December 24, 2005 November Camp Pictures From: Soke Rodney S. Willis <renshirsw@golden.net> Please go to link below to see November camp Pictures. http://community.webshots.com/user/vnmartialarts Peace Soke Willis

December 27, 2005 - Subject: Looking for more info in regards to your website and certification. From: Greg Brown kickman01@aol.com -, World Tang Soo Do Association. International Tae Kwon Do Federation. United Mixed Martial Arts Association. United States Yoseikan Budo Federation., Tang Soo Do. Tae Kwon Do. Jujitsu. Hapkido. Aikido. Jeet Kune Do. Thai boxing., Address: Philipsburg, PA, United States Club: Browns Mixed Martial Arts Sensei: Greg Brown

December 6, 2005 - Subject: For Affiliation Kwanmukan International Society From: All Indian Karate Federation Dear Sir - Thinks for your kind mail. My - Name is Manoj Saini General Secretary of Sports Academy of India (Regd.) which is working for promotion of Taekwondo, Wushu, Martial Arts, Karate etc. in India and it has different Federation under its members for different sports. -- I would like to introduce your sports and Federation India so I can promote sports here and can put best efforts at international/ world level in that purpose I need your help. I would like to take national affiliation/ membership to Sports Academy of India if you don’t have legal member or branch in India. So please let know and issue me/ give me direction how I can get your affiliation so that we can work under your kind control. -- I would like to make sports contact with you and I want to join you upcoming events and championships so please let me know about that, so that we can attend that event under your kind control. Hope you in anticipation, Regards, Manoj Saini General Secretary, Sports Academy of India (Regd.) Affiliate by: School Games Federation of India – Indian Non Olympic Association - Recognized by: Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs - Dept. Of Human Resources Development - Govt. of India - Address: Haryana (INDIA)

December 10, 2005 - From: Kim Gylling kim.gylling@syh.fi - Subject: WWW Form Submission The members of the association, Shorinji-ryu Karate-do, Address: Vasa, Finland Club: Futoukai Karate Finland Sensei: Kim Gylling

December 8, 2005 - From: - James Theros, lion@level10martialarts.com - Subject: WWW Form Submission - Classic Martial Arts Federation, World Black Belt Bureau, International Hapkido Federation, World Kum Do Association, Kung Fu (Sip Pal Gi), Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido, Kum do, Address: Indianapolis, Indiana - Club: Level 10 Martial Arts College Sensei: Master James Theros

December 5, 2005 - Subject: New Wing Chun Web Site From: www.wing-chun-training.com <webmaster@gbinteractive.com - Hi, I have just looked at your site, www.usakarate.org, and thought that it was excellent and also relevant to my new site that I am just launching. I was wondering if you were interested in a link exchange as I am sure that our visitors would be very interested in your site? I would very much appreciate it if you could place a link to my new site on your web site using the information below and send me a short email to let me know your linking information so that I can add a link to your site from mine. Title: Wing Chun Training URL: http://www.wing-chun-training.com Description: A site dedicated to bringing you free information and articles on Wing Chun Kung Fu. Thank you for your time and I hope to hear back from you at your convenience. Regards, Glenn

November 26, 2005 – Subject: Are customs required that are contrary to Biblical teachings - From: Anthony W Muller lojmaf@yahoo.com  - United States Judo Association. International Network of Christian Martial Artists, Judo, American Karate, Small Circle Jujitsu, What kind of sparring rules do you observe and do you require Kata competition. Are there any rituals or customs required that are contrary to Biblical teachings such as bowing from the knees, participating in incense lighting rituals at alters or shrines to dead humans, calling any human master, etc Address: Camden TN Club: Lion of Judah Martial Arts Fello wship

November 25, 2005 - Subject: Past membership listing  -From: Frederucg C [Rick] Jackson fredjackson2237@msn.com, USAKF, GMAF, Shudokhan, Shutokhan, Tae Kwan Do, Savvatte, Kenpo Traditional, I was a former member ending in perhaps 1986, 87. In that era. Where can I locate my past membership listing. And the 1986 West coast National Federation FCKA  Address: Kennewick, Washington Club: Tri-Cities School of Karate Sensei: Dan Wooten

November 13, 2005 -  From: albertoh@imperialcounty.net Subject: WWW Form Submission  - Name: Alberto Hernandez, , Shito-Ryu, Address: 1217 Primavera Dr. Calexico, CA. Club: Seiden-Kai Sensei: Ruben Canedo

November 13, 2005 -  Subject: Looking to join progressive group - Name: Elmer Garrido, Have 1st Dan in Tang Soo Do - Cheezic Organization in CT and 1st Dan in Taekwon Do from the Independent Taekwondo Federation, of Grandmaster John Pellegrini, Red Belt Depasquale Ju-Jitsu, Orange Tracy Kenpo, and Combat Hapkido., I am looking to join an organization that I can progress and grow with, no matter where I live. Address: New Britain, CT

November 9, 2005 -  Subject: Dojo's in Rochester Michigan From: Loebus Diego <diego.loebus@siemens.com Hello, I got your contact from the German Karate federation. I will be the next year in the US and I would like to continue my sport. Could you please support me in finding any possibility for training. I live in Rochester, MI. May be you could provide information of some Dojo's around? Thanks for your help. Best Regards D. loebus  SIEMENS VDO Automotive AG Diego Loebus  Address: Siemensstr. 12 / 93055 Regensburg/Germany

November 8, 2005 -  Subject: Karate in West Africa From: Jason Dudek <manoftheplains@yahoo.ca Hello, My  name is Jason Dudek, and I have just returned from working for an International Humanitarian Organization called Right To Play ( www.righttoplay.com in Sierra Leone. Right to Play uses sport and physical activities to rehabilitate children and their communities in refugee camps and post war countries. I myself am a martial artist and had the opportunity to meet a remarkable individual in Sierra Leone who I thought might be of interest to your federation. This individual, Victor Amara, is using Shotokan Karate to rehabilitate Sierra Leone after its brutal 11-year civil war. ----  Victor Amara has a 5th dan black belt in Shotokan Karate and has trained in Japan and The Netherlands. He earned the title of African Karate Champion in 1996, and is Sierra Leone’s highest graduate of martial arts. Subsequently he has gone on to become the chief instructor of the Sierra Leone Federation for Martial Arts(SLFMA), and founded the Sierra Leone Karate Federation(SLKA). In 2003 he was appointed by government as National coach of Sierra Leone’s national Karate team, training the team for participation in the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, UK, as well as the All African Games in Abuja, Nigeria. He is also an accredited international Karate referee. ---- Victor currently runs an academy in Sierra Leone’s capital city, Freetown. He welcomes students of all kinds, old and young, men and women, rich and poor. He told me that in his view, the most significant work he has done in the past few years has been on the local level: he is a strong believer in the power of martial arts, and his academy has become a center of rehabilitation for men and women traumatized by Sierra Leone’s civil war. He stresses inclusion, non-violence and builds self-esteem through his teaching. I trained over a period of 6 months at his Freetown Dojo, and saw first hand his efforts and their effect. I talked to one young ex-combatant who found in Karate a way off the streets and his drug addiction. ---- Victor’s Dojo was bombed and looted in 1999 when the war reached Freetown. Even now, Sierra Leone remains one of the poorest countries in the world (177 out of 177 on the United Nation’s Development Index). If there is any support  your federation can offer, it would make a world of difference. From used Gi’s to moral support, Victor’s Dojo is in dire need of anything and everything. ---- Victor has been an “Athlete Ambassador” for Right To Play’s program in Sierra Leone for over 3 years. He has been wonderful in his support of our program there, and proven himself to be reliable and sincere. It is therefore without hesitation that I can assure that any contribution you can make to Victor’s Dojo will make a difference in helping him reach more students. ---- With the utmost sincerity, Jason Dudek, Project Coordinator - Right To Play

October 24, 2005 -  Subject: US Team? From: CedarFallsJD@aol.com  - Name: Justin Downs, IA Tang Soo Do Academy, Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan, How does one qualify to make the US Team? Address: Cedar Falls, IA, USA, Club: Iowa Tang Soo Do Academy - Sensei: Steve Decker

October 26, 2005 -  Subject: urgent - events schedule From: Rex Neomen Fernando <rexneom@mail.ru Subject: urgent - events schedule Dear Sir/Madam, This month we participated in 5 Continents Championship in Killarney, Ireland. We have taken 6 golden medals. We would like to participate in other international in events. In this regard I kindly request you to send events schedule. Waiting for you reply. Valentina on behalf of Karate-do Federation Kalmykia Russia

October 26, 2005 -  From: rexneom@mail.ru Subject: WWW Form Submission  - Name: Valentina Mukubenova, Russian FSKA, Shidan, Needan, etc, Address: Elista, Kalmykia, Russia Club: Karate-do Federation, Republic of Kalmykia Sensei: Boris Menkeev

October 21, 2005 Subject: Info: Master Kim From: Susan Pendergraft <fossils@knology.net Dear Master Anderson, gmkim.jpg -- After having spent almost 15 years studying Tang Soo Do and Tae Kwon Do as a young person; I gave it up in my early twenties. Recently (20 years later), I have begun to train again, this time with my six-year-old daughter. In the interest of rediscovering my past I have been making some inquiries. I am hoping that your presence in the D.C. area around the time I was training could lend me some insight. ---As a small child I spent about seven years training in Tang Soo Do/Tae Kwon Do with a Master Kim in New Carrollton, Maryland in the early 1970's. The dojang I trained in had a lead black belt whose name was Mario Oveido. Master "Henry" ?? Kim seemed to work under Grandmaster Ki Whang Kim. the grandmaster's picture hung in the dojang. I have spoken to Master Kim now of Harrisburg, PA and he stated that I must have trained under Henry Kim and that he went back to Korea.  G.M. Ki Whang Kim did come to the dojang and was present during some of my testing. ---Do you know anything about the arrangements of the persons "working" as masters for Master Ki Whang Kim? I have sent a picture from the Kim-Studio vintage photos. The man directly to the left behind Ki Whang Kim is the master I studied under. Do you recognize him? ---Thanks so much for your time,---Susan "King" ---Pendergraft - Largo, Florida

October 19, 2005 - From: sahartsell@hotmail.com Subject: WWW Form Submission   - Name: Scott Hartsell, International Shorinji Kempo Karate Federation, Shorinji Kempo,  Address: Huntersville, NC - Club: Martial Arts Training Institute - Sensei: Irwin Carmichael

October 17, 2005 - From: fernando.david@pj.pt Subject: WWW Form Submission  - Name: Fernando David, Criminal Police, Address: Loures – Portugal  Club: ISPJCC  Se12/19/06nsei: Fernando David

October 12, 2005 -  Subject: Shudokan - From: Matthew Gouig <mcgouig@earthlink.net  Dear Friends: I am a student of the late Walter Todd and I teach Shudokan to a small group of students here on the Mendocino Coast of California. I would very much like to stay connected to as many Shudokan Organizations as I can as I think my Sensei would have liked. --- How can I join? I received my Shodan thru Isao Ichikawa of Doshinkan and my Nidan in  Shudokan thru Walter Todd Sensei. Thank you very much. -- Noyo Harbor, Ft. Bragg

October 9, 2005 - Subject: Wants to be a member - Name: Sudakar. B, soskai@hotmail.com Head Instructor for India Sensei Sudakar. Yondan in karate nidan in kobudo recognized by Oshukai International, located at Chennai Tamilnadu, India and also member in all India Karate do Federation which is recognized by India Olympic Association. Our association affiliated to India Kobudo Association, karate -Oshukai Okinawa Shorinryu and Kobudo- Oshukai Okinawa Kobudo, our Indian Kobudo Association and Indo Karatedo Kobudo promotion foundation wants to be member. Kindly send the terms and norms details  Address Tamilnadu India. Regards- Sudakar Club: oshukai Okinawa Shorinryu Karate Do India  - Sensei: Hanshi Chinen Kenyu

October 8, 2005 - Subject: What seminars do you have coming up in the Toronto area?  From: LivingThruThis@aol.com -  Jessica Del Valle, none, Isshin-Ryu Karate, Tai Chi Chuan, Address: Williamsville, NY, USA Club: Bill Adams Martial Arts and Fitness Center Sensei: Bill Adams

October 8, 2005 -  From: tkd_chungdokwan@hotmail.com Subject: WWW Form Submission  - Name: Gamine Soysa, Gamini Soysa(Sri Lanka and New York) affiliated with okinawa karate do Shorin ryu Shorin kan, Okinawa/Japan, Okinawan Shorin Ryu (Kobyashi) Japan Karatedo Renbukai, Address: Uniondale, Network Club: Okinawa Karate Do Shorin Ryu Shorin kan Sri Lanka Sensei: Shugoro Nakazato

October 6, 2005 -  From: crush2@sbcglobal.net  Subject: WWW Form Submission  - Name: Rudy Corrales, International Karate Connection Association  - American Independent Karate Instructor's Association, Chinese Kenpo, Filipino Kali - Submission Grappling, I am also a 19 year veteran of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation-Division of Adult Parole Operations as a parole agent. Address: Rialto, California USA - Club: Corrales Martial Arts: Kenpo

October 5, 2005 -  Subject: Argentina Form Submission From: gmshotokan@yahoo.com.ar   - Name: Valencia, Eduardo Javier, karate do Shotokan, me interesaria saber si es verdad que la UAK se retiro de la confederacion mundial o si es informacion erronea.ya que de ser así, mi grupo de trabajo estaria interesado en representar a la Argentina bajo la tutela de su entidad. muy atte. Eduardo Valencia, 6º dan de karate, autorizado por confederación bonaerense de deporte, respaldado por Instituto Provincial De Deportes, los cuales son afiliados a La Federación Única De Karate De La Pcia. de Bs. As – a la Argentina Shotokan Ryu Karate Budo Kyokai Y A La WKC, Y Japan Shotokan Karate Association. Desde ya muchas gracias por su atención. Address: Argentina Club: Club Atlético Nueva Chicago -- Dojo Mataderos  Sensei: Valencia, Eduardo Javier

October 4, 2005 - Subject: Annual Membership and Promotions From: AFKKICK KARATE <afkkick@yahoo.com - I will soon receive my 2nd Dan in American Freestyle Karate, which is under Shorin-Shorei Karate Do Association (Shotokan).  I am very much interested in becoming an annual member, becoming certified and receiving additional rank promotions through USAKF. As a member of the USAKF how will my promotions be handled, will I be tested by my instructor or will the promotions be through USAKF? Thank You, Debbie Spencer's Karate & Fitness Center, LLC , Rocky Mount, VA

October 5, 2005 Conversation:: Boggs is still alive - don't send flowers From: Kenukan@aol.com --- George, Yeah, I'm still alive. My son Travis has kept the dojo running smoothly while finishing his last year at KU - not doing bad as he has a 3.67 GPA with a 4.0 in his professional classes. He is in the Business College with a major in Management. Graduates in May. I have been busy with my record company - so close of breaking out with a winner. Will be talking to Jack Daniel's, Papa John's, Sonic, and Sprint/Nextel within the next 30-45 days. You'll be one of the first to hear if all goes well. Travis has been assisting Harrison in quite a few of his seminars - he wished he could be up there next weekend for Jim's instruction. I believe Jim said he was taking two of his sons? I have been instructing 2 classes a week to not fall completely by the way side. Also, I'd like to recommend a local Jujitsu practitioner, Steve Crawford to jump on board as possible Kansas/ Western Missouri Rep. for USJJF. Crawford's web page is www.crawfordsmma.com.  He called me and asked about involvement and program possibilities for his students and training. His phone # is 816.728.7360. He has been doing mixed martial arts for about 9 years and has constantly attempted to raise the bar with his instruction. Although he explored avenues with John Townsley he has never played politics in the area. Anyway, I am sure Bethers would welcome some involvement locally. Please feel free to e-mail this to Bruce and call me if there are any questions or if I can assist.    Just me Bob

September 29, 2005 -  Subject: Contact  Information needed From: Sara, Daniel F <SaraDF@state.gov  I am a citizen from rep. of Guinea, West Africa. I hold a black belt, third Dan, in Taekwondo. I'm managing a Taekwondo Club in Conakry, Guinea. Forty-four learners are enrolled. I love this sports, so I need to establish a fruitful relation with your association. This may help us a lot here, and I will be too grateful to benefit from your rich experience.  ---- My request is as follows: 1. would you accept my Club be your twin Club (or another suggested U.S. Club) here? 2. I'd like to get a friendly support from your association (of any kind). 3. I'm ready to accept any of your suggestion or offer. Please advise, and thanks for your cooperation  From: Aboubacar Stell Conté c/o danielsara48@yahoo.com

September 27, 2005 Regarding info on past champion To: Aaron Reed <lucus903@hotmail.com> Aaron, I don’t have a clue what the National Karate Association is. It has no connection with the USA Karate Federation. Aaron Reed" <lucus903@hotmail.com> wrote: Hi George - I called you today about finding out more info on a possible past champion. He is Jerome J. Carter (Date of birth 10/24/1955) who might have fought during the 80's? Take a look at his website www.goodonlydoneproductions.com under the section about him - on the page about him there is a white box that states he is the only U.S. 12 time national karate champion ever with 31 wins. Is this true? Looking forward to finding out the truth on this and take it off the website if it isn’t true. If you need any other info on him or where is currently living just let me know. Thank you so much for your help on this.

September 27, 2005 Subject: Message from WTKA World President - From: info@wtkainternational.it -- Dear friend, with a great emotion the WTKA World Championships of Karate is arriving. As you know the work is very hard but the delight to live together this experience in the name of KARATE-DO makes us full of energies and enthusiasm. And the sacrifices become emotions. For us Karate means love, Karate is the way to fell the interior peace, to find the union with everything. Train yourself, go over yours limits with the happiness in your hearts and if you will lose a match on the tatami, as in your life, don’t be discouraged but try hard to make yours techniques and your soul more bigger. Try to feel “no arrogance in the winning, no regrets for the defeat”. This is my wish about your World Championships. We have to study Karate in every form and every meaning with all our energies loving our art, loving our life. As the ancient warriors used their sword to train their life comprehension: “don’t exist on the life way closed gates for the man that wants to continue on one’s way. If you want arrive somewhere follow the right way and you will became the way.” Karate is our way, the way that we chose to light our existences. With love, --Mr. Michele Panfietti WTKA World President

September 14, 2005 PSDI Subject: Changes -- From: KDOA@aol.com Dear Friends and Associates: As most of you know, I have recently resigned as the Assistant Chief of Police with the Alliance Police Department and significantly reduced my association with the Kick Drugs Out of Alliance program. None of the professional contact numbers you have for me will still work. I am looking forward towards other ventures. Anyone needing to contact me can still do so by emailing me at JeffreyHelaney@aol.com   Questions about department issues and the KDOA program can be directed Chief Lawrence A. Dordea. Det. Roy Tittle (detrtittle@hotmail.com), and Sgt. Edward Wonner are continuing to run the KDOA as I step down. Please continue to show them the same support you have shown me.  God bless all of you. Be well. Sincerely, Jeff Helaney

September 29, 2005 -  Subject: 1996 PA State Champions. From: w_hungx9@yahoo.com  - Name: Marshall, I know that your org does not deal with State championships; but I am trying to track down the 1996 PA State Champions. I have had no luck searching local Newspaper archives and was wondering if you could possibly give me a lead on who/what site I could reference to find the results... Thanks much, Marshall  GEA answers: -----Marshall, The state championships are not nationally listed. You might try looking under PA State Champions  - April 15, 2006 - 33rd ANNUAL PITTSBURGH KARATE CHAMPIONSHIP - This event sponsored by Kyoshi Frank Caliguri will be held in New Kensington, Pa. For more information contact (724) 335-9300. Regards, GEA

September 24, 2005 -  Subject: Sensei Seikichi Odo's From: santokukan@yahoo.com  - Name: Alfred G. River, Used to be OKKF. Because of some political problems after Sensei Seikichi Odo's death. We are kind of outlaw to the new organization Which I believe is named Ryukyu hom kempo or something like that, traditional Okinawa kenpo, I visited the Tucson School and It is a very nice dojo. Address: Brawley, CA Club: Santokukan karate-kobudo (by myself at the moment) Sensei: Sensei Richard Gonzalez

September 23, 2005 -  Subject: Just making Contact - From: knoxkarate@yahoo.com  - Name: James Knox, International Shuri-ryu Assoc., Shuri-ryu, Just making contact with you, I slowly getting back into training in karate and jiu-jitsu. I enjoyed your web site, looking forward  to train maybe in march in S.C.. bye  Address: Atlanta, GA Club: Mind-body-spirit Inc Sensei: me

September 22, 2005 -  Subject: Wants patches - From: paul@earko.com  - Name: Paul Lane, British Taiho-Jutsu Association, Taiho-Jutsu, Please could you send me one of your taiho-jutsu instructor patches, they would look great on my Gi in Britain. Thanks, Paul. 2nd Dan Taiho-Jutsu Address: Birmingham, England Club: West Midlands Taiho-Jutsu Sensei: Brian Eustace 8th Dan

September 20, 2005 -  Subject: Wants information - From: Silkquest69@yahoo.com  - Name: Jerome O Jackson Jr, Black karate Federation, TKD JKD Shorien Ryu karate, Can you send me more information about your organization? Address: Chicago Il, Club: Universal Touch Center, Sensei: Kelvin Caldwell

September 10, 2005 -  Subject: Friends From: familytkdschool@yahoo.com - Name: Jonathan Gordillo, USTU. KICK/USA , AAU , USSSA, taekwondo international and Olympic I.T.F , W.T.F, I'm black belt first poom I have 11 years old and I would like to meet e new martial art friends Address: Miami  Florida 

September 7, 2005 -  From: fightingspirit@tiscali.be  - Name: Hans Balcaen , WTF, Taekwondo, I would like some info about your organisation  Address: Belgium  Club: TKD Fighting Spirit  Sensei: Hans Balcaen

September 4, 2005 - Subject: Certificates and Joining  From: reddyrekula@yahoo.co.in  - Name: R. Rrekula. Amarender Reddy,  Presently practicing under Shorin Ryu Karate -Japan, 1, Inter National Karate Academy, Malaysia.2, Budokan Karate Inter National Malaysia.3 gojukan [Budo Koi] India.4, Shorin Ryu India.5, World Funakoshi Shotokan India.6,Wado-ryu Karate India., I Want Membership In USA Karate Federation is it possible or not. Address: Hyderabad, India Club: Gichin Funakoshi Martial Arts Academy - Sensei: Raja Vardhan

September 4, 2005 - Subject: Teaching himself  - From: Sensi_Leonard@Yahoo.ca - Name: Sensei Paul Leonard,  Hachidan, I am  President Of The World Congress Shintani Wado-kai Karate ., Wado-ka ., Just A Friendly Communication. Address: Driftwood , Ontario , Canada . Club: W.c.S. W- K.K. 

September 1, 2005 - Subject: Teaching himself - From: angelofbrimstone@yahoo.com   - Name: Charlie Lynn, , Tae-Quan-do, Ju-jitsu, Wu-tai, I don’t really have money to learn in a class so I teach myself from what I've read in books, Im not an expert at any form, but I am becoming proficient. Address: Sacramento California USA

August 23, 2005 Subject: RE: Tournament Sizes -- From: Alan Campbell <acamp@bikerider.com --- Conversation: Tournament Sizes -- Regarding your comment on the tournaments sizes. I believe, based on the observed numbers of competitors per most divisions, that the USA-NKF nationals this year were about the size they have been for the last few years. They had the appearance of being smaller due to the size of the facility. --- GEA ---We had several people there that made an educated estimate. I don’t know the size of the USNKF events but they should be around 1000, at least.

23 August 2005 --- WFMA -- Greetings and Salutations from your Brothers and Sisters in Canada. When Sensei Adames says WOW! It may have been an understatement. The 2005 five years has been an outstanding one. --- As you know, Hanshi Montalvo and I met December 8th 2002 at a Hall of Fame in Miami Florida. By the 10th of December 2002, we became brothers and our two families became one. --- January 2003 saw the birth and our first event in Rio San Juan, Dominican Republic. The first WFMA World Championships with over 200 participants.  Nevertheless, I digress. Let us look at last year and what we accomplished. January 2005 we held the WFMA Goodwill Games in Panama. March 6th 2005 the first WFMA point’s tournament held in Kitchener, Ontario. March 11th 2005 the 1st Ronin Police Primary Protection Seminar held in Guelph Ontario with participants from Canada, USA and Puerto Rico. Special Guest Col. Mahin Ruisanchez from the Puerto Rican Police Department. ---- March 11th – 13th 2005 International Bushi Te Federation Weapons Camp with participants attending from Canada, USA and Puerto Rico. At this camp several Ronin Students from the US and Puerto Rico received belt promotions in Kobudo. --- On the 13th of March 2005 Hanshi Montalvo taught seminars in Kitchener for Renshi Fries (Assistant Ronin Canadian Director) and Renshi Adette Rice (Canadian National Director Ronin Goju Ryu Kai) ---The first two weeks of April 2005 SSA Carlos Montalvo, SA Javier Adames and Soke Willis were together again in Puerto Rico this time. Hanshi Montalvo and Sensei Adames were training over 100 Police Officers from across Puerto Rico and Soke Willis was observing and assisting as Their Special Guest. Now, I can tell you we worked our tail off. When we were not instructing Police Officers we were teaching at a number of Dojo. Soke Willis taught seminars to Hanshi Diego Cardin’s dojo, Edwin Lopez Navedo’s dojo and Eduardo Martinez’s Dojo. 17th July 2005 Black Belt Testing and promotions were held with a huge surprise Gary Legacy, Carlos Montalvo and Rodney Willis were promoted to ninth Dan in their respective styles. Soke Willis also received his ninth Dan in Kobudo. --- 2nd August Renshi Kassama from Baltimore Maryland arrives with his wife and four lovely daughters for a week’s holiday. Renshi brings with him a new Kata developed by Hanshi Shuguro Nagazato, 10th Dan founder of Kobayashi Ryu Shorin Ryu. The new Kata called Gorin is taught three days in a row and the Black Belts put in almost 10 hours just on this one Kata. Renshi Kassama agrees to be part of the World Fraternity of Martial Artists and International Bushi Te Federation. Dr. Rodney S. Willis, Soke - International Director - Ronin International Martial Arts Federation - International Bushi Te Federation  World Fraternity of Martial Artists

August 22, 2005 Subject: Re: Anderson From: Steven Hewett <hewettent@alltel.net Interesting that you post my commits to you on your blog page. Trying to drum up sympathy? After reading all the blogs it is nice to see that politics still rule you and your organization.

August 18, 2005 Subject: Mr. Lightfoot From: Jack Pyles  Conversation: Mr. Lightfoot

Hanshi Anderson and Executive Board USAKF (Shihans Hickey, Bukala, Ames, Nanay) Like father like son, I have to reply to Mr. Lightfoot criticism of this years Nationals. For 8 years I either ran the Nationals or assisted under the supervision of Grandmaster LaPuppet, and unfortunately you CAN NOT please everyone. -- But in the same case some issues are really dragged into the mud sometimes. AIR CONDITIONING, cut me some slack. Did any of the masters ever train in air conditioning? Most orthopedic doctors will even agree air conditioned training is not the best for muscles or joints, especially in youth competitors. And for competition, his family must have never competed on a world playing field, since most third world countries my son has competed in do not even know what air conditioning is. -- Uniforms, headgear, weapons these are all moot points. I don’t care what event we have been at; USAKF, NKF, AAU etc., that rule is barely adhered to, and usually only in a team trial event. Headgear has been allowed for years in all events especially Tae Kwon Do, where it is mandatory. Most events it is not mandatory unless mats are not present, check statistics! Weapons will always be subjective as far as what is acceptable unless it is a total weapons event, which there are far and few in-between. -- The more I read about the 8 years of training, I would really like to know how many tournament events that includes. It cannot be many and those that where attended had to be on a small scale. Yes this years USAKF Nationals where small, and so were tournaments around the country as a whole, but the volunteers do the best they can, and at some times have to put up with abuse un-called for. -- You where lucky everyone spoke English, trying competing where the ref pool is made up of officials from all over the world, and where senior Dan’s believe a little hit to the head is okay. On an International competition most officials would laugh it off unless the head rocks more than 15 degrees. And as an adult black belt or even a senior junior black belt 14-16, if you can’t take a light hit to the head, well first learn to block, next maybe you are not training hard enough to be on the level of black belt. -- Enough said, as always, congratulations to the USAKF for another fine event! -- Respectfully, Jack Pyles Former Exec. Dir. USAKF

August 13, 2005 -  Subject: Changmookwan, Chile From: Maestro Patricio Garcia Rivillo <pato_15_123@hotmail.com Me es muy grato saludarlo para tener contacto con usted sobre Changmookwan para representarlo en nustro pais. Saluda atentamente.  Maestro Patricio Garcia fetaech@yahoo.com  www.taekwondochile.cl 

August 1, 2005 -  From: Gerson Orellana ccam@galeon.com  - W.C.T.F (World Christian Taekwondo Federation), Taekwondo, Jiu Jitsu, Freestyle, Address: San Jose, Costa Rica Club: C.C.A.M (Club Cristiano de Artes Marciales) Sensei: Gerson Orellana

July 13, 2005 Conversation: Thomas LaPuppet Movie From: Dave Adams <dadams1937@sc.rr.com> George, How could be get the invitation out to your associates and members about Thomas' film and the Cancer Foundation? Please find a banner attached that might be the answer, allowing it to be a link on several associations website. I know you're busy, so I appreciate your time. You had advised me that you were putting me on several of your organization board of directors. Which ones and how can I help. Am still waiting on some better copies of the competition tapes you sent me. Dave A. Adams <http://www.daveaadamsfilms.com>

July 12, 2005 Subject: the famous AAU/USJF Arguments - From: Mitch <mitchg@charter.net - Hi, I am pretty convinced there is active racism in the United State Judo Fed. - - So I did a search on the net and found this phrase you wrote: "the famous AAU/USJF arguments". Could you let me know what the story is on this?  Mitch & Kim Graves Edwardsville IL

GA- Hi. This was about what ranks would be recognized and how the US Judo team would be constituted. I am passing this on for comment from a combatant in that fight.

July 13, 2005 -  Subject: Karate for Peace From: info@wtkainternational.it - Dear Friends, the World of Karate is for the PEACE and believe deeply in brotherliness between the people. Karate is love for everything. Karate teaches to us the supreme values of liberty, equality and democracy. -- In these days we want to press around the deep sorrow of relatives of the victims of terroristic attacks in every part of the  World and for the victims of all wars. This message will be send to more that 20.000 e-mail Addresses all over the world, in every country. We can give an answer, we have to give our answer!!!!!!!!!!! Sincerely, Cristiano Radicchi

July 3, 2005 -  Subject: Promoting true Budo in USA From: kyokushin_karate_srilanka@yahoo.com -  - Name: S.w.L.Prasanna Fernando, Kyokushin-Kan International Japan, Kyokushin Karate, Kobujutsu, , Respected Grand Master George Andersons, Thanking you very much for you promoting true Budo in USA and around the world. I wish you all the best and good luck and I pray for your success forever. I believe your Organization will be contribute for 21 century world peace. OSU! Prasanna Fernando Sensei Kalubovila, Dehiwala,  Sri Lanka Club: Kyokushin karate  Lanka- Prasanna Fernando Dojo  Sensei: Hatsuo Royama - Japan

June 5, 2005 Conversation: Sorry to have missed your championship From: George Anderson To: "Kyoshi John R. Venson" <TriasFighter@hotmail.com> John, Good to hear from you. I was so sorry to miss your tournament but I was out of state for my grandson’s graduating from college. Keep in touch. Best Personal Regards, George Anderson The below site might interest to you. http://www.blackbeltblog.net

June 1, 2005 Conversation: Mark's Grade in History From: Daughter Lynn of Hanshi Anderson

Something to be proud of eh? Don't forget Marky is in an honors program. David isn't the only one with a really bright son....love you Dad..--- Lynn  ---- Subject: Mark's Grade in History --- Hi Mrs. Pethtel - I thought that you would like to know that Mark earned a perfect score on the 9th grade semester assessment test for history (the test that comes from downtown) and he only missed one question out of 60 on my portion of the exam. Tell him that he did excellent work. :) I look forward to seeing you around Firestone next year and I look forward to hopefully having Mark in history in the 11th grade. Let me know in the fall if you plan to sub again next year. I will ask for you if you do. Have a wonderful and relaxing summer!

March 12, 2005 Subject: Previous Student From Akron in 1975 From: Teri Barkoukis <tjbarkoukis@msn.com -- Dear Sensei, I was trying to find you. My name is Teri Barkoukis and I studied under you in the early 70s in Akron, Ohio when I was only 19 or 20. I was up to a 7th blue belt (certificate 1975) and you cleared me for my green belt test when I had to quit to go to college. Now 30 years later, I'm restarting Tae Kwan Do under Master Julius Melegrito. http://www.ichf.com/JM.htm. I started at the beginning as a white belt but Master Melegrito wanted to see the certificate from you (which I gave to him) and wondered if you were available to contact. I did an Internet search and found this contact e-mail. If this is indeed you then let me know. Although, I'm not sure you would remember me after all these years. You were not only training me in Tae Kwon Do but also self defense and I spent extensive hours at your school outside of classes, and I was working on painting a sign for your school. I very much respected you and your expert instruction even after all these years. I only needed to use it for real once in my life and it was most effective.  With warm regards,  Teri Barkoukis (now in Nebraska)

In answer to your questions. Master Melegrito just asked for a photocopy of my certificate from you, which believe it or not, I still had it in a file from 1975! I threw out a lot of stuff over the years but I was kind of proud of being part of your training. He doesn't need to know anything else at this point and especially since it is part of the Independent Taekwondo Association and not the Central one. Accordingly, there's different curriculum and different colored ranking belts. I started over as a white belt in June 2004, then yellow belt and now I'm an orange belt. If I keep up with the classes, I should make green by July.

About how I used your training once was soon after I left your school. I went to college and took a night job at Perkins to help with the bills. I walked into the cooler when unknown to me the cook lunged at me from the back to grab my rear and I was shocked at my own reflexes because I spun, blocked and punched in the solarplexus like you taught. He immediately dropped to the floor with his breath momentarily taken away. I was so shocked at the effectiveness, I surprised both him and me and dropped next to him to apologize but by then his breath returned and he sputtered, "no!, I should apologize to you! I got what I deserved". No one touched me after that! I was only about 20 or so at the time.

What I'm doing now are two courses of study at a school in Bellevue, Nebraska called Martial Arts International. One in Taekwondo and the other is a Philippine Kombatan course of study as part of the International Philippine Martial Arts Federation that uses primarily bamboo sticks - both two handed and one handed with other self-defense moves as well. It's a lot of fun and I test for my yellow belt next Thursday. Overall, I'm doing now what I wish I had stuck with years ago and it's a lot of fun even if I am 51 now.  I hope this answers your questions. Have a happy Easter - I look forward to going to church and am grateful for God's many blessings.  Teri Barkoukis, Omaha, NE 

April 28, 2005 Subject: PSDI FW: To: "Sgt. Robert Magnuson" From: "George Magnuson" <eagles5675@comcast.net -- Robert, Just a line to let you know of another “Magnuson” in law enforcement. I work for Rockwall Texas Police Department (near Dallas Texas) and have 25 years between 3 agencies. My dad, also named George, had 33 years in Federal and State law enforcement. I have a brother, Robert, who is a plumber. I sent him your picture. Nice meeting you. George Magnuson  Rockwall Police Warrant Officer

April 28, 2005 Subject: Re: Tom Cauley Redesignation To: Thomas Cauley <tecauley@yahoo.com -- All: After long conversations with our General Director, Teikeishiro Ogasawara, he has issued an edict that will refer to our Karatedo system simply as Ogasawara-ha Shorinjiryu Karatedo and Yuishinkai Kobujutsu. Due to increasing confusion over the term Koshiki, Sensei has decided that we will generally refer to our system as Ogasawara-ha. We have not changed anything in reference to the style name. Sakugawa Koshiki Shorinjiryu Karatedo still appears on all our Japanese language certificates; letter head etc. I believe Sensei simply has gotten tired of having our system confused with Renshinkan school of Hisataka.  That school refers to their system as Koshiki Karate. More and more, we see some confusion about that term. Koshiki in our system equates:  Orthodox or Antique - simply put, refers to the inclusion of Koshiki or Den Kata. So - just for the sake of those less informed around the world - let's just try to simplify things a little. Fraternally and hope to see all of you at our USA Nationals. We have a website set up for that purpose: http://www.wiredaemons.com/shorinji/05shiai Tom Cauley - Chief, Int'l Div. - Sakugawa Koshiki Shorinjiryu Karatedo

To GEA- My good Brother George: Thank you for your kind remarks.  At 62 I am still active in Karatedo and am the Executive Director of the McNairy County Tennessee Chamber of Commerce. It is a real challenge. - McNairy County is the home of past Buford Pusser (Walking Tall). His jail is a block away and of course I have some of his items at the Chamber. FYI the website is: www.mcnairy.com <http://www.mcnairy.com  it is so good to hear from you and to learn that you are still teaching Budo. Stay in touch and I will try, too, at doing a little better job at it... Fraternally, Tom Cauley

April 26, 2005 Nepal: Re: remembrance To: Nepal Kwanmukan Karate Do Association jkmkarate1@hotmail.com GEA--Janak, Thanks for the note. I will be back to you soon and we are now upgrading the web pages. I had a great time in Nepal and really enjoyed the trip and will post it shortly. We will keep in touch and keep up the hard work – your karate in Nepal is very good. Best Personal Regards, George Anderson Hanshi

On 4/26/05 3:43 AM, "Nepal Kwanmukan Karate Do Association" <jkmkarate1@hotmail.com wrote: --- Respected Grandmaster George Anderson President of U.S.A. Karate Federation - Founder of International Kwanmukan ---I am writing after a long time. I hope you are fine. And hope your family is also fine. Because of little bit business I could not write you. In which date the program of U.S.A. Federation is conducting? Please inform us, we will participate. Sir your the founder of Kwanmukan Karate so time to Time your suggestions, advices and your guidelines is needed, so please mail us in time to time. Waiting for your kindly response. Sincerely Shihan Janak Subedi 5th Degree Black Belt President -- Nepal Kwanmukan Karate Do Association --www.nkkda.org.np E-Mail: jkmkarate1@hotmail.com Central Office Anamnagar Kathmandu, Nepal

April 22, 2005 Subject: Re: American Kang Duk Won Association From - Martin Von Cannon http://www.akdwa.org ---Hello, My name is Martin Von Cannon. I hold a 1st degree (dan) in Kang Duk Won. The Grandmaster of our program is Raymond Arndt. He was a student of Kum Chun Kim. I have been researching Kang Duk Won, as well as Tae Kwon Do and found your site. I read on your chat page (http://www.usakarate.org/chat.html) that you are a direct student of GM Park. I was wondering if you met or know of GM Arndt, or heard of our association? Thank you for the information you have provided on your sites so far, I have learned a lot and continue to do so.

GEA -Hi Martin, GM Park just left my house this Monday and we were together the better part of a week. I have talked to GM Park about Mr. Arndt and have heard of your association. It is OK and if you want more, you will have to call me. GM George E. Anderson, 9th Dan Kang Duk Won (I got my first dan under GM Park.) Enclosed is photo of GM Park doing a “perfect” sidekick!

April 22, 2005 Subject: Re: Questions about Kwanmuzendokai To: Administrator <Administrator@jeweston.com ----Hello, my name is John Weston. In about 1990 I started training in a Kwanmuzendokai Dojo in Massillon. Ohio. I trained for approximately 5 years. Since this time my sensei has passed away and I have some questions about the organization. I can find no resources citing that the organization still has dojos. All I see is Hanshi Anderson’s information on Ju-Jitsu sites. Has the Northern Ohio Dojos gone to Ju-Jitsu only? Please let me know how the organization has changed, or where to find the information would be great. Thank you for your time.

GEA- John, You must have been training with Jack Holderbaum who is now dead. We still have many dojos and are in full business of the arts.

April 21, 2005 Subject: FW: Coach Development From: Meghan_A_Shepherd@SPFLDCOL.EDU To: Patrick Hickey phickey@loveinsurance.com Hello, my name is Meghan and I am doing some research on youth sports and coach development programs for one of my classes. I am trying to find out what kinds of coach development programs are offered through an extensive search on the Internet and came across your organization. I am wondering if you could send me any information regarding what coach development/certification programs you offer (if any) and a brief description describing them. If you could please respond back to me at your earliest convenience that would be great! Meghan Shepherd - Springfield College

April 21, 2005 PSDI: FW: Permission Request To: "Sgt. Robert D. Magnuson RE: S.T.O.P.S. Police Tactical Manual -- My name is Dennis Wissler and one of the things that do in my life is instruct in the martial arts. Part of our system incorporates within itself, a Law Enforcement Awareness Seminar for active/reserve police officers in our area. I was privileged the other day to view the 4^th Edition of the Police Tactical Manual. With your permission, we would like to reference to your manual in our classes, a quote from page 179, 3rd paragraph from the top. --The quote would be "Realizing that the philosophy of, "if the department doesn't pay for my training, I can't afford it," wouldn't have mattered much from six feet under, I knew that like the ballistic vest, I couldn't afford NOT to have it! Except for a handful of officers, that I have run across, the rational in our area appears to be that the officers don't need any additional training over and above the basic academy. I am constantly being told by, even seasoned veterans, that if it isn't taught at the "academy," Might be sued because of the additional information, if I use it (in the defense of my life). Our local "chiefs" won't even consider training outside their departments and their knowledge for their unpaid reserves, yet they place these individuals out in the public arena, by themselves many times, ignorant of what can happen to them. Back to the purpose of this e-mail is, that with your permission I would like to incorporate into our training letter, flyer and training program the above quote. Dennis L Wissler Cambridge City, Indiana http://www.aibudo.com

March 15, 2005 From "Joe Sukovich" <jsukovich@scifargo.com Re: Masafumi Suzuki -- Dear Sensei, I have been a student of the martial arts for over 28 years. I have been doing some research on Masafumi Suzuki and was hoping you might be able to help me. Specifically, I have seen some promotion certificates that state promotion by Nippon Shobukan. Is this the same as the Nippon Seibukan? Thank you for your time. Joe Sukovich GEA --Joe, Sorry to be so late but I am not clear on what you want. Why don't you call me? Regards, George Anderson

March 6, 2006 Subject: Pakistan TKD - Name: Ahmed Murtaza Mehravi, HotRod00750366@hotmail.com,  Taekwondo, Here is very good fighters are available in our Organization but here is the main problem of money for participation in competitions in other countries. Now u will demand me money for Registration Which I could not afford. I will very thankful to u if u read my Questions so heartily. Address: Nishtar Hospital Colony Multan Punjab Pakistan.  Club: Pakistan Taekwondo Organization  Sensei: Ilyas Khan Niazi

March 6, 2006 Subject: WWW Form Submission  - Name: Jason Velez  jasvel1@cox.net, USMAF/USJJF/MCMAA, Ed Gross Kempo Tai Jitsu & Kempo Tae Kwon Do, Soo Bahk Do, Hapkido, Arnis, Muay Thai, Running-Fist, USJJ, Kodokan Judo, Address: Las  Vegas, NV, USA Club: World Self Defense Sensei: Jason Velez

March 5, 2006 Subject: : I enjoyed meeting you and participating in your seminar - Name: George W. Vance vancefarms@bushnell.net, Black Dragon Triad, Zen bei Koku Jujitsukai, World Wing Chun Kung Fu, Yamabushi Kai, Jujitsu, Wing Chun Kung Fu, Kali and Escrima, Dear Grandmaster: I enjoyed meeting you and participating in your seminar at Master Kuras' Dojo in Macomb, Illinois. I appreciate all of the detail information and training.  Yours truly Hanshi George Vance Address: Bushnell, Illinois Club: Black Dragon Triad Sensei: Shihan Lonnie Riddle

March 1, 2006 Subject: Keep up our Country Pakistan  - From: Raja Sibtain nusibi@yahoo.com Japan Karate -do Federation, Shito-Ryu Itosu-kai, Address: Lahore . Pakistan Club: Japan Karate Federation Sensei: Shihan Fumio Demura

January 30, 2005 Subject: Gordon Garland out of hospital after two heart attacks -- Hi - I just heard from Gordon Garland. He's had two heart attacks and been in the hospital for the past week. He was leaving the hospital today. I'm not sure where to send a card, but he is supposed to call me again later, and I will try to find out then. I thought you would want to know. He's in Atlanta, but didn't go to the VA hospital this time. He didn't say which hospital he was in. Sincerely, Sharon Hayakawa

 August 04, 2005 International Moy-Ryu Karate-Do Federation Development and Purpose

In the early 1960’s there was a lot of bickering between martial arts groups in the Mid-West. Then in the mid and later 60s it was the same from the dojo wars to the JKA and other groups. I approached my Sensei’s and asked if there are any groups that are not fighting and why can’t they get along? This was in 1967 they stated that most was over politics and indifferences of beliefs of styles. After I came back from oversees with the military I asked my Sensei’s again and it was still the same. So I asked if they could start their own federation that would be like the purity and honor that they were teaching me. because of their ages (Tomishuro Sensei in his 80’s and Johnson in his 70’s ) they said they would help me to found a federation based on honor and the development of the martial arts with no politics. So in 1972 the IMRKF was born. The co- founders were Tomishuro/Tomigushku Sensei Robert Johnson Sensei and Barry Moyer. The soul purpose was to seek out pure hearts in the martial arts and to develop the martial arts for the betterment of all that seek it.

Through the years the federation was closed to outsiders to keep the politics out, but as time went on my teachers passed and we started finding pure hearts out there. As some of you that has known me for the last 30 to 40 years we have developed very slowly and this appears to be the best way to keep developing. We now have a great Board that have great skills and a good heart to develop the martial arts the way it was intended. I would like to thank the board for their development of the martial arts, for the way it was intended honor, humility, loyalty, and excellence. What I like to call Pure Hearts.

So if you hear me say that person is a Pure Heart, you will know what I mean. We have a major responsibility to the Great Masters that came before us, as well as all future martial artists to come. Indifferences and politics that exist in the martial arts have to be put aside for the betterment of the martial arts. Barry Moyer IMRKF

 August 04, 2005 Dear Board Members, 1. The Board has decided that inductee's for the Board must be 6th degree or above. 2. They must also be voted on by total Board. Also we wish to welcome new board members. Board of Advisors: Isao Yabunaka Shihan Board of Directors: Ted Jungblut and George Picard

August 7, 2005 Subject: IMRKF - 1000 Years of Martial Arts - Seminars- Show and Tournament 2007 From: Barry Moyer <Sensei@csinet.net

Dear Board, At the request of some of the Board members we are going ahead with the 2007- 1000 years of martial arts event. We need a vote as to what city we should host this in and these are some of our choices. Chicago, Ill., South Bend, Indiana, or Akron, Ohio we need a majority vote as to the best location so we can start on the planning stages. Also we need the best dates that don't conflict with other groups, remember we are not here to compete with them just to have a great event. The event is being planned for 2007 this way its will give us plenty of time to do it right. Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated. We will also be checking into sanctioning through Traditional and open circuits. We have board members who will over see the tournament sides of the event.  Barry Moyer

-----Aloha Hanshi Barry, I am up for any of the mentioned locations...or more specifically, in the interest of the attendees, the one that would be most economical and most accessible for the greater majority of people that would attend. Date-wise? Looking that far in advance I do not foresee any conflicts with my agenda. All my best. Mahalo for the update, Sid Campbell, Oakland

....I grew up in MN and left during a blizzard by headin south until the snow turned to rain, then hooked a right until the Pacific Ocean...backed up a few steps just for good measure and WA LA I was in Sacramento. Got my BA & MS degrees in Criminal Justice and ended up at North Lake Tahoe during the Indian wars of 1977. I was the only enrolled Native American there, but I was light enough to "pass" as "white eyes." All in all I lived more in California than I did in Minnesota. I was the only USKA member in CA that I know of. Bruce Juchnik joined sometime later. This was just before Parker Shelton and Bob Bowles had their dispute about the Indiana commercial rights to dojo. Mel Wise was still competing and the Midwest was still the only area that a guy good get a good fight in kumite. Refs and judges were good and a person had to Knuckle down to win.I think from 66-74 were the best years as far as kata and kumite competition is concerned. A cup was the only equipment needed to kumite. Janet Walgren was tough as nails, but so was Kathy Sullivan. Jim Wax was so good, he didn't need to compete to prove it. I am pursuing the goal of "keeper of the old ways" as far as Toyama is concerned. Takazawa Sensei gave me his seal of approval to do such as long as I also kept the changes he was making. In Japan they still talk "everyone be the same, walk the same, talk the same, do the same kata, all for the good of karate today. Karate is becoming the National Pastime much like baseball here is. They don't want to lose it.The joke I hear is an American Judan is only a Godan hear! To which I counter with, Funakoshi was only a Godan, wasn't he? They at least have one major agency for martial arts the "Dai Nippon Butoku Kai"...and we Americans still wonder in the dark, each master wants to be in control so they all start their own association, then promote themselves or close buddies, who then promote the founder of the assoc. to Super duper Guardian of the Most High .... Great Grandmaster III! I would support an association such as Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, as long as it was controlled and managed by non Japanese/Okinawans or American/European board members and chairman. Trias came very close to accomplishing this task, but it slipped through his fingers before he knew what hit him. I've always been in the quiet background and watched the processes happen. Now I'm ready to get behind any group that can put together such a nonprofit organization.

An International Martial Arts Association of all systems, styles, or theory of training that are deemed to be authentic in origin, have a clear line of history to the founding Chinese, Okinawan, or Japanese masters, whose master instructors have shown themselves to be exceptional in knowledge and applied skills, and have adopted a method of training in keeping with their heritage and history! It sounds to simple yet egos prevent it from being done. Hats off to the Japanese...they are able to set aside their differences and focus on their similarities to construct such a governing body as the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai. Is there such an entity already?

-----Original Message----- From: George Anderson To: Rod Murray Subject: Re: Important karate systems

Thanks for the note and your web site looks good. I like the Koei-kan and what do you think of Ed Kaloudis?

Here are some comments: RM- I would rather talk to you. Caldwell I’ve never heard of. ----Who is Jim Caldwell? GEA- He is a direct student of Michio Koyasu and trained with him in Japan. At this time he is also a student of mine and for the Kobudo, GM Nishiuchi- He is the Secretary General of the USA Karate Federation and the head of the Kobudo committee for Phil Koeppel's USKK.

RM- Back in the middle to late 60’s, the group I hung with or competed against were mostly from the Midwest -Yarnall, Harrison, Shelton, Wren, Yarbrough, & Wallace still had hair at Ball St. Univ.

GEA----Jim Harrison’s son Kris is a coach for the US Jujitsu Federation. All the guys above are super.

RM- My second instructor was Bob Yarbrough (Shotokan, Shorin Ryu), my first was Jim Arwood of Houston, TX area. His top student was a long, tall Texan named Robert Halliburton (now of Fresno, CA). Shortly thereafter I met Nobuhiro Shinohara (just won the weapons Grand Championship at Parker's International in Long Beach) straight from Takazawa dojo in Tokyo. I’d seen a lot of kumite then, but Nobu was aces above them. He just didn’t get off on USA competition for kumite. He got a standing ovation that night after doing a demo of the winning kata. Shortly thereafter again, I met Takazawa Kancho and he was one big “barrel chested” Hachidan with well developed “ki” and knew how and when to channel it. Educated at Boston Univ. and Harvard, Toyama told him that now since he could hurt someone, he needed to learn how to heal or treat someone medically. He spent his life doing just that Japanese doctor of common and uncommon medicine (the old and new).

RM---- It is peculiar that I can find no records of Takahashi in the details of Toyama, if fact, I cannot event find where he mentioned. Could you please enlighten me. I have heard some claims that Toyama had a second dojo called Kenshinkan (spelling?) and that he was teaching secret techniques to select students. However, people who should know say that is a standard myth of Japanese dojo students. Could you point me to the information where Takahashi is mentioned by Toyama himself?

GEA----Ishikawa - The same problem is found with the claims of Ishikawa's claims that he grew up in dojo and that before Toyama died turned over
rights to Shudokan to him. There is no record of him in the book or newsletters. Koyasu never heard of him. If he existed he was very low key. I think he moved to Europe - started the Do Shin Kan with primary operation in Europe.

GEA----Onishi - The standard story was that Toyama gave him license to start his own style. But the real scuttlebutt is that he was forced to resign because of internal strife in the Toyama family because he was very left wing and was alledgedly using his club to recruit people for his political views. Jingoistic Japan was not exactly comfortable with communist viewpoints. Toyama himself was very open and international and admired the Chinese arts.

RM-I would like to meet you sometime and learn your story and SHU DO KAN. Ask questions such as, why did Onishi feel the need to split off on his own? What and how did “politics” affect his decision? I’ve recently spent a day working out with Brian Frost (Michigan, Shichidan, Koei-kan). He’s invited my to his house and dojo for a week to exchange ideas and techniques. Since Koei-kan, Shudokan, & Keishinkan are “sister” schools and not involved with Japanese politics I’m for getting to know everyone of these systems. Tell me more about your association. I was and (as far as I’m concerned) always be a member of the Trias USKA, and also have known Phil Porter (since 1968, competed in his judo tourneys every month in Sacramento -I lived there then) he had a training spot at the “university” of Campbell (a giant size facility were each large room was a different martial art training area. It was great! I support Phil because his goal is good, but maybe his methods need to be reevaluated for obtaining his goal. I always hope for the best. But, I’m looking for a good organization that can grab the reins and create our own version of the Dai Nippon Butokukai. Do you think such a group could come together?

GEA----Your idea of the Dai Nippon Butokukai is good. The USAKF has a great history and is too complicated to write here. The Kwanmukan was organized by me under Robert Trias and Park Chull Hee and the first certificate were signed by GM Trias.

----I too like Phil Porter but it is just too much for him to claim grade authority for anything except Judo. The USJJF requires that you kick, punch,
and perform everything but kata to karate standards so as he cannot, he should let the grading go to those who can. Phil has been in my dojo and his
techniques are limited to judo. It is the same with GM Trias - COURTESY grades do not mean expertise or ranking authority in the disciplines.

----For the lineage chart of GM Trias, it is an opinion looking for justification. As, I think Menken said, “ It is both good and original, the
original parts are not good and the good parts are not original.” If you can believe that chart, GM Trias was a student of and mentored by Konishi. Whoever put that forward should receive an award for originality.

Contnuing Conversation: Important karate systems

RM- I would rather talk to you. Caldwell I've never heard of. Back in the middle to late 60's, the group I hung with or competed against were mostly from the Midwest (Yarnall, Harrison, Shelton, Wren, Yarbrough, & Wallace still had hair at Ball St. Univ. My second instructor was Bob Yarbrough (Shotokan, Shorin Ryu), my first was Jim Arwood of Houston, TX area. His top student was a long, tall Texan named Robert Halliburton (now of Fresno, CA). Shortly thereafter I met Nobuhiro Shinohara (just won the weapons Grand Championship at Parkers International in Long Beach) straight from Takazawa dojo in Tokyo. I'd seen a lot of kumite then, but Nobu was aces above them. He just didn't get off on USA competition for kumite. He got a standing ovation that night after doing a demo of the winning kata. Shortly thereafter...again, I met Takazawa Kancho and he was one big "barrel chested" Hachidan with well developed "ki" and knew how and when to channel it. Educated at Boston Univ. and Harvard, Toyama told him that now since he could hurt someone, he needed to learn how to heal or treat someone medically. He spent his life doing just that...Japanese doctor of common and uncommon medicine (the old and new). I would like to meet you sometime and learn your story and SHU DO KAN. Ask questions such as, why did Onishi feel the need to split off on his own? What and how did "politics" affect his decision? I've recently spent a day working out with Brian Frost (Michigan, Shichidan, Koei-kan). He's invited my to his house and dojo for a week to exchange ideas and techniques. Since Koei-kan, Shudokan, & Keishinkan are "sister" schools and not involved with Japanese politics...I'm for getting to know everyone of these systems. Tell me more about your association. I was and (as far as I'm concerned) always be a member of the Trias USKA, and also have known Phil Porter (since 1968, competed in his judo tourneys every month in Sacramento...I lived there then) he had a training spot at the "university" of Campbell (a giant size facility were each large room was a different martial art training area. It was great! I support Phil because his goal is good, but maybe his methods need to be reevaluated for obtaining his goal. I always hope for the best. But, I'm looking for a good organization that can grab the reins and create our own version of the Dai Nippon Butokukai. Do you think such a group could come together?

From: George Anderson Subject: Re: Important karate systems

Dear Mr. Murray, Shihan James Caldwell copied me but this guy is not really informed. On our web site: <www.wkf.org/shudokan.html > If you want to talk to James Caldwell, follow the links. For your comments on GM Trias, I am out of the mainstream think -you-know and into the know-for-sure on that. In the first place the Pinnacle has many ambitious assumptions in the history of the lineage. I have some of the original paperwork on the certifications and such. When GM Trias went on the tour to Japan and Okinawa with his student, Japan wrote me to ask why he was coming and what he wanted and to show they should handle the problem. I replied that he was a very important ambassador for me as the head of the AAU Karate, and that they should give him all due respect, which they did. I also gave him certificate from my office to give to the most important persons, which he did. I have seen them in the offices of Yamaguchi and Suzuki, the others I did not visit. The custom was that when a master would give a certificate, the recipient would reciprocate - the giving of such certificates in no way indicated that the recipient was then graded by the giver. I do know that he honored those masters that he met but at time that was not a mutual feeling. I had very close relations with Masafumi Suzuki and he confirmed that to be true. There was some problem I had with the Konishi group over GM Trias1 claim to lineage from that section. But that is not pertinent to this issue. I do have the box the certificate of 10th Dan from M. Suzuki came in. He was the one who promoted GM Trias to 10th dan and I was the mover for his 8th and 9th dans. The early version of the Pinnacle had a letter from me in it urging GM Trias to move to 8th dan which he finally did and then I also moved the 9th against great resistance. GM Trias was a real guy and not overly crazy about rank. I was very honored to be the first 8th dan that I know of in the USKA, some 6 months senior to John Pachivas.

Toyama was very important and very good. I am student of Park Chull Hee, who was a student of In, Byung Yoon, who was a student of Toyama Kanken, who was on the <www.wkf.org/shudokan.list.html> site. This list was originally formed when the dans were low and later they were expanded from the top of 5 to ten (Funakoshi stayed at fifth).

Toyama's specialties in karate-do were strong gripping methods (Useishi No Kata and the Aku Ryoku Ho) of Itosu and Itarashiki and similar Chinese methods of finger and hand strengthening. He was the author of booksKarate-do Taihokan and Karate-do. In 1949 Toyama was awarded a special title of honor by the Governor of Okinawa, Mr. Shikioku Koshin. Aside from learning Shorin-Ryu from Itosu, Toyama studied and mastered other styles of karate from other notable masters of Naha-te and Tomari-te which also included Okinawan Kobu-do. A few of his other teachers were Aragaki, Azato, Chibana, Oshiro, Tana, and Yabu.

It is also thought that when the Korean (Ch'uan fa) master, Yoon Byung-In came to train at his gymnasium, he also studied Northern Manchurian Kwan-bop with him. It is alleged that Toyama Kanken said that he and Yoon Byung-In should share techniques. Later Yoon Byung-In returned to Korea as a shihan of the Shudokan and taught that style there. Although Toyama Kanken produced many capable instructors trained in his Shudokan style, he really did not view the Shu Do Kan as a style of karate-do, merely a place for training. Consequently, he did appoint a successor or Shudokan style head to succeed him and as a result the Toyama system fragmented after his death in 1966.

Master Onishi, a senior student, founded Koei Kan Ryu in 1952. Because of political differences in the national Japanese politics, Toyama gave him permission and full blessing to proceed on his own. Why he did this is not clear as he departed long before his teacher died and was apparently deprived of a very close relationship with Toyama.

After Toyama sensei's death other senior students established their own styles: Toshi Hanaue maintained the original Shu Do Kan; Ichikawa Iso founded Do Shin Kan Ryu (The Heart of the Way Style) in 1969; Michio Koyasu founded Soryu (The All or Complete Style) in 1967. Another notable student was Byong In Yoon- the only Korean listed in Toyama's book, the 1959 "AJKF/ Shu Do Kan register" as a 5th Dan Shihan located in Toyama's book. Byong In Yoon disappeared during the Korean war in the 1950's only to resurface in North Korea in 1995's. Two of his students went on to found two of Korea's
most important Kwans. Lee Nam-suk founded the Chungmukwon (Hall for the Propagation of Military Training) and Park Chull-hee founded the Kang Duk
Kwon (Training Hall for the Teaching of Virtue).

From: Rod Murray 2 <bushikai@comcast.net> Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2003 To: Brent Yamamoto2 <brent.a.yamamoto@boeing.com> Subject: FW: Important
karate systems

This email from DC at http://www.dragon-tsunami.org of the cfa section, most likely http://www.dragon-tsunami.org/cfa seems to think Toyama Kanken did not have a role in the shaping of karate history of Okinawa/Japan. Below are his statements. Maybe all of us can do his research and provide him that which he needs as proof or verifiation. What say you? I sorry if I have gotten you into this brawl with this editor, but my Grandmasters reputation is at stake with this idiot publisher. This is a fight worth engaging in. Let1s all give him the one punch of death and kill his idea that Toyama1s line doesn1t have a place in karate history. Are you with me? This is his email address: cfa@dragon-tsunami.org and/or 64.143.8.47!

Here is a quote from the Budokan Karate of Australia (website url: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~budokan/history.html. The founders of BUDOKAN studied a number of Martial Arts including Chinese Kung-fu, Taekwondo, and several styles of Karate-do including Shito-ryu, Shotokan and Keishinkan. Keishinkan is a minor style of the Shuri-Te strain and is not widely known even in its country of birth. It comes from the line of Toyoma Sensei and the excellent qualities of their instructors are well known in Australia, Malaysia and elsewhere.

When you read Pinnacle by Robert Trias you find certificates issued byJapanese/Okinawan Grandmasters to Trias. Among them are individual and group acknowledgements of Trias. Within the group we find the signature of Takazawa Masanao and an individual rank cert also by Takazawa to Trias. It's important to note why. Toyama Kanken (Dai Shihan) mastered Shuri-te and Naha-te to the point where the Emperor honored him by the Dai Shihan promotion and the ability to promote in any system, anyone! Toyama taught both by starting with Shuri then moving on to Naha-te. To the most advanced students he taught Kung Fu he1d learned in Taiwan. Toyama opened two dojo in Japan upon his return, the SHU DO KAN and later the KEI SHIN KAN. Of his students the most notable were Onishi Sensei and a larger bodied student named Takazawa Sensei. Takazawa first trained with his father (samurai of Matsumoto castle) until he was 17. His father took him to Toyama and he began intensive training. In 1955, Toyama promoted Takazawa to Hachidan and gave him the KEI SHIN KAN dojo.

More From: Rod Murray Subject: RE: Important karate systems

Eizo Onishi and Masanao Takazawa are still alive. They new Toyama first hand. Why don't you ask them. Included is a class picture with Toyama sitting on right, Kyoda sitting on left, Onishi in black gi top, and Takazawa standing in back row 4th from right. Any researcher worth a lick would have dug out the information and/or talked with the living students of his for information. Your failure to conduct any empirical research is not scholarly. It1s more in keeping with the type of history of those that claim the holocaust didn1t really happen at all. The Zen Nihon Renmei Karate-Do began as a result of Toyamas effort.. What you1re saying is that Koei-Kan doesn1t exist, nor Shudokan or any of the others that report being students of Toyama. Don1t do half-assed research!

‹‹-Original Message‹‹- To: Rod Murray Subject: Re: Important karate systems

Thank you for your e-mail. You may have noticed that Toyama Kanken was mentioned in Dr. Dohrenwend's article on Taekwondo. However, most of the information on him is vague and cannot be verified and is therefore unworthy of publication in a serious journal.

Undoubtedly Toyama Kanken had a hand in the development of karate, but to what extent it not clear. There is so little documentary evidence that many serious historians believe his role was over-stated by the Koreans simply to give themselves a greater deal of legitimacy than they deserved. After all, the highest dan grade we can confirm for a Korean is 2nd Dan, yet many of them underwent massive grade in<thorn>ation in the short distance from the Japanese mainland to their own country to the extent that they arrived as 5th and 6th dans.

Needess to say if you have well-written, fully documented material on Toyama Kanken we would be interested to see it. Thanks & regards -- DC

----Rod Murray Seattle, WA wrote: know you have to insert the major karate systems of Japan (Shotokan, Shitoryu, Gojuryu, Wadoryu).

But, don't forget the three dojos/systems/styles of Dai Shihan Kanken Toyama. This man was an important builder of martial arts in Japan because he had vision and had mastered 3karate.2 The Emperor thought him so expert that Toyama was authorized to promote anyone in any system of karate in Japan/Okinawa. He studied Shuri-te, Naha-te, & Tomari-te under such Grandmasters as Itosu and Higaonna.

The three most prominent systems to come from him were Koei-kan (Eizo Onishi), Shudokan/SHU DO KAN (Toshi Hanaue) and Keishinkan/KEI SHIN KAN (Masanao Takazawa). Others that followed later include: Michio Koyasu founded Soryu; Ichikawa Iso founded Do Shin Kan Ryu; (Korea) Lee Nam-suk founded the Chang Mu Kwon; and (Korea) Park Chull-hee founded the Kang Duk Kwon.

After 35 years at the KEI SHIN KAN, I1ve watched it grow from a dojo name to a system or style of karate that is larger in Oceanic areas (Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore) than in Europe (France, England, Spain) and United States (Washington, California, Idaho, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arkansas, & Texas).

From lost file-- Subject:Thanks for the interpretation. From: CHISHOLMRANGER@aol.com - Conversation: About TKD

Thanks for the interpretation. I also use a pen name: Ji Young Song. You'll see it most often in TKD Times magazine when I do articles such as "Legends of Korea." Sadly, many students still believe if you're not Korean you can't be for real. After all, who wants to read about legends of Korea from Chuck Stepan when they can read them from Ji Young Song. (From the earth, forever young, pinetree.) Just had a phone call from my good friend Master Ted Rubbo in Florida. He left the y-town area about 16 years ago. He has a gorgeous studio with hardwood floors and an apartment for visitors. He has a very selective class, no women, no children, almost all executives. I did an article on him where I labled him, sincerely, as "The toughest guy I know." He has that no-inch punch were he knocks you across the room without moving his arm. Besides that he's a great guy. I hear that GM Chun is making a fast recovery. Master Sam Naples and I were planning to fly out to see him but now think it would be best to wait a while. Chuck Stepan.

From lost file-- Subject: criminal records From: Jody Gorran <jgorran@fbifingerprintchecks.com> Conversation: criminal records

As founder of the National Foundation to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and originator of the Volunteers for Children Act, I wanted to let you know that based upon the Code of Federal Regulations, if you have the subject's cooperation, you can obtain an FBI Fingerprint Check of anyone for $18.00. To find out how, visit our website at www.fbifingerprintchecks.com - Jody Gorran, Founder - Originator of the Volunteers for Children Act - National Foundation to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse, 4400 N. Federal Highway, Suite 50, Boca Raton, FL 33431, (561) 394-4011, Fax (561) 828-9223, www.fbifingerprintchecks.com

8/21/05  Unusually small tournaments this year. There has been some scuttlebutt lately about the dwindling size of tournaments. The USA-NKF was small, The Big Apple was very small, the AAU Karate was very small and the USAKF National was not large.  What is going on? We will post an editorial comment very soon on what we think is the problem. What do you think?

Response from Alan Campbell ---- Regarding your comment on the tournaments sizes. I believe, based on the observed numbers of competitors per most divisions, that the USA-NKF nationals this year were about the size they have been for the last few years. They had the appearance of being smaller due to the size of the facility.

Our reply -- Alan, We had several people there that made an educated estimate. I don’t know the size of the USNKF events but they should be around 1000, at least. ---- Thanks for the note.

On 8/20/05 -- Someone should knock off that rock for all the years of lies and deception that you and your organization has spread! from Steven Hewett -- That's all I've heard for 20 years, we've made the Pan-Am Games. What a crock! Karate will never become an Olympic sport! Tai Kwan Do beat you to it. So give back all the money your stole from all the children throughout the years sending your worthless ass around the world!

Our reply -- Hi Steven, Thanks for the note, I even got it twice. It is good to that real karate is alive and well in the USA. Do I know you? I think I should. If you are ever in my vicinity or near me please say hello and introduce yourself to me. I am sure we share some points of view and that I can learn a lot from you.

You are accurate when you say that our organizations, the USA Karate Federation and the Pan American Karate Union took karate to Olympic recognition and to the Pan-American Games, as did others Continental Unions of the World Karate Federation. This is a huge group of about 50 million with about 150 countries involved. The federation for the USA is not the USA National Karate Federation-USANKF, which is now in charge of all matters Olympic. It is true that they have had no success with getting karate into the Olympic Games proper, and that Taekwondo did win the race.

For stealing money and my worthless ass, those are intemperate words and many years ago would have called for redress. However, I am now in my mid-seventies and am not going around righting all wrongs. Especially from people who think they know the right way and yap-yap in a slanderous and pejorative manner, relying on the laws of the country for protection. You apparently follow the comment of Mark Twain when he noted that “Nothing needs changing so much as other people’s habits.”

In this light, my attorney has a strong opinion on your comment “So give back all the money your stole from all the children throughout the years sending your worthless ass around the world!” I told him I would just "consider the source." That being said, it is great to hear from you and keep on being, as you say you are, “a true Karate-Ka” and we hope this helps you prosper. In the spirit of True Karate.

----continued---- From Steven --- Your attorney can kiss my ass! I hide behind no laws of our country! I'm telling you what your life and others like you have done to shame and discredit the true meaning of karate! My opinion is you stole money from all my kids, myself and others with worthless promises of Olympic dreams! I was there in Ohio, California, West Virginia and Georgia in the 80's listening you, Thirey, and others, giving each other your little worthless awards and tell everyone of what you have done for Karate! Yes, you and your organization are packed full of lies and deceit! I'm ashamed to have even been associate you people in the eighties. I assure you I'm putting people straight on the practices of your type of organizations! Try to validate your worthless existence any way you want, but you people stole what can't be ever returned---- A CHILD’S DREAM!

Our reply -- Dear Steven, Your complaint interests me and be sure we won’t kiss your ass. Now, why are you so mad? The only Steven Hewitt we know of was from N. Carolina and he was a member in 1992. Are you that man? What in the world has happened to make you so negative? ---- Tell me how we lied and what worthless awards do we give out? How do we spoil kids dreams? You do know that when we had reached the milestone of the Pan American Games I left and have had no part in the Olympics since then? --- I did my job well and if the others who followed didn’t do theirs, how is it connected to me? --- And it would be helpful to understand what we have done to shame and discredit the true meaning of karate? --- What lies and deceit? --- Again, we are interested in the accusation that we stole money from your kids - how so? Over----

----continued---- From Steven --- I left your worthless organization in 88. I was not a member in 92. I stopped all karate in 89. My kids and many others spent countless hours raising money to go to your worthless camps, tournaments and awards ceremonies. Never were we ever taught knew kata's, techniques, etc... All I saw was the infighting of your school, Thiry's, Lapuppet's and others that were in the (click). Going off and spending the money on trips to other countries. Taking their wives and families with them on these trips. I do not believe that the families part of the trip were paid out of association money, however I'm sure some of it indirectly fell their way. How were these trips paid for? By money raised in dues, fees and contributions. For what, so someone could come back saying they were the best in the world! B___S. When you stood up in at the awards banquet you handed each other those stupid eagle trophies for what a great organization you all made, what a bunch of crap. I've never seen so many arrogant people give each other awards for nothing. You and all the rest lied to us about where you were taking us. You could never get into the Olympics. As for the Pan American Games, what a joke. I hope you and all associate with your organization go to your graves knowing that you LIED AND STOLE FROM ALL THE CHILDREN that believed in the crap you spread.

I believe all of you gladly took our money and our dreams, knowing that karate had no future as an Official Olympic Sport. --- It is my understanding that the reason that your not a part of the Olympic chase, is that you and Thiry had a falling out. How true I don't know and I really don't care. I just know it was you, him and LaPuppet that were the power house during the 80's. ---- I know your type very well. Thiry came twice to NC. I was the director of the Tar Heel Games and both times he screwed the tournament up. Now that idiot is trying to do what you couldn't. All of it lies. ---- My negativity is not something recent. It's been here for 20 years and every time I here your name or karate in the Olympics just fuels it more. -------- What’s great about America? Opinions are just that, opinions. So your attorney can stick it. ------- What would I like? An acknowledgment of the Lies and Deceit that all of you spread! That of course, I will never get. So for my satisfaction, I've told you how I feel and now you'll have to live with what you and your type have done. ---- Your Turn or Not.

----continued---- From Steven ---From Steven --- Interesting that you post my commits to you on your blog page. Trying to drum up sympathy? After reading all the blogs it is nice to see that politics still rule you and your organization.

Our reply -- Dear Steven --- Not really, Its just that you are interesting and your point of view is worth a look.

As a great mind once said, if your business is free from politics, you have no business at all.

Who is perfect -- you? Regards GEA

8/14/05 --- The USA Karate Federation Championship went off very well with the exception that it was hot and seemed long. However, if fact, it was over by the early evening.  We had many kind words and very few gripes although there were some tough ones as you can see from the post below. (Program in PDF)

Referee and Homeland Defense seminars were held on Friday. Dr. Ron Layton of the Secret Service and Sgt. Bob Magnuson, both very not instructors advanced the thinking of their PSDI group and Shihan John Nanay worked with the referees on the Precision of the newly modified WKF Rules.

The Hall of Fame (photo insert in PDF) had a fine crowd and important awards were given. The Hickey Karate Canter game a super demonstration of combined tumbling and martial arts. This group is getting really good. As usual, there were no purchased placements or any charges for installation into the HOF. The only requirement was that you had to have done something truly important for over a more than brief time period. Sensei Mike Ritter - Coach of  the Year, Shihan Akram al-Geelani - Instructor of the Year, Grandmaster Mike Hixon - HOF as a Founder of Karate in Ohio, Sheriff Wayne Risner - Sheriff of the Year, Ron Layton was honored for Law Enforcement. The US Ju-Jitsu President Lt.Col. Bruce Bethers gave Grandmaster Anderson a Life Membership Certificate #1 recognizing that he was the Founder of the USJJF. Numerous point awards that we will post.

The representation was good with people from 20 states -- California, Wisconsin, Arizona, Kansas, Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Nevada, Washington, DC, Kentucky, Maryland, Louisiana, Florida, North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan and from Kathmandu, Nepal. About 30 international competitors had entered but they could not get visas. From our point of view, the competition is getting very tough and the black belts are REALLY tough.

This 1990 article by the late Grandmaster Thomas Carroll Lapuppet is a further explanation of the problems encountered in the refereeing of karate.

8/14/05 Scott Lightfoot [mailto:rosarycomp@yahoo.com] - Subject: FW: Concerns about Akron Tournament

EDITORS NOTE -- We DO post negatives and here is an example - Our response follows.

Comment ---I know that this letter has rambled on and can only hope that it and others like it make it to the people who can make a difference in how tournaments are planned and run, or I can find no reason to spend our hard earned money and time in attending another event sponsored by your organization. So that you know I am not just a complainer, I would WELCOME the opportunity to help plan an event like this (in Toledo?) some time, or be involved in some capacity. I just hate to see what could have been such a wonderful experience tarnished in so many ways. Please consider these issues as you plan future events. Maybe it was the heat that has fueled my criticisms in this letter, but I could not simply sit by any longer and let things continue without saying something.

Our response --- Dear Mr. Lightfoot, Thank you for your input and for taking the time to write such a comprehensive critique of the USAKF National. We do apologize for our shortcomings and will study your comment. We accept your criticisms as well as the compliments received from others and will try to improve our operations. That being said, I will try to explain the problems we encountered in these years nationals.

Comment --- FACILITY CHOICE - Akron in August and you hold the event in an UN AIR CONDITIONED facility -- completely unacceptable. Fans were miserable, competitors got sick and all were angry especially when we walked across the tunnel to the snack bar (another inconvenience) and found a completely air conditioned facility. I don’t care if it would have cost more to rent the space, please take into consideration the prevailing weather conditions when planning tournament sites.

Our Reply----The University of Akron was chosen for a different time but due to several factors, such as the Pro-Football Hall of Fame, we had to reschedule for another date. For some people this change altered their plans to attend this year. Our problems included a lack of hotel rooms for the many people coming from out of state. Some of these who had prior engagements for this last week were important to the function of the tournament and we missed their help. We also had a problem with the University deciding to paint lines in the parking lot and to do a quick renovation of the back room that we always use for lineups. We had no advance warning on the lots or the room work. For the air-conditioning, our date of choice was in October, which we think we have secured for next year.

Your Comments---2) EVENT SCHEDULING - I have NEVER in 8 years of attending and participating in tournaments (regardless of size) that have EVER run on schedule. It is COMPLETELY unacceptable to run 90 minutes to 2 hours behind on all divisions. This stresses out competitors who want to compete, and infuriates spectators who try to plan attending the event so that they don’t spend all day sitting around and waiting. I will no longer accept excuses like, “Well, this is nationals, you just have to be patient”. If anything, I would expect NATIONAL tournaments to run even more efficiently than other, smaller tournaments. Events were running so far behind that I decided not even to compete in the IAIDO competition (which was nowhere to be found on the application by the way). I am just glad that I had not pre-registered for and then wasted my money. I was very disappointed because I HAD trained hard and was ready to compete, but by the time the event was supposed to start (3:00 p.m, I had been told) I and my family were exhausted and frustrated and left. Your Comments---3) POORLY ORGANIZED STAGING - So many times that we attend tournaments, there seems little evidence that any prior planning has taken place, other than taking competitors money for registration. This relates to bumber 2 above. Competitors are rounded up, seemingly checked in and then herded from one matt to another in total confusion, to sit and wait, and wait, and wait to compete. Many parents and fans were furious over rings sitting empty for up to 30 minutes, while people wandered around amelessly doing who knows what.

Our Reply----For your comments on the preplanning for money, you are being unfair on that point and we refuse to accept that we put money first.

Our Reply----And for the scheduling - Goodness, I don’t know how to answer this. I thought we should have moved quicker but was informed that we were restricted by the published schedule that was being followed as closely as possible. For the past 5 years we have followed the pre-schedule to prevent wait time for the parents who asked for the time their children’s division would be called. The scheduling was done by the same people who have set schedules for the past 35 years and include the Administrator Shihan Bukala and the Chief Referee John Nanay. Mike Bukala is truly the top in his field and I will check with him and Shihan Nanay to see where your complain comes from.

Our Reply----For the Iado competition, we just added it at the last moment on request from Shihan Geelani and we are sorry that it was not duly note. That was an oversight.

Your Comments---4) JUDGING - I know I am probably kicking over a whole can of worms here but I must express my concerns. First of all, we all accept that judging is ‘subjective.’ But there was little evidence of consistency from competitor to competitor, ring to ring or even judge to judge. I applaud the judges for OCCASSIONALLY gathering to sort our a score or other issue, but there were SO MANY that they could have spent all day and it wouldn’t have made a difference. I saw at least a dozen occurrences of judges who didn’t know what point ranges they should have been scoring during an event, or side judges looking to each other for decisions on calls, and WORST OF ALL head referees in sparing matches who CONSTANTLY consulted either the SCORING table or side judges in order to establish points to be scored. 5) SCORING - THE ULTIMATE INSULT - You need to get people who can do two things, use a CALCULATOR and COUNT TO 8!!!! The inability to keep proper score resulted in at least one case (my son) who had his MEDAL taken from his neck, AFTER being awarded it, being acknowledged by the crowd, his friends, family, and dojo mates and was leaving the ring then a judge comes to him and tells him to GIVE IT BACK because they MADE A MISTAKE!!!! I was proud of him for holding back understandable tears until after he left the gym. Yes, mistakes can be made, but please DON’T penalize the competitor because your staff can’t count. I am thankful for the help of a sensei who expressed my concerned and saw that my son received the medal he deserved.

Our Reply----We are also happy our procedures worked and you son got his medal. For the referees, you can complain about judging as you see fit and we will forward your gripes to the Referee Council. We have all complaints seriously. If you like, you can identify the Division, the Referee and the table help. It would also be useful to know all the particulars in the problem.

Your Comments--- 6) INCONSISTENCY OF REFEREEING - Please ensure that you have properly quailed and trained referees at a NATIONAL tournament! I have come to the point where I trust NO ONE who wears a white shirt, tie and slacks as ‘qualified’. In discussing very inconsistent calls by several judges, I discovered that many judges were ‘in-training’ or ‘had little experience judging’ tournaments. Again, a National level event is no place for rookie judges. I saw repeated instances where ‘head-contact’ was deemed a full point penalty, and in a later match with the same referee, and similar light contact was given as a ‘warning’ only with no point penalty assessed. This was noted again by several sensei’s watching the matches.

Our Reply----Referees are always in training and we have close supervision over the matches. However, we can understand your complaint. It is heard all over the world in the field of Olympic Karate and usually comes from a misunderstanding of the PRECISION OF THE RULES. When I was the President of the WKF Referee Council, I wrote many papers on the variance in perceptions held by competitors, referees, coaches, and spectators. I think our sports are subjective and we constantly try to be fair and just. It is just impossible to be so in the eyes of such varying interests and degrees of understanding.

Your Comments---7) FOLLOW THE RULES - It also seemed that very little attention was paid to uniform, equipment, or other items of decorum that are usually associated with a national level event. Were helmets required in sparring or not? Were gi’s to be ‘hemmed’ or ‘cuffed’? Were weapons to be of a specific nature or not? Were gloves to be of certain styles or colors? Were uniforms allowed to have patches or emblems? It is very difficult as a parent to be prepared for every eventuality of combinations if they are not A) SPELLED OUT IN THE BEGINNING, and then B) FOLLOWED AT THE EVENT.

Our Reply----Well, we thought that problem was resolved. This is our first complaint over many years. What do you suggest for improvement?

Our Reply----My understanding is that: Helmets are not required in sparring if there are mats on the flow to protect against hitting the head when falling. And - the World Medical Commission came to the conclusion that they are dangerous and can cause more injury that a blow through the action of neck torque. But - some parents insist on them never-the-less, so they are permitted as an option.

--Outside cuffs are not permitted. -Are weapons to be of a specific nature or not? This is too broad a grouping for an answer however it is obvious that rubber and balsa weapons are not allowed. --Were gloves to be of certain styles or colors? We are currently thinking this over. We have an equal weight of opinion. --Were uniforms allowed to have patches or emblems? What is your understanding of the difference between a patch and an emblem?

By the way, do you have a USAKF Rule book and a copy of the WKF Rules? Did you get a program with the listing of USAKF staff, committees, and officials?

Your Comments---So that you know I am not just a complainer, I would WELCOME the opportunity to help plan an event like this (in Toledo?) some time, or be involved in some capacity. I just hate to see what could have been such a wonderful experience tarnished in so many ways.

Our Reply----Well, we always welcome volunteers and thank you for your long letter and I hope my answers have shed some light on the problems.

Sincerely, George Anderson, Hanshi, 10th DanPresident USAKF
Director Kwanmukan
Chairman Central Technical Committee, US Ju-Jitsu FederationPast President USAKF Referee Council
Past President Pan American Union Referee Council (PKF) Past President World Union Referee Council (WKF) Past Director World Medical Commission (WKF) Past Board Member United States Olympic Committee Past President Pan American Union (PKF) Past First Vice President World Karate Union (WKF) - Schedules

A comment from a USAKF Athlete to the complaing above- I hope this letter finds you well.  I found the last posting authored by Mr. Lightfoot to be quite interesting and if nothing else rather long. Maybe my response if fueled by the heat.

First off I have competed a few times in my life but in the past year or so my job has gotten the best of me and I have simply not had the time. I’m trying to recall exactly how many events I have been too which have been air conditioned and very few are coming to mind. I found it humorous when “I don’t care if it would have cost more to rent the space” was actually written down and was to be taken seriously. Sir, I believe you honestly want an air conditioned venue, but come on now, do you know how hard it is to schedule certain venues and more importantly do you know the huge difference in price. Now I understand that you paid for this event as well as other people and you do have input for where the money should be going. I think tournament promoters should do the best they can with the money available, however that doesn’t mean I expect tournament promoters to go broke flipping out of pocket money for an air conditioned venue. In closing I just thought I would add I can think of very few instances where I trained in an air conditioned facility. Sir, maybe you should re-evaluate some of your training.

Scheduling – There’s nothing to say except I would like a list of the tournaments you have attended because in my experiences they have always ran late, many more than the 90 min. – 2 hours that you find “COMPLETELY unacceptable”. “infuriates spectators who try to plan attending the event so that they don’t spend all day sitting around and waiting” Sir that’s all tournaments are; sitting and waiting. “I will no longer accept excuses” I know Mr. Anderson takes time to answer all questions; and this is not on the topic of scheduling but may I ask who you are, what credentials you have, that anyone must give you a reason or an excuse and furthermore who the hell will care if you don’t accept them.

Judging – Well, no one really likes the judging of events. Yes there are always inconsistencies and flaws in competitive scoring. However, that is the way of the tournament. As far as your example of head contact that is again purely subjective. Each judge has the power to penalize as saw fit. I would know because I have seen my share fair. I think at this point in your letter you are just looking for things to complain about. “SCORING - THE ULTIMATE INSULT - You need to get people who can do two things, use a CALCULATOR and COUNT TO 8!!!!” You do realize that this “staff” you refer too is simply volunteers a staff would infer payment for services. “THE ULTIMATE INSULT” You are now beginning to sound like a clown. --- “It also seemed that very little attention was paid to uniform, equipment, or other items of decorum that are usually associated with a national level event. Were helmets required in sparring or not? Were gi’s to be ‘hemmed’ or ‘cuffed’? Were weapons to be of a specific nature or not? Were gloves to be of certain styles or colors? Were uniforms allowed to have patches or emblems? It is very difficult as a parent to be prepared for every eventuality of combinations if they are not A) SPELLED OUT IN THE BEGINNING, and then B) FOLLOWED AT THE EVENT.” – First I would say get a rule book and then I would read it and then I would probably throw it out the window because when you have an event that is open to all styles you cant send them all home because they have an unfamiliar patch on their uniform. As far as weapons, I would say a stick is a stick - again I think you may be getting over critical.

Well anyways, I found your letter to be interesting and it did deserve a response. QUICK SIDENOTE: My father ran many tournaments for years as executive director for the USAKF - Furthermore I hope you run your own tournament at sometime to see exactly how it goes
I wish everyone the best -ADAM PYLES

And a note form Jack Pyles, former Exec Director of the USAKF - Retired because of poor health - Hanshi Anderson and Executive Board USAKF (Shihans Hickey, Bukala, Ames, Nanay) --- Like father like son, I have to reply to Mr. Lightfoot criticism of this years Nationals.  For 8 years I either ran the Nationals or assisted under the supervision of Grandmaster Lapuppet, and unfortunately you CAN NOT please everyone. -- But in the same case some issues are really dragged into the mud sometimes.  AIR CONDITIONING, cut me some slack.  Did any of the masters ever train in air conditioning?  Most orthopedic doctors will even agree air conditioned training is not the best for muscles or joints, especially in youth competitors.  And for competition, his family must have never competed on a world playing field, since most third world countries my son has competed in do not even know what air conditioning is.  ----Uniforms, headgear, weapons these are all moot points.  I don’t care what event we have been at; USAKF, NKF, AAU etc., that rule is barely adhered to, and usually only in a team trial event.  Headgear has been allowed for years in all events especially Tae Kwon Do, where it is mandatory.  Most events it is not mandatory unless mats are not present, check statistics!  Weapons will always be subjective as far as what is acceptable unless it is a total weapons event, which there are far and few in-between. ----The more I read about the 8 years of training, I would really like to know how many tournament events that includes.  It can not be many and those that where attended had to be on a small scale.  Yes this years USAKF Nationals where small, and so were tournaments around the country as a whole, but the volunteers do the best they can, and at some times have to put up with abuse un-called for. ---You where lucky everyone spoke English, trying competing where the ref pool is made up of officials from all over the world, and where senior Dan’s believe alittle hit to the head is okay.  On an International competition most officials would laugh it off unless the head rocks more than 15 degrees.  And as an adult black belt or even a senior junior black belt 14-16, if you can’t take a light hit to the head, well first learn to block, next maybe you are not training hard enough to be on the level of black belt.

---Enough said, as always, congratulations to the congratulations to the USAKF for another fine event! 

8/2/05 --- We hear that there are some people in the West that are much aggravated with the leadership of the USA-NKF and that these people have a very strong influence within the USOC. They say that they are looking to force a change, but aren't really talking until they get set. We really have more details but until there is some action, we will not post them.

7/31/05 Just got back from Mike Hixson's PKC USA vs Canada in Springfield, Ohio - The event was first class with the Marriot as the tournament hotel. There was some collision between the more traditional Canadians and the open style Americans. In the Team matches Canada won but in the overall, they would have had problems if held to the American Open Style, favored by the PKC. Saw a lot of very important karate people there, from the USA Hixson and group, Grandmaster Carl Davis, Trias International Members Woody Fairbanks, Glen Keeney, Parker Shelton, and George Anderson. The Okinawan styles were well represented by Barry Moyer, Bill Domitrich, Brenda Domitrich, T. Nagamini, Donald Sonney (USKK), and Akram El Geelani. Canada sent Isao Yabunaka, and several other noted instructors. I sat next to Springfield's Mayor Copeland at the banquet and we gabbed about Yugoslavia and the urban development of European countries. He teaches Urban studies at Whittenburg College where the event was held. The tournament was large, well run, and everyone enjoyed themselves. There was a terrific Lion Dance presentation by the Wah-lum group based in Columbus, Ohio. They were very- very good.

7/29/05 Subject, PanAmerican Karate Union Elections. From the National Martial Arts Union -http://www.savethenkf.org/index.html -- In a "not so close" election, William Millerson defeated Julius Thiry for his bid to become president of the Pan American Karate Federation. Millerson was handilly re-elected to his post. Interestingly, Thiry and Burke were nominated to become president and vice president of the PKF. Burke had previously withdrawn his nomination. With Thiry's defeat, the Federation remains in the able hands of Millerson.

7/13/05 Editorial Comments on the Failure of Karate to make the Olympic Games List. in PDF format

7/10/05 Iraqi Karate Official’s Body Found By The Associated Press -- Published: July 10, 2005 Filed at 8:18 a.m. ET ---- BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — The body of the kidnapped Iraqi karate association chief has been found floating in a river southeast of Baghdad with several gunshot wounds, police and sports officials said Sunday. Ali Shakir, 38, was abducted Thursday in Latfiyah, about 20 miles south of Baghdad. His corpse was found in the river in the city of Kut the following day, police Capt. Muthana Khalid Ali said. ‘’We’ve lost a champion,’’ said Ahmed al-Hijiya, president of Iraq’s Olympic committee. Shakir was a former Iraq champion in karate and judo. He also was head of the Babil branch of Iraq’s soccer association. Investigators identified Shakir through identification cards and other documents found in his pockets, police said. Kut is 100 miles southeast of Baghdad. Gunmen wearing police uniforms and manning a fake checkpoint stopped Shakir’s car, ordered his mother out, then drove away with him, police said. It was not known why Shakir was taken. Hundreds of Iraqis have been abducted during the last two years — some by insurgents for political and sectarian reasons and some by criminal gangs for ransom. Shakir is survived by his wife and three daughters, al-Hijiya said. His funeral was scheduled for Sunday.

7/10/05 International Olympic Committee denies squash, karate bid for ‘12 Games and drops Baseball and Softball in 2012 Several articles

7/8/05 Squash, karate miss out on 2012 Posted: Friday July 8, 2005 11:13AM; Updated: Friday July 8, 200 http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/olympics/07/08/bc.oly.ioc.rejectedspor.ap/ Updated: Friday July 8, 2005

This article says tghat for a short while Antonio Espinos thought he had done it and thast karate was truly in the 2012 Olympic Games. filling one of the two vacancies after after baseball and softball were voted out. Squash and karate achieved apparent acceptance as the replacments. But in a odd turn, the IOC handed down a NO vote after 10 rounds of voting. Quoting the article -- First, all existing 28 Olympic sports were put to a simple “in or out” vote, and only baseball and softball failed to win a majority of support to remain on the program. Then, in two further series of secret ballots — one of four rounds and one of three — squash and karate were nominated by members as potential replacements. Two-thirds approval was required for the sports to be added to the program. Neither reached a majority. IOC president Jacques Rogge suggested a simple show of hands for the last stage of voting, but ceded to demands for more secret ballots. That, according to World Karate Federation chief Espinos, was costly. “If that vote could have been by a show of hands, of course it would have been a formality,” he said. “But some IOC members wanted to make it a secret vote — that was bad for us. “You have to ask: What is the benefit of this and what is the damage?” Espinos added. “Huge social damage around the world is the answer.” Baseball and softball and the five “recognized sports” on the waiting list will get another chance in four years to put their cases for inclusion to the IOC when it meets to determine the 2016 program. For Espinos, that’s far too long to wait. “For our athletes, it’s an insult to talk about 11 years from now,” he said. “The whole career of the karate athlete is eight to 10 years, I can’t go back and tell my athletes to keep going until 2016 — all because of five minutes of what happened here today."-- ....... IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies rejected the perception that the outcome of voting was predetermined.

New York Times I.O.C. members were asked to vote up or down on all 28 summer sports in the first such review of the competition. A similar vote is scheduled to occur every four years. After intense lobbying efforts by representatives of all the sports, many I.O.C. members predicted last week that no cuts would be made. But the voting produced several surprises. Not only did baseball and softball fail to make it - they survived a push in 2002 by the I.O.C. president, Dr. Jacques Rogge, to eliminate them - but none of the five sports vying to replace them received enough votes for inclusion. The change takes effect for the 2012 Summer Games in London. “We are now an Olympics of 26 sports,” Rogge told reporters after the vote.......Baseball ........ was battling several negative perceptions with the I.O.C. First, because Major League Baseball did not make its players available for the Olympics, the competition never featured the best players in the world. The lingering reluctance of M.L.B. to institute strict drug testing was also a sticking point. Although a stronger testing program is now in place, it falls far short of Olympic standards. “Problems with doping in U.S. baseball probably cost the sport dearly,” John Coates, an Australian I.O.C. member, told reporters in Singapore.

Just as surprising as the vote to oust two sports yesterday morning was the decision not to replace them in the afternoon. Squash, rugby, golf, karate and roller sports were up for consideration, and squash and karate reached a final round of voting. Rogge had urged the membership to include those two and proposed that they vote the final round by a show of hands. But the members booed him, and he agreed to continue by secret electronic ballot. The members then voted, 63 to 39 against squash and 63 to 38 against karate. “Nobody was happy with the outcome in the morning; nobody was happy with the result of the afternoon,” Dick Pound, a senior I.O.C. member from Canada, told reporters. Lee Jenkins contributed reporting from Pittsburgh for this article, and Ira Berkow from Chicago

July 2005 Karate not selected for Olympics http://www.ekgb.org.uk/news.php?news_id=47

The 2012 London Olympics will have only 26 sports after baseball and softball were axed from the programme on Friday. They are the first sports to be cut from the Olympics in 69 years - and have not been replaced. The news means Regents Park, which was due to host both spor