Special Edition ~ October 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
Before we begin this newsletter, we'd like to offer our heartfelt condolences to PROFESSOR ERNIE CATES over the loss of his beloved Wife, Pat who passed away on July 6th & to GRANDMASTER DANNY GLOVER on the loss of his Grand baby late last year. We mourn your loss, gentlemen. Take heart in knowing that we offer you are love & support during this time of sorrow & reflection. Is there such a thing as an 8 year old Black Belt? The answer unequivocally is a resounding "NO" It is our belief that this has been one of the major contributors to the decline of respect & credibility in the martial arts. The question was also raised at our Annual Meeting on August 30th. This Council recognizes that a child can be awarded what is known as a "Junior Black Belt", but to attain an actual Black Belt, an individual must be at least 18 years of age to allow for the development of adult maturity & strength. For those of you who didn't get to attend our 10th Anniversary celebration in Orlando, Florida on August 29th & 30th. You missed out on a VERY SPECIAL OCASSION. Not only did you miss out on what was truly one of the best functions we've ever had to date from both an attendance (Note: despite the fact that our functions are "closed" events "by invitation only", we continue to have one of the largest events in the world martial arts community each year!) & organizational standpoint; but you also missed out on some awe inspiring performances by members like HANSHI PHIL LITTLE of LONG - SHIMIBUKU ISSHINRYU who sang "Bring Him Home" from the Play, "Las Miserables"; GRANDMASTER NEAL HUMMERSTONE of AIKI TORA RYU AIKIDO's comedy skit using the Japanese "Sue" (Cane); SHIHAN KEITH BADYNA's sword cutting demonstration where he performed a rare double cut on the tatami to the delight of the crowd; and PROFESSOR JOHN CHAMBERS of Korean YUDO's vocal rendition of the Country Hit "Crazy". I might have also surprised you by opening up the night's festivities with singing "God Bless the USA"!. Then there were the 27 International instructors who conducted free seminars under the direction of seminar coordinator/ video-grapher, MASTER GEORGE DENSON. What a fantastic display of martial talent. To all who received awards, we also gave a special commemorative metal in honor of the Council's 10th year of existence ("yes", it's been 10 years people!) .and most notable of all, despite the large number of people in attendance, the night's banquet ended at a record time of 8:00pm, beating our previous record of 9:00pm!. the only problem now is trying to figure out how to beat this year's event when we do it again next year!!! |
Paying tribute to America by singing"God Bless the USA"
CONGRATULATIONS to our Communications Manager / Web Master, SOKE DANIEL VERKERKE
of Canada, who recently got himself "hitched". Dan is shown below with his lovely Bride,
Dawn. May you have many, many years of Wedded bliss together!
Newly Weds, Soke Dan & Dawn Verkerke
| YOURS TRULY was honored on August 25th with a PROCLAMATION from Jacksonville, Florida's Mayor, the Honorable John Peyton for my local, national & International instruction of Special Forces, military, police, R.O.T.C. & martial arts enthusiasts. The Proclamation also noted my creation of SAN-JITSU - Guam's martial art system & the WORLD HEAD OF FAMILY SOKESHIP COUNCIL which are both Headquartered here in Jacksonville, Florida.
The Russian R.O.S.S. System, seems to be taking a "new direction" towards health development with the establishment of COACH SCOTT SONNON'S new "FULL CIRCLE STRENGTH" Magazine�..For more information, you can log onto the official website of "FULL CIRCLE" Magazine at www.CircularStrengthMag.com GRANDMASTER RON VAN CLIEF of New York reports that his life story will be told in November on the A&E Television Network. The piece is entitled "NO DOUBT' THE RON VAN CLIEF STORY". RON is also scheduled to do a USO Tour the 2nd week of November which will take him to Iraq, Kosovo & Bosnia. Grandmaster Henry Cho will also be retiring his "All American Championship" Tournament in New York after almost 40 years in existence. The last tournament will take place in March & GRANDMASTER VAN CLIEF plans to be there to compete in it for the very last time. GRANDMASTER GARY WASNIEWSKI, WHFSC GREAT BRITAIN AMBASSADOR from ENGLAND has a new video on flexibility/ Kicking for all Martial Artists. For more information on the video, you can e-mail GARY at Soke@ty-ga.co.uk CIRCLE OF MASTERS members gathered in Canada to demonstrate and be featured for a DVD production produced by Bushido Way of the Warrior. |
Council members in attendance were from right: Grandmasters Dan McEaddy, Rudy Timmerman, Daniel Verkerke,
Ron Balas, other Masters participating Dennis Janes, Lorne Keatley, Aubrey Millard, and Jeremy Dancey.
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SOKE JOSEPH RUIZ has a new book out on 12 Animal Katsuto Kempo Strikes...The price is $15.00. You can order the book by writing to JOE at 407 CLEARWATER RD., BEKVEDERE, SC. 29841 or e-mailing him at Soke@bellsouth.net ARJARN NICK HEWITSON of our Masters Division who resides in Michigan was named "International Instructor of the Year" in MUAY THAI for the 2nd straight year by the "United States Muay Thai Association"...CONGRATULATIONS NICK! SIJO ADRIANO EMPERADO, one of the original Founders of Hawaii's KAJUKENBO System celebrated his Birthday at the Tropicana Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on July 11th. The event, which also featured the Annual K.S.D.I. ("KAJUKENBO SELF-DEFENSE INSTITUTE") Tournament & seminars was under the supervision & direction of SIJO's Sister & Heir Apparent of KAJUKENBO, GRANDMASTER DECHI EMPERADO. MANY HAPPY RETURNS, SIJO & CONGRATULATIONS ON A GRAND EVENT, GRANDMASTER DECHI! Also taking place in Las Vegas at the same time was the HAWAII MARTIAL ARTS INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY's Annual Hall of Fame with inductions of GRANDMASTERS SOLOMON KAHAIWALU, GLENN PREMRU, PROFESSOR RUSS COELHO, MYSELF (in absentee, for a "Living Legend Award", none-the-less) & others... GRANDMASTER VINCENT MARCHETTI, Headmaster of MICHI BUDO RYU was the Headliner in several Beaches Newspapers originating from Costa Rica, Jamaica & Aruba resorts for seminars he did in the Caribbean recently. VINCE was also the recipient of a letter of commendation from the Fairfax Police Department in New Jersey for his continued work in teaching self-defense to the Fairfax & Ridgefield Police Departments there. MORE POWER TO YOU, VINCE! PROFESSOR DAVID DYE of California has a new self-defense website for kids called "SAMURAI COP Self-Defense Academy for Kids". The website address is www.Samuraicop.com GRANDMASTER PHIL LITTLE's "United States Isshinryu Karate Association" Select Team dominated the IWKA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS held recently in Dallas, Texas. Students, Peter Keko & Rickey Cobb (past inductees of the WHFSC Hall of Fame) won "Black Belt World Champion in Weapons" & "Grand Champion Over All in Kumite" respectively. Presenting the World title & Grand Champion Award to Renshi Cobb was O'SENSEI KICHIRO SHIMABUKU HANSHI of Okinawa, Japan. CONGRATULATIONS PHIL ON AN OUTSTANDING WIN BY BOTH OF YOUR STUDENTS! SENSEI KA'IMI KUOHA, Heir Apparent of KARA HO KENPO (under her Father, GRANDMASTER SAM KUOHA) has been busy this Summer..Not only did she appear on the cover of BUDO INTERNATIONAL Magazine; as well as being featured in two other martial arts mags, but the talented young KA'IMI also was a featured performer in a Disney Play that took place during the Summer in California! SI TAI GUNG GLENN WILSON of the WHITE DRAGON SOCIETY is celebrating his 50th Birthday Party in Orlando, Florida on September 28th...MANY HAPPY RETURNS, GLENN! The INTERNATIONAL MARTIAL ARTS RESEARCH INSTITUTE in Malaysia appointed Grandmaster Daniel Verkerke as the Canadian Ambassador in August while he was there conducting a seminar and attending their first World Black Belt Hall of Fame.
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Pictured above Prof. Dr. Song Swee Hee (right) officially appointing GM. Daniel Verkerke as Canadian Ambassador
| And lastly, the GOSPEL MARTIAL ARTS UNION under DR. KENT HARALSON is offering long distance learning courses from GREAT PLAINS BAPTIST DIVINITY SCHOOL in Sioux Falls, South Dekota for obtaining B.S., M.S. and P.H. Degrees under their COLLEGE OF CHRISTIAN MARTIAL ARTS Program. For more information you can e-mail DR. HARALSON at Doc_Haralson@centurytel.net In our new membership department. We enacted our first physical testing for membership conducted by GRANDMASTERS VINCENT MARCHETTI, GARY DILL, JOHN BYRNE & PHIL LITTLE at our recent WHFSC function in Orlando, Florida. Passing the test for physical proficiency, notoriety & number of years in the martial arts for membership (remembering that we DON'T "make" grandmasters as in other organizations, but only "recognize" others on the criteria of proficiency, national/ International notoriety & number of years in the arts) was GRANDMASTER BRAM FRANK of the CSSDS/ SC - GUNTING SYSTEM in Florida�..Other new members include DR. CRIMI, HEAD of HIKARI RYUZA RYU DO KAN in Palm Valley, California & POPOV GUERMAN, HEAD of the Russian Style "CRUSHALO" from Moscow, Russia. WELCOME GENTLEMEN to our elite "family" of the world's greatest grandmasters! In the media this time around. The October issue of BLACK BELT features mentions of SAYOC KALI, GRANDMASTERS TED WONG, Bob Wall, MASTERS JACKIE CHAN, DON "THE DRAGON" WILSON & monthly column by GRANDMASTER BILL WALLACE. The October issue of INSIDE KUNG-FU mentions GRANDMASTER ERNESTO PRESAS & his INTERNATIONAL PHILIPPINE MARTIAL ARTS FEDERATION training camp in Hinigaran, Negros, the Philippines. The October issue of MARTIAL ART Magazine contains mentions of GRANDMASTER RORION GRACIE & GRACIE JIU-JITSU, GREAT GRANDMASTER RALPH CASTRO & GRANDMASTER BILL WALLACE. .The July issue of TAEKWONDO TIMES contains mentions of GRANDMASTERS JOON PYO CHOI, GEORGE ANDERSON, STEPHEN HAYES, BILL WALLACE, Bob Wall, HANSHI BRUCE JUCHNIK's "MARTIAL ARTS COLLECTIVE SOCIETY", GRANDMASTER JOHN PELLEGRINI & MASTER DON "THE DRAGON" WILSON. Lastly, BUDO INTERNATIONAL Magazine features a nice Cover story on GRANDMASTER GARY WASNIEWSKI of England |
Well, this concludes this Special Edition of our newsletter...Until next time, please stay
"aggressive" & "fair" in all you do & as always, remember to send in your news for our next issue!
Sincerely yours in martial arts brotherhood,
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.
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