and a real bulldog when it comes to getting the job done.
With 100% of pure trust and sincerity I absolutely am privileged to recommend Professor Gary Lee to anyone that wants or needs to get a job well done!
Best regards,
Aaron Michelle Perzan
http://www.amazon.com/Memoirs-American-Samurai-Warriors-Journey/dp/1463698062/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1311059329&sr=8-2
Wow!!!!!!!!
A big thank you to Bill Wilkerson from Bill Wilkerson U.S.A for his donation of $1500 to the Sport Karate Museum and the Helicopter ride to Bass Pro Shops for the Purple Worms !
We have a cabin on some private property near Columbus Texas, hunting and fishing at it’s best !
I am a Cook for about 5 CEO’s and owners of Oil Companies and on the spot ,I get a call that I am going to get picked up in the field next to my house in Sugar Land, Texas.
I am on call sort of and when I get called I drop everything and become a Chef and my version of “Hell’s Kitchen”,,lol
Using Purple worms one day we caught 60 bass out of the stock ponds at the cabin on the SECRET STOCK PONDS .
The magic bait!
Mr. Wilkerson had picked me up and we were flying toward our Cabin ,when he said “You got the PURPLE WORMS ,RIGHT???
I looked at him and said ” Nope ,didn’t have time to go get them !”
So he turns on a dime in the Helicopter ,scares the crap out of me and heads back to ward Katy ,Texas .
He looks at me and says’ Gary I am going to dropped down into Bass Pro Shops Parking Lot , here is my credit card and get thirty bags of Culprit purple worms.
I jump out of the Helicopter and went in and got the purple worms which came to $120.00 of Purple Worms ,,lol
When I stepped into the parking lot ,there was a array of Police Cars and authorities around the Helicopter and Mr. Wilkerson was talking to all of them ,he shook their hands ,jumped in the Helicopter and we were off
When I asked Mr. Wilkerson what had just happen ?
He said ” Oh they were my friends I have contracts with a lot of Police Officers here in Katy and some hunt on my land , they just wanted to know why I would land in the Bass Pro Shops Parking Lot , it’s cool !,
As we lifted off the ground I counted over ten or more police ,State Patrol cars and thought anybody else would be arrested instead we are going Bass Fishing!
Lucky Hawaiian Flash, Osu
Thank you Sara Thompson for finding this clip of one of my fights, all I remember was that everybody was taller than me and I would make them pay if they turned their back on me and they made mw wear that stupid head gear,
Heck I couldn’t hear Glenn C. Wilson the center Judge say break ,,lol
https://youtu.be/0WSOQ8b_FKg
A big surprise at the end!
Martial arts performed to a amazing electric violinst Robert Avilia R.I.P.
Good Kata , Good Self Defense , Good Knockout at the end !
The Sport Karate Museum will be at the Kumite ClASSIC this year with a Live Booth and all the cool stuff that the Sport Karate Museum brings ,it is also old home week for we were at the very first one.
The 10 Cucumber Cuts in minute record , the Live Electric Violinist Robert Avila R.I.P playing while Garett lee performs traditional Kata and Bunkai .the Challenge Fights Crazy times ,all those Bananas and Toliet paper(two ply),
The walking on glass Kata with brother Keith Weston, the Michael DePasquale Jr moment and Taxi ride to the airport that changed my journey and lead up to my cross rank under the great Michael DePasquale Sr. in Jui Jitsu .
The swirllies in all those bathrooms ,the ESPN and Guiness World Records , the GM Yong Sung Lee twelve foot Jump , all those Black Belt TV ‘Live” interviews,
The incredible fighters, yes we have memories in the City of Pittsburgh, back in ,,well it was a long time ago and the Sport Karate Museum is proud of Shihan Bill Viola and his dream of being one of the super producers of America !
It looks like he has achieved his dream!
I promise it is going to get bigger ,much bigger, Osu
Love
Professor Gary Lee and Garett Lee
KUMITE CLASSIC THE EARLY YEARS !
https://youtu.be/ra8vMTKzJR0
“Rambling Eddie”
I had a letter the other day come in and I try to read all the fan mail I can, we get hundreds ,I do not throw away one piece of mail that is handwritten ,for that is a rare moment now in the old age of e-mail and internet communication and I feel if some one takes the time to sit down and write a letter I will take the time to read it and I am glad I did.
‘Rambling Eddie”
It was a letter from a retired Doctor , a surgeon who had his practice in St. Louis, Missouri and in his early years of the 60’s ,he was a Practitioner of martial arts under Hanshi Sid Campbell in Oakland, California, a Shorin Ryu master teacher who was one of the first of his kind to introduce traditional martial arts in America.
The letter read ” I have been keeping up with all the positive and negative response to whether or not people care about the History of Sport Karate and the archives that people are having questions about things that hapen 50 ,40 ,30 years ago when the sport was created and I feel people do give a #%*^# about the history.
I want to know and most of all I would like to see more people care , I know people forget and they get invovled with other things in life ,however as a retired professional I will never forget what sport karate did for my focus and concentration to be a Doctor, now I feel I want to know every thing, how, when, where and when things happen , so I follow men and hard core karate historians like Professor and I know even though we will probaly never meet I appreciate the history gathering , Osu
Thank you
Dr. Stanley Provost ,retired
Fan of the Sport Karate history archives.
A Statement from Sid Campbell, an American Sport Karate Pioneer
Aloha and welcome,
The Sport Karate Museum Organization under the guidance of founder Gary Lee is a major step forward in preserving the past, unifying the present and strengthening the future of the sporting aspects of our art. It is also the official home of the history, traditions and accomplishments of great martial artists that pioneered the way in bringing these exciting sport-oriented martial traditions to the United States and spreading it throughout the western world.
What we see today in the vast expanse where the martial arts have entrenched itself in American’s culture and social fabric is a plethora of positive human qualities that was spawned by the martial arts sport movement. Through venues like karate tournaments, major action-adventure motion picture productions, professionally sanctioned televised events, martial arts schools, law enforcement agency defense tactics curriculums, Internet connectivity, seminars, magazine publishers, equipment supply companies, instructional books, educational DVDs, video arcade games, etc. — can all, in one way or another, trace its roots back to the sport martial arts competitors of the early 1960s when the Asian martial traditions were being introduced to the world. More specifically, it was the martial arts competitors, tournament producers and the fans of that bygone era that we today call the “golden age” of karate in America is of where this expansive and phenomenal growth evolved from in the first place.
Being fortunate enough to be one of the first Americans to teach Okinawan karate in the United States and western world during karate’s “golden age” of the 60s, I was blessed to be a part this cultural evolution. To be a small part of this dedicated cadre of this movement which now touts tens of millions of practitioners on a global scale still humbles me beyond the scope of words alone.
In my wildest dreams I could not have imagined that the martial disciplines like karate, kung-fu (gung-fu), judo, jujitsu, ninjitsu, tae kwon do, kempo, escrima, kendo, aikido, iaido, kali, capoeira, savate, sambo, kobudo, pankration, bugei, wushu, mixed martial arts and eclectic martial arts would have reached that level of popularity in the past forty some odd years. And, to see the art I love so much endure these sometimes tumultuous times and undergo so many innovative changes along the way while still retaining the quintessential essence of its original purpose and traditional values is truly astounding. Perhaps what is just incredible about this form of physical expression that emphasizes moral and ethical values is that it has helped develop some of the finest human beings that these past four decades of growth can produce. I must attribute this, at least in part, to the exceptional martial arts educators that have dedicated their life and energy to elevating the spirit of the warrior and teaching the arts that has been a way of life for a select few for the past fifteen hundred years.
The Sport Karate Museum was created and founded on the premise that the efforts, dedication, perseverance and enthusiasm of these early practitioners would be preserved and passed forth for posterity sake. A noble cause in deed when we stop to think that many future generations will know who was responsible for this phenomenal growth and worldwide popularity from a sport perspective. Again, I must reiterate that this worthy endeavor to document, archive and house the sporting aspects of these myriad of martial disciplines that were, in part, responsible for this global popularity of the martial arts is the righteous and just action to take so that future generations will be able to share in the excitement, enthusiasm and camaraderie that was unwittingly nurtured in karate’s “golden age” of karate in America. And, as with any endeavor that attracts the interest of millions of avid devotees, preserving the past, unifying the present and strengthening the future needs a strong foundation to insure existence.
I believe Gary Lee has set the cornerstone in place through his unceasing efforts and true love for the martial disciplines to guide this endeavor into the future. His insightful perception will undoubtedly insure that the sports aspects of the martial arts will be preserved and passed forward for many, many generations to come. For that, we will all be deeply indebted.
As you visit the Five House you will step back in time to when America and the western world was embracing the cultural traditions of Asia and forming an international bond that is stronger today because of his many years of hard work.
Essentially Gary Lee has captured time in a bottle so that others can share these moments and drink from that same fountain of knowledge that America’s karate pioneers enjoyed from its introduction in 1945 in Phoenix, Arizona.
With great respect and Aloha,
Malama pono,
Sid Ka’imi Campbell R.I.P
10th dan, hanshi, kaicho
Founder, the World Okinawan Shorin-ryu Karate-do and Kobudo Association (WOSKKA)
Aloha
You know I get a lot of comments and e-mail about being a fanatic, posting ,sharing about Sport Karate and expressing my non bias and sometime personal feelings toward subjects that are controversial and political in Sport Karate, and I thank you from the heart the kind ,kind words that many of you have written and the ones that have criticize I share with you too.
Here are some of the reasons today that I am grateful and I sit sometimes and just thank the Lord that coming across the ocean was worth it ,
This is a true Story
A few years ago, no actually a long ,long time ago I was shooting the canals in Modesto California at the peach groves they have in the hill country , lonely roads in he middle of nowhere ,hundreds of acres of peach trees all fed by the canals of water,
I would enjoy my lonely time ,with my six pack of Coors , sitting under a tree thinking of my future, after resting a moment and building up enough courage to jump in the canal to cool off ,for you see it is called “shooting the canal”, when you dive in ,you have to dive deep enough so the current shoots you like a BIG PUSH, well I had not seen a car drive by in over a hour and it was time to cool off , so I went to my shorts ,got on top of the ridge and dove in , however it was not deep enough and the current did not shoot me out, instead I got caught in a whirlpool and was being dragged into the dam.
I was being pulled under and felt I was going to drown!
I got enough leverage to pull my self to the ridge where I had jumped off and reached up and grabbed both hands on the ledge, the water was pulling me down ,my legs were gone and I was barely hanging on to that ridge.
I knew I had done a stupid thing and I felt all alone and was really scared of dying and then suddenly I looked up and and saw a old man and his hand was reaching for mine,
He had a hat on and I could barley see his face ,my strength was gone and I felt him pull me up ,when I got on my knee I looked up and he was gone , no car , no shoe tracks ,nothing ,
I was in shock ,went to my little tree ,I had one Coors left, drank it and sat there until dark.
I found Peace that day and know that I had met my guardian angel ,the first of many.
Not knowing ahead or realizing, that was a blessing !
So now you see why I am a fanatic about the History and the pioneers.
I believe no matter how annoying or bothersome it is, we must remember the roots of the respect the first time you did true karate and the pioneers that gave those moments to us as students was worth remembering,,,,
Born the Sport Karate Museum ,osu
Yes Virginia, I am a Fanatic It is simple ,everyday I realized I have come a long way from living in Hawaii on the beach in a hut and that everyday is a blessing , my family ,my friends, my Black Belts, my faith.
The Gathering is for all of you
God Bless, Mahalo
Aloha
Protecting the History , One Warrior at a Time
http://www.sportkaratemuseum.org