March - April 2003

WORLD GRANDMASTER'S COUNCIL


Editor: Soke Frank E. Sanchez

Ph: 904-745-6019

Fax: 904-744-4625 (24hours/day)

6035 Ft. Caroline Rd. Unit 22 Jacksonville, Fl 32277


PROFESSOR JOHN DeNORA of DAITO RYU USA in California is keeping a busy schedule these days with seminars & appearances. The good Professor recently made an appearance at the Dojo of fellow WHFSC Member, SENSEI DAVID DYE in California & also presented a membership certificate on our behalf to new member, GRANDMASTER REYLSON GRACIE in Nevada. CONDOLENCES also go out to the PROFESSOR on the loss of his beloved Wolf, "Tundra". Having recently lost a 4-legged family member myself, I can empathize with what you are going through. My sincerest condolences again on your loss.

 




Professor John DeNora (right) presents WHFSC Membership Certificate to Grandmaster Reylson Gracie

Grandmaster DeNora (3rd from right) visits dojo of  Professor David Dye (3rd from left)



SHIDOSHI STEPHEN HAYES of Ohio presents a "new" video magazine for those wanting to learn more about Japanese culture & NIN-JUTSU. For more information you can call: PH. (937) 436-9990 or e-mail daytonquest@skhquest.com 

AIKIDO MASTER, MIYAKO FUJITANI, SENSEI of JAPAN has a new website at http://www.aikido-tenshin-dojo.com/

SHORINRYU PIONEER, KYOSHI SID CAMPBELL of California announces that a worldwide video release of his 1980 Coliseum Martial Arts Expo & World Tournament will be out soon. According to SID, it was the biggest & best entertainment program ever produced at the time on martial arts. For more information, contact SID at: WOSKKA Headquarters, 2019 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, Calif. U.S.A. 94602 or e-mail Dragun3@aol.com 

CANADA's "POLICE MARTIAL ARTS ASSOCIATION" just released a book entitled "POLICE DO: THE OFFICIAL POLICE METHOD OF ARREST AND SELF-DEFENSE. under the authorship of it's co-Founder GRANDMASTER DOUG DEVLIN. Featured in the Forward for the book was YOURS TRULY. 

CONGRATULATIONS to SIJO ADRIANO EMPERADO, Head of KAJUKENBO on his upcoming Birthday Bash in Las Vegas, Nevada. The specifics of the event are still not known to me, but word of mouth seems to indicate that it will take place in July of this year. MANY HAPPY RETURNS, SIJO!

HONORARY MEMBER, MASTER AMBER DeLUCA of New Mexico (the "better half" of GRANDMASTER EDWARD DeLUCA) was recently promoted to 8th dan by her Husband in DELUCA JING SAI DO . She was also featured in the February 2003 issue of IRONMAN Magazine; & on the cover of the Jan 2003 issue of Madrid, Spain's FITNESS Magazine. A manager of several mixed martial art fighters, including PRIDE's Keith Herring; female fighter, Cori Gonzalez; & the youngest competition cage fighters in the U.S., Axel & Saxon Gladwell, AMBER was recently photographed by world famous photographer, Bill Dobbins.

Good friend & the FATHER OF MODERN PANKRATION, GRANDMASTER JIM ARVANITIS reports that he has been named "AUTHOR OF THE MONTH" (for May) by PALADIN PUBLICATIONS. He will be featured in both their catalog & on their website with ads appearing in the major martial arts publications to promote his new book: "PANKRATION: THE TRADITIONAL GREEK COMBAT SPORT AND MODERN MIXED MARTIAL ART". CONGRATULATIONS, JIM!

DR. KENT HARALSON of the GOSPEL MARTIAL ARTS UNION reports that the GMAU received a very favorable mention in an article that appeared in the May 2003 issue of CHARISMA Magazine entitled "WARRIORS OF LIGHT". The article had to do with ministries that are using martial arts to bring "lost souls" back to CHRIST.

PROFESSOR EDWIN MALEY continues in his community winning ways with his latest letter of praise coming from Florida's Governor, Jeb Bush. In a letter dated May 5th, Governor Bush commends ED for being an "outstanding community leader" & making a "positive impact in the lives of many children in the Tampa area". CONGRATULATIONS, PROFESSOR!

MASTER SCOTT SONNON of GENERAL (GRANDMASTER) ALEXANDER RETUINSKIH'S RUSSIAN R.O.S.S. System has a new on-line training magazine called FULL CIRCLE Magazine. You can view the latest issue of SCOTT's new on-line publication at www.CircularStrengthMag.com

PROFESSOR GARY DILL of Oklahoma has an "explosive" new interview set to publish soon in one of the major martial arts magazines. The interview which was "previewed" in the latest newsletter of GARY'S "JEET KUNE DO ASSOCIATION/ SELF-DEFENSE SYSTEMS, INTERNATIONAL" Newsletter deals with his early days of training under James Lee in Oakland, California & some of the misconceptions surrounding Bruce Lee's art of JEET KUNE DO. Be watching for it! 

GRANDMASTER CURTIS FUTCH held a special tournament fund raiser to raise food for people experiencing hardships on April 5th at Williford High School in Arkansas. The price for competing & admission was non-perishable food items. KUDOS to you CURTIS for your humanitarian efforts!


GRANDMASTER GEORGE ALEXANDER announces that Rising Sun Productions in conjunction with WorldBlackBelt.com is releasing an in-depth documentary on the legendary martial arts exploits & movie career of Karate icon, Grandmaster Bob Wall. Available in both VHS (NTSC/PAL) & DVD format, you can order your copy by contacting RISING SUN PRODUCTIONS at: Ph. 1-310-248-3633/ Fax 1-310-278-1783 or 628 N. Doheny Dr., Los Angeles, Calif. USA 90069. 


And now to our latest members. We'd like to extend an official "WELCOME" to GRANDMASTER REYLSON GRACIE of the REYLSON GRACIE JIU-JITSU School in LAS VEGAS, NEVADA.  ACTOR - GRANDMASTER VINCENT LYN of LING GAR TZAI KUNE DO in STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT & last, but not least, former kick boxing champion & American Karate Pioneer, GRANDMASTER JIM HARRISON of BUSHIDOKAN / SAKURA WARRIOR ARTS in MISSOURI. WELCOME TO OUR ELITE FAMILY, GENTLEMEN !.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: Our 9th ANNUAL WHFSC ANNUAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS BANQUET is right around the corner (August 29th & 30th to be exact) & along with it, we'll be celebrating the 10th Anniversary of our Council's existence. So, get ready to have a terrific time! Visit our web site and use our convenient nomination form at: http://Bushido.org/hof MASTER GEORGE DENSON of VIDEO KICK PRODUCTIONS will be taping & handling the seminars on Friday & Saturday for us as he did last year. So if you would like to volunteer, you can e-mail GEORGE at videokick@yahoo.com or call me at (904) 745-6019. We will also have a talent show featuring some of our Council's "VERY OWN" performing on stage for you & handling the entertainment segment will be HANSHI PHIL LITTLE of South Carolina, inheritor of HAROLD LONG ISSHINRYU. If you would like to volunteer your musical/ stage talents, you can contact PHIL at: Ph. 864-225-8610/ Fax 864-221-3998 or e-mail him at eagle@usika.com . Different from previous events, we'll also have a large viewing screen to project the night's events on, so that you will be able to see the inductees, as well as the night's entertainment from anywhere in the room! . It will be a GRAND EVENT, so make your plans to attend NOW! 

In the media this time around. .The April issue of BLACK BELT Magazine features mentions of the Arnold BATTLE OF COLUMBUS and Arnold World GRACIE SUBMISSION CHAMPIONSHIPS; GRANDMASTER BILL WALLACE 's attendance of a reunion dinner in New York for BLACK BELT Hall of Famer, S. Henry Cho; & Oxygen Media's television coverage of the 2002 USA National Wrestling Championship featuring a segment on PANKRATION with GRANDMASTER JIM ARVANITIS. It's May issue highlights a review of MASTER JACKIE CHAN's new Golden Harvest Film, "THE ART OF WAR"; the new film, "Hunted" featuring SAYOC KALI; and mentions of GRANDMASTERS GARY ALEXANDER & TONY RAMOS. Black Belt's June issue features a cover story on GRANDMASTER JOHN PELLEGRINI; mentions of PROFESSOR EDWIN MALEY; GRANDMASTER PAN QING FU; & MASTER JACKIE CHAN. The April issue of INSIDE KUNG-FU carries an article by my student, Sensei Lou Klaff of Arizona on "A Question of Loyalty"; mentions of GRANDMASTERS BILL WALLACE, DOUG WONG, MARK SHUEY, SAM KUOHA, RALPH CASTRO, BOBBY TOBOADA, the late GRANDMASTER ED PARKER; MASTERS ROBERT REDFEATHER, DON WILSON, JACKIE CHAN; & SENSEI KA'IMI KUOHA. INSIDE KUNG-FU's May issue features a photo display of GRANDMASTER BILL WALLACE's method of kicking; along with mentions of MASTER JACKIE CHAN; & SIJO ADRIANO EMPERADO's 76th birthday Luau in Las Vegas, Nevada last year. It's June issue highlights ancient KARA-HO Weapons as demonstrated by it's Inheritor, GRANDMASTER SAM KUOHA & SENSEI KA'IMI KUOHA & a mention of MASTER JACKIE CHAN's contributions to martial arts films. The April issue of MARTIAL ART Magazine features a cover story on GRANDMASTER RORION GRACIE with mentions of GRANDMASTERS SAM KUOHA, DOUGLAS WONG, RALPH CASTRO & MASTER JACKIE CHAN. It's May issue features YOURS TRULY, along with GRANDMASTER MARK SHUEY. It's June issue spotlights GRANDMASTERS SAM KUOHA, LEO FONG & GARY ALEXANDER with mentions of GREAT GRANDMASTER MASAAKI HATSUMI & MASTER JACKIE CHAN. The March issue of MASTERS OF KARATE Magazine contains articles by SHIHAN TONY ANNESI & PROFESSOR EMERIC ARUS. The February issue of MARTIAL ARTS PROFESSIONAL features a column by GRANDMASTER GARY ALEXANDER recalling the "glory days" of the 50's & 60's when Karate was in its infancy in the United States.  And last, but not least, the May issue of TAEKWONDO TIMES spotlights MODERN PANKRATION with GRANDMASTER JIM ARVANITIS; & a photo mention of GRANDMASTER JOHN PELLEGRINI, BAPAK WILLEM DeTHOUARS, GRANDMASTERS MARK SHUEY, VINCENT MARCHETTI, BOBBY TOBOADA & MYSELF at the 10th Anniversary celebration of the ICHF in Kentucky.  

Well, this concludes this edition of our bi-monthly newsletter. Remember to send in your newsworthy items for our next newsletter & to stay "aggressive" & "fair" in all you do until next time!





Sincerely yours in martial arts brotherhood,
Grandmaster Frank E. Sanchez
10th dan (Judan)
Founder/ Executive Director International

NOTE: The WHFSC has been in existence since May of 1993 and is a private enterprise of Soke Frank E. Sanchez in service to its membership. Any additions or deletions to its membership must be in writing. RECEIVING THIS NEWSLETTER DOES NOT CONSTITUTE YOUR BEING AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL. All membership certificates with an expiration date are NOT automatically renewed and MUST be renewed by written request to our Headquarters.