|
|||||
MUSEUM OF SPORT KARATE — Blog
Spread it!
219 comments to MUSEUM OF SPORT KARATE — BlogLeave a Reply |
|||||
|
Copyright © 2024 MUSEUM OF SPORT KARATE - All Rights Reserved Powered by WordPress & Atahualpa |
|||||
Very informative post, i’m regular reader of your site. I noticed that your blog is outranked by
many other websites in google’s search results. You deserve to be in top10.
I know what can help you, search in google for:
Omond’s tips outsource the work
CHALLENGE of the Memorabilia of Sport Karate !
We believe history does care for everyone that help developed the Sport in America and the we should strive to search the truth in the Facts that occurred and the Sport Karate History we develope should be as accurate as possible.
When we get done!
A MUST READ if your a FAN or SUPPORTER of Sport Karate History!
The House of China ,The House of Korea, The House of Okinawa ,The House of Japan and The House of America will be represented to show how they influance sport karate in America.
Then the sub houses,
The Katana Display , The Black Dragon Fighting Society Room, The Texas Room ,Living Legends fighters of America , The Chuck Norris Wall , The Roy Kurban Wall , The Jim Harrison Wall , The Joe Lewis Wall, The Leo Fong Wall , The Eric Lee Wall, The Joy Turberville Wall, The AKKBA Wall and the legend of Allen Steen.
The 100 signed Uniforms Tribute.
The Soke Gary Dill tribute wall to Bruce Lee.
The Hawaiian Room.
The Duane R. Ethington Library of Sport Karate.
The Mike Stone Wall.
The Benny Urquidez Wall.
The Bob “Animal “Mitchell Wall.
The ‘New Warriors” Wall
Chris Pfannenstiel Minshew World Championship Jacket and Gold World Championship Ring.
Robin Gska Taberna California GSKA Black Belt Hall of Fame Ring.
Phil Wilemon T.AC.K.A Center Judge Top
Some of the personal items on display.
Goldie Mack torned , worned ,ragged uniform and Belt
The bullet Chuck Norris shot J.Pat Burleson with on Walker Texas Ranger.
A original Enter the Dragon Patch from the Movie
James Woodson “Natural Fighter” Award Wall, Sponsor by the Print Shop
Bob White signed Poster
Jeff W. Smith signed Stars and Stripes Gi Top
Troy Dorsey Autograph items
World Champion John Morris Gold Medal Display,
Ed Parker Senior R.I.P, signed Infinite Sites into Kenpo donated by Mike McNamara.
Mikie Rowe Moore Tribute Book and autographed picture.
Keith D. Yates and Andrew Linick contribution of the first Logo for the Sport Karate Museum
Phyllis Evetts Trophies and personal Items.
Sensei Obata personal drawn Kanji
Karl Geis R.I.P Book of Five Winds and Picture.
“Monster Man” Everett Eddy World Championship Jacket Rope and Detroit Patch
Keiko Fukada10th Dan Red Belt Judo and tribute Wall
Alan Goldberg Action Martial Arts “Collector Cards” “All EDITIONS 1-4
Joe Lewis R.I.P Black Belt TV Image Award
Shihan Alfredo Torella many ,many items of rare quality and personal touch.
Soke Frank Sanchez Original World Family Sokeship Council Book and ORIGINAL San Jitsu Book ‘Rare”
Phillip Bradley personal Award Designed “The Dragon Image Fighting Award”
Lu Dwyer beautiful Angel from Italy ,her blessing for the Sport Karate Museum.
Kim Kahana Sr. Tribute Wall
Charlotte Hoffman-Emerson “Old Texas Pictures”
PKC and PKA original Rule Books,donated by Don Willis
Rondy McKee signed Champion Tiger Jacket.
Nancy Cerio Original book written by Nick Cerio and Nancy ,signed
Whip Chain and Shoes of performer Malia Bernal (Dacascos).
Mike McNamara Gold Medal Police Games, fighting
Sam Chapman personal Plaque ,Patch and signed Gi Top
Keith Vitali signed Gi Top
Linda Pugliese Signed Gi Top
James”Cookie Monster” Cook hand Made Guitar and Top
The Autograph pictures of Bill Wallace
The Isshinryu Collection of Benard Braverman.
The Pink Judo Gi and Christmas Patches of Judo Gene Lebell
The first National black Belt Gold Ring for Breaking. 1993
Home of the Texas Police Olympic Games Hall of Fame.
The signed proclamation Day of Victor Cheng signed by pioneers.
The Japanese Silk Prints donated by Officer Alan Bracher
Bruce Lee Birth Certificate donated by Sid Campbell
Peter Urban Signed book “The Dojo”
George Bishop Master Samural apprentice Belt
Philip Bradley hand made Tonfas ,signed , documents of the White Crane , personal items and signed Documents of history .
Rocky DiRico, Christine Bannon-Rodrigues and JPM personal items ,signed
Dwayne ‘Rooster’ Machen Fighting Gear and signed Uniform
Demetrius Havanas “Golden Greek’s” Blue strip Pants.
Demetrius Havanas “Golden Greek’ USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame Award
Raymond McCallum signed Blue Groin Cup.
Tim Kirby signed pants and picture
Jennifer Branch signed Pictures and Gi.
(Bear Lawrence Loebe)signed Gi.
Signed Naginata by Mako R.I.P.
Brian Kula Fung signed pictures and Championship Uniform.
Jhoon Rhee signed personal package to the Sport Karate Museum.
A signature card sign by over 200 signatures of famous martial artist, signed one signature at a time.
The original Jim Harrison First Televised Championship 1968 ,original reels in case.
Signed ORIGINAL Black Belts of Bruce Brutschy, Michael Goldman, Al Garza, Jerry Piddington ,Goldie Mack, James Connie B. Toney, Chuck Norris, Allen Steen, Mike Stone, J.Pat Burleson, Jim-Carol Harrison, Master Albert Hippert, Edgar Cordova NBL World Champion Black Belt, Guy James TNT State Belt , Joy Turberville, Sam Lonewolf 10th, Frank W. Dux “BloodSport “, Ken Knudson R.I.P 10th, Richard W. Jenkins, Joy Turberville, Karen Schlachter,Sid Campbell R.I.P .
The Mermorial Room, a 24 hour fountain in honor, and so much more!
WE ARE NOT A HALL OF FAME
The diagram below is the final decision to build this in clone fashion side by side and a arena for events beside the clones.
The Future home for the Sport Karate Museum Archives,
The Living Legends Celebrity Roast
The Top Texas Ten Black Belt Ratings
The Karate Whisperer Karatoons
Mike Stone
Aloha , sir
Much love sir,
I read your poems day to day ,thank you for the personal attitude you have toward me and the History of Sport Karate and most for the inspriration that you give me everyday to walk into the Sport Karate Museum Archives.
You have been my hero for a long long time and now my mentor.
To many others, you are the complete martial artist and the people ‘s choice of a Super Star and for the past few years we have educated the public that Sport Karate pioneers and teachers played a important of part of America’s growth.
You made a statement of your support cutting the Ribbon at the Grand Opening and what you said at the Bruce Lee Museum Grand Opening about persistence will be forever in my heart.
I really believe in my heart the world of martial arts and the fans are starting to understand now why our Sport Karate History is important to record and share with the public .
So, now we have a Sport Karate Museum and your sister Sport Karate Museum in the Philippines, a Karate Whisperer Karatoons series, Solid group of History Generals for the Museum , Good friends ,Strong family.
Ohana and a really super cool T-Shirt with our likeness on it !
We have come a long way from those tiny little huts in our dear home of Hawaii
Aloha
Gary
CHALLENGE of a martial art brother hood friendship that will last a lifetime.
We were asked by someone who loves Sport Karate to tell a little history of a man/martial artist History General named Scott Hogarth.
It just so happens we do have a little sport karate history with this Canadian icon and pioneer.
FIRST ENCOUNTER , Atlantic City 1992
2nd NBL Super Grands , the birth of a National Sport Karate League.
Scott is the Head Arbitrator for the Tournament and league.
There was only one division that Mr. Lydell gave money in and it was the “Creative Music CHALLENGE on the spot Kata to any music the DJ decides to play” for the finals that night ,
He was giving back the entry fees of that division only ,a couple hundred dollars and I needed the funds , so I asked Scott if he would help me with what I had planned to win , a pre- arranged skit ,only problem I did not tell Scott anything ,
He did hesitate at first but I had won five divisions that day so he trusted me a little, but probably shouldn’t have ,,lol ,
Part of my plan was to get Scott to wear his best suit and tie,best shirt
I also asked he would wear his high price Geoffrey -Beene shirt , my point was I wanted him looking ZZ Top well dress man good!
He was beautiful bald head beard and his authority shined as he walked into the finals that night .
When it was my turn to line up in Attention ,went to the line ,gave the cue and Steppon Wolf, song “Born to Wild” starts to play!
https://youtu.be/rMbATaj7Il8
I grabbed Scott by the nose and dragged him on the floor ,sweep him to the ground ,put him on his knees and break a one inch white pine hard board over his head,throw him to the ground and rip his shirt open ,buttons fly off!
Lay cucumbers down on his stomach ,throat and groin and slice them with my Wakisashi ,then peeled a Banana and lay it on his stomach and every one thinks I am cutting ,
I bite it in two parts , get the scores , won the the cash, after wards the four of us hard core sport karate animals Scott, our dear friend Glenn Qwan R.I.P our Kung Fu friend and myself spent the $247.00 on food and drinks in a shady part of Atlantic City into the wee early morning.
SECOND ENCOUNTER
We are at a Major High NBL point championship in Galveston we have never competed against each other and I want to beat him ,we both are ranked number one in our regions and as you know as a hard core competitor, it is war,whether it is Fighting ,Kata or Weapons
He is practicing and he breaks his Bo ,
I walk over and asked “Is that the only weapon you have?”
He said “Yes”, I said “You can use mine brah,
He won first place and I won second !
He beat me with my own weapon!
THIRD ENCOUNTER
Fourth Super Grands, Hollywood California
Burbank Hilton
Traditional Kata thirty five and over , the first year of the four KIA rule , I grunt and I know what KIA is ,however I was called for five KIA’s and the division went kinda crazy , a disturbance started and the next thing four or five Arbitrators arrived and the decision was made , Scott and the guys made the right decision ,that night Scott and I were the Master of Ceremonies working the microphone , when I get called away and have to get Jhoon Rhee on stage , Eric Lee and Don Wilson , I had forgiven him for making the right decision and making Pop’s go crazy by disqualifying my Kata presentation , it made me stronger as Sherman Oaks Raider and competitor.
FOURTH ENCOUNTER “The Gathering ”
2013
Part of the program is to have special tribute to the Warriors we have lost ,Mr. Joe Corley sent his tribute Joe Lewis R.I.P and Mr. Jeff Smith guided us in the room all though it, after wards Mr. Rudy Smedley sang a song from “8 Seconds” and Mr. James Cook sang ‘Tears in Heaven ”
Then Scott and I are supposed to read a list that was tabulated of warriors we have lost , we had it set up that he would not say his friends name and I would not say Sid’s name for we knew we would lose it , something happen and we didn’t switch and when he said Glenn’s name he lost it and when I said Sid’s name I lost it .
Two Samurai Warriors crying because we miss our friends and that is why in a nutshell Sport Karate History is important.
FIFTH ENCOUNTER
“The Karate Whisperer” invents the “The Fortune Cookie Master”
On a hill right above the Chop -Chop Dojo is the Fortune Cookie Factory run by the Fortune Cookie Master , day to day he puts the fortunes out that will change lives ,make frogs jump and rabbits run, he is wise , he is a master of martial arts of parts unknown and he teaches “The Karate Whisperer” the respect that comes from a little cookie with your future in it It’s a relationship made in the land and imagination of Don Castillo “The Martial ARTist and Hawaiian Flash
The adventures of “The Karate Whisperer
CHALLENGE that Scotty , Osu
CHALLENGE of losing one of those real friends you gather though the years !
My memory of Mr. Geis 1979 – 2014
Thirty -Six years ago
Let us always remember , never forget.
Protecting the History , One Warrior at a Time
Gary has taken the gift of Life and though his great character , dedication and ethical standards built a wonderful educational institution that carcasses the entire legendary history of sport martial arts before the legends are gone. He is a tireless worker for the sport karate history that should be told and shared,
I will support his efforts what ever it takes .
12 / 26 / 09
Karl E. Geis
Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame
Kudon Judo Kudon Aikido
In 1978 I was leaving California back to South Carolina and then to Texas ,one of my friends Mr. Gene Lebell said ” if you go to Texas , Gary ,especially Houston ,look up my good friend Karl Geis. I will call him and let him know your coming , he’s as good as me ,maybe a pinch better”, Mr. Lebell hug me without choking me out and I was gone to Texas.
The fearsome four I called them, these were my first encounters in Texas , Linda Denley, George Minshew, Jimmy Tabares and Mr. Geis .
I am a youngster ,early twenties and I am in Texas.
I found Mr. Geis Dojo in the phone book , before the internet.
I hitch hike to Long point rd., then to Butter crest and there it was , bigger than life, a Dojo and home ,together, it was cool ,he lived on this huge piece of land ,Dojo and home ,engulf by trees and beautiful landscape.
I walked up to the door , bowed and saw about twenty Judo and Aikido animals working out, saw a stool and sat down , nobody came up to me or acknowledge my presence and I just sat there and sat there, finally I got up ,went to bathroom ,changed into my Gi , bowed on the floor and started working my Kata.
Back then I was running Sapei and Unsu, Kan Ku Dai, ,
I was getting looks and still know one had came up to me and even said Osu or hello and then it hit me not all Dojos are Karate friendly.
I had learned that from my travels around America, maybe I had stepped in the wrong Dojo, so I went into Hawaii mode and I saw a bunch of brooms.
I grabbed one and started sweeping, still no one acknowledge me , after about a hour the class had thinned out to just Black Belts and then he walked in!
Everyone stop what they were doing and said ” Osu” and his presence was pure and real , now there were two only Black Belts left so I went to put the broom back in the corner,
I had been sweeping for almost two hours when I heard a gruff but soft voice say ” Please you missed a spot over there and when you finish run those Japanese Kata again ,I like Unsu the best, Osu”
This is how I met Mr. Geis,we sat though the night and talked and I knew I had made a dear friend .
Garett was introduced to Mr. Geis at four years old and would go with us on many lunches at Mr. Geis’s favorite Korean restaurants , go back to the Dojo and work on sweeps, take downs, joint locks ,roto seganigi,ippon seginati, attitude, attitude, attitude,Osu
I really believed the reason Garett was so tough on his Black Belt test was because of that training, Osu 1999, Mr. Geis never came to events ,however he did come to the first legends and watch Garett.
I remember he sat next to Master Kim Soo.
Though the years it was a visit here and there ,always asking his advice on the Museum, he had given me some personal items and his blessing ,his love though the years and help my son be the martial artist he is today
Thank you in so many ways , Good bye my friend ,Osu,,,here is song for you sir I remember one of our lunches ,you liked this song and wanted me to play it twice,,Osu
Love Gary and Garett
The Highwayman http://youtu.be/5Vv8nt1D61s O
Sensei Karl E. Geis, Judan, passed away this April 18th. Karl E. Geis, 10th Dan Professor of Aikido, 10th Dan Professor of Judo, and 9th Dan Professor of Jodo, had been a significant martial arts figure in the United States since the late 1950s. He began studying Judo at the Kodokan in Tokyo, Japan, in 1955, while stationed there as a member of the United States Air Force, and was introduced to Aikido the following year. Upon his return to the United States, Mr. Geis continued his studies, both at home and on a number of extended sabbaticals to Japan throughout the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s, expanding his training to include Jodo (short staff fighting art), as well.
His extensive martial arts experience covers an impressive fifty years, and for over fifteen years, until his passing, he headed an international association of martial artists nearly a thousand strong. His individual blend of Western analytical thought and Eastern understanding, will continue to make his technical styles unique and valuable to martial artists throughout the world.
Mr. Geis was known for his vast technical knowledge of Aikido and Judo, along with his ability to demonstrate this knowledge, but he was, also, known for his ability to teach the martial arts. He pioneered the positive reinforcement method of teaching the martial arts in the early 60’s, long before the effectiveness of this approach was recognized and accepted. His work with children remains a model for successful schools everywhere. Over the years, Mr. Geis touched the lives of literally thousands of people, and his life was an outstanding example of a generous and unselfish man.
CHALLENGE of just digging and digging and digging until one little spark breaks though the umbrella that over time has disappeared and reality most just not caring anymore ,however there are a some who feel history is important and should be recorded correctly for future generations to understand and appreciate.
We owe that to the first generation of Karate pioneers that started it all.
Who won the Long Beach Internationals in the Women’s Black Belt Division in 1978 and was it bare knuckle?
Being a journalist and really liking my job I live on a couple of simple rules. One, always get three sources ,no matter if I know the truth ,don’t commit until those three sources are verified.
Two, dig deep into the trenches of information and asked everything.
Three ,expect the ignorant people who input their idea of what is going on and have no clue and deal with it .
Here is the last source of the three.
Karate Illustrated Magazine
Issue 47355
December “78”
Tom Schlesinger on the Cover.
Article 15th Annual Long Beach Internationals, Long Beach Arena, 1978
Written by Ben Kalb
Pages 19 -23
Steve Fisher Fought Lee McDowell for the Grand and won 2-1
Equipment was still optional !
No Levels
LADIES DIVISION
Heavy Weight Women , 110 and above
Sharon Scott fights Tammy Chrishawn ( 1977 Women Grand Champion)
Sharon Scott WINS
*
Light Weight Women 110 and below
Charotta Lee fights Lorie Garcia
Charotta Lee WINS
GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT
Sharon Scott fights Charottta Lee
Sharon Scott Wins GRAND CHAMPION of the Long Beach Internationals 1978
3- 2, there is no mention of epic fighter.
Wow !, truth prevails ,keeping it real!, now on to bigger and better things !
Eric lee has invited me to ROAST of Sifu Al Dacascos , I am honored ,I will be going to the Long Beach Internationals this year already with helping my friends Steve Cooper, JIm Willoughby and N Neil Hardin, special people in the Kenpo community who put on a spectacular event.
Now because I carried some pretty cool items with the portable Sport Karate Museum around America, my Insurance group has required I hire a Body Guard for protection and a watcher over the items.
Talking about killing two birds with one stone ,the Karate Angels prevail!
My Body guard for the traveling Sport Karate Museum in Long Beach for the ROAST and Long Beach Internationals will be Californian State Karate Champion Kathleen Gapusan , she will be at the booth for the show signing autographs and will be at the ROAST ,keeping a eye on the items that represent sport karate history , never had a lady Body guard before , hope she has a sense of humor and don’t kick me in the groin that will be a good start and last KUDOS to those old Sport Karate Illustrated Magazine Contributors that stepped up and cared about sport karate history .
Protecting the History , One Warrior at a Time
You know I love all of you dearly ,
Texas means more to me than anything you can imagine, however the absolute main reason is simple, when we lost Greek and the AOK created the Golden Greek Award in 1981 , 99% of all the competitors wanted to earn that honor and I wanted it most of all and for seven years straight.
I pursued it hard ,always earning a Top Five Place or losing the Greek by one or a few points ,year after year after year.
Finally, I went to the NBL,USKF, NASKA,S.O.C.K and TNT to pursue the pugilist dream,
Then in 1997, Wade Kirkpatrick a middle school principal asked me to travel with him to pursue the Greek in my senior years, he would go after the Men’s Greek and I would go after the Senior, mind you I was a Professional Bass Fisherman at the time traveling doing shows and Starring in the Police Academy Stunt Show At Six Flags , Astroworld.
My Six Flags executives understood my desire for the quest for they had invested thousands of dollars in my original Karate Show back in the 80’s. Results,
Golden Greek Senior Winner, 1997
The Greek Award, the Texas Martial Arts Hall of Fame induction in 2006 and my Texas Adoption Papers I received from from the Texas Animals in 1999 are the reasons I am a Proud Adopted Texan.
Let me go on record in saying ,
Texas is not a easy State to get respect behind you in sport karate, however when they do you have done something very special in Sport Karate because of the rich ,rich sport karate history created here,
Five adopted Texans ,
Mr. Rhee,Mr. Norris, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Halliburton and a lucky Hawaiian, Osu
Gary Lee’s photo.
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 McCullum, Pat Burleson, Linda Denley, Jerry Piddington 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.
Master Dan Anderson’s ninth dan was sanctioned and approved by The American Karate Black belt Association, one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious governing board. The AKBBA was founded by Allen Steen in 1964. A rank promotion sanctioned through this prestigious organization is recognized worldwide. Master Steen personally approved the promotion and was represented by Keith D. Yates. Also Linda Denley, Ishmael Robles and Steve Shelby, board members of the AKBBA represented the organization. Master Anderson’s promotion and rank were the only one sanctioned by the AKBBA that night.
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.
Keith Yates serves as managing editor of the revived Official Karate Magazine and as such he presided over the presentation of the publication’s 2012 ‘Golden Shuto’ awards to several individuals. Cane Master Mark Shuey and Shihan Dana Abbott were honored for their skill and knowledge of the cane and sword respectively. The fighter category was awarded to Bruce Brustschy and Mike Genova. The international award went to George Bishop and Plillip Bradley. The ambassador award was given to Mike Dillard and Danny Lane. The Pioneer award was presented to George Minshew.
The Karate Masters Hall of Fame is one of the oldest hall of fames for karate masters and pioneers. It was established on the East Coast by Grand Master Andrew Linick in 1972. Fewer than a hundred individuals have been inducted into this prestigious fraternity. Keith Yates is the Vice Chairman of the KMHOF. He presented inductions to Dan Anderson and Jeff Smith at The Gathering banquet on October the thirteenth. Joe Lewis had been inducted into the KMHOF only two weeks before he passed. Master Yates presented Master Lewis’s certificate to Master Jeff Smith to take to his family.
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 Harris 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 handmade 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 privilege 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.
UPDATED LIST!
THIS IS NOT A TOP TEN LIST, not in any order ,please
Showing respect o all the lady fighters ,if you would like to off the list just let the administrator know and we will take you off ,much respect
CHALLENGE of who was the best Lady Black Belt Point Fighter in the United States between the era of 1960 and 1999 for the Sport Karate History ?
The ladies definitely paid their dues,getting respect in the early tournaments by competing with men,teenage girls were competing against older women ,all ranks and sometimes fighting the men for the win and the men really did not want them there ,it wasn’t until super pioneers ladies ,fighters and producer women watching from the side line and hinting to the male producers of the time to give them a Ladies division.
Those producers were smart and Super tournaments like the Long Beach Internationals ,now had Light weight divisions 110 and below and Heavy weight divisions 110 and above.
In the 70’s Karate Illustrated Magazine stepped up and created the first five Women that they thought at the time was the best and it started ,,,Competition!
History started and it change sport karate forever !
Who is your favorite and why? ,where were they from? and did they have a nick name?,, if you want to add a fighter tell us why, if you don’t know who that fighter was? ,
Ask the question,have fun deciding.
Reviews are from talking to Competitors ,Producers ,Fighters and Editors
Pam Watson, Texas, fast very aggressive,wife of Texas Tough Billy Watson.
Mary Ann Corcoran,California, Kata and Fighting ,very clean technique.
Marion Bermudez, Arizona, known for fighting men and beating them, bad !
Lilly Urquidez-Rogriquez R.I.P California,Karate Champion turned pro boxer.
Cynthia Prouder, California, Sherman Oaks Raiders Team Member.
Phyllis Evetts, Texas, First Woman Black Belt under J.Pat Burleson, Ist National Women’s Champion.
Joy Turberville, Texas, Only woman in history to be rated in Top Ten Fighting in Men’s Southwest Top Ten List Professional Karate Magazine, Masters Hall of Fame.voted Best Side Kick , just ask her opponents.
Mikie Rowe Moore, California, now lives in Ohio ,Adoptive Texan, one of the first Top Five Women to be rated by Karate Illustrated Magazine.
Cindi Peterson Herrera, Colorado, very strong in fighting and Kata.
Karyn Turner ,Colorado, Black Belt Hall of Fame, creator of “Hard Knocks”
Carolyn Minshew, Texas, Texas base fighter, more producer than fighter.
Becky Chapman, South Carolina,,S.E.K.A Champion ,Battle of Atlanta.
Charlotte Hoffman-Emerson, Texas,Quote from Texas Legend Richard Jenkins, “Charlotte was a little terror, came from that Chuck Loven greatness!”
Linda Denley, Texas, she has fought on every professional Black Belt Team in history,rated number one many years, Black Belt Hall of Fame.
Barrbra Niggel, Ohio, in the 70’s, she was one of the best in Kata, Weapons and Fighting, she was one of the women triple crown winners ,she traveled and was very fast with a hand blitz.
Kathleen Gapusan, California, everyone we reviewed for Kathleen said she was fast and tough as as a teenager she has the respect of a pioneer group of fighters from around the country ,California State Champion
Kathy Faust, New York, Clean fast traditional fighter ,rated in Fighting.
Rhonda Alexander,Georgia,didn’t travel much S.E.K.A Champion
Cindy Key , Texas AOK Champion, Universal Champion,NBL Champion
Cynthia Rothrock, California, early over all Champion turned Movie Star
Danelle Dixon , Texas, First Texas NBL Championship Team, NBL World Champion, Golden Greek Winner, fast ,Strong , dangerous .
Lori Clapper, Florida, Traditional Kata and Fighting US Open
Lori Landtrip, Kentucky, NASKA World Champion
Charlotta Lee , California, Long Beach International Runner up Champion
Kathy Long, California, World Champion Kick Boxer
Cheryl Marie Wheeler, Florida, Producer, Pioneer Kick Boxer turned Hollywood Super Stunt Woman.
Roberta Trias, Arizona, USKA Champion
Malia Bernal, California, Forms and Weapons Champion.
Emma Perron , Colorado, Emma was very underrated, she beat some of the top competitors of her era, fast punches and a front leg round kick.
Linda Pugliese, California, USKF and NBL Champion ,Weapons,Kata ,Fighting
Nicki Carlson -Lee ,South Carolina Won Diamond Nationals many,many times.
Margret Beasley, Texas seven (7) Golden Greek Awards.
Arlene Limas, Illinois Black Belt Hall of Fame ,Gold Medalist ,Olympics
Helen Chung Vasiliadis, Washington DC, WAKO World Champion
Christine Bannon-Rodrigues, Rhode Island, Movie Star, NASKA Champion ,WAKO Champion ,John Paul Mitchell National Karate Team
Nancy Cerio, Rhode Island, Pioneer fighter ,wife of Legend Nick Cerio
JuLayne Shiflett, South Carolina, Beautiful Side Kick , Champion
Casey Marks, Canada one of the most talented fighters ,Kata and Weapons
Regena Thompson,Texas only woman in sport karate history to win four Super Grands World Championships Grand Championship
Jennifer Branch, Texas Karate Illustrated Magazine rated fighter and Kata
Jenice Miller, Louisiana , Coon ass lady fighter with a attitude .
Christy Stovall Moss, Texas , a Texas fighter from Turberville Camp
Chris Pfannenstiel Minshew, Texas, NBL Champion
Ashley Wood Tyler, Texas Golden Greek Winner many, many ,many times
Cindy Benivedes, Texas, Top Texas fighter in the early 80’s
Annette Benivedes , Texas,Top Texas fighter in early 80’s
Eva Ramirez, Texas Fire fighters National Team ,NBL Champion, Golden Greek Winner
Judy Kolesar ?????? ,rated in first top five women in Karate Illustrated Magazine
Cheryl Mainenti, New Jersey, rated in top five women in Karate Illustrated Magazine.
Stacy Duke, Georgia, Keith Vitali Protege, traveled and won
Alinda Maxwell, Texas, Fire Fighters National Team, NBL Champion
Lisa Greene, Oklahoma, Rated by Karate Illustrated Magazine.
Jennifer Santiago, New York, Top fighter ,Rated by Karate Illustrated Magazine.
Jean Pearson Good, Texas fighter from the Turberville Camp.
Cissy Person, Texas early 1980’s AOK Champion under Fred Simon.
CarolAnn Champagne Maxwell, Texas, NBL Continuous Fighting Champion.
Judy Titshaw, Utah, Rated by the USKF in heavy weight fighting.
Becky Perkins , Texas early 1980’s AOK Champion.
Mitzi Tyler, Georgia from the United Studios ,he was fast of the line ,rated by Karate Illustrated Magazine.
Marianne Erickson, Texas Does anyone know about her?
Janette Kurban, Texas AOK Rated in the early Texas Ratings in Kata and Fighting
Candy Simpson, Texas, from Mr. Allen Steen’s Stable of fighters,
Mary Stark Owen, California from the California Archives of great fighters
Rage Tail is a awesome plastic bait !
CHALLENGE of doing two different professional sports and taking home checks in both
Karate Bass Fishing Tournament style
One of the first public autograph appearances was at Astroworld , Houston Texas , I was sort out of place ,I thought because I was surrounded by some of the greatest Basketball and Baseball players in the world , I kept thinking why am I here, it was a great year 1989 and I had brought a couple of winners, signed a new contract with six flags, rated in four different karate groups national and state, created Kids Expo and Hawaii rock Productions and the biggest thrill winning the B.A.S.S Federation State Championship and represent Texas in the the Central Championship.
People have asked me how I could do both and be a Champion at both and I always say the same answer ” IT IS KARATE , MY WAY OF LIFE, KIME, FOCUS, AND CATCH BIG FISH!”
This is where my life would change forever and I would be chasing BIG green fish for the rest of my life !
I am a Bass fisherman!
Twenty years of teaching Kids to fish and have fun !!
Are you addicted to Bass fishing?
Do you stop at every Tackle shop you see even if it’s going the other way on the freeway to check out just if they have a new spinning Lure?
Are you so bad that you start thinking about your next trip as soon as you get out of the water to hook your boat from the trip you just did?
It is Friday night and you pull into the motel , the parking lot is full of boats all players are getting ready for the next day event.
You notice that most the guys and pros are at the local guide roost talking smack and drinking that legal stuff but you stay at the motel sharping your lures and fine tuning everything cause you know it is 60% luck and 40% technique of being prepared for anything that can happen and Murphy’s law always kicks in when you do not expect it.
Finally ,you go to bed .
You close your eyes and count BIG Bass in the live well.
ALARM!!!!!!!!!!!
It is 3:00 am , a cup of coffee, unplug the Battery charger, secure everything and go to the ramp , except this event you may ramp anywhere you want , just be at the weigh in at 3:00 pm or be penalized.
You decide to chance it ,lose a couple of hours fish time ,but it will be worth it if your hunch is right,so you drive to the other side of the dam to the east for more shade and for the past three days of pre fish you have been following the birds.
The birds find shad, the shad draw fish!!
Sometimes schools of fish form, the shad gather sometimes they will corner thousands of those tiny morsels in a cove or against a set of rocks!
The Pattern
First Choice* Watermelon Rage Tail , Texas Rigged
Second Choice* 1/2 Ounce White Buzz Bait , gummy trailer and back hook
Back up
Black and Blue Stanley Jig with a no.11 black pork frog dipped in Fish Formula and thrown against rocks or structure , count to five slow , pop or moved slow , count to ten this time, wait!
The BIG fish
Found a back water cove off the main channel of the river though a maze of Cypress trees , it was so confusing you had to spray paint the bottom of the trees to find my way out , everything look fishy, which tree??
Then you see a opening, the first you thought was “thank you lord for letting me leaving that spray paint in the boat!”
Then your pre – vision sets in and you see a ripple over by a hanging log , another boil , the buzz bait , hooks in the tree for a couple of seconds and falls ,your reel ratio is high speed and you do not make a full turn when he swallows the buzz bait whole , you do what you have been taught , wait three seconds ,you try to break your arm and set the hook !
You know it is a big fish by the way it pulls and the Kistler Rod was the reason you landed the fish .
Two times it went under the Ranger Comanche 464, a old Ranger but it’s family .
You believe the worst is going to happen , lose the fish, break the rod and of course my Kistler came though this time to maybe win my first Championship.
Final weight on BIG fish 9.70
Watch the birds!
You know BIG fish become BIG fish because they feed under the remains of what the schools miss, a theory but it is a pattern and as a Champion you must have many patterns to fish and win, part of that 40% technique you must have.
The Pattern works, Five fish , with one BIG one over nine pounds, you have culled six times, nine teen bites for eight hours of fishing, really only four hours because of traveling time going to the other ramp!!
You pull up to the weigh in , they have already had two waves of fisherman come in and you know you have to have twenty pounds to place and you also got a shot at BIG BASS pot too.
Some one yells “he’s got it ,so far biggest fish has been seven {7} pounds, you get butterflies in your stomach because when you weighed it on your scale it was nine pounds plus, but it does not matter until they weigh it officially and you pass the polygraph.
You know every one is watching for your the last to come in the third wave, BIG tournament over 350 hard core fishing bass anglers all wanting to win .
You dig into your live well ,pulling out all your fish saving the BIG one for last , Holy crap You could win this !
The walk to the scale is a long walk ,your nerves are going crazy until they get your bag and it is like a dream,
you need four {4} ounces to win!
Nobody remembers second place, they weigh your fish and you have seven ounces over the last top weight total, twenty seven ponds two ounces
27.2 pounds!!!!! A new Champion on a old lake ,
plus you won BIG BASS pot, at ten dollars each angler put in times 350 entries ,
Steak tonight!!
More fun than a barrel of Crappie!!
Bassaholic!
We are sorry to say ,there are no cures except get in the water and fish !
Go early and stay late
Two weeks earlier pre fishing for the State Championship
It is pouring down rain and thunder storms are predicted though out the weekend ,you are here with six other Top Ten qualifiers to pre – fish for the State Championship but mother nature has played a joke and has given you the worst conditions to find fish and give you some insight on why , when ,where and how you are going to plan to win and place in the top twenty .
You know from past experience that the sponsors only pay attention to the top twenty and offers do not come as easy as people think .you have to work and learn the marketing game of the outdoors and be around the right people.
My partner was a born Louisiana Coon ass and could fish the socks off anybody I know, he was one of the Top Six from his club and this was his 7th State Championship to qualify.
His name was St.Joe and he was gruff, but a die hard tournament Bass Fisherman! So St.Joe and I met at the ramp at 4:00 am and talked our smack ,put our rain gear on and Motorcycle helmet, back the Ranger into the water and headed out ,we could not fish for it was hard, hard rain coming down , but this was conditioning our mind in case the tournament has bad weather. We slowly pulled out into the basin that led to the river that led to the lake we found flying over the area to find the holes when the weather was nice five days earlier.
It was still dark and we could not see very well, but St.Joe had a instinct like no other Bass fisherman I know, so we moved forward slowly, very slow my Ranger was tough , but a log from this storm or anything blown in would ruin a practice trip.
We finally made it to the river ,still pouring rain and windy, but now it was day light and we could see , so we hit the throttle and made that 200 Mercury work for us .
I know we missed a few stumps and floating logs but St Joe was a season boat man and I trusted him completely!
After a five mile run up river we found the little lake we had saw on the plane trip but there was a problem, the rain had flooded the small creek that led us in and now was a raging river ,we had to find another way in. We back out and started looking for other ways .
I saw a tiny creek but there was a large gap that was waterless to get back into the water that led to the secret lake.St.Joe said ‘Let’s Jump it “, I said your crazy!!.
He jumped out of the boat and gathered some logs and made a sort of a ramp ,he came back to me and said “we will back up and hit the ramp, jump ten feet and land in the water that leads to the lake , we can do it , I betcha dinner ” I looked at him shook my head and put my helmet on and said’ “Lets git it”
We backed up fifty or so yards and gunned it hitting that ramp hard ,it worked ,we went flying and landed in the water , lost a tackle box and the cooler !!,
Only problem now , how are we going to get back , it did not matter .we were in Hog Heaven !!
The rain had cleared up a little and we saw clear water and Lilly pads and there was a added attraction ,
We saw four five old duck blinds that we did not know was there and there was a dropped off about fifteen feet near the blinds, too cool!
THE FIRST CAST IS ALWAYS THE SWEETEST ,BUT THAT IS ANOTHER STORY , OF ANOTHER LAKE AND ANOTHER SWEET MORNING OF TOURNAMENT BASS FISHING !
“Rambling Eddie”
I remember our first Dojo, it was less than a thousand square feet!
No wait ,lets go back farther in memory.
It was a small two bedroom apartment and we converted one 10 x12 room into a working Dojo ,holes in the wall ,neighbors calling the police for the loud noises every Tuesday and Thursday night.
Whats funny three of the policemen that came to the complaints became students,,anyway ,,we moved to a little strip center and I remember we had a big huge square stilt in the middle of the small studio and we had to wrap it with blankets so we wouldn’t get hurt hitting against it.
Sensei would knock us into it on purpose because he said ‘that was the guy you didn’t expect and probably would hurt you the most”
The built wooden brace to hang a old canvas heavy bag ,I remember the rolls of duck tape we went though to keep that Bag alive , one table and one chair for sign ups ,one bathroom for changing your clothes and do your business , the Bamboo curtain , two mirrors side by side ,cracked in places from fight nights and a wooden silhouette of a man with holes in it ,that was for the Star throwing that we use to do with Rice Chex Cereal targets,,
Sensei would take Elmers glue and glue these Rice Chex Cereals all over the Man silhouette and for every one we would hit,we didn’t have to the push ups and all the calisthenics and go straight to fighting,
Sensei was kinda weird ,but it worked we had focus ,he called it Kime.
Fights nights would consist of anyone!
I mean anyone ,Sensei would put a add in the local community newspaper and it would say “Fight Night ” at the Pashou school of Self Defense, that’s all and they would flock in like seagulls eating popcorn!
I mean all kinds , some with attitudes ,some wanting to workout ,some just wanting to watch for it was that crazy, Karate people, Bikers,Cowboys ,Ninja’s high ranking wanna be fighters and my favorite Boxer’s , anytime a real Boxer would come in we would all get the crapp beat out of us!
Sensei would put everybody’s name in a bowl and two names would be drawn and they would fight , period ,,
The only problem is those guys above had no idea who they were fighting ,sparring or getting it on with Sport Karate fighters that Sensei was friends with and would be there on a regular basis was Louis Vazquez, , Al Garza, Steve Fotenote, Linda Denley, Kevin W. Scott,Ernie “Radar” Smith, Jeff McRae, Cocky Fotenote, George “Lighting “Sorrell, Chris Klecka,Kevin Roy, James Vernon,James Sparkman, John Sparkman, Hippiie.
I also remember three kids that was Sensei’s kids and they were tough.
They came from that little apartment Dojo , Stacy Love, Kevin Roy, Troy Smith.
I could never figure out why Sensei would put those Kids in with all those fighters, now years later I understand, fighting adults made them mentally tough so if they could do this ,when they grow up they could do anything!
So many others walked though that little Dojo !
All I remember the next day ,maybe for two days afterward,
I couldn’t walk and and it was extremely hard moving around in my RV.
“Rambling Eddie”
A martial arts Fan
Magical , just like a fairy Tale!
Mesmerizing and intensely rich with attitude!
Each Master Instructor , Husband ,Ex -Husband, Father , Grand Father came up and praised and showed much respect to the special lady in their lives of martial artists , pioneers and legends of the sport .
The Pink and Black Celebration was like no other event and it made a special kind of history in the Sport Karate Books.
Friday night , a surprise birthday party for the Queen of the Roast 21, Malia Bernal {Dacascos}, you see I was very determine to fake her out to make her think she was walking into a boring old board meeting and it worked , total SURPRISE !!!
Incredible GATHERING and a special kick off to the Weekend .
The SUPER SEMINARS SERIES for the National Sport Karate Museum were spectacular with knowledge of Soke Frank Sanchez, Soke Gary Dill, Garett Lee,
Darrell Lassiter, Al Dacascos, Eric Lee, Malia Bernal {Dacascos}, Daniel Frazier, Creed M. Potter, Robert Hartfield , John Morris, Sifu Mike Mather and HEAT!
They were some ladies that could not be there and they were mention and awards shown and recognized , however the ladies that were there really represented the core of American Sport Karate and five decades were represented .
Living Legends Malia Bernal, Joy Turberville , Mikie Rowe, Nancy Cerio, Dana Hee, Cheryl Wheeler Duncan, Karen Schlachter, Judy Catlow, Charlotte Hoffman-Emerson, Regena Thompson was having her baby , Osu and Ms. Linda Denley was with family in east Texas , they were missed.
Sport Karate Champions , Cheryl Kowalski, Kirby Marian, Martha Garcia, Stacey Knight Mejia, Rondy McKee, Chris Pfannenstiel Minshew, Cassie Hendon, CarolAnn Champagne Maxwell, Carol Parenti, Cindy Key, Susan Lewis-McCann, Mary Molina, Lauren Winston
Magnificent Mothers of Martial Arts, Present and not present , a very special part of the evening !!!!
Betty Kirby , Mrs Royce Young, Cindy Gallio, Judy Machen, Frances Tillery Caster, Tammy Sanders Lee, Alicia Sanchez, June Wood, Julie Woolums, Dixie Sanders.
Professional Maximizer@ Some one who expects Murphy’s Law to happen , deals with it , handles the situation professionally and then takes it to the extreme to where it can go and beyond one’s expectations!
Tammy Sanders Lee, Faye Justice Halliburton, Tina V Duhon, Lu Dwyer, Tracy Tracey Potter, Sheila Morris, Dr. Shelly Fernandez, Jill Hernandez, Elizabeth Bennett, Terri Williams .
Special Roasting of Malia by Eric Lee and Al Dacascos with a SPECIAL letter from Mark Dacascos her son .
Special SUPER thanks to my History Generals and dear friends Rocky DiRico, Daryl K. Stewart, Rylan Garza, Creed M. Potter, James Smith , Shihan Alfredo Torella, Jimm McMurray , Goldie Mack, George Minshew, Billy Smith, Jamie Cashion and Summer Rich Cashion my adopted family , David Fiscus, Ivan Lewis, Johnny Murphy , Donnie Lee, Soke Mike Fillmore, Chris Yaeger, Chris Woodley, John Byrne, Steve Selby Dallas Martial Arts, Mike Maxwell, Mike Pachico, Jimmy Tabares.
Special Dan Grades and Certificates awarded
James Smith 8th Dan
Darrell Lasitter 8th Dan
Creed M. Potter 5th Dan
Mike Maxwell 5th Dan
Carol Ann Maxwell 3rd Dan
Christopher Mitchell 1st Dan
SPECIAL TRIBUTE AND ACCEPTING ITEMS into the National Sport Karate Museum .
Keiko Fukada’s 10th Dan Certificate, Red Belt and Gi. R.I.P
Sensei Oyata’s personal items and written Calligraphy. R.IP
Judo Judan Carl Geis personal Items and Picture.R.I.P
The Living Legends Sponsors were the friends and business partners over the years that have been there for me ,again from the heart I thank you, Osu
Ranger Boats, Flippen, Arkansas, Rage Tail Lures and Steve Parks, My Dojo Kickboxing, Organa Gold, Robert Young and Black Belt Magazine, Gary Dill’s Jeet Kune Do , Frank Sanchez and World Sokeship Council, Black Dragon Fighting Society, Jim Thomas and USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame Living Legends Magazine with Brian Kula Fung, Clear Lake Martial Arts and Vincent Holmes, Six Flags Amusement Parks , Roger Bornstein and Space Center Houston, Artie Ricon and the magnificent meal for the V.I.P’S at BENGY’S upper class restaurant in the village Wow!!!!
ON THE TOP OF MY RESUME ,it will say !
I faked out Malia Bernal {Dacascos}, Birthday Party , I talked Mikie Rowe into traveling all over the country in a RV and got her invigorated back into the Sport karate legends and last I brought the only lady in HISTORY to be rated in the TOP TEN MEN division in Sport Karate by Professional Karate Magazine to tears when yesterday inducted her in to the Museum’s History Generals, not bad for a “Karate Kid” from a tiny hut in Hawaii, not bad at all,,,lol
Osu
Another Living Legends under the belt , on to Living Legends 22 and the “Rooster Roast of Super Competitor Dwayne ‘Rooster’ Machen!
Celebrating his career and his 50th birthday along with the TOP JUNIOR BLACK BELTS of the 60’s 70’s, 80’s and 90’s
A reunion you do not want to miss!
Protecting the History , One Warrior at a Time,,,Osu
The National Sport Karate Museum
http://youtu.be/UBgAj4cNee4
Rambling Eddie
I was driving my RV ,looking for the best gas prices in and around the neighborhood and saw one of the largest discount stores with a big sign in the window.
BIG LETTERS
Great Value! Karate Classes
Well ,I pull in and went inside ,the first thing that hit me in the face was there was McDonald’s inside the store, so I went over got me a Big Mac ,order of fries and coke, next to the McDonald’s there was a empty room matted and I saw a 500 foot room with a desk, one mirror and a bunch of Century Bob”s lined up.
A young man ,maybe early 20’s came up to me and said “May I help you?
I said ” I saw the sign out front and I am interested in your program.
The first thing out of his mouth was “We take credit cards ,store credit card or cash ,
No checks!!!!!!!!!!!,
It is 24.95 a week ,twice a week, and a $500 retainer is deposited in our account if you leave before your contract ,we will keep that deposit ,if you fulfill your contract we will give it back!
Your credit card will be drafted and each month we will take out $100.00, you do have to sign a contract for three years and you will have a different instructor each week !,, no small talk ,no introduction just hard core in your face sales ,you could tell he was working on commission or sign up bonuses.
Still, I was curious about a different instructor every week and how the loyalty ,building a relationship with your Sensei was thrown out the window literately.
The salesman said “that’s not important ,we guarantee that a instructor will be here !,
I said Well, what about style? and ranking ,
He answered “Is style really important? and we guarantee you will make BLACK BELT in two years!!!!
I scratched my head and said “then why do I have to sign a three year contract if you will guarantee me a BLACK BELT in two years?
He then said “after training!!, you are allowed to come in one day a week for the remainder of your contract to work out one hour a week ,
Four hours a month, after training!,,,you see Great Value!
Do you have your Credit Card with you ?
Of course I ain’t stupid, so I said “let me think about!
I know that was bargain but there is a K-Mart down the street ,I will check them out first and see if I can get a better deal!
That real karate school down the street wants $249.00 a month and I got to buy equipment ,uniforms a red black and green one and a blue ,orange and purple one and a all white one too !
Wow!
Learning karate publicly sure has changed since my dad did it (30) thirty years ago!
Just Rambling!
Rambling Eddie
Television was invented in the twenties and seventy years later there still was not a full time Martial Arts channel. Although there had been lots of talk there were no results, until recently.
Airwaves Of Martial Arts
“Black Belt Television If You Build It, They Will Come”
By Chip Youngblood
Staff Writer Sport Martial Arts Magazine, 2009
In November 2004, Black Belt TV was launched into seventeen million homes, giving the Martial Artist a venue to reach everyone with their message. Here is the journey of one man’s dream of creating a twenty-four hour, in your face, real Martial Arts channel and giving the sponsors the chance to get on board to showcase their products to the world.
Gary Lee“Black Belt Television If You Build It, They Will Come”
I am sitting on the plane thinking of the past two weeks as being the roller coaster ride of my career. Spending two weeks with Professor Gary Lee is unlike anything I would have ever expected. He is a warrior and sage that has experienced many unexpected adventures.
However let’s start from the beginning. It was a year ago when I was asked to cover the Super Grands in Houston, Texas. The Super Grands is a spectacular event, a gathering of superb Black Belts and past Superstars. I first saw Professor Gary Lee at the Super Grands where he was the master of ceremonies for the finals. He was a figure to behold, wearing his Hakama and Kimonos. He looked as if he were a samurai in the wrong century. I set up a meeting that would change my mind and my attitude towards Martial Arts.
Professor Lee has had an incredible career in the Martial Arts. He is a historian of sport Karate in America, NBL World Champion, and International Competitor for over Thirty Years, Actor, Producer, Black Belt Hall of Famer. Professor Lee regards his career as, “A constant learning process of information for as long as I can remember.”
He came from his home land of Hawaii with hardly anything. However, he survived living on the Mainland, with no family or guidance, thanks to his Karate God Fathers, as he calls them. The Karate men who have been a part of his life since his early teenage years are, Jim Harrison, Bob Wall, Dr. Mauny Gyi, Mako, Allen Steen, Jerry Piddington, Mike Stone, Sam Chapman, Ted Tabura, John Kuhl (deceased), George Minshew, Carl Geis, Andrew Tamper, George Anderson, Robert Trias (deceased), Sensei Kishi, Sid Campbell (deceased), Glenn Kwan, Ed Parker (deceased) Ed Daniel, Al Gene Carulia, Ernie “Radar” Smith (deceased).
This was an incredible array of present and past legends of the Martial Arts. Tears come to his eyes when he talks about each legendsand how each one played an important part in his career. The Living Legend has had the honor of roasting three of his heroes. No wonder Professor Lee is the man and the leader he is today.
Gary LeeWhen we were done with the interview, Professor Lee said he had a project in the works, but did not know all the details yet. He said, “I will call you in a year. I will have a grasp of the project then and if it hits it will be the biggest and most exciting contribution to the Martial Arts in a long time. A full time television channel totally dedicated to Martial Arts with educational values and high-class entertainment as a start. It’s called ‘BLACK BELT TV’.”
Much effort has gone into this project of getting a national Martial Arts station up and running, but no one had a personality like Professor Gary Lee or his martial arts contacts. Professor Lee and his son Garett Lee are sponsored yearly by Gallery Furniture, Collectors Firearms, Academy Sports and Outdoors, Hilton Hotels and Resorts, Century Fitness and The Living Legends.
The Metronome Company who owns BLACK BELT TV and one of the producers, Erik D. Jones, approached Professor Lee. They offered Professor Lee a contract to do a Martial Arts show called “Martial Arts Exclusive” a Martial Arts variety show with fun as it’s priority. They would travel around the country filming everything from tournaments, talent contest, expos, and special Karate promotions. Professor Gary Lee has interviewed the following celebrities for Black Belt TV, Eric Lee, Bob Wall, Al Dacascos, Sid Campbell, Gene LeBell, Alan Goldberg, Ed Daniel, J. Pat Burleson, Tim Kirby, Cynthia Rothrock, Stephen Hayes, James Lew, Bernie “Pops” Krasnoo, Arnold Urquidez, Blinky Rodriguez, Chung Lee, Don ”The Dragon” Wilson, Kathy Long, Bill Ryusaki, Ice T., Keith Weston, Lawrence Arthur, James Hong, Bill Viola, Boice Lydell and many more. The most memorable event of the show was the demonstrations.
Professor Lee is known for his spectacular sword demonstrations, which he perfected during his twenty years of performing at Six Flags Astroworld. When asked about his sword training Gary smiles and said “ I wanted to train as close as I could to the samurai, so I modeled my self after great swordsmen like, Toshiro Mifune, Hidy Ochiai, Tadashi Yamashita, Dale Kirby and Sonny Chiba. These were the master swordsmen who inspired me. I remember watching the Iaido guys go out into the jungle and come back covered in blood week after week, six to ten guys dressed in Hakama, carrying their sword over their shoulders. One day I decided to follow them. I kept my distance and crept my way through the thick jungle, sometimes crawling on the ground so I wouldn’t be seen or heard. Besides, I was scared to death that I had enough nerve to follow them. From a distance I saw them work their swords and boken for about an hour, then I saw a group of locals bringing in cages. In the cages were pigs. The locals would tie the legs and grab each end of the huge pig and then throw it at the master swordsman. He then would draw and cut directly in two pieces. Now I know where the blood came from and later I found out they were doing this for the huge picnics (Luau) for the tourist. All the pigs went to roast in the sandpit.”
One particular interview at the Martial Arts History Museum grand opening ceremonies in Burbank, California really surprised me. That interview was between Professor Gary Lee and Grandmaster Hidy Ochiai. You could tell by their expression and friendship they were old warriors of a past sport gone but not forgotten by these two. I got a little closer so I could hear their conversation and what I heard was them comparing different cuts they have made on human bodies with their katanas. Professor Lee would say “I have done it with watermelons and cantaloupes” and the Master Ochiai would respond “Gary that is good but have you cut apples on rice paper and not cut the paper?” Professor Lee would say “Oss” and then say “I have cut seven cucumbers on the throat, neck, stomach and groin” and Master Ochiai would say, “Yes Gary, I have too but I was blindfolded.” Then Professor Lee said, “Sensei my greatest cut was at the World Martial Arts Tournament where I cut a lemon and then a slice of lemon on the neck of my uki.”
Master Ochiai laughed and said, “Gary don’t you remember at the Battle of Atlanta I cut a rice grain in half on my uki’s forehead?” Professor Lee has tears running down his cheek and stood up and bowed and said, “Sir, I am honored, you are samurai, Oss!” Paramount Movie Studios, a local TV news show and Black Belt TV witnessed a remarkable interview that was rare and very personal.
Well a year went by and I received the phone call from Hawaiirock Productions, Professor Lee had some great news he said, “Black Belt TV will be on the air November 2004.” The word got out quickly and with anything great comes competition. When I asked professor Lee about the competition of another network or even somebody else saying they are Black Belt TV, he laughs and says, “Well I can promise you this, no one has beat the streets harder than I, my crew and my Black Belt TV producers to give the un-bias reporting we do and a little logo in a couple of magazines is not going to change all the hard work and traveling my team has done to get us up and running and on the air.”
Professor Lee and I were picked up by a black limo at the airport and driven to the downtown area of Houston. The skyline is beautiful and Houston is a great city. The limo driver dropped me off at a tall building and said for me to go to the top floor and I would be met by another one of Professor Lee’s staff. I did what I was told and when I got to the roof Professor Lee’s assistant Susan Thompson met me. The first thing she asked me was, was I afraid of heights; that was strange. Well she walked over to a round circle and then I saw a helicopter come out of nowhere and land next to us. Then she told me to get in the helicopter and enjoy the ride. Professor Lee wanted me to see the whole city from a different view. What an experience. When we landed on top of another building an hour later, there he was, Professor Gary Lee. We went down a couple of flights and walked into this huge seafood restaurant and had a great dinner. The next couple of days I would be out of breath trying to keep up with the professor. When the smoke had settled after his long days in the Martial Arts, we would hang out next to his little two acre bass pond and talk about Black Belt TV and how it is going to change the future of Martial Arts advertising and how we are the pioneers of a new area.
Professor Lee said, “The Martial Arts needs a complete station on un-biased programming, going after all communities and cultures. For example a show for teens, and young adults, a Martial Arts Christian show, Animation Black Belt Style, and All Spanish teaching show with well-known Spanish speaking masters.
Leo Fong
I have gathered my Black Belts to watch the movie “KILLPOINT” a film that stars Mr. Leo Fong, a martial arts Living Legend. I just received it in the mail with an autograph cover. Mr. Leo Fong was one of my first heroes when I came to the mainland. My students and I are looking forward to watching some of the best to be karate stars on screen like Steve “Nasty” Anderson and Linda Denley just to name a few but most of all, I have gather my Black Belts to teach them a sport karate history lesson and talk to them about how I met this great martial artist – Leo Fong.
It is 1974 and I have been fighting in the mainland now for over five years and built a small reputation for being an all around type of competitor. In the seventies not many Black Belts did three divisions, fighting, kata and weapons .I wanted the respect and I decided to give it all and in my eyes it paid off. Black Belt judges were coming up to me asking who I was and where I was from. I would proudly say “HAWAII!” I had not won a major event yet but I was placing seconds and thirds behind the top competitors of that time. Back then competition was fun and exciting – even losing was a thrill because you were building the legacy that would last a lifetime. One of the first books I paid for as reference of knowledge was Leo Fong’s now famous “Sil-Lum Kung Fu.” What drew my interest: it was a soft style and it translates as “young forest” simply meaning to be able to be flexible and like a young tree, bend with the wind. I was fascinated, it was just the opposite of what I have been told to do since I was a kid training in Hawaii – knock them down and go straight forward , hit first, hit last, go for the knockout!!!, ….evade?, dodge?, counterpunch?, move in circles all the time?. I found an uki (partner) and starting practicing what was in the book.
It was new and it was fun!!
I had read the 1970 Black Belt Magazine article on Leo Fong’s life and I was impressed with his attitude toward fighting and his background as a kid being subjected to racism and how he overcame the racist surroundings he was in. I wanted to learn Sil-Lum but because of my traditional karate background, I was never in the kung-fu circles or around that atmosphere of teaching, so his book became my source of learning. I would practice all the techniques in my mind and with my uki. I was getting better with my hands and expanding my mind learning kung-fu.
It was a secret, only because back then you did one or the other. I remember one of my Shito-ryu buddies saw my worn out, beat up Sil-Lum book and started on me asking me all these questions. Like, is that why I ‘m fighting different lately? And why do you want to box all the time?
Meeting the All-Time Greats!
My first encounter with Grand Master Bob Wall was at the Long Beach Internationals, and he was bigger than life. I had watch “Enter the Dragon” at least a thousand times or more and he was the super bodyguard and Leo Fong vs Bob Tadashibad guy, and he was very good at what he did but what I liked the most was those black and white footage of Grandmaster Wall breaking and being struck by Tadashi Yamashita with bricks and boards being broke over his body!!! THAT WAS FOR REAL!!! One of the reasons I started breaking was the inspiration that I got from watching that black and white footage.
The majority of the public doesn’t realize that BOB WALL was a great fighter as a Black Belt on the national karate scene. He was one the circuits stars – he has won or placed in every major karate event in America through his career and was known as one of the super brown belts along with Mike Stone and Al Gene Caraulia. He was an instant hero in my book of memories and he would play a major contributor later in my career. So now I had two new heroes besides my Hawaiian Heroes that were here already on the mainland, Ed Parker, Al Dacascos, Ted Tabura, John Natividad, and my biggest hero was Mike Stone.
Through conversation I had heard the Black Belts talk about that Mr. Chuck Norris was forming a new karate League, THE UNITED FIGHTING ARTS FEDERATON LEAUGE and the first tournament was going to be in Ohio.
Where is Ohio?
I had just been in the mainland a few years and never competed out of California. I heard Mr. Norris was bringing in some important judges and one of them was Leo Fong – and for some reason, I felt I needed to compete. It would be my first out of state event since I moved to the mainland. In my mind if I could win an important event, in front of important judges, I would have the confidence I needed to work even harder to win Gary Leethe next event!
I had no car, no contacts and no money for a plane ride or bus. I decided to hitch hike cross country. I drew a map of destination, found the small town of Warren, Ohio (I believe that was the city) and started my journey on Thursday morning – leaving North Hollywood. Back in the ‘70s, hitchhiking was sort of safe – I mean, a lot of people did it and I had no other way to get there. My only concern was time. I was taking a big chance: I had to be across country, four or five states, in two days and by 10:00AM Saturday morning for Black Belt Kata and weigh-in. I wish I knew then what I know now because I was passionate about sport karate and I made decisions from the heart and not the mind.
I really can’t remember all the rides and super cool people I met. I do remember it took six rides from California to get to Ohio and that Saturday morning was real tough: not only was I still far away from the event but it was snowing. I had never seen snow. I had not even carried socks with me, just my karate stuff and tennis shoes. I remember how cold it was: I was in a pain I have never felt before, it was so cold it hurt to breathe and I was running late.
THE REST IS SORT OF A BLUR!
1975 FIRST UNITED FIGHTING ARTS CHAMIONSHIPS, WARREN, OHIO
The man in the car thought I was nuts because I was screaming about the time. The event started at 10:00AM and it was 10:15 or 10:20 Saturday morning. God bless him – he took me to the doorsteps of the arena. I ran to the ticket booth and asked if competition had started and I saw the answer with my own eyes. Mr. Norris was lining up all the Black Belt kata competitors and I did not want to miss that division –that was half the reason I hitchhiked out here (the other half was to fight). Gary Lee
I remember begging the lady to please send a note down to the floor to Mr. Norris to ask him to hold the division because I had hitchhiked from California to compete. The judges were already sitting down and I knew I had blown it. The lady thought I was crazy – she almost called security until she realized that I was sincere. The lady took my note and gave it to a runner who took it down to Mr. Norris.
Those seconds between the runner taking the note and Mr. Norris saying I could compete were like hours; it was intense. Then I got the okay and they were waiting for me. I had to dress in the hall way and run down the steps in front of everybody. I got to the floor and said thanks but then a lady came up to me and said “you have to go first!!” Whoaaaaaaaaa! What happen to random order? Flip the cards? Well, because they had held up the division for me, I had to go first!
Okay, okay, I’m ready, this is what I came for, this is my ring and God brought me here for a reason!
I looked at the line up and I did not know any of the Black Belts. There were around twenty competitors. I am sure they were all great guys and good Black Belts but in my heart, no one trained as hard as I did and I know no one hitchhiked to get there, but most of all I wanted this division really bad!
Then it happen,
I looked at the judges and got scared to death, I mean I was really nervous. If I remember it right, sitting on the Black Belt board were Ted Volrarth, a Vietnam veteran who did spectacular self-defense demos around the world, and my childhood hero Al Dacascos, he is acknowledged for being the first kung-fu fighter in the blood and guts history of sport karate and his demos were awesome to behold. The hero of my kung-fu memories, Sifu Leo Fong, who had secretly taught me Kung-Fu through his book Sil-Lum and Aaron Norris, who was one the best point fighters ever but is mostly known for his stunt work in movies and TV (He would later become one of the best action directors in Hollywood).
It was the first time that I saw Chuck Norris, he was special, you could tell by the way he walked and talked. I didn’t even think about it until after the tournament but he could have said no instead of yes and I would not have had this story. I knew his history – he was a great fighter and warrior of the blood and guts tournament scene and he was a real champion. His eyes were what stood out to me and he had kind eyes.
These were the important judges I wanted but going first in this competition was a drag.
Focus, Kime, don’t look at the people, look at their combined history, look at their knowledge, tell them the story, do the Kata the way you were taught in Hawaii and win or lose, you did your best, focus, focus, focus, THESE WERE THE THOUGHTS GOING THROUGH MY HEAD!!
I remembering doing USU and tying for third place out of twenty competitors. I came back and did a Japanese Kata NI JI SHI HO and won, taking third place. That was great after all I had been through.
I was still cold from that white stuff that I had never seen before (snow) and all that worry about getting there on time had stressed me out to the max but now I could do what I do best and that is fight.
I remember winning three fights and walking out with third place. I won the last fight with a dropped kick to the groin (now illegal in most karate circuits today). The techniques used in the seventies would devastate a lot of opponents today just because back then we meant to stop you with one technique and we trained very hard to learn that one punch or kick. Gary Lee
Our attitude as warriors was simple, I will buy you a coke, maybe lunch, heck, I will even buy you dinner but it is war when we step into the ring, with respect always, respect had to be in the ring for the contact level was high and the classiest competitors had the control but could nail you at any time! Let’s just say it was scrappy.
I still have those trophies today beaten, battered and broken. They were black and had a hologram design down the middle. They sit on my office wall and visitors come into my office and asked about those beaten tore up broken trophies. I just say it was a day that I met my heroes and just can not let them go. I guess I will keep them forever.
I stayed in Ohio one more day because I was so fascinated by the snow and the very cold weather. Sleeping in the greyhound bus station that night, I realized that I had gone to an extreme state of mind to be here and I wondered if the rest of my career was going to be as complicated as this adventure. The next morning, I packed the two third place awards in my duffle bag and before I headed back to California, I also stopped by a five and dime store to buy a pair of socks.
I didn’t know how many states this snow would last and my feet were cold.
The year was 1982 and in America if you were a warrior, you were chasing those KARATE ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE POINTS. I was still chasing those first places but now it was even harder: you had George Chung, John Chung, Cindy Rothrock, Peter Morales and a slew of other great performers who always took first in their respective divisions but the most excitement was always the GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE TOURNEMENT.
The GRAND did not give you points but what it got was the respect of the competitors. The unwritten law: they were the best at the event – period. No questions asked, decided by the best karate form judges in America. JOHN CHUNG was my personal favorite – I would get goose bumps watching him and then had to go out and compete against him (talk about pressure).
LEO FONG and RON MARCHINI would produce the TOP TEN NATIONALS in Stockton, California and I was living in Texas chasing points from all around the country. A few of the Texans were traveling too, like JIMMY “Gato” TABARES, AL FRANCIS, RAYMOND MCCALLUM, AL GARZA, and of course Living Legend LINDA DENLEY. My very first sponsor was the Hilton Hotels and I was treated very well: first class airfare, entry fee paid, hotel room, food expense and clothing. I wore a little patch in front and Hilton in big letters on my back. Leo Fong and Ron MarchiniOn the flight to Stockton, I met JEAN FRENETTE and this was his first karate tournament in America and his first national event ever. JEAN FRENETTE LATER BECAME ONE OF CANADA’S GREAT FORMS CHAMPIONS. He was so nervous, so I gave him all my best tips on winning and we became fast friends that weekend. Mr. Marchini picked us up at the airport and was very kind to us. He even walked me to my room and carried my luggage for me – I was very impressed. Jean and I hung out at the bar telling war stories with the VIPs but Saturday morning it was all business.
Seeing Mr. Fong again was a delight. I don’t know if he remembered me from back in 1975 but I just thought it was cool to be competing in his event. I lost to Jean Frennette and Cindy Rothrock that day and it was another hard fought third place. And I still have that short red Top Ten third place trophy next to my SIL-LUM book.
Well my next encounter with Mr. Leo Fong would be in 2005 in Tarzana, California. I had just finished performing at the BLACKBELT MAGAZINE FESTIVAL OF MARTIAL ARTS at UNIVERSAL STUDIOS-HOLLYWOOD. Grand Master Wall had invited my son and I to work on some projects for World Black Belt. One of the most enjoyable people I‘ve had the pleasure to meet was the new Marketing Director for World Black Belt, Mr. Adam James.
After a couple of days working in the World Black Belt offices, Adam asked us out to lunch, and he said he was inviting his instructor and World Champion John Chung and his wife. You will never guess who Adam’s instructor was … MR. LEO FONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was excited I would finally get to just talk to him, one on one and got to ask all the questions I‘ve had bottled up all these years. He was very polite and I could feel his chi – it was strong. I felt like the luckiest martial artist in the world to be here at this time, this place and this moment.
Life does go in circles.
Well, not only did I have sushi with my forms hero JOHN CHUNG but the SIL-LUM Kung-Fu instructor himself GRAND MASTER LEO FONG, A LIVING LEGEND who taught me from his book thirty one years ago. But you know what was the most exciting part, I mean knock your socks off part, was having my son meet my heroes and to teach him the lesson of making a friend that will last him a lifetime – that was priceless.
Garett Robert Lee was born in Houston, Texas on January 10th 1992 into a family of Martial Artist. His father is well known across America as an excellent competitor, knowledgeable Black Belt and founder of the Living Legends Celebrity Roast. Garett’s mother holds a Black Belt and she was a winning competitor during her competition years as an under belt and Brown Belt. Long time friend and World Full- Contact Karate Champion Ishmael Robles said at Garett’s Black Belt Test, “ Garett is destined to be the next layer of champions Texas produces, but the main reason he is going to be a champion is because he was born in Texas!”
Garett has been immersed in martial arts since his father hung toy throwing stars and nunchaku above Garett’s crib. He was competing by the age of two and performing on stage with his father across America. Rumor has it that his dad would drop him off at karate schools and leave for hours, some time for days. It is a fact that he would leave him at the SHAOLIN TEMPLES around Houston so he could learn Kung Fu with the live-in Monks. He fought his first full-contact kickboxing match at age six at Rumble At Roundrock World Championships. He won fifty first places in forms and fighting from National Blackbelt League, Texas Tour, A.O.K, Texas Karate Organization and Sport Karate International…wait a minute, kids can’t really be Black Belts, they have no power and they can’t do all the things a real Black Belt does. What Is A Real Black Belt?
Garett earned his black belt at seven years of age. That was unheard of in the real karate world and thought to be of a farce. No child was seen as capable of breaking boards, fighting, self-discipline, attitude, bunkai, kobudo weapons, and do, ku san ku, jion, ni shi sho ho, unsu, sesien, sanchin sapei (these are all Black Belt Katas), all the wazas, and of course the basic kion katas that are required in Okinawan Karate. He also endured the pressure of a panel of thirty living legends in the martial arts who graded him. This had never been done before, but that is what makes Garett very special. They passed him and signed his certificate endorsing his skills as a Black Belt. The reason Garett has excelled in the martial arts and has done almost impossible feats in traditional and sport karate is the fact that he has many teachers!
Garett has performed in many places and in front of thousands of karate spectators but his most cherished memory is when he did his routine at The Bob Wall’s Celebrity Roast in front of Chuck Norris, Roy Kurbon, Richard Norton, Jeff Smith, Troy Dorsey, Raymond McCallum, Steve Fisher, and the great Lou Casamassa.
Grand Master Casamassa had given Garett’s dad the sword Garett used in the demonstration that night.
and it gave Garett goose bumps because he knew how much his dad loved and respected Grand Master Casamassa.
Another memorable event was performing on the Super Grands stage at two years of age and breaking a board over his father’s head. When he was four years old Bernie “Pops Kransnoo” put him on the Sherman Oaks Raiders National Karate Team and his sport karate career begin. He would perform wherever his father would have a performance; it was like “Have Blackbelt Will Travel”. Garett has had an incredible traveling career but because he pursued many goals in 2005 we are sharing about that year.
Garett Lee on Team Focus
He Who Travels Sees The Water Fall Differently Than Others Who Don’t
School, family and other things in life are important but sport karate and performing is in Garett’s destiny, as you probably already understand by now. He has a wish to be the best he can be. His favorite saying comes from Rick Clunn, World Bass Fishing Champion and Five Time Winner Of The Bassmaster Classic;
“There Are No Limits To Reaching Our Goals With A PMA
(Positive Mental Attitude)”
In 2005 Garett started out chasing the A.O.K, the Texas karate circuit. He finish with a number one seed in the east and went in to the State Championship with eight first places in a row in kata and fighting. After a tremendous year in this circuit, and being picked as the youngest member on Team Focus, he won two state titles; one in 12-13 Black Belt Kata and the other 12-13 Black Belt Fighting.
Then he went to Columbus Ohio for Arnolds’d Martial Arts Festival as the special guest performer for Black Belt Television. He performed to the title song for the movie “Black Salt” in front of an array of the following VIPs:
Jim Harrison
Bob Wall
Wesley Snipes
Bill “Superfoot” Wallace
Ken Knudson
Don “The Dragon” Wilson
Chuck Zito
Michael DePasquale Jr.
Steve Sanders
The legendary Tokey Hill sponsored Garett at the World Karate Federation event, at the festival, where he won kata and fighting.
Sometimes, opportunity comes once in a life time and if you don’t take advantage of it, it may never come again. This is what Garett experienced in Houston one Saturday. Stan Witz, a producer from Las Vegas introduced his event in Houston at the Fonde Recreation Center. Ms. Linda Denley was his sponsor and Garett entered all divisions winning everything including the Adult Black Belt Kata division. Then it was on to The Battle of H-town, across Houston to the north side of town, where he won Kata and fighting. Garett had won two major karate events in one day!
Then he was on his way to Pittsburgh to the National Black Belt League qualifying event for Super Grands in Buffalo New York. He competed in Japanese Kata in a field of thirty competitors. He finish third, securing him a seed at the World Games at the end of the year. He was on stage as guest performer for ESPN 2, where he performed spectacular feats with Young Sung Lee and Dr.Patrick Price. Garett came back home to Victoria, Texas and competed in the NBL Conference Event, where he won both his divisions in kata and fighting, giving him his fighting seed at Super Grands.
One of Garett’s favorite events is Wayne Nyugen’s TKO’S Ocean State Nationals in Galveston, Texas. Wayne, better known as the “White Ninja” from the movie “Sidekicks”, has watched Garett grow up and sponsors him every year at his event.
This year Garett won his fighting division and kata division and he won his very first Grand Championship. It was very special when Master Nyugen gave Garett a samurai sword for winning his event. In the old days the ultimate gift was getting a sword from your teacher.
The Black Belt Magazine Reunion and Festival was a huge event in Hollywood, California. All the stars came out for this one and Garett was right in the middle of the action. He was there to audition for a part in the new show “Are You the Next Martial Arts Superstar?”, and to perform on stage for Black Belt Magazine.
He did get to hang out with Gene LeBell, Chris Casamassa, Michele “The Mouse” Krasnoo, Bob Wall, John Chung, Eric Lee, Dan “The Beast” Severn, Young Sung Lee, World Karate Champion Linda Denley, Leo Fong, George Alexander (Master Alexander was so impressed with Garett’s skills that he asked him to be his Uki for his performance on stage, what an honor!) While he was there he got to work out with some great martial artist like STUWART SHUMANN AND KEN FIRESTONE. Garett is a season traveler and has done more in the past few years in his karate than most people have done in a lifetime.
The Test and Four Hours Later
Garett’s Black Belt exam was “an old fashioned BLACKBELT test (meaning something most adults would fail) under Allen Steen, Ed Daniel, Skipper Mullins, Fred Wren, Jim Toney, Jim Butin, Al Garza, Dan Anderson, Royce Young, Linda Denley, Zulfi Ahmed, Jim Harrison, Jimmy “Gato” Tabares, Ishmael Robles, Stacy and Pablo Mejia, Tim Kirby, George Minshew, Glen Wilson, Larry Ritchie, Richard Jenkins, Ronnie Al, Daryl Stewart Matubushi Ward, Head Of The Okinawan-Japanese Karate Federation, (just to name a few). Garett performed his basic and advanced techniques, then several weapons kata, then went through his ten forms, fought ten rounds (not including the multiple attacker rounds). When the dust had settled all the above named Black Belts signed Garett’s Black Belt rank certificate and at age seven Garett was the youngest child and very first child Allen Steen And Jim Harrison ever put their signature on. That made history!
His favorite fighters are Ray McCallum, Tim Kirby, Linda Denley, Wade Kirkpatrick and of course Demitrius (“the Golden Greek”) Havanas, and his dad. His favorite forms are Tetsu, Ni Ji Shi Ho, Eagle and Usu.
Garett Lee Wins!His Godfather Dr. Mauny Gyi, Founder Of Bando Said “He is a worker and future champion of the world, a real champion not a paper tiger. He is a kata machine and fights like the old days, hard and fast!”
Having been brought up in Texas Garett has heard all the “war stories” about the great Texans Demitrius Havanas and Raymond McCallum. His dad took Garett to a tournament in the Austin area when he was in the peewee divisions and they spent the night with fellow Texan Black Belt Tim Kirby. Garett fell asleep to the stories of Havanas for a lullaby. After being asleep several hours Garett rose silently, Tim and Garett’s dad watched in quiet surprise as Garett performed “sleep kata”, he then went through a few sparring combinations and then fell back into bed breathing deeply again in a heavy sleep. The next day as the tournament got under way, Mr. Kirby gave Garett a patch, not just any patch, this patch read “The Golden Greek”. This was given to Tim Kirby (from the A.O.K) for being the best all around male Black Belt in Texas in 1981 the year Demitrius Havanas died in a tragic plane crash.
Tim had carried the patch all these years when he would fight out of state and it was priceless to him, but Garett had touch his heart and Tim was compelled to give him the famous patch. His dad won two Golden Greek Awards in ’97 AND ’98, so Garett knew how important this was even at his early age.
Tim told Garett that morning, “I carried this patch everywhere I fought after Greek died and I felt his spirit with me every match, I want you to have it and remember Greek is with you”. Garett makes sure this is on his uniform when he enters the ring.
He does have a life outside of karate, his mom makes sure of that. Garett maintains an A average in school and enjoys playing “video games” of all sorts. He enjoys fishing; another activity Garett and his father spend time doing together. Garett looks forward to competition but admits its not all about trophies, he enjoys sparring and the “challenge” it brings. Garett’s favorite technique is the Texas chamber sidekick and the ridge hand. Garett says “The Sidekick I love because I can stop anyone with it and the ridge hand because of its history! J.Pat Burleson and Mike Stone invented the ridge hand but it was Jeff Smith, Linda Denley, Steve Fisher and Garett’s dad who perfected it for sport competition”
Garett Lee SparringHis favorite colors are black and red.
His favorite food is steak.
He loves to dance and enjoys today’s music.
His favorite martial arts film is THE LAST SAMURAI and KILL BILL.
His favorite movie star is SCORPION from Mortal Kombat, Chris Casamassa
His favorite time of the year is CHRISTMAS.
His favorite on screen girl is the girl garth fell in love with from WAYNES WORLD .
His favorite off screen girl is his MOM
His favorite sport KARATE
Garett has three main sponsors, World Blackbelt, Team Focus and of course Hawaiirock Productions. He has had offers from Kellogs of Battle Creek, Ford, Infiniti and Fox TV but his family wants him to concentrate on his education first and his youth. Garett has never forgotten the famous last words at his test by Grand Master Allen Steen, “Your education is your most important journey without it you will not have the vision to carry out the opportunities that await you in the future.”
Currently Garett is training for his third Dan Black Belt exam and looking forward to seeing all the Martial Art Living Legends at the Michael DePasquale’s Roast his father is hosting in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Garett is considering “invading” the WTF and USTU in hopes of fighting his way to the Olympics. He wants to represent the United States in Karate competition like his dad did all the years he competed. What’s in his life for the future? He smiles and says with a big, big grin, “girls and cars and all the fun stuff adults get to do!”
Update 2009
Garett is 17 years old now, it is hard to believed he has been a Black Belt karate fighting champion for ten years. Traveling different national karate circuits , Garett “Spaz” Lee has define the words “Have Black Belt Will Travel”, however he is doing fine and still having fun!
In Kata he runs Sepai and in fighting he has been picked up by World Champion Jason Holmes (JDog) and the PKKA National Karate Team.
He has won every tournament he has entered 3rd place or higher except for SUPER GRANDS in 2008, for the past two years, pretty impressive because he fights everywhere, any group, any rules. NBL,
AOK, TNT, SKI, WKA, PKC, USKA, International rules, Texas rules!
He has won two Texas State Titles in fighting and one in Kata. Just recently he won and placed in The Back Alley Bash, a fight club in Houston, Texas.
To let you know how much intensity this young Texas Warrior has toward sport karate, even now after ten years of living off the road with his father and doing show after show, in town after town, he still loves sport karate!!!
In 2008 at the Masters Hall of Fame he was asked to perform his flawless Japanese Kata “Sepai ” in front of the Living Legends of the martial arts and help open the history making event .
On his 17th Birthday, Garett fought as an adult in the first P K C National Karate event in Texas at the Alvin Community College in Alvin Texas.
Garett entered the mens heavy weight division and won. He then entered a new sport where you score only one point and then all five judges score you at the same time. No time limit, the Ippon Kumite will be the talk of the sport circuit for true one punch or kick fighters! Garett won that division. Then he won the Grand Championship in fighting. He has now been chosen to be on the Texas P K C National Team to fight.
Ask what the future is for Garett and he says “traveling, meeting new friends and seeing old ones but if I had to say one thing to someone, ‘Look Good , Fight Good'”.
World Maps Interview Questions Getting Online Business Home
HAWAIIAN SON – TEXAS STAR
By Duane R. Ethington
Think about it for a moment. Before you are even six years old you lose your parents in a tragic airplane accident. You have only one relative, an uncle you don’t even know who turns out to be cruel towards you. You have no family, no friends, and a bleak outlook on what might seem like no life at all, with no foreseeable future.
What do you do?
Many, many folks would give up or easily fall into the wrong crowds and spend the rest of their lives getting into trouble. Basically, they would give up on life before they even had a chance to live it.
But GARY LEE certainly is not your average person. Young Gary took this pot of despair, loneliness and heartbreaking travesty and turned it into a banquet of life. Not only has Gary Lee pulled himself from nothing to an enviable career in the martial arts and life, but he has done it with a style and grace that can only be the envy of most people around him.
How this remarkable man achieved a life so full and rich from such a desolate beginning is a phenomenal story in itself.
Many avenues could have been taken by the young boy. With an uncle who yelled at him a lot, a house with no TV or radio or air conditioning and a life that wasn’t much fun for a six year old, it could have gone bad.
But Gary thanks God every day for that walk on the beach the day he topped the little sand dune and made the discovery that would literally change his life.
Following the strange grunting sounds, young Gary discovered himself before a small hut where he found a hole big enough to look through. There he saw a small group of Kenpo black belts training under the watchful eye of a stern-faced sensei. The six year old had never seen anything like it and was ‘hooked’ immediately.
“I’d sneak out at night to watch them.” laments Gary. “Even though I knew I would get yelled at and probably hit or punished in some other way.”
From that very first look at the black belts Gary knew that this was what he wanted to be involved in for the rest of his life. He had no way of knowing that martial arts would not only consume his own life but change many lives which would cross his path in later years.
The stern-faced sensei turned out to be Sensei Kishi.
To this day, Gary does not understand how it came about as his uncle would not even disclose it on his deathbed, but Sensei Kishi came to one day and told the young boy that from now on he would be living with him.
“I think my uncle traded me for something.” says Gary of the incident now so far in his past.
However it came about, the fact that young Gary, now seven years old, was placed with Sensei Kishi was probably the best thing that could have ever happened to him.
For seven days a week, every day, for the next seven years, Gary Lee ate, breathed and lived martial arts. This way of life was implanted into the core of his very being.
The road wasn’t easy by any means. A young boy training with a bunch of seasoned black belts brought plenty of bruises and lumps as well as an acquisition of a vast amount of knowledge which would stick with Gary for the rest of his life.
This phase of the young Hawaiian’s life would not be complete without the retelling of ‘The Tale of the Forty Brooms’.
If you want a first hand version, hang out with Gary Lee and ask him. For this abbreviated version, I will put it in Gary’s own words so you might understand the significance of the lesson learned.
“Once, and only once, did I ever raise my voice or smart off to Sensei.” says Gary with a raised eyebrow as he, undoubtedly, remembers every moment of the event. “I wanted to go surfing as the waves were breaking some ten to fifteen feet off the north shore. Sensei said no, that a bad storm was brewing. Impatiently, I told him that all I ever did was train and I wanted to go surfing. No surfing today, was Sensei’s short response. But I want to go surfing, was my only answer.”
At this point, Gary just shakes his head as he recalls the unfolding of the day back then.
“I had never seen Sensei look at me the way he did that day.” continues Gary. “Instead of surfing, I was instructed to go to town and bring back some brooms that Sensei had ordered. The store, by the way, was about ten miles away. Why would sensei send a nine year old boy so far on foot to get brooms? I remember how mad I was and I cried most of the way there and back. It rained a cold, hard rain almost all the way of my journey into town. Later I heard that two surfers had drowned in the pounding waves. Suddenly, it hit me. Sensei knew the danger and was only protecting me, as always, when he refused to let me go. I had only been thinking of myself and probably would have gotten killed had I gone. The lesson learned was this: that I should never question Sensei. He is Sensei, the teacher, and he deserves all the respect I can give him. Just do it and do it without an attitude. Never talk back and respect your peers and most importantly, never question Sensei. Respect! Respect! Respect! Osu.
What happened with the brooms, you might ask? That night, in class, Sensei demonstrated Kyoshi-jujitsu. After giving each student a broom, he instructed them to attack him as they wished. One by one, with flawless technique, Sensei would break the attacking brooms, which represented arms, with a précised blow. He would break low for a wrist, medium for an elbow or high for a forearm. To this day, I have never witnessed anything like it again.
Sensei stopped at 39 brooms and handed me the last broom. With over 30 black belts watching, he had me strike at him. He caught the handle of the broom and swept me to the floor and then swept my face and body, all in about 3 or 4 seconds. Then he gave me the unbroken broom and told me that he wanted me to sweep the front of the dojo (which was sand) every day until I left. Without question or hesitation I said yes and swept the front of that dojo every day for the next five years. Then I left for the mainland after I got my black belt at age 14.”
Even getting that black belt was not easy for Gary. Sensei Kishi failed Gary on his first test try, saying that he didn’t have the proper attitude. Six months later, Gary passed with flying colors.
When he left Hawaii in 1969, it was with a small backpack, his black belt, a copy of the 1968 Black Belt Yearbook, a cream colored Gordon and Smith Surf Board and that broom.
FAMILY
With the passing of his only living relative, the uncle, Gary Lee was truly all alone in a huge world.
However, the kid with the big heart and huge smile and a vast thirst for knowledge and adventure soon found himself welcome in many martial arts circles. Gary Lee adopted the martial arts community as his new family. People like Ed Parker, Mike Stone, Sid Campbell, Masayuki Ward, Mako and Jack Farr became his ‘fathers figures’. Others who Gary learned from and learned great respect for were Jim Harrison, Bob Wall, Sam Chapman Steve Fisher, Sensei Nakumara, Joe Corley, Dan Anderson , John Townsley, Andrew Tamper along with countless others.
Now a proud father of Garett and a devoted and loving husband to Tammy, his wife of 26 years, Gary has a solid anchor in his life and a family that he can be very proud of. “Tammy came in as a ‘try-out’ student one day and has never left.” says Gary with a huge smile. “She is my rock.”
THE JOURNEY
Gary Lee’s martial arts accomplishments could fill a book and are far too numerous to reveal in a story like this. However, to give you a small idea of the tremendous impact Mr. Lee has had on the martial arts world I will list but a very few of his accomplishments.
Gary Lee has placed in EVERY tournament he has entered for THIRTY years.
He is the only competitor to win two tournaments in the SAME DAY. The Dragon Rock AOK Open and The National Black Belt Leauge Masters, fighting. Kata, weapons.
For years he gave daily martial arts shows and demonstrations at Houston’s Astroworld and Six Flags where he performed over 5,000 shows.1982-90
Texas State B.A.S.S. Federation Champion 1987
National Weapons Champion USAKF, Gold Medalists 1992
He has been ranked in the TOP TEN for A.O.K., NBL, SOCK, SKI, USAKF, TNT
Lead actor for The Hollywood Stunt Show and Comedy Hour, Six Flags 1993 -94
He is the creator of The Living Legends Celebrity Roast
Gary Lee has been inducted into several Black Belt Hall of Fames and has garnered countless plaques and awards for ‘Outstanding Contributions to the Martial Arts’.
Won the Golden Greek Award., Texas MVP 1997
Was one of the feature actors in Sidekicks, The Movie.
Has choreographed multi-movie stunt scenes.
Heads up Hawaii Rock Production Company and was co-founder of Black Belt TV
Gary Lee has excelled outside the martial arts world, as well, in winning the Texas State B.A.S.S Fishing Championship and spends his time giving countless seminars to youngsters and adults on the finer points of bass fishing at the Houston and Dallas Boat Shows since 1987.
He is sponsored as a Pro-Staff for Denver Marine, N .C, Ranger Boats, Lone Star Graphite Rods, Greg Bingam’s Check- It – Stick and “The Dock Buster” Flippen Stick
Flow-Rite of Tennessee, Fish Formula, Worden Lures and He still fishes all the major tournaments in Texas and surrounding states.
Another of Gary Lee’s passionate dreams is coming into fruition. That is the construction and opening of The Sport Martial Arts Museum.
Gary said” The museum will be the last event that I will work on ,I have collected the finest minds in the world as History Generals to help do the documentation and history analysis of our sport and when we are though it will be a fun, entertaining ,educational and informative site for the family or the hard level traditionalist.”
When asked to pick one out of his many stories and and his absolute favorite he was very quiet for a moment ,looked up at the camera and said “ I do have one that is always with me and it happen along time ago.”
”I remember working out in California and visiting many, many studios.
This one dojo was so intimidating I would cry and get myself all in a mess before I walk in.
One day I was two doors down from the studio and getting ready, when I heard a voice and it said “hey kid why are you crying it is just Karate”
The man’s name was Al Hippert; he was just coming back from his third tour of Viet-Nam, where he was covert operator and a tunnel rat. He was a real serious person
He had been training at the dojo I was at but I never seen him before. He was small but stocky and he had the look, that stare, it was almost creepy, heck it was creepy!!
He asked me to work out with him and it change my life.
He was first a Karate man and then the JUDO consumed his life.
When he first asked me to Randori , I assumed it was sparring ,punching ,kicking all that stuff .It turned out to be choking ,joint locking, passing out, finger manipulation , arm barring and of course roto-segin nagi and ippon segin nagi,thousands of times , throws ,take downs, sweeps , stomps ,elbow strikes and of course head butts.
And anything goes until you tapped out or you were choked out, he taught me how to fight for real, life and death situations, mentally to be prepared and have PMA.
He also taught me about life, the manners, the yes sirs and the no sirs, to help a needful person and to help that one kid who has to mentally get in tune with himself before the pressure of life.
That is the story that stays with me the most for he was one of the first mainland sensei’s to touch my life and give me direction to where I was going.
He hurt me to teach me! I think about him everyday, every moment whenever I feel pain!
I have been in the martial arts for nearly forty years, myself, and can tell you from the heart that Gary Lee is on a small list I have of those whom I truly respect above all others. He is a Texas transplanted Hawaiian with a tremendous heart and a man I am proud to call friend.
From a Hawaiian boy lost on the beach, Gary Lee has grown to be a force in the martial arts world and a leader in life. He is truly a Hawaiian Son who has become a Texas Star and he deserves our respect.
OSU!
My all time favorte Ernie “Radar “Smith R.I.P Story,,,
Early 1980’s
I was good friends with Steve Fotenote and he was Ernie’s Black Belt ,there was Cocky too,Steve’s brother and when Ernie would get word about a Korean base Tournament in the Houston Area ,he would come to Houston and pay for Steve ,Cocky and my Entry fees.
We would spend the day together ,fight ,be coached and fight where normally we would not go.
A all Korean event , all Tae Kwon Do , All Korean Judges, definitely to or disadvantage ,however that is how Ernie thought ,
He said ” Hey guys if you can win here against these odds ,you can win anywhere !”
We would enter only fighting except for me I would do Japanese Kata in a Korean Tournament , the Koreans would be pissed off ,however Ernie loved it, funny thing is I won a lot of third places at these Korean events.
We go to this event put on by Young Brothers Tae Kwon Do and Ernie didn’t want to but he paid for my Kata division too,
I took third that day and earned a $50 check ,which comes up later.
Cocky wins Middle weight , and Steve beats me in Heavy Weight to fight the Korean Champion for 1st place and the Championship. as we are getting ready Steve to fight , suddenly I hear Ernie’s ,loud normally quiet voice and just as I turn around Ernie Shoves Bo Kong the producer of the tournament in the chest and all “Heck” breaks loose!
After hollering and words were exchanged ,
The four of us were being escorted out the front by the sheriff and it look like “Big trouble in little Korea”, half way out I was screaming “I want my check ! , he owes me a check for third place!, I want my check!!!
I talked the officer into walking back into the gym and asked kindly for my $50 check that I had earned winning third place in Kata , they knew we came to fight our way of fighting ,however they had no ammunition for me for back then I did immaculate Japanese Kata.
.
You can not fake real Kata, Osu
Master Kong was very professional and wrote me a check for third place Kata that day ,
I walked back though the crowd and one of the judges stopped me and said ” I respect you for coming back in here ,”
I just wanted my money that I had earned !
The sheriff walked me to the car and I said “pitchers on me boys!,,
I miss Steve ,Cocky ,my Louisiana coon ass friends and I miss you Ernie Rest in Peace my old warrior friend and coach,
Osu
CHALLENGE of remembering and being respectful of the years.
I just received my nomination and induction into the All Pro Tae Kwon Do Hall of fame and I an really overwhelmed with this honor.
Please ,let me explain ,
Hawaii was Karate, all styles of Karate and when I left the Islands I was a traditional Japanese Black Belt and kenpo animal ,
Coming to the mainland was a adventure and one part of that adventure was meeting and working out with some of the finest Tae Kwon Do Karate practitioners in the world .
I learn how to keep my hands up for I could write a book on how many times I have been kicked in the head,
Tae Kwon Do did teach me that ,
Out of all my favorite Tae Kwon Do Masters who I had the pleasure of getting beat up by was Mr. George Anderson R.I.P.
It was all before his United Sates Karate Federation reign and becoming president and his incredible wisdom running one of the strongest Karate groups in America.
I was just a Black Belt looking for a place to hit somebody and one day in the early 70’s I stumbled into his studio in Akron ,Ohio on my way to Al Gene Caraulia Four Seasons Karate Tournament in Cleveland.
To make a long story short, he kicked my butt ,hard!, bought me dinner and sent me on my way ,with a Black eye and hurt ribs ,many ,many years later I was competing in the Nationals in Dallas ,Texas , I lost in Kata ,got blown away ,however I had a great seed and I wanted that Weapons title !
There were (62) competitors in the Weapons division and I had a third round seed ,
2 and 1/2 hours ,this division ran ,,, Mikami Sensei was the center.
I won the Gold and afterwards a brown belt came up to me and said “Mr.Anderson would like to talk with you ”
I had not seen him since the 70’s and the time he beat me up !
He said ” Are you the Hawaiian Kid that came to my Dojang in the 70’s?
Hmmmmmmm , you look awful familiar!
This is just one of my memories of Tae Kwon Do Masters that have been part of my journey and I thank you Master Andrew Fanelli for bringing back my Tae Kwon Do memories by presenting this very important moment in my journey .
i have come a long way from a tiny hut in Hawaii and Tae Kwon Do ,Karate and all martial arts are the vehicle that takes to our next journey ,Osu
I will keep working hard and moving forward, hitch hiking days are over though,lol
SPORT KARATE INVENTORY LIST UPDATED June 16th , 2015
There is a legend of ancient Greek history that is told of a huge hall the size of three football fields with knowledge of some of the greatest minds to ever walk the earth. Through the years it was destroyed by time, earth and disrespect . It had recorded the progress of these great minds and now it is almost completely gone!
The History Sport Karate has not been recorded yet!!
We are just now catching up to what was past tense to them. How much farther could we be ahead if we take care of it now?
A few years back we asked Grand Master Keith D. Yates to designed a vision of a building that would simplify the essence of a Sport karate Museum , We opened at a Ceremony where Mr.Mike Stone came in from the Philippines to cut the ribbon,
We outgrew the location in Pasadena, Texas and moved to closer near the coast ,we felt for more exposure and still needed more space and now we had to deal with the floods ,every thing is secure .
We have the force and momentum to build this part of this long journey.
We have the History Generals, we have the artifacts and priceless items of sport karate history and we have you support though the roller coaster ride.
Every one was important ,never was about one individual or even group but 60 years of American Sport Karate.
Protecting the history ,One Warrior at a Time
INVENTORY LIST UPDATED June 16th , 2015
A Project for the Sport Karate Museum Archives !
One Item at a time.
No beginning ,No end ,the journey goes on ,,Osu
From Grand Master Jhoon Rhee to Grand Master Allen Steen to World Champion Mike Stone to Grand Master J.Pat Burleson to Grand Master Jim Harrison, Grand Master Harrison has donated this Black Belt.
The heart of the Sport Karate Museum.
Welcome to the Official Site of The Sport Karate Museum ™
The History of Traditional Karate Pioneers, Legends and Champions in the 20th Century.™
Inventory of American Sport Karate Memories** 2015.
Danny Lane signed uniform and autograph pictures of him and Mr. Norris..
Signed Chuck Norris Black Belt donated by Don Rodriques.
Mike Stone signed blue uniform top
Signed Picture of Dan “The Beast ” Severn.
Signed Picture of World Champion Troy Dorsey.
Over 80 HOURS of FILM from the 60’s and 70’s donated by Ernie Lieb, Ken Knudson and Scott Knudson.
Jim Harrison’s original 16 mm film, signed,, of his $1.00 Challenge fight ,won by Joe Lewis.
Bill “Superfoot” Wallace Signed pictures.
Indian Custom made Cane donated by Dave”Hud”Hudspeth.
Signed Cane from the Cane master Mark Shuey.
1997 Texas Golden Greek Award.
Brotherhood Coin from the Fort Worth Police Department donated by David Collins.
Victor Cheng Signed tournament Award.
Jimmy “Gato’ Tabares signed picture.
Duke Tirschel Top twenty Favorite pictures of American martial art history.
Signed DVD of Sci Fighter from “The Dragon” Don Wilson.
Don Willis donated the original PKC and PKA rule books.
Charlotte Hoffman-Emerson price old Texas sport karate pictures.
Original Enter the Dragon Movie Patch signed by Bob Wall.
Star Bash signed Poster from Las Vegas.
Jeff W. Smith Stars and Stripe Uniform Top.
Steve Gibson ‘donated Joe Lewis original patch and very old Japanese swords
Mikie Rowe Moore Pictures and articles.
Soke Gary Dill personal JKD (Bruce Lee collection).
Original Six Flag “Astroworld ” Texas Karate All-Star Shows from 1982-1997.
1993 NBL World Championship Breaking Plaque and Ring.
James Toney Signed Uniform.
Bob Wall Signed Pictures.
Daryl K. Stewart signed Uniform.
Signed Gene Lebell Pink Judo Gi.
Hale Hilsabeck signed gear and Gi Top.
Original signed book by Nick Cerio and Nancy Cerio.
Karen Schlachter black gi top and hall of fame award.
Rocky DiRico personal package.
Christine Bannon-Rodrigues uniform top.
Rondy McKee Korean Tiger Jacket.
Signed Allen Steen Family Tree.
Ed Parker R.I.P Family Tree.
Joshua St.Ives signed formal karate uniform.
James Cook Signed Gi Top.
Linda Pugliese signed Gi Top.
Duane Ethington Collection of Black Belt ,Official Karate and Karate Illustrated Magazines from the 60’s and 70’s.
Mike McNamara Signed pictures and Hoodies.
Roy D. Kurban Signed Pictures , Uniform Top , Patch and poster.
Steve Fisher signed picture Karate Illustrated Magazine.
The Bullet used by Chuck Norris to shoot J.Pat Burleson on Walker Texas Ranger.
Signed Poster by the first National Karate Champion J.Pat Burleson.
Signed Top Ten Groin cup by Raymond McCallum.
Ed Daniel Signed document.
Signed Blood and Guts DVD by Jim Harrison.
Linda Denley Top Ten Award given to Gary Lee from Mike Anderson..
John Natividad letter and signed shirt
Eric Lee Signed Pictures, poster and Chinese Sword.
Joe Lewis Signed T-Shirt.
Jerry Fisher Signed Book.
Peter Urban signed book”The Dojo”
James Lew autograph picture.
USKA Patch from the 70’s.
Signed Gi Top of Orphans donated by Jamie Cashion lll.
Movie posters and Side Kicks Movie Script and Force movie Script donated by Jamie Cashion lll.
Keith Vitali Letter to the museum and special letter to Raymond McCallum.
World Champion Ray Mccallum Top Ten groin cup ,signed.
Robert Hartfield Kung Fu top.
Signed book “The Dojo by Peter Urban.
Roger Greene famous checkered Tracy’s Gi Top.
Original “Prototype” safety gear from 1972
Chris Pfannenstiel Minshews National Black Belt League World .Championship Jacket and 1997 Championship Gold Ring.
Matsabushi Ward Signed Picture.
World Champion John Morris Gold Medals.
Keiko Fukada R.I.P ,red belt , 10th Dan diploma ,scroll.
Sensei Obata R.I.P Okinawan scrolls.
Karl Geis R.I.P portrait.
Lu Dwyer Angel cast statue.
Tom Shakey Levak signed pictures.
Texas Martial Arts Hall of Fame Plaque .
Michael Goldman Black Belt and signed uniform.
Kantana,Wakisashi and Tanto Sword Set donated by Larry Caster.
Kim Kahana Sr. stunt school material and tribute to his son.
Dwayne ‘Rooster’ Machen signed uniform and safety gea.
Jennifer Branch signed uniform top and pictures
Kenn Firestone “Bloody” Kubuki Challenge Towel.
USAF Gold Medal in Weapons 1992.
Signed picture and letter from Grand Master Pat Johnson ,
Choreographer of the Karate Kid Movie.
Hanshi Jerry Piddington Signed Uniform and Black Belt
Samurai Head , custom made Tanto by Bill Fuller, signed, Bruce Lee Crystal, Sam Lonewolf Master Red Belt ,
Gold Rose ,signed Ken Knudson, Tattered old Black Belt from Kensi Nakumura, Japanese Warrior,
Grand Champion Award Sword Set ,U S Nationals, United States Hall of Fame Founders Award,
Signed Official Karate Magazine by Andrew Linick
NBL, National Championship certificate, Pro-Am Award,
Troy Dorsey signed picture,
Tony Lopez signed picture,
Bob Wall signed pictures,
A very young George Minshew, Ishmael Robles and Al Garza,
Sid Campbell signed picture,
Motal Kombat signed picture of Scorpion played by Chris Casamassa former Super Karate Star ,
Joe Lewis, Mr. Norris, Paul Durso, Mike Stone rare picture, early sixties.
Samurai old woodblock print, rare, Living Legends signature document ,over two -hundred sport karate stars signatures -one card.
Black Belt Magazine signature Poster,
Enter The Dragon Poster, Living Legends poster.
Sam Chapman and Gary Lee,
Kumite Hall of Fame,
Signed Surf Ninja’s Movie poster by Ernie Reyes Senior and Ernie Reyes Jr.,
Garett Lee’s 1st Degree Black Belt certificate with over 30 Living Legends signatures,
Signed picture of Sid Campbell and Dan Tosh.
Black Samurai picture signed by Mako.
Tiger photograph by Paul Masarati, Hall of Fame Award, Jim Harrison Cocktail picture, Kill Bill Hatori Anzo Sword, NBL Baseball Cards,
Gosen Yamaguchi underneath the waterfall display, Top Texas Ten.
Eric Lee and Mark Gerry picture,
Okinawan old man ,
NBL 1st place Belt 1993, Tim Kirby’s World Championship Gloves and signed picture.
Ken Knudson’s 10th Degree Black Belt Certificate and Belt.
Joe Lewis Black Belt TV Image Award..
Gary Henry Amen 10th Black Belt Belt,
Black Belt Year Book 1969 Yearbook signed by Bill “Superfoot” Wallace,
Hand made Tonfa signed by Philip Bradley and patches, belts and documents..
Bruce Brutschy signed Black Belt.
Al Garza signed Black Belt.
Richard W. Jenkins signed gi and Black Belt.
Goldie Mack signed uniform and Black Belt.
Albert Hippert 1963 signed Black Belt
Guy James TNT Championship Black Belt
Golden Greek Blue -white red polyester competition uniform and separate pants donated by Cocky Fotenote,
Signed picture of Jimmie Jones,
Broken slugger ville wooden bats donated by Creed M.Potter ,
Gold Medal Police Games won by Officer Mike McNamara
Weapons of war donated by Toshiro
World Union Karate Hand Book and AAU rules 1982 donated by Albert Hippert
Signed Shuriken to me personally from Ashida Kim, his personal Black Belt Magazine Collection ,autograph picture, signed Hat and picture from Frank Dux,
Gary Lee’s 9th Dan from the Black Dragon Fighting Society ,
Dr. Day’s 10th Dan Certificate, signed, letters and documents securing the Black Dragon Fighting Society History from the John Keenan archives , Victor Moore’s tournament pictures,
Dr. Donald Miskel’s 10th Dan Black Belt Certificate,
Harrison’s Black Dragon Fighting Society 9th Dan , Master and founder of the Black Dragon Fighting Society John Keehan’s Headstone ,donated by Dr. Donald Miskal.
Sam Chapman signed Gi and Plague and there is more being unpacked everyday ,,,osu
In closing ,there are many reasons why this is important to all of us in martial arts and the brotherhood, ,,,without explaining,,ous
Professor Gary Lee
Sport Karate Museum Archives
We just got a great phone call and e-mail today from my dear friend and child hood buddy Sensei Alfred Urquidez and he asked we endorsed his new book ,just for the record this is probably the few reasons and there is more he asked me to give him a thumbs up!
Early seventies and I am in California , hitchhiking everywhere.
I wanted to meet Frank Smith , the only American to be thrown out of the JKA for beating up Japanese fighters and he was just a bad ass and he was on my list to meet , he worked out sometimes at Tak Kubuto’s Dojo I had heard ,so I got a map ,got directions and headed down the freeway to I think it was Galena ,Ca, don’t remember the city ,but I remember the family that became my family though Alfred.
The Urquidez family of fighters.
When I got to the Dojo , I walked inside and the lady said “Everybody is in back ”
I walked to the back and there was a brick room ,no windows , one ceiling fan that didn’t work and bloody towels ,wooden benches , one canvas torn ed heavy Bag with blood stains just the the stench of blood.
Sledge hammers and small hammers on the floor .
I wondered what those were for?
It was hot , I mean really hot ,no air , just stale smell of sweat, you know that animals were training here!
I was ready to walk out when he walked in Mr.Frank Smith, I melted and then came Arnold ,Rueban and the Urquidez family when other Black Belts .
They were warming up and master Kubuto walked in ,he was well known for inventing the Kubuton , any way that is how I knew of him ,he walked in ,everybody stood up and said “OSU!”
Then as if he was not there everything went back to warming up .My eyes could take them off Master Kubuto , he sat down ,yawn a little and started to beat his legs and shin ,arms and fist with the sledge hammers on the floor.
Then he got up and beat on everyone in the room except me I was to nervous to dress out and that is how I met the Urquidez family ,though the years, the only ones I have been very personal is Benny and Alfred ,we have been extremely dear friends though the years .
I had not seen Alfred in twenty years and I was asked to be part of the Masters Hall of Fame in 2008.
The early years of the Masters was really cool for it was like old home week .
I was excited to see everyone but my favorite memory was seeing my little Brah, Alfred , it was very special and he was like my Uki helping me ,sharing with me, loving me, just like old times.
Thought the years his family was my adopted family for any event ,any show ,any expo or tournament it was like a family reunion if we were at the same event , years later Alfred would call me and say Gary , I know you are a my friend ,however now you have been put into the Black Dragon Fighting Society with myself ,I put in a high recommendation for you , Family ,Osu
Now he has written a book of heart and appreciation ,not for money or fame ,however his love of the lord and his incredible family.
It will be the best 12.30 you have ever spent.
Dedicated to Family,
In memory Lilly and Rueben R.I.P
Go to Amazon .com and type in Alfred Urquidez. or just click belo
The Urquidez Legacy: Kenpo-Shotokan and Thoughts on Fighting, Family, and Faith
Alfred Urquidez is the youngest sibling of America’s first family of martial arts. A competitor, sensei, grandmaster and ambassador for the Masters Hall of Fame, Sensei Alfred is a dedicated martial artist. This book represents his thoughts on the Urquidez legacy, martial arts, and faith. Subject…
amazon.com
Alfred Urquidez,,,My big brother remember when I first met you when I was 14 years old, you didn’t know one in California, had no place, my Family took you in an became family to us, you were training with all your HEART as time went on you became one of the best of the best,
you always showed respect,
Never complained as you moved up in rank the more you became humbled you showed humility.
The knowledge you have I personally can testify to that.
You inspired me never to stop gaining knowledge. You have impacted my life in so many ways that you don’t know of. As I began to own Kenpo-Shotokan Old School Karate,
I remember you telling me “Alfred never forget your roots» that stuck to my HEART to this very day. I’m so touched that you have been selected to be inducted you more than deserve it.
All these years of sweat, blood an tears. It’s been over due. You’ve never asked to be honored. I can write a book about our lives an how Mom loved you as my brothers an myself.
The day when we saw each other in 2008 we both got tears in our eyes.
You are GM Gary Lee, my brother.
There should be no question on who an the knowledge you have in your HEART. Bowing Respect an integrity. You have all these qualities. Again congratulations. Well deserved. Oss my brother.
— with Alfred Urquidez and Mike Stone.
Gary Lee’s photo.
Pure Karate Animal ,,
Some one who lives, breathe and understands the concept of Sport karate and Traditional Karate Values together , survived though the years of learning to be a professional ,leader and master Instructor, a superb and natural coach to find the student and students that want to push the envelope and make that student ten times better he thought he could ever be, a Mentor, a real friend.
History General for the Sport Karate Museum Archives
A Champion of Life .
Bob Leiker
Protecting the History ,One Warrior at Time.
http://www.sportkaratemuseum.org
Yesterday, the power of Social media brought together two friends over forty year span ,WOW!!, so cool the nick names , the stories , the cleaning of the toilets,a ritual at Sensei Ray’s Studio,
It twas the first time I had cross trained in another style Shotokan and I remember Sensi Ray asked me not to wear my Black Belt for I was not a Black Belt In Shotokan, so he gave me a Brown belt which I wore proudly.
It was learning years, it was paying your dues years ,it was fun years!
Rodney Kauffman wrote,
Gary well here it is!
I will start all over again, Yesterday I had the pleasure to talk to a old martial artists that I worked out with in the 70s in Canton, Ohio, But there is a story behind this, so here it is!
Me and a very good friend and Martial Artist Sigung Frank Morris Jr, we’re at lunch and talking about some of our friends and Martial artists we use to work out with, I had mentioned all the amazing and awesome Instructors from the days at the YMCAS Mr Ray Skilleran school,
GM Andy Tamper, Charles Eddie, Charles Goins, and so many more even my friends Greg Boudreaux , Gary Toles and on and on,
I ask Sigung about another martial artists that worked out with us and taught his name was Gunner Cross,
Frank looked at me, and said do you know who Gary Lee is don’t you,
I replied of course I do, he said that is Gary Lee,
Gunner Cross was his nickname,
I wish I could have seen the expiration on my face I am sure it was priceless, so we talked about the good old days, as I left the restaurant,
I thought I have to call GM Gary Lee, so I text him first gave him some info and he responded and he gave me his phone number and said call him, so I did when he answered the phone I said good afternoon GM Lee his reply was I am not a Grand Master this is Gary Lee who is this?
Ha,ha,ha my first thought was hang up lol,
Second thought was dam strike two after forty plus years knowing him as Gunner Cross, and not even addressing him by his real name wasn’t to sure if I even wanted to continue this call, but I was not going to let all these years go by and not share any of my awesome memories with a old friend go by one day longer!
We talked about some great memories old time training the ass kicking we took and gave the tournaments we went to the demonstrations the different styles we had learned, and the thought of not knowing my long lost friend given name a slowly passed I am sure that Gary doesn’t hold any ill will towards me for this lol,
What a awesome and amazing friend I have in my life,
I would like to thank you for all your hard work and dedication to protect the History of Sport Karate and the Martial Arts,
You my brother are a icon as well as all the Great Martial Artist and all The great Warriors that you and The History of Karate Sport Museum stand for!
Thank you for the walk down memory and history lane!
Look forward to many many years of knowledge, history, love ,respect and most of all honor!
With the utmost respect Sir have a blessed day and God Bless!
CHALLENGE of not believing in someone’s ability and skill set.
Karate and Golf , the same
*Kime – Focus
*Kata- Practice routines and learn angles and control of your technique *Bunkai – Application of technique
*Kumite – Execution of technique with extreme prejudice.
You should have not done what your ego told you to do and you would have a hundred dollars extra in your pocket instead you are a hundred dollars poorer , however the lesson you learned is priceless!
Playing Chip and Putt has been a mainstay in my journey , it relaxes me and I get to hang out with friends and family ,having fun and making a little bet or two for a Pepsi or lunch , you get the idea.
Years ago, I am sitting in the lounge and theses hard core Chip and Putters are talking about this “Kid” that could do amazing things with a golf ball , he could slice, bounce the ball off things and make holes in one on this course ,as I was listening I remember seeing years ago a guy slicing three times in a row and hitting his sweet spot bet against his friends
It was a the darn-est thing I ever saw on a Chip and Putt .
Golf is a very skilled game and my ignorance and ego cost me a hundred dollars.
I go outside and I see this “Kid” on the driving range hitting balls .
My friends and I sit have a beer and talk of what ever friends talk about for almost a hour .
I noticed now the “Kid” was still hitting balls ,all this time ,tenacity I thought, so now it is our time to have the course and those guys that were inside are collecting challenges from each other about this “Kid”.
The Challenge was the “Kid” could hit the fourth hole which was about seventy five yards , which was cool ,however the Challenge was when the golf ball hits the ground it must go backwards toward the hole like back English and the Challenge was made ,
He would have two attempts.
I wanted in on that, so I said “here is a “Bill” $100 ,
I know that shot would be hard and I thought honestly he couldn’t be that good !
The “Kid” asked if he could have a couple of practice swings and we being the nice guys we are said “sure ,,,,mistake made !!!!!
His first chip hit the green rolled backwards and came within about five inches from the hole , the second practice Chip ,he missed the green but when it hit ,it look like a golf ball on rocket fuel ,spun backwards and went about three feet !
I knew I was in trouble,but then I thought he missed twice , I’m good , no way, my odds, he just can not be that good! !
I will never forget , he stepped up ,winked and dropped the ball , one practice swing , second practice swing and Bam!!,,,this Chip was higher than the others , I thought that was good cause it was windy , but again I am ignorant ,the “KId” used the wind to his advantage !
The golf ball hit the ground on the green about two feet from the hole , rolled backwards into the hole !
Hey it was worth the $100 to see this amazing “Kid”
I wonder what ever happen to him , he was something special!
Out in the middle of Texas near the gators and the the good country folk. Still entertaining ,still breaking Toilet Paper, still biting bananas, still making kids laugh, still have the edge Oss
Like a Rock!
I love Texas!
http://www.texasgatorfest.com/video1/garylee.mp4
Greg Suther
This is not a John Corcoran post, nor a Gary Lee post, but it’s history all the same.
On 26 July, 1977, I walked into Sam Chapman’s American Karate for my first introductory class. My girlfriend at the time bought the 3-lesson intro as a birthday gift.
Gary Lee was there, but he was teaching the regular class while another instructor was teaching the intros.
A week later, I had completed the intro sessions, and was in my first regular class. It’s been a long hard road that is valuable beyond any price.
I am very fortunate to have been a student of such good martial artists as Sam Chapman and Bobby Tucker. Along the way, I’ve also learned from guys like Jay T Will, Joe Lewis, Bill Wallace, and Joe Corley.
I’d like to share my appreciation for all of my instructors, my classmates, my opponents, and my students. You are all important to this path I follow. Thank you all!
To my brah, Greg Suther,
Osu,
Very kind words and I remember ,,,,,,,,
Sam was and is a amazing man and instructor who paved the path for a lot of us, names that should never be forgotten and be remembered for their part of the journey in sport Karate
Sam was instrumental in having to have be part of the pioneers who not only was a great competitor himself that dominated the middle weight division in a time when sport karate was very special going though the transformation to be where it is today ,but to have trained and produced incredible animals of the sport made
Sam a very special person in the sport karate history archives, starting with his pure protege Bobby Tucker.
Bobby was the fastest man on the planet ,magazines Producers ,fellow competitors and critics agreed., his right leg round kick “pop” many a competitor.
Mike Anderson once told me that he saw Bobby walk though a division as if he was a lawnmower that was loaded with rocket fuel, 3-0,3-0,3-0,,it was pretty incredible.
Keith Vitali, his best friend from the beginning of it all and himself earning three national championships and was the number one rated fighter many,many times fought him twenty times ,winning ten ,losing ten!
Bobby was so cool ,once he told Keith how to beat him at a tournament! Bobby earned the PKA Joe Lewis Warrior Cup .
I believe Bobby did it for fun, heck he just wanted to hunt and fish and build “A” frame houses ,which he did and he did it for the camaraderie and he did it for Sam,,,
Sam was the heart of all of us, he was a father figure and great instructor!
Then there was the students that Sam influence Jerry Rhome,Sherman Harrison, Gary Landreth, Hawaiian Flash,Will Wright R.I.P, Ray Thompson, Greg Cromer,, Blane Silver, Greg Suther, Larry Black and so many, many more ,
Thank you for letting me go down memory lane and remember a great man Mr.Sam Chapman ,American pioneer and Legend and History General of the Sport Karate Museum.
Here is my inventory, Mr. Stone so far still have one more shed to go though , much love , Gary
slow, accurate and memorable!
No beginning ,No end ,the journey goes on ,,Osu
From Grand Master Jhoon Rhee to Grand Master Allen Steen to World Champion Mike Stone to Grand Master J.Pat Burleson to Grand Master Jim Harrison, Grand Master Harrison has donated this Black Belt.
The heart of the Sport Karate Museum.
Welcome to the Official Site of The Sport Karate Museum ™
The History of Traditional Karate Pioneers, Legends and Champions in the 20th Century.™
Inventory of American Sport Karate Memories** 2015.
Danny Lane signed uniform and autograph pictures of him and Mr. Norris..
Signed Chuck Norris Black Belt donated by Don Rodriques.
Mike Stone signed blue uniform top
Signed Picture of Dan “The Beast ” Severn.
Signed Picture of World Champion Troy Dorsey.
Over 80 HOURS of FILM from the 60’s and 70’s donated by Ernie Lieb, Ken Knudson and Scott Knudson.
Jim Harrison’s original 16 mm film, signed,, of his $1.00 Challenge fight ,won by Joe Lewis.
Bill “Superfoot” Wallace Signed pictures.
Indian Custom made Cane donated by Dave”Hud”Hudspeth.
Signed Cane from the Cane master Mark Shuey.
1997 Texas Golden Greek Award.
Personal signed written poems ,signed posters by Mike Stone.
Personal signed pictures and book by Benny Urquidez.
Brotherhood Coin from the Fort Worth Police Department donated by David M. Collins.
Victor Cheng Signed tournament Award.
Jimmy “Gato’ Tabares signed picture.
Duke Tirschel Top twenty Favorite pictures of American martial art history.
Signed DVD of Sci Fighter from “The Dragon” Don Wilson.
Don Willis donated the original PKC and PKA rule books.
Charlotte Hoffman-Emerson price old Texas sport karate pictures.
Original Enter the Dragon Movie Patch signed by Bob Wall.
Star Bash signed Poster from Las Vegas.
Jeff W. Smith Stars and Stripe Uniform Top.
Steve Gibson ‘donated Joe Lewis original patch and very old Japanese swords
Mikie Rowe Moore Pictures and articles.
Soke Gary Dill personal JKD (Bruce Lee collection).
Phillip Bradley Uniform
Rick Lenchus signed books
Original Six Flag “Astroworld ” Texas Karate All-Star Shows from 1982-1997.
1993 NBL World Championship Breaking Plaque and Ring.
James Toney Signed Uniform.
Bob Wall Signed Pictures.
Daryl K. Stewart signed Uniform.
Signed Gene Lebell Pink Judo Gi.
Hale Hilsabeck signed gear and Gi Top.
Billy Smith Signed Picture
Kathleen Gapusan Makiwara Board , Signed
Original signed book by Nick Cerio and Nancy Cerio.
Karen Schlachter black gi top and hall of fame award.
Rocky DiRico personal package.
Christine Bannon-Rodrigues uniform top.
Rondy McKee Korean Tiger Jacket.
Signed Allen Steen Family Tree.
Ed Parker R.I.P Family Tree.
Joshua St.Ives signed formal karate uniform.
James Cook Signed Gi Top.
Linda Pugliese signed Gi Top.
Duane Ethington Collection of Black Belt ,Official Karate and Karate Illustrated Magazines from the 60’s and 70’s.
Mike McNamara Signed pictures and Hoodies.
Roy D. Kurban Signed Pictures , Uniform Top , Patch and poster.
Steve Fisher signed picture Karate Illustrated Magazine.
The Bullet used by Chuck Norris to shoot J.Pat Burleson on Walker Texas Ranger.
Signed Poster by the first National Karate Champion J.Pat Burleson.
Signed Top Ten Groin cup by Raymond McCallum.
Ed Daniel Signed document.
Signed Blood and Guts DVD by Jim Harrison.
Linda Denley Top Ten Award given to Gary Lee from Mike Anderson..
John Natividad letter and signed shirt
Eric Lee Signed Pictures, poster and Chinese Sword.
Joe Lewis Signed T-Shirt.
Jerry Fisher Signed Book.
Peter Urban signed book”The Dojo”
James Lew autograph picture.
USKA Patch from the 70’s.
Signed Gi Top of Orphans donated by Jamie Cashion lll.
Movie posters and Side Kicks Movie Script and Force movie Script donated by Jamie Cashion lll.
Keith Vitali Letter to the museum and special letter to Raymond McCallum.
World Champion Ray Mccallum Top Ten groin cup ,signed.
Robert Hartfield Kung Fu top.
Signed book “The Dojo by Peter Urban.
Roger Greene famous checkered Tracy’s Gi Top.
Original “Prototype” safety gear from 1972
Chris Chris Pfannenstiel Minshews National Black Belt League World .Championship Jacket and 1997 Championship Gold Ring.
Matsabushi Ward Signed Picture.
World Champion John Morris Gold Medals.
Keiko Fukada R.I.P ,red belt , 10th Dan diploma ,scroll.
Sensei Obata R.I.P Okinawan scrolls.
Karl Geis R.I.P portrait.
Lu Dwyer Angel cast statue.
Tom Shakey Levak signed pictures.
Texas Martial Arts Hall of Fame Plaque .
Michael Goldman Black Belt and signed uniform.
Kantana,Wakisashi and Tanto Sword Set donated by Larry Caster.
Kim Kahana Sr. stunt school material and tribute to his son.
Kenn Firestone “Bloody” Kubuki Challenge Towel.
USAF Gold Medal in Weapons 1992.
Signed picture and letter from Grand Master Pat Johnson ,
Choreographer of the Karate Kid Movie.
Hanshi Jerry Piddington Signed Uniform and Black Belt
Steve Parks Signed Picture and Red Carpet Banner
Samurai Head , custom made Tanto by Bill Fuller, signed, Bruce Lee Crystal, Sam Lonewolf Master Red Belt ,
Gold Rose ,signed Ken Knudson, Tattered old Black Belt from Kensi Nakumura, Japanese Warrior,
Grand Champion Award Sword Set ,U S Nationals, United States Hall of Fame Founders Award,
Signed Official Karate Magazine by Andrew Linick
NBL, National Championship certificate, Pro-Am Award,
Troy Dorsey signed picture,
Tony Lopez signed picture,
Bob Wall signed pictures,
A very young George Minshew, Ishmael Robles and Al Garza,
Sid Campbell signed picture,
Motal Kombat signed picture of Scorpion played by Chris Casamassa former Super Karate Star ,
Joe Lewis, Mr. Norris, Paul Durso, Mike Stone rare picture, early sixties.
Samurai old woodblock print, rare, Living Legends signature document ,over two -hundred sport karate stars signatures -one card.
Black Belt Magazine signature Poster,
Enter The Dragon Poster, Living Legends poster.
Sam Chapman and Gary Lee,
Kumite Hall of Fame,
Signed Surf Ninja’s Movie poster by Ernie Reyes Senior and Ernie Reyes Jr., Garett Lee’s 1st Degree Black Belt certificate with over 30 Living Legends signatures,
Signed picture of Sid Campbell and Dan Tosh.
Black Samurai picture signed by Mako.
Tiger photograph by Paul Masarati, Hall of Fame Award, Jim Harrison Cocktail picture, Kill Bill Hatori Anzo Sword, NBL Baseball Cards,
Gosen Yamaguchi underneath the waterfall display, Top Texas Ten.
Eric Lee and Mark Gerry picture,
Okinawan old man ,
NBL 1st place Belt 1993, Tim Kirby’s World Championship Gloves and signed picture.
Ken Knudson’s 10th Degree Black Belt Certificate and Belt.
Joe Lewis Black Belt TV Image Award..
Gary Henry Amen 10th Black Belt Belt, 1969 Black Belt Year Book yearbook signed by Bill “Superfoot” Wallace,
Hand made Tonfa signed by Philip Bradley and patches, belts and documents..
Bruce Brutschy signed Black Belt.
Al Garza signed Black Belt.
Richard W. Jenkins signed gi and Black Belt.
Goldie Mack signed uniform and Black Belt.
Albert Hippert 1963 signed Black Belt
Guy James TNT Championship Black Belt
Golden Greek Blue -white red polyester competition uniform and separate pants donated by Cocky Fotenote,
signed picture of Jimmie Jones,
Broken sluggerville wooden bats donated by Creed M.Potter ,
Gold Medal Police Games won by Officer Mike McNamara
Weapons of war donated by Toshiro
Sam Chapman signed Gi and Plague and there is more being unpacked everyday ,,,osu
*************
I get so excited about Sport Karate History and it’s hero’s ,these gentleman were the hero’s of thousands and they came together to honor the greatest representation of American martial arts fighting legend Grand Master Joe Lewis as being a sparring partner ,best friend or opponent in the ring of war of sport karate ,,
Take a moment and look at these warriors and remember the moments of excitement they gave us!, remember Jeff’s Ridge hand and bouncing off the ropes with it,
Jim’s tenacity and all the stitches he got and he gave,.J.Pat’s Shuto Chop and Texas attitude,Jim’s incredible ability never to quit, what does not destroy you will make you stronger!,
Raymond’s greatness to adapt to anything ,Texas Attitude and heart of a lion ,
John’s Hawaiian aloha attitude and love of the game of point fighting,Jerry’s karate spirit,desire to teach and learn at the same time ,trained with everyone and Art, Southern Gentleman but secretly a Texas Born fighter under Karate legend Grand Master Allen Steen ,Art a kind gentleman but a vicious point fighter adopted by the southern animals in the 70’s, this picture is really cool!!,,,
One thing is common and memorable they all got in the ring with the greatest!,,, R.I.P Grand Master Lewis ,,Sport Karate will never forget!,,osu
The Black Dragon Fighting Society
Dr.Day, Dr. Donald Miskel, Master Victor Moore, Hanshi Frank W. Dux
Ashida Kim, Master Ron Pierce, Gm Irving Soto, Sky Benson, the love and admiration I have for you bruddahs I really can not put into words, here are a few items that are on the wall,,,,
Signed Shuriken to me personally from Ashida Kim, his personal Black Belt Magazine Collection ,autograph picture, signed Hat and picture from Frank Dux,
Gary Lee’s 9th Dan from the Black Dragon Fighting Society ,
Dr. Day’s 10th Dan Certificate, signed, letters and documents securing the Black Dragon Fighting Society History from the John Keenan archives , Victor Moore’s tournament pictures,
Dr. Donald Miskel’s 10th Dan Black Belt Certificate,
Harrison’s Black Dragon Fighting Society 9th Dan , Master and founder of the Black Dragon Fighting Society John Keehan’s Headstone ,donated by Dr. Donald Miskal.
In closing ,there are many reasons why this wall is important to all of us in martial arts and the brotherhood, ,,,without explaining,,ous
Professor Gary Lee
Sport Karate Museum Archives
It is very embarrassing trying to explain why the martial arts have so many Black Belt Hall of Fame’s in America ,let alone the world and to the civilians who are not martial art oriented.
This morning I had a meeting with one of my long time base sponsors getting ready for my 22 nd Annual Living Legends Roast and at the board meeting this subject was brought up and eyes and ears were very keen on what the marketing director was saying.
First ,I explained the Museum is not a Black Belt Hall of Fame ,nor is the Living Legends Roast ,it is a celebration and tribute to American Pioneers and Legends in Sport Karate and we have built a Museum around that ,that’s all .
Then the marketing director of my sponsor for ten years stood up and said” here is my results from the survey you asked me to do , sir”
As of right now ,there are over 500 Martial Art Hall of Fame’s in America and the world and they were more but we stop researching at 500, we also found out any Tom ,Dick or Harry can start one , no criteria, no formality ,no rules , just set up a dinner ,collect money and give out a Hall of Fame Award to anyone that pays , it has turned out to be a collection sort of ,how many can I buy before I die syndrome .
The National Basketball , National Baseball ,National Football leagues even Ping Pong leagues have only one Hall of Fame and the criteria and protocol takes years.
Why do Martial Arts have so many?
The first Black Belt Hall of Fame was started by Black Belt Magazine and they have a trademark on that phrase so that is why most say “Martial Arts Hall of Fame”.
There is still only one that does not charge you and it is done by votes of it’s past inductee’s only , some Hall of Fame’s do that ,however you still have to pay for expenses ,airfare hotel , dinner and etc.
We feel for us to support a so called Black Belt Hall of Fame is fruitless for anybody can pay for fame in the martial arts.
No back ground check , No criminal background check , nothing
So with that said Mr. Lee ,How do you explain why should we keep supporting this ego driven base gathering ,after all ,how many hall of fame’s does one have to belong to be respected in the martial arts community?
Again I said to the room full of suits that we are not a Hall of Fame and I do not mind being confronted with this subject.
I politely excused my self and said I need to use the restroom ,went to my car ,open the trunk ,got my uniform and BLACK BELT , changed and walked back into the Board meeting.
Everyone was stunned for I had changed into the BLACK BELT they have known for ten years and to make things more interesting, I walked to the middle of the room and went into Kata mode and performed Sepai Kata , not one word was spoken or was I stopped.
Man , Did I scream !
When I was done I sat down ,drank a glass of water and said” What you just saw was what your sponsorship is about , not supporting a Hall of Fame but supporting the men and women who brought this magnificent art to America though this exercise called Kata and sparring competitions.
I know this was extreme to do this maneuver in front of all of you ,however the National Sport Karate Museum is worth it ,to support it ,to nourish it and make sure we are secure in our History ,for when we lose this generation of teachers and martial artist from the 40’s and 50’s and that is happening now !
There was a moment of silence and then I was asked to leave the room, about fifteen minutes later I was called in and they decided to extend my sponsorship for five more years , Osu
Kata saved me again !
Protecting the History , One Warrior at a Time .
http://www.sportkaratemuseum.org
Gary Lee’s photo.
And now that you’ve seen Elephants surf… you still believe the crap the Social Karate media presents you?
PLEASE ,
Only believe half what you hear ,half of what some one tells you and most of all believe half what you see , the other half is common sense,,, ,
10th degree Grand Master and 11th Degree Ninjas and founders of their own style ,deadly to all ,,,,and charging you 1.99 ,sorry I mean 199.00 per month .
Years ago ,in the mainland cities you could learn real karate in the parks and the back ally’s for no cost.
From some one that was real ,no documents on the wall, no world championships, no arrogance .
I miss those days , Oss
Practice Martial Arts for the Love, art and culture , rank is not important ,only Mushin,, Kime and lots of Kihon and multitudes of Kata , balance it out with Bunkai and if you are one of the lucky ones you will experience Kumite,,,Oss
https://www.facebook.com/Beat102103/videos/1010181442360332/?fref=nf
I just finish my Bokken Black Belt Class and while I was cleaning my personal Bokken , a student came up to me and asked me a question that I have never been asked before.
Sensei when it really came down to combat with the Bokken , wouldn’t you really want a real sword instead of a piece of wood?
I shared with him the Story of the “Old Fisherman “Toshirio” from Hawaii and then I gave him my personal Bokken,
Passing down the knowledge.
Oss
THE OLD JAPANESE FISHERMAN
By Professor Gary Lee with Dana L. Stamos
I have many fond memories of martial arts events from my childhood in Hawaii. There are things I will never forget, like watching the Kyokushin-Kai Karate class training in the ocean under the moonlight, practicing Kata and Seichan breathing while the waves crash against their bodies. There were easily over fifty Black Belts who practiced with their hard animal attitudes.
I remember secretly following the drawers and cutters of our dojo out in the deep woods and watching as they would draw and cut live pigs for the Lua’s and feast of the islands. These men were truly dangerous men, but they were so kind and gentle in their personal ways. Their karate was very strong, and when they put on their Hakama I could see and feel a change.
Twice a week I would make a excuse to Sensei and sneak through my path in the woods to follow these very different kind of warriors. Sensei did not draw, but he allowed this small group of men to work out at the dojo and they had swords!
At first I simply wondered why their trips into the woods left them covered in blood as I watched them washing off down in the ocean. I was caught the very first time I followed them and, of course, I suffered the consequences of a “never do that again” lecture. I didn’t listen because the draw was just to compelling. I simply found a better way to follow them.
Do not put your hands in the cookie jar or else!!!
I was a eleven year old kid with adventure as my middle name and my adventures led me to Toshirio. He was a fisherman who made his living throwing nets early in the morning and again in the early evening when the fish came to life again after the heat of the day.
He was very precise with his fishing nets, working the fine loose nylon threads, swaying back and forth, getting the net exactly where he wanted it. Watching him was mesmerizing, but his talents were not limited to fishing. When he was though with his morning fishing routine, and before he was drawn back to his evenings work at the ocean’s edge, he would hand make Bokkens.
At first when I watched him I thought he was just twiddling a big stick, but he was actually carving the piece of wood. As I continued to watch I discovered that he was an artist and I wanted to hang out with him when ever I could, even into my ladder years on the Island. I talked with the students that purchased his gifts and little by little I became a friend of the Bokken Master, the name the islanders gave him. I simply called him Toshiro.
The first time Toshiro invited me to his house, I saw so many sticks in his yard. I wondered why? , soon I learned! He would work on white pine or red oak or driftwood from the sea, ahh, but before he would do the first knife cut on any piece of wood, he would place it in his yard and watch it for a week. He believed he could feel the spirit of each piece of wood he worked on.
I shared about my new friend with Sensei Kishi and he thought the relationship would be a good experience for me. I remembered he laugh when I told him how I had met him. Sensei said, “Normally he scares anyone to heck and back when they get caught watching him, lucky for you he liked you!”
In the summers of 1966, 67, 68 and 69 I learned his craft of making a Bokken.
A Bokken is the symbol of a live sword, but made of wood. It is extremely hard, depending on the wood chosen, and it must be hand sanded and carved into a weapon with skill and accurateness. The Handle had to be gripped tightly by the warrior and some even wrapped the handle. Toshiro never wrapped, and was against it. He felt it took away from the purity of the weapon. The goal was to form a blade of wood that was dangerous and practical for practice or a duel, and it must have a very practical point.
The night before my Black Belt test, Toshiro invited me over to his little hut and gave me my first Bokken. It was White Pine and battered from practicing against a live sword.
I could feel the battles this Bokken had experienced. Toshiro handed me a pineapple and said “Gary-san, hold it up here, pointing at my chest, and don’t breathe!” He then speared the pineapple though with a thrusting motion, smooth, accurate and deadly, stopping just at my skin! Without emotion, he pulled the wooden sword out of the pineapple, clean it and said “This piece of wood has saved my life more than once”. As he gave the Bokken back to me, he told me that the hard scale on the outside of the pineapple is important to pierce first, the meat of the pineapple symbolizes the bones and odd stuff inside the body, but the important part is to stop before you penetrate the holder, Oss!
I could not take my cherished Bokken on the plane with me to the Mainland, so I gave it to Sensei Kishi and he cherished it until his death, and yes, I put it in his coffin when I came back to the Islands to bury him. I looked for Toshiro when I was back, but rumors were he had returned to Japan, to his little fishing village, to retire near his family and friends. Whenever I see a Bokken in stores and all the dojo’s I have visited I think of Toshiro and his knife carving away.
Miamoto Musashi has been rumored to have over eighty recorded kills and many probably were never recorded because they were in the middle of a dark wooded area with no one around except the spirit of the Gods, and two men, two warriors, two Samurai that refused to bend. All one had to do was bow and let the other warrior pass by, but on this day that does not happen and there is another kill for Musashi with his Two Sword Technique or maybe, on this day, he has his Bokken.
Let it be,,,,,,,,, In the sixties martial art weapons had not been introduced into martial arts events around the country, in fact the half time shows were either weapons demonstrations or self defense techniques displayed because they were spectacular to watch. Sooner or later producers got smart. The legendary karate Master, Sid Campbell was one of the first to introduce weapons competition on the west coast and the great Master Aaron Banks introduce weapons on the east coast.
One of the Museum of Sport Karate’s™ all-time favorite martial arts weapons performers was Ted Tabura R.I.P .
Some of the super stars of weapons in the sixties and seventies were Eric Lee,Tadashi Yamashita, Andrew Linick Ph.D, Hidy Ohcai, Dale Kirby, Cindy Rothrock, , James Lew, Phillip Koppel, James Cook and many, many others.
In the early seventies weapons had a division of their own and anything was allowed, Kung Fu, Staffs, Sai, all the Kobudo weapons, farm tools and even spears. At the 1981 Fort Worth Pro-Am, in Fort Worth, Texas, a competitor pulled a 357 Magnum pistol fill with blanks and shot at the judges. It was very loud and frighting. He was arrested, but it shook up the crowd. I hit the floor and dove behind a chair. I took third place that day. It was the loudest third place I had ever won.
To me, the most tenacious of all martial art weapons is the sword and I have studied it with great reverence. I have seen it used both in the past and in the present by many who compete or perform. So often I see it used improperly. It would make me nervous when I saw someone wearing a sword upside down or touching the blade, or letting some one touch the blade. It hurt to see them drop the blade, or cut himself or the uki. Sometimes the competitor would loose the blade and it would go into the audience and hit some innocent bystander! In those days there were no medics on hand and it was scary stuff.
The draw should be pure, touched by no one except the competitor and the owner of the sword. After you draw you clean your sword, oil your sword and clean your sword again. Why, because a good blade should be nourished, taken care of like a brother, with responsibility. The blade is your partner and you become one, because in a different time, your life depended on it.
I had a spectacular experience competing with the sword in Guatemala City in 1993. There were some 5,000 Guatemalans in the audience and their cheering was deafening. When I walked on stage and drew the sword, they became utterly silent, I could hear only the thunder, and the bright light of the lighting cracked around me in the huge outside dome. Special super star guest, Bill Ryusaki, said “I have never seen someone awe and quiet a huge crowd like this since Bruce Lee performed at the Long Beach Internationals. It was amazing!
There is always someone at a Sport Karate event if there is a weapons division that draws. You may not see him or know he is there, but if you disrespect his sword he will let you know, yes I said “his sword”.
You never see the purest drawers competing at a sport karate event because drawing for them is not display. I do believe in competing with the sword and demonstrating the sword, Kubuki acting at it’s finest, drawing at your best, but I understand those who do not wish to compete or perform in demonstrations as theirs is a different world.
The stories you are about to read are true and are as accurate as the old sensei remembers. There are many lessons learned at an early age and this is one of those. This lesson is the lesson of friendship and the many doors that true friendships open throughout the years. This story spans a thirty year period and shows how life goes in circles and how martial arts brings together the true masters.Leo Fong
I have gathered my Black Belts to watch the movie “KILLPOINT” a film that stars Mr. Leo Fong, a martial arts Living Legend. I just received it in the mail with an autograph cover. Mr. Leo Fong was one of my first heroes when I came to the mainland. My students and I are looking forward to watching some of the best to be karate stars on screen like Steve “Nasty” Anderson and Linda Denley just to name a few but most of all, I have gather my Black Belts to teach them a sport karate history lesson and talk to them about how I met this great martial artist – Leo Fong.
It is 1974 and I have been fighting in the mainland now for over five years and built a small reputation for being an all around type of competitor. In the seventies not many Black Belts did three divisions, fighting, kata and weapons .I wanted the respect and I decided to give it all and in my eyes it paid off. Black Belt judges were coming up to me asking who I was and where I was from. I would proudly say “HAWAII!” I had not won a major event yet but I was placing seconds and thirds behind the top competitors of that time. Back then competition was fun and exciting – even losing was a thrill because you were building the legacy that would last a lifetime. One of the first books I paid for as reference of knowledge was Leo Fong’s now famous “Sil-Lum Kung Fu.” What drew my interest: it was a soft style and it translates as “young forest” simply meaning to be able to be flexible and like a young tree, bend with the wind. I was fascinated, it was just the opposite of what I have been told to do since I was a kid training in Hawaii – knock them down and go straight forward , hit first, hit last, go for the knockout!!!, …evade?, dodge?, counter punch?, move in circles all the time?. I found an uki (partner) and starting practicing what was in the book.
It was new and it was fun!!
I had read the 1970 Black Belt Magazine article on Leo Fong’s life and I was impressed with his attitude toward fighting and his background as a kid being subjected to racism and how he overcame the racist surroundings he was in. I wanted to learn Sil-Lum but because of my traditional karate background, I was never in the kung-fu circles or around that atmosphere of teaching, so his book became my source of learning. I would practice all the techniques in my mind and with my uki. I was getting better with my hands and expanding my mind learning kung-fu.
It was a secret, only because back then you did one or the other. I remember one of my Shito-ryu buddies saw my worn out, beat up Sil-Lum book and started on me asking me all these questions. Like, is that why I ‘m fighting different lately? And why do you want to box all the time?
Meeting the All-Time Greats!
My first encounter with Grand Master Bob Wall was at the Long Beach Internationals, and he was bigger than life. I had watch “Enter the Dragon” at least a thousand times or more and he was the super bodyguard and Leo Fong vs Bob Tadashibad guy, and he was very good at what he did but what I liked the most was those black and white footage of Grandmaster Wall breaking and being struck by Tadashi Yamashita with bricks and boards being broke over his body!!! THAT WAS FOR REAL!!! One of the reasons I started breaking was the inspiration that I got from watching that black and white footage.
The majority of the public doesn’t realize that BOB WALL was a great fighter as a Black Belt on the national karate scene. He was one the circuits stars – he has won or placed in every major karate event in America through his career and was known as one of the super brown belts along with Mike Stone and Al Gene Caraulia. He was an instant hero in my book of memories and he would play a major contributor later in my career. So now I had two new heroes besides my Hawaiian Heroes that were here already on the mainland, Ed Parker, Ted Tabura, John Natividad, and my biggest hero was Mike Stone.
Through conversation I had heard the Black Belts talk about that Mr. Chuck Norris was forming a new karate League, THE UNITED FIGHTING ARTS FEDERATION LEAGUE and the first tournament was going to be in Ohio.
Where is Ohio?
I had just been in the mainland a few years and never competed out of California. I heard Mr. Norris was bringing in some important judges and one of them was Leo Fong – and for some reason, I felt I needed to compete. It would be my first out of state event since I moved to the mainland. In my mind if I could win an important event, in front of important judges, I would have the confidence I needed to work even harder to win the next event!
I had no car, no contacts and no money for a plane ride or bus. I decided to hitch hike cross country. I drew a map of destination, found the small town of Warren, Ohio (I believe that was the city) and started my journey on Thursday morning – leaving North Hollywood. Back in the ‘70s, hitchhiking was sort of safe – I mean, a lot of people did it and I had no other way to get there. My only concern was time. I was taking a big chance: I had to be across country, four or five states, in two days and by 10:00AM Saturday morning for Black Belt Kata and weigh-in. I wish I knew then what I know now because I was passionate about sport karate and I made decisions from the heart and not the mind.
I really can’t remember all the rides and super cool people I met. I do remember it took six rides from California to get to Ohio and that Saturday morning was real tough: not only was I still far away from the event but it was snowing. I had never seen snow. I had not even carried socks with me, just my karate stuff and tennis shoes. I remember how cold it was: I was in a pain I have never felt before, it was so cold it hurt to breathe and I was running late.
THE REST IS SORT OF A BLUR!
1975 FIRST UNITED FIGHTING ARTS CHAMPIONSHIPS, WARREN, OHIO
The man in the car thought I was nuts because I was screaming about the time. The event started at 10:00AM and it was 10:15 or 10:20 Saturday morning. God bless him – he took me to the doorsteps of the arena. I ran to the ticket booth and asked if competition had started and I saw the answer with my own eyes. Mr. Norris was lining up all the Black Belt Kata competitors and I did not want to miss that division –that was half the reason I hitchhiked out here (the other half was to fight).
I remember begging the lady to please send a note down to the floor to Mr. Norris to ask him to hold the division because I had hitchhiked from California to compete. The judges were already sitting down and I knew I had blown it. The lady thought I was crazy – she almost called security until she realized that I was sincere. The lady took my note and gave it to a runner who took it down to Mr. Norris.
Those seconds between the runner taking the note and Mr. Norris saying I could compete were like hours; it was intense. Then I got the okay and they were waiting for me. I had to dress in the hall way and run down the steps in front of everybody. I got to the floor and said thanks but then a lady came up to me and said “you have to go first!!” Whoaaaaaaaaa! What happen to random order? Flip the cards? Well, because they had held up the division for me, I had to go first!
Okay, okay, I’m ready, this is what I came for, this is my ring and God brought me here for a reason!
I looked at the line up and I did not know any of the Black Belts. There were around twenty competitors. I am sure they were all great guys and good Black Belts but in my heart, no one trained as hard as I did and I know no one hitchhiked to get there, but most of all I wanted this division really bad!
Then it happen,
I looked at the judges and got scared to death, I mean I was really nervous. If I remember it right, sitting on the Black Belt board were Ted Volrarth, a Vietnam veteran who did spectacular self-defense demos around the world,. The hero of my kung-fu memories, Sifu Leo Fong, who had secretly taught me Kung-Fu through his book Sil-Lum and Aaron Norris, who was one the best point fighters ever but is mostly known for his stunt work in movies and TV (He would later become one of the best action directors in Hollywood).
It was the first time that I saw Chuck Norris, he was special, you could tell by the way he walked and talked. I didn’t even think about it until after the tournament but he could have said no instead of yes and I would not have had this story. I knew his history – he was a great fighter and warrior of the blood and guts tournament scene and he was a real champion. His eyes were what stood out to me and he had kind eyes.
These were the important judges I wanted but going first in this competition was a drag.
Focus, Kime, don’t look at the people, look at their combined history, look at their knowledge, tell them the story, do the Kata the way you were taught in Hawaii and win or lose, you did your best, focus, focus, focus, THESE WERE THE THOUGHTS GOING THROUGH MY HEAD!!
I remembering doing USU and tying for third place out of twenty competitors. I came back and did a Japanese Kata NI JI SHI HO and won, taking third place. That was great after all I had been through.
I was still cold from that white stuff that I had never seen before (snow) and all that worry about getting there on time had stressed me out to the max but now I could do what I do best and that is fight.
I remember winning three fights and walking out with third place. I won the last fight with a dropped kick to the groin (now illegal in most karate circuits today). The techniques used in the seventies would devastate a lot of opponents today just because back then we meant to stop you with one technique and we trained very hard to learn that one punch or kick.
Our attitude as warriors was simple, I will buy you a coke, maybe lunch, heck, I will even buy you dinner but it is war when we step into the ring, with respect always, respect had to be in the ring for the contact level was high and the classiest competitors had the control but could nail you at any time! Let’s just say it was scrappy.
I still have those trophies today beaten, battered and broken. They were black and had a hologram design down the middle. They sit on my office wall and visitors come into my office and asked about those beaten tore up broken trophies. I just say it was a day that I met my heroes and just can not let them go. I guess I will keep them forever.
I stayed in Ohio one more day because I was so fascinated by the snow and the very cold weather. Sleeping in the greyhound bus station that night, I realized that I had gone to an extreme state of mind to be here and I wondered if the rest of my career was going to be as complicated as this adventure. The next morning, I packed the two third place awards in my duffle bag and before I headed back to California, I also stopped by a five and dime store to buy a pair of socks.
I didn’t know how many states this snow would last and my feet were cold.
The year was 1982 and in America if you were a warrior, you were chasing those KARATE ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE POINTS. I was still chasing those first places but now it was even harder: you had George Chung, John Chung, Cindy Rothrock, Peter Morales and a slew of other great performers who always took first in their respective divisions but the most excitement was always the GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE TOURNAMENT.
The GRAND did not give you points but what it got was the respect of the competitors. The unwritten law: they were the best at the event – period. No questions asked, decided by the best karate form judges in America. JOHN CHUNG was my personal favorite – I would get goose bumps watching him and then had to go out and compete against him (talk about pressure).
LEO FONG and RON MARCHINI would produce the TOP TEN NATIONALS in Stockton, California and I was living in Texas chasing points from all around the country.
A few of the Texans were traveling too, like JIMMY “Gato” TABARES, AL FRANCIS, RAYMOND MCCALLUM, AL GARZA, and of course Living Legend LINDA DENLEY.
My very first sponsor was the Hilton Hotels and I was treated very well: first class airfare, entry fee paid, hotel room, food expense and clothing. I wore a little patch in front and Hilton in big letters on my back. Leo Fong and Ron Marchini On the flight to Stockton, I met JEAN FRENETTE and this was his first karate tournament in America and his first national event ever. JEAN FRENETTE LATER BECAME ONE OF CANADA’S GREAT FORMS CHAMPIONS.
He was so nervous, so I gave him all my best tips on winning and we became fast friends that weekend. Mr. Marchini picked us up at the airport and was very kind to us. He even walked me to my room and carried my luggage for me – I was very impressed. Jean and I hung out at the bar telling war stories with the VIPs but Saturday morning it was all business.
Seeing Mr. Fong again was a delight. I don’t know if he remembered me from back in 1975 but I just thought it was cool to be competing in his event. I lost to Jean Frennette and Cindy Rothrock that day and it was another hard fought third place. And I still have that short red Top Ten third place trophy next to my SIL-LUM book.
Well my next encounter with Mr. Leo Fong would be in 2005 in Tarzan a, California. I had just finished performing at the BLACK BELT MAGAZINE FESTIVAL OF MARTIAL ARTS at UNIVERSAL HOLLYWOOD. Grand Master Wall had invited my son and I to work on some projects for World Black Belt. One of the most enjoyable people I‘ve had the pleasure to meet was the new Marketing Director for World Black Belt, Mr. Adam James.
After a couple of days working in the World Black Belt offices, Adam asked us out to lunch, and he said he was inviting his instructor and World Champion John Chung and his wife. You will never guess who Adam’s instructor was … MR. LEO FONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was excited I would finally get to just talk to him, one on one and got to ask all the questions I‘ve had bottled up all these years. He was very polite and I could feel his chi – it was strong. I felt like the luckiest martial artist in the world to be here at this time, this place and this moment.
Life does go in circles.
Well, not only did I have sushi with my forms hero JOHN CHUNG but the SIL-LUM Kung-Fu instructor himself GRAND MASTER LEO FONG, A LIVING LEGEND who taught me from his book thirty one years ago. But you know what was the most exciting part, I mean knock your socks off part, was having my son meet my heroes and to teach him the lesson of making a friend that will last him a lifetime – that was priceless.
Rambling Eddie , Opinion of a Martial Arts fan
Last Opinion for 2015
Happy New Year everyone !
Second Place tries harder!
I look forward into 2016 to share my opinions of what I see ,hear and feel the martial arts have turn to and this is a delicate subject ,non the less ,it is time to share what I feel about this subject
Two stories!
Two different competitors meet for a major title in sport karate, it could be a State Championship , a qualifier for a major event , it could be a certified World Championship!
All that matters is what did it take to get there and what sacrifice did the competitor make to be there for that two minutes to decide though judges politics or manipulating the outcome and who really benefits from that outcome of two minutes or a double elimination
Does it matter just winning or does it matter what it took to have that moment !
Story 1#.
Chip Youngblood walked into the Karate School as young boy of twelve not to learn sport karate but for self defense, however he fell in love with the competition aspect , traveling and meeting new people every weekend
Hanging out with his parents every weekend ,year after year leading up to the most important win he could have.
He worked his way up though the belt ranks and it took years of training , orange belt , greenbelt , brown belt and finally the Black Belt Divisions where he was consistent earning the respect as a seasonal sport karate champion.
He wanted a State Title or a major championship in his resume and he wanted all those years he sacrifice to earn the respect of a season sport karate competitor that he would have to face or compete against believing he had his own story of how he got there to face him.
He didn’t care about politics , the judges or even the worst thing that could happen to him in his sport karate career that would make him decide to leave the sport because he was not cheated but lost against someone that may have not deserved to be there to face him ,of course no one finds out until it ‘s over and people ask questions then answers tell the truth.
Chip has spent his entire life as a martial artist and this was his opportunity, only to be destroyed by manipulation of the rules.
Assuming mutual respect,,,,,,,,,,
Story 2#
Jerome Titshaw was a animal , played football and wrestling he would over power and destroy his opponents , he was at a football function and a fight broke out in his senior year.
Jerome was in the middle of the brawl ,hitting , beating up everyone , bodies were flying when a local Karate Kick box instructor saw this , he approaches Jerome and said ,”You like to fight ,let me tell you about Sport Karate Tournaments ”
Next thing, Jerome is training in Kick boxing and has made Orange belt in Karate and he is pretty darn good , but ego kicks in and he sees that Black Belts earn Cash when they fight not just a trophy so his teacher and him decide, no one governs the rules, checks certificates or really even cares and they can split the money in the Black Belt Divisions so from now on Jerome can fight as a Black Belt , skipping all the protocol and years earning that respect that comes along with being a Black Belt .
Now Jerome is fighting as a Black Belt and has earned seeding points though the year in the State Games and a yearly World Championship for Black Belts only !
He goes to event , lies on his entry form , payed his entry fee and enters the Championship .
Eighteen (18-35)The Heavy weight Division
One competitor worked his way to the top ,the other manipulated his way to the top, though seeding ,byes and a couple of fights these TWO STORIES face each other and now even though it is just my opinion Jerome should have not even been there because it has never been about manipulation ,cheating egos or money involved .
To make it the worst Jerome beats Chip by one point tor the Championship!
No one knows the background of the fighters , no one knows the truth!
Till next year Opinionated Martial Artists
Happy New Year 2016
“Rambling Eddie”
Opinion of a martial arts fan
Kevin Conan Bankens
In 1984 I was a young 15 yr old Karate student.
My father Rodney Bankens Drove me and fellow Karate student John Fontenot to Houston Tx. To compete in a very large Karate tournament.
When we got to the dome it was packed. We were so lost.
Having never competed in a tournament this big before.
John and I went to the back to change into our gi’s and a man began to talk to us.
I remember the man was so intimidating yet so kind.
He spoke with Authority yet again with such kindness.
He instantly took us to the front got us signed up and told us to stick by him.
He asked us if we would like to hold the boards for his kata I must say it was an awesome kata.
He went on that day to win 1st in Kata, Sparring and weapons and never failed to recognize his 2 little new friends me and John.
His Name I never forgot.
It was Master Gary Lee.
I thank him to this day for his kindness to the 2 little young Karate student who’s lives were better for crossing his path.
He is a true Samurai.
Oss Master Gary Lee
and R.I.P John Fontenot my dear friend.
A flash back 1982
Dr.Edward Sones Head Instructor, Ninjitsu Group in Houston, Texas.
I would go over to his place to fight with no gear, they called it Randori!
The Judo term for sparring ,,pretty much anything happen as long there was band aids , gauze and alcohol,,,things were cool!
I called it kick ass fighting,,, getting ready for tournament training,,lol
One rainy night I went over and there was this guy with a Black Belt on and it was cut with a knife to look old!
You could see where he took a knife and cut it on the sides.
One side had six stripes and the other had seven stripes!
That made him a 13th Dan.
That did not bother me as much as he had cut his belt to make it old and ragged ,which my belt was tattered and old, because it had been worn, taken off a thousand times and worked in the mud, dirt, ocean, weather and other turmoils and mayhem most Black Belt endure over the journey.
Well ,he approached me and ask me to spar, I tried to ignore him, but when he got me in the corner and there was no other choice.
I was really offended that someone would be that extreme and that mis -leading to students and the general public,,
I guess I was just a fanatic about “Old Ways”
This is what I said” sir, I am very offended you have cut your belt to falsehood! and I turned to him with my right hand cocked back in a punch position.
Got in a deep stance,low hibachi and took my left hand and started to untie this guy’s belt.
He froze and the class of about sixty brown belt ninjas kinda freaked out!
I untied the belt as this guy stood there frozen , I know I would have dropped him if he moved!,,,I was kinda hardcore back then,,,anyway
I threw the belt in the rain and mud and turned around away from him toward the mirror ,which I could see behind me now.
He lunged at me to hit me from behind and I dropped him with a back kick and kept walking to the office.
I didn’t bat a eye for it Karma to meet a flake like this guy.
Dr. Sones arrives and the brown belts rush him to tell what they just saw. Then I hear Dr.ones call out every one line up!
He simply said ”
Well if Mr. Lee feels he had to throw the Black Belt in the mud, I guess that is where it belongs”.
Bow in,Osu
As this guy leaves , he goes outside in the rain to pick up his belt .
I quickly tell a brown belt to get and throw it in the trash barrel right outside the Dojo , he shot me the finger and I never saw the guy again,
He disappeared from Karate in the area.
My Black Belt from Hawaii is White now , stringy, tattered and falling apart
I retired it when we did the first Living Legends back in 1999.
It hangs now in the Sport Karate Museum Archives.
I thought I would never tell this story but you mention Belts.
Aloha
Good Morning , Black Belts, Spectators and Fans
What a blessed day!
Last night on a conference call I got chewed out pretty good from some of my Alumni History Generals that have been my consultants for all these years.
They were expressing that I am to “happy go lucky toward people” who plagiarism or copycat my ideas and use my originality of ideas such as the Living Legends Celebrity Roast.
Today, you see a Roast pop up somewhere, a little advertising here and little publicity there and they have their version,everyone assumes the Sport Karate Museum Archives are behind it and it’s not true!
We have a strict formula and we have stuck by it for eighteen years since the first one in 1999.
We are not a Hall of Fame , Grand Master group or ego ballistic group !
We choose and then select one individual that stands out and deserves the recognition, surround him or her with family ,friends and fans and simply burn them at the stake with their Sport Karate History with much love ,,period
After I got fussed at by my mentors and I might say I got screamed at pretty darn good!
I assured that there is ONLY one ORIGINAL CELEBRITY ROAST and if anyone COPYCATS ,that’s extremely cool for the best compliment from someone is to try and impersonate what you have already accomplished.
We were the first to introduce a Sport Karate Celebrity ROAST and the Sport Karate Museum Archives is a life within itself ,with a hardcore tender of some of the martial artist that has the world of Sport Karate loves and respect deeply.
We have Roasted and recorded the lives of some incredible persons that changed your world , our world in Sport Karate!
The Sport Karate Museum Archives elite list so far!
Tim Kirby
J. Pat Burleson
Lawrence Arthur
Jim Harrison
Sid Campbell R.I.P
Ken Knudson R.I.P
Michael DePasquale Jr
Bob Wall
Jerry Piddington
Raymond McCallum
“The Gathering” Honoring 100 Fighters of America
Honoring Joe Lewis R.I.P
Honoring the First Responders of America
Policemen, Doctors, Nurses, EMS Drivers,Emergency personal
Honoring 50 years of Men’s Sport Karate
Honoring 50 years of Women Sport Karate
Honoring “The Natural Fighters” hand picked out by the fighters!
Eric Lee
Mark Gerry
Scott Messina
Malia Dacascos
Bill”Superfoot”Wallace
Cleveland, Ohio,April 15th 2016
Daryl K. Stewart
Houston , Texas,October 8th 2016
Bob White, California 2017
The future looks even brighter with negotiations with some incredible Martial artist that changed our lives in 60 years of Sport Karate!
Keep your fingers crossed!!
Al Francis
Jeff Smith
Joe Corley
Dan Anderson
Tony Lopez
Duane R. Ethington
Tadashi Yamashita
George Minshew
“Fastfeet”Jerry Fontanez
Jim Butin
Bob Leiker
Billy Smith (and the Fort Worth Animals)
Rocky DiRico
“Heartless” Jim Hartley
Thank you for the support all these years!
There is only one ORIGINAL Living Legends Celebrity ROAST!
Protecting the History , One Warrior at a Time
http://www.sportkaratemuseum.org
Gary Lee’s photo.
Oh what! a Moment !
Bob Wall’s Living Legends Celebrity Roast
Hollywood, California
Just thinking ,the Sport Karate History just in this picture for the fans, family and friends, thank you for your support though the years !
Please keep supporting our events around the America and remember always after all the,blah, blah,blah ,,,,,lol
We are learning to ,,,,,Protecting the History, One Warrior at a Time!
Judge Roy D.Kurban,
S.W.A.T, Black Belt Hall of Fame,Director, Co-founder A.O.K of Fort Worth Pro-Am,Pioneer Professional fighter, Inventor and creator of the “Two Point “Kick
Raymond McCallum,
Pioneer , Black Belt Hall of Fame , Legendary Full Contact pioneer fighter, Critics have written and recorded that they believe he was the BEST Black Belt point fighter ever and transition from pioneer junior Black Belt to World Championship Class he will go down as one of the incredible fighters of our time.
Oso Tayari Casel,
Pioneer,established Kung Fu early in America in open competition , weapons and exotic Kata , Pioneer Full Contact fighter, Black Belt Hall of Fame,Master educator in history and culture ,every Kung Fu Competitor who competes in open events today needs to remember who paved the path !
Hawaii Boi,
Golden Greek Award,Black Belt Hall of Fame,IRKRS Honor Roll Historian, Trias International Society,USKF Gold Medal,Actor,creator of the Six Flag Karate Shows, creator of ‘The Kids’s Expo, creator Sport Karate Museum Archives , the Living Legends Celebrity Roast.
Chris Casamassa,
Pioneer, Actor, Black Belt Hall of Fame, World Champion one of the Super Performers of our time ,The Masters TV Show, Played ‘Scorpion in Movie “Mortal Kombat”
Master Businessman inherited from his incredible Father Louis Casamassa and together run Red Dragons Karate Dojo.
Steve Fisher,
The Sport Karate Museum likes to call Mr. Fisher the ‘Babe Ruth” of Sport Karate for when a time winning three divisions was impossible, Kata ,Weapons and fighting, Mr. Fisher would hit tournament ,home run after home run,three divisions , three divisions ,,,simply Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jeff W.Smith our first real World Champion along with American Icons Bill Wallace and Mr. Joe Lewis R.I.P and the journey before started in Texas to this exact moment Mr.Smith is a world class Champion of not just Sport Karate but life.The D.C Bomber what a incredible role model and fighter!
Troy Dorsey, We are fans because the Sport Karate Museum Archives remember watching Mr. Dorsey fight in open Black Belt Point tournaments in the late 1970’s, now fifty (50) years later he has broke all the records ,our favorite two!
Across the world winning sport karate, kickboxing World Titles and being the only Super Sport Karate Fighter to win and the respect of a professional boxing World Championship title.
If the Sport Karate Museum Archives can keep putting us together in memory and history and around the country, one ROAST at a time then life is good!
This was early 2002
Today I received a phone call from a Martial Arts Hall of Fame that offered 300 Hall of Fame categories and that I could choose which categorical award and I had the option to choose five or more, the awards were from $100.00 to $500.00 each or a $1,000 ring Dinner Banquet was $150.00 per seat and because I was a first timer in his organization there was a “Rookie Fee” of $179.00.
He said if I bring in ten or more martial artist I could get a cut -back on all my fees for them to honor me !
I stopped him there in his hard sale spill of BS ,,,I said sir, do you know who I am and what I do ?
He said “I saw you on You Tube and thought you would be a good candidate for my Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
He was surprised when he found out what I do , what I did and what I am doing .
I must say and proud of myself how I handled this wayward egotistical martial arts jerk of 2016 , in my older years I have calmed down a lot and learned from some incredible mentors to handle martial artist like this guy.
Heck I got one more person to be aware of the Sport Karate Museum Archives ,
That’s cool! , anyway I promise him “The Jerk” that I would list my Hall of Fame Inductions where though sponsorship or producer of the event, from the point of my home to the event and back, I have never paid a penny to be honored ,nor never will .
What fans , spectators and most of all the Black Belts must remember for just to be nominated ,voted for, mention ,spoken of or given a smile and told god job for your performance is more than enough, truly enough, Osu
When a producer , group of dignitaries, pioneers decide you are part of a special group that’s special , it has a respect attitude, Osu
Be aware of the scammers and false producers who just want your bank account every year, check them out , be careful and I hope you have a productive journey in Martial Arts , just keep your hands up !
Oh, by the way Black Belt Magazine has a trade mark on the term “Black Belt Hall of Fame” that is why everybody uses the term “Martial Arts Hall of Fame” ,just for the record
I am proud and honored ,deeply , Osu
1982 “Who’s Who in the Martial Arts
1987 Texas B.A.S.S Federation Champion
1993 Texas “Cowboy”Hall of Fame
1994 National Black Belt League Hall of Fame
1997AOK Golden Greek Black Belt Hall of Fame
1997 Nominated Black Belt Magazine “Competitor of Year”
1998 Nominated Black Belt Magazine “Man of the Year”
2002 Hawaiian Black Belt Martial Arts Hall of Fame
2005 Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame
2006 Texas Martial Arts Hall of Fame
2008 Masters Martial Arts of Fame
2008 World Martial Art Masters Hall of Fame
2010 United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame
2010 International Ryukyu Karate Research Society Hall of Honors
2014 USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame
2015 All Pro Tae Kwon Do Hall of Fame
World Registry of Black Belts, Organizations, Federations & Associations (WRBBOF)
Barry Moyer R.I.P
Traditional Okinawan Kobujutsu Association and Martial Arts Federation
International Director Texas/USA
http://www.tokamaf.org.uk/,,,,
http://www.koryu-uchinadi.com/
http://www.sportkaratemuseum.org
CHALLENGE to catch Bass and make it to the weigh in
Big Fish Story!
1991
Big Sam Rayburn in Jasper,Texas
7:00 am Saturday Morning
The Fox Big Bass Classic with over 50,000 dollars in pay back and prizes and $500 for first biggest weight ,a hour on every Big Bass weighed in hourly.
$300 for fourth biggest ,$200 for third biggest $100 for Second biggest and $50 for last.
My partner and I had been training for this one ,we were driving the long scoot to the Black Forest Jungle on the other end of the lake ,about sixty miles from the weigh in m we had pre -fished it hard the week before and got a serious Spinner bait bite!
We were going to be throwing White Spinner Baits with Ragetails frog trailers and Black Blue Jigs Fishing for the Big Bass for the hourly weigh ins after lunch.
We landed four good fish ,out of twelve bites , eight misses , not good !
However I had landed a Five pounder
We figured get a boat load of big fish and weigh in something every hour and get in the money after lunch ,what we didn’t expect was the Thunderstorm and high winds with waves crashing against my Ranger twenty feet high sometimes ,we had caught fish three big ones ,however if we sink we won’t have any tackle ,accessories or fish to weigh in !
Took me three hours though the unexpected storm, pulling in to coves ,resting ad going out on the big lake were the waves were crashing to get near our weigh in.
Finally at 12:30 we had made it though and My partner weighed his four pounder for the 1:00 pm hour, he won it,I came in third with a two and half pounder, we go back out and weigh in our last two at 2:00 o’clock weigh in and this time I won it with the five pounder I landed this morning in the Black Forest ,my partner came in last with a two pounder, together now we had $1250 in hourly funds and my Five pounder was in the Top Twenty for the final weigh in at 4:00 pm,,we go back out into the storm!,,pouring down rain in buckets ,it is misery, it is hard ,however it’s Bass Fishing!
I had this hydrilla bed near the weigh in as a Ace in the hole for last minute fishing ,i had staked them out way before the tournament ,only problem tournament fisherman were on all my spots and you could not get within 50 feet of any tournament angler , Rules not to be broken !
I went to my hydrilla bed and I saw the first blowup on a real frog , I switched baits to a Culprit Watermelon Seed Frog and BUZZ BAIT with white trailer and started Chunking , my partner was holding the trolling motor against the wind and thunderstorm!
I was Bass Fishing and in my element , my personal hand picked hydrilla bed , terrible conditions against the odds bass fishing ,,,I love it!
The first one hit,,, Six Pounder easily, then a three, then another three and then moohey grande Lunker City!!! , this Bass blew up on my Buzz Bait and missed ,out of the water, when he missed the bait jumping out of the water ,she looked 10 pounds ,maybe 12 pounds , she was huge!
My reflex and instinct as a season Bass guy was to do it again same place , same cast ,same mental terrible conditions , she would never hit again, what are those chances and then BAM!!!!!!!!,
Her mouth was so large ,I had her hooked and I all I saw was a check!
When I got her in the boat in the pouring down rain and windy storm conditions , we had on our tournament clock 3:42 pm ,we had seventeen minutes to get back at the dock or be fined a pound for every minute late and we had four big fish in the boat ,the big one I just caught we had not weigh it yet !
My partner and I split everything , whether I caught or him , we risked our lives together , we share the purse.
At the dock ,we of course we decide to way the lunker I had just caught ,
I put her in the weigh in bag and she is heavy and big !
Total Weight 11.4 lunker Bass, in the overall weight of the Big Bass Tournament ,third place $6500 with the hourly ,not a bad payday.
A couple of Sam Rayburn’s twelves beat me out of that Big Win !, however third place tries harder!
Go early, Stay late
1987 Texas B.A.S.S Federation State Champion
Federation Championships
Lake Palestine, Texas
Professor Gary Lee
A new sport in America is born and History was made !
Tournaments and Promoters
Introduction :
American traditional karate tournaments are held on a regular basis since the 1960’s. The promoters decide of the qualifications and participants, mostly Americans.
In addition, competitors may come from various styles, as karate and Taekwondo.
The tournaments were often divided into weight classes (light, medium, medium-heavy and heavy). The winners of each category met for the title of Grand Champion.
Major tournaments and organizers :
Ed Parker :
Born in Hawaii, Ed Parker gets a black belt in judo at the age of 15. In 1953, he received his black belt in Kenpo, from William Chow.
In 1956, Ed Parker arrives in California / USA, to teach Kenpo. He founded the American Kenpo Karate, using various techniques from other martial arts. He also creates the IKKA, International Kenpo Karate Association.
He becomes a karate instructor, and develops, like others, a franchise system for his schools.
In 1973 and 1974, the film “New Gladiators” is turned. A team of karatekas (Ron Marchini, Benny Urquidez, Darnell Garcia, Tom Kelly and John Natividad) went to Belgium and England. Ed Parker is at the head of this team. Elvis Presley finances the project. A demonstration by Elvis, September 16, 1974, is included in this film.
The most famous student of Ed Parker was Elvis Presley,
Ed Parker died in 1990, at the age of 59.
Elvis Presley would have received an honorary belt in Kempo 8th Dan, for his promotion.
His tournament :
Since 1964, and for 27 years, Ed Parker is organizing the “Internationals Karate Championships.”
At the first event in 1964, won by Mike Stone, Bruce Lee presents a demonstration of a one inch punch
In 1973, an amount of USD $2,500 .– is offered for the title of Grand Champion. John Natividad, a student of Chuck Norris, beats Benny Urquidez by 13 to 12.
This battle is considered as one of the best, in light-contact.
In 1974, 6,000 fighters are participating in the tournament. In 1975, an amount of USD $16,250 is scheduled for the championship Pro/Am. The winner of the Kata wins about USD $1,000 .00–.
Main results :
1964: Mike Stone winner against Harry Keolanui for the Grand Champion
1965: Mike Stone winner of the Grand Champion, beats Art Pelela and Tony Tulleners
1966: Allen Steen beats Chuck Norris and Joe Lewis.
1967: Chuck Norris beats Joe Lewis for the title of Grand Champion.
1968: Chuck Norris beats Steve Sanders for the Grand Champion. Joe Lewis was disqualified for having struck an opponent. He is also sent to the canvas by Jim Harrison.
1969: Joe Lewis wins Grand Champion
1970: Joe Lewis wins Grand Champion
1971: Joe Lewis wins maybe Grand Champion against Steve Sanders
1972: Joe Lewis loses against Darnell Garcia, for the Grand Champion
———————————————————————————-
Allen Steen :
Allen Steen, Texas, practice the Tang Soo Do since 1959. In 1962, he received his black belt from the hands of Jhoon Rhee.
After the Jhoon Rhee’s departing for Washington, Allen Steen is teaching Karate in Texas (named Texas Blood and Guts Karate, because of his violence), as well as in franchised schools .
In 1963, Allen Steen eventually gets second place at the World Championships in Chicago. Note that this title is awarded by the organizer of the tournament and has nothing to do with a real title of World Champion.
Allen Steen is the director of the Southwest Black Belt Karate Association, which he founded in 1967. This organization became the American Black Belt Karate Association, in 1972. He also takes care of Texas Karate Institute in Dallas.
In 1966, he won the All American Grand Championship and the International Championships, Grand Champion. He is part of the winning team of US National Karate Team, Hawaii. He withdrew from the competition in 1967.
Allen Steen vs Chuck Norris
Steen is one of the few to have beaten Mike Stone, even though he was still brown belt.
Among the students of Steen are included Mike Anderson, Pat Burleson, Skipper Mullins, Fred Wren.
In 1980, Allen Steen is announced as the 10th Dan black belt.
His tournament :
In 1963, Steen created the “Southwest Karate Championships”, which became in 1964 the United States Karate Championships. ” According to some sources, Mike Stone, still brown belt, won the black belts tournament and Allen Steen won the Grand Champion.
This championship is held for 25 years the second weekend of February and cared by Allen Steen.
In 1964, there are 133 fighters from 32 schools and 2,100 spectators.
In 1965, the tournament is renamed the “US Karate Championships.”
In 1973, 1,047 competitors are present, as 8,000 spectators.
Main results :
Grand Champion :
1963: Allen Steen beats MacCoy
1964: Keith See beats Allen Steen
1965: David Moon beats Corselio. According to other sources, the runner-up was Al Gene Caraulia
1966: David Moon def Pat Burleson
1967: David Moon beats Terry Conver
1968: Joe Lewis vs. Chuck Norris
1969: Fred Wren beats Jim Harrison
1970: Fred Wren beats Bill Watson
1971: Bill Wallace beats Skipper Mullins
1972: Bob Dunek beats Roy Kurban
1973: Bill Wallace beats Roy Kurban
1974: Bill Wallace beats Flem Evans
———————————————————————————-
Jhoon Rhee :
Jhoon Rhee arrives in the USA in 1956, and teaches the Taekwondo in Texas , then named Tang Soo Do. Among his students, is included Allen Steen.
Jhoon Rhee moved to Washington in 1962. He opens many schools around the world, organizes a variety of demonstrations, including a famous American politicians tournament between seniors.
In full-contact time, Jhoon Rhee created the Black Belt World League/WBBL.
Among his students, we can cite Jeff Smith and Mike Anderson.
His tournament :
Jhoon Rhee organizes in 1964, the “US National Karate Championships,” in Washington.
This is the first tournament filmed by television for the program Wide World of Sports. In 1964, he organizes also the First Southwest Karate Championships in Dallas, Keith See is the winner, facing Allen Steen.
Main results :
1964: Pat Burleson wins the first title, vs Herbert Peters.
1965: Mike Stone def Walt Worthy?, Grand Champion
1966: Joe Lewis wins the title against LaPuppet and wins the Kata.
1967: Joe Lewis beats Frank Hargrowe
1968: Joe Lewis wins
1969: Joe Lewis wins
1970: Pat Worley wins the title of Grand Champion.
———————————————————————————-
Henry Cho :
Henry Cho is the 9th dan black belt in Tae kwon do. The Korean arrived in the USA as a student. He opened a school in New York in 1961 and participated in numerous demonstrations.
In 1974, he founded the branch of Tae kwon do in the Amateur Athletic Union, AAU. Thereafter, it will become the USTU, becoming a full member of the US Olympic Committee.
His tournament :
Since 1965, he administers the “All American Open Taekwondo/Karate/Kung Fu Championships Tournament.”
Henry Cho produces it during 23 years, at the Madison Square Garden.
Main results :
The winners :
1965: Thomas LaPuppet
1966: Julio La Salle
1967: Chuck Norris
1968: Chuck Norris
1969: Mitchell Bobrow
1970: William Swift
1971: Byong Young Yu
1972: Mike Warren
1973: Albert Cheeks
1974: Michael Warren
1975: George Thanos
1976: Donnie Collins
1977: Michael Warren
1978: Gerard Robbins
1979: Michael Warren
———————————————————————————-
Robert Trias :
With Robert Trias, born in 1923, we encounter one of the US Karate pioneers. He learned this art while serving during World War II in the Solomon Islands. He also practiced boxing and judo. He teaches in the USA, and creates the United States Karate Association / USKA.
Robert Trias
Among his students, we mention Scott Ross and Victor Moore.
His tournament :
In 1963, Robert Trias organizes the “First World Karate Tournament” in Chicago, primarily to open American fighters, in spite of its name. This tournament becomes the “USKA Nationals” in 1966 and “USKA Grand Nationals” in 1968.
Main results :
1963 : Al Gene Caraulia
1964 : Victor Moore beats the champion from Hawaii. According to other sources, Mike Stone wins over Ray Cooper in the semi-finals and Mill Crenshaw in the finals.
1968 : Victor Moore beats Joe Lewis for the World’s Hemisphere Karate Championships, (sometimes called World’s Fair) USKA Grand National
1969 : Victor Moore beats Mike Stone, for the World Championships Team
1970 : Victor Moore beats Bill Wallace for the first USKA Professional World Championships
1972 : Bill Wallace beats Joe Lewis
1973 : Bill Wallace beats ?
1974 : Flem Evans beats Bill Wallace
1975 : Flem Evans wins
1976 : Flem Evans wins
———————————————————————————-
Aaron Banks :
Aaron Banks gets his karate black belt in 1962, after having been a student of John Kuhl, practicing Goju Ryu. He opened his own school in New York. Aaron Banks holds his first demonstration in 1963.
Aaron Banks
With Al Weiss, he publishes the newspaper Official Karate since 1968, less traditional than Black Belt Magazine. He organizes the Oriental World of Self Defense, itinerant exhibition.
He also takes care of the newspaper World Karate, in the 1970’s.
His tournaments :
East Coast vs. West Coast, In 1968, at the Manhattan Center in New York, during a tournament organized by Aaron Banks, the team of the East Coast beats the West Coast team. The winning team, coached by Ed Parker, is represented by Joe Lewis, Steve Sanders, Chuck Norris, and Jerry Taylor.
The team from the East, coached by Banks, is represented by Thomas LaPuppet, Joe Hayes, Kazuyoshi Tanaka and Louis Delgado. 3,800 spectators were present at the Manhattan Center. Lewis wins against LaPuppet with a final side-kick and wins also against Louis Delgado. In the same tournament, Delgado beats Norris, Jerry Taylor beats Joseph Hayes, Norris beats LaPuppet, Tanaka beats Sanders and Taylor beat s Tanaka.
These could be considered traditional Karate.
In 1968, Aaron Banks organizes the “Orient vs US” tournament. Joe Lewis lost against N. Tanaka, from Shotokan, and living in the USA. According to the journal “Black Belt” from dec 1968, Joe Lewis was penalized for violent banned blows and had a bad conduct on the canvas.
In the same tournament, Joe Hayes beats Bob Chin, a kung-fu man. Dwight “Hawk” Frazier beats Shoen, a Bando style player. Shigeru Numano, Gensei-Ryu style, beats Luis Delgado. Ron Marchini beats Hoy Lee, Bando style. Chuck Norris beats Theodore Wong, Shotokan. US team wins against Orient.
The audience had a bad attitude against the Orient Team.
World Professional Karate Championship.
The following information is drawn from May 1969 Black Belt issue.
This professional karate meeting is organized by Aaron Banks on November 24th 1968. It takes place at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York. There is possibly 3 rounds per fights.
David Moon, Texas, def Canadian Wally Slocki, by 39 to 38. The match was tight and the crowd enthusiastic. Kazuyoshi Tanaka of Japan meets Skipper Mullins, for the lightweights world title. Skipper Mullins would have earned the title of the lightweights at the professional championship in Dallas, a few weeks ago. Mullins dominates the Japanese and win by 91 to 66.
Chuck Norris wants to take revenge, facing Louis Delgado, his defeat collected the year before, during the encounter between West Coast and East Coast. Delgado is more than 10 years younger than his opponent. Norris sends Delgado to the canvas, with a punch, in the first round. In the second, Delgado sends his opponent to the canvas, with a kick in the mouth.
The fight resumed so fierce and in the end, Chuck Norris wins by 101 to 93. According to other versions, Delgado would have suffered from a broken arm.
Mike Stone dominates widely against Bob Taiani, alias Tara Takayuki. At a certain point, the doctor finds that Mike Stone has broken his ankle. Despite this, the game resumed and Stone wins by 93 to 70.
Joe Lewis, presented as the “Bad-Boy from Karate” in the journal Black Belt, meets Victor Moore. Both fighters, dressed in black, use many kicks. Joe Lewis is cut above the eye. In the end, the crowd applauds the fighters and Lewis wins by 84 to 66. Each winner would have earned U.S. $ 600 .–.
Only Chuck Norris would have defended his title the following year, against an unknown opponent.
We should not confuse this tournament with the “World Professional Karate Championships WPKC “, organized in February 1968, in Kansas City, by Jim Harrison.
At the full-contact time, Aaron Banks creates the “World Professional Karate Organization / WPKO” and organizes on May 10, 1975, an evening with 4 World Championships,
Joe Hess in the heavyweights, Fred Miller in the light heavyweights, Kasim Dubur (Dubar) in the middleweights and Benny Urquidez in the lightweights.
———————————————————————————-
Mike Anderson :
Born in the USA, he practices various sports, including Taekwondo since 1961. he was a student of Jhoon Rhee.
Mike Anderson is studying in Germany, where he teaches his art. He teaches the Taekwondo to Georg Brückner, head of the Brückner Institute in Berlin, fighting sports pioneer in Germany.
Mike Anderson participates in various tournaments in Europe, before returning to the USA. He publishes the newspaper “Professional Karate” .
We have already spoken about Mike Anderson in the article about the Sept. 17, 1974 in Los-Angeles and the creation of the PKA, two weeks after.
He leaves PKA, which he created, before founding WMAA. This federation becomes the WAKO, with Anderson as President for many years. Brückner is in charge of the development of the WAKO in Europe.
Thereafter, Anderson will organize various competitions in full-contact, as the evening in Paris in 1976, with the USA team against Europe
His tournament :
Mike Anderson is organizing the tournament named Top-Ten National or Top-Ten Grand National. In 1973, Jhoon Rhee protections are used for the first (or second) time in history, in his tournament. In 1974, the tournament becomes the Top-Ten National Professional Karate and includes a competition of professional Kata.
Main results :
1972: Chuck Loven wins a title and Bill Wallace wins another title
1973: Howard Jackson wins the title of Grand Champion
1974: No title of Grand Champion
Gordon Franks beats Cecil Peoples for the lightweights
Bill Wallace beats Flem Evans for the middleweights
Jim Butin beats Jeff Smith for the light heavyweights
Eddy “Monster Man” Everett beats Joe Lewis for the heavyweights
———————————————————————————-
Joe Corley :
He starts with Tang Soo Do in 1963 and receives his black belt in 1966. He opens his first school in 1967, at age 21.
Joe Corley vs Bill Superfoot Wallace
Joe Corley Wallace met Bill in 1975,
For the world title means PKA in full-contact.
His tournament :
Joe Corley has organized in Atlanta the “Battle of Atlanta”since 1970. At the time, only two weight classes exist, heavyweights and lightweights. The Battle of Atlanta was first organized in traditional karate, and after in professional before introducing the full-contact.
In 1973, 800 fighters took part in the competition. Since then, the tournament has not ceased to grow and be the subject of numerous TV reports.
The name of the tournament is also a famous battle during the Civil War.
Main results :
1970: Joe Lewis beats Mitchell Bobrow for the heavyweights and Joe Hayes for the Grand Championship.
1973: Howard Jackson wins the title.
1974: Howard Jackson wins the title, beating Fred Wren by 8-5 and Jeff Smith by 4-3 . In the final, he beats Mike Warren. For the 3rd place, Jeff Smith beats Eddy Everett 3-2.
In 1975, Joe Corley meets Bill Wallace, for the middleweights title in full-contact, in front of 12,000 spectators.
Bill Wallace wins by TKO in the 9th rounds.
In 1977, Ross Scott beats Jerry Rhome by KO, in full-contact.
Michael Payne
to
Gary Lee
I appreciate your friend request.
As a beginner in martial arts in 1980, I was an enthusiastic practitioner and started competing in tournaments as a yellow belt.
I remember watching you at many competitions and I especially enjoyed and learned from the self defense demos that you performed and competed in.
I remember thinking when jiu-jitsu became crazy popular, “I’ve seen that before, and, that is the stuff I want to learn.”
So…thank you and I appreciate your work and dedication.
I know you probably don’t know me personally from anyone on the street, but never the less
Thanks.
Dear Michael, this is really special to me for even though I was known as a performer , I was a teacher first and to have such a cool comment from performances that are over 36 years old ,well I am overwhelm ,heck Karate ,Jui Jitsu and Kung Fu was my breakfast ,lunch and dinner,
Osu
Karate my way of life
I am lucky Hawaii Boi this morning receiving this message from one of my dear History Generals for the Sport Karate Museum Archives, very humbled to be mention in the same sentence with Mr. Ed Parker R.I.P who set the standard for Sport Karate using his infinite wisdom.
I work hard for the memory of Sport Karate 1946 -1999
Those are the the years Sport Karate has made a impact in America and the world ,now sixteen years later 2016 there are the new legends and Sport Karate Heroes that have established them selves as icons and Sport Karate Warriors , whether it is fighting or KATA ,they deserved to be remembered for their contribution like competitors Jack Felton, Raymond Daniels,Casey Marks, Leonard Creer, Rommel Gargoles,Alfredo Bustamante, Jarrett Leiker, Ross Levine , Willie Hicks, Cass Sigmon, Adrian Galvan,Ashley Artese, Lauren Kearney, Manny Reyes Jr. and so many ,many more, and as always protecting the History, One Warrior at a Time
The 25th Living Legends Celebrity Roast in 2017 will introduce the NEW “American Champions Room” for the Sport Karate Champions between the year 2000 though 2015 ,,
STAY TUNED and think of your favorite Sport Karate players.
Uka,uka,aloha nui loa
Professor Gary Lee
Bob White
Costa Mesa, CA ·
“A champion is someone who leaves his sport better off then when he entered it.” Ed Parker, Gary Lee thank you for your work in lifting up the legends in our sport and recognizing their great contributions.
Memories of Ohio ,the early years,,,,,,,,
Fly me to moon , let me play among the Stars!
Thank you Don DeVries, Richard J McClain and Bill Wallace for bringing the Sport Karate Museum Archives to this project!
(45) Forty -Five years since I have been on Ohio Soil, it will be surreal for the few years I was there I did a few memories of Sport Karate .
Here are a few that I remember and the martial artists that influence my journey in no particular order,,,,,,,,
1.
All those incredible classes on Saturday at the Downtown YMCA in Canton with Andrew Tamper R.I.P, Al Master Albert Hippert, Ray Skilleren , Frankie Morris Jr, William Ping Hi and others , bare knuckle fighting , hard training ,learning old school Kempo/ Kung Fu /Tai Chi/ Judo,,,
They would shut down the city because of the weather, but we would gather and still workout,,,,, hated the snow!!
2.
The Downtown Karate School of Canton, Ohio on main street with Ray Skilleren
This guy was hard core , the work outs were so hard I would have bandages ,wraps and ice packs ready before he bowed us in .
Work out until you throw up,cleaned a lot of toilets and windows.
3.
The Four Seasons Tournaments in Cleveland and meeting Howard Jackson R.I.P for the first time and remembering how he sweet he was to me for losing to Rob Hogan R.I.P , place third behind Harry ‘Wolf man “Reid
4.
The 2nd Official Magazine Karate Regional and fighting all those BANDO guys and Terry Sullivan busted my nose , back then blood was not a factor , kept fighting, won ended up getting beat by Tokey Hill from Don Madden’s Dojo , and I will never forget Tokey stomped me in the chest and got the point ,Gezzzzz,Osu
5.
The end of month Sunday Brown Belt /Black Tournaments at Dan Sword’s Shito-Ryu Studio
“Bare knuckle Blood Baths” and KATA WARS EXTREME!
Remembering getting beat for the first time in KATA by a woman Ms.Barbra Niggel ,,, hurt my ego a lot,,,lol
6.
Getting kicked in the head many times at George Anderson R.I.P, Studio in Akron,Ohio and then ,he would buy me Chinese food, let me take a shower and then take me to the freeway so I could hitch hike back to Canton ,Ohio , a couple times he gave me greyhound bus fare to get back home, I miss him and his wisdom.
7.
Walking in off the street into Don Willis Dojo and getting kick in the head many ,many, many times and creating a life long friend!
8.
Hitch hiking to Cleveland in the snow to get uniforms and wrapping tape at Bear martial arts equipment store ,but the real reason I would do this was because AlGene Caraulia Dojo was right across the street and I would hang out with my Hawaiian hero and work on reverse punches ,, man , that was fun!!!
9.
Meeting Bob Chaney R.I.P and introducing me to the Rocket Gun Reverse punch which sounded like a loud cannon when executed right, he let Brown Belt Jeff Hodges teach me and hit me thousands of times or more , some days, most days I could not move after those critical ,technical workouts with Mr. Chaney ,
He was great coach.
10.
The History Generals of the Sport Karate Museum Archives.
I’m sure no one remembers , however it is a curse of memory to never forget the past , not dwell , just remember,,,here are the individuals that this Hawaii Boi remembers from Ohio Sport Karate.
Al Hippert, Ken Fergurson, Nate Cowger R.I.P , Danny Wagner, Danny Grogan , Larry Lunn, George Anderson R.I.P, Ken Knudson R.I.P, Mike “Mad Dog” Cass. Mike McNamara, Dan Sword,Barbra Niggel, John K Barton
‘Cookie Monster”James Cook, Don Willis, Rodney Kauffman, Dr. Maung Gyi, Tokey Hill, Don Madden, Bob Chaney R.I.P, Jeff Hodges, Al Gene Caruluia, Don DeVries, Jerry Durant R.I.P, A.E.Vea, R.I.P, J.T Will R.I.P, Rick Andrews R.I.P, Andrew Tamper R.I.P, Ray Skilleren,
Frankie Morris Jr. his little brother and mother, Howard Jackson R.I.P , Johnny Smiley Lee, “Monster Man’ Everett Eddy ,Glenn Keeney, Richard Plowden, Dave Ruppart, Tom Benich R.I.P, Woodrow Fairbanks, “Flem” Dean Evans, Ken Dallas R.I.P,Parker Shelton R.I.P, Curtis Herrington R.I.P
https://youtu.be/mhZ2X9znPxM
What in the heck is a Supreme Grand Master Poohbah 12th Degree?
I received a letter yesterday with directions on how to add this guy to the list that I have gone by since I left Hawaii back in the Sixties.
He was a 2nd degree Black Belt in 2001 and now a 12th degree grand master in 2016
Society forgets and there is always truth , truth always out weighs everything , you may not like it ,because it hits you in the face like a brick , if you lie , you will get caught !
Just don’t be a liar!
Deal with truth, not lies,,,,,Osu
A__ __ hole
No where does it say Supreme Grand Master Poohbah 12th Degree
Shodan 初段 First Degree Black Belt
Nidan 二段 Second Degree Black Belt
Sandan 三段 Third Degree Black Belt
Yondan 四段 Fourth Degree Black Belt
Godan 五段 Fifth Degree Black Belt
Rokudan 六段 Sixth Degree Black Belt
Nanadan or Shichidan 七段 Seventh Degree Black Belt
Hachidan 八段 Eighth Degree Black Belt
Kudan 九段 Ninth Degree Black Belt
Judan 10th Dan Founder or inherited or earned.
Shidoin 指導員Assisant Instructor
Sempai,先輩 Senior Student
Sensei 先生 Teacher
Renshi 錬士 Polished or scholarly samurai
Shihan 師範 Teacher of Teachers
Kyoshi 教士 Instructor samurai
Hanshi 範士 Model samurai
Came in from the weather and had this thought I would like to share!
Mikie Rowe Moore and N Neil Hardin are very ,very,very special to the Sport Karate Museum Archives and to me personally!
Allow me to explain,,,,,
It started a few years back ,I was searching for greatness in the Ladies sport karate community and I found Mikie ,
Ranked in the first top five women fighters in America ,she was a major part of history for women sport karate.
Ed Parker R.I.P chose her to be the first women Arbitrator for his famous tournament , she left California ,though social media I found her , she was tucked away in Ohio ,secluded completely out of the lime light of Sport Karate,a farmer now , she had acres of land in parts of America. her and incredible husband Dana manage her investment into help building America though farming .
She decided to go back to her to Sport Karate memories and travel across country in their RV to visit some her old friends and make some new ones .
Traveling from Ohio to California ,up to Oregon ,down back though Texas to come to the Living Legends and Brian Duffy’s Kenpo Karate Camp.,then shooting to South Carolina and Georgia ,back up to Pennsylvanian parts of the country to Kimo’s event
She became my biggest and most traveled Ambassador hooking up with ‘Old Friends” Dennis Conatser Sr., John Natividad,, Faye Justice Halliburton, Jerry Piddington,John Sepulveda, Bill Wallace, Dan Anderson ,Bob White and many others meeting for the first time Joe Corley, Sam Chapman , Jeff W. Smith,,Bill Viola, Raymond McCallum and so many others I lost count of how many people I have introduce her too and share what she did for women sport karate in America.
Then there is my brudda from another mother , Kenpo brothers in arms, he came from California to support Bill Wallace and the Sport Karate Museum and he did not leave my side for two hard working days.
Three years ago at the Fifty year celebration of the Long Beach Internationals in California , Neil and Steve Cooper took care of my journey to the past, from the time I left my doorstep till I came home four days later.
(At the Internationals Mikie did then same thing that she did at Bill Wallace tribute ,moving tables ,physically picking up stuff and help me move across the arena and help me set up !
The absolute coolest moment was when we took a group shot of Mike Stone, Steve Fisher R.I.P, Benny Urquidez, Mikie Rowe Moore and Eric Lee and a lucky Hawaii Boi
A Polaroid moment!
It was a class 50th Anniversary event and I deeply appreciate the Sponsorship.
They became History Generals and the sport karate rock started rolling !
.
Saturday morning and night Mikie and Neil help me moved the Museum display and set up twice in one day ,from outside to inside , signing certificates , moving and picking up tables , taping pictures and banners to the wall.
They took care of my every need and then some.
Real Ohana ,extended family and Sport Karate Icons in a time when America sport karate needs heroes and remembrance who were the real pioneers of this sport .
Two important lessons I learned from my dear friends !
From Neil, I learned to appreciate his time of sharing and bringing me my dinner that night !
The silver Hawaiian Hook says it all , aloha
From Mikie ,I learned always , I mean always say ,,,PLEASE, a good lesson to learn in this ripe old age that I am .
I truly love you guys and the Sport Karate History you bring to the table!
You make my job Fun !!!,,,,,Mahalo
Protecting the History , One Warrior at a Time
http://www.sportkaratemuseum.org
Based on a true story!
Believe it or not!
Names have been changed to protect the innocent !
This is the American dream of doing Karate gone “HAY WIRE”
and it effects everyone of us when they collect funds for teaching martial arts!
It is what we do for a living , how many schools have open in your community in the past fives years,,,,,I bet you have Joe Bob Fraud near you!
Problem ,,,it is happening all over America and there is nothing we as pioneers can do anything about the problem except tell the truth so your not blindsided next time you check out a Martial Art School near you and wonder if all those plaques , certificates, hall of fame awards and world championships are real or just EGO .within the martial arts community.
Think about it !
Joe Bob Fraud grew up watching kung-fu movies and never thought all that kung fooey stuff was that hard and especially Tae Kwon Do heck, everybody did Tae Kwon Do .
There was a school every block!
Mr. Fraud enlisted in the biggest Tae Kwon Do studio near his home ,with one of the best instructors around and worked though the test ranks white belt- yellow stripe , yellow belt -orange stripe and so on till he did reach Red belt which is brown belt level in Karate, he would go to tournaments and unknown people would show him respect and his ego kicked in and felt he could teach this Tae Kwon Do,,
No big deal ,except for what about he instructor that started him and got him to 1st kyu level ?
Mr. Fraud forgot the first things that is taught in martial arts and that is Respect and loyalty ,,,it gets better !
Mr. Fraud works at the local fertilizer store in town, part owner ,he saw that the the space next to his place of employment and fertilizer store is for lease. .
He then goes home and gets on the internet and finds http://www.fittoprint.com who makes and prints anything when you pay for it , he orders him a internet black belt , he threw in a couple of karate championships certificates and a couple of MMA Certifications.
No one is going to check it out , he thought!
.
When the black belt internet certificate came , he quickly signed the lease and open a martial arts studio .
Mr. Fraud is a Karate Instructor now , however he is nervous that someone might come in and ask him his back ground and knowledge so he reads every MMA book, kung-fu and Tae Kwon Do book he could find and opens up with his business certificate stating” Joe Bob Fraud’s Tae Kwon Do School and Fertilizer Store
Now he does and creates what you call a “Umbrella Effect ”
Where he gets involved with everything that he thinks is about running a martial arts operation and reality he is a fertilizer salesman turned wanna be martial arts instructor, however he kisses up and buddy.buddys with influences , starts his own organization ,creates a tournament , joins many ,many ,many organizations ,pays his way into one, two, three of Hall of Fames in one year ,,,add this to the False certificates ,however to the “Umbrella Effect ” Everyone forgets how he got to this position he is now except the ones that know the truth!
The best part of the story ‘Mr. Fraud is now a authority on Kata, Weapons , Sport Karate and fighting and he is part of the community blending in as if he had really earned a right to teach martial arts and our kids and that is my most touchy subject our ‘Kids”
A parent brings her three kids into the studio I trained at now and said was concerned how the Martial Art School down the street was teaching her kids,he had a $79″SPECIAL”,
The school she had taken her kids to was Joe Bob Fraud’s Tae Kwon Do and Fertilizer Store and she said ,”he screams at my kids ,makes them pushups for everything, has the older kids hit my kids hard enough to make them cry often , my girls hate it and my son does not want to go ,I am on a agreement for one year ,however I don’t care , I want my kids happy and I have seen real karate and know the benefits of a real school.
My Instructor said to the disgruntled and frustrated parent ,,,
Please bring your kids in , they can train for a month ‘No Charge “,after that if they are learning and having a great time , we’ll take the next step ,,your call , by the way I have three size one “Little Dragon”uniforms you can have as gift for stepping inside my studio.
Check Out the studio your kids are training at, check out the instructors background ,martial arts and criminal background check !
Know the person that your Kids spend time with and asked questions and some more questions .
After all,,,,, is it Real or Memorex!
“Rambling Cousin Eddie” Opinion of a Martial Art Fan
The Slow Gin Fizz Trash Can Fruit Punch 190 Grain Alcohol Day.
Early 1970’s
Marketing ,keeping a new idea like a huge nightclub open was tough, basically we were open ,but only at night however, we had a great creative crew headed by yours truly,
We wanted to make a “Ladies Night ” the first of it’s kind ,all ladies get in the club free with one drink compliment of the club and they are given a ticket stub ,every guy gets one too ,when the two stubs find each other on the dance floor and bring the matching stubs to the bar ,if they match the house buys them a drink of their choice ,lots of mingling ,, cool ,but one night it backfired on my creative idea!
The drink of the night for ladies was a Slow -Gin with Ginger Ale drink which was sweet and red.
We gave them out like hot cakes and cotton candy , some got two drinks , some got more !
To off shoot all those intoxicated ladies , I decided to go to my liquor warehouse and get three cases of quart bottles of 190 grain alcohol , 100 cans of all kinds of fruit juices , 50 bottles of ginger ale ,5 large trash cans and last I went to the farmers market and bought 300 pounds of fruit, bananas, oranges ,plums, watermelon, cantaloupes, apples ,strawberry’s ,pineapples , lots of pineapples ,then I had my bartenders cut all the fruit ,mix everything together in the trash barrels .
What happen next was , well the ladies were getting sick and everything coming up was red ,so it looked like blood , people was freaking , ambulances called , police came it got so out of hand!
Then the second mishap , everything back then was govern by the ABC ,the Alcohol Beverage Commission , one little ounce bottle at a time , each bottle is regulated !
I had three cases of 190 grain in those five trash bins , I gave it away to everyone ,even the staff, just to get rid of it ,that Sunday morning I had five trash cans full of fruit by my office waiting for the trash man ,,,,then it hit me like a ton of bricks,all the Alcohol is absorbed in the fruit !
I cut me off a slice of watermelon , ate some oranges and some apples , got on the phone and called everyone,
As far as I know it was the very first Thrash Can Punch Party that lasted two days.
I do remember Johnny Rivers music that afternoon and becoming a fruit junkie,,lol
It’s Too Late
https://youtu.be/3cLuONfsKIA?list=RDMRl-duAjTEg
The Electric Warehouse Chronicles
https://www.facebook.com/groups/596622640504076/?ref=bookmarks
The day I got Knocked out before the tournament started!
I look back and wonder what motivated me as a fighter and a competitor and it was who I sparred with and who I spent time with weekend after weekend in the early 1980’s it was Texas Sport Karate that changed my life and this is one of those stories I love to tell.
Mike Hughes in the wheelchair below was a bad,bad dude, he could fight and he would hurt you if you did not move out of his way when he came at you .
1981
Texas State Championships in Texas City ,back then we would always pick a partner to warm up with before they called us to line up , before computers ,preferably you pick some one who was better , faster to warm you up fast .
I had just let Al Garza abused me and knocked me around ,I remember I would let people hit me with a full sidekick many times just to get psyched up.
Al Garza had the best sidekick around ,fast , hard and accurate.
I had gone though a couple of warm ups and then Mike came up to me and said ,’Lets go a few”
I remember he wore a red ,white and blue stripe Gi , tore up on the sleeves and baggy pants , I knew he was from Dallas ,Texas ,that was about it and he could hurt you!
We moved around for a moment ,then it came out of nowhere ,a round kick that knocked my head off, my partner Kevin Scott told me what happen next !
He said i dropped like a sack of potatoes to the floor completely knocked out ,there was no medical help and everybody kinda froze !
Kevin said, Fred Simon came walking up and in his gruff voice said ‘HE LOOKS LIKE HE NEEDS MOUTH TO MOUTH ,SOMEONE GIVE HIM MOUTH TO MOUTH ,,,SOME ONE HOLLERED ,,YOU GIVE HIM MOUTH TO MOUTH!
Mr. Simon who calls me to this day his “little baby’ picked me up by the shoulders and I was totally limp and he shook me hard ,then really hard ,threw water on me .
I recovered and Mike and I became good friends over the years1
Thank you Mike for teaching me a hard lesson ,never take anyone for granted even in warm-ups .
To this day I believe I am the only Black Belt in Sport Karate History who got knocked out before the tournament started !
After I recovered I took third place ,,,Love Texas Karate, Osu
The Slow Gin Fizz Trash Can Fruit Punch 190 Grain Alcohol Day.
Early 1970’s
Marketing ,keeping a new idea like a huge nightclub open was tough, basically we were open ,but only at night however, we had a great creative crew headed by yours truly,
We wanted to make a “Ladies Night ” the first of it’s kind ,all ladies get in the club free with one drink compliment of the club and they are given a ticket stub ,every guy gets one too ,when the two stubs find each other on the dance floor and bring the matching stubs to bar ,if they match the house buys them a drink of their choice ,lots of mingling ,, cool ,but one night it backfired on my creative idea!
The drink of the night for ladies was a Slow -Gin with Ginger Ale drink which was sweet and red.
We gave them out like hot cakes and cotton candy , some got two drinks , some got more !
To off shoot all those intoxicated ladies , I decided to go to my liquor warehouse and get three cases of quart bottles of 190 grain alcohol , 100 cans of all kinds of fruit juices , 50 bottles of ginger ale ,5 large trash cans and last I went to the farmers market and bought 300 pounds of fruit, bananas, oranges ,plums, watermelon, cantaloupes, apples ,strawberry’s ,pineapples , lots of pineapples ,then I had my bartenders cut all the fruit ,mix everything together in the trash barrels .
What happen next was , well the ladies were getting sick and everything coming up was red ,so it looked like blood , people was freaking , ambulances called , police came it got so out of hand!
Then the second mishap , everything back then was govern by the ABC ,the Alcohol Beverage Commission , one little ounce bottle at a time , each bottle is regulated !
I had three cases of 190 grain in those five trash bins , I gave it away to everyone ,even the staff, just to get rid of it ,that Sunday morning I had five trash cans full of fruit by my office waiting for the trash man ,,,,then it hit me like a ton of bricks,all the Alcohol is absorbed in the fruit !
I cut me off a slice of watermelon , ate some oranges and some apples , got on the phone and called everyone,
As far as I know it was the very first Thrash Can Punch Party that lasted two days.
I do remember Johnny Rivers music that afternoon and becoming a fruit junkie,,lol
It’s Too Late
The Electric Warehouse Chronicles
“Tell it like it is”,,,,let your conscious be your guide!
Nitwit Hall of Shame
This is dedicated to all the pioneers, Icons ,real Black Belts and just solid martial artist teachers,tournament Black Belts that will never be a Black Belt Martial Arts Hall of Fame inductee.
“It is not the Award , but the Journey that got you there”
I feel for you,heck, it may not be coming to a city near you and I’m sure if your a little short on the initiation fee ,just call them up and explain the check is a little short this week and maybe wait till next year.
I heard there is over 400 four hundred categories to choose from, just save up your funds!
Lets see here,
$568.00 airfare
$350.00 deposit to rent a car
$50.00 Gas
$475.00 Two night stay
$40.00 Garage parking
$1,000.00 Initiation Fee and preparation into Hall of Fame
$300.00 Your Hall of Fame Award
I have a suit friend and he is he guy that travels all around America and scopes out Ryan’s Buffets, he does surveys of how many and where to put the best Buffets and topographical Maps of prime areas.
I asked him to do me a favor, if he would used his sources to find out how many Black Belt Hall of Fame”s there are ?
Guess What!!!!,,,there is only ONE Black Belt Hall of Fame because ,back in the day, Black Belt Magazine thought it was important enough and prestigious to “COPYRIGHT” the term Black Belt Hall of Fame.
That is why everything is “Martial Arts” and then Hall of Fame for it would be a infringement on a copyright,,,,,duh,,,getting back ,well my suit friend came back and told me that maybe there is only one Black Belt Hall or Fame , however there are over 500 Martial Arts Hall of Fame groups ,ceremonies and events around the country!
Now that did not include WORLD DOMINATION with Hall of Fame inductions all over the earth and all the ones created just in the past ten years by these new 10th degree black belts , it is Hall of Fame frenzy, who can get most in inductions by the time their thirty -fifth birthday.
The Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame was the hoot ,three or four categories!
Man of the Year
Weapons Man of the Year
Instructor of the Year
Competitor of the Year
It was the real deal, You were voted in by one vote at a time and YOU WERE VOTED BY THE PUBLIC and PAST INDUCTEES!
There was no money involved, GIVEN OR TAKEN , just the respect of being voted for and chosen into the most prestigious most recognized Black Belt Hall of Fame.
I have a com-padre who was nominated in 1997 for “Competitor of the Year”
Mike Chat and Jon Valera tied for that honor that year, well deserved and then he was nominated for “Man of the Year” in 1998 and James Lee earned that moment, rumor has it,, he had over 250 personal votes!
Funny,,,, when I bring it up and ragging him at the moment of that past memory , he smiles and says Second place tries harder ,just wasn’t meant to be a Hall of Fame inductee!
Just Rambling ,,,,
Rambling Cousin Eddie
https://youtu.be/u0O7htEkmzM