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Editor: Soke Frank E. Sanchez GMFrankSanchez@comcast.net Fax: (904) 744-4625 24 hours a day |
APRIL - JUNE 2008 |
WORLD GRANDMASTERS COUNCIL
Membership News from around the world
15TH ANNUAL GATHERING OF THE WHFSC IN SAN ANTONIO A HUGH SUCCESS! - Our recent international event held at the world famous Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas on May 23rd -24th was nothing short of spectacular with our first ever world tournament, international seminars; news coverage, including the attendance of the Mayor of San Antonio's representative who read a proclamation on our behalf ; Marine Color Guard; & various other surprises . Special thanks to my student in Texas, Sensei Phillip Spears & his lovely Wife, Glenda for putting this event together for us; to my Son, Sensei Matthew Sanchez for his fine job of emceeing & to everyone else behind the scenes who contributed to its success. Next years' event because of popular demand will be held in San Antonio again at the Hyatt Hotel on the Riverwalk. If you missed this years' event, don't miss next years' & mark your calendars for May 22nd -23rd, 2009! Grandmasters pose for Photo after annual meeting
Received a call from GRANDMASTER AL DACASCOS in Hawaii ON April 4th. SIFU AL wanted to call the Council's attention to a new organization for Kajukenbo formed in Hawaii called the "KAJUKENBO OHANA ASSOCIATION" or KOA (meaning "Warrior" in Hawaiian) . The organization which is aimed at the "true" Kajukenbo practitioner will have its 1st World Grandmasters Tournament honoring SIJO ADRIANO EMPERADO, one of the original Founders of Kajukenbo & its worldwide Head on July 17th -19th at the Plaza Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information you can visit the website of
Also in the works is a new book by SIFU AL called "REFLECTION" which looks back over his years in the arts. I'm sure it's going to be a best seller for you AL! .His Son, MASTER MARK DACASCOS, another martial arts great can be seen as a regular on the Food Network Channel as the "Chairman" of the popular IRON CHEF AMERICA Show! GRANDMASTER GARY ALEXANDER, legendary Isshinryu fighter from New Jersey is still "going strong" with his longest running tournament in the U.S.A. He held his 45th Anniversary KARATE, TKD, KUNG FU CHAMPIONSHIPS & TRADE SHOW on April 13th of this year in Piscataway, New Jersey. For more information on how you can attend next years' event, you can contact GARY at GaryAlex2@verizon.net
GRANDMASTER RON "THE BLACK DRAGON" VAN CLIEF is hosting his first karate tournament in the U.S. Virgin Islands since moving there from New York City. His RON VAN CLIEF CUP -VIRGIN ISLAND INTERNATIONAL MARTIAL ARTS CHAMPIONSHIPS takes place October 11th at the Antilles School in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. For more information, you can call RON at 1-347-417-3610. & GRANDMASTER RENE TONGSON of the Philippines e-mailed to say that the INTERNATIONAL MODERN ARNIS FEDERATION PHILIPPINES "4TH FILIPINO MARTIAL ARTS FESTIVAL" takes place July 20th -25th. For more information you can contact RENE at Arnis_Tongson@yahoo.com
Although we aren't in the habit of listing promotions in our newsletter, for some reason two of our members sent in theirs, so I also added one promotion of my own to the mix. In New York, GRANDMASTER RICK "THE LEGEND" LENCHUS reports that he promoted 3 of his loyal students, Ken Mikkelssen to 2nd Degree Black Belt after 43 yrs of study; Stewart Ratzker to 1st Degree Black Belt after 40 yrs of study; & John Nguyen to Brown Belt after 8 yrs of study. Witnessing the promotion made on June 26th were Great Grandmaster Aaron Banks, Chief Grandmaster Rico Guy, Hanshi Bernard Scarda (Heir to RICK's LEGEND KARATE), as well as many others who were in attendance -From Argentina, GRANDMASTER GERARDO CANTORE reports that he personally flew to Russia to promote his representative there, Sensei Igor Grachev to 6th dan & lastly, my representative in Germany, Sensei Thorsten Isringhausen promoted Master Bernd Hohle, Head of the Martial Arts Association International to 1st dan after training under Thorsten in SAN-JITSU for some time, adding another ranking to his martial arts resume.
GRANDMASTER SAM KUOHA reports that his house in California has been in a couple of magazines & is a popular site to book for Weddings. You can view his beautiful home, complete with waterfall at www.Hawaiianaweddings.com -SAM also says that the site contains some photos of his daughter, KA'IMI (Heir apparent to KARA HO KEMPO), who recently got her 5th dan in Hawaii.
"AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF MARTIAL ARTS IN AMERICA" contains photos of many of our illustrious membership who have made their "mark" & contributions to American martial arts. The book written by GRANDMASTER EMIL FARKAS is certainly one of historic proportions. Another book of historic proportions is still in the making by GRANDMASTER DON WARRENER Delayed because of bad photos that didn't meet the necessary requirements for printing. the WORLD HEAD OF FAMILY SOKESHIP COUNCIL book of our grandmaster members is still in process with better pictures that have been supplied recently -we will have more on the book as it is reported to me by DON. You can purchase EMIL FARKAS' book, as well as reserve your copy of the WHFSC Book by writing to Don at DonRW@earthlink.net
In the magazines this time around (available at the time of this printing) BLACK BELT Magazine's August issue contains an article entitled "Sparring is the Key to Real Skill" written by GRANDMASTER RICHARD RYAN in his "Full Contact" Column & a mention of MASTER JACKIE CHAN's new movie, "The Forbidden City" INSIDE KUNG-FU's August issue features a new column by Gracie legend, GRANDMASTER RORION GRACIE entitled "The Gracie Legacy" & an article on GREAT GRANDMASTER CACOY CANETE's recent international seminar & 1st Annual DOCE PARES HALL OF FAME held in Cebu City, Philippines MARTIAL ARTS EXPERTS winter 2007 issue out of Canada has a cover story on GRANDMASTER MARK SHUEY & an article on SAYOC KALI; & the June issue of WORLD MARTIAL ARTS MAGAZINE contains a cover story on YOURS TRULY (subscription available "free" at www.worldmartialartsmagazine.com ) .
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